Aeroplan is Canada’s largest airline rewards program and one of the most flexible for frequent flyers. Owned by Air Canada, Aeroplan allows you to redeem points with more than 50 partner airlines, transfer points from partner programs and pool points with family members. Below is a clear, updated guide to the best Aeroplan credit cards, how to get the most from Aeroplan points and the program features that matter to travellers.
Featured credit cards
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
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American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
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American Express Cobalt Card
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MoneySense has covered personal finance for Canadians since 1999. Our editorial team evaluates credit cards and travel rewards based on fees, welcome offers, earn rates and perks to recommend the best Aeroplan credit cards for different types of borrowers. Our analyses are independent of advertisers.
Compare Aeroplan credit cards
Whether you want a no-fee starter card or a premium travel card loaded with benefits, Aeroplan co‑branded cards and transfer partners offer options to match different budgets and travel habits. Below is a quick comparison of popular Aeroplan credit cards, their annual fees, core earn rates and notable perks.
| Annual fee | Rewards earn rate | Free checked bag on Air Canada | Nexus fee rebate | Recommended income | Recommended credit score | Apply now (featured) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
|
$139 | Up to 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 | Yes | Yes, every 4 years | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household | 680+ | Go to site |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
|
$139 | Up to 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 | Yes | No | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household | None specified | Not available |
| American Express Aeroplan Card
|
$120 | Up to 2 Aeroplan points per $1 | Yes | No | None specified | 725+ | Not available |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve
|
$599 | Up to 3 Aeroplan points per $1 | Yes | Yes, every 4 years | None specified | 725+ | Go to site |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
|
$0 | Up to 1 Aeroplan point per $1 | Yes | No | $15,000 household | None specified | Not available |
| American Express Cobalt Card
|
$192 | Up to 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 | No | No | None specified | 725+ | Go to site |
MoneySense award winners
Below are our top picks across standard Aeroplan cards, premium options and one strong alternative for points collectors. Each pick balances fees, earn rates, travel perks and insurance to suit different traveller needs.
We rank Aeroplan cards by evaluating annual fees, welcome offers, reward earn rates and travel benefits like lounge access, free checked bags and insurance. Our goal is to help Canadian travellers find the best match for their priorities—whether that’s low fees, high points earning or premium airport perks.
Best Aeroplan credit cards
Gold: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
At a glance: A solid choice for frequent Air Canada flyers. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite combines practical travel insurance, free first checked bags for you and up to eight companions on Air Canada flights, Nexus fee rebates every four years and accelerated points on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Annual fee: $139 (often waived first year)
Rewards: 1.5 points per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases; 1 point per $1 elsewhere.
Welcome offer: Up to 40,000 Aeroplan points and additional value through travel credits and fee rebates with qualifying spend.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances, 22.99% balance transfers |
| Income required | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household |
| Credit score | Recommended 680+ |
| Point value | Aeroplan points average about $0.02 each |
Pros: Comprehensive travel insurance, free checked bags for up to nine people on Air Canada, Nexus fee rebate, status-qualifying credits with spend, and the ability to earn points at partners and with the card.
Cons: Higher income requirement for approval and moderate accelerated earn rates compared with some premium cards.
Silver: CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
At a glance: A competitive Aeroplan co‑brand card with the same 1.5x earn rate on gas, groceries, EV charging and Air Canada purchases. It also provides travel insurance, free checked bags for up to nine travellers on Air Canada and preferential pricing on Aeroplan redemptions.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Annual fee: $139
Rewards: 1.5 points per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases; 1 point per $1 elsewhere.
Welcome offer: Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points with qualifying spend.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances |
| Income required | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household |
| Point value | Aeroplan points average about $0.02 each |
Best Amex option: American Express Aeroplan Card
At a glance: A charge card with a lower annual fee than many premium cards and higher earn rates in key categories. It’s a good fit if you prefer Amex benefits and can pay the balance in full each month.
American Express Aeroplan Card
Annual fee: $120
Rewards: 2 points per $1 on Air Canada purchases; 1.5 points per $1 on dining and food delivery; 1 point per $1 elsewhere.
Welcome offer: Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points with qualifying spending in the first 6 months.
Card details
| Interest rates | Charge card — balance must be paid in full each month |
| Credit score | 725+ recommended |
| Anniversary bonus | 10,000 Aeroplan points after specified spend in month 13 |
Best premium Aeroplan credit card
American Express Aeroplan Reserve
At a glance: Built for travellers who want top-tier Air Canada benefits — lounge access, priority airport services, an annual companion pass and robust travel perks. It has a high annual fee but generous earn rates on Air Canada and dining.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve
Annual fee: $599
Rewards: 3 points per $1 on Air Canada purchases; 2 points per $1 on dining and food delivery; 1.25 points per $1 elsewhere.
Welcome offer: Multi-tiered bonuses that can total 150,000 Aeroplan points with qualifying spend during the first year.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% purchases and cash advances (variable) |
| Credit score | 725+ recommended |
| Point value | Aeroplan points average about $0.02 each |
Best Aeroplan credit card with no annual fee
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
At a glance: A no‑fee, entry-level Aeroplan card that helps new collectors start earning points. It lacks premium travel perks but includes preferred redemption pricing and basic insurance for a no-fee product.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 1 point per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases; 0.67 point per $1 on other purchases.
Welcome offer: Up to 10,000 Aeroplan points with qualifying activities.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances |
| Income required | $15,000 household |
| Point value | Aeroplan points average about $0.02 each |
Best alternative for Aeroplan points collectors
American Express Cobalt Card
At a glance: The Amex Cobalt isn’t co‑branded with Aeroplan but is a powerful way to accumulate transferable Membership Rewards points. With strong monthly category bonuses (notably 5 points per $1 on groceries and dining), transferring MR points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 rate can yield more points faster than some co‑branded cards.
American Express Cobalt
Annual fee: $15.99/month (equivalent $191.88/year)
Rewards: 5 MR points per $1 on groceries and dining; 3 points on streaming; 2 points on transit and gas; 1 point on other purchases.
Welcome offer: Monthly bonus points up to a maximum in the introductory months for consistent spend.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% purchases and cash advances; penalty APR may apply |
| Credit score | 725+ recommended |
| Point value | Membership Rewards points have varying value; transfers to airline partners like Aeroplan often yield the best value |
Upcoming changes to Aeroplan partner rewards and charts
As Aeroplan moves more partner redemptions to dynamic pricing, selected partner airlines such as United, Emirates, Etihad and several regional carriers now have award pricing that fluctuates with demand. Aeroplan has introduced a revised chart that shows a starting price plus a quarterly updated median to provide more transparency. Fixed pricing remains for some Star Alliance carriers like ANA, EVA and Lufthansa, but dynamic pricing can make popular or last‑minute routes more costly in points. If you have specific travel dates or routes in mind, compare options and consider booking earlier to lock in lower redemption costs.
How many Aeroplan points do you need for a flight?
Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing means the points required for a flight can vary widely. Domestic short-distance one-way redemptions can start as low as 6,000 points within certain zones. Cross‑country or long‑haul flights often require many more points. Because values shift by route, date and cabin, using Aeroplan’s tools or comparing cash price versus points helps determine whether a redemption is worthwhile.
How much are Aeroplan points worth?
There is no single fixed value for Aeroplan points. A commonly used method to estimate value is:
1 Aeroplan point = (cash price of ticket – Aeroplan fees) ÷ points needed
If a point returns between about 1.2 and 1.5 cents or higher, that is generally a good redemption. Premium cabins and international redemptions often produce the best cents-per-point values.
Maximizing points with Aeroplan stopovers
Aeroplan allows you to add a stopover on one-way Air Canada itineraries for an additional points fee (commonly 5,000 points). Adding stopovers can stretch value by visiting multiple destinations on one award booking—especially useful for international itineraries.
How does Aeroplan Family Sharing work?
Family Sharing lets up to eight verified family members pool Aeroplan points into a shared balance while keeping individual accounts. A family lead manages the pool and permissions; points earned by members automatically contribute to the shared balance. Pooled accounts benefit from preferred pricing when a primary Aeroplan credit cardholder is included. Verification is required to create or join pools, and members must remain in a pool for a minimum time before leaving.
How to earn Aeroplan points faster and gain Elite Status
Beyond flying, you can earn Aeroplan points through partner airlines, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages and the Aeroplan eStore. Co‑branded credit cards and partner shopping allow “double‑dipping” — earning points both from the merchant and from card spend. To reach Aeroplan Elite status you must meet thresholds of Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Segments (SQS) plus Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) in a calendar year, or meet alternative spend-based qualification such as Everyday Qualifying Dollars for certain tiers.
Redeeming with Air Canada vs Star Alliance partners
Aeroplan points are redeemable on Air Canada and Star Alliance partners. Air Canada redemptions frequently use dynamic pricing, while many Star Alliance partner redemptions maintain fixed award charts. When booking, compare both options—Star Alliance bookings may add a modest per‑traveller fee but can offer predictable pricing for some routes.
Which Aeroplan cards include lounge access and free checked bags?
Several Aeroplan cards include lounge access and free checked bag benefits. Premium cards such as the American Express Aeroplan Reserve and certain Visa Infinite Privilege cards provide Maple Leaf Lounge access, companion privileges and a free checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on eligible Air Canada flights. Many other Aeroplan cards still offer a free first checked bag for the cardholder and companions on Air Canada‑operated flights.
Frequently asked questions
Do Aeroplan points expire?
Points expire after 18 months of account inactivity. Earning or redeeming any points, or holding an Aeroplan credit card, keeps the account active and resets the expiry clock.
Can I have multiple Aeroplan credit cards?
Yes. You can hold multiple Aeroplan credit cards and credit card points can be directed to the same Aeroplan account. Be aware that attempting to abuse welcome offers or bonuses may lead Aeroplan to limit offers, suspend bonuses or take other account actions.
More helpful resources
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