Chase
Aeroplan Card
Earn 60,000 bonus points with 3X rewards on groceries and Air Canada purchases, plus elite status benefits and free first checked bag on Air Canada flights.
Annual fee
$95
Top rate
3x groceries
Welcome bonus
$900
Quick look
Elite Status + Free Bag
Automatic Aeroplan 25K status and free checked bag
3.9
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Frequent Air Canada flyers who value Aeroplan's international transfer partners and can leverage the complimentary elite status immediately.
The verdict
The Aeroplan Card is a specialized play for Air Canada loyalists, not a general travel card. If you fly Air Canada regularly and value Aeroplan's transfer partnerships with 50+ airlines, the automatic 25K elite status and free checked bag justify the $95 fee. For everyone else, the 3X earning rates are pedestrian (groceries rank 11th, dining 15th), and a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred offers better broad-based rewards without tying you to a single airline's award chart.
The card's real strength is asymmetric: it lets you borrow points from Chase's Ultimate Rewards ecosystem (which has 50+ transfer partners of its own) with a 10% bonus when transferring to Aeroplan. That arbitrage is powerful if you chase premium cabin redemptions on Star Alliance partners. For everyone else, it's a niche card pretending to be mainstream.
Pros
- Automatic 25K Aeroplan elite status and free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for you and up to eight companions
- Earn 3X points on groceries and dining, categories most households already spend in
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points (roughly $900 in value) is solid for the spending threshold
- Transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards (10% extra when moving 50,000+ points to Aeroplan) opens arbitrage opportunities
Cons
- 3X earning rates are middle-of-the-pack: groceries rank 11th in the catalog, dining 15th, flights a distant 24th
- Only 1X on everything else—leaves everyday spending underoptimized compared to broader travel cards
- $95 annual fee is harder to justify if you don't fly Air Canada or plan to hit minimum spend for monthly bonus points
- Elite status is limited to two calendar years; maintaining it afterward requires $15,000+ annual spend
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 3x | 3X points at grocery stores |
| Dining & restaurants | 3x | 3X points on dining including takeout and eligible delivery services |
| Flights | 3x | 3X points with Air Canada directly |
| Everything else | 1x | 1X points on all other purchases |
Three bonus categories—groceries, dining, Air Canada flights—earn 3X. Groceries rank 11th in the catalog and dining 15th, so you're not leading the pack. The standout is that you can earn up to 1,500 bonus points monthly just for hitting $2,000 in spending, a nice accelerator if you're naturally heavy in those categories. The real edge is exporting Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 10% premium to Aeroplan, which opens access to premium cabin sweet spots on Star Alliance partners that other US cards don't directly tap.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
At $95, you're in a crowded tier with the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred. The Aeroplan card justifies that fee through its combination of elite status (worth hundreds annually in Star Alliance benefits if you fly frequently) and automatic free checked bag on Air Canada (a $35+ perk per trip). If you fly Air Canada 3+ times a year, the fee pays for itself. If you're flying once or twice yearly, or not to Air Canada at all, the card struggles to justify its cost.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
60,000 points is worth roughly $900 at typical Aeroplan redemption rates, and the $3,000 threshold is achievable without manufactured spending. Compare this to the Chase Sapphire Preferred's 100,000-point bonus (also $3,000 threshold), and the Aeroplan offer is solid but not exceptional. The bonus is most valuable if you have Star Alliance premium cabin goals—5-6 points per dollar at some transfer partners. For casual redemptions within Aeroplan's program, the value is adequate.
Similar cards
Similar $95 fee, but Sapphire Preferred earns 5X on travel and restaurants; better if you're not locked into Air Canada
Competitor with same fee tier; 10x on travel offers earn flexibility, though Citi doesn't have Aeroplan's 50+ airline partners
Frequently asked questions
Is this card worth it if I don't fly Air Canada?
Only if you chase international premium cabin redemptions and have access to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. The Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred will serve you better for everyday earning. Aeroplan's value is niche.
Can I keep the elite status after year two?
The automatic 25K status is complimentary for two calendar years. To maintain it beyond that, you'll need to spend $15,000+ in a calendar year or earn 50,000 points through other program activity. That's feasible for frequent flyers, not casual cardholders.
What's the deal with the 10% point bonus on Chase transfers?
If you hold a Chase card earning Ultimate Rewards points (like a Sapphire Preferred) and transfer 50,000+ Aeroplan points at once, Chase adds a 10% bonus—so 50,000 becomes 55,000. Capped at 25,000 bonus points per calendar year. It's a powerful way to top up your Aeroplan balance for premium awards.
How many times do I need to fly Air Canada to break even on the $95 fee?
The free checked bag alone saves $35+ per round trip. Fly Air Canada three times a year and you've covered the fee. Add in the elite status perks—priority boarding, lounge passes—and frequent Air Canada flyers recoup the annual cost easily.
Why is this card ranked lower than other $95 travel cards?
The earning rates are middle-of-the-pack (11th in groceries, 15th in dining), and the card's focus is narrow—it's optimized for Air Canada, not general travel. A Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred offers broader utility. The Aeroplan Card is best for a specific audience, not everyone.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026