The Chase Aeroplan Card: A $95 Powerhouse You Need to Know About
Hey friends, Phillip here with Points of Philip, and today we're diving into a card that packs a serious punch for just $95 a year: the Aeroplan Credit Card from Chase. Whether you're a frequent Air Canada flyer or not, you'll want to pay attention because this one comes with a monster welcome bonus and some sneaky-good perks.
Huge Welcome Bonus (If You Can Meet the Spend)
New cardholders can earn up to 100,000 Aeroplan points. It's broken down into:
75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
25,000 points after spending a total of $20,000 in the first 12 months.
Yes, $20,000 is a lot of spend. But, this is double the usual Aeroplan offer (normally around 50-60,000 points). With The Points Guy valuing Aeroplan points at about 1.4 cents apiece, this bonus alone can be worth around $1,400 in free travel!
Solid Earning Categories
This card earns solid rewards beyond the initial bonus:
3x at grocery stores
3x on dining, takeout, and delivery
3x on all Air Canada purchases
1x on everything else
Plus, this card has an interesting "superpower" where you get 500 bonus points each month for spending $2,000 (up to three times). So, you could potentially get 1,500 extra points each month by spending $6,000 on the card.
Most people won't hit that $6,000 mark, but even getting 1,000 points for spending $4,000 a month could be worthwhile. It turns that 1x catch-all category into roughly 1.25x, which still isn't amazing, but it sweetens the deal.
Automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite Status
Just by opening this card, you get Aeroplan 25K elite status for the rest of this year and all of next year! This also gives you Star Alliance Silver status, which includes priority waitlisting and standby across their partners.
Here are some benefits of Aeroplan 25K status:
Priority airport check-in
Priority standby
Two complimentary checked bags (on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada Rouge flights)
Waived handling fees for sporting equipment (bicycles, surfboards, etc.)
Two Maple Leaf Lounge passes per year
Priority boarding
20 eUpgrade credits for upgrades to business class, premium economy, or premium rouge (on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada Rouge flights)
Complimentary preferred seats
To keep 25K status, spend at least $20,000 on the card in a calendar year. Just by using this one card, you can earn Star Alliance status!
Other Perks and Benefits
Even if you're not chasing status, you'll enjoy:
Free checked bag on Air Canada flights for you and up to eight companions
Travel protections (rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage delay, roadside assistance)
$100 credit every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus
No foreign transaction fees
You can also redeem points through Pay Yourself Back at 1.25 cents each (up to 200,000 points per year), which could be up to $2,500 in statement credits.
Chase Ecosystem Hack?
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cards have recently experienced changes in how they deal with portal bonuses. But with the Aeroplan card, you can put a hotel stay (like an IHG stay) on your Aeroplan card, then pay yourself back at 1.25 cents per point. This is a lot better than converting Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG, which I almost certainly recommend nobody ever do.
The Catch: 5/24 Rule
All of these benefits come with just a $95 annual fee, which is very reasonable. The one caveat: this card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. If you've opened five or more personal cards in the last 24 months, you're likely not getting approved.
Real-World Redemptions
Those 100,000 Aeroplan points can take you far. Aeroplan partners with over 50 airlines worldwide, so this isn't just for Canadians.
Even as someone who's primarily American Express or Capital One, I can fly United using Aeroplan points because Aeroplan has great award availability.
For example, you can get from Orlando to Washington D.C. on a United flight for 15,000 points per person. You can also get from Orlando to Denver for 15,000 points as well.
For my wife and I to travel to Denver, that would be 60,000 points (15,000 each way per person). Domestic travel with Aeroplan can be pretty great if you're flying on United.
Bottom Line
The Aeroplan card is a sleeper hit. For $95, you're getting a massive welcome bonus, automatic elite status, solid earning categories, and real travel perks. If you've been looking for a flexible airline card with outsized value, this is definitely one worth considering.
Let me know in the comments if you think this card is worth considering! Thanks for joining me, and I'll see you next time!