Which Aeroplan Credit Card to Choose in Canada for Your Profile
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For most families, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is still the best Aeroplan credit card: a $139 annual fee rebated in the first year, up to 50,000 Aeroplan points subject to the offer's conditions and a free first checked bag for you and 8 companions. If you often travel alone, the Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card opens Maple Leaf Lounges to you.
To compare every card, see our Aeroplan credit card comparison and our best Aeroplan credit card offers. Here, we put these cards to work for four profiles: families, business travellers, solo travellers and points collectors who go through Amex or Marriott. Also read the changes to the Aeroplan program terms before you choose.
Best Aeroplan credit cards for families
For a family, an Aeroplan credit card pays off mostly at the airport. You get two concrete benefits:
- a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same Air Canada booking: for 2 adults and 2 children, that is 4 bags of 23 kg at no charge on every flight
- preferred pricing on flights booked with Aeroplan points, 5% to 15% fewer points depending on the flight
The TD and CIBC Visa Infinite cards also rebate their $139 annual fee in the first year, subject to the offer's conditions. Here are the three cards we recommend for families:
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: $139 rebated in the first year; up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (10,000 on first purchase, 15,000 after $3,000 within 90 days, 25,000 after $12,000 within 12 months); personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
- CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: $139 rebated once ($159 as of January 12, 2027); up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (10,000 on first purchase, 15,000 after $6,000 over 6 statements, 25,000 after $12,000 over 12 statements); same income requirement
- American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: charge card at $120 ($150 as of January 12, 2027); up to 45,000 Aeroplan points (35,000 after $7,500 within 6 months, 10,000 after $1,000 in month 13); no income requirement listed by Amex
Below these income thresholds, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card ($89, rebated in the first year, up to 20,000 Aeroplan points subject to TD's conditions) lets you earn points, but its product page does not advertise the free checked bag.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $120 |
Best Aeroplan credit card for business travellers
If you are self-employed or run a small business that flies Air Canada often, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is one of the most complete Aeroplan business cards.
If you meet the minimum spending, you get these benefits:
- up to 90,000 Aeroplan points: 65,000 points after $10,500 in purchases in the first 3 months, then 25,000 points after $3,500 in purchases in month 13
- access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
- 3 points per dollar at Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2 points on accommodation and car rentals in Canada, 1.25 points on everything else
- priority check-in and boarding
At $599 per year ($799 as of January 12, 2027), this business card is mainly aimed at professionals who fly regularly with Air Canada.
It also entitles you to an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass: an Air Canada economy class ticket for a companion, at a fixed base fare starting at $99 (taxes, fees and surcharges extra), subject to American Express terms.
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,300Total$1,300Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,300
- Welcome offerAfter $10,500 in 3 months
- Up to 90,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Best Aeroplan credit cards for solo travellers
If you travel alone, a free bag shared with 8 companions carries less weight. You will look for lounge access and a large volume of points instead.
If you are looking for maximum Aeroplan points and lounge access, two cards stand out:
- American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card: $599 per year ($799 as of January 12, 2027), no income requirement listed by Amex
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card: $599 per year, personal income of $150,000 or household income of $200,000 required; up to 100,000 Aeroplan points (20,000 on first purchase, 30,000 after $12,000 within 180 days, 50,000 after $24,000 within 12 months)
TD's income requirement rules out many travellers: the Amex Reserve card is then the more accessible of the two. If you meet its minimum spending, you get:
- up to 85,000 Aeroplan points: 60,000 points after $7,500 in purchases in the first 3 months, then 25,000 points after $2,500 in purchases in month 13
- Maple Leaf Lounge access for you and one guest
- a free first checked bag
- 3 points per dollar at Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2 points on dining and food delivery in Canada, 1.25 points on everything else
- priority check-in and boarding
With a $599 fee, rising to $799 on January 12, 2027, the Amex Reserve card pays off if you fly Air Canada several times a year and use the lounges. For its part, the TD card gives you unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access with one guest, and adds 6 visits per year to other lounges through the Visa Airport Companion Program.
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,200Total$1,200Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,200
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months
- Up to 85,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,000Total$2,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,000
- Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
Best cards to earn Aeroplan points
With American Express Membership Rewards
You can also earn Aeroplan points with other credit cards in Canada, through a points transfer.
This is the case for cards in the American Express Membership Rewards program: you transfer 1,000 Membership Rewards points into 1,000 Aeroplan points, within 30 minutes according to Amex.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250 | |||
| $199 | |||
| $799 | |||
| $799 | |||
| $191.88 | |||
| $0 |
In our view, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card is the best entry point: up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points in the first year, that is 5,000 points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $1,000 in purchases to the card. Once transferred, they are worth as many Aeroplan points. Its annual fee is $250.
It lets you earn 2 points per dollar spent on:
- eligible travel purchases (flights, accommodation, car rentals)
- gas in Canada
- groceries in Canada
- drugstores in Canada
It also gives you 4 free visits per calendar year to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada and an annual $100 travel credit on a booking made through American Express Travel Online.
For groceries and dining out, the American Express Cobalt® Card earns you up to 5 points per dollar depending on the purchase category, and its points also transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan points. Its fee is $15.99 per month ($191.88 per year):
- 5 points per dollar: restaurants, bars, stand-alone grocery stores and food or grocery delivery in Canada, up to $2,500 in combined purchases per month (1 point per dollar after that)
- 3 points per dollar: streaming services in Canada
- 2 points per dollar: gas, transit and rideshare in Canada
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,020
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $255
- Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Here are some articles to help you earn Aeroplan points by spending on these credit cards:
With Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also let you earn Aeroplan points, through a points transfer:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
Our other favourite is the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card: up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, that is 60,000 points after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months, then 10,000 points after $500 in purchases in month 13. Its annual fee is $120.
Marriott Bonvoy converts your points to Aeroplan points at a 3:1 ratio, and adds 5,000 Aeroplan points for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.
So 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points give you 25,000 Aeroplan points. Keep in mind that a Marriott Bonvoy point is often worth more in hotel nights: we keep this transfer for topping up an Aeroplan balance before a booking.
Which Aeroplan card to choose for your profile
You can choose between the Aeroplan cards themselves and cards whose points transfer to Aeroplan. Here is what we recommend for your profile:
- Family: the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card or the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, for the free checked bag and the first-year annual fee rebate.
- Solo traveller: the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, for Maple Leaf Lounge access.
- Small business: the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card, for its 3 points per dollar at Air Canada.
- Earning without an Aeroplan card: the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, whose points transfer 1:1.
For more flexibility than the Aeroplan program alone, also compare the best travel rewards credit cards, whose points transfer to several programs.
You can also create your free member account to see member-only offers and choose your newsletters.
Featured
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,139
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 50,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
Is an Aeroplan credit card worth it?
Yes, as soon as you fly Air Canada as a family or a couple. The free first checked bag covers the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same booking: CIBC values this benefit at $140 for two travellers on a round trip. With the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, the $139 annual fee is also rebated in the first year, subject to the offer's conditions.
Which Aeroplan card gives access to Maple Leaf Lounges?
The premium cards do: the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card and its Business version, as well as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card. The Amex Reserve card includes access for you and one guest. The TD card adds 6 visits per year to other airport lounges through the Visa Airport Companion Program.
Which Aeroplan card should you choose without a high income?
The TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite cards require a personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000. Amex does not list an income requirement for the American Express Aeroplan Card ($120 per year) and lets you check your eligibility with no impact on your credit score. The TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card ($89, rebated in the first year) remains an option for earning Aeroplan points.
Does TD offer an Aeroplan credit card?
Yes. TD offers the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card ($89), the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card ($139), the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card ($599) and the TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card. Both Visa Infinite cards earn you 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar on gas, groceries and purchases made directly with Air Canada.
Does CIBC offer Aeroplan cards?
Yes: the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, a student version and a business card. The Visa Infinite costs $139 per year ($159 as of January 12, 2027) and gives you the same free first checked bag as its TD rival.
Can American Express points be transferred to Aeroplan?
Yes. American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan points at a 1,000 to 1,000 ratio, starting at 1,000 points, within 30 minutes according to Amex. That is what makes the Gold Rewards Card and the Cobalt Card useful for earning Aeroplan points without holding an Aeroplan card.
How do you maximize your Aeroplan points?
Redeem them mainly for flights. Book very early, as soon as the booking window opens, or at the last minute, when seats free up. Also look at flights on Aeroplan partner airlines, such as SWISS or TAP Air Portugal: they often cost fewer points, but award seats are scarcer.
What changes for Aeroplan cards on January 12, 2027?
Aeroplan has announced new Air Canada benefits for Aeroplan cardholders starting January 12, 2027. Several annual fees go up on the same date: $799 for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, $150 for the American Express Aeroplan Card and $159 for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.