CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
3.3
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.8
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$541.37
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
$1,050
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
First Year Value
$1,452.37
$402.37 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$311.78
First Year Bonus Value
$100
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$411.78
$311.78 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Travel Accident
$500,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2,500
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Trip Interruption
$2,000Flight Delay
$500
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
Up to $100,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence
Extra Benefits
Car Rental Discount
Get up to 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide.
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Exclusive offers.svg)
Gas Discount
save up to 10¢/L on fuel at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations
Discount
Primary cardholders can often book flight rewards for even fewer points.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible purchases made on your card.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy a free first checked bag for you, authorized users and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Extra Benefits*
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$0
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$60,000
Min Household Income:
$100,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus
10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase. 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 or more during the first 4 statements periods. 20,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $15,000 in net purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods.
Welcome Bonus*
In your first 3 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a bonus 5% cash back on all purchases (up to $2,000 in purchases). That’s on top of your everyday cash back earn rates. That’s up to $100 in bonus cash back.
Rewards Rate
- 1.5 Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly, including through Air Canada Vacations®
- 1 Aeroplan® point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Rate*
- 2% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
- 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is great for Air Canada travelers who want to rack up Aeroplan points and enjoy perks like free checked bags and preferred pricing on flight redemptions. With solid reward rates in key spending categories like gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, this card offers decent returns. Additionally, the first-year annual fee waiver and comprehensive travel insurance make it a solid option for those looking for value without the upfront cost. However, its highest value is for people who frequently travel with Air Canada and make use of Aeroplan rewards, especially for flights.
Is this card worth it?
The SimplyCash® Card from American Express stands out for its no annual fee and strong cash-back earning potential, offering up to $100 in statement credits within the first 10 months. What makes it even more appealing are the unique perks, such as early access to concert tickets and extra layers of security for online shopping. These extra benefits, along with the affordability, make it a strong contender for those looking for a reliable cash-back card with no annual fee. It's an excellent choice for everyday spending while still enjoying exclusive Amex advantages.
Pros
- Generous Welcome Bonus: 40,000 Aeroplan points upon meeting the initial spending requirements.
- High Reward Rates: Earn up to 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, and Air Canada purchases.
- Air Canada Perks: Free checked bags for you and up to 8 companions when flying Air Canada.
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan Flights: Get access to better Aeroplan point redemption rates for Air Canada flights.
Pros
- No annual fee: The card does not charge an annual fee, making it accessible and cost-effective.
- Attractive cash-back rates: Offers a solid structure for earning cash-back on eligible purchases.
- Exclusive Amex perks: Provides benefits such as access to concert tickets and enhanced security for online shopping.
Cons
- Income Requirements: Requires either a $60,000 personal income or a $100,000 household income to qualify.
- Limited Redemption Value: The highest value for points is found when redeeming for Air Canada flights, limiting flexibility if you prefer other types of rewards.
Cons
- Annual cash-back cap: Limits the total amount of cash-back you can earn within a year.
- Limited travel and shopping insurance: The card lacks comprehensive travel and shopping coverage compared to other premium cards.
- American Express acceptance: Amex is not accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard.
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs American Express® Green Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
Legal