American Express® Aeroplan®* Card Review
If you’re a frequent traveler looking to earn Aeroplan points on dining and Air Canada purchases, then the American Express Aeroplan Card could be the card for you.
May 20, 2026 6:50 PM
The Bottom Line
To spend the least amount of money annually for a credit card that earns you Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases and dining purchases, consider the American Express Aeroplan Card.
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Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points
Annual Fee
See Rates
Interest Rates
30% Annual* / 30% Annual*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
Rewards
- Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- Earn 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- Earn 1X the points on everything else
Insurance
Coverage
Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 days
Purchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrence
Extended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
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Free first checked bag
Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights.svg)
Status lift
Get 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) for every $20,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card, up to 25,000 SQC
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Amex Experiences™
From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Welcome Bonus Details
New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points:
- Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 6 months.
- Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13
- You could earn up to $1,550 in value within your first 13 months. When you combine the Welcome Bonus offer of up to $900 in value, your earn potential in accelerated and everyday spend earn rate categories with approximately $515 in value, and the $140 in value you get from exceptional benefits, you can earn up to $1,550 or more in value within your first 13 months. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
Card Details
Interest Rates
Purchase APR
30% Annual*
Cash Advance APR
30% Annual*
Fees
Annual Fee
$120⁕
Additional Cards
$50 For Aeroplan Card, $0 for No-fee Aeroplan Card
⁕ Notice: As of Jan 12, 2027, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card annual fee will increase to $150. Annual fees charged on or after this date will reflect the new fee. The Additional Aeroplan®* Card annual fee will increase to $59. The Additional Aeroplan®* No Fee Card will be renamed to the Additional Aeroplan®* Companion Card and the annual fee will increase to $25. Learn more about new benefits.
Eligibility
Minimum Individual Income
N/A
Minimum Household Income
N/A
Credit Score Estimate
Good
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Expedited status upgrades
- Free first checked bags
- Free extra hotel night
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
- Limited rewards
- Weaker insurance coverage
Our Detailed Review
How You Earn Rewards with the American Express Aeroplan Card
Here’s how you can expect to earn Aeroplan points with the American Express Aeroplan Card:
- Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- Earn 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- Earn 1X the points on everything else
As you can see, the reward rates for this card aren’t overly substantial, but it is nice that the specialized categories slightly optimize both Air Canada affiliated purchases and dining expenses, which can end up being pretty expensive.
Redeeming your Rewards with the American Express Aeroplan Card
There are a few redemption options for you to take advantage of with the American Express Aeroplan Card. Here’s how they rank from most valuable to least valuable:
- Transfers to Airline Partners: useful for when you want to transfer your points over to a partnered airline to buy plane tickets.
- Travel: when broken down, “travel” refers to travel bookings made through eligible platforms that allow you to use points towards eligible flights and vacation packages.
- Gift Cards: a great option for when you want to turn your points into the perfect present and purchase an eligible gift card.
Based on this list, the best way to redeem your Aeroplan points is through airline partners. Since you can also earn points through Air Canada purchases, this card allows you to basically pay for vacations by taking vacations – not to mention by eating in or dining out.
For more information on this loyalty program, check out our Credit Card Points Value Calculator.
How to apply for the American Express Aeroplan Card
After exploring all of your options, if you’re still confident that the American Express Aeroplan Card is the right choice for you, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply for this Aeroplan Card:
- First, you’ll want to visit the official American Express Canadian website.
- From there, hit the “travel” filter featured on the home page.
- Scroll until you find the American Express Aeroplan Card, then select the offer.
- Review all the information about the card directly from the source. Once you’ve thoroughly done so, press “apply now.”
- The first part of the application process will ask you to go over the card’s product information, requirements, and privacy policies. After you’ve properly read these through, select “agree & continue.”
- This is where you’ll need to input some personal information like your name, birthdate, and email address.
- The next section asks for financial information such as your income and employment details.
- Finally, you’ll want to agree to any terms and conditions before submitting your application.
To skip to the application process, you can always hit the “apply now” button featured below the American Express Aeroplan Card at the top of this page.
Benefits and Perks
7 Benefits of the American Express Aeroplan Card
To help you decide whether the American Express Aeroplan Card is one of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for you, we’re also going to breakdown its benefits.
With American Express' personal cards, you can see if you will be approved before you apply, without impacting your credit score. To make this decision, Amex runs a soft credit check instead of a hard credit check.
Most lenders perform a hard credit check when you apply for a new card, which can temporarily impact your credit score. A soft credit check, however, does not affect your credit score.
Instant decisions are only available for personal card applications and the soft credit check process is not available for applications done by phone.
Compared to other Aeroplan credit cards on the market (which we’ll cover later on in this review), the American Express Aeroplan Card has the lowest annual fee. That said, a lower annual fee typically means fewer coverage categories and benefits compared to other competing credit cards, which is the case in this circumstance. Still, more coverage and benefits are only valuable if you plan to take advantage of them enough to offset the card’s annual cost.
For a sign-up incentive, the American Express Aeroplan Card offers extra Aeroplan points to cardholders in the first few months of membership if they meet minimum spending requirements. Members can also collect even more Aeroplan points when they meet an additional spending requirement in month 13.
With the American Express Aeroplan Card, you can check your first bag of up to 23kg/50lb for free. This offer applies to both the cardholder and 8 travel companions booked on the same Air Canada flight.
Through their American Express Aeroplan Card, basic cardmembers earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles, plus 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 spent on eligible net purchases. These points can help you reach Aeroplan Elite Status much sooner.
This type of status comes with some amazing perks, such as:
- Free Checked Baggage
- Maple Leaf Lounge Access
- eUpgrades
- Priority Contacts for Customer Support
- Priority Rewards
For every 3 nights you stay at a participating hotel, with the American Express Aeroplan Card, you’ll get a 4th night free when the entire initial stay is paid for by Aeroplan points. The amount of points you’ll need to cover your stay will depend on the hotel, the room-type, and sometimes the time of year.
Collect twice the Aeroplan points when you make purchases with your American Express Aeroplan Card at over 150 participating Aeroplan partners.
Some partners include:
- Uber and Uber Eats
- Starbucks
- Sephora
- LCBO
- Apple
- Amazon
Drawbacks and Considerations
4 Downsides of the American Express Aeroplan Card
After outlining the American Express Aeroplan Card’s perks, it’s only fair that we also mention its drawbacks.
Here are some of this credit card’s shortcomings:
Compared to other credit card networks like Mastercard and Visa, American Express has a lower acceptance rate across the globe, particularly in places within Europe. This is useful to note if you're a frequent traveller looking to avoid any transactional mishaps.
Compared to other Aeroplan-oriented cards, it’s a little disappointing that the top earning category for the American Express Aeroplan Card only accounts for Air Canada purchases without the addition of more high spend categories (like gas or groceries). Following this reward category, while you do get points for dining out and eating in, the points you collect aren’t very significant.
Technically, the American Express Aeroplan Card is actually a charge card. The biggest distinction between a charge card and a credit card is that with a charge card, you can’t carry a balance from one billing cycle to the next (unlike a credit card), and you will need to pay your balance in full each month by the due date.
While it’s great to pay your balance in full each month regardless of whether or not your card allows you to carry a balance, some cardholders might not be able to keep up with this type of billing process.
While you can work your way up to lounge access through the Aeroplan Elite Status lift that’s easily accessible through the American Express Aeroplan Card, unlike other Aeroplan-optimizing cards, this card doesn’t automatically come with lounge passes or access.
Compare to Similar Cards
Sometimes, the best way to decide whether a credit card is right for you is to compare it against similar cards. The following competitors also optimize Aeroplan points in various ways, you might even find that some of these contenders offer more in terms of rewards, coverage, and benefits – for an extra cost of course.
Here’s a quick look at the comparisons we’ll be making:
American Express
3.8
American Express
4.9
American Express
4.3
American Express
4.7
Annual Fee
$120
$191.88
$139
$0 first year
$250
$599
Interest Rates
Purchase
30% Annual*
Cash advance
30% Annual*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
21.99%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
21.99%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
21.99%*
Rate details
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Up to $1,550 in value† including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† and a first-year Annual Fee rebate.
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points.
Rewards
$1,010.12
First year rewards
$1,072.15
First year rewards
$1,444.3
First year rewards
$1,426.71
First year rewards
1.25x - 3x
on American Express' website
Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
on American Express' website
Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
on TD's website
on American Express' website
Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
on American Express' website
Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
American Express Aeroplan Card vs American Express Cobalt Card
The American Express Cobalt Card is often considered one of the best credit cards in Canada because it balances strong rewards with useful insurance coverage. Compared to the American Express Aeroplan Card, the Cobalt Card has a slightly higher annual fee but delivers greater overall value, especially through its powerful rewards structure. It earns significantly more points on everyday spending, particularly dining, food delivery, and groceries, offering more than double the earning rate of the Aeroplan Card. It also expands rewards categories to include streaming subscriptions, gas, and transit. Although the Cobalt Card does not directly earn Aeroplan points or include a specific Air Canada purchase category, its American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, maintaining flexibility. Additionally, the Cobalt Card offers broader insurance coverage, including lost or stolen baggage protection, mobile device insurance, and emergency out-of-province medical coverage. However, the American Express Aeroplan Card stands out in terms of travel-related perks, offering stronger benefits for Air Canada flyers.
Verdict: Choose the American Express Cobalt Card if you want higher rewards on everyday spending and flexible points that can convert to Aeroplan. Choose the American Express Aeroplan Card if you prefer earning Aeroplan points directly and want stronger Air Canada travel benefits.
American Express Aeroplan Card vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Known as one of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card can be a strong alternative to the American Express Aeroplan Card, especially for people concerned about Amex acceptance, since Visa is more widely accepted. While the TD card has a slightly higher annual fee and requires a minimum annual income to qualify, it generally offers greater first-year and ongoing value due to its larger welcome bonus and broader rewards structure. Not to mention, the annual fee is waived for the first year. Reward categories cover common everyday spending such as gas and groceries in addition to Air Canada purchases, which may make it easier to accumulate points through regular spending. The card also provides more extensive insurance coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, improved baggage and hotel burglary coverage, and emergency medical protection for travellers over 65. In terms of perks, both cards offer benefits like a free first checked bag, accelerated Aeroplan Elite Status through Status Qualifying Miles, and bonus points with partner brands, but the TD card adds extras such as a NEXUS rebate, car rental discounts, and Troon Rewards Golf benefits.
Verdict: If you qualify for the income requirement and want wider card acceptance, stronger travel insurance, and better rewards on everyday purchases, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is likely the better choice. However, if dining rewards are important to you and you prefer avoiding income requirements or higher annual fees, the American Express Aeroplan Card may still be the better fit.
American Express Aeroplan Card vs American Express Gold Rewards Card
The American Express Gold Rewards Card costs over twice the annual fee of the American Express Aeroplan Card, but it also delivers a larger welcome bonus and broader everyday earning potential. While it doesn’t earn Aeroplan points directly or offer extra rewards on Air Canada purchases, it earns strong points on common spending categories like gas, groceries, drugstores, and travel purchases, and its Membership Rewards points can still be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. The Gold Rewards Card also provides more extensive insurance coverage, including trip interruption, trip cancellation, emergency out-of-province medical, and lost or stolen baggage insurance, along with additional premium perks such as a travel credit, NEXUS rebate, hotel benefits, Priority Pass membership, and four complimentary Plaza Premium lounge visits. In contrast, the Aeroplan Card has a lower annual fee, earns Aeroplan points directly (especially on Air Canada and dining purchases), and still includes practical travel perks like a free first checked bag.
Verdict: Choose the American Express Gold Rewards Card if you want stronger everyday earning categories, more travel perks, and broader insurance coverage. Choose the American Express Aeroplan Card if you prefer a lower annual fee and straightforward Aeroplan point earning with Air Canada-focused benefits.
American Express Aeroplan Card vs American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, one of the best perks credit cards in Canada, is essentially a premium upgrade to the American Express Aeroplan Card, but it comes with an annual fee that is nearly five times higher. In return, it offers a larger first-year welcome bonus (with significantly higher minimum spending requirements), slightly higher Aeroplan points earning rates on Air Canada purchases, dining, and food delivery, and a better base earn rate on all other purchases. The Reserve Card also improves on insurance coverage, often doubling the value of protections such as baggage delay, hotel burglary, and flight delay insurance, while adding additional coverages like lost or stolen baggage, emergency out-of-province medical, and trip interruption and cancellation insurance. Beyond rewards and insurance, it includes enhanced travel benefits such as more status lifts, a companion voucher, a NEXUS rebate, priority travel perks, and unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges, Air Canada Cafés, and Priority Pass lounges.
Verdict: The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is worth upgrading to only if you’re willing to pay a much higher annual fee in exchange for stronger insurance, premium travel perks, and slightly better points earning rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conveniently, there are no personal or household income requirements for the American Express Aeroplan Card.
Holding the lowest annual fee out of all the other Aeroplan credit cards mentioned in this review, the American Express Aeroplan Card currently has an annual fee of $120 per year.
About the author
Sara Skodak
Lead Writer
Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...
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American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
3.8
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Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
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