American Express Cobalt® Card vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.

American Express Cobalt® Card
Finly rebate
$75

4.9

Apply nowGet $75 Finly rebate
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

3.3

Learn more

Welcome bonus

Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.

The offer

The offer

Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your amex cobalt credit card in the first Year. That's up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points.

Earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (up to $1,000 in travel value†): 

  • 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase†.  
  • 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 or more during the first 6 monthly statements periods†.
  • 25,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $12,000 in net purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods†.
  • Enjoy a free first checked bag: a $140 value for 2 travellers for each round-trip flight, assuming you take one round-trip Air Canada flight in the first year†. 

Plus, get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each): up to $189 value†. 

What each card is worth

Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.

Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.

$1,147

First-year value

$1,539

$787

Every year after

$355

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite is worth $392 more to you in year one.

From year two, Amex Cobalt pulls ahead by $432 a year.

How the first year adds up

Annual rewards

$979.03

51,528 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $285

first year only

Annual fee

− $191.88

Finly rebate

+ $75

paid by FinlyWealth

First-year value

$1,147.15

1.9¢ a pointAmerican Express Membership Rewards, redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners

Annual rewards

$494.3

26,016 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $1,045

first year only

Annual fee

$139− $0

$139 from year two

First-year value

$1,539.3

1.9¢ a pointAeroplan, redeemed for Flights

Where each card earns

A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.

5xFood, drinks and groceries in Canada

32,604 pts

$619.48

2xGas, transit & ride share in Canada

4,692 pts

$89.15

3xStreaming subscriptions in Canada

1,440 pts

$27.36

1xAll other purchases

12,792 pts

$243.05

1.5xGroceries, Gas and Air Canada

8,172 pts

$155.27

1xAll other purchases

17,844 pts

$339.04

Fees, rates and eligibility

What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.

$191.88
billed monthly

Annual fee

Better of the two$139
$0 the first year
$0

Additional cards

$50 (first year waived up to 3)

Interest rates

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%.

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Balance Transfer:

22.99%

Recommended credit score

Recommended credit score

300
Poor
693
Fair
743⁎
Good
790⁎
Very Good
833⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring
300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725⁎
Very Good
760⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

Income required

Income required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

How each card earns

The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • 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

Points and how we value them

Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.

Loyalty program

Loyalty program

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Flights, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.

Point redemption options

Point redemption options

  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.91¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.63¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    1.9¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.16¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.08¢ / point
  • travel svg

    Flexible Points Travel Program

    1¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    1¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.75¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.72¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    flight plane

    Flights

    1.9¢ / point
  • car rental

    Car Rentals

    0.9¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Insurance

Insurance

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $250,000
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    15 days, up to $5M (if under age 65)
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $500,000
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500
  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)

    3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,000

Perks

Perks

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    Get up to 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide.
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

    Exclusive offers
  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save up to 10¢/L on fuel at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations
  • discount

    Discount

    Primary cardholders can often book flight rewards for even fewer points
  • star fall

    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
  • luggage

    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
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points

Our take

Why we like it

Why we like it

This card was voted one of the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible amex cobalt bonus points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

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.

Pros

Pros

  • Impressive optimization
  • 1:1 Aeroplan point transfer
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Flexible high value redemptions
  • Comprehensive coverage
  • Highly ranked
  • Instant decision. No credit impact.
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • High reward rates
  • Air Canada perks
  • Aeroplan flight preferred pricing

Cons

Cons

  • Limited acceptance
  • Lacks valuable coverage categories
  • Income requirements
  • Limited redemption value

More comparisons

Other cards we've put each of these up against.

Legal


*Terms and conditions apply.


If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%.


American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

†You can qualify for this offer if you apply and are approved for a new CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card beginning April 7, 2026.

In order to be eligible for this offer, you must also abide by the terms and conditions set out in this footnote.

If you apply and are approved for a new CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* card, you can earn:

i. A welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points. The 10,000 Aeroplan points will appear on your statement after you make your first purchase at any time with your card, if you are eligible.

ii. An additional bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points if you have at least $6,000 in net purchases posted to your account during the first 6 monthly statement periods. The additional bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points will be awarded (i) if the spend requirement is met and (ii) by the end of your next monthly statement period after the spend requirement is met.

iii. The anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points will be awarded to you within 8 weeks after the one year account open date, provided you have at least $12,000 in net eligible purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods and your credit card account is open and in good standing. Additional cardholders are not eligible for this offer.

As set out in and subject to the Aeroplan Program General Terms and Conditions located at [aircanada.com/aeroplan-termsandconditions], you may not be eligible for this offer or to receive any of the Welcome Bonus, Additional Bonus, or Anniversary Bonus, even if CIBC approves your application for an Account, if you have previously received a Welcome Bonus, Additional Bonus or Anniversary Bonus in connection with opening a new Aeroplan credit card account with CIBC or any other issuer of an Aeroplan credit card of the same card category type as the CIBC Account you are applying for.

A one-time annual fee rebate for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users added at the time of the application. This offer does not apply to annual fees for authorized users that are added after you submit your application. This offer applies for the first year only. If your application for an eligible card is not approved, you may be considered for another card (as disclosed in your credit card application). If you are approved for that card, this annual fee rebate offer will apply in the amount of the annual fee, if any, of the alternate card. If you qualify, the rebate will be awarded to you and will appear as a credit against the applicable annual fee(s) within two statements. Your new credit card account must be open and in Good Standing at the time the rebate is awarded.

Offer applies to newly approved card accounts only. Transfers and product changes from other CIBC credit cards are excluded from this offer.

Credit card account must be open and in Good Standing at the time the bonus Aeroplan points are awarded. Aeroplan points are awarded to you within 8 weeks after all qualifying purchase(s) are posted to your account. For this offer, the following do not qualify as purchases: Cash Advances, CIBC Global Money Transfers™, Balance Transfers, Convenience Cheques, fees, interest, payments and Aeroplan points redemptions. It may take up to several business days for purchases to be posted to your account. This offer is not transferable. This offer may be withdrawn or changed without prior notice at any time. This offer may be revoked if you appear to be manipulating or abusing it, or are engaged in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by CIBC in its sole discretion.

Please ensure that you provide your personal Aeroplan number to be linked to your credit card as linking a different loyalty number will impact the airline benefit fulfillment.

The up to $1,300 value is based on the combined total value of: The annual fee rebate for the first year ($139), plus one additional cardholder ($50); free first checked bags for two people, on a round-trip in the first year ($140), and the 45,000 Aeroplan points upon approval and required spend on your CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card are redeemed for a flight reward ($800), based on the majority of current Aeroplan cardholders who receive a value of $0.02/point or more when redeeming for a flight reward as of September 1, 2025. Redemption calculation is based on actual redemptions made by cardholders between the period of November 8, 2020 to September 1, 2025. Aeroplan points have no cash value but are redeemable under the Aeroplan program for flights and other rewards. The retail value of rewards obtained using Aeroplan points will vary depending on a range of factors including the type of reward issued, details of which may be found on the Air Canada website. Aeroplan points may be redeemed only in accordance with the General Terms & Conditions of the Aeroplan program. Full terms and conditions of the Aeroplan Program are available online on the Air Canada website. All offers are contingent on satisfying the criteria outlined in the offer terms and conditions.