Apply Now: Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card

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Air Canada and Chase launched a partnership in the United States. Air Canada Aeroplan became a Chase Ultimate rewards transfer partner last August. The Aeroplan Credit Card was launched in December by Air Canada and Chase.

I wanted to let people know that this new card was introduced and they missed it. You will get nearly two full years out of the complimentary elite status offered by the card if you apply in early 2021.

Air Canada's new co- branded credit card in the United States is both lucrative and innovative. This card has a lot to offer, from a huge welcome bonus, to generous bonus categories for spending, to valuable perks. The card has a perk for those who spend a million dollars a year.

Aeroplan Credit Card $95 annual fee

The Aeroplan Credit Card has an annual fee. Adding authorized users to the card is free, and spending from authorized users can help you accumulate points. It is in line with the annual fees you will find on most mid-range airline co-brand credit cards.

Aeroplan Credit Card welcome bonus of flight reward certificates

The Aeroplan Credit Card will give you a welcome bonus of two flight reward certificates for up to 50,000 points each. You can get this unlocked if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. If you ask me, this is one of the best credit card bonuses out there.

Each certificate can be used to redeem a single passenger in any cabin on Air Canada or a partner airline. You could book a ticket for 65,000 Aeroplan points using one welcome flight reward certificate and 15,000 Aeroplan points. You wouldn't want to use a certificate for a ticket costing under 50,000 points, so any amount not used will be forfeited.

If you close your account you will lose the welcome bonus, but the certificate will remain valid. Those who maintain their account don't have to worry about the certificate being expired.

Chase's standard credit card application rules apply.

Aeroplan Credit Card offers up to 3x points, further spending bonuses

The Aeroplan Credit Card is perfect for purchases abroad because it has no foreign transaction fees. The card has something to offer.

• 3x Aeroplan points per dollar spent on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3x Aeroplan points per dollar spent at grocery stores
• 3x Aeroplan points per dollar spent directly with Air Canada
• 1x Aeroplan points per dollar spent on other purchases

It gets better. The card gives 500 Aeroplan points for every $2,000 spent in a calendar month, up to a maximum of 1,500 Aeroplan points per month. If you spent $2,000 per month in a category that earned 3x points, you would earn a total of 6,500 Aeroplan points.

This is the best rewards structure we have seen on a co- branded airline credit card. Spending can earn you elite status and flight reward discount vouchers.

Aeroplan Credit Card elite status perks with Air Canada

The Aeroplan Credit Card offers elite status to new cardmembers, as well as the chance to maintain status in the long-run with spending. The card offers something.

• Aeroplan Elite 25K status for the remainder of the first calendar year in which you have the card, plus the following calendar year (so if you applied in 2022, it would be valid through the end of 2023)
• Cardmembers can maintain Aeroplan Elite 25K status by spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year
• Cardmembers can get a one-tier status upgrade when they spend $50,000 on the card in a calendar year; this means that if you otherwise earn Aeroplan Elite 25K status by spending $15,000 on the card, your status would be upgraded to Aeroplan Elite 35K status, though if you’re an Aeroplan Elite 75K member you could use this boost to earn Super Elite status

Aeroplan Elite 25K or Elite 35K can be used if you fly Air Canada with any frequency, as you can receive perks like priority check-in, early boarding, and more. It won't get you as many perks on other airlines as it would with Star Alliance Gold status.

It's cool to be able to get a one-tier status boost all the way up to Super Elite if you're loyal to Air Canada.

Aeroplan Credit Card priority reward vouchers with spending

If you ask me, this is where the Aeroplan Credit Card gets really interesting. Big spenders can also earn priority reward vouchers, as well as solid bonus categories, monthly spending thresholds, and the ability to earn status through credit card spending. 50% off an eligible Aeroplan award ticket can be used for travel on Air Canada or a partner airline.

You can earn vouchers for spending over a million dollars a year. Depending on your status, these can be used in a variety of ways.

• Aeroplan Elite 25K and Elite 35K members can only use these for economy awards wholly within the United States and Canada
• Aeroplan Elite 50K members can use these for economy and premium economy awards within North America
• Aeroplan Elite 75K members can use these for economy and premium economy awards worldwide
• Aeroplan Super Elite members can use these for economy, premium economy, or business class awards worldwide

One more threshold is worthy of its own section.

Aeroplan Credit Card million dollar spending reward

If you spend a million dollars on the Aeroplan Credit Card in a year, you will get the ultimate companion pass. Those who reach that spending threshold receive an award redemption companion voucher.

• You can take a companion with you on Air Canada or any partner airline in any class an unlimited number of times, and 100% of the points redeemed for them will be reimbursed
• This is valid for the year in which it’s earned, plus the following calendar year
• You have to designate a single companion, as the benefit can only be applied to one person

This is an amazing perk. This isn't something that most of us can afford, but for those that spend a lot, this could be worth considering. You need to be a big spender for this to work, but you also need to be someone who redeems a lot of points for award travel.

Aeroplan Credit Card other benefits & perks

The Aeroplan Credit Card has a number of benefits.

• A free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for the primary cardmember and up to eight other travelers on the same itinerary
• A $100 credit towards Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, or NEXUS, once every four years
• World Elite Mastercard benefits, plus travel protection for flight delays, baggage, and more
• A carbon offset benefit, whereby Aeroplan will purchase carbon offsets when the cardmember redeems Aeroplan points for Air Canada flights

Coming soon: “Pay Yourself Back” feature

Aeroplan points are very valuable for award redemptions on Star Alliance and other partner airlines, so it's a great points currency to earn. If you have the Aeroplan card, you can redeem Aeroplan points.

Chase Aeroplan cardmembers will be able to apply their Aeroplan points towards travel purchases on any airline, hotel, or rental car, at the rate of 1.25 cents per point, up to 50,000 points per year.

It's a pretty innovative opportunity for those who value Aeroplan points less than me, since this is a way to cash them out and use them for travel purchases.

My take on the new Aeroplan Credit Card

The Aeroplan Credit Card is one of the most lucrative co-brand airline credit cards we have seen. I still don't know how this will fit into my strategy, but here are a few initial thoughts.

• The welcome bonus is lucrative, given how many incredible partner redemption opportunities there are with Aeroplan
• The bonus categories are generous, especially since there aren’t many Chase cards consistently offering bonus points on groceries
• I love that rather than just offering a Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check credit, you can also get a NEXUS credit; I’ve said for years that I wish we’d see that, so it’s great to see this card lead the way with that
• The ability to earn status with the card is great, though this will mostly be useful if flying with Air Canada, rather than a Star Alliance partner; however, if you already earn status with Aeroplan, the one-tier status upgrade could be very valuable
• The global companion voucher for spending a million dollars on the card is one of the coolest credit card benefits we’ve ever seen; I’ve always been surprised by how low the caps are on some credit card spending thresholds, so it’s fantastic to see a card go all-out like this

I plan on getting this card soon. I don't know how much I will spend on the card, but the bonus categories are great.

Bottom line

The Aeroplan Credit Card is very popular. The card has a huge welcome bonus of up to 100,000 Aeroplan points, as well as monthly spending bonuses and further threshold bonuses. The card has some valuable perks for being a cardmember.

It is exciting to see a card like this. I was expecting some creativity from Aeroplan. There is something for everyone here.

What do you think about the new Aeroplan credit card?