American Express Aeroplan Card

As a mid-range Aeroplan co-branded credit card, the American Express Aeroplan Card typically offers a decent signup bonus with strong earning rates, making this a worthwhile proposition for many points collectors.

Bonuses & Fees

The American Express Aeroplan Card currently offers up to 40,000 Aeroplan points as its welcome bonus when you apply through a refer-a-friend link.

The signup bonus is distributed as follows:

• 30,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
• 10,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $1,000 in month 13

Cardholders can earn 5,000 Aeroplan points for each successful referral when friends or family sign up for an American Express Aeroplan Card, Aeroplan Reserve Card, or Aeroplan Business Reserve Card. Referral bonuses are capped at 75,000 Aeroplan points per calendar year.

The card has an annual fee of $120. You’re allowed to add supplementary cardholders for $50 apiece; alternatively, you can add a lower-tier Aeroplan No Fee Card for free.

Earning Rewards

In terms of the returns on everyday spending, the American Express Aeroplan Card has a unique structure, offering cardholders:

• 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
• 1.5 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on dining and food delivery
• 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on everything else

The earn rate on Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, dining, and food delivery outshines both TD’s and CIBC’s Aeroplan Visa Infinite cards in the same market, so if you spend a significant amount in these categories, then the Amex Aeroplan Card can make a good addition to your wallet.

Redeeming Rewards

Aeroplan remains the program of choice for the vast majority of Canadians aiming to redeem their points for high-value international business and first class redemptions.

Redeeming Aeroplan points follows the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, and can cost as little as 6,000 Aeroplan points one-way on short-haul flights within North America that are under 500 miles.

If you’re looking for a premium experience, a one-way flight from Vancouver to Tokyo in business class can be booked for 55,000 Aeroplan points. If you’re travelling from the East Coast, a transatlantic flight to most parts of Western Europe can be booked for 60,000 Aeroplan points.

Keep in mind that these flights can sometimes be booked for even less, thanks to Air Canada’s preferred pricing if you hold Elite Status or a credit card.

Perks & Benefits

The Amex Aeroplan Card offers a competitive set of Air Canada travel benefits for its price range. As a cardholder, you’ll receive:

• Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights, for the primary and supplementary cardholders, and up to eight companions travelling on the same reservation
• Preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points for Air Canada flights
• The ability to earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) and 1 Status Qualifying Segment (SQS) for every $10,000 you spend on the card
• Your Aeroplan points won’t expire for as long as you’re a cardholder

Insurance Coverage

The Amex Aeroplan Card’s insurance proposition is decent, but not outstanding. Some of the provisions that it does cover include:

• Flight delay insurance: Up to $500 (aggregate maximum with Baggage Delay insurance), for food, accommodation and items purchased within 48 hours when your flight is delayed 4+ hours.
• Baggage delay insurance: Up to $500 (aggregate maximum with Flight Delay insurance), for items purchased within 4 days of arrival when your baggage is delayed 6+ hours. (Note: this is different from lost and stolen baggage insurance, which doesn’t cover delays)
• Hotel burglary insurance: Up to $500 coverage for stolen items (excluding cash).
• Travel accident insurance: Up to $500,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance.
• Car rental theft and damage insurance: Comprehensive coverage for up to 48 consecutive days for cars with an MSRP of up to $85,000.

It’s important to note that these benefits would also apply on Aeroplan reward tickets, as long as you charge the taxes and fees of your booking to your Aeroplan Card.

However, the card does not offer emergency medical insurance or trip cancellation & trip interruption insurance, which are a couple of very significant benefits that you’ll find on many of the higher-end products out there.

Lastly, the card offers Purchase Protection® Plan and Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan, covering most eligible items you’ve purchased with your card up to $1,000 should they be stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase, as well as an extended one-year warranty period on the manufacturer’s warranty.

Historical Offers