Pillar guide
Best Aeroplan Credit Card Canada 2026: 5 Top Picks Compared
The best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for 2026 — Amex Aeroplan Reserve, TD Aeroplan, CIBC Aeroplan, and Amex Aeroplan compared on earn rates.
Aeroplan is the most-recognized loyalty program in Canada, with millions of members and a complete co-branded card ecosystem from Amex, TD, CIBC, and BMO. Picking the right Aeroplan card depends entirely on how often you fly Air Canada — and how much you’ll actually use premium perks.
Related: Best Travel Credit Cards Canada 2026 · Best Cashback Credit Cards · Marriott Bonvoy Amex Review (the strongest hotel-side companion) · Best No-Fee Credit Cards for the no-fee Aeroplan options.
Here’s the honest 2026 lineup.
TL;DR — the 2026 picks
| Profile | Best card | Annual fee | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Air Canada loyalist | Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | Lounge access + Companion Pass |
| Mid-tier flyer (TD customer) | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | Visa acceptance + bank integration |
| Mid-tier flyer (CIBC customer) | CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | Same as TD with CIBC integration |
| Casual Aeroplan earner | Amex Aeroplan Card | $120 | Lower fee, decent earning |
| Want flexibility (not pure Aeroplan) | Amex Cobalt | $156 | MR transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan + others |
How much is an Aeroplan point worth?
Before choosing a card, understand what you’re earning. Aeroplan points are worth approximately:
- 0.8-1.0 cents at gift card / merchandise redemption (worst)
- 1.3-1.5 cents for short-haul domestic Air Canada flights
- 1.5-2.0 cents for medium-haul flights (Toronto-Vancouver, Toronto-Florida)
- 2.0-3.0+ cents for long-haul Business class on Star Alliance partners (best)
Optimal target: 1.5+ cents per point. Below that, you’re better off earning cashback.
A 50,000-point welcome bonus is worth:
- $400-500 in cash equivalents
- $750-900 in typical flight value
- $1,000-1,500 in optimal Business class redemption
The 2026 picks — full breakdown
1. American Express Aeroplan Reserve — Best premium
Annual fee: $599 Earn rate: 3x Aeroplan on dining + Aeroplan-branded purchases; 1.25x elsewhere Welcome bonus: Typically 50,000-90,000 Aeroplan points Income requirement: $80K personal / $150K household FX fee: 2.5%
Premium benefits (the reason it costs $599):
- Maple Leaf Lounge access at Air Canada hubs in YYZ (Toronto), YVR (Vancouver), YUL (Montreal), YYC (Calgary), and select international cities
- Air Canada Companion Pass — companion flies on domestic Air Canada flights for taxes only when you spend $25,000+ annually
- Priority airport experience — priority check-in, security, boarding, baggage handling
- Free first checked bag for you AND up to 8 companions on Air Canada
- NEXUS rebate ($100 every 4 years)
- Comprehensive travel insurance — medical, trip cancellation, rental car CDW
- Concierge service — Amex Platinum-tier concierge for travel/dining
The break-even math:
- Lounge access: ~$60/visit value × 8 visits/year = $480
- Free checked bag: ~$30/flight × 8 flights/year = $240
- Priority boarding: ~$15/flight × 8 flights/year = $120
- Companion Pass (1 use): ~$500-1,500
- Welcome bonus (Year 1): ~$700-1,800
Year 1 break-even: for anyone who’ll use the Companion Pass (saves $500+) and lounges 5+ times, the card pays for itself in year 1. Ongoing break-even: anyone flying Air Canada 8+ times per year.
Best for: Air Canada Super Elite/75K loyalists, business travelers, families flying together domestically.
Editorial pick
Amex Aeroplan Reserve
2. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — Best mid-tier
Annual fee: $139 (often waived first year) Earn rate: 1.5x Aeroplan on grocery, dining, restaurants, Air Canada; 1x elsewhere Welcome bonus: Typically 30,000-50,000 Aeroplan points Income requirement: $60K personal / $100K household (Visa Infinite tier) FX fee: 2.5%
Why it’s the best mid-tier pick:
- Visa universal acceptance (Costco accepts Visa? No — Mastercard only — but most other merchants do)
- TD bank integration for existing TD customers
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Reasonable annual fee with frequent first-year waiver promotions
- Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights you book with the card
Best for: Mid-frequency Aeroplan earners (3-7 Air Canada flights/year), TD banking customers, those who want Visa acceptance over Amex.
Editorial pick
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
3. CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite — Comparable to TD
Annual fee: $139 Earn rate: 1.5x Aeroplan on grocery, gas, dining, Air Canada; 1x elsewhere Welcome bonus: Typically 30,000-50,000 Aeroplan points Income requirement: $60K personal / $100K household FX fee: 2.5%
Why CIBC over TD: essentially functionally identical. CIBC sometimes runs better promotional welcome offers (35K-50K points + first-year fee waiver). For Canadians who already bank at CIBC, this is the natural choice.
Best for: CIBC banking customers, anyone who values the Pace Rewards transfer flexibility (CIBC’s separate program).
Editorial pick
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
4. American Express Aeroplan Card — Best entry-level
Annual fee: $120 Earn rate: 2x Aeroplan on dining + Aeroplan; 1x elsewhere Welcome bonus: Typically 30,000-40,000 Aeroplan points Income requirement: Lower than premium cards (no specific minimum) FX fee: 2.5%
Why pick this over the Reserve: at $120 vs $599, the Aeroplan Card delivers most of the basic Aeroplan benefits (priority boarding, free checked bag) without lounge access or the Companion Pass. For Canadians who fly Air Canada 1-3 times per year and want some Aeroplan-branded perks at a moderate cost, the Aeroplan Card is the right pick.
Best for: Casual Aeroplan earners, those who don’t fly frequently enough to justify the Reserve’s $599 fee.
Editorial pick
Amex Aeroplan Card
5. American Express Cobalt — The flexible alternative
Annual fee: $156 ($12.99/month) Earn rate: 5x Membership Rewards on dining + groceries; 3x streaming; 2x transit; 1x elsewhere Why mention here: Membership Rewards transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan
Why Cobalt instead of an Aeroplan card?
The Cobalt earns Amex Membership Rewards, which transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan. But MR also transfers to Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and several other programs.
This means Cobalt holders can:
- Earn at higher rates (5x dining/groceries vs 1.5-3x on Aeroplan cards)
- Transfer to Aeroplan when Aeroplan offers the best redemption
- Transfer to other programs when those offer better redemption
- Keep flexibility instead of committing to one airline
For most Canadians who aren’t Air Canada Super Elite loyalists, Cobalt + transfers to Aeroplan beats a co-branded Aeroplan card.
For full breakdown: see Best Travel Credit Card Canada.
Aeroplan card comparison
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate (Aeroplan) | Lounge access | Companion Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | 3x dining/Aeroplan | Maple Leaf Lounge | Yes ($25K spend) | |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x bonus categories | No | No | |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x bonus categories | No | No | |
| Amex Aeroplan Card | $120 | 2x dining/Aeroplan | No | No | |
| Amex Cobalt (transfer to Aeroplan) | $156 | 5x dining/groceries (MR) | No | No |
How to maximize Aeroplan card value
Strategy 1: Pair Aeroplan card with Cobalt (best for most)
- TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite for Air Canada bookings, dining, Aeroplan transactions
- Amex Cobalt for everyday dining + groceries (5x earning)
- Transfer Cobalt’s Membership Rewards to Aeroplan as needed
This combo delivers the highest effective Aeroplan earn rate while maintaining flexibility.
Strategy 2: Stack the welcome bonuses
Both Amex Aeroplan ($120) and Amex Aeroplan Reserve ($599) offer separate welcome bonuses. Aggressive bonus-chasers can get one, hold for ~12 months, then product-change or apply for the other after the 12-month wait. Net 2-3 years of welcome bonuses = 100,000-200,000 extra Aeroplan points.
Strategy 3: Time annual spend for the Companion Pass
The Aeroplan Reserve’s Companion Pass triggers at $25,000 annual spend. If you’re at $20K-$23K by year-end, push extra spend through the card (utility bills, prepaid grocery, etc.) to hit the threshold.
Strategy 4: Redeem points strategically
Don’t redeem 50K Aeroplan points for a $500 cash certificate (1 cent/point). Instead:
- Toronto → Vancouver: 25K points, ~$400 cash value (1.6 cents/point)
- Toronto → Tokyo Business: 100K points, ~$3,500-5,000 cash value (3.5-5 cents/point)
- Avoid award flights with high cash co-pays — they often cost more than booking with cash
Common Aeroplan card mistakes
-
Holding the Reserve when you only fly Air Canada 2x/year. $599 fee for occasional perks is too expensive. Downgrade to the $120 Amex Aeroplan or move to Cobalt.
-
Missing the Companion Pass threshold. $25K is the trigger. If you’re at $24K in November, push extra spend through the card.
-
Hoarding Aeroplan points. Aeroplan has devalued points multiple times historically (most recently 2019/2020). Burn within 1-2 years.
-
Ignoring welcome bonuses. A 70K-point welcome bonus is worth $1,000-1,800 in flight value. Time card applications to coincide with elevated welcome offers (often Q1-Q2 of each year).
-
Not pairing with a no-FX card for international travel. Aeroplan cards charge 2.5% FX. If you’re flying internationally, use Scotia Passport Visa Infinite or Wealthsimple Credit Card for foreign purchases.
Bottom line
The best Aeroplan credit card for you in 2026 depends on how often you fly Air Canada:
- 8+ Air Canada flights/year: Amex Aeroplan Reserve at $599
- 3-7 Air Canada flights/year: TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite at $139
- 1-3 Air Canada flights/year: Amex Aeroplan Card at $120
- Mixed loyalty (not Air Canada specific): Amex Cobalt at $156 with transfers
For most Canadians, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the right balance of features and cost. For Air Canada power users, the Aeroplan Reserve justifies its $599 fee through lounge access and the Companion Pass alone.
Avoid the Aeroplan card ecosystem entirely if you don’t fly Air Canada — you’ll get more value from cashback or Membership Rewards cards.
Read next
- Best Travel Credit Card Canada — broader travel card landscape
- Best Credit Cards In Canada — full credit card landscape
- Best Cashback Credit Cards Canada — cashback alternatives
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Review — hotel-loyalty alternative
- MBNA Rewards World Elite Review — high-earn flat-rate alternative
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Aeroplan credit card in Canada?
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve at $599 annual fee is the top-tier choice for Air Canada loyalists who fly 4+ times per year. Benefits include Maple Leaf Lounge access (worth $300-600/year for frequent flyers), an Air Canada Companion Pass when you spend $25,000+ annually (worth $400-1,500 per use), priority boarding and free first checked bag, and 50,000-90,000 Aeroplan welcome bonuses. For mid-tier flyers, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139) is the best value pick.
What's the difference between TD Aeroplan and CIBC Aeroplan?
Functionally similar. Both have $139 annual fees, similar earn rates (1.5x Aeroplan on grocery/gas/restaurants/Air Canada), comparable insurance coverage, and welcome bonuses around 30,000-50,000 Aeroplan points. Differences: TD has slightly stronger Big 5 banking integration; CIBC sometimes runs better promotional welcome offers. For most Canadians: pick whichever you already bank with, or whoever has the better current welcome bonus.
How much is an Aeroplan point worth?
Aeroplan points are worth roughly $0.013-$0.020 in flight value, depending on redemption. Cheap domestic flights (Toronto-Montreal): ~1.3 cents per point. Premium long-haul (Vancouver-Tokyo Business): up to 2-3 cents per point. Cash-equivalent redemptions (gift cards, merchandise): ~$0.01 per point. Average optimal redemption: ~1.5-1.8 cents per point. So 50,000 Aeroplan points are worth $750-900 in typical flight value, $1,000-1,500 in optimal redemption.
Is the Aeroplan Reserve $599 fee worth it?
Yes for Air Canada loyalists who'll use the perks; no otherwise. Break-even math: lounge access (~$60/visit, 5+ visits/year = $300+), Companion Pass (1 use saves $400-1,500), priority boarding/free checked bag ($25-50/flight, 8+ flights/year = $200+). For frequent flyers (10+ AC flights/year), the card delivers $1,000-3,000 in net annual value. For occasional flyers (1-3 AC flights/year), the cheaper Amex Aeroplan ($120) makes more sense.
Can I have multiple Aeroplan credit cards?
Yes, but it's rarely optimal. Common situation: holding the entry-level Amex Aeroplan ($120) plus the premium Amex Aeroplan Reserve ($599) — but the Reserve already includes most Aeroplan benefits, making the dual-card setup wasteful. More productive: pair an Aeroplan card (TD or Amex) with a Membership Rewards card (Amex Cobalt) — the Cobalt's points transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan when needed AND you can transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy or other programs.
Aeroplan vs Membership Rewards — which is better?
Membership Rewards are more flexible. Amex Cobalt earns Membership Rewards that transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, British Airways, and others. This means you can decide AFTER earning which program offers the best redemption. Aeroplan-specific cards lock you into Air Canada/Star Alliance flights. For someone who flies Air Canada 80%+ of the time: Aeroplan card. For someone with mixed travel patterns: Cobalt.
What's the easiest Aeroplan card to get approved for?
The American Express Aeroplan Card at $120 fee has the lowest income/credit requirements among Aeroplan-branded cards. The TD Aeroplan Visa and CIBC Aeroplan Visa both require Visa Infinite eligibility (typically $60K+ personal income). The Amex Aeroplan Reserve at $599 is the strictest — typically requires $80K+ personal or $150K+ household income plus strong credit history.
Do Aeroplan credit cards have foreign transaction fees?
Yes, all major Aeroplan-branded cards charge 2.5% foreign transaction fees on non-CAD purchases. This is a notable weakness — for international travel, pair an Aeroplan card with a no-FX-fee card like Scotia Passport Visa Infinite (3x earning + 0% FX) or Wealthsimple Credit Card (0% FX, free with $4K invested). The exception: business travel cards like Amex Business Aeroplan have similar FX fee structures.
How do I redeem Aeroplan points for the most value?
Best redemption: long-haul Business or First class flights on Star Alliance partners (United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines). A 100,000-point Business class flight to Asia would cost $4,000-8,000 cash — that's 4-8 cents per point. Worst redemption: gift cards or merchandise (~1 cent per point). Average smart redemption: domestic Air Canada Economy (~1.5 cents per point). Goal: aim for 1.5+ cents per point in flight value.
What is the Air Canada Companion Pass?
A perk on the Amex Aeroplan Reserve card: when you spend $25,000+ on the card in a calendar year, you earn a Companion Pass that lets a companion fly with you on a domestic Air Canada flight for taxes/fees only (typically $50-150 vs $400-1,500 for the cash ticket). Restrictions: Air Canada operated/marketed flights only, must book together, certain blackout dates apply. For couples who fly together domestically, the Companion Pass is worth $400-1,500 per use.
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