Chase Aeroplan Card Gets a Major Upgrade, Despite a Higher Fee

Huge changes have arrived today, September 10, to the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card. The first thing you might notice is the updated name, with Air Canada now in the title. However, that’s actually the least of the changes and spoiler: I actually think it’s an overall net positive update.

A quick overview of the changes: the annual fee is increasing from $95 USD to $195 USD, offset with $100 USD in Air Canada statement credits delivered as two $50 USD credits semi-annually. You’ll also receive Aeroplan 25K status automatically with no spending requirement and save up to 15% on eligible Air Canada flight redemptions.

The earn rates are changing: Air Canada purchases now earn up to 5X Aeroplan points, travel earns 3X, while restaurant, grocery store, and gas station purchases earn 2X. Everything else earns 1X.

At its core, this card still offers many of the perks available on the $599 Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege cards for just a $195 USD annual fee (offset with $100 in Air Canada statement credits).

The welcome bonus has increased to up to 115,000 Aeroplan points! Let’s take a look at all the details.

Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card

• Annual Fee: Then $95, Now $195
  • New: Offset with $100 Air Canada credit, distributed as $50 semi-annually
• Welcome Offer: Up to 115,000 Aeroplan points
  • 75,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $4,000 USD on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • 40,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $20,000 USD on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening
• Earn Rates:
  • 3X points for every dollar spent on dining, takeout, and eligible delivery services
  • 3X points for every dollar spent at grocery stores
  • 2X Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery, grocery stores, and gas station purchases
  • 3X points for each dollar spent directly with Air Canada
  • Up to 5X points for every dollar spent directly with Air Canada
    • 3X points from credit card
    • 2X points from Air Canada, on eligible flights when travelling as an Aeroplan 25K member
  • New: 3X points for every dollar spent on travel
  • 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases
  • Plus, 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent in a calendar month (up to a maximum of 1,500 points per calendar month)

• Elite Status Perks – The Good Stuff
  • Maintain 25K Status through the next year after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
  • Cardmembers get automatic Aeroplan 25k Elite status as long as they remain a cardholder
  • Upgrade to Aeroplan 35K Status upon spending $75,000 USD within a calendar year
  • Earn SQC through spending:
    • Bonus 5,000 SQC awarded at start of year
    • Get 10,000 SQC upon spending $25,000 USD
    • Get 10,000 SQC upon spending $50,000 USD
  • Superior to the Visa Infinite Privilege cards in Canada
    • To Earn 25,000 SQC: Spend just $50,000 USD vs. $125,000 CAD
• New: Starting January 2027, get a 4th day free at 11,000+ car rental locations worldwide when you book for 4 days in one reservation with Aeroplan points
• Additional spend-based benefits
  • Earn a 50% discount on flight rewards (Priority Reward) at $100k, $250k, 500k, and $750k in spend. Each Priority Reward will be valid on specific cabins and destinations, based on member status at the time of meeting threshold requirements;
    • 25K: 50% discount on Canada/US in Economy
    • 35K: 50% discount in North America, up to Premium Economy
    • 50K: 50% discount in North America, up to Premium Economy
    • 75K: 50% discount Worldwide, up to Premium Economy
    • Super Elite: 50% discount Worldwide, up to Signature/Business Class
    • Members who spend $1M will unlock an unlimited Global+1 and get 100% points back on all redemptions in all cabins for a designated companion.

• Pay Yourself Back® Benefits

Members can also apply up to 200,000 Aeroplan points per year towards travel purchases each year, on any airline, hotel, car rental, and more, at the rate of USD 1.25 cents per point.

• Carbon offsets

Aeroplan will purchase carbon offsets to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions associated with cardmember travel when they fly Air Canada using an Aeroplan flight reward. Applies to Chase Aeroplan primary cardmembers and travel companions on the same reservation for flight segments with Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada Rouge.

• $120 credit toward Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS every four years (as reimbursement for the application fee charged to the card)
• No foreign transaction fees
• Comprehensive Insurance package, including
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
  • Baggage Delay Insurance
  • Trip Delay Reimbursement
  • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
  • Roadside Assistance
• World Elite Mastercard benefits, including
  • Complimentary 24/7 concierge service
  • Access to Mastercard Priceless® Experiences
  • Exclusive offers from popular brands for services like ride-sharing, food delivery and online shopping

Analyzing the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card Changes

Annual Fee Increase, But Automatic 25K Status + Hyatt Status Challenge

As mentioned in the introduction, I believe this to be a net positive change. The annual fee is increasing from $95 USD to $195 USD, but is offset by a $100 Air Canada credit. Even though it’s distributed as $50 USD twice a year, I’d value it at face value for anyone who makes purchases with Air Canada. When redeeming Aeroplan points, the associated taxes/fees should qualify for this $50 credit as long as you charge it to your Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card. As such, the annual fee is effectively remaining the same.

When it comes to benefits, automatically receiving Aeroplan 25K status just by being a cardholder is phenomenal. This card previously required spending $15,000 USD a year to keep 25K. Keeping in mind that the annual fee is effectively the same, this change represents a strict improvement.

With the new partnership between Air Canada and Hyatt, only Aeroplan Elite members can transfer Aeroplan points to Hyatt points and participate in the Hyatt status challenge to achieve Globalist with just 20 nights. Therefore, getting Aeroplan Elite status automatically without any spending requirements significantly lowers the barrier to using your Aeroplan points with Hyatt and unlocking World of Hyatt status.

Getting a 4th day free when redeeming Aeroplan points for car rentals could pair nicely with Aeroplan’s frequent promotion codes to receive a discount when booking car rentals or hotels with Aeroplan points. However, I still recommend paying cash for car rentals due to the insurance component. Credit card car rental insurance coverage usually requires the full cost of the rental charged to the card.

15% Air Canada Points Redemption Discount

To me, by far the most exciting perk is getting 15% off on eligible Air Canada flight redemptions. That’s an incredible benefit for an Aeroplan co-branded card with a $195 USD (and effectively $95) annual fee because this benefit is not available on the $599-annual fee Aeroplan co-branded cards in Canada.

It might not seem as useful on the surface because a 15% discount on high/dynamically-priced flights might not move the needle on deciding to redeem points or not, but I expect the discount to also apply when the itinerary includes Air Canada as well as a partner airline, even if Air Canada is only for a short positioning flight. The discount may not be the entire 15% in this case, but I do think there will be some discount. I’ll run some searches once the feature is live and report back.

Earning Rates Changing

This is the only category I’d say is a negative change. Up to 5X on Air Canada flights is a big positive, but groceries and dining going from 3X to 2X is a loss. For most of us, we probably spend more money on groceries and dining than Air Canada flights, so it will be a net loss in points earned. Gas is a new elevated earn category, so getting 2X is decent. The new travel earning rate of 3X does move this card solidly into the travel card category.

This was already my go-to card for spending on Air Canada, and earning up to 5X makes that case even stronger. Note that this 5X consists of 3X points earned from the credit card and 2X points directly from Air Canada (i.e. Chase transactions/statements will show 3X earnings), but Air Canada’s 2X only applies when travelling as an Aeroplan 25K member. I take that to mean you’ll earn this extra 2X on flights for yourself, but not when booking travel for others.

You’ll earn up to 5X Aeroplan points when spending on Air Canada with the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card

But points earned are only theoretical until you actually use the card, and I wonder how many people were using the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan card for groceries and dining in the first place. For Canadians, the Amex Cobalt is a better choice (5X), while Americans have a plethora of options for 3X on dining/groceries, and I’d wager most would prefer a flexible currency that they can transfer to Aeroplan if they wish.

Up to 115,000 Aeroplan Points Welcome Bonus

The up to 115,000 Aeroplan points welcome bonus is among the highest we’ve ever seen on this card and is reason enough on its own to pick one up. You get 75,000 points with just $4,000 USD spend in 3 months, while spending a total of $20,000 in the first year earns another 40,000. Assuming you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, you’ll need to average $1,778 USD a month in the next nine months to reach $20,000.

Is the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card Worth It?

Honestly, I had been wavering on whether to keep my Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card because the main benefit for me is being able to earn 25K status with only ~$21,000 CAD ($15,000 USD) of spending (compared to the $125,000 CAD of spending needed on the premium Aeroplan cards in Canada), should I not achieve Marriott Titanium Elite (which comes with Aeroplan 25K status). The automatic 25K inclusion is a huge win for me, and with two $50 Air Canada statement credits offsetting the difference in annual fee, it’s an easy keeper in my wallet.

Aeroplan 25K Elite members enjoy priority check-in, priority Zone 2 boarding, and 5 eUpgrade credits each year as a core benefit. More eUpgrades can be earned through Milestone Benefits and eligible Air Canada Flight Pass activities.

Note: those chasing Aeroplan 35K Elite status or higher will still need to reach the required SQC’s, as automatic 25K status does not come with 25,000 SQCs. Spending $50,000 USD on the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card is enough to get 25,000 SQC’s.

Takeaway

The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card continues to be a premium Aeroplan card at a mid-tier price point. The annual fee has increased to $195 USD, but with $100 in annual Air Canada credits, the effective cost remains around $95 USD for anyone who can easily use them.

In return, you’re now getting automatic Aeroplan 25K status, up to 15% off eligible Air Canada award redemptions, and a path to 35K status with $75,000 USD in annual spending. For those chasing higher Aeroplan status, the card also remains considerably more efficient than its Canadian counterparts: $50,000 USD in annual spending gets you to the maximum 25,000 SQC available through Aeroplan credit cards, compared to $125,000 CAD on a $599 premium Aeroplan co-branded card.

The lower grocery and dining earn rates are disappointing, but they don’t change what makes this card compelling. With premium Aeroplan benefits at a fraction of the price of Canada’s premium co-branded cards, these changes make an already strong card an even easier long-term keeper.