Closer Look: New CIBC Aeroplan Credit Cards and Air Canada Benefits

The pre-launch of the New Aeroplan Program on August 11th came with announcement of new credit card portfolio comprising TD, CIBC, and AMEX cards. In addition to a power-packed portfolio, the new Aeroplan program is taking credit card integration to a whole new level, with exclusive card benefits catering to members at all levels and lifestyles. While banks have started notifying existing customers of new card features, new acquisition offers are expected to roll out with the soft launch of the new Aeroplan program on Nov 8, 2020.

The refresh and rollout of new CIBC Aeroplan Credit Cards come with a list of key details for existing customers;

• On November 8, 2020, Aeroplan Miles will change to Aeroplan points
• Aeroplan will honour miles on a one-to-one basis. Existing cardmembers can continue to use their card and collect Aeroplan miles as usual
• CIBC has launched new welcome bonuses, and annual fee waivers, for current Aeroplan cards in their portfolio – for applications that are approved between now and Nov 7, 2020

New CIBC Aeroplan Credit Cards and associated Air Canada Benefits, that launch on Nov8, 2020 are listed below:

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

• Minimum Annual Income Qualification: $200,000 household
• Annual Fee:
  • $599 for primary cardholder
  • $149 for each authorized user
  • CIBC will provide a one-time annual fee rebate, equal to the amount of the annual fee increase for the first year, for the primary cardholder and each authorized user on the credit card account as of November 7, 2020. The rebate will appear as a credit against the applicable annual fee on the statement when the new annual fee is first charged to the credit card account on or after November 8, 2020.
• Earn Rate:
  • 2x on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®*
  • 1.5x on eligible Travel, Dining,  Gas, Grocery, Drugstore
  • 1.25x the points on everything else
• Nexus Fee Rebate: One statement credit up to a maximum value of $50 US when NEXUS application fee is charged to an eligible primary card, regardless of NEXUS application approval. Limit one statement credit every 4 years
• Air Canada Benefits:
  • Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a maximum of $599 (plus taxes, fees, charges and surcharges) after spending at least $25,000 in eligible net Purchases, within an account year
  • Priority Check-in
  • Priority Boarding
  • Free first checked bag for the primary cardholder, authorized users and up to 8 companions (up to a maximum of 9 travellers) when your travel starts on an Air Canada flight
  • Priority Baggage Handling
  • Lounge Access:
    • Complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café access in North America for the primary cardholder and authorized users – bring 1 guest in the first year any time before November 8, 2021
    • Priority Pass membership with 6 annual complimentary lounge visits
  • Aeroplan Elite Status Qualification: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to the Card. Rollover unused Status Qualifying Miles to qualify for Air Canada status the following year
  • Shared Elite benefits: Authorized users can enjoy eligible travel benefits even when travelling without the primary cardholder
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance (31 day coverage for Age 64 or under. 10 Day coverage for Age 65 or over)
  • Trip Cancellation ($2500 per person, up to $10,000 per trip)
  • Trip Interruption ($5000 per person, up to $25,000 per trip)
  • Flight Delay ($500/person, for delays of 4 hours or more)
  • Delayed Baggage ($500/person, up to $1000)
  • Lost Baggage ($1000/person, up to $2500)
  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage (up to 48 days, for vehicles with MSRP up to $85,000)
  • $500,000 Common Carrier Accident
  • Purchase Security & Extended Protection (up to 2 years, from Manufacturer’s Warranty)
  • Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,500)
  • CIBC Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance ($2,500 per occurrence)

Further details on enhanced CIBC Aeroplan cards, can be found here.

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card

• Minimum Annual Income Qualification: $60,000 Individual or $100,000 household
• Annual Fee:
  • $139 for primary cardholder
  • $50 for each authorized user
• Earn Rate:
  • 1.5x on eligible Gas, Grocery, Drugstore, purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®*
  • 1x the points on everything else
• Air Canada Benefits:
  • Free first checked bag for the primary cardholder, authorized users and up to 8 companions (up to a maximum of 9 travellers) when your travel starts on an Air Canada flight
  • Aeroplan Elite Status Qualification: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible net purchases charged to the Card. Rollover unused Status Qualifying Miles to qualify for Air Canada status the following year
  • Shared Elite benefits: Authorized users can enjoy eligible travel benefits even when travelling without the primary cardholder
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance (31 day coverage for Age 64 or under. 10 Day coverage for Age 65 or over)
  • Trip Cancellation ($1000 per person, up to $5,000 per trip)
  • Trip Interruption ($2000 per person)
  • Flight Delay ($500/person, for delays of 4 hours or more)
  • Delayed Baggage ($500/person, up to $1000)
  • Lost Baggage ($500/person, up to $1000)
  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage (up to 48 days, for vehicles with MSRP up to $65,000)
  • $500,000 Common Carrier Accident
  • Purchase Security & Extended Protection (One additional year, from Manufacturer’s Warranty)
  • Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,000)
  • CIBC Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance ($2,500 per occurrence)

Further details on enhanced CIBC Aeroplan cards, can be found here.

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Card

• Minimum Annual Income Qualification:  $15,000 household
• Annual Fee:
  • $0 for primary cardholder
  • $0 for each authorized user
  • Existing cardholders get a full annual fee refund of $39 within 3 to 4 statement cycles if it’s charged between August 24 and November 7, 2020
• Earn Rate:
  • 1x on eligible Gas, Grocery, purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®*
  • 1x per $1.50 on everything else
• Air Canada Benefits:
  • Preferred Pricing: Cardholders can often book flight rewards using even fewer points
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage (up to 48 days, for vehicles with MSRP up to $65,000)
  • $100,000 Common Carrier Accident
  • Purchase Security & Extended Protection (One additional year, from Manufacturer’s Warranty)

Further details on enhanced CIBC Aeroplan cards, can be found here.

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Business Card

• Minimum Annual Income Qualification: $35,000 
• Annual Fee:
  • $180 for primary cardholder
  • $50 for each authorized user
• Earn Rate:
  • 2x on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®*
  • 1.5x on eligible on Shipping, Internet, Cable, Phone services, Dining, and non-AC travel
  • 1x the points on everything else
• Air Canada Benefits:
  • Free first checked bag for the primary cardholder, authorized users and up to 8 companions (up to a maximum of 9 travellers) when your travel starts on an Air Canada flight
  • Lounge Access: One Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Guest Pass for every $10,000 in spend, up to 4 passes per year
  • Aeroplan Elite Status Qualification: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to the Card
  • Shared Elite benefits: Authorized users can enjoy eligible travel benefits even when travelling without the primary cardholder
  • Preferred Pricing: Cardholders can often book flight rewards using even fewer points
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance (31 day coverage for Age 64 or under. 10 Day coverage for Age 65 or over)
  • Trip Cancellation ($1000 per person, up to $5,000 per trip)
  • Trip Interruption ($2000 per person)
  • Flight Delay ($500/person, for delays of 4 hours or more)
  • Delayed Baggage ($500/person, up to $1000)
  • Lost Baggage ($500/person, up to $1000)
  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage (up to 48 days, for vehicles with MSRP up to $65,000)
  • $500,000 Common Carrier Accident
  • Purchase Security & Extended Protection (One additional year, from Manufacturer’s Warranty)

Further details on enhanced CIBC Aeroplan cards, can be found here.

Personal Reflections

I currently hold the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card, and personally quite pleased with the enhancements coming to the earn rates on 6 new categories. While I would love to have the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card for its perks, the $200K income requirement is quite steep and has me looking towards the Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card which comes with no income requirement. As for the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* and CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Cards, the overall benefits are similar to equivalent TD cards, but not as good. Differences in the Insurance coverage and Nexus credit tilts it in the favour of TD, in my opinion.