As American Express’s mid-range Aeroplan co-branded credit card, the American Express Aeroplan Card currently offers 15,000 Aeroplan points and an Air Canada Buddy Pass as a signup bonus.
The signup bonus is distributed as follows:
The card has an annual fee of $120, which is not waived for the first year.
The standard offer of 15,000 Aeroplan points for a $120 annual fee isn’t bad, but it gets a lot more interesting once you add the Air Canada Buddy Pass.
You now have the option to convert your Buddy Pass into an additional 30,000 Aeroplan points. If you fly solo or prefer business class or overseas travel, that would be a better choice, bringing your total welcome bonus to the equivalent of 45,000 Aeroplan points. That definitely sweetens the pot!
If you travel as a couple or family at times when cash fares are high, you might instead get excellent value by using the Buddy Pass directly. It’s essentially a buy-one-get-one voucher for paid Air Canada economy class flights within North America.
Either way, you’ll only get one Buddy Pass every 12 months between this card, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, so set your expectations accordingly if you plan to open two or more of these cards in the “core” Aeroplan tier.
In terms of the returns on everyday spending, the American Express Aeroplan Card has a very unique structure, offering cardholders:
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 definitely makes more sense.
The Amex Aeroplan Card offers a competitive set of Air Canada travel benefits for its price range. As a cardholder, you’ll receive:
The Amex Aeroplan Card’s insurance proposition is decent, but not outstanding. Some of the provisions that it does cover include:
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 two very significant benefits that you’ll find on many of the higher-end products out there.
Additionally, the card also offers Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection, covering most eligible items you’ve purchased with your card should they be stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase, as well as a doubled warranty period compared to the manufacturer’s warranty.
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