Among all mid-range Aeroplan co-branded credit cards, the American Express Aeroplan Card typically offers the highest signup bonus with strong earning rates, making this a worthwhile proposition for many points collectors.
Bonuses & Fees
As American Express's mid-range Aeroplan co-branded credit card, the American Express Aeroplan Card currently offers up to 50,000 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
- 20,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $1,000 in month 13
The card has an annual fee of $120. You're allowed to add supplementary cardholders for $50 apiece; alternatively, you can also 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 very 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
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 55,000 points one-way from Vancouver to Tokyo in business class. From the East Coast, 60,000 Aeroplan points (or often fewer, thanks to Air Canada’s preferred pricing if you hold Elite Status or a credit card) would unlock a transatlantic flight to most parts of Western Europe. Closer to home: short-haul flights within North America that are under 500 miles only cost 6,000 Aeroplan points one-way. With the 45,000 points earned from this card (after reaching minimum spending), you can travel round-trip in business class across the continent on routes such as Toronto – Vancouver or Montreal – Los Angeles.
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
- 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:
- Delayed and lost baggage insurance: Up to $500 overall coverage per insured person towards the purchase of essentials such as clothes and toiletries if your baggage is delayed more than 4 hours or lost.
- Flight/trip delay insurance: Up to $500 in coverage if your flight/trip is delayed more than 4 hours.
- Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance: Coverage for up to 48 consecutive days for cars with an MSRP of $85,000, which can help you save on the insurance fees that the car rental company would otherwise charge.