The American Express Aeroplan Card is Amex’s mid-tier co-branded Aeroplan credit card in Canada — positioned between entry-level Aeroplan cards and the premium Amex Aeroplan Reserve at $599/year. At $120/year, it earns Aeroplan points directly (not Amex MR), with a standout 2x earn rate on dining and food delivery, 1.5x on grocery and gas, and 1x on everything else. For Aeroplan collectors who spend heavily on food and dining, it is one of the most effective Aeroplan-earning cards at this price point.
Quick Verdict
Best for: Aeroplan enthusiasts who spend significantly on dining and restaurants, want a mid-tier Amex Aeroplan card with direct Aeroplan earning, and are comfortable with Amex’s merchant acceptance limitations in Canada.
Not ideal for: Those who need broad Canadian merchant acceptance for all business and personal expenses (Visa is more universally accepted), or those who prefer MR points for their multi-partner transfer flexibility (the Amex Cobalt earns MR with Aeroplan transfer capability).
Key Card Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Additional cardholder fee | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Purchase interest rate | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Cash advance rate | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% (typical) — verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Income requirement | None stated |
| Network | American Express |
| Rewards | Aeroplan Points (direct) |
| Welcome bonus | Verify current offer at americanexpress.com/ca |
Card terms, earn rates, Air Canada benefits, and all features are subject to change. Verify all current details at americanexpress.com/ca and aircanada.com/aeroplan before applying.
Welcome Bonus
The Amex Aeroplan Card typically offers a welcome bonus of 10,000–30,000+ Aeroplan points for new cardholders who meet a minimum spend threshold in the first 3 months. Verify the current offer at americanexpress.com/ca.
Welcome bonus value estimate
| Welcome Bonus | Value at $0.015/pt | vs. $120 Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 Aeroplan points | ~$225 | 1.9x first-year fee |
| 25,000 Aeroplan points | ~$375 | 3.1x first-year fee |
Earn Rates
Verify all current earn rates at americanexpress.com/ca.
| Spending Category | Aeroplan Points |
|---|---|
| Dining and food delivery | 2 points per $1 — verify |
| Grocery stores | 1.5 points per $1 — verify |
| Gas stations | 1.5 points per $1 — verify |
| All other eligible purchases | 1 point per $1 |
Annual points estimate
| Spending | Monthly | Rate | Monthly Points | Annual Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining and food delivery | $600 | 2x | 1,200 | 14,400 |
| Grocery | $800 | 1.5x | 1,200 | 14,400 |
| Gas | $150 | 1.5x | 225 | 2,700 |
| Other | $1,450 | 1x | 1,450 | 17,400 |
| Total | $3,000 | — | 4,075 | 48,900 |
48,900 Aeroplan points at $0.015/point = ~$733 in Aeroplan value annually — more than 6x the $120 annual fee.
Direct Aeroplan Earning vs. MR Transfer
An important distinction: the Amex Aeroplan Card earns Aeroplan points directly — not Amex MR points that transfer to Aeroplan.
| Approach | Card | Earn Rate | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Aeroplan | Amex Aeroplan Card | 2x dining, 1.5x grocery | Points go directly to Aeroplan; no other transfer partners |
| MR → Aeroplan | Amex Cobalt Card | 5x food (MR), 3x other | MR can also go to British Airways, Flying Blue, Marriott, Hilton |
For pure Aeroplan maximization, either approach is valid. For maximum flexibility (transfer to 12 partners), the Amex Cobalt earns MR with more versatility. The Cobalt’s 5x on food also beats the Aeroplan Card’s 2x dining rate — but the Cobalt’s $155.88/year is slightly higher and requires groceries and dining to dominate spending.
Air Canada Benefits
The Amex Aeroplan Card includes Air Canada benefits for co-branded cardholders. These typically include:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| First checked bag free | Primary cardholder on Air Canada flights — verify companion eligibility |
| Priority boarding | Access to priority boarding lane — verify fare class restrictions |
| Aeroplan status benefits | Verify any eUpgrade credit or status mile multiplier at americanexpress.com/ca |
Verify the complete Air Canada benefit list and any restrictions at americanexpress.com/ca.
Travel Insurance
The Amex Aeroplan Card includes travel insurance coverages. Verify specific amounts and terms at americanexpress.com/ca:
| Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| Emergency travel medical | Verify limit and days |
| Trip cancellation | Verify limit |
| Trip interruption | Verify limit |
| Baggage delay | Verify |
| Common carrier accident | Verify limit |
Always verify the Certificate of Insurance at americanexpress.com/ca before relying on card coverage.
The Amex Acceptance Limitation
American Express has lower merchant acceptance in Canada than Visa or Mastercard. For everyday dining and grocery spending (the Amex Aeroplan Card’s core earn categories), acceptance is generally excellent. For less common expenses, Amex may not be accepted.
Strategy for Amex cardholders: Use the Amex Aeroplan Card at restaurants, grocery stores, and online food delivery (where Amex acceptance is typically strong). Pair with a no-fee Visa or Mastercard for expenses at Amex-declined merchants.
Fees and Rates
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Additional cardholder | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Purchase interest rate | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Cash advance rate | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Foreign transaction fee | Verify at americanexpress.com/ca (typically 2.5%) |
Amex Aeroplan Card vs. Competitors
| Card | Annual Fee | Aeroplan Earn | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Aeroplan Card | $120 | 2x dining, 1.5x grocery/gas | Best Aeroplan on dining |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x Air Canada, 1.5x grocery/gas | Visa acceptance, free bag, TD banking |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x Air Canada, 1.5x grocery/gas | Visa acceptance, free bag, CIBC banking |
| Amex Cobalt Card | $155.88/yr | 5x food (MR → Aeroplan) | Highest food earn, MR flexibility |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | 3x Air Canada, 1.5x grocery/gas | Lounge access, premium benefits |
Who Is the Amex Aeroplan Card Best For?
Ideal cardholders:
- Aeroplan collectors who spend heavily on dining, restaurants, and food delivery — 2x Aeroplan on dining is among the best available in Canada
- Existing Amex customers who want to add an Aeroplan co-branded card to their wallet (along with a Cobalt for MR or an Amex Simply Cash for Amex-exclusive earn)
- Those who want direct Aeroplan earning (no conversion step) at a $120 annual fee
- Canadians who prefer Amex’s customer service and benefits ecosystem
Less suitable if:
- You need broad Canadian merchant acceptance — Visa (TD or CIBC Aeroplan) is more universally accepted
- The Amex Cobalt’s 5x on food appeals more — it earns more per dollar on grocery/dining through MR, which transfers to Aeroplan at 1:1
- You spend primarily on Air Canada directly — the TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite earns 1.5x directly on Air Canada spending, which the Amex Aeroplan Card’s base 1x does not
Bottom Line
The American Express Aeroplan Card is an excellent mid-tier Aeroplan earning card for dining-heavy spenders. The 2x Aeroplan on dining makes it Canada’s best direct Aeroplan earner on restaurant spending at the $120 price point. Pair it with a Visa Aeroplan card for Air Canada purchases and non-Amex merchants to build a comprehensive Aeroplan-earning credit card strategy.
Card terms, earn rates, Air Canada benefits, and welcome bonus are subject to change. Verify all current details at americanexpress.com/ca and aircanada.com/aeroplan before applying.