Pros
- 2x Aeroplan on Air Canada & Air Canada Vacations
- 1.5x on dining and food delivery
- Direct Aeroplan earning
- Air Canada benefits including free first checked bag
Cons
- American Express acceptance gaps
- 2.5% foreign transaction fee
- No MR transfer flexibility
Rewards Calculator
Enter your spending in each bonus category below. Put all other card purchases — groceries, gas, and anything not listed — into Everything Else.
First-year welcome bonus of 35,000 Aeroplan points (earned after $7,500 spend in the first 6 months), valued at 1.9¢/pt ($665). An additional 10,000 points are available after $1,000 spend in month 13 (year 2). Bonus applies only when minimum spend requirements are met within the promotional periods. Rewards estimates use a standard Canadian spending mix; your results will vary based on how your spending is distributed across categories.
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 2x on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 1.5x on dining and food delivery in Canada, and 1x on everything else. For Aeroplan collectors who fly Air Canada regularly and spend on dining, this card earns points on the categories you actually use. If you want a simple Aeroplan earn pattern without juggling transfer partners, this card is easy to understand and easy to use.
Quick Verdict
Best for: Aeroplan enthusiasts who fly Air Canada regularly, spend significantly on dining and restaurants, and want a mid-tier Amex Aeroplan card with direct Aeroplan earning.
Not ideal for: Those who need broad Canadian merchant acceptance for all 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 | $50 for Aeroplan Card; $0 for No-Fee Aeroplan Card |
| Card type | Charge Card (balance must be paid in full each month) |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% (typical) — verify at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Income requirement | None stated |
| Network | American Express |
| Rewards | Aeroplan Points (direct) |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points |
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
New American Express Aeroplan Cardmembers can earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points:
- 35,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 on your Card within the first 6 months
- Plus 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13
Verify the current offer at americanexpress.com/ca. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers.
Welcome bonus value estimate
| Welcome Bonus | Points | Value at 1.9¢/pt |
|---|---|---|
| Initial bonus (first 6 months) | 35,000 | ~$665 |
| Month 13 bonus | 10,000 | ~$190 |
| Total welcome bonus | 45,000 | ~$855 |
The first-year rewards calculator above counts only the 35,000-point first-term bonus (~$665). The 10,000-point month-13 bonus is a year-2 benefit and is not included in the first-year value.
Earn Rates
Verify all current earn rates at americanexpress.com/ca.
| Spending Category | Aeroplan Points |
|---|---|
| Air Canada & Air Canada Vacations | 2 points per $1 |
| Dining and food delivery in Canada | 1.5 points per $1 |
| All other eligible purchases | 1 point per $1 |
Annual points estimate
| Spending | Monthly | Rate | Monthly Points | Annual Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada & Air Canada Vacations | $200 | 2x | 400 | 4,800 |
| Dining and food delivery | $600 | 1.5x | 900 | 10,800 |
| Grocery | $800 | 1x | 800 | 9,600 |
| Gas | $150 | 1x | 150 | 1,800 |
| Other | $1,250 | 1x | 1,250 | 15,000 |
| Total | $3,000 | — | 3,500 | 42,000 |
42,000 Aeroplan points at $0.019/point = ~$798 in Aeroplan value annually. This is only an estimate based on a standard Canadian spending mix; your results will vary.
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 Air Canada, 1.5x dining, 1x other | 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 beats the Aeroplan Card’s 1.5x dining rate — but the Cobalt’s $155.88/year is slightly higher.
Air Canada Benefits
The Amex Aeroplan Card includes Air Canada benefits for co-branded cardholders:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| First checked bag free | The primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation when travel originates on an Air Canada flight (up to 23kg/50lb) |
| 4th Night Free | Get an extra hotel night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points, at over 300,000 hotel properties worldwide |
| Status earning | 1,000 SQC for every $20,000 in eligible net purchases, up to 25,000 SQC |
| Amex Experiences | Access to virtual events in music, sports, entertainment, dining and more |
Verify the complete benefit list and any restrictions at americanexpress.com/ca.
Travel Insurance
The Amex Aeroplan Card includes travel and shopping insurance coverages:
Travel coverages:
| Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| Flight Delay Insurance | Verify limit at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Baggage Delay Insurance | Verify limit at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance | Verify limit at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Verify limit at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | Verify limit at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Travel Accident Insurance | $500,000 |
| Travel Emergency Assistance | Included |
Shopping coverages:
| Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| Purchase Protection Plan | Verify limit and days at americanexpress.com/ca |
| Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan | Verify limit at americanexpress.com/ca |
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 Air Canada purchases and dining (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 for all Air Canada bookings, dining, and food delivery. Pair with a no-fee Visa or Mastercard for expenses at Amex-declined merchants.
Fees and Rates
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Additional Aeroplan Card | $50 |
| Additional No-Fee Aeroplan Card | $0 |
| 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 Air Canada, 1.5x dining, 1x other | Best Aeroplan on dining + Air Canada earn |
| 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, 2x dining, 1.25x other | Lounge access, premium benefits |
Who Is the Amex Aeroplan Card Best For?
Best for:
- Aeroplan collectors who fly Air Canada and spend on dining and food delivery
- Canadians who want direct Aeroplan earning without converting from Membership Rewards
- Cardholders who will use the Air Canada benefits and still keep a Visa or Mastercard as a backup
- Anyone who wants a solid Aeroplan earn rate at a lower fee than the Visa Infinite alternatives
Not ideal for:
- People who need broad merchant acceptance as their only card
- Cardholders whose primary spend is groceries and gas (Visa Aeroplan cards earn 1.5x in those categories; this card earns 1x)
- Cardholders who want maximum transfer flexibility from Membership Rewards
- Shoppers who want a fixed-value or cash back card instead of Aeroplan points
Bottom Line
The American Express Aeroplan Card earns well on Air Canada purchases and dining, and includes practical Air Canada benefits like the free first checked bag and 4th Night Free hotel benefit. At $120/year it sits below the Visa Infinite Aeroplan cards in annual fee. The key trade-off is Amex’s narrower merchant acceptance — this card works best as part of a two-card setup, not as a standalone card.
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.
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