Best Aeroplan Credit Cards in Canada 2026

Aeroplan is Canada’s most valuable travel loyalty program, and the right credit card can dramatically accelerate how quickly you earn points toward your next free flight. Whether you fly Air Canada regularly or prefer to earn on everyday spending at the grocery store and gas station, there’s an Aeroplan credit card designed for your lifestyle.

This guide compares the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for 2026, explains how to pick the right one, and links to every article in our Aeroplan series so you can make the most of your points.

Best Aeroplan Credit Cards at a Glance

Card	Annual Fee	Base Earn Rate	Welcome Bonus	Best For
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite	$139	1.5x on gas & grocery	Up to 50,000 pts	Everyday earners
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum	$89	1x on most purchases	Up to 20,000 pts	Lower-spend cardholders
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite	$139	1.5x on grocery, gas & Air Canada	Up to 50,000 pts	Air Canada loyalists
CIBC Aeroplan Visa	$0	1x on most purchases	Up to 10,000 pts	No-fee seekers
Amex Aeroplan Reserve	$599	3x on Air Canada, 2x on dining	Up to 100,000 pts	Heavy Air Canada flyers

Welcome bonuses are subject to change. Verify current offers directly with the card issuer before applying.

Why Aeroplan Is Canada’s Top Loyalty Program

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program and one of the most powerful travel reward programs in the world. Unlike programs that lock you into a single airline, Aeroplan gives you access to over 40 Star Alliance airlines — including United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and Air New Zealand — plus dozens of non-alliance partners.

Key reasons Aeroplan stands out in Canada:

Broad partner network. Earn points with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, retailers, and restaurants across Canada and globally.
Genuine flight redemption value. Aeroplan points are worth roughly 1.5–2.2 cents each when redeemed for flights — far more than most cash back or merchandise redemptions.
Business class sweet spots. Aeroplan has exceptional business class redemption rates on routes to Europe, Asia, and within North America when booked through partner airlines.
Family Sharing. Pool points across up to eight family members to reach redemption thresholds faster.
Elite Status. Frequent flyers can earn Aeroplan Elite Status — unlocking upgrades, bonus earning, and priority airport services.

How to Choose the Right Aeroplan Credit Card

Step 1: Decide how much you want to spend on annual fees

The no-fee CIBC Aeroplan Visa earns a modest 1 point per dollar on most purchases, but it comes with zero annual cost. If you can justify $139/year, the mid-tier cards from TD or CIBC return significantly more — the earn rate improvement alone typically covers the fee within the first few months for average spenders.

The Amex Aeroplan Reserve at $599/year is only worth it if you fly Air Canada frequently, want Maple Leaf Lounge access, and can take advantage of the 3x earn rate on Air Canada purchases.

Step 2: Match your top spending categories

Grocery and gas heavy? → TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite (both earn 1.5x in these categories)
Air Canada regular? → CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite (extra earn on Air Canada) or Amex Aeroplan Reserve (3x on all Air Canada purchases)
Dining and entertainment? → Amex Aeroplan Reserve (2x on food and drink)
Minimal spend, just want Aeroplan earning? → CIBC Aeroplan Visa (no fee)

Step 3: Consider the welcome bonus

Welcome bonuses are the fastest way to accumulate a large Aeroplan balance. A 50,000-point bonus is worth approximately $750–$1,100 in flight redemptions — potentially covering a round-trip economy ticket within Canada or a deep-discount business class upgrade.

Always check minimum spend requirements and the time window to earn the full bonus. Most cards require $3,000–$6,000 in purchases within the first three to six months.

Step 4: Look at travel insurance and perks

Mid-tier and premium Aeroplan cards include travel insurance packages — emergency medical, trip cancellation, flight delay coverage, and more. If you buy travel insurance separately, factor in the potential savings when comparing annual fees.

TD vs. CIBC Aeroplan Cards: What’s the Difference?

Both TD and CIBC are official Aeroplan credit card issuers, and their Visa Infinite cards are closely matched. The main differences:

CIBC earns 1.5x on Air Canada purchases in addition to grocery and gas. If you book Air Canada flights regularly, CIBC has the edge.
TD offers a slightly stronger insurance package on some card variants, including extended warranty and purchase protection.
Both have the same annual fee ($139) and similar welcome bonuses.

If you don’t fly Air Canada specifically (perhaps you’re a Star Alliance redemption traveller using Aeroplan points for partner airlines), the two cards are nearly interchangeable. Apply for whichever bank you have an existing relationship with for a smoother application experience.

Amex Aeroplan Reserve: Who Is It For?

The Amex Aeroplan Reserve is the premium Aeroplan card in Canada at $599/year. It is genuinely worth the cost if you:

Fly Air Canada four or more times per year (you’ll earn 3x points on every Air Canada purchase)
Value Maple Leaf Lounge access (included with the card)
Want priority security, priority check-in, and one free checked bag on Air Canada
Are working toward Aeroplan Elite Status and want the Status Qualifying Mile boost

For occasional travellers or those who mainly spend on groceries and gas, the $139 mid-tier cards deliver better value per dollar of annual fee.

Aeroplan Articles in This Series

Explore our complete Aeroplan guide:

How Aeroplan Works

Earning Aeroplan Points

Redeeming Aeroplan Points

Elite Status

Aeroplan Elite Status: Is It Worth It? Canada 2026

Program Comparisons

Bottom Line

The best Aeroplan credit card for most Canadians is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite — both earn 1.5x on grocery and gas spending, come with solid travel insurance, and carry a justifiable $139 annual fee. If you fly Air Canada frequently, the CIBC card’s bonus on Air Canada purchases gives it a slight edge. Heavy Air Canada flyers should assess the Amex Aeroplan Reserve once their annual Air Canada spend is high enough to offset the premium fee.

Whatever card you choose, the real power of Aeroplan comes from understanding how to redeem your points wisely — especially for business class flights where you can extract 3–4 cents per point in value.

Card terms, earn rates, and welcome bonuses change frequently. Always verify current details directly with the issuer before applying.