American Express Aeroplan Review 2024: Is It Worth It?
Jun 19, 2024The American Express Aeroplan Card is a charge card that allows cardmembers to earn Aeroplan points with each purchase.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is a charge card that allows cardmembers to earn Aeroplan points with each purchase. It offers extensive insurance coverage and flexibility when redeeming Aeroplan points.
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American Express® Aeroplan®* Card full review
The Amex Aeroplan Card earns Air Canada’s Aeroplan points that can be redeemed for a variety of items, including flights, hotel stays, car rentals and merchandise. As it’s a charge card, the balance must be paid off in full each month or it will be subject to a high interest rate — in this case, 30%.
Benefits of the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
Robust travel insurance coverage, such as lost or stolen baggage insurance and travel accident insurance.
Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights. In addition to the primary cardholder, up to eight travelling companions on the same reservation can check their first bag free of charge.
Exclusive dining, sports and entertainment events through Amex Experiences™. Plus, American Express Front Of The Line helps cardmembers score presale and reserved tickets for concerts or the next big game.
No preset spending limit. Purchase approval is based on factors like credit history and account activity.
Drawbacks of the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
American Express may not be as readily accepted by retailers as Visa and Mastercard.
As with all charge cards, you’re expected to pay off the entire balance each month. The annual interest rate on unpaid balances is a rather steep 30%.
No access to airport lounges. Other American Express cards, like the Aeroplan Reserve Card, offer lounge access but charge a higher annual fee.
Who should get the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card?
Because its higher earn rates are attached to dining and Air Canada purchases, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is most valuable for people who book their flights and vacations directly with Air Canada and frequently eat out and order in.
Is the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card worth it?
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card might be a good choice if you’re looking for a rewards card that can help reduce the cost of your next adventure, especially if you’re a frequent Air Canada flyer. While baggage fees vary based on your Aeroplan status and fare class, it typically costs $42 to check your first bag on economy flights within Canada. That means this card could help you save more than its $120 annual fee after just three flights.
But it is a charge card, which means you’re expected to pay off your entire balance every month. If you don’t, you’ll pay a steep 30% APR on your balance. If you’re not sure you’ll be able to pay off your bill every month, keep looking.
American Express customer ratings
Ranked above average in customer satisfaction: American Express ranks second out of 13 issuers in J.D. Power’s 2024 Canada Credit Card Satisfaction Study.
Low Trustpilot rating: 1.5 out of 5 possible stars based on over 4,400 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Low Better Business Bureau customer rating: 1.09 out of 5 possible stars based on over 500 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Amex Aeroplan Card eligibility
Who qualifies for the Amex Aeroplan Card?
To apply for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you must:
Be a Canadian resident and have a Canadian credit file.
Be the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
Income requirements may apply.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. What we do know is that higher scores have better chances of approval — that’s true no matter what type of credit you’re applying for. Want to learn more? Our guide can help you figure out what credit score is typically needed for a credit card.
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card rewards
If you’re approved for the Amex Aeroplan Card, you can earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points.
Earn 30,000 points when you spend at least $3,000 on the card in the first three months.
Earn an additional 10,000 points when you spend at least $1,000 in month 13 of cardmembership.
2x Aeroplan points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations.
1.5x Aeroplan points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases.
1x Aeroplan points on all other eligible purchases.
The value of the card, its benefits and its rewards depend on how you use them. For example, the 30,000 Aeroplan points you can earn by spending $3,000 in the first three months can be redeemed toward flights, hotel stays and more.
The first free checked bag benefit can save you $42 per person, per domestic flight — which could add up to significant savings if you travel a lot each year, or travel often with one or more travelling companions. For example, a family of four flying round trip from Vancouver to Toronto could each check one bag for free each way — saving $336 plus tax, much more than the card’s annual fee.
Point value breakdown
NerdWallet searched more than 75 flights in 2021 and 2022 to determine the average value for Air Canada flights. Based on our analysis, the average value of 1 Aeroplan point is worth 2.23 cents, depending on the redemption method.
More specifically, you can expect to get around:
1.69 cents in value per Aeroplan point for economy class awards on Air Canada.
2.81 cents in value per Aeroplan point for business class awards on Air Canada flights.
How to apply for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
The application process for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is fairly straightforward:
Click “Apply Now” on the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card page.
Read the product information, then read and agree to the card’s requirements and click “Agree and Begin.”
Provide your personal information, including your name, address and date of birth. Entering your Social Insurance Number is optional but encouraged.
Enter financial information.
Read and agree to any terms and conditions provided.
Submit your application.
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
Both of these cards earn Aeroplan points, but eligibility criteria and earn rates vary. Also one is a charge card, while the other is a credit card.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's take
Card details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card detailsReasons you might want a different card
Some travellers may want a no-fee credit card like the American Express® Green Card, or a card with more perks than the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card provides, such as airport lounge access. Others may not be comfortable using a charge card that requires them to pay their full balance every month.
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card facts
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card | |
|---|---|
Card type | |
Fees and interest rates | |
Annual fee | $120 |
Dishonoured payment | $25 |
Cash advance fee | Either 3% of the amount of each advance or $0.75, whichever is greater. |
Foreign transaction | 2.5% for each charge. |
Balance transfer | No balance transfer fee. As a charge card, it isn’t designed for cardmembers to carry a balance from month to month. |
Rewards and benefits | |
Intro offer | Up to 40,000 points. |
Reward earn rates |
|
Other perks |
|
Insurance coverage | |
Travel accident | Up to $500,000. |
Flight and baggage delay | Up to $500 for necessary accommodations, restaurant expenses and sundries. |
Lost or stolen baggage | Up to $500 of coverage per trip for all insured persons. |
Hotel burglary | Up to $500 of coverage for personal items (excluding cash). |
Extended warranty | Up to one additional year. |
Purchase protection | 90 days. |
Methodology
BACK TO TOPNerdWallet Canada rates credit cards according to overall consumer value and their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation methodology include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points.
Frequently asked questions
Does American Express have an Aeroplan Card?
Does American Express have an Aeroplan Card?
In Canada, American Express offers three different Aeroplan cards: the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card.
How much is the How much is the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card?
How much is the How much is the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card?
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card’s annual fee is $120. Additional cards cost $50 each. No-fee additional cards are available.
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