Chase’s Aeroplan Card Adds More ‘Pay Yourself Back’ Categories: Amazon.com and Whole Foods

Cardholders of the Aeroplan^® Credit Card are getting new redemption options via Chase Pay Yourself Back. These effectively function as statement credits that allow you to redeem your Aeroplan points to offset purchases made in select categories at a rate of up to 1.25 cents per point.

Plus, for the final 3 months of the year, you’ll be able to make redemptions at Amazon.com, including Whole Foods Market.

Here is a look at the new redemption options that are being added, as well as ongoing options.

New Aeroplan Card Pay Yourself Back Categories

Previously, you’ve been able to use Pay Yourself Back with the Aeroplan card to offset your annual membership fee, along with purchases from grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), dining, and general travel purchases (on up to 200,000 points through December 31, 2025).

Earlier this year, Chase added 2 additional categories for cardholders: gas stations and home improvement stores. Now, cardholders have additional options at department stores, Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and utilities. All of these are valid through December 31, 2025.

Not all of these redemptions hold the same value, though. Here are the rates you can expect when using your points:

• Home improvement stores and gas stations: 0.8 cents per point (redeeming 12,500 points provides a $100 statement credit)
• Travel purchases and annual fee: 1.25 cents per point (redeeming 8,000 points provides a $100 statement credit)
• Dining, grocery stores, department stores, utilities, and Amazon.com, including Whole Foods Market: 0.8 cents per point (redeeming 1,000 points provides an $8 statement credit)

The option to Pay Yourself Back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market goes live on October 1, and all of these categories are available through December 31, 2025.

Is It Worth It?

When you redeem your points through Chase Pay Yourself Back, you lock in a redemption value of 0.8 to 1.25 cents per point, lower than our valuation of Air Canada Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents apiece.

For the most part, you’ll be able to get far more value out of your Aeroplan points when redeeming Aeroplan points for flights through Air Canada and its partners. That said, if you have a large balance of points burning a hole in your pocket and don’t have plans to travel anytime soon, the Pay Yourself Back options give you more opportunities to extract some value.

Final Thoughts

Having more redemption options is always better than having fewer. Adding new categories like gas, home improvement stores, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods can be beneficial, as groceries and utilities are common spending categories.

Still, if you want to get as much value as possible out of your Aeroplan points, you’re better off skipping the Pay Yourself Back redemptions and opting for Aeroplan award tickets with your points.