The Aeroplan® Credit Card debuted in late 2021 as Air Canada’s foray back into the U.S. credit card market. Issued by Chase, this card boasts quite a few unique perks and a welcome offer that’s been worth up to 100,000 points.
While the launch offer has since disappeared, a new one has taken its place — and it might even be better than the last.
Let’s take a look at the details.
Offer Details
Image Credit: ChaseThe previous Aeroplan card offer featured 2 flight certificates worth 50,000 points each after meeting a minimum spend threshold. This new offer only features 1 certificate — but it also affords extra bonus points on 2 lucrative spend categories.
Under the new offer, you can earn a Welcome Flight Reward up to 50,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn 10x points per 1$ spent on travel and dining in the first 6 months, up to 51,000 points.
The Aeroplan card comes with a set of unique perks, many of which may be tempting for potential cardholders. This includes the ability to redeem Aeroplan points to Pay Yourself Back, as well as elite status for over a year when you first open the card.
Is It Worth It?
You’ll immediately notice that the Welcome Flight Reward bonus is cut in half, as you’ll just receive 1 certificate instead of 2. But is this really a bad thing?
On the surface, it may look like the previous welcome offer may have been a better deal, but you’ll want to consider a few factors at play here.
First, travel and dining are 2 very strong categories for consumers, which means that earning the 51,000 points shouldn’t be all that difficult. And second, Welcome Flight Rewards are inherently restrictive. You can use these certificates only once, and if your flight costs less than 50,000 points, you won’t be refunded the difference. If you were to book a 30,000-point economy flight to Europe, the 20,000 points that are left over will simply be a loss.
Hot Tip: Looking to build your stash of Aeroplan points? Check out our handy guide on the best ways to earn lots of Air Canada Aeroplan Points.
There are no such restrictions when you simply earn bonus points. You can use as few or as many as you’d like and they aren’t limited to a single use. This can be especially helpful if you’re trying to maximize your points. For example, you can add a stopover to an award itinerary for just 5,000 points, which is not something you could use a Welcome Flight Reward for.
You can also redeem your points through the Pay Yourself Back feature at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece, making those 51,000 points worth at least $637.50 when redeemed in this way.
Final Thoughts
The Aeroplan card’s launch offer has ended, but it’s not all bad news. This new welcome offer provides greater flexibility and the ability to redeem your points for more value. The only downside is that these points aren’t guaranteed — you’ll need to spent a significant amount on travel and dining to max out the 51,000 points in your first 6 months.
Featured Image Credit:
Air Canada