The Aeroplan Credit Card from Chase has an exciting increased welcome bonus — which will be coming to an end soon. If you’ve been eyeing this card, time’s running out to earn a great welcome offer.
Those who prefer points (instead of free flight vouchers) will be excited by the number of points they can earn, but the spending requirement is significant. That said, for those who can meet this target, you could unlock a bonus worth $1,500.
And before you assume that the Aeroplan Card has nothing to offer if you don’t live in Canada, understand that this loyalty program can be very valuable.
Let’s look at the Aeroplan Card sign-up bonus and get an idea of its worth.
Related: The most compelling new airline card: Review of the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card
Aeroplan Credit Card welcome offer
Right now, the $95-per-year Aeroplan Credit Card is offering 100,000 bonus points to new applicants who meet two spending tiers:
- Earn 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Earn another 25,000 points after you spend $20,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening.
TPG values Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents apiece, making 100,000 Aeroplan points worth $1,500.
Previous bonuses on this card offered 70,000 points or a pair of flight reward certificates worth up to 101,000 points but carrying more restrictions than having a pile of points.
Those looking for a simpler bonus of points (not certificates) will be happy at the prospect of earning 100,000 points. Unfortunately, the spending requirement for this bonus is high: $20,000.
The time frame for the bonus spending requirement is 12 months; that means you can break this into $1,667 of spending per month over a year. If you can meet that requirement and are willing to invest in reaching a bonus over a year, now is a great time to apply, as the offer ends soon.
Those who can’t meet this spending requirement or need to receive their bonus points sooner because of upcoming travel plans would be better served by waiting for a simpler bonus without the higher spending requirements in the second tier.
Note that this card is affected by Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you will likely not be approved if you have been approved for five or more cards in the past 24 months, regardless of which issuer they come from.
Related: More flexible than ever: Why you should care about Aeroplan even if you never visit Canada
Aeroplan Credit Card earning rates
The Aeroplan Credit Card is worth more than just the welcome bonus. The card is a strong earner on spending categories, accruing points at the following rates:
- 3 points per dollar on purchases made directly with Air Canada
- 3 points per dollar spent on grocery store purchases
- 3 points per dollar on dining (including delivery services)
- 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
Additionally, cardholders will get a 500-point bonus for every $2,000 spent on the card per month, up to 1,500 bonus points per month.
Aeroplan Credit Card’s key benefits
Beyond the points that you can earn, the Aeroplan Card also offers several interesting benefits:
- Automatic Aeroplan 25K elite status for the year in which you open the card and the following calendar year
- Two one-time passes to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges
- 20 eUpgrade credits to upgrade from economy to premium cabins on Air Canada-operated flights
- Automatic Star Alliance Silver elite status, with access to priority wait-listing and standby
- First free checked bag on Air Canada flights, along with up to eight companions on your same reservation
- Maintain 25K status by spending $15,000 per year on the card or get a one-tier status boost by spending $50,000 on the card annually.
- Earn benefits like 50% off Priority Rewards and companion perks by spending $100,000 or more on the card each year
- Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application every four years
- Travel protections, such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, auto rental insurance and roadside assistance
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, including 24/7 concierge service, access to Mastercard Priceless® experiences, everyday discounts and offers and more
- Use points at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece to cover travel purchases made on the card — and not just Air Canada or flights — through Pay Yourself Back (limit of 50,000 points redeemed each year)
- No foreign transaction fees
Bottom line
The Aeroplan Credit Card is one of the most compelling airline credit cards on the market. Not only does it confer automatic elite status on new cardholders, but it also earns points quickly and offers great day-of-travel perks, including a statement credit for a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus membership. You get all of that for just a reasonable $95 annual fee.
And while new applicants can earn up to 100,000 bonus points, this elevated welcome offer is ending soon — so jump on it now before it’s too late.
Apply here: Aeroplan Credit Card with up to a 100,000-point sign-up bonus
