Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card review: Valuable travel rewards with a modest annual fee

Information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Chase Air Canada Aeroplan^® Credit Card offers flyers a great opportunity to earn valuable Aeroplan points and elite benefits, making it a solid choice for those who enjoy international travel (see rates and fees).

While Aeroplan is the official loyalty program of Air Canada, you don't necessarily need to be a frequent customer of the carrier to redeem this card's rewards. In fact, you can use Aeroplan points to book domestic flights on United Airlines, among several other Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.

With a $195 annual fee, valuable spending categories, travel insurance coverage and no foreign transaction fees, it's a decent choice if you're in the market for a new travel rewards card.

Below, Select details the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan^® Credit Card's benefits, as well as how to maximize the rewards points you'll earn by using it.

• Welcome bonus
• Benefits and perks
• How to earn and redeem Aeroplan points
• Rates and fees
• Card comparison
• Bottom line

The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan^® Credit Card's welcome bonus lets new cardholders earn up to 115,000 bonus points: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 40,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 in the first 12 months.

Keep in mind that this card falls under Chase's 5/24 restriction, so if you've been approved for more than five credit cards within the last 24 months, you'll automatically be rejected when you apply for any new Chase cards.

The Aeroplan Credit Card comes with several perks aimed at helping avid travelers score an easier journey. Cardholders have access to the following benefits:

• Enjoy automatic 25K Aeroplan Status with benefits such as Priority Check-In, Priority Boarding (Zone 2), Additional Baggage Allowance, Star Alliance Recognition and eUpgrade Credits.
• The ability to elevate your Aeroplan status level to 35K Status or higher when you spend $75,000 during a calendar year.
• Up to $100 in Air Canada statement credits (delivered as up to two $50 credits semi-annually).
• A $120 statement credit every four years to put toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Access to 24/7 concierge services.
• Travel insurance coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, reimbursement for trip delays, baggage delay insurance, roadside assistance and an auto rental collision damage waiver, among other purchase protections.

Earning Aeroplan points

As you spend with the Aeroplan Credit Card, you'll earn:

• Earn up to 5X total points for each dollar spent on Air Canada.
• Earn 3X points on travel purchases.
• Earn 2X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and at gas stations.
• Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

Redeeming Aeroplan points

The more you use your card, the more you'll accumulate Aeroplan points, which can then be redeemed for flights operated by Air Canada and its many Star Alliance airline partners, including United Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand, as well as a number of non-alliance partners such as Brazil-based Azul and United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways. Regardless of whether you prefer to travel domestically or internationally, you'll have many options when it's time to redeem your Aeroplan points.

Here are a few examples of some economy and premium cabin flights you can book with Aeroplan points (note that all pricing is based on a one-way flight and does not include taxes or fees):

• Within the United States: Economy redemptions start at 6,000 points, while business class redemptions start at 25,000 points on United Airlines.
• U.S. to Asia: Economy flights to Seoul are available from 50,000 points in economy or from 75,000 points in business class on either United Airlines or Asiana Airlines.
• U.S. to Europe: Economy flight redemptions to Frankfurt start at 35,000 points, while business class redemptions start at 60,000 points on Lufthansa.

To get a better idea of how many points you'll need for your next trip, refer to Aeroplan's award chart.

The card has a modest $195 annual fee, along with a 19.74% - 28.24% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.

There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can travel and spend outside the U.S. without incurring any additional fees.

Aeroplan Credit Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is a top travel rewards credit card that lets you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel partners, including Aeroplan. The welcome bonus currently offers new cardholders 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Cardholders can earn:

• 5X points for travel purchased via Chase Travel℠ (minus hotel stays that qualify for the included $50 annual hotel credit you'll earn when booking hotels through the portal).
• 3X points for dining purchases, including takeout and select delivery services.
• 3X points for using certain streaming and online grocery shopping services, not counting Target, Walmart or other wholesale stores.
• 3x on vacation homes
• 3x on gas & EV charging
• 2X points for all other travel-related purchases.
• 1X points for all other purchases.
• Complimentary DashPass membership from DoorDash and Caviar for twelve months — as long as you activate the perk by December 31, 2027.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also includes many of the same benefits as the Aeroplan Card, including comprehensive travel insurance protections, no foreign transaction fees and the ability to transfer points to additional airline partner loyalty programs.

For those deciding between these two cards, it really comes down to your personal travel habits and goals. If you solely enjoy flying with Air Canada, the Aeroplan Card is the clear winner as you will score automatic elite status.

Aeroplan Credit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a great addition, especially for flyers who are loyal to the budget airline.

To get started, you can earn 55,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• 6,000 bonus points to celebrate each account anniversary.
• Two EarlyBird check-ins per year.*
• 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for every $5,000 you spend, with no limit as to how many you can earn.
• 25% back for in-flight purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees when you use the card abroad.
• Southwest Airlines perks such as no change fees and Rapid Rewards points that never expire.

You'll earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines^® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards, 2X points at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Best of all, the points you earn by using the Southwest Premier Credit Card count toward the Companion Pass®, which allows your chosen friend or family member to fly with you for free for up to a year (not counting taxes and fees from $5.60 each way).

If you're deciding between the two cards, consider which airline you tend to fly with the most. If you travel primarily within the U.S. and aren't looking for premium cabin flights, the Southwest Premier Credit Card is likely a solid fit. If, on the other hand, you prefer to have a variety of carriers to redeem your rewards with, as well as the opportunity to redeem points toward business or first class flights, the Aeroplan Credit Card would be the better option.

The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card is a solid pick for anyone looking to earn valuable travel rewards points that can be redeemed for flights without the high annual fee price tag. Keep in mind, however, that this card requires a good to excellent credit score in order to get approved.

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