Amex Aeroplan
Churning cardWhat the roles mean
- Welcome offer: up to 45,000 Aeroplan points, plus a free checked bag on Air Canada
Welcome offer now
Earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points.
Checked on Amex's own page October 21, 2026. See Amex's page
What it earns in a year
33,900 points a year
Worth about $219 after the $120 fee at the simplest redemption, up to $558 at the best.
Based on $30,000 a year of spending ($9,600 groceries, $3,000 gas, $3,000 dining…). Welcome offer not included.
Try it with your own spending →
- Travel: 2× points.
- Dining & restaurants: 1.5× points.
- Everything else: 1× points.
Highlighted = use this card here.
Using your points
On the spending above, 33,900 points a year: worth $339 the easy way, $678 the best way.
- Easy way (1¢): Gift cards, merchandise or paying toward a cash fare
- Best way (2¢): Economy flights, best on Star Alliance partners. Business class on partners can reach 3–8¢
How to apply for the Amex Aeroplan
Check first
- Bonus once per lifetime: you can't get it if you've ever had this card
- Check you qualify No minimum income listed. You need to live in Canada and be the age of majority in your province.
- Have this ready Your address and how long you've lived there, your employer and yearly income, and your monthly rent or mortgage. Your SIN is optional for a credit card; you can leave it blank.
- Expect a credit check Applying adds a hard inquiry to your credit report, which lowers your score a little for a few months. Space applications about 90 days apart.
- Apply on Amex's own site Apply online from the bank's product page, where the offer above is shown. This isn't an affiliate link: we earn nothing if you apply.Apply on Amex's site →
- After you're approved Put the spending needed for the welcome offer on the card before the deadline, and pay the full balance every month.
How to use it
- Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: book direct on this card for 2 points per $1
- Restaurants and food delivery in Canada: 1.5 points per $1
- Everything else: use another card. This one pays 1 point per $1, and many grocers don't take Amex
- The bonus: spend $7,500 in 6 months (about $1,250/month) for 35,000; then $1,000 in month 13 for the last 10,000
- Fee rises January 12, 2027: $120 → $150 (additional card $50 → $59). If you apply now, the month-13 bonus comes after the second fee at $150
- Example: $250/month dining + $1,350/month of other spending = 20,700 Aeroplan points a year
Key facts
- Annual fee
- $120Rises to $150 on January 12, 2027
- Purchase interest
- Not published
- Foreign currency fee
- 2.5%
- Min. personal income
- None published
- Min. household income
- None published
- Rewards
- AeroplanSee every Aeroplan card
Annual fee waiver
- None
From americanexpress.com product page, checked October 17, 2026. Not an affiliate link.
More Amex cards
Best paired with
Neo World Elite Mastercard
- This card: dining & restaurants, travel, transit, drugstore / pharmacy, entertainment, everything else
- Neo World Elite Mastercard: groceries, gas / ev, bills & subscriptions
- Together: $622 a year after both fees, vs $219 with this card alone
Computed on our standard household ($30,000 a year): each kind of spending goes to whichever card pays more, both fees taken off. Partners are everyday, category and churning cards on Visa or Mastercard. Points at their simplest redemption. Welcome offers not included.
Pros
- Up to 45,000 points: 35,000 after $7,500 in 6 months + 10,000 after $1,000 in month 13
- Free first checked bag on Air Canada for you and up to 8 companions on the same booking
- 2 points per $1 on Air Canada, 1.5 on Canadian dining and food delivery
- 1.5 points per $1 at participating Hyatt hotels until July 15, 2029
- No published minimum income
- Points don't expire while you hold the card
Cons
- $120 a year, including year one; $150 from January 12, 2027
- 1 point per $1 on everything else, including groceries and gas
- The last 10,000 points need you to keep the card into year two and pay the second fee
- Amex: not accepted at Costco (Mastercard only) and turned away at some stores; carry a Visa or Mastercard
- Charge card: pay in full each month, or 30% interest on what's left
- No travel medical or trip cancellation insurance, and no lounge access
- 2.5% on foreign-currency purchases
- No welcome offer if you have held this card before
Insurance included
- Flight delay and delayed bags: $500 combined, after 4 hours (flight) or 6 hours (bags)
- Lost bags: $500 per trip
- Travel accident: $500,000
- Hotel burglary: $500
- Rental car damage: up to 48 days, cars up to $85,000
- Purchases: 90 days of theft/damage cover (up to $1,000), +1 year warranty
- Travel medical and trip cancellation: none
- Trip cover needs the full fare on the card
Maximums as Amex lists them. Conditions apply; the insurance certificate decides claims.
Perks
- Air Canada: free first checked bag for you + up to 8 companions
- From January 12, 2027: 15% fewer points on Air Canada flight rewards (FLY15OFF) and up to $50 a year in Air Canada credit
- Avis: Preferred Plus upgrade tier
- Amex Offers: targeted statement credits, added in the Amex app
Other cards for travel
Back a year on $2,400 of travel, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.
| Card | Earns on travel | Back a year | Annual fee | Terms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy American Express | 5× points≈ 7.0% in value | $168 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege | 3× points≈ 6.0% in value | $144 | $499 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | 3× points≈ 6.0% in value | $144 | $599 | October 21, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa | 4× points | $96 | $0 | November 2, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Amex | 4× points | $96 | $0 | November 2, 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $96 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
Other cards for dining & restaurants
Back a year on $3,000 of dining & restaurants, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.
| Card | Earns on dining & restaurants | Back a year | Annual fee | Terms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Cobalt | 5× points≈ 10.0% in value | $300 | $192 | October 21, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | 5× points | $150 | $120 | November 2, 2026 |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | 5× points | $150 | $150 | October 21, 2026 |
| Simplii Cash Back Visa | 4% back | $120 | $0 | October 21, 2026 |
| RBC British Airways Visa Infinite | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $120 | $165 | October 23, 2026 |
| Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege | 4% back | $120 | $395 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan | 1.5× points≈ 3.0% in value | $90 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
How the offer has changed
One row per check of Amex's page, newest first. Old rows are never edited.
| Checked | Welcome offer | Fee, year one | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2026 | Unchanged: up to 45,000 pts: 35k ($7,500 / 6 mo) + 10k ($1,000 in month 13); "up to $1,550 or more in value" in 13 monthsNotice unchanged: fee rises to $150 (additional $59; free additional becomes $25 Companion Card) from January 12, 2027 | $120, not waived | none stated |
| October 17, 2026 | Unchanged: up to 45,000 pts: 35k ($7,500 / 6 mo) + 10k ($1,000 in month 13); "up to $1,550 or more in value" in 13 monthsNew URL /en-ca/charge-cards/aeroplan-card/. Notice: fee rises to $150 (additional $59; free additional becomes $25 Companion Card) from January 12, 2027. New 1.5x on Hyatt | $120, not waived | none stated |
| September 7, 2026 | Not verifiable: product URL returns 404Find the new URL before quoting | — | — |
| July 31, 2026 | Unchanged (full audit) | $120, not waived | — |
| June 14, 2026 | Up to 45,000 pts: 35k ($7,500 / 6 mo) + 10k ($1,000 in month 13); no end date | $120, not waived | none stated |
General information, not financial advice. Offers change; confirm on Amex's page before you apply.