Starting early next year, Aeroplan cardholders will always get 15-per-cent off Aeroplan redemptions on Air Canada flights.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Aeroplan has announced significant changes to its core and premium credit cards. In a somewhat surprising move, all of the changes are positive, with cardholders keeping every current benefit, but annual fees are rising on most of the cards.
New for all Aeroplan cardholders
Starting Jan. 12, 2027, cardholders get 15-per-cent off Aeroplan redemptions on Air Canada flights. The discount, which reduces the number of points required for flight bookings, is currently available as a temporary promo but becomes permanent on that date.
Book a three-day car rental with points and you’ll get a fourth day free. Plus, the HotelSavers promo, which gives you a fourth night free when booking three nights on points, will become permanent.
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Core cardholders get a new credit
A semi-annual $25 credit ($50 total) will land directly in core cardholders’ Air Canada Wallets on Jan. 15 and July 15 of each year. They are each valid for six months.
Annual fees on core cards, including the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and the American Express Aeroplan Card, will rise by up to $30.
Premium cardholder enhancements
Maple Leaf Lounge access for premium Aeroplan cardholders now extends to Air Canada’s lounges worldwide, adding London, Paris and Frankfurt to the mix.
Cardholders and up to eight companions on the same itinerary will also get priority security lanes at select airports.
A semi-annual $50 Air Canada credit ($100 total) will also be available to premium cardholders starting Jan. 15. Each credit expires after six months.
The annual fee on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Cards increases by $100 to $699.
CIBC confirmed via e-mail that changes were coming to its core and premium Aeroplan credit cards, but could not provide details by the time of publication.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve gets the most perks
Though it’s also considered a premium Aeroplan card, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is getting even more perks:
- Six Priority Pass lounge passes a year for when Maple Leaf Lounges aren’t available. A similar perk is already offered on the TD and CIBC premium cards.
- Eight complimentary visits a year to Amex Aspire lounges in Canada. With new lounges recently opened in Calgary and Montreal, this could appeal to travellers flying out of those hubs.
- A $200 annual dining credit at restaurants on Air Canada’s list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants.
- A 10-per-cent points bonus when you spend $125,000 a year on the card, plus an additional 10 per cent for every extra $25,000, up to $400,000 a year.
These perks are significant, but so is the $200 fee increase, which makes the Aeroplan Reserve the most expensive Aeroplan card at $799.
Are the changes worth it?
For the core Aeroplan cards, annual fees are only going up by up to $30, so most cardholders will break even right away as long as they use one of the new semi-annual credits.
Whether you have a core or premium card, the 15-per-cent redemption discount could be the real game-changer. A 20,000-point flight would cost just 17,000 points. With Aeroplan points worth around 1.5 cents each, that’s $45 saved. On a 50,000-point round trip, you’d save 7,500 points ($112.50 value).
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Despite the added value, the premium cards aren’t a slam dunk. At $599, the TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Cards already carry some of the highest annual fees in Canada. Bumping that to $699 will have many cardholders questioning whether they’re still worth it.
Sure, the two semi-annual credits are worth $100 total, but not everyone flies Air Canada twice a year, let alone during both windows when the credits are available.
A significant portion of cardholders likely hold these cards mainly for Maple Leaf Lounge access and Zone 2 boarding. Those benefits remain, but paying another $100 for them may no longer make sense.
Aeroplan Reserve cardholders face an even bigger dilemma. On paper, the $200 dining credit offsets the $200 fee hike, but Air Canada’s list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants includes only 30 establishments across the country. It’s highly likely many cardholders won’t be able to use the credit at all.
There’s no denying the extra lounge passes are appealing, and Canada’s Amex Aspire lounges are excellent, but the added cost for that access won’t be worth it for everyone.
Ultimately, the Aeroplan Reserve changes feel more like a status move. Big spenders who travel often with Air Canada likely won’t blink, but if the higher fee already worries you, it may be time to downgrade to a core card.
Barry Choi is a personal finance and travel expert at moneywehave.com. He was previously affiliated with Aeroplan, TD and American Express, but currently has no relationship with any of the brands mentioned.
