Best credit cards for Aeroplan in Canada

1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar on groceries and gas sounds straightforward until you realize both leading cards offer exactly the same rate, the same annual fee, and nearly identical welcome bonuses. The real decision for most applicants is not which card earns more — it is which issuer fits better with your existing banking relationship and travel habits. This guide covers the two strongest Aeroplan credit cards available in Canada, how their perks differ in practice, and what each card actually costs once the first-year rebate expires. For a broader look at travel rewards options, the best travel credit cards in Canada covers programs beyond Aeroplan as well.

What makes an Aeroplan credit card worth carrying

An Aeroplan card earns points that feed directly into Air Canada’s loyalty program, which means the value you extract depends almost entirely on how you redeem. Flight redemptions — particularly short-haul economy routes within Canada or to the continental United States — tend to deliver the strongest cents-per-point return. Cardholders who redeem for merchandise or gift cards typically see a fraction of that value. A higher earn rate is only useful when the categories match real spending, and both cards on this list concentrate their accelerated earning on groceries, gas, and Air Canada purchases.

Beyond earn rates, the perks attached to these cards matter. A free first checked bag on Air Canada flights is worth $34 per person each way, which means a couple taking two return trips per year recovers $272 in bag fees alone. That single benefit can offset a meaningful portion of the annual fee before a single point is redeemed. Understanding how Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs PC Optimum programs compare in redemption flexibility is useful context before committing to an Aeroplan-focused card.

Best Aeroplan credit card for TD banking customers

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card earns 1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, with 1 point per dollar on everything else. The EV charging inclusion is a small but practical differentiator over the CIBC version, which does not explicitly include that category. The welcome offer of up to 45,000 Aeroplan points, combined with a first-year annual fee rebate, makes the first twelve months the strongest value window.

The honest limitation here is that the card’s value concentrates heavily on Air Canada travel. The NEXUS application fee rebate of up to $100 every 48 months is a genuine perk for frequent cross-border travellers, but it only pays off if you actually apply for NEXUS. Cardholders who rarely fly Air Canada or who tend to redeem points outside of flights will find the $139 annual fee harder to recover after the first-year rebate expires. The income requirement of $60,000 personal also excludes applicants below that threshold.

Best Aeroplan credit card for CIBC banking customers

The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card matches the TD card almost point for point: 1.5 points per dollar on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, a $139 annual fee, and a welcome offer of up to 45,000 Aeroplan points with a first-year fee rebate. The free first checked bag benefit applies on Air Canada flights, which is the same perk offered by the TD version. For most applicants, the structural differences between the two cards are minor.

Where the CIBC card can pull ahead is through its anniversary bonus, which can materially lift the first-year return if the offer is active when you apply. The trade-off is that the CIBC card does not include EV charging as an accelerated earn category, which matters if you drive an electric vehicle and charge frequently. Foreign transaction fees of 2.5% still apply on purchases made abroad, so neither card is a strong choice for international spending outside of Air Canada bookings.

How to choose between these two Aeroplan cards

The TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite cards are structurally near-identical. Same annual fee, same income requirement, same core earn rate, same free checked bag benefit. The practical differences come down to three things: your existing bank relationship, whether EV charging is a relevant category for you, and which issuer’s current welcome offer is stronger at the time you apply.

If you already hold a TD chequing or savings account, the TD card integrates more cleanly into your existing financial setup. The same logic applies to CIBC customers. Neither card is a clear winner on rewards alone, which is why the decision often comes down to banking convenience rather than earn rate arithmetic. For applicants who want to compare Aeroplan cards against the full range of travel rewards options, the best credit cards in Canada covers a wider set of programs and card types.

• Choose the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card if you bank with TD, drive an electric vehicle, or want the NEXUS fee rebate as a cross-border travel perk.
• Choose the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card if you bank with CIBC or if CIBC’s anniversary bonus offer is currently stronger than TD’s welcome offer.
• Both cards require a $60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income — confirm eligibility before applying to avoid a hard credit inquiry.
• Neither card waives the 2.5% foreign transaction fee, so pair either one with a no-FX card for spending outside of Air Canada bookings.
• The free first checked bag benefit on Air Canada applies to the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same booking, which adds real value for family travel.

Is an Aeroplan credit card right for you

An Aeroplan card pays off most clearly for Canadians who fly Air Canada at least once or twice a year and who spend regularly on groceries and gas. The 1.5x earn rate on those categories is competitive, and the free checked bag benefit alone can offset a significant portion of the annual fee for travellers who would otherwise pay bag fees. The first-year annual fee rebate makes the entry cost low, but the ongoing $139 fee requires consistent Aeroplan flight redemptions to justify.

Cardholders who rarely fly or who prefer flexible redemption options may find a general travel rewards card more practical. Aeroplan points are most valuable when redeemed for flights, and that dependency is a real constraint. Before applying, it is worth mapping your annual Air Canada spend and typical redemption habits against the fee. The Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs PC Optimum comparison is a useful starting point if you are still deciding which loyalty program fits your lifestyle.