CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Apply Now
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

Apply Now

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card: Which one is better?


CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

3.3


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

4


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$541.37

Air Canada Aeroplan®


First Year Bonus

$630

Air Canada Aeroplan®


Annual Fee

$139


First Year Value

$1,032.37

$402.37 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$659.8

Air Canada Aeroplan®


First Year Bonus

$0

Air Canada Aeroplan®


Annual Fee

$599


First Year Value

$60.8

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    3 days

Insurance Included*

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1K
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1K/person after 6 hours
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K Up to 48 consecutive rental days
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 years
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M/insured up to 15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1.5K/person, $3K/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1.5K/person, $6K/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000/person after 4 hours

Extra Benefits

  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible purchases made on your card
  • luggage

    Free first checked bag

    Enjoy a free first checked bag for you, authorized users and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points

  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    Get up to 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide.
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

    Exclusive offers
  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save up to 10¢/L on fuel at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations
  • discount

    Discount

    Primary cardholders can often book flight rewards for even fewer points

Extra Benefits*

  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 of net purchases
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's Club
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status can roll over up to 200,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) beyond the status level for which they’ve qualified, from the prior qualification year to qualify for status the next year.
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status will benefit from an extra 12 months to use eUpgrade credits, for a total of 24 months from issuance.
  • luggage

    Free first checked bag

    First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points.

  • airplane love

    Companion Voucher

    Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $100 every 4 years
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    At Toronto Pearson airport get benefits such as Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet, premium parking spots, priorioty taxi and limo lane and discount for parking and car care.
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    Get Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Airport Standby & Priority Airport Upgrades for you, your authorized users and up to 8 companions on the same flight (Only AirCanada)
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes

    Unlimited Access for you and one guest
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

    Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Amex Experiences™ opens doors for you to access a number of special events, including special dining experiences, VIP parties, advance film screenings and more

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%, for Quebec 21.99%

Balance Transfer:

22.99%

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%2

Cash Advance:

21.99%2

Annual Fee

$139

$0

First Year Waived

Annual Fee*

$599

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Welcome Bonus

10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase, 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 or more during the first 4 monthly statements periods, 10,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $10,000 in net purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods

Welcome Bonus*

60,000 Aeroplan® points after spending over $7,500 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Cardmember, plus 25,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $2,500 in month 13. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.

Rewards Rate

  • 1.5 Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly, including through Air Canada Vacations®
  • 1 Aeroplan® point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Rewards Rate*

  • 3x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations® purchases
  • 2x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases
  • 1.25x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program*

Point Redemption Options

  • Most Optimal

    flight plane

    Aeroplan® Flights

    2.1¢ / point
  • car rental

    Car Rentals

    0.9¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.75¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.72¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    flight plane

    Aeroplan® Flights

    2.1¢ / point
  • car rental

    Car Rentals

    0.9¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.75¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.72¢ / point

Is this card worth it?

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is great for Air Canada travelers who want to rack up Aeroplan points and enjoy perks like free checked bags and preferred pricing on flight redemptions. With solid reward rates in key spending categories like gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, this card offers decent returns. Additionally, the first-year annual fee waiver and comprehensive travel insurance make it a solid option for those looking for value without the upfront cost. However, its highest value is for people who frequently travel with Air Canada and make use of Aeroplan rewards, especially for flights.

Is this card worth it?

If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.

Pros

  • Generous Welcome Bonus: 40,000 Aeroplan points upon meeting the initial spending requirements.
  • High Reward Rates: Earn up to 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, and Air Canada purchases.
  • Air Canada Perks: Free checked bags for you and up to 8 companions when flying Air Canada.
  • Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan Flights: Get access to better Aeroplan point redemption rates for Air Canada flights.

Pros

  • Generous rewards rate with up to 3 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on purchases, particularly beneficial for frequent flyers.
  • Enjoy free checked bags when flying with Air Canada, reducing travel costs.
  • Access to preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight awards, maximizing the value of your points.
  • Unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges when flying with Air Canada, providing a more comfortable travel experience.
  • Extensive insurance coverage, including 11 types of insurance, offering peace of mind during your travels.

Cons

  • Income Requirements: Requires either a $60,000 personal income or a $100,000 household income to qualify.
  • Limited Redemption Value: The highest value for points is found when redeeming for Air Canada flights, limiting flexibility if you prefer other types of rewards.

Cons

  • As an American Express card, it may have limited acceptance compared to other credit cards, potentially limiting its use in some places.
  • The most valuable rewards are generally tied to Air Canada flights, which may not appeal to travelers who fly with other airlines.
  • The card comes with a high annual fee of $599, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
  • The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.

Legal


*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.
2 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

We may earn a commission for some of the products featured on this site. The content and reviews on FinlyWealth are independent and not influenced by advertisers. For the latest details on any product, please visit the advertiser's official website. The content provided on this website, including any credit card recommendations, is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The owner and author(s) of this website are not financial, legal, or tax professionals. All views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and may not reflect the best choice for your unique situation. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. The owner and author(s) of this website shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions in the content or any resulting actions taken by readers.

Copyright © FinlyWealth 2024 All Rights Reserved.