Amex Aeroplan Card
A solid entry Aeroplan card, usually judged against the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite on acceptance vs. bonus size.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Welcome bonus value (full offer)
- ≈ $855 Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points (35,000 on $7.5K/6 mo + 10,000 on $1K in month 13)
- First-year net value
- ≈ $545
- Interest rates
- 30% (charge card: balance due in full monthly; 30% applies to overdue balances)
Direct issuer link · details verified Oct 4, 2026
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Standard Score breakdown
StrongSix weighted components, each rated 0–10. “Contributes” is the rating × weight: add all six and you get a raw 6.53/10, published as 6.5/10.
Evidence behind each input
The facts are structured; the rating remains an editorial judgment. Open any component to audit what was considered without mistaking the evidence for an automatic formula.
First-year value6.5/10
The published first-year net value maps directly to the executable anchor ladder.
- $545 first-year net value maps to a 6.5/10 baseline.
- Published first-year input: 6.5/10, matching the baseline.
- The largest structured year-one offer threshold is $7,500 of spend.
- The offer includes value that lands after year one and is excluded from first-year net value.
Ongoing value6.0/10
This input judges recurring earn and cash-like credits after the annual fee; the welcome offer and non-cash perks are excluded.
- $120 annual fee.
- Published earn: 2x: Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations; 1.5x: Dining and food delivery; 1x: Everything else.
- No cap is stated in the structured earn rows.
Flexibility6.0/10
This input judges how easily Aeroplan can become useful value without forcing one narrow redemption path.
- Reward currency: Aeroplan.
- Flexibility evidence: Preferred pricing on Aeroplan redemptions
Perk usability7.5/10
This input credits non-cash benefits at realistic use, separate from cash-like credits already counted in ongoing value.
- No airport lounge access.
- 3 published insurance benefits: Travel accident; Flight/baggage delay; Rental car coverage.
Low friction6.5/10
This input combines network acceptance, caps, conditions, eligibility, and operational effort; a higher rating means less friction.
- American Express acceptance; 2.5% foreign-transaction fee.
- No published income minimum.
- Practical constraint: Amex acceptance gaps
Strategic fit7.0/10
This input asks whether the card fills a distinct role in a small wallet rather than duplicating another card; redemption quality is not counted again here.
- Ranking roles: aeroplan.
- Fit case: Aeroplan collectors who want the entry Amex with a checked-bag perk.
- Main conflict: Your grocery stores don't take Amex; the TD equivalent earns on a Visa.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
Earn rates
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations | 2x |
| Dining and food delivery | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1x |
Included insurance
Travel accident · Flight/baggage delay · Rental car coverage
02 / The case
What it does well, and what it costs you
Both sides of the ledger. A card that suits one wallet can be the wrong call in another, so the drawbacks are named as plainly as the benefits.
Why it earns its score
- Direct Aeroplan earning at a mainstream fee
- Free first checked bag on Air Canada
- Preferred pricing on Aeroplan redemptions
Where it loses points
- Amex acceptance gaps
- Reserve and TD Aeroplan VI both out-perk it for flyers who check bags often
Who it’s for
Aeroplan collectors who want the entry Amex with a checked-bag perk.
Who should skip it
Your grocery stores don't take Amex; the TD equivalent earns on a Visa.
The bottom line
Standard Score 6.5/10 · Strong. We estimate ≈ $545 in first-year net value after the $120 fee.
Direct issuer link · no commission shapes this review
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Renewal math
Should you keep this card?
The welcome offer only lands once, so the keep-or-cancel question is whether the $120 fee still pays for itself on earn alone. Enter your monthly spend to see the recurring math.
Count credits, certificates, bags or lounge visits only at what they replaced for you, not brochure value.
~$353/year in rewards at this spend − $120 fee + $0 personally used recurring benefits = $233/year ongoing
Recurring rewards and benefits clear the fee; keeping it is defensibleAt this spending mix, the card breaks even around $460/month on the card after your recurring benefit value. Below that, the fee stops earning its keep.
Estimates price your spend at the card’s published earn rates and our Points Standard Index valuations; structured category caps are applied. Benefits and retention offers enter the math only through your inputs above. Eligibility, downgrade paths, credit-score effects, tax consequences, and benefit-certificate restrictions are not assessed; confirm options with the issuer before changing the account.
Welcome-offer history
We’ve tracked this card’s welcome offer since Jul 11, 2026 and log every change, so you can judge whether today’s offer is genuinely strong or just loudly advertised.
| Offer | Est. value | Recorded | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points (35,000 on $7.5K/6 mo + 10,000 on $1K in month 13) | ≈ $855 | Jul 25, 2026 | Current |
| Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points (35,000 on $7.5K/6 mo + 10,000 on $1K in month 13); offer ends July 28, 2026 | ≈ $855 | Jul 12, 2026 – Jul 25, 2026 | Replaced |
| Up to 45,000 Aeroplan points (35,000 on $7.5K/6 mo + 10,000 on $1K in month 13); offer ends July 28, 2026 | ≈ $945 | Jul 11, 2026 – Jul 12, 2026 | Replaced |
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026. Details change often: confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.
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