CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
A serviceable free on-ramp to Aeroplan. Most frequent flyers should graduate to the Visa Infinite tier.
- Annual fee
- None
- Welcome bonus value (full offer)
- ≈ $190 Up to 10,000 Aeroplan points (2,500 on first purchase + 2,500 on $1,500 spend in the first 4 statement periods + 5,000 anniversary bonus on $10,000/12 months) — up to $210 in value
- First-year net value
- ≈ $155
- Interest rates
- 21.99% purchases · 22.99% cash advances
Direct issuer link — details verified 2026-08-10
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Standard Score breakdown
PassSix weighted components, each rated 0–10. “Contributes” is the rating × weight — add all six and you get a raw 4.80/10, published as 4.8/10.
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 value4.5/10
The anchor fixes the starting point; the 0.5-point reduction is within the published maximum and makes the reachability judgment visible.
- $155 first-year net value maps to a 5.0/10 baseline.
- Published first-year input: 4.5/10 (-0.5 versus baseline).
- The largest structured year-one offer threshold is $1,500 of spend.
- The offer includes value that lands after year one and is excluded from first-year net value.
Ongoing value4.0/10
This input judges recurring earn and cash-like credits after the annual fee; the welcome offer and non-cash perks are excluded.
- No annual fee.
- Published earn: 1x per $1 — Gas, EV charging, groceries, and Air Canada purchases; 1x per $1.50 — 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.
Perk usability3.0/10
This input credits non-cash benefits at realistic use, separate from cash-like credits already counted in ongoing value.
- No airport lounge access.
- 1 published insurance benefit: Purchase protection.
Low friction8.0/10
This input combines network acceptance, caps, conditions, eligibility, and operational effort; a higher rating means less friction.
- Visa acceptance; 2.5% foreign-transaction fee.
- Eligibility: $15,000 household-income alternative.
Strategic fit5.0/10
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, newcomer.
- Fit case: Occasional Air Canada flyers who want to start earning Aeroplan points without an annual fee.
- Main conflict: You check bags on Air Canada often — the Visa Infinite's bag perk alone covers its $139 fee.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
Earn rates
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Gas, EV charging, groceries, and Air Canada purchases | 1x per $1 |
| Everything else | 1x per $1.50 |
Included insurance
Purchase protection
Why it earns its score
- No-fee entry point into direct Aeroplan earning
- Anniversary bonus adds 5,000 more points after the first anniversary on $10K spend
- Double points at the Aeroplan eStore and partners
Where it loses points
- No checked-bag benefit or lounge access
- Base earn rate (1 pt per $1.50) is weak outside bonus categories
- The Visa Infinite tier's perks quickly outweigh this card's fee savings once you fly Air Canada regularly
Who it’s for
Occasional Air Canada flyers who want to start earning Aeroplan points without an annual fee.
Who should skip it
You check bags on Air Canada often — the Visa Infinite's bag perk alone covers its $139 fee.
The bottom line
Standard Score 4.8/10 — Pass. We estimate ≈ $155 in first-year net value after the $0 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?
There’s no annual fee, so keeping it costs nothing — the only renewal question is whether a different no-fee card would earn more on your spending. Check the rankings or the card finder if you suspect it would.
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 10,000 Aeroplan points (2,500 on first purchase + 2,500 on $1,500 spend in the first 4 statement periods + 5,000 anniversary bonus on $10,000/12 months) — up to $210 in value | ≈ $190 | Jul 12, 2026 | Current |
| Up to 10,000 Aeroplan points (2,500 on first purchase + 2,500 on $1,500 spend in the first 4 statement periods + 5,000 anniversary bonus on $10,000/12 months) — up to $210 in value | ≈ $210 | Jul 11, 2026 – Jul 12, 2026 | Replaced |
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed 2026-08-10. Details change often — confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.
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