As part of the Aeroplan launch, Air Canada’s financial partners, CIBC, TD, and American Express are releasing a whole new slate of credit cards with some very interesting features.
Personal Credit Cards
First, let me say that American Express’ suite of cards has been very hush hush so I don’t have a lot of details at the time of writing but we do have most of the details around the TD and by proxy of TD cards – CIBC’s suite of cards. I’ll provide the details as I have them and add back into the article as more details emerge.
For TD and CIBC, there are three levels of cards: Entry, Core, and Premium. Each of these cards has its own name but the general categories are the ones I’ve listed. Having three levels of cards makes the appeal of the cards universal across a large demographic. \
American Express
AMEX will continue to have two personal card offerings for the Aeroplan co-brand. The American Express Aeroplan Card and the American Express Aeroplan Reserve card. These cards replace the current Aeroplan Gold and Aeroplan Platinum cards.
American Express is expected to release full details on these cards on August 26, 2020 but here are some of the features they are touting (again it’s unclear which benefit is for which card at the moment):
- Annual Worldwide Companion Pass: Eligible Cardmembers can receive one Annual Worldwide Companion Pass when they spend $25,000 on eligible purchases prior to their Card anniversary date that entitles them to buy an accompanying Air Canada economy class ticket at a fixed base fare from $99-$599 (plus taxes, fees, surcharges, and charges).
- Maple Leaf Lounge Access: eligible Cardmembers can enjoy access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America and the Air Canada Café, with a same-day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight.
- Status Qualification Boost: Cardmembers can earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 or $10,000 (depending on the Card) in eligible net purchases charged to their Card.
- Free First Checked Bag: Cardmembers can enjoy a free first checked bag (up to 23kg/50lb) for you and up to eight companions travelling on the same reservation with Air Canada.
TD
TD’s new suite of Aeroplan co-branded cards will officially launch on November 8th, 2020 and will continue to offer non-expiry of Aeroplan Points while you hold a co-branded card. In addition to non-expiry, there are a plethora of other benefits that we will dive into.
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum
For the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card (Base Card), the annual fee will be $89 and authorised users will have a fee of $39. While the primary cardholder annual fee remains the same as the previous iteration of the Platinum card, the authorized user fee goes up by $5. The card comes with the following features:
- Earn Rates – 1 Aeroplan Point for every $1.50 spent on the card, 1 Aeroplan Point for every dollar spent on Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, or at Gas and Grocery retailers.
- Increased Card Insurance Benefits – the suite of Travel and Insurance benefits is expanding with the addition of Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance and Mobile Device Insurance
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite (VI) is TD’s Core level of card and has an annual fee of $139 for the primary cardholder and $75 for authorized users. This primary cardholder annual fee represents a $19 increase from the current TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card with the authorized user annual fee also increasing by $25. Features for the card include:
- First Checked Bag Free on Air Canada flights – For the cardholder, authorized cardholder, and up to 8 passengers on the same ticket (PNR).
- Status Qualification Boost – Cardmembers can earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible net purchases charged to their Card.
- Preferred Redemption Rates – Cardholders will enjoy reduced award redemption rates though no detailed have been released around this
- Increased Card Insurance Benefits – the suite of Travel and Insurance benefits is expanding with the addition of Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance and Mobile Device Insurance
- Nexus Reimbursement – NEXUS + application fee reimbursement of up to $100 for the Primary Cardholder and Additional Cardholders
- Earn Rates – 1 Aeroplan Point for every dollar spent on the card, 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, or at Gas and Grocery retailers.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
As the high-end card in TD’s portfolio, you can expect great benefits but also a big price tag. If you are of that mindset, you won’t be disappointed. The annual fee on the Visa Infinite Privilege (VIP) is $599 for the primary cardholder and $199 for authorized users. These fees represent a $200 increase for the primary cardholder and a $100 increase for authorized users in comparison to the current Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege. While expensive, the card does come with some very attractive benefits:
- First Checked Bag Free on Air Canada flights – For the cardholder, authorized cardholder, and up to 8 passengers on the same ticket (PNR).
- Priority Check-in & Priority Boarding – no details yet as to which check-in queue cardholders will have access to nor what boarding zone this will provide access to.
- Priority Baggage Handling – a great perk for those that travel with baggage – have your bags come out at baggage claim first.
- Priority Airport Standby – if you arrive at the airport early or late and need to change your flight, you will be put on a standby list – if you have the VIP card, you get put at the top of that list.
- Priority Airport Upgrades for Aeroplan Elite Status members – if you have this card and you hold Elite Aeroplan Status (25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, 100K), you will receive priority upgrades while using your eUpgrade credits.
- Complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in North America – this is a very nice to have feature that allows access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America. This benefit is for the primary cardholder and authorized cardholders. As an added bonus, cardholders are able to bring in 1 guest.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Membership + Passes – cardholders receive complimentary membership to Priority Pass’ Standard Membership which allows access to Priority Pass Lounges for $32 USD per visit. Additionally, cardholders will receive 6 passes annually for free.
- Status Qualification Boost – Cardmembers can earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to their Card.
- Annual round-trip companion pass from $99 (plus taxes, fees, charges, and surcharges) after spending $25,000 during the credit card year – one voucher can be earned per account per card year.
- Preferred Redemption Rates – Cardholders will enjoy reduced award redemption rates though no detailed have been released around this
- Rollover eUpgrade Credits and Status Qualifying Miles – if you hold Aeroplan Elite Status (25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, 100K), you are able to carry over your unused eUpgrade credits to the next year. Additionally, if you have Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs) that push you over a tier level but not quite to the next level, you can use those SQM for the following year’s qualification period. For example, if you make it to 35K status and have flown 45,000 SQMs, you are 10,000 SQMs over your tier level of 35K. Those 10,000 SQMs move over to the next qualifying year.
- Increased Card Insurance Benefits – the suite of Travel and Insurance benefits is expanding with the addition of Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance and Mobile Device Insurance. Travel Medical Insurance goes from 22 to 31 days for cardholders under the age of 65.
- Nexus Reimbursement – NEXUS + application fee reimbursement of up to $100 for the Primary Cardholder and Additional Cardholders
- Earn Rates – 1 Aeroplan Point for every dollar spent on the card, 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent at Gas and Grocery retailers, 2 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations.
CIBC
CIBC has not reached out to PointsNerd prior to the announcement but we have been told that the CIBC cards will largely mirror the TD card and its benefits. What we do know is that the names of the cards (from Base to Core to Premium) will be called the CIBC Aeroplan Visa, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege.
Business Credit Cards
In addition to the suite of personal co-brand credit cards, Aeroplan and its financial partners will be releasing a full suite of business cards aimed at small and medium-sized businesses with American Express being the only partner to offer up co-brand cards to corporate clients
Details on the Business Cards have been sparce so I’ll share what I have.
American Express
American Express will have the Aeroplan Business Reserve Card (small/medium business), the Aeroplan Corporate Card (large business), and the Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card (large business).
TD
TD has been the most forthcoming with their information so we know most everything about the single business card they will be releasing, the TD Aeroplan Visa Business.
TD Aeroplan Visa Business
The annual fee on the TD Aeroplan Visa Business will be $149 for the primary cardholder and $49 for authorized users. This fee remains the same as the current TD Aeroplan Visa business card but comes with some better features:
- First Checked Bag Free on Air Canada flights – For the cardholder, authorized cardholder, and up to 8 passengers on the same ticket (PNR).
- Status Qualification Boost – Cardmembers can earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to their Card.
- Earn Lounge Passes – Earn up to 4 Lounge Passes per card year with a pass awarded at every $10,000 increment of spend on the card.
- Preferred Redemption Rates – Cardholders will enjoy reduced award redemption rates though no detailed have been released around this
- Increased Card Insurance Benefits – the suite of Travel and Insurance benefits is expanding with the addition of Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance and Mobile Device Insurance. Also new is Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption insurances.
- Nexus Reimbursement – NEXUS + application fee reimbursement of up to $100 for the Primary Cardholder and Additional Cardholders
- Earn Rates – 1 Aeroplan Point for every dollar spent on the card, 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on dining, shipping, internet, cable, and phone service purchases, 2 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations.
CIBC
CIBC is introducing two business credit cards, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus Card.
You should expect the card features of the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card to be very similar to the TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card but the Business Plus Card is currently a mystery. I will add more details when they become available.
Conclusion
It’s clear that TD, CIBC, and American Express are all-in with this new Aeroplan launch and have come to the table with new ideas and exciting new card features that we have never seen before. The annual fees on the high-end premium cards are up significantly but so are the benefits including flight and airport benefits that are typically reserved for Air Canada 50K and above status members.
While we don’t know what the sign up offers will be until later on, expect to have some very enticing offers being made at launch to cement the Aeroplan card into the wallets of many Canadians.