For anyone who’s ever looked at a flight award chart at 1 a.m. and thought, “Okay, but how do I actually get there,” Chase’s Aeroplan® Credit Card is trying to make that a bit easier.
It’s a cobranded airline card with a $95 annual fee that comes with benefits many people don’t usually see bundled together on similar cards—especially the elite-status angle.
Misryoum newsroom reported the card is one of our favorite cobranded options, mainly because of award flexibility and the incentives that kick in when you spend beyond the welcome bonus.
And yes, it’s meant for travelers who care about points, but the perks are not totally locked behind Air Canada flying.
Elite status that lasts longer than you expect
The headline here is automatic elite status.
New cardholders receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year they’re approved, plus the entire following calendar year.
Misryoum editorial desk noted you’ll want to apply early in the year if you can, because that stretches the benefit.
Aeroplan 25K brings a pile of travel perks: Star Alliance Silver status (priority waitlisting and standby), priority check-in and boarding, complimentary checked baggage (two bags, 23kg each) on Air Canada flights, five eUpgrade credits for cabin upgrades, and complimentary Avis Preferred Plus elite status.
After that initial period, you can retain or build your status based on spending and broader program activity.
And then there’s the status qualifying credits contribution—this is where the card becomes less “nice to have” and more “useful head start.” Misryoum analysis indicates the card provides a 5,000 SQC headstart each calendar year, plus 10,000 additional SQCs when cardholders spend $25,000 in a calendar year, and another 10,000 additional SQCs when cardholders spend $50,000 in a calendar year.
In other words, you can earn up to 25,000 SQC per year from the card.
To make it real, think about how higher tiers of Aeroplan status require increasing amounts of SQC.
With significant spending, the card can accelerate your progress; for example, spending $75,000 in a calendar year can help you reach Aeroplan 35K status.
Aeroplan also offers Milestone Benefits—extra perks unlocked in increments of 10,000 SQC as you earn throughout the year.
The card can boost you, but it still tends to work best alongside actual flying and partner activity, not as a stand-alone shortcut.
Welcome offer, points rules, and the “watch your spending” part
The welcome bonus is straightforward on paper: Misryoum newsroom reported new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Misryoum editorial team stated this offer is worth $1,050, according to TPG’s April 2026 valuations.
(That’s the kind of number you look at twice.)
Because Chase issues the card, it’s also subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months, you may not be eligible for the Aeroplan Credit Card. Approval-wise, Misryoum newsroom noted you’ll most likely need a good credit score of at least 670.
Beyond the welcome bonus, there’s an ongoing earning structure for points: for every $2,000 you spend on the card each month, you can receive up to a 500-point bonus (up to 1,500 points per month; maximum 18,000 points annually).
Misryoum editorial desk added that this benefit can add up for heavy spenders, especially if the goal is to maintain 25K status or move to another tier.
When it’s time to redeem, you’ve got options that feel almost like two different travel styles.
If you prefer simple offsets, there’s Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature, which redeems points for statement credits toward recent purchases.
Misryoum analysis shows the current redemption rates: 1.25 cents per point for travel purchases and the card’s annual fee; and 0.8 cents per point for dining, gas stations, and grocery stores (with limits, excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
Eligible purchases typically need to be made within 90 days before the redemption request, and the Pay Yourself Back categories may change annually.
If you’re more of an award-travel planner, transfers are the big draw.
You can redeem points for flights to over 1,300 destinations through Air Canada’s more than 50 airline partners, including Star Alliance airlines.
Misryoum newsroom noted Air Canada publishes distance-based award charts with sweet spots—like flying from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on Lufthansa business class for just 70,000 points.
In the background of all this is a $95 annual fee, and the practical reality that some advantages don’t fully land unless you actually spend.
There’s also the usual set of travel protections—auto rental insurance, baggage delay insurance, roadside assistance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement—plus first checked bag perks for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
Somewhere between signing up and booking, you’ll probably hear your phone ping—maybe from an email alert—and then remember that the best value usually comes from aligning points with real flight plans, not just collecting them.
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