Daniela Hanna
The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card is tailored for frequent flyers who want to earn meaningful travel points on daily spend, benefit from Air Canada perks like the free first checked bag, and redeem with flexibility. It blends solid earn rates, premium travel benefits and travel-insurance coverage into a mid-tier travel card.
Quick highlights
- ✈️ Earn 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, groceries, gas, and EV charging.
- 💳 Earn 1 Aeroplan Point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- 🧳 Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companion travellers on Air Canada flights.
- 🏨 Earn toward Aeroplan Elite status through card spend (Qualifying Miles and Segments).
- 💵 Annual fee $139 — reasonably placed for the earn and perks offered.
Why we like it
This card stands out because it aligns everyday spending with meaningful travel rewards. If you fly with Air Canada, use their vacation portal, fill up your car and do grocery trips regularly, the extra 0.5 point per dollar in the boosted categories compounds quickly. The inclusion of the free first checked bag (and companion travellers) gives it a traveller-friendly edge.
Stand-out features
- ✅ 1.5 Aeroplan Points per $1 on Air Canada purchases + groceries + gas + EV charging.
- ✅ Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions.
- ✅ Earn toward Aeroplan Elite status with card spend.
- ✅ Flexible Aeroplan points; good value for flights, upgrades and partner travel.
Good to know
- ⚠️ Annual fee of $139 means you’ll want to extract value beyond just casual use.
- ⚠️ Some perks depend on booking through Air Canada and using the full ecosystem for best value.
- ⚠️ If your spend is low and you rarely fly, the premium may not pay off.
Pros
- High earn rate in meaningful categories for travel and everyday use.
- Strong travel perk — free first checked bag for you and companions.
- Points that typically hold a solid value when redeemed for travel.
- Relevant for Canadians who live a travel-oriented lifestyle or want to earn status.
- Multiple redemption paths — not tied strictly to one airline or direction.
Cons
- Annual fee means you must use the card enough to justify the cost.
- Boosted earn categories require you to spend in specific areas (groceries, gas, Air Canada) to really benefit.
- Foreign transaction fee applies for non-CAD purchases unless another card is used.
- Some of the value comes from booking through the airline’s ecosystem — if you redeem for less-optimal ways the value drops.
Rewards program
- 1.5 Aeroplan Points per $1 on eligible purchases: Air Canada direct bookings, grocery stores, gas stations and EV charging.
- 1 Aeroplan Point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Points don’t expire as long as the account is in good standing.
How to maximize rewards
- Charge your Air Canada purchases (flights, vacations) on the card to hit the 1.5x earn.
- Use this card for daily essentials — grocery shopping, filling up, EV charging — to capture the bonus rate.
- Redeem points toward premium flights where the value per point is highest (business or long-haul economy) rather than gift-cards or merchandise.
- Take advantage of the free first checked bag and include companions in your booking to extract more value.
- Use a complementary no-foreign-transaction-fee card when travelling abroad to avoid FX hit and pair it with this card for travel perks at home.
Insurance & benefits
Included
- Travel medical insurance up to multiple millions of dollars for eligible trips.
- Trip cancellation/interruption and flight delay protection.
- Auto rental collision/loss damage when you charge the rental fully.
- Free first checked bag for primary cardholder, authorised users and up to 8 companions.
Not included (or limited)
- Some lounge access is restricted or only via partner programs — fewer than premium tier cards.
- No unlimited global lounge membership built-in.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $139 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 21.99% |
| Cash advance APR | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Grace period | 21 days |
Best for
- Frequent flyers with Air Canada or those who intend to travel and redeem points for flights.
- Canadians who spend regularly on groceries, gas and EV charging and want to combine everyday spending with travel rewards.
- People who aim to boost Aeroplan status and want a credit-card partner that contributes to status via spend.
Where it falls short
- If your spend is low in the boosted categories you may not get full value.
- Annual fee means some value extraction is needed to justify cost.
- Not the absolute top premium travel card — if you want full lounge access, luxury perks, you might need a higher tier.
- Foreign transaction fee makes it less ideal for international spend unless paired with another card.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“I travel with Air Canada several times a year and the free checked bag perk alone justifies this card for me.”
“Pretty solid value on groceries and gas — the 1.5x earns stack up faster than I expected.”
Critiques
“I don’t always fly Air Canada enough to extract all the travel perks — so I’m looking at whether the fee is worth it.”
“If you redeem points for anything other than flights the value disappears quickly.”
Community insights
In travel-enthusiast forums, this card is often recommended as one of the best “everyday spend meets travel rewards” options in Canada. It’s seen as a smart pick for Canadians who both fly with Air Canada and maintain active spending. Some users pair it with a premium no-foreign-fee card for full travel optimisation.
AI review (straight talk)
If you’re serious about travel with Air Canada, this card checks a lot of boxes. The boosted earn categories give you double-duty return on everyday spend, and the travel perks like free checked bags add real value. For casual spenders or those who rarely fly, though, the annual fee and somewhat narrow sweet-spot might make it less worth it.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card | $139 | 1.5× Air Canada + gas/groceries/EV | 1× | Free checked bag, Aeroplan points | Frequent Air Canada flyers & everyday spenders |
| CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $599 | 2× Travel & premium categories | 1.5× | Premium lounge access, highest perks | Frequent international travellers who want luxury |
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card | $139 | 1.5× on Air Canada + others | 1× | Similar travel-focus | Alternative travel card |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | $120 | High everyday category earn | 1× | No foreign transaction fee | Travel + everyday spenders |
FAQ
Is there an annual fee?
Yes, the annual fee is $139.
What are the earn rates?
You earn 1.5 Aeroplan Points per $1 on Air Canada bookings, groceries, gas and EV charging; and 1 Point per $1 on all other purchases.
What travel perks does it include?
Includes free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on Air Canada flights, points toward Aeroplan Elite status through spend, and full travel insurance and everyday insurance protections.
Do Aeroplan points expire?
No — as long as you keep your account in good standing the points will not expire.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take If you fly with Air Canada even occasionally and spend regularly on groceries, gas and EV charging, this card gives you a compelling blend of everyday earn and travel perks. The free checked bag perk is a standout. If your travel is infrequent or you don’t spend much in the boost categories, a simpler cash-back or no-fee travel card may make more sense.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 4.4 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 4.5 / 5 — high when used properly |
| Benefits & protections | 4.3 / 5 — very good for the fee level |
| Fees & costs | 3.9 / 5 — reasonable given value potential |
| Ease of approval | 4.0 / 5 — typical Visa Infinite income requirement applies |
