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When I think of airline cards, I usually jump to Delta or United. But there is a card on the market that offers better flexibility, easier status, and a unique “exit strategy” for your points that most people completely overlook: Enter: Aeroplan® Credit Card. Wait, Aeroplan? Yep. Stick with me.

Whether you are a United loyalist or a family looking for more ways to get to Europe or Hawaii, here is why this card deserves a deep dive.

What Is Aeroplan?

Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada airlines. And not too long ago, they introduced their own credit card: the Aeroplan® Credit Card. Earning Aeroplan points allows you to book star alliance flights – which we’ll discuss. But, first the card also has a really unique feature: Pay Yourself Back.

Since that’s the hidden gem of this card, lets talk about that first, shall we?

Aeroplan’s Secret Weapon: Pay Yourself Back (PYB)

This is the single biggest reason I recommend this card to large families. Most airline points are “stuck” in the sky, but Aeroplan points can be brought down to earth (literally – you can cover hotel purchases with them).

Here’s how it works:

• Through December 31,2026, you can use your Aeroplan points to “reimburse” yourself for travel purchases at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. For example: 60,000 Aeroplan points would equate to $750 to cover travel expenses!
• You have 90 days to reimburse yourself for the purchase. (Redemptions must be made no later than December 31, 2026).
• You can redeem a maximum of 200,000 Aeroplan points per calendar year with Pay Yourself Back. That’s an impressive $2,500 that can be put toward any travel purchase!

The “Aeroplan Multiplier” Move

For my fellow points enthusiasts, this is the ultimate “if you know, you know” strategy. If you hold both the Aeroplan® Credit Card and a points-transferring Ultimate Rewards card (like your Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card), you’ve unlocked what is essentially a permanent 10% transfer bonus.

While most transfer bonuses come and go, Chase has extended this one indefinitely. When you transfer 50,000 or more Chase points to Aeroplan in a single transaction, Aeroplan kicks in an extra 10% bonus—turning those 50k points into 55k miles automatically. You can snag up to 25k bonus miles per calendar year this way! Now, 50k is a solid chunk of points, but when you’re eyeing a big redemption, that 5,000-point ‘bonus gift’ from Chase really adds up.

A few things to keep in mind with this move:

• The 50K Minimum: You must transfer at least 50,000 points in one go to trigger the bonus. Transfers are not cumulative!
• The Match: You must be the primary cardmember on both accounts; you can’t transfer to a spouse’s Aeroplan account and expect the extra 10%.
• The Waiting Game: While the base points usually transfer instantly, the bonus can take up to seven days to hit your account. Plan your award bookings accordingly!

Our Favorite Ways to Use Pay Yourself Back

Disney

Whether it’s tickets or a stay at a Disney Resort, if it codes as travel, you can erase it. In fact, you can read all about using points and miles for Disney here.

💡Pro Tip: You can even cover the cost of Disney tickets when purchased through a site like Undercover Tourist – it codes as travel!

Cruises

Cruises can be notoriously hard to book on points but the Aeroplan® Credit Card has you covered. Reimburse yourself for any cruise related expense. Cruises can be economical with families too. Depending on your travel dates, many cruise lines run 3rd and 4th passenger free promotions – meaning you might get a really good deal on the cruise and you can cover the purchase with your Aeroplan points!

Of course you can learn even more about covering cruises here: How to Use Points & Miles to Pay for Cruises (Plus Smart Ways to Earn More)

All Inclusives

Want to book that relaxing all inclusive for your family? No problem! I’m sure you’re getting the jist of things. Use your Aeroplan® Credit Card to reimburse the expenses!

💡Pro Tip: When booking all-inclusives on points, you typically have to pay an additional cash (or points) rate for 3rd and 4th guests. But if you’re paying a cash rate and reimbursing yourself, you’ll be covering the total cost for all guests in the room!

Aeroplan® Credit Card Overview

Okay so now that you know the secret weapon of the Aeroplan® Credit Card, let’s chat about the card, itself.

Most airline cards only reward you for flying – meaning they’re not a great ‘everyday use’ card. But the Aeroplan® Credit Card changes that.

Earning Categories:

• 3x Points: Grocery Stores & Dining (YES, even take out/delivery).
• 3x Points: Air Canada purchases.
• 500 Bonus Points: For every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month (up to 1,500 points/month).
• 1x Points: On everything else.

Additional Perks:

• $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit (every four years)
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• $10 monthly Instacart credit (Through December 31, 2027)

Instant Elite Status

The card comes with Aeroplan 25K Status for the remainder of your first year, plus the entire following year. So, why do we care about that? Well, it gets you a decent number of perks when flying Air Canada and a few perks as a Star Alliance member.

Notable Air Canada Perks with 25K Status

• Priority boarding
• 2 free checked bags
• Upgrade availability
• Priority airport check in
• Priority seat selection

Your 25K Elite Status will unlock Star Alliance Silver Status. When flying United (or other partners), Star Alliance Silver is… well, it’s mostly a ‘nice to have.’ You get priority standby, but don’t expect the red carpet treatment like free checked bags or upgrades on United metal—save those expectations for your Air Canada flights.

So what does Star Alliance Silver Status get you? Well, not a ton. But it does get you:

• Priority reservation waitlist.
• Priority airport standby.

It’s worth noting that you can spend your way to Air Canada’s higher elite statuses (35K and 50K) by spending on your Aeroplan® Credit Card. However, for most people, I think it probably wouldn’t be the best use of their spending.

The Star Alliance Advantage

Since Aeroplan is part of the Star Alliance, there is some value to be had when booking Star Alliance flights with your Aeroplan points. Here’s a few benefits to booking with your Aeroplan points:

• The United Shortcut: Often, a United flight costs fewer points when booked via Aeroplan than through United’s own site!
• The Stopover Rule: For just 5,000 extra points, you can add a stopover to any one-way international flight. (Think: A few days in Paris on your way to Greece).
• No Fuel Surcharges: Aeroplan doesn’t charge any fuel surcharges or carrier imposed charges. You’ll only pay taxes and fees, third party taxes and fees and a booking fee if applicable.

A Few Aeroplan Sweet Spots For Families

While I love this card for the ‘Eraser’ potential of Pay Yourself Back, don’t forget that Aeroplan points are some of the most valuable in the sky. You can often find United flights to Hawaii for just 12,500 points—making this a dual-threat card for both simple reimbursements and high-value award flights.

• “Short-Hops” on United: Any United flight under 500 miles (think NYC to Montreal or Chicago to DC) is just 6,000 points. It’s often the cheapest way to move a whole family between major cities!
• Hawaii: You can often find United flights from the West Coast to Hawaii for just 12,500 points one-way in Economy.
• A “Double Destination” Stopover: For just 5,000 extra points, you can add a stopover to any one-way international flight. Spend 3 days in Lisbon on your way to Rome for the price of one ticket!
• Caribbean Getaways: Flights from the U.S. to places like Aruba or Grand Cayman on United can be found for as low as 10,000–12,500 points one-way.
• Infant Perks: Aeroplan is famous for its “Lap Infant” policy—it’s just 2,500 points or $25 for an infant under two on international flights. (Compare that to other airlines that charge 10% of a full adult cash fare!)

Conclusion:

The Chase Aeroplan card is for the family that wants options. Use your points for a high-value Star Alliance flight if you find it—but keep the Pay Yourself Back feature in your back pocket for those times when an Airbnb or a Disney cruise is the better fit for your crew.

The versatility of this card makes it a solid player in the points and miles space.

-Jenn M. from Team Amber