Aeroplan is one of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada, with millions of Canadians earning and redeeming Aeroplan miles each year. So how do Aeroplan members collect miles even faster? By using Aeroplan travel credit cards to earn points on everyday spending.
Aeroplan Travel Credit Cards
American Express offers the most comprehensive line-up of Aeroplan travel credit cards. There is an option for every Aeroplan member, from the casual collector to the frequent traveller and everything in between. Let’s take a look at the different Aeroplan travel credit card options available:
- AeroplanPlus – With the basic American Express AeroplanPlus Card you will receive 1 Aeroplan mile for every $1 spent. There is a bonus of 2,500 Aeroplan miles for signing-up. The AeroplanPlus Card has an annual fee of $60, which includes Buyer’s Assurance Protection as well as Front of the Line preferred ticket access.
- AeroplanPlus Gold Card – With the American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card you can earn up to 1.25 Aeroplan miles for every $1 spent. There is a bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan miles for signing-up. The AeroplanPlus Gold Card has an annual fee of $120, which includes Buyer’s Assurance Protection, Front of the Line preferred ticket access, and enhanced Travel Insurance.
- AeroplanPlus Platinum Card – With the American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card you can earn up to 1.5 Aeroplan miles for every $1 spent. There is a bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan miles just for signing-up. The AeroplanPlus Platinum Card has an annual fee of $499, which includes Buyer’s Assurance Protection, Front of the Line preferred ticket access, and enhanced Travel Insurance, including emergency medical insurance.
Is The Annual Fee Worth It?
To receive $50 in Aeroplan rewards, members would need to redeem 6,000 Aeroplan miles. Most Aeroplan partners award 1 Aeroplan mile for every $2 spent in-store, making the cost to accumulate 6,000 Aeroplan miles approximately $12,000. That’s a return of only 0.42% if you only use your Aeroplan card without any supplemental credit card or bonus points event. With Air Miles rewards, members receive a return of approximately 0.57% just on purchases at Air Miles sponsors alone.
If we used a travel credit card like the AeroplanPlus Card for our everyday spending we could speed up our earnings at more than twice the rate. At 1 Aeroplan mile for every $1 spent, assuming we spend $2,500 a month on our card, we could earn an additional 2,500 Aeroplan miles each month. That’s 30,000 Aeroplan miles over an entire year, or about $250 worth of free products from Aeroplan. Subtract the $60 annual fee and you come out with $190 worth of free products.
With the AeroplanPlus Platinum Card we could now earn 1.5 Aeroplan miles for every $1 spent. If we used the same formula of spending $2,500 per month, that would work out to 3,750 Aeroplan miles each month, and 45,000 for the year. That only works out to $375 in rewards each year, when the annual fee is $499.
Final Thoughts on Aeroplan Travel Credit Cards
If you are going to pay an annual fee for travel credit cards in order to earn Aeroplan miles or Air Miles, make sure that you spend well over $3,000 per month on your credit card. These travel credit cards should be reserved for frequent business travellers who can claim the rewards for themselves, rather than the business. Business owners would be wise to look at a small business credit card to maximize their business spending and earn rewards.
What are your thoughts on paying an annual fee on your credit card in order to earn points faster?