Stephanie Stevens is an associate writer with TPG's credit cards team. She focuses on creating timely credit cards content for TPG readers.
September 10, 2026 • 10 min read
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Quick summary
A major travel rewards card has been refreshed with a new name, higher annual fee and enhanced benefits, especially for Air Canada travelers.
Cardholders now receive automatic Aeroplan 25K Status each year without a spending requirement, plus up to $100 in annual statement credits for Air Canada purchases.
A new 15% discount applies when redeeming Aeroplan points for eligible Air Canada flights, increasing value for frequent redeemers.
Earning rates improve for travel and gas purchases, but will decrease for dining and groceries starting in 2027.
What to consider
The annual fee increases significantly, but up to $100 in annual statement credits can help offset this for those who make eligible Air Canada purchases.
Dining and grocery earning rates will drop from 3 points per dollar to 2 points per dollar starting January 2027; travel and gas categories see improved rates.
Some current benefits, such as monthly spending bonuses and a transfer bonus from select rewards programs, will be discontinued after December 2026.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of old versus new benefits, plus guidance on whether the refreshed card suits your travel and spending habits.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you hold the (see rates and fees) in your wallet — or have been thinking about adding it — there is big news.
The card has undergone a major refresh, including a new name, new benefits and updated earning rates.
The biggest change is arguably automatic Aeroplan 25K Status every year with no spending requirement. Cardmembers can now also save 15% when redeeming Aeroplan points for eligible Air Canada flights and receive up to $100 in annual statement credits for Air Canada purchases.
Those benefits come with a significantly higher annual fee, however, as well as changes to some of the card's existing earning rates and benefits.
Here's what you need to know about the refreshed Chase Air Canada Aeroplan card.
What's changing with the Air Canada Aeroplan Card?
The refreshed card is now live for both new and existing cardmembers, bringing a new name, a higher annual fee, new travel benefits and updated earning rates.
The Chase Aeroplan Card is now the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card, and its annual fee has jumped from $95 to $195 — an increase of roughly 105%.
THE POINTS GUY
Here's how the refreshed card compares with the previous version:
Feature
Previous version
New version
NEW: Air Canada award discount
None
15% off eligible Air Canada flight redemptions booked with Aeroplan points
NEW: Air Canada statement credit
None
Up to $100 annually (up to two $50 credits biannually)
NEW: Fourth day free car rental
None
Fourth day free at 11,000+ car rental locations worldwide when booking four days in one reservation with Aeroplan points
UPDATED: Annual fee
$95
$195
UPDATED: Aeroplan 25K status for new cardmembers
Aeroplan 25K Status for the rest of the calendar year, plus the entire following calendar year
Automatic 25k Status every year with no spending requirement
UPDATED: Maintaining 25K status
$15,000 in account spend during a calendar year
No spending requirement
Earn 35K status
After $75,000 in account spend during a calendar year
No change
Status Qualifying Credits (SQC)
Up to 25,000 SQC per calendar year
No change
Hotel fourth night free
One extra night free when you redeem 3 nights with Aeroplan points in one reservation
No change
Current Air Canada Aeroplan Card welcome offer
New cardmembers can earn up to 115,000 bonus Aeroplan points: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus an additional 40,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening.
According to TPG's September 2026 valuations, Aeroplan points are worth 1.5 cents apiece, making the full offer worth $1,725.
This is the highest welcome offer we've seen on the card, so if you've been considering applying, now is a great time to do so.
One of the biggest upgrades to the card is automatic Aeroplan 25K Status every year with no spending requirement. Previously, new cardmembers received 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year and the following year, and had to spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year to maintain it.
AIR CANADA
25K is the airline's entry-level status tier and comes with valuable day-of travel perks, including priority check-in, zone 2 priority boarding and two complimentary checked bags when flying with Air Canada.
Cardmembers can also still earn Aeroplan 35K Status after spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Annual fee is increasing, but with a new way to offset the cost
The annual fee is increasing by $100, but the refresh also adds a new benefit that can offset the entire increase.
Cardmembers can receive up to $100 in annual Air Canada statement credits, split into two up to $50 biannual credits. For the remainder of 2026, cardmembers will receive one up to $50 credit. Beginning in 2027, the credits will be available as $50 from January through June and another $50 from July through December.
If you regularly make eligible Air Canada purchases, using the full $100 credit effectively brings the annual fee down to $95.
Existing cardmembers also have some additional time before that higher fee kicks in: They won't begin seeing the new $195 annual fee until Dec. 1, based on their card renewal date.
Save 15% when redeeming Aeroplan points for Air Canada flights
The other major new benefit is a 15% discount on eligible Air Canada redemptions booked with Aeroplan points.
The discount applies to one-way itineraries that include at least one Air Canada-operated flight. So, for example, a one-way itinerary that includes both an Air Canada flight and a partner-operated connecting flight can still qualify for the 15% discount.
Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The discount also stacks with Priority Rewards, potentially making it even more valuable for Aeroplan members who regularly redeem points for Air Canada flights.
Earning rates improve on travel and gas, but drop on dining and groceries
The refresh also changes the card's earning structure.
The biggest improvement is in general travel purchases, which increase from 1 point per dollar spent to 3 points per dollar spent. Gas station purchases also increase from 1 point per dollar spent to 2 points per dollar spent.
Air Canada purchases continue to earn 3 points per dollar spent from the card, but eligible flights can effectively earn up to 5 points per dollar spent for Aeroplan 25K Status members, thanks to 2 additional points per dollar spent from Air Canada.
Meanwhile, dining and grocery purchases will continue to earn 3 points per dollar spent through the end of 2026. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, those categories will earn 2 points per dollar spent.
Here's how the earning rates compare:
Bonus category
Previous version
Refreshed version
Air Canada purchases
3 points per dollar spent
Up to 5 points per dollar spent
Travel purchases
1 point per dollar spent
3 points per dollar spent
Dining
3 points per dollar spent
2 points per dollar spent*
Grocery stores
3 points per dollar spent
2 points per dollar spent*
Gas stations
1 point per dollar spent
2 points per dollar spent
All other purchases
1 point per dollar spent
1 point per dollar spent
*Starting Jan. 1, 2027
Overall, the changes make the card more rewarding for travel and gas purchases but less rewarding for dining and groceries. Someone who primarily used the card for those everyday categories will earn fewer Aeroplan points than before.
Starting in January 2027, cardmembers will get a fourth day free at more than 11,000 participating car rental locations worldwide when booking a four-day rental in a single reservation with Aeroplan points.
The card's existing fourth-night-free hotel benefit is also sticking around, allowing cardmembers to redeem Aeroplan points for three consecutive hotel nights in the same booking and receive the fourth night free.
However, not every existing benefit will survive the refresh.
Cardmembers can continue to use the following benefits through Dec. 31, 2026, before they're discontinued:
Monthly spending bonus: Earn 500 bonus Aeroplan points for every $2,000 spent on the card in a calendar month, up to 1,500 bonus points per month.
10% Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer bonus: Receive a 10% bonus when transferring 50,000 or more Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan, up to a maximum of 25,000 points per calendar year.
All other existing card benefits will remain the same.
The refreshed is more expensive, but frequent Air Canada flyers may find plenty of value in the new benefits.
Automatic Aeroplan 25K Status, 15% savings on eligible Air Canada award redemptions and up to $100 in annual Air Canada statement credits make the card more compelling for those who regularly fly with the airline.
Keep in mind that dining and grocery earning rates will drop in 2027, and some existing benefits are going away.
Ultimately, whether the higher $195 annual fee is worth it will depend on how much value you can get from the card's new Air Canada-specific perks.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
