CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card

Overview

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card is CIBC's entry-level Aeroplan card with no annual fee — a Visa product that earns Aeroplan points directly on everyday spending categories and gives you a foothold in Air Canada's loyalty program without a recurring cost. Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty currency, redeemable for flights on Air Canada, Star Alliance members, and a wide network of airline and hotel partners. With a $0 annual fee and a low minimum income requirement of $15,000 CAD, this card is about as accessible as Aeroplan earning gets in Canada.

Who this card is for

This card is for Canadians who want to earn Aeroplan points without paying an annual fee — particularly those who are newer to travel rewards, students, or people who fly Air Canada occasionally and want to accumulate points passively. The $15,000 CAD household income threshold makes it broadly accessible. It also works well as a companion or backup card in a multi-card setup for cardholders who want to ensure every dollar spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada earns Aeroplan rather than sitting idle.

Key benefits

The earn rate is 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, gas stations, and EV charging in Canada, plus 1 point per $1 on Air Canada purchases. All other eligible purchases earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent (roughly 0.67 points per dollar). That 0.67 rate on everyday spend is the main limitation to plan around — it means this card works best as a targeted card for groceries and gas rather than an all-purpose spend card.

Cardholders also get preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points for Air Canada flights — that's a built-in benefit of any Aeroplan co-branded card and can stretch your points further on select routes. Points don't expire as long as you're earning or redeeming at least once every 18 months.

There is no welcome bonus built into the base card, but limited-time promotional offers do appear from time to time — check the CIBC website directly for any current first-year incentives.

Potential drawbacks

The 0.67-point rate on non-bonus categories is low. If most of your spending falls outside groceries, gas, and Air Canada, you're leaving rewards on the table. The card also lacks the Air Canada travel perks — no free checked bag, no priority boarding, no lounge access — that add real travel value to the mid-tier and premium Aeroplan cards. For a cardholder with meaningful monthly spend, upgrading to the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite for $139 CAD per year often pays off quickly.

How it compares

The American Express Aeroplan Card also carries a $0 annual fee and earns Aeroplan points — it earns 1 point per $1 on most purchases and up to 1.5 points on groceries and dining, which outperforms this card on everyday spend. However, Amex acceptance is narrower than Visa in Canada, making this CIBC card more practical as a day-to-day card. The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the natural upgrade, adding accelerated earn rates and Air Canada travel benefits for $139 CAD annually.

Bottom line

A solid no-cost entry into the Aeroplan ecosystem for those not yet ready to pay an annual fee. If your spending skews toward groceries and gas, you'll earn meaningfully — just know this card is a starting point, not a forever card.