CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

Overview

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is CIBC's top-tier Aeroplan credit card — a premium Visa product earning Aeroplan points directly, with no intermediate transfer step required. Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty program and one of Canada's most widely used travel reward currencies, redeemable for flights on Air Canada, Star Alliance partners, and dozens of other airlines. At $599 CAD annually, this card competes at the upper end of the Canadian travel card market and is designed for cardholders who fly Air Canada frequently enough to value status-linked perks and lounge access built directly into their card benefits.

Who this card is for

This card is income-gated: $150,000 CAD individual or $200,000 CAD household. That narrows the audience to higher earners who are also committed Air Canada travellers. The ideal cardholder is flying Air Canada or Star Alliance multiple times per year and willing to pay a premium fee for Maple Leaf Lounge access, Air Canada priority benefits, and a path toward Elite Status qualification. It's less compelling for someone whose flights are split across airlines or who values the card primarily for everyday spending rather than Air Canada-specific perks.

Key benefits

The earn rate is 2 Aeroplan points per $1 on Air Canada purchases (flights, Vacations, and Air Canada Cargo), 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 on groceries, gas, dining, and travel, and 1.25 Aeroplan points per $1 on everything else. Spend $3,000 CAD per month across groceries and dining, and you're generating roughly 54,000 Aeroplan points per year from those two categories alone.

Complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America for the cardholder and authorized users is the centrepiece perk — normally a benefit reserved for Aeroplan Elite Status holders. The card also includes Air Canada priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling for you and up to eight companions travelling on the same reservation.

After $25,000 CAD in eligible annual purchases, you unlock an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass — note this isn't a free ticket; a companion still pays a fixed base fare (ranging from roughly $99 on short-haul domestic routes to $599 on long-haul international) plus taxes, fees, and surcharges. The card also credits 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) toward Aeroplan Elite Status for every $5,000 spent, up to 25,000 SQC per calendar year. Six complimentary visits per year at 1,200+ global lounges through the Visa Airport Companion Program round out the airport experience.

Welcome bonus offers have reached 100,000 Aeroplan points in recent promotions, typically split across spend thresholds and an anniversary bonus. Check the CIBC website for the current offer before applying.

Potential drawbacks

The $599 CAD fee is steep, and the $150,000 CAD income threshold eliminates most applicants outright. The earn rate, while solid, isn't market-leading — the fee justification relies heavily on the Air Canada perks (lounge, priority services, companion pass), which have less value if you don't fly Air Canada often. Visa acceptance is broader than Amex in Canada, which is a genuine advantage for everyday use.

How it compares

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite sits a tier below at a lower fee, with similar Aeroplan earning but without Maple Leaf Lounge access or the priority flight benefits. If you fly Air Canada a few times a year but not frequently enough to justify $599 CAD, the Infinite is worth considering first. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is a near-equivalent card from TD with the same Air Canada benefits — the choice between them often comes down to your existing banking relationship.

Bottom line

A compelling option for Air Canada loyalists who fly enough to genuinely use the Maple Leaf Lounge access and will realistically hit the $25,000 CAD companion pass threshold. If your travel is airline-agnostic or you're primarily focused on earn rate rather than status benefits, the fee is hard to justify.