Best Credit Cards for Aeroplan Points in Canada (2026)

The most common question in Canadian loyalty points communities right now is some version of: "Which is the best Aeroplan credit card?" The honest answer is that there's no single best card — the right pick depends almost entirely on your spending profile. But there is a clear framework for finding the best option for your situation.

Here's a breakdown of the top Aeroplan-earning cards in Canada for 2026, organized by spending type, with the actual earning rates from each card.

Why Spending Profile Matters More Than the Card

The 2026 Aeroplan earning structure rewards category-specific spending — groceries, dining, gas, travel — with meaningful multipliers above the base rate. A card that's excellent for a frequent flyer might be mediocre for a grocery-heavy household.

The mistake most Canadians make is picking the card with the highest sign-up bonus or the flashiest perks without checking whether the ongoing earn rate actually matches their real spending. A $300 bonus is nice once; leaving 1x behind when you could earn 2–5x on your biggest category costs you far more over two years.

Tier 1: The Grocery & Gas Optimizer

If most of your spending goes to groceries and gas — common for Canadian families — these cards deliver the best ongoing Aeroplan earn rates in those categories.

Top picks for grocery and gas spenders:

American Express Cobalt Card (the hidden Aeroplan weapon)

• 5 pts/$ on groceries and dining (combined cap ~$2,500/mo)
• 3 pts/$ on streaming
• 2 pts/$ on gas and transit
• 1 pt/$ on everything else
• Annual fee: $192 ($15.99/mo)
• Amex Membership Rewards points — transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan
• Best for: families with heavy grocery and dining spend. At $1,000/mo in groceries, that's 5,000 MR points = 5,000 Aeroplan miles per month.

American Express Aeroplan Card

• 2 pts/$ on groceries and gas
• 1 pt/$ on everything else
• Annual fee: $120 (first year waived)
• Sign-up bonus: 45,000 pts
• Best for: Aeroplan loyalists who want direct earning without transfer steps and solid grocery/gas rates

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

• 1.5 pts/$ on groceries, gas, and Air Canada
• 1 pt/$ on everything else
• Annual fee: $139 (first year waived)
• Sign-up bonus: 45,000 pts (tiered over 12 months)
• Best for: families who want broad Visa acceptance with decent category bonuses

Who this tier suits: Households spending $700–1,500/month on groceries and $200–400/month on gas. At these volumes, the difference between 1x and 5x on groceries alone is worth $100–200/month in Aeroplan miles at 1.6 cpp valuation.

Tier 2: The Dining & Travel Spender

If your spend leans toward restaurants, food delivery, flights, and hotels, these cards reward those categories most aggressively.

Top picks for dining and travel spenders:

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

• 3 pts/$ on dining and travel
• 2 pts/$ on groceries and gas
• 1.25 pts/$ on everything else
• Annual fee: $599
• Sign-up bonus: 85,000 pts
• Perks: Maple Leaf Lounge (cardholder + 1 guest), 2 free checked bags, SQC earning from card spend, Companion Pass at $25K spend
• Best for: frequent diners and travelers who want the highest earn rates plus lounge access

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

• 2 pts/$ on groceries, gas, and travel
• 1.5 pts/$ on dining
• 1.25 pts/$ on everything else
• Annual fee: $599
• Sign-up bonus: 85,000 pts
• Perks: Maple Leaf Lounge (6 guest passes), free checked bag, priority boarding, Companion Pass at $25K spend
• Best for: high-volume spenders on Visa network who value broad 2x coverage across groceries, gas, and travel

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

• 2 pts/$ on groceries, gas, and travel
• 1.5 pts/$ on dining
• 1.25 pts/$ on everything else
• Annual fee: $599
• Sign-up bonus: 100,000 pts (highest Aeroplan sign-up available)
• Perks: Maple Leaf Lounge, free checked bag, priority boarding, Companion Pass at $25K spend
• Best for: CIBC banking customers — identical earn rates to TD Privilege, but the 100K sign-up bonus is $300 more valuable

Who this tier suits: Canadians spending $500+/month on dining and food delivery and/or $3,000+/year on Air Canada flights. The $599 fee pays back quickly with lounge access ($400–600/yr value for frequent travelers) plus the elevated earn rates.

Tier 3: The Budget Optimizer

If you want to earn Aeroplan miles without paying an annual fee, or with minimal fees, these entry points still get you into the ecosystem.

Top picks for budget-conscious earners:

CIBC Aeroplan Visa (no-fee)

• 1 pt/$ on Air Canada and everything else
• Annual fee: $0
• Perks: free first checked bag on Air Canada
• Best for: occasional Aeroplan earners who don't want to commit to a fee

TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum

• 1 pt/$ on groceries, gas, and everything else
• Annual fee: $89 (first year waived)
• Sign-up bonus: 15,000 pts
• Perks: free checked bag, Nexus fee rebate
• Best for: light spenders who want basic Aeroplan earning with a lower fee than Infinite

Who this tier suits: Canadians who fly Air Canada 1–3 times per year and want to accumulate slowly without paying premium fees. Pair with a no-fee cash-back card for non-Aeroplan categories.

Tier 4: The Two-Card Power Combo

For Canadians who want to maximize Aeroplan across all categories, a two-card strategy covers the gaps that any single card leaves.

The optimal everyday combo:

Pair the Amex Cobalt (5x groceries/dining) with a TD or CIBC Aeroplan Infinite (1.5x gas/Air Canada). Use the Cobalt for groceries and dining, the Aeroplan card for everything else.

Combined annual fee: ~$331 ($192 + $139). The Cobalt's 5x on groceries alone justifies its fee for anyone spending $400+/month on groceries.

The premium combo:

Pair the Amex Aeroplan Reserve (3x dining/travel, 2x groceries/gas) with the Amex Cobalt (5x groceries/dining). Use the Cobalt for groceries and dining (where it beats the Reserve), and the Reserve for travel, gas, and everything else.

Combined annual fee: $791. Justified for frequent travelers who value Maple Leaf Lounge access, SQC earning from card spend, and the 100K points path to 25K status.

Quick Comparison: All Aeroplan Cards

Transfer Partners Worth Knowing

Not all roads to Aeroplan go through Aeroplan-branded cards. These programs transfer points to Aeroplan at 1:1:

• Amex Membership Rewards — Cobalt, Gold, and Platinum all transfer 1:1
• Chase Ultimate Rewards — 1:1 transfer (less common in Canada)
• Capital One Miles — 1:1 transfer
• Bilt Rewards — 1:1 transfer (earn points on rent)

Hotel programs also transfer but at worse ratios: Marriott Bonvoy (3:1), IHG (5:1), Choice Privileges (5:1), Best Western (5:1). Generally not worth it unless you have a large balance to burn.

Programs that do NOT transfer to Aeroplan: RBC Avion (transfers to BA, Cathay, AA, WestJet instead), Scene+ (Scotiabank), BMO Rewards, PC Optimum.

How to Pick: A Simple Decision Tree

1. What's your biggest spending category? Groceries/dining → Amex Cobalt (5x, transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan). Travel/flights → Amex Aeroplan Reserve (3x). Mixed → TD or CIBC Aeroplan Infinite (1.5x on groceries, gas, Air Canada).

2. Do you fly Air Canada 10+ times per year? Yes → A $599 card (Reserve or Privilege) pays back with lounge access + elevated rates + SQC earning. No → Stay in the $120–$192 range.

3. Do you want lounge access? Yes → Amex Reserve (Maple Leaf Lounge + guest), TD/CIBC Privilege (6 guest passes), or Amex Gold/Platinum (Priority Pass). No → Save $400+ on annual fees.

4. Do you already have a high-earn card for one category? If you have a Cobalt for groceries/dining, pick an Aeroplan card that covers travel and gas rather than doubling up on grocery rates.

The Bottom Line

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the most popular Aeroplan card for good reason — broad category coverage, manageable $139 fee, and Visa acceptance everywhere. But it's not the best card for heavy grocery spenders (Cobalt at 5x beats it by 3.3x) or frequent diners (Reserve at 3x beats it by 3x).

The right answer comes from mapping your real spending to real earning rates. Most Canadians who do this exercise discover they're earning 30–50% fewer miles than they could be with a one- or two-card adjustment.

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