Aeroplan credit card users can expect new benefits next year — but analysts say the changes will come at a price.
As of Jan. 12, 2027, members will have access to new airfare savings, as well as airport and hotel rewards, Aeroplan announced on Tuesday.
Both frequent and occasional travellers will get “meaningful value” from the new rewards, Scott O’Leary, vice-president of loyalty and product at Air Canada, wrote in a statement to the Star.
“The goal is to give existing cardholders more value and give others more reasons to consider an Aeroplan card,” he wrote.
What are the benefits?
All cardholders can expect new benefits, the company said, including savings of 15 per cent in points when purchasing a ticket with points.
Aeroplan also says members will see deposits of $25 every six months into their Air Canada wallets for those using a “core” card, and $50 every six months for consumers with a premium card.
Hotel and car rental benefits are also part of the new package, Aeroplan said. Members will get a free fourth day when redeeming points for an eligible car rental, while the free fourth night of an eligible hotel stay will continue.
Members who have a premium Aeroplan credit card can expect to have access to priority security lanes at airports, and be able to access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges worldwide, and not just in North America.
There will be no changes to existing benefits.
But since most Canadians tend to travel in North America and sunny destinations down south, expanded lounge access will only really benefit the fraction of members who are passing through European airports, according to Patrick Sojka, founder of RewardsCanada.ca, an online loyalty rewards and credit card resource website.
And because the new benefits are centred on travel rewards and not rewards for everyday spending, he said, the changes will be the most meaningful for members who are travelling.
“This news is better, definitely for those who are engaged with Aeroplan,” Sojka said. “If you’re just a casual Aeroplan user and don’t have an Aeroplan credit card, this may not push you to get one.”
Even so, the benefits are intended to draw in new customers, according to John Gradek, a faculty lecturer in supply networks and aviation management at McGill University.
“It’s not a lot of value, but it is bait,” he said.
The revenue Air Canada gets from running the membership boosts the company’s bottom line, Gradek said, and it can make Air Canada more appealing over other airlines.
What is the cost?
There is a price tag attached to the new perks when it comes to annual fees, Sojka said.
“We’re seeing increases of anywhere from $20 to $200 extra per year, depending on the card,” he said, referring to the range of different brands of credit cards Aeroplan is partnered with, and noting annual fees on cards across the industry have increased to keep up with inflation.
Members who have a “core” card can expect their annual fees to go up by around $30 next year, he said. The fee for a premium Aeroplan card with TD is expected to rise by about $100, while the premium cards with American Express are expected to cost about $200 more per year.
CIBC hasn’t disclosed how much their Aeroplan annual fees will increase, he said.
