Air Canada has just launched a new U.S credit card that offers up to $730 in travel credits, an exclusive entry into the Aeroplan program (worth about $1,000) and more for spending at least US$30 per month on their cards.
Air Canada’s new credit card, the “aeroplan chase ultimate rewards” is a game changer. The card offers big bonuses, elite status, and big rewards for heavy spenders.
The Aeroplan World Elite Mastercard, a joint venture between Chase and Air Canada, was recently introduced in the United States.
They could have done what everyone else does and offered 3-2-1 earning with accelerators in areas they hope you’ll believe you’ll spend in but won’t, plus free checked baggage and called it a day. That was not the case. They’ve made the card very appealing for achieving elite status, and they’re rewarding ongoing use with large prizes.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise in some ways. During an Aeroplan executive mileage run, Mark Nasr, the airline’s Senior Vice President who controls reward marketing among other things, said that the decision to overhaul the U.S. co-brand card was made. Mark has previously said that CEOs must consume their own dog chow and have a thorough understanding of the product they’re selling — as well as competing items.
Initial Bonus: 100,000 Valued Points
This $95 annual fee card offers an initial bonus of up to 100,000 bonus points after $4000 in purchases in the form of (2) 50,000 point certificates, which may be used as coupons toward any Aeroplan redemption.
For example, if you needed to redeem a 65,000-point reward, you might use one of these prizes and spend 15,000 miles.
These vouchers are valid for as long as you hold the card, and you may purchase two one-way tickets or two passengers to optimize value.
Mark Nasr explained why these certificates, rather than points, are being offered.
- He said that this allows them to provide the most value for the least money since not all certificates would be redeemed for 50,000 points.
- They were inspired by hotel free night certificates, but with enhancements since they often expire and cannot be used (although Marriott at least is solving for that)
- This motivates people to redeem their points as soon as possible – not just for a little prize, but for a huge one, which he says is how they achieve the most participation in the program. People who redeem at a high value gain quickly in the program, and certificates are seen as “burning a hole in the pocket” from a behavioral standpoint.
When applying by February 15, 2022, those who joined the card’s queue will get 10,000 bonus points and 10 eUpgrades as part of their introductory bonus. Any Air Canada flight reward may be upgraded using eUpgrades, including – for a fee – at the time of booking.
Earning
The card gives 3x earning at grocery shops, restaurants, and Air Canada expenditure, as well as 1x earning everywhere else.
It also gets 500 points for every $2000 spend, up to a maximum of 1500 points every calendar month. If you spend precisely at bonus levels in acceleration categories, you may earn up to 3.25 points per dollar. In these areas, using 50 percent off redemption certificates earned with the card is comparable to earning 6.5 points per dollar at the extreme.
Benefits
Of course, the card entitles the cardholder and up to 8 additional individuals on the same reservation to a free first checked bag.
Starting in 2022, they’ll also offer Pay Yourself Back with the card, which will enable cardholders to use points toward travel costs charged to the card at 1.25 cents per point up to 50,000 points each calendar year.
As well as Trip Cancellation, Baggage Delay, Trip Delay, Car Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Roadside Assistance, Mastercard World Elite Benefits include concierge, priceless experiences, and Lyft rebates.
And every four years, you may obtain a $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Nexus — the latter one makes sense since Nexus is particular to the US-Canada border, and it’s the first product to incorporate Nexus credit.
Achieving Elite Status
Through December 2023, the card comes with the first tier of elite status (25K level). With $15,000 in yearly spending, you can maintain your position. and prestige is almost quickly reflected The card’s future status will be for the duration of the year in which you are accepted, as well as the following year.
Spending $50,000 on the card elevates you to the next level of elite status.
- The jump to 35,000 miles based only on spending was immediate.
- A member who spends $50,000 on Air Canada and achieves elite status receives a one-level upgrade at the start of the next calendar year. This allows a member to reach the highest tier of Super Elite status, which is one of the greatest in the world. In the next calendar year, an Aeroplan 75K member who spends $50,000 on the card becomes Super Elite, which is a no-brainer for them if they can do it.
With the card, I noted that I expected serious status-earning chances, and that seems to be correct. Mark Nasr also said that next year would not be a typical year for status advancement, and that there will be a “whole host” of promotions. That is something I would anticipate to be true in general, not only with Aeroplan.
The card grants genuine or full status, which comes with all of the privileges, including ’50 percent off rewards,’ which provide a discount on redemptions according on status level, including on partners and in premium cabins.
As a result, if you level up your status and combine the points earned on this card with points transferred in other programs like Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, your points will go farther.
What I enjoy about it is how the expenditure and status are mutually reinforcing, as pioneered by Frontier Airlines (where all spend counts toward status) and Hyatt (where all spend counts towards status) (where spend earns elite nights and every 10 nights drive incremental benefits). It’s something that American AAdvantage is working towards with Loyalty Points, but due of the stacking of rewards, it seems a little more gamified and entertaining here.
Benefits Over the Threshold Should Be Spent
Do you have a habit of blowing a lot of money? After spending $50,000 in a year, you are upgraded to elite status, but they want you to keep spending.
At 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, and 750,000 in expenditure, they provide 50% off Priority Rewards redemption.
- These may be used for economic redemptions in the United States and Canada by 25K and 35K members.
- Up to Premium Economy, there are 50K subscribers in North America.
- Up to Premium Economy, 75K members may utilize them globally.
- They may be used for up to business class travel anywhere in the globe by Super Elites.
They’re offering something called “GLOBAL+1” to someone who spends $1 million on the card in a year, which is like a worldwide award redemption companion pass that gives you 100 percent of your points back on all redemptions in all cabins for the rest of the year plus the entire following year for a companion traveling with the cardmember. That has the potential to be spectacular.
Spending $2000, $4000, or $6000 on the card each month earns you prizes (500 bonus points at each threshold). Then there are annual expenditure thresholds of $15,000, $50,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, $750,000, and $1 million.
They’ll Help You Reduce Your Emissions
All Air Canada redemptions made by members who have an Aeroplan Chase card will be completely offset — at no cost to the member and automatically.
This is great if the offset efforts are genuine; however, the majority of programs are carbon theater.
They pledge that these will be high-quality offsets that Air Canada will buy with Chase financing. Direct carbon capture is one of the methods described, and it seems to have genuine promise but requires more funding.
‘Look, I have a 2.5-year-old and another on the way,’ Mark adds, quoting, ‘I care about this, and by the way, I want to be around for a long to watch them grow up.’ That’s understandable, and I commend initiatives that aren’t only focused on purchasing Catholic indulgences.
Aeroplan From Air Canada Is A Beneficial Program For Americans
Because Aeroplan is a transfer partner of Chase, American Express, Bilt, and Capital One, elite members of Air Canada Aeroplan get considerable savings on award redemption via “Priority Rewards.”
With no fuel surcharges and access to both Star Alliance airline rewards and award travel across a large network of partners, Aeroplan award redemption is incredibly convenient (even Etihad).
Fuel costs have been removed from the program, and family accounts may now pool points from up to eight members for free. If the whole family has Aeroplan cards, this may be beneficial.
Furthermore, when redeeming for business class awards on Air Canada, a 10,000 to 12,000 point premium gives you a business flex reward, which includes access to two of North America’s premier business class lounges, the original Signature Suite in Toronto and the one in Vancouver.
Signature Suite by Air Canada Toronto
For This, Mastercard Must Be Paying Through The Nose.
Chase only provides a small number of Mastercards. They have a blanket agreement with Visa in which they lease the network and collect practically all additional fees. This encourages people to increase their Visa card spending. Meanwhile, Visa contributed to the re-acquisition of the Aeroplan program by Air Canada. In Canada, Air Canada (together with American Express) provides Visa goods.
Mastercard has been very active in recent years, particularly with FinTech partnerships. Mastercard’s decision to expand its relationship with Chase, and to do so with Aeroplan, implies they’ve put their money where their mouth is on this one. That’s fantastic; it helps to support a high-quality product. It also implies that payment networks are a considerably more competitive market than many people believe.
Eligibility
In New York, I was unable to attend the launch announcement event in person. I make an effort to attend these events since you may frequently pick up morsels in casual chat while waiting for the program to begin or have your queries addressed. I was able to break the news about Chase extending 5/24 restrictions to all of their cards during the event for the relaunch of Hyatt’s card in 2018.
I was able to join this session through Zoom, which meant that my question was filtered. Instead of asking it live, I had to ask it in chat, where it was, predictably, ignored.
We’ve heard that clients who are over 5/24 have lately been accepted for various Chase products, and I wanted to learn more about this from the Chase team, as well as if it applied to this card specifically. ” target= blank>a United Global Services member or a Marriott Ambassador, for example), Chase, like other banks,
Many customers who switched from travel rewards to cash back during the epidemic have lately reevaluated their card portfolio and added a few of new cards to their collection. This might push them over the limit, but they could be fascinated by this new card. I’d want to apply, but if it applies, 5/24 would preclude me from doing so.
More From the Wing’s Perspective
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Air Canada has launched a new credit card, which is the first of its kind. The card comes with big bonuses for heavy spenders, elite status and big rewards for heavy spenders. Reference: air canada aeroplan.
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