Air Canada's co-branded Chase credit card for US consumers has quietly become one of the more interesting airline cards on the market. The catch: the annual fee doubled from $95 to $195. The offset: cardholders now get Aeroplan 25K elite status automatically, just for holding the card — no flying required.
The welcome offer is the richest it has ever been: up to 115,000 Aeroplan points, split between 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months and another 40,000 after hitting $20,000 in the first 12 months.
So what does 25K status actually do for you? It comes with priority check-in, Zone 2 boarding, waitlist priority and free preferred seat selection at check-in on Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Rouge (though not on basic economy fares). You also get a free checked bag on status — and since the card itself covers a first bag for you plus up to eight companions on the same booking, the savings stack up fast. With Air Canada charging $45 for a first checked bag, a family of four on a round trip could avoid $360 in fees. Sports gear gets cheaper too: bike fees ($50–60) and surfboard fees ($100–120 each way) are waived for 25K members.
Status also doubles your earning on flights — 2 points per dollar on Air Canada and Star Alliance partners booked through Air Canada — which combines with the card's 3 points per dollar on Air Canada purchases for 5x total. Add five eUpgrade credits per year (usable toward business class, premium economy or Premium Rouge), a 250-point minimum earning floor per flight, up to $100 in annual Air Canada statement credits, 15% off eligible award bookings, and Star Alliance Silver recognition — meaning extras like priority check-in, Group 2 boarding and a free checked bag on United, or comparable perks on Lufthansa and other partners.
The card covers the rest of the trip too: no foreign transaction fees, up to $120 every four years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, trip delay and cancellation protections, a fourth night free on hotel redemptions through Aeroplan's hotel collection, and 3x points on groceries and dining through the end of 2026 (dropping to 2x in 2027).
One thing to know: holding the card doesn't unlock Aeroplan's Milestone Benefits — things like Maple Leaf Lounge guest passes and bonus eUpgrade credits require earning Status Qualifying Credits by actually flying. Heavy spenders can push further, unlocking 35K status with $75,000 of card spend in a calendar year.
For anyone who flies Air Canada or Star Alliance partners even a couple of times a year — or who simply wants a strong points-earning card with travel perks attached — the math behind the higher fee is easy to justify. The free bags, statement credits and award discounts alone can cover it, and the points balance grows quickly thanks to the bonus categories.
