CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Review
Pros
- Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
- Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including out-of-province emergency medical
- No Aeroplan points expiration date while you’re a cardholder
- Annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder in the first year
- Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights
- Visa Infinite dining and hotel privileges
Cons
- $139 annual fee after the first year
- High interest rate of 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances
- Not suitable for those with poor credit scores
- Aeroplan points may experience limited availability or restrictions when redeeming for flights
- Foreign transaction fee of 2.5%
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Performance test results
At DollarWise, for each credit card we test 7 different factors including the rewards, value for money, perks, insurance, strengths and weaknesses of the card.
You can see our full testing methodology here to learn why we’re the most trusted source for credit card reviews.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card has earned a 4.48 DollarWise Rating out of 5. This score is based on a weighted average of the two highest scoring factors (excluding acceptance and approval).
4.2
Rewards
1.2
Fees
1.5
Perks
2.5
Interest rates
4.6
Insurance
5.0
Acceptance
2.5
Approval
The highest scoring categories for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card are insurance and rewards.
These factors are weighted 70% to the highest scoring factor and 30% to the second highest score to get an overall review score.
This weighting allows us to judge cards on their merits and the customers they are designed for.
For the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card the most important factors for scoring this card are its insurance and rewards.
Rewards
With the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, here’s the rates at which you earn rewards for different spending categories per dollar you spend:
| Bills | 1 point |
| Pharmacy | 1 point |
| Gas | 1.50 points |
| Groceries | 1.50 points |
| Restaurants | 1 point |
| Specific Stores | 1.50 points |
| Travel | 1 point |
| All Other Spend | 1 point |
Calculating your annual rewards
We estimate that spending $2,000 per month with the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card would earn $576 in rewards over the year.
Our performance testing research uses an accurate estimation of the average Canadian households spending patterns to predict the rewards a card will earn.
We found that you’d earn this per category:
| Gas | $72 |
| Groceries | $180 |
| Specific Stores | $36 |
| All Other Spend | $288 |
Our study investigating the value found that each dollar spent on the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is worth up to $0.02, depending on how you redeem.
This $576 in rewards value puts the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card in the top 20% of credit cards in Canada based on rewards earned.
The average credit card in our database earns $337 in rewards for the same spend that the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns $576 in rewards value.
We can compare this card to other options by looking at the earn rate by category.
This earn rate is the percentage return that you would get when you spend on this card, assuming you redeem at the predicted maximum value.
For example, if a card earned 5 points per dollar on gas and each point is worth up to $0.02, then the earn rate is 5 points multiplied by $0.02 each, divided by the dollar you spent.
In this example, that’s a 10% earn rate on gas.
| Spend | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | 2.00% | 1.25% |
| Pharmacy | 2.00% | 1.17% |
| Gas | 3.00% | 1.48% |
| Groceries | 3.00% | 1.71% |
| Restaurant | 2.00% | 1.53% |
| Store | 3.00% | 1.94% |
| Travel | 2.00% | 1.19% |
| Other | 2.00% | 1.08% |
| Redemption method | Annual rewards |
|---|---|
| Transfer to partner hotels | $236 |
| Gift cards | $204 |
| Merchandise | $213 |
| Car rentals | $259 |
| Flight rewards | $576 |
| Air Canada gift cards | $288 |
| Air Canada vactions | $239 |
For an annual spend of $24,000, we estimated annual rewards value at up to $576.
That’s equivalent to a 2.40% return on spending.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card has an annual fee of $139. After deducting this, we predicted net annual rewards of $437.
This puts it in the top 20% of credit cards for net rewards after fees.
In comparison, the average card earns net annual rewards of $254.
Fees
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card has a $139 annual fee.
The average card charges $85. So, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is in the top 20% of cards based on the cost of the annual fee.
Perks
We manually review the perks of each credit card to determine how they compare to other cards.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card scored a 1.5 out of 5 for perks, putting it in the top 50% of cards.
The average card scores 1.6 out of 5 for perks.
Interest Rates
| Purchase | 20.99% |
| Cash Advance | 22.99% |
| Balance Transfer | 22.99% |
The average (median) credit card has a purchase interest rate of 19.99% and so the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card charges 1% more than the average.
For cash advances it costs 22.99% compared to the average of 19.96%.
Testing the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card with a $2,000 starting balance, you can see in the graph how the 1% more in interest rates impacts the interest over a year, compared to the average card.
Insurance coverage
| Insurance | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 3 days | 4 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes | No |
| Hotel Burglary | $2,500 | $1,000 |
| Mobile Phone Insurance | $1,000 | $1,000 |
We scored it 4.6 out of 5 for insurance.
It offers 13 types of insurance, whereas the average card has 5 types of coverage.
Approval and qualifying
| Do I qualify? | |
|---|---|
| Estimated Credit Score | 760 – 900 |
| Personal Income | $60,000 |
| Household Income | $100,000 |
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $139 |
| Extra Card Fee | $0 |
| Card type | Visa |
We scored it 2.5 out of 5 for approval.
We predict that you will require a credit score of at least 760 to qualify for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, while the average card requires 652 to qualify.
This puts it in the top top 10% of cards by approval difficulty.
The personal income requirements are $60,000, while the average card requires $23,896.
This puts it in the top 20% of cards by the income required to qualify.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is a popular option for Canadians who are frequent flyers and looking to earn rewards and perks on their everyday spending. In this review, we will discuss the earning potential, benefits, drawbacks, and any other pertinent information for potential users to help make an informed decision on whether this card is the right choice for them.
Earning potential:
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card allows cardholders to earn Aeroplan points on their purchases. Users can earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. This tiered earning structure rewards cardholders with a higher earn rate on common everyday spending categories.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance Package: A key advantage of this card is its comprehensive travel insurance package. The insurance benefits include travel medical insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, car rental collision and loss damage insurance, and more.
This wide range of coverage provides peace of mind to cardholders when they travel. - Air Canada Travel Benefits: Cardholders will also enjoy Air Canada travel benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding, and a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights. These perks can significantly improve the overall travel experience for cardholders.
- Welcome Bonus: Another significant advantage of the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is the welcome bonus offer. New cardholders may be eligible to receive a substantial number of bonus Aeroplan points upon meeting certain spend requirements within a specified time frame.
This bonus can be a valuable boost to a cardholder’s Aeroplan points balance and can be used towards future travel. - Rewards Flexibility: This card also comes with a rewards flexibility that allows users to redeem their Aeroplan points for various options such as flights on any Star Alliance member airline, travel packages, merchandise, or even gift cards. The flexibility to use rewards as desired is a definite strong point for this card.
Drawbacks
- Annual Fee: One significant drawback of the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is its annual fee. The card has an annual fee that may be waived for the first year for new cardholders, but it will be charged from the second year onwards. This fee might not suit every cardholder’s budget or spending habits.
- Limited Spending Categories: Another potential downside to this card is that the high earn rate is limited to specific spending categories, particularly gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases. If a cardholder’s spending habits differ significantly or they rarely travel, then they might not receive the maximum benefit from this card.
Additional information
It’s important to note that while the Aeroplan program has undergone changes in recent times, it remains a popular choice for many Canadians who travel frequently.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is well suited for those who desire comprehensive travel benefits and are willing to pay an annual fee after the first year to enjoy those benefits. However, it might not be the best fit for those who have varied spending habits or prioritize cashback rewards.
Interested in other credit cards? If the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card credit card isn’t perfect for you, you might want to consider the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card (QC). Plus, many Canadian’s that like the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card like the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card, and the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card (QC).
FAQ
Key benefits
- Earn up to 1.5x rewards on select categories
- Receive 1x Aeroplan points for every dollar spent elsewhere
- Comprehensive travel protection for peace of mind
- Never worry about points expiry while holding the card
- Initial annual fee waived for primary cardholder
- Complimentary baggage allowance with Air Canada
- Enjoy elevated dining and hotel experiences via Visa Infinite
- Yearly fee of $139 after introductory period
- Interest rates at 20.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances
- Requires good credit standing for approval
- Potential limitations when redeeming Aeroplan points
- Charges a 2.5% fee for transactions made abroad
