Primary cardholders of the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card now receive at least 15 percent fewer Aeroplan points on eligible Air Canada flight awards compared with standard members. The improvement arrived with the card’s September refresh and applies on top of existing elite benefits such as Priority Rewards. Travelers who link the card to their Aeroplan account and book through Air Canada channels see the savings automatically on qualifying itineraries.
How the Discount Works in Practice
An award priced at 100,000 points for a non-cardholder drops to no more than 85,000 points for a primary cardholder. The reduction applies only to the points portion of the base fare. Taxes, fees, and any cash component in a points-plus-cash booking remain unchanged. The discount covers any itinerary that includes at least one segment operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express, or Air Canada Rouge. A traveler could therefore fly a United segment into Montreal and then continue on Air Canada metal to London and still qualify. Pure partner awards receive no discount.
Who Qualifies and How to Activate It
Only the primary cardholder is eligible; authorized users do not receive the benefit. The discount does extend to companions listed on the same booking once the primary holder meets the requirements. Cardholders must link their Chase card to their Aeroplan profile and complete the booking through Air Canada’s website, mobile app, or call center. Points drawn from a pooled family account also qualify, provided the account holds enough points for the full award. Standard Aeroplan change and cancellation rules apply afterward. If an itinerary is later altered, the primary cardholder must still hold the card for the discount to remain in force on the revised booking.
Stacking Savings With Priority Rewards
The 15 percent card discount combines with Aeroplan Priority Rewards, which cut the points price of an eligible award in half for one passenger. A 30,000-point economy award from the United States to Canada would first drop to 15,000 points with a Priority Reward, then fall further to 12,750 points after the card discount, producing total savings above 57 percent. Priority Rewards are earned as Milestone Benefits once a member reaches certain Status Qualifying Credit thresholds. The card itself supplies up to 25,000 SQCs annually through a combination of automatic credits and spending bonuses, helping members reach the first selection level without flying.
Additional Value and Bottom-Line Impact
TPG values Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents each, so saving roughly 13,000 points in a year offsets the card’s $195 annual fee through this benefit alone. A single premium-cabin award to Europe or round-trip economy travel for two or more people typically exceeds that threshold. The card also supplies automatic Aeroplan 25K status, up to $100 in annual Air Canada statement credits, a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions, and boosted earning rates on Air Canada flights. These features remain available regardless of where the points in an account originated. The 15 percent reduction stands out because earlier elite discounts varied by route and date and often delivered less than 10 percent. For frequent Air Canada flyers who already carry the card, the new structure delivers predictable, stackable savings on a program already known for strong Star Alliance access and flexible award charts.
