The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is a premium travel rewards card built for Canadians who fly Air Canada often and want a combination of rich Aeroplan earning, elite-style perks, and strong insurance. The big question is whether those benefits justify a steep annual fee, and for the right traveler, the math can absolutely work in their favour.
What Is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card?
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is CIBC’s top-tier Aeroplan co-branded product, sitting above the core Aeroplan Visa Infinite card in both cost and benefits. It is designed to pair elevated Aeroplan earning rates with Air Canada priority services and airport lounge access, making it a true “frequent flyer” card rather than a casual travel option.
The card carries a $599 annual fee for the primary cardholder, with additional cards typically costing extra, although some clients may be able to offset a portion of the fee through a premium CIBC banking package. As a Visa Infinite Privilege product, it also comes with higher income requirements than standard cards, which helps target a more premium segment of the market.
Bonuses & Fees
At various times, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card has offered welcome bonuses in the range of roughly 80,000–100,000 Aeroplan points, often split across multiple spending milestones and sometimes an anniversary component. A typical structure might include an initial chunk of points after first purchase, another after reaching a spending threshold in the first few months, and a final portion after renewing the card and hitting an annual spend requirement.
The headline $599 annual fee is substantial, so cardholders should be confident they can unlock a large portion of the welcome bonus and use the travel perks regularly. Eligibility generally includes being a Canadian resident, having reached the age of majority, and meeting income guidelines that are often set around $150,000 personal or $200,000 household income.
How Much Value Can You Get?
To keep the math straightforward, assume Aeroplan points are worth around 2 cents per point for good redemptions on Air Canada and Star Alliance partners. With a welcome bonus in the 80,000–100,000 point range, that headline bonus alone could be worth approximately $1,600–$2,000 in flight value at that valuation.
If you needed to spend, for example, $15,000 in the first year at a base earn rate of 1.25 points per dollar, that spend would generate about 18,750 points, worth roughly $375 at 2 cents per point. Combining the welcome bonus and base earn, you could reasonably be looking at around $2,000+ in total flight value in year one, before subtracting the $599 fee, leaving an estimated net first-year value that still comfortably clears $1,000 if you redeem smartly.
If a second-year component of the bonus is tied to renewing the card and meeting an annual spend threshold, another chunk of points could help offset the second annual fee, but the value calculus becomes more dependent on how often you use the perks once the up-front bonus is gone. For frequent flyers who lean heavily on the lounge access, priority services, and companion benefits, the two-year view can still be compelling.
Earning Rewards
The card earns Aeroplan points at accelerated rates on common travel and lifestyle categories.
- 2 points per dollar on eligible Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
- 1.5 points per dollar on eligible gas, groceries, dining, travel, and electric vehicle charging
- 1.25 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
As a simple example, imagine spending $10,000 per year on the 1.5x categories and $10,000 on “other” purchases. That would generate 15,000 points from the bonus categories and 12,500 points from everything else, for a total of 27,500 points, worth about $550 at 2 cents per point before even factoring in any Air Canada purchases at 2x. Relative to other premium Aeroplan and travel cards, these earn rates are competitive, especially for those who funnel most of their travel and everyday spend through the card.
Redeeming Aeroplan Points
Aeroplan really shines when you use points for long-haul premium cabins on Air Canada and Star Alliance airlines rather than short, cheap economy flights. For instance, depending on routing and availability, a one-way business class flight from Canada to Western Europe can often be booked starting around 60,000–70,000 points on favourable itineraries.
Similarly, a one-way business class trip from Vancouver or Toronto to parts of Asia might price from the mid- to high-70,000s in points using the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart. On the other end of the spectrum, short-haul flights within North America under roughly 500 miles can cost as little as 6,000 points one-way, which is a convenient way to stretch leftover points from the welcome bonus.
By combining the welcome bonus with several months of everyday spending, a new cardholder could realistically book one long-haul business class flight plus a shorter regional trip, extracting well above the baseline 2 cents per point with careful planning.
Perks & Benefits
Where this card really distances itself from mid-tier offerings is in the suite of Air Canada and Visa Infinite Privilege benefits.
Key Air Canada–related perks include:
- Priority check-in, security (where available), and boarding, helping you move through the airport faster
- A free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for the primary cardholder and eligible companions on the same itinerary
- Maple Leaf Lounge access within North America when flying on an eligible Air Canada ticket, with some offers including guest access or limited-time promotions
- The ability to earn Status Qualifying Credits (such as SQM/SQS equivalents) through spending, and in some cases roll over unused status miles and eUpgrades when combined with Aeroplan Elite Status
- Preferred Aeroplan pricing on Air Canada redemptions and protection against point expiry while you hold the card
On the Visa Infinite Privilege side, benefits typically include:
- Visa Airport Companion membership with a set number of complimentary lounge visits each year, covering a wide network of third-party lounges
- Priority services at select Canadian airports, such as valet parking or fast-track lanes where available
- A NEXUS credit, helping offset the cost of enrollment and making cross-border travel smoother
For frequent travelers, these perks translate directly into a more relaxed and efficient airport experience, making the travel day feel more like a premium journey than a chore.
Insurance Coverage
As a high-end card, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card comes with a broad range of travel and purchase insurance. Common protections include out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation and interruption, flight delay and baggage insurance, and rental car collision/loss damage insurance up to specified vehicle and trip limits.
On the everyday side, you also typically get purchase security and extended warranty, which can cover eligible items against theft or damage shortly after purchase and add extra warranty coverage beyond the manufacturer’s terms. As always, cardholders should read the official benefits guide for detailed conditions, exclusions, and claim procedures before relying on any coverage.
Who Is This Card For?
This card is best suited to high-spend Canadians who fly Air Canada or Star Alliance several times per year and want to upgrade their experience from check-in to landing. If you can comfortably meet the income criteria, hit the spending thresholds tied to the welcome bonus, and regularly use the lounges, priority lines, and insurance, the value can easily outweigh the annual fee.
On the other hand, infrequent travelers or those who rarely fly with Air Canada will struggle to justify paying $599 every year. If you mainly travel domestically a couple of times annually or prefer low-cost carriers without checked bags, a lower-fee Aeroplan or general travel card will likely offer a better fit.
Final Verdict
For the right traveler, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card delivers a potent combination of rich Aeroplan earning, premium airport experiences, and deep insurance coverage that can more than justify its high annual fee. If you are a frequent Air Canada flyer who values business class redemptions, lounge access, and elite-style perks, this card deserves a spot at the top of your shortlist.