CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Review 2025

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Updated: Dec 16, 2024, 5:43pm

Aaron Broverman
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Feel like you’re constantly using your credit card to buy groceries and gas, but you’d love to take vacations instead? The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card might be a great option since it will earn you Aeroplan points, which you can put towards Air Canada flights and vacations. However, you may find this card limiting if you tend to fly with other airlines, eat out more than you eat in or use public transportation with no need for gas.

Pros

  • Earn 1.5 points per dollar when you make eligible gas and grocery purchases, charge your electric vehicle and book Air Canada travel and earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
  • Get comprehensive insurance coverage, including flight, auto rental and travel medical insurance

Cons

  • $139 annual fee
  • $60,000 personal and $100,000 household annual income requirement
  • Low Aeroplan-point earn rates in eligible purchase categories
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
3.5
Our ratings take into account the card’s rewards, fees, rates along with the card’s category. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Annual Fee
$139 (rebated the first year)
Credit Score Description
Good/Exceptional
Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)
20.99% / 22.99%


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Highlights

  • Welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Aeroplan points (10,000 points with the first purchase, 10,000 after four months of spending $5,000 or more and 20,000 as an anniversary bonus when you have at least $10,000 in purchases posted to the account in the first 12 months)
  • 1.5 points for every dollar spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly (with spending caps)
  • 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases
  • Unlock one-car class rental upgrades, expedited service, dedicated phone line, parking stall and pick-up counter and more by elevating to Avis Preferred Plus
  • Eight types of insurance, including out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, hotel burglary insurance, auto rental collision and loss damage insurance, purchase security and extended protection insurance, mobile device insurance and common carrier accident insurance
  • Enjoy hotel benefits, unique dining events and 24-hour complimentary concierge services with Visa Infinite benefits
  • Aeroplan credit cardholders can now get an extra night free for every three hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points.
  • Primary cardholders can often book flight rewards for even fewer points. Plus, no additional airline surcharges on flight rewards with Air Canada flights.
  • This offer is not available for residents of Quebec
  • Terms and conditions apply

Introduction

The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a quick way to collect Aeroplan Points, who can benefit from car rental discounts and who wants plenty of insurance coverage (including flight, car rental and travel medical insurance.

This card can be beneficial for frequent Air Canada and Star Alliance travellers. It helps you earn points to pay for your vacations and comes with a slew of insurance coverage, including travel accident and trip cancellation insurance and emergency medical coverage up to $5 million. You’ll also get discounts at Avis and Budget Rent-a-Car.

On the other hand, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite has a high annual fee of $139 (rebated in the first year) and high-income requirements of $60,000 annual personal or $100,000 annual household income.

Quick Facts

  • Earn 1.5 points per dollar on eligible grocery, gas, EV charging and Air Canada purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
  • Comes with annual income requirements of $60,000 in personal or $100,000 in household income.
  • The annual fee of $139 is rebated in the first year
  • Comes with insurance coverage, including flight, auto rental, extended warranty, purchase protection and travel medical insurance

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Rewards

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Rewards is for anyone looking to amp up their accumulation of Aeroplan points. With it, you’ll earn 1 to 1.5 points per dollar spent, and you can earn double the points when you shop at the Aeroplan Store.

Earning Rewards

With this card, you’ll get 1.5 points per dollar spent on eligible gas, grocery purchases, and transactions made directly through Air Canada, including Air Canada Vacations. You’ll also earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. And the perks don’t end there: You can also earn twice the points at over 150 Aeroplan partners and more than 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan Store, with retailers that include LCBO, Adidas and Sephora.

Plus, you can save even more on gas: Link your Journie Rewards Card to your CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite and receive 10 cents off per litre at select gas stations.

However, there’s a $80,000 spending cap on earning Aeroplan points, meaning points are only available for the first $80,000 in annual credit card spending. After that, Aeroplan points are earned at the regular base rate of 1 to 1.5 points per dollar until the $80,000 spending cap resets on the day after your December statement is printed.

Redeeming Rewards

The easiest way to redeem rewards is by visiting aircanada.com/aeroplan and logging in to your Aeroplan account. From there, you can use your collected Aeroplan points towards flights, car rentals, hotels and more. You can even use your points to book your seat in advance (and have the flexibility to pay with a mix of points and cash).

You can also redeem points via the Aeroplan eStore, where you can buy merchandise, experiences and gift cards from over 170 popular retailers, such as Apple, Sephora and LCBO. Simply log in to your Aeroplan account and click on the eStore portal to start shopping. Beware that redeeming points for merchandise costs the most at an average of nine to 13 cents per point. Meanwhile, flights only cost an average of two cents per point by comparison.

Learn more: How To Redeem Aeroplan Points

Rewards Potential

With the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Rewards, you can earn up to 33,316.07 points per year, translating to roughly $666.32 in annual rewards value.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Benefits

  • Earn 1.5 points per dollar on eligible gas, grocery and Air Canada purchases
  • Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
  • Earn double the points when shopping at the Aeroplan store, which carries products and gift cards from brands like Apple, Sephora and LCBO
  • Get comprehensive insurance coverage, including flight, auto rental, extended warranty, purchase protection and travel medical insurance

Fine Print

Interest Rates

  • Regular APR: 20.99%
  • Cash Advance APR: 22.99%
  • Balance Transfer APR: N/A

Fees

  • Cash Advance Fee: 22.99%
  • Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
  • Annual Fee: $139
  • Any Other Fees: $29 over limit fee, 3% installment plan fee, $10 statement copy fee, up to $42.50 in dishonoured payment fees

How the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Stacks Up

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card Vs. American Express Aeroplan Card

First, look at these two cards’ similarities: Both give you Aeroplan points on select purchases, have a fair annual fee ($139 versus $120) and a typical FX fee of 2.5%. But the similarities end there.

With the American Express Aeroplan card, you can earn more points than with the CIBC card—you’ll get two points per dollar spent on Air Canada purchases (instead of 1.5 points), 1.5 points for every dollar spent at eligible purchases at restaurants, coffee shops, bar and food delivery, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

How do you know which card is best for you? If you spend more in restaurants and coffee shops than on groceries and gas, you may benefit more from the American Express Aeroplan Card. However, it’s important to note that you won’t have as many insurance perks. If you love to travel and take flights a few times a year, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite may be a better pick since it offers flight, car rental, travel medical insurance and more.

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card Vs. RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

These cards have similar annual fees ($139 for the CIBC card and $120 for the RBC card) and the exact regular APR of 20.99% on purchases.

When it comes to points, with the RBC card, you’ll earn 1.25 Avion points for every dollar spent on eligible travel-related purchases, including airlines, accommodations, cruise lines, travel agencies, and car rentals. You’ll also be free to choose any airline (unlike with the CIBC card, where you’re bound to Air Canada). Meanwhile, there are no blackout periods or restrictions when booking flights with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card. As an added bonus, skiers who hold the RBC card can get an extra Friday ski pass for a friend when they purchase one for themselves at participating resorts across Canada.

So, if you tend to take trips to destinations where Air Canada flies and are looking to bank points by using your card to pay for everyday needs like gas and groceries, the CIBC card may be the one for you. However, the RBC card might be the winner if you prefer to travel to destinations where Air Canada may not fly or doesn’t offer frequent flights, like anywhere in the Caribbean.

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card Vs. CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card

The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card differ in one significant way: One offers Aeroplan points and the other gives Aventura Points.

Aventura points can be redeemed at the CIBC Rewards Centre to create travel packages, get car rental discounts and save on gas. It’s slightly more limiting than the other card since Aeroplan points can be redeemed for more rewards—not just for travel-related purchases but also for merchandise and gift cards.

With the Aventura card, you’ll earn two points for every dollar spent on travel-related purchases via the CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5 points per dollar spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

Let’s review their similarities: Both have the same APR of 20.99% and an annual fee of $139, which is waived or rebated the first year. These cards also have similar welcome bonus perks, with the Aventura offering a slightly higher one with a value of up to $1,300.

Which one’s right for you? No matter how you look at it, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card comes out on top. Not only does it offer more ways to redeem your points, but you also get ample insurance options, saving you money every time you travel.

Methodology

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With this card, the scoring model considers factors such as, but not limited to, rewards rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other benefits and features. Keep in mind that what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

Is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Right for You?

Overall, the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is a good choice for those who frequently travel via Air Canada and can benefit from banking Aeroplan points while having access to a range of travel insurance perks. Ideally, this person considers gas and groceries frequent purchases, which will help them bank the most Aeroplan points possible. However, non-Air Canada or Star Alliance flyers will want to look for a travel rewards card that doesn’t tie them to a specific airline.

The information for the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The information for the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card worth it?

First, let’s review how the cards differ: The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card offers more exclusive redemptions, like business-class flights and better travel insurance coverage, but comes with a higher annual fee. The Infinite Privilege card might be better if you’re a frequent flyer who prefers more premium, first-class benefits. In contrast, the Infinite card is more affordable and still has many rewards and benefits.

Does CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite have lounge access?

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card cardholders (and authorized users) have complimentary access to any Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Canada and the United States. However, access excludes Air Canada Signature Suites and lounges operated by third parties, such as Star Alliance member airlines.

Is it hard to get a Visa Infinite card?

Visa Infinite credit cards are exclusive cards with valuable benefits. To be eligible, you need good/exceptional credit and a minimum personal annual income of $60,000 or a minimum household income of $100,000 to remain eligible to hold them. These credit cards also come with an annual fee that can be higher than other Visa cards because they are considered premium.

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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