CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Credit Card Review
The Aerogold Visa Infinite card earns Aeroplan points on everyday purchases, and offers an adequate overall value proposition compared to other Air Canada rewards cards in its $120 annual fee range. But although it’s a solid deal overall, the card doesn’t particularly distinguish itself in any single feature category, with only 15,000 Aeroplan points for an introductory bonus and relatively standard earn rates and travel features.
In This Article:
At a Glance:
- $120 annual fee
- Introductory bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points for an initial purchase
- Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible grocery, gas, drugstore and aircanada.com purchases
- Earn 1 Aeroplan Mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn points twice at 150+ Aeroplan Partners and 100+ online retailers
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Priority check-in and boarding, plus first checked bag for free on Air Canada flights
- Complimentary one-time annual pass to Maple Leaf Lounge
- Up to 25% off at participating Avis and Budget locations
- Purchase security and extended warranties
Sign-Up Bonus
A 15,000-Mile introductory bonus is not very competitive next to other bonuses offered by Aeroplan cards in a similar annual fee tier.
Aeroplan Points Earnings Rate
The Aerogold Visa Infinite collects 1.5 pointsper $1 spent whenever you purchase gas, groceries, items at the drug store, or travel on aircanada.com. It’s important to note that the accelerated earn rate only applies until you’ve spent $80,000 annually between these categories. At this point your rate is reduced to the regular rate that you already earn for all purchases made with your Aerogold Visa: 1 Mile per $1 spent.
It’s safe to say that despite the ceiling on accelerated spending, you’ll still be collecting points quickly, because when you spend at any of Aeroplan’s 150+ partner brands or online retailers you’ll receive double the Mileage. Incorporating these brands into your shopping habits will ensure that even at the base rate you’re earning 2 points per $1.
Air Canada Perks
When travelling Air Canada, cardholders with an Aerogold Visa Infinite card are entitled to some privileges that will be much appreciated during busy days and long layovers. Priority check-in and boarding make the wait more manageable, and your first checked bag free is nice, but a relatively large caveat is that you’ll also need to have redeemed Aeroplan points on your flight to enjoy these perks.
The same goes for your once-yearly and one-time pass to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge—it seems as though CIBC or Aeroplan designed the card so that an average cardholder will only pay for one flight each year with their points, at which point they’ll also avail of the card’s more luxurious features.
Travel Insurance Coverage
A travel card wouldn’t be complete without some insurance coverage for the primary traveller and his or her spouse and dependents. The Aerogold Visa Infinite provides $5M in coverage for emergency medical needs for 15 consecutive days, or 3 days if you’re 65 or older. Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance are provided as well, the former for a maximum of $5,000 and the latter for $2,000 per person. There’s also coverage for flight and baggage delay, as well as collision and vehicle damage protection.
Drawbacks
We believe that the CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite card deserves to be in the conversation for Aeroplan enthusiasts, but shouldn’t be a top choice based on its relative strengths and weaknesses. For a $120 annual fee it covers all the bases expected: a competitive accelerated and base earn rate; a moderate welcome bonus with virtually no conditions attached; strong insurance; and some peripheral perks that improve your Air Canada travel experience.