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CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Review

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Justin da Rosa

Jan 24, 2025

While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.

Overall rating

First year value

$1,953

Get this card if you:

  • are a high earning globetrotter who prefers Air Canada
  • value premium perks like lounge access and a NEXUS rebate
  • value a great welcome offer

Scores by category

Welcome Bonus 4.7

Rewards 4.6

Travel 4.4

Highlights

$1,953

First year value

up to 70k pts

Welcome bonus

$599

Annual fee

$149 each for up to 9 additional cards

Interest Rates

20.99%

Purchase APR

non-Quebec residents†

22.99%

Balance transfer APR

22.99%

Cash advance APR

non-Quebec residents†

Eligibility

Excellent

Recommended credit score

$150,000

Required annual personal income

$200,000

Required annual household income

Quick overview

If you’re a jet setter who loves to travel in style and doesn’t mind shelling out a little extra for premium experiences, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege (say that five times fast) could be the perfect travel companion. It’s packed with travel features like access to the Maple Leaf Lounges, a NEXUS application fee rebate, free checked bags and comprehensive travel insurance.

It does, however, come with a hefty price tag of $599 per year. Of course, if you’re a big spender – particularly if you fly with Air Canada often – you might be able to offset that high cost by earning points. It offers 2 Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases†, 1.5 Aeroplan points on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel and dining† and 1.25 Aeroplan points on all other purchases†. Not to mention the lucrative welcome bonus. 

So, if you’re a fan of Air Canada and want to know more about its premium travel rewards card, we’ve broken it all down for you.

Who’s this card for?

This card is for the discerning traveller who knows what they like and doesn’t mind paying a little extra. You’re someone who prefers to travel with Air Canada, even if that means paying a little more for your tickets. That loyalty is rewarded with this card, offering a bunch of travel perks like lounge access, free checked bags and travel insurance. It’s aimed at people who travel often, allowing them to earn points that’ll help them book flights and vacations for free. They also don’t mind paying the hefty yearly fee of $599. This card is aimed at high-net-worth Canadians, people who make at least $150,000 a year as an individual or $200,000 as a family, as that’s the required income threshold to qualify for the card.

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • 70,000 bonus reward points

  • Earn up to two points per dollar spent

  • Free checked bags with Air Canada

  • A NEXUS application rebate

  • Lounge access with Maple Leaf Lounges

  • A great travel insurance package

  • Get up to $2,500 in value in your first year

Cons

Cons

  • A high cost of $599 per year

  • High income requirements of $150,000 per year individual or $200,000 per year household

  • The highest redemption category for points is when you spend directly with Air Canada, which might deter some users

Welcome bonus

  • Get a total of up to 70,000 Aeroplan® points (up to $1,400 in travel value†):

    • 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase†

    • 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,000 or more during your first 4 monthly statement periods†

    • 20,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $15,000 in net eligible purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods†

    Enjoy a free first checked bag: a $140 value for 2 travellers for each round-trip flight, assuming you take one round-trip Air Canada flight in the first year†

    Enjoy Maple Leaf Lounge(TM) access: a $550 value†

    Elevate your airport experience with 6 complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally through Visa Airport Companion Program†: up to $370 value†

    Plus, get a NEXUS(TM) Application Fee rebate†: a $100 value†

How to earn points

You’ll earn the most points by spending with Air Canada. The CIBC Visa Aeroplan Infinite Privilege will earn you 2 points for every dollar spent with the airline, including Air Canada Vacations. Aside from that, you’ll earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel and dining. Finally, you’ll earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent on other purchases.

Another neat feature is that you’ll earn 2 points at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore. Aside from that, you can also earn points by using your card with travel partners like hotels (Hilton, Marriott, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Coast Hotels and many others) and rental car agencies (Avis, Budget, etc.), select airport parking lots like Park n’ Fly and retail partners like Starbucks, Uber, Amazon and the LCBO. New partners are being added all the time and you can browse them all on the Air Canada partners website. 

You can also transfer other points to Aeroplan, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Best Western Rewards and Choice Privileges, among others. 

Finally, if you want to top up your Aeroplan account, you can purchase points. They’re typically available for 3.5 cents each but sometimes go on sale for a discount. 

How to redeem points

Redeeming Aeroplan points using Air Canada's Aeroplan rewards centre is a simple process, regardless of the type of CIBC Aeroplan card you have. The user-friendly platform serves as a comprehensive hub, providing information on what you can redeem points for and guiding you through the redemption process. Options include using points for Air Canada and partner airline flights, getting extras and flight upgrades, booking hotels and car rentals, covering vacation packages or experiences, and purchasing merchandise or gift cards.

With diverse redemption choices, there's something for everyone. Points stretch further when used for booking flights with Air Canada or its partner airlines. Air Canada has made it super simple to figure out how many points you’ll need to redeem for certain flights. It breaks down the number of points required to fly within North America, between North America and Atlantic zones, within North America and Pacific zones, and between North America and South America, among others. Here’s an example of how they do it:

Key benefits

  • A lucrative welcome bonus: Get a total of up to 70,000 Aeroplan® points (up to $1,400 in travel value†)
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Lounge access
  • Visa Airport Companion lounge access with up to six complimentary visits at over 1,200 lounges around the world
  • Get a NEXUS(TM) Application Fee rebate: a $100 value†
  • Get free checked bags

Insurance coverage

  • Out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance: Up to $5 million per insured person per trip for 31 days. The coverage period is cut to 10 days for those aged 65 and older.
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance: Up to $2,500 per insured person per trip, up to a maximum of $10,000 combined (trip cancellation). Up to $5,000 per insured person per trip, up to a maximum of $25,000 combined (trip interruption). 
  • Flight delay and baggage insurance: Up to $500 per insured person, with a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence combined (flight delay). Up to $500 per insured person, with a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence combined (delay of checked baggage). Up to $1,000 per insured and a maximum of $2,500 combined (lost or stolen baggage).  
  •  Hotel burglary insurance: Up to $2,500 for all insured people combined.
  • Auto rental collision and loss damage insurance: Coverage for the MSRP of vehicles of up to $85,000 for a period of up to 48 days.
  •  Purchase security and extended protection insurance: Purchase security of up to 180 days from the purchase date and extended protection of two years in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty. 
  •  Mobile device insurance: Up to $1,500 per occurrence, per insured person.
  •  Common carrier accident insurance: Up to $5,000,000 per insured person. 

Extra benefits

  • Access to 24-hour Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge, which includes exclusive wine and dining experiences and VIP benefits at luxury hotels
  • Complimentary upgrade to Avis President’s Club, which includes two-car-class rental upgrades, expedited service, dedicated phone line and more
  • Receive an annual Worldwide Companion Pass (maximum of $599) when you spend $25,000 or more
  • Get an extra night free for every three hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
  • Get priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling 

What people have to say about this card

According to one Reddit user, the CIBC Visa Infinite Privilege Card is outclassed by other cards in the luxury travel category, such as American Express Platinum and American Express Aeroplan Reserve. 

Another user in the same thread agreed, saying the Visa Infinite Privilege program isn’t worth the fee that’s charged. These are just opinions, of course, but gives you a good sense of which other cards you might want to compare the CIBC Visa Infinite Privilege to. Finally, a Reddit user posted a thread asking about how strict the income requirements are for the card. The user edited the original thread to share that they had been approved with no issues, suggesting CIBC might not be super strict with those income requirements. 

How the card compares

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

up to $3000 in value

Welcome Bonus

$3,067

First Year Value

$67

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $3,000 in value† including up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.

Learn More Apply Now On TD's Secure Site

The CIBC card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card are about as similar as two credit cards can get. I mean, they share the same name. They both have the same annual fee, the same interest rates and they both include lounge access and travel insurance. Their points structure is the same as well.

The one thing that sets them apart is the welcome bonus. up to $3,000 in value† including up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†. with the TD Card while the CIBC offering provides up to 70k pts.

  • This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

    †Terms and conditions apply.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Vs. The Platinum Card® by American Express

up to 140k pts

Welcome Bonus

$931

First Year Value

$231

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points* after spending $10,000 on your Card within your first 3 months as a new Platinum® Cardmember.*

Learn More Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and The Platinum American Express are both luxury travel cards. However, there are a few key differences in how they’re structured. The Platinum Card® will cost more at $799 vs $599 for the CIBC card. The points breakdown is different as well. The Platinum Amex offers 2 points on dining, food, travel and delivery purchases, and 1 point on everything else. The CIBC card is a little more complicated, offering 2 points for purchases with Air Canada, 1.5 points at gas stations, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel and dining, and 1.25 points for everything else.

The Amex card comes with a whereas CIBC offers a yearly companion voucher for those who spend at least $25,000 per year on their card. Both come with lounge access, concierge services and travel insurance. One advantage the CIBC card has over the Amex is its welcome bonus, however. 

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Vs. American Express® Gold Rewards Card

up to 60k pts

Welcome Bonus

$1,070

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000

Learn More Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

The American Express Gold is a more affordable rewards card than the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege. It costs $250 per year which is more than half the CIBC card. It’s also tailored to users who have more diverse spending habits, offering 2 points per dollar on travel, including flights, hotels and car rentals, as well as two points on gas, grocery and drugstore purchases. Everything else will earn you 1 point per dollar with the Gold Amex.

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Vs. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

up to $1,300* value

Welcome Bonus

$926

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $1,300* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points*

Learn More Apply Now On Scotiabank's Secure Site

While the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege might be considered the more premium card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite shouldn’t be overlooked by the world traveller. Boasting similar interest rates, lounge access including 6 complimentary visits and travel insurance – but at a much more approachable price of $150 per year – the Scotiabank Visa Infinite is nothing to turn your nose up at.

One thing it does that the CIBC VIP card lacks is that it doesn’t charge foreign exchange fees. So if you’re someone who travels outside the country, this feature will help you save quite a bit of money. As for points, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite offers 3 points for every dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and more, and 2 points for eating in, dining out, theatre purchases and ride-sharing. All other spending will earn you 1 point for every dollar spent. Overall, the Scotiabank Passport might offer a little more bang for your hard-earned buck.

  • Rates, fees and other information are effective as of January 3, 2025. Subject to change.

    Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.

    *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege worth it?

With a hefty price tag and a high barrier to entry with its income requirements, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege isn’t for everyone. It might be worth it if you travel often with Air Canada and want to rack up points with your spending on the airline. Its travel perks are some of the best in the credit card game, but its lack of no foreign exchange fees might put some off. 

FAQs

  • Does the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege come with lounge access?

    +

    Yes, it does. It comes with Maple Leaf Lounges access and Visa Airport Companion Program access (which comes with 6 complimentary visits).

  • What’s the minimum income to qualify for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege?

    +

    It’s $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income.

  • Is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege made of metal?

    +

    Yes, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is a metal credit card.

†Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.

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

Justin da Rosa Freelance Writer

Justin is a writer and editor who has been covering personal finance for over 10 years. He's written for companies such as KOHO, Ratehub, BMO, Zoocasa, and Questrade, among others. Justin also created a course in Content Creation, which he taught at York University for four years. When not writing, Justin can be found at a live concert, on the golf course, riding a motorcycle, or sailing.

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