We currently hold both Aeroplan 50K status and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card. One of the questions we get asked regularly is why we still pay the $599 annual fee when 50K status already includes many of the same benefits.
It is a fair question. When you look at the list of benefits on paper, there is a surprising amount of overlap. Lounge access, priority boarding, priority check in, baggage benefits and more are already included with 50K status, so at first glance it can seem like paying for the card no longer makes much sense. We have asked ourselves the same question more than once.
After looking at how we travel and which benefits provide us with real value, we continue to keep the card. Not because of the benefits that overlap with 50K status, but because of how the additional benefits work together with status to provide more value from the Aeroplan program.
Here is why we keep the card and where we think it may or may not make sense for you.
What 50K Status Provides
Aeroplan 50K status already provides many of the benefits that make travelling easier.
Lounge access is one of the biggest benefits. 50K status provides Maple Leaf Lounge and Cafe access as a Core Benefit, along with Star Alliance Gold status. This provides access to partner airline lounges when flying Star Alliance airlines, not just Air Canada lounges.
50K status also provides priority airport benefits, including priority check in, Zone 2 boarding, priority baggage handling, priority security at participating airports, and three checked bags up to 32 kilograms each.
The other major benefit is eUpgrades. 50K members receive 15 eUpgrade credits each year, with additional credits available through Milestone Rewards as Status Qualifying Credits accumulate throughout the year.
eUpgrades were one of the many reasons we wanted to reach 50K status in the first place. The idea of booking an economy ticket and potentially moving into business class without paying for a business class ticket is a significant benefit. Status level matters when trying to secure an upgrade, and the higher the status level, the better the odds.
50K status also allows you to earn Priority Rewards as a Milestone Reward. At the 50K level, these can be used for premium economy flights within North America, reducing the required Aeroplan points by 50%.
What the Card Adds Beyond 50K Status
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card adds several benefits that are not included with Aeroplan 50K status.
Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) From Spending
Spending on the card earns 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits for every $5,000 spent, up to a combined maximum of 25,000 SQC per year across eligible Aeroplan credit cards.
If you’re unfamiliar with Status Qualifying Credits, our guide on how to earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) explains how they work and why they are the foundation of earning Aeroplan Elite Status.
For someone trying to maintain 50K status, this may not be a major factor. For someone trying to reach 75K or higher, it can make a significant difference.
This is a benefit we aim to maximize every year because reaching a higher status level is one of our main goals. The additional SQC from card spending can make the difference between maintaining our current status and moving closer to the next tier.
Higher Priority for Upgrade Requests
The card also provides higher priority for premium cabin upgrade requests. This is one of the benefits that is easy to overlook.
Upgrade priority is not simply based on status. Your position on the list also depends on factors such as the cabin purchased and other criteria. The card does not move you ahead of every other traveller, but it does provide an advantage when competing against members with the same status and similar upgrade priority.
We fly Vancouver to Toronto several times a year, and our upgrades rarely clear because it is one of Air Canada’s busiest corridors with plenty of 75K and Super Elite members ahead of us. Realistically, this benefit is unlikely to make much difference on a route like this.
Toronto to Regina is a different story. There are fewer members competing for the same seats, and our upgrades clear much more consistently. In this situation, having priority over other travellers with the same status and similar upgrade priority can make a difference.
We recently experienced firsthand how Air Canada’s eUpgrade system works, including what happens when a confirmed upgrade is lost. You can read about that experience in our Air Canada eUpgrade experience.
eUpgrade Validity
The card also extends the validity of eUpgrade credits. Aeroplan Elite Status members normally receive eUpgrade credits that are valid for 12 months from the date they are issued. With an eligible premium Aeroplan credit card, including the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card, newly issued eUpgrade credits receive an additional 12 months of validity, giving them a total validity of 24 months.
This is a valuable benefit if you are saving eUpgrade credits for a specific trip or simply have a year where you do not use them all. Having a two year window provides much more flexibility and reduces the pressure to use credits before they expire.
Head Start
Starting in 2027, eligible primary cardholders will receive a Head Start benefit equal to 10% of the previous year’s earned Status Qualifying Credits.
This is not a standalone card benefit. You need to already hold Aeroplan 25K status or higher to qualify.
It is another example of where the card and status work together rather than one replacing the other.
Companion Pass
The Companion Pass is probably the easiest benefit to put a value on.
After spending $25,000 on the card within your account year, you receive a Companion Pass that allows you to purchase an additional ticket for a companion at a fixed base fare between $99 and $599, depending on the destination.
This is a benefit you do not receive with 50K status. The value will depend entirely on how you travel. If you are regularly booking economy flights for two or more people, the savings can be significant. If you mostly travel alone or book business class with points, the value may be much lower.
We cover the Aeroplan Companion Pass in more detail in our guide to the Air Canada companion pass.
Avis President’s Club
The card also provides an upgrade to Avis President’s Club.
If you regularly rent from Avis, this can provide additional value. For many travellers, however, it will not be the reason they keep the card.
What the Card Adds Beyond 50K Status
| Benefit | What 50K Status Provides | What the Infinite Privilege Card Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Maple Leaf Lounge access as a Core Benefit, plus Star Alliance Gold lounge access when flying Star Alliance airlines | Six additional Visa Airport Companion lounge visits that can be used at more than 1,200 lounges worldwide |
| Priority airport services and baggage | Priority check in, Zone 2 boarding, priority baggage handling, priority security at participating airports, and three checked bags up to 32 kg each for the status holder | Extends priority check in, priority boarding, priority baggage handling, and free first checked bag benefits to authorized users and up to eight companions travelling on the same reservation |
| Companion Pass | Not included | One Companion Pass after $25,000 in annual card spend, allowing a companion to travel on a qualifying itinerary for a fixed base fare between $99 and $599 depending on the destination |
| eUpgrades | 15 eUpgrade credits annually, plus additional credits through Milestone Rewards | Extends the validity of newly issued eUpgrade credits from 12 months to 24 months for eligible cardholders |
| Upgrade priority | Upgrade priority is based on Aeroplan’s upgrade priority rules, including status level, cabin purchased, fare brand, and other factors | Provides additional priority for premium cabin upgrade requests when competing against members with the same status and similar upgrade priority |
| Airport standby | Priority is based on Aeroplan Elite Status and other upgrade priority factors | Provides additional standby priority when competing against members with the same status and similar priority |
| Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) | Earn SQC through flying and other eligible activities. Status itself does not provide additional SQC | Earn 1,000 SQC for every $5,000 spent, up to a combined maximum of 25,000 SQC annually across eligible Aeroplan credit cards |
| Head Start | Not available with status alone | Starting in 2027, eligible primary cardholders receive 10% of the previous year’s earned SQC when they hold Aeroplan 25K status or higher |
| Avis | Avis Preferred Plus | Upgrade to Avis President’s Club |
Why We Keep the Card
For us, the biggest reason we continue to keep the card is how it works together with Aeroplan Elite Status.
The card does not replace status, and status does not replace the card. The value comes from how the two work together.
Spending on the card helps us earn additional Status Qualifying Credits, which helps us reach the milestones where we can unlock additional Aeroplan benefits. While SQC from the card is not a benefit on its own, it helps us access some of the most valuable rewards in the program.
Priority Rewards are a perfect example. Priority Rewards are not a direct benefit of the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card. They are earned through Aeroplan Milestone Rewards, but the additional SQC we earn through card spending helps us reach those milestones faster.
For our family, this has provided real value. With our son attending university, we have several domestic flights each year that we need to book. Priority Rewards have saved us tens of thousands of Aeroplan points by reducing the number of points required for these trips.
Because of that, earning as many SQC as possible has become an important part of our Aeroplan strategy. The card helps us generate those SQC, which helps us unlock Priority Rewards, which then reduces the cost of our travel.
The same applies to status. When we do have to travel for work in economy, having higher status improves our position for eUpgrades and gives us the best chance of improving those trips.
For us, the card is not about the benefits that overlap with 50K status. Those benefits are already covered. The value comes from how the card helps us maximize the Aeroplan program and get more value from the benefits we already earn.
Final Thoughts
Once you already hold Aeroplan 50K status, the decision to keep the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card becomes much more complicated.
You are no longer paying the $599 annual fee for lounge access, priority boarding, or baggage benefits. Those benefits are already included with status.
For us, the value comes from how the card and status work together. The additional SQC earned through card spending helps us reach Aeroplan Milestone Rewards, which can provide significant value through benefits like Priority Rewards. At the same time, maintaining a higher status level improves our chances of getting more value from eUpgrades when we are travelling on economy tickets.
That does not mean the card is right for everyone. If you already have 50K status, travel mostly in business class using points, and are not trying to earn additional status or Milestone Rewards, the annual fee may be harder to justify.
For us, the card continues to make sense because it helps us get more value from the Aeroplan program than status alone would provide. The card and status are not competing benefits. They work together.
