Air Canada Aeroplan

Chase reworked this card on September 11: the annual fee went from $95 to $195, and the signup bonus jumped from 60,000 to 115,000 points, structured as 75,000 after $4,000 of spend in the first 3 months plus 40,000 more after $20,000 in the first 12 months. The standing draw is automatic Aeroplan 25K status for as long as the account is open, a free first checked bag for you and up to eight passengers on the same Air Canada reservation, and at least 15% off the points price of eligible Air Canada award flights. Earning is broad for an airline card: 3x on Air Canada purchases, 3x on other travel, 2x on dining and groceries that runs at 3x on purchases posting through December 31, 2026, 2x on gas, and 1x on everything else, with no foreign transaction fees. Up to $100 a year in Air Canada statement credits, capped at $50 in each half of the calendar year, takes some sting out of the higher fee, but only if you actually fly Air Canada. At $195 with the perks pointed at one airline, this is now a card you have to use rather than simply hold for the status.