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American Express Canada is raising the annual fees on its personal and Business Aeroplan Reserve cards from $599 to $799. The new fee applies on each cardholder’s first annual-fee billing date after January 12, 2027—not automatically on January 12. Air Canada’s refreshed Aeroplan card benefits begin January 12, 2027, and their value depends on how often you redeem points for Air Canada flights, use premium airport benefits, and make qualifying travel bookings.
Which Aeroplan card fees are increasing, and when?
American Express Canada announced the changes on September 29, 2026. The increase applies to its two Reserve products:
| Card | Current annual fee | New annual fee | When the new fee applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | $599 | $799 | First annual-fee billing date after January 12, 2027 |
| American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card | $599 | $799 | First annual-fee billing date after January 12, 2027 |
The change is an additional $200 per year once the new fee reaches your account. Existing cardholders should check their own annual-fee billing date rather than assume they will be charged the higher amount on January 12 itself. The announcement does not establish fee increases for TD- or CIBC-issued Aeroplan cards. Air Canada says issuers will communicate separately about any cardholder-agreement changes, so check the terms from your own issuer.
Air Canada says the refreshed Canadian Aeroplan card benefits start January 12, 2027. That date is distinct from the billing trigger for the Amex Reserve fee increase. American Express Canada’s announcement confirms the two Reserve fee changes; Air Canada’s card-benefit page describes the refresh and tier differences.
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What benefits are changing?
The package is not identical across Aeroplan card tiers or even between the two Reserve cards. Air Canada groups its Canadian cards into Premium, Core, and Entry tiers; Amex’s consumer and Business Reserve announcements also list different benefits. The table summarizes the tier-level benefits described by Air Canada, not every feature or card-specific term.
| Canadian card tier | Air Canada wallet benefit | Lounge access | Priority security | Flight-reward, hotel, and car-rental benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium and Business Premium | $100 annually, issued as $50 twice yearly | Worldwide Maple Leaf Lounge access with one guest | At select airports | 15% saving on eligible Air Canada flight rewards; fourth-night hotel and fourth-day car-rental reward benefits |
| Core and Business Core | $50 annually, issued as $25 twice yearly | Not included in Air Canada’s tier chart | Not included in Air Canada’s tier chart | 15% saving on eligible Air Canada flight rewards; fourth-night hotel and fourth-day car-rental reward benefits |
| Entry | Not included in Air Canada’s tier chart | Not included in Air Canada’s tier chart | Not included in Air Canada’s tier chart | 15% saving on eligible Air Canada flight rewards; fourth-night hotel and fourth-day car-rental reward benefits |
For the consumer Aeroplan Reserve, Amex also lists up to six complimentary Priority Pass lounge passes per year, eight complimentary passes at select Aspire Amex lounges in Canada, and priority security at select airports for the cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation. It lists a spend-based 10% bonus-points structure and a $200 annual dining credit at eligible participating Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants. The release does not provide the spending threshold or full eligibility terms for those benefits in the information summarized here, so consult the current card terms before assigning them a dollar value.
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For the Business Reserve, Amex lists an Air Canada wallet credit of up to $100 annually, 15% Air Canada flight-reward savings, expanded lounge access, priority security at select airports, and fourth-night hotel and fourth-day rental reward benefits. Its announcement does not list the consumer Reserve’s dining credit or spend-based bonus for the Business Reserve; do not assume those benefits apply.
How does the 15% Aeroplan flight-reward saving work?
The 15% discount reduces the base-fare portion of an eligible Air Canada flight reward, measured against the points required for the same itinerary when booked by an Aeroplan member without a card. The primary cardholder must sign in to Aeroplan to see the discount. It does not reduce taxes, fees, surcharges, or other charges, and it is not a 15% discount on every Aeroplan redemption or on cash fares.
There is also a temporary promotion described for bookings through January 11, 2027. That booking window ends immediately before the scheduled start of the refreshed benefits on January 12, 2027. Treat the promotion and the ongoing benefit as separate offers, and check Air Canada’s terms for the itinerary and booking date you have in mind.
The Air Canada Flight Benefit in the AC Wallet is a different benefit. It applies to eligible cash flight bookings, is issued with a six-month validity period, and cannot be used for flight rewards. A wallet credit can therefore have little or no value to a cardholder who does not book qualifying cash travel before it expires.
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When can the hotel-night and rental-day benefits save points?
Air Canada describes a fourth-night hotel benefit and fourth-day car-rental benefit for qualifying bookings of at least four consecutive nights or rental days with participating providers. When points are used, the benefit reduces the total points required by an amount equal to the average points cost of one night or rental day in that booking.
These are point-redemption savings, not cash rebates. Their usefulness depends on whether you have enough points, can find reward availability, and book a qualifying consecutive stay or rental with a participating provider.
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How can you judge whether the $799 Reserve fee is worth paying?
There is no universal break-even value established for the new package. Compare benefits you will actually use with the extra $200 annual fee, and assess the full $799 fee against the alternatives available to you. Avoid counting a benefit at its headline amount if you would not otherwise spend on it or cannot use it before it expires.
- Estimate your flight-reward use. The 15% saving concerns eligible Air Canada flight rewards and their base-fare points component. Consider how many points you typically spend on those bookings, not all Aeroplan points or the cash cost of a ticket.
- Value the wallet credit realistically. Count the Air Canada wallet amount only if you expect to book eligible cash flights and can use each issued credit within its six-month validity period.
- Count dining credit only against spending you would make. The consumer Reserve’s $200 credit is for eligible participating Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants; it is not equivalent to $200 in unrestricted cash.
- Factor in airport access you will use. Lounge visits and priority security may matter to frequent travelers, but their value depends on your routes, airport access, companions, and whether you would otherwise pay for comparable access.
- Be conservative with point-based travel perks. Assign value to hotel and rental benefits only if your travel patterns fit the qualifying consecutive bookings and participating-provider requirements.
- For Business Reserve, use only confirmed business-card benefits. The issuer announcement does not list the consumer Reserve’s dining credit or spend-linked points bonus for the business card.
If your expected usable benefits do not comfortably offset the annual cost you would otherwise avoid, the refresh alone is not a reason to keep or apply for a Reserve card. The decision also depends on the card’s other terms and benefits, which should be checked in the current issuer agreement.
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