Best cards at Air Canada
Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Air Canada right now at 5%.
Rankings use issuer rates verified as of August 16, 2026.
#15%5%Discover it Cash Back
Discover · Discover · No annual fee · up to $1,500/qtr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#25x5xThe Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · $895/yr · up to $500,000/yr · Lower rate after the cap
#34x4xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · No annual fee
#44x4xU.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · Business · $95/yr · up to $150,000/yr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#54x4xWells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card
Wells Fargo · Visa · $95/yr
#64x4xChase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · Visa · $795/yr
#73x3xAeroplan Card
Chase · Mastercard · $95/yr
#83%3%AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Card
Bread Financial · Visa · No annual fee
#93%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · No annual fee
#103%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · Business · No annual fee
Good to know at Air Canada
Air Canada doesn't limit which card networks it accepts, so this ranking comes down to earn rates, not whether your card works at checkout. The Platinum Card from American Express leads at 5x, but its $895 annual fee and a spending cap come with it. Discover it Cash Back matches the 5% headline with no annual fee, though only in quarters you activate.
The order is the same whether you book on the website or pay in person, so there's no channel to game. The fine print sits at the top: both 5% cards drop to a lower rate once you hit their caps. From Chase Sapphire Reserve's 4x down, the rates listed carry no such conditions, which makes them easier to count on for a large fare.
If neither 5% card is in your wallet, the no-fee fallbacks are respectable. Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x on Air Canada fares with no annual fee, and the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi pays a flat 3%. The Aeroplan Card ranks ahead of both: $95 a year for 3x that our valuations put near 3.9 cents per dollar.
The math
Spend $250 a month at Air Canada and Discover it Cash Back returns about $150 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $60.
Common questions
- What is the best credit card at Air Canada?
- Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Air Canada right now at 5%.
- How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Air Canada?
- We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Air Canada's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
- Is the Aeroplan Card worth it for Air Canada flights?
- It ranks fourth here. The Aeroplan Card costs $95 a year and earns 3x, which our valuations translate to roughly 3.9 cents per dollar: ahead of the flat 3% cards below it, but behind The Platinum Card from American Express at 5x and Chase Sapphire Reserve at 4x. If you already hold one of those, use it instead.
- Can I earn 5% on Air Canada without paying an annual fee?
- Yes, through Discover it Cash Back, but it takes work: you must activate the category each quarter, the 5% shares a combined cap, and the rate drops after that. If you'd rather not manage activations, Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns a steady 3x with no annual fee and no listed conditions.
Rates reflect each card's best case at this merchant and can change; check the issuer's terms before applying.