Fly Like A VIP With Air Canada

Airports can be a real drag, especially if you're fighting security, waiting in a noisy terminal, or sitting on a bench that seems more designed for prisons than for the public.

But with the right Aeroplan-branded credit cards, you can get premium benefits that make flying feel like the luxury it was when passenger air travel was novel.

Yes, no longer do you need to have some mega-premium status or be a frequent flyer that practically spends their entire life 36,000 feet in the air.

Here's how you can use your credit card to unlock all these awesome perks.

Why you want these perks

So, why do you want access to these services? Here’s a quick guide to each one and what makes them so great.

Priority check-in

If you’re the kind of person who checks in online and just brings a carry-on bag, priority check-in might not have as much value for you.

But for everyone else, there are two things this service provides:

• a dedicated line for checking in, and
• agents that’ll assist you in getting your boarding passes and tag your checked bags.

Most larger airports have machines for this now – you’d be required to check in yourself, print off your boarding passes and luggage tags, and apply those luggage tags to your own suitcase before standing in line to drop off your bag.

With priority check-in, you have someone else handle this for you.

Priority security screening

The benefit of priority security screening is being able to stand in a much shorter line (or have no line at all) and get through your security screening faster.

Unfortunately, with credit cards, you can’t get this benefit at every airport. American Express credit cards only provide priority screening at the Toronto airport, while Visa Infinite Privilege cards have Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.

Status with an airline or travelling in business class will get you this privilege in many large airports around the world.

Lounge access

Want to sit in comfortable chairs and enjoy some free food and drinks in a quiet, relaxing environment? Airport lounge access will do just that.

Plus, you won’t have to listen to constant flight announcements that you don’t need to worry about.

Priority boarding

The last priority service offered by these cards, priority boarding, will allow you front-of-the-line access to board the plane whenever you choose, rather than waiting in a long line up.

You can get on the plane sooner, find an easy spot to stash your carry-on, and pick your entertainment for your flight.

Related: Credit Cards With The Best Perks And Benefits

Credit cards that offer priority airport services

Did any of these services pique your interest?

This is one of the only cards that will offer all of these benefits.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

The American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card is a card that gives you all of these benefits when travelling with Air Canada, plus a few more.

You’ll receive:

• unlimited priority check-in and boarding,
• Maple Leaf lounge access,
• free checked bags,
• priority security at Toronto-Pearson airport,
• priority baggage handling, and
• an annual companion voucher anywhere Air Canada flies when you spend $25,000 annually on the card.

There is a cost to all of these benefits. This card has an annual fee of $599, but no income requirements.

If you want these benefits, this is the card to get.

An Aeroplan card for VIP benefits

So there you have it. A top credit card that will give you VIP treatment with Air Canada, on top of some other awesome travelling perks.

Do you have (or have you had) this credit card?

Did you make use of these benefits?

We’d love for you to share your story in the comments below.