American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
3.9
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.5
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$646.25
Air Canada Aeroplan
Welcome Bonus
$0
Air Canada Aeroplan
Annual Fee
$599
First Year Value
$47.25
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$301.46
Welcome Bonus
$100
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$401.46
$301.46 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
$500,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 years
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured up to 15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1.5K/person, $3K/trip
Trip Interruption
$1.5K/person, $6K/trip
Flight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Baggage Delay
$1K/person after 6 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1K.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K Up to 48 consecutive rental days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
$500,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 years
Extra Benefits*
American Express Experiences
Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
Nexus Application
$100 every 4 years
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 of net purchasesStatus lift
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's ClubStatus lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status can roll over up to 200,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) beyond the status level for which they’ve qualified, from the prior qualification year to qualify for status the next year.Status lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status will benefit from an extra 12 months to use eUpgrade credits, for a total of 24 months from issuance.
Airport Benefits
At Toronto Pearson airport get benefits such as Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet, premium parking spots, priorioty taxi and limo lane and discount for parking and car care.Airport Benefits
Get Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Airport Standby & Priority Airport Upgrades for you, your authorized users and up to 8 companions on the same flight (Only AirCanada)
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Unlimited Access for you and one guest
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points.
Extra Benefits*
American Express Experiences
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.992
Cash Advance:
21.992
Annual Fee*
$599
Annual Fee*
$0
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus*
60,000 Aeroplan® points after spending over $7,500 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Cardmember, plus 25,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $2,500 in month 13. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.
Welcome Bonus*
Earn up to $100 in Statement Credits by earning a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 on your Card in your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember. This could add up to $100 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
Rewards Rate*
- 3x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations® purchases
- 2x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases
- 1.25x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Rate*
- 2% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
- 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.
Is this card worth it?
The SimplyCash® Card from American Express stands out for its no annual fee and strong cash-back earning potential, offering up to $100 in statement credits within the first 10 months. What makes it even more appealing are the unique perks, such as early access to concert tickets and extra layers of security for online shopping. These extra benefits, along with the affordability, make it a strong contender for those looking for a reliable cash-back card with no annual fee. It's an excellent choice for everyday spending while still enjoying exclusive Amex advantages.
Pros
- Generous rewards rate with up to 3 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on purchases, particularly beneficial for frequent flyers.
- Enjoy free checked bags when flying with Air Canada, reducing travel costs.
- Access to preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight awards, maximizing the value of your points.
- Unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges when flying with Air Canada, providing a more comfortable travel experience.
- Extensive insurance coverage, including 11 types of insurance, offering peace of mind during your travels.
Pros
Cons
- As an American Express card, it may have limited acceptance compared to other credit cards, potentially limiting its use in some places.
- The most valuable rewards are generally tied to Air Canada flights, which may not appeal to travelers who fly with other airlines.
- The card comes with a high annual fee of $599, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
- The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.
Cons
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