American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card: Which one is better?
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
3.4
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
4.1
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$517
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus
$630
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$1,027
$397 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$659.8
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus
$0
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$599
First Year Value
$60.8
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay).svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 days
Travel Accident
$500,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrence
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Insurance Included*
Baggage Delay
$1K/person after 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$85K Up to 48 consecutive rental daysTravel Accident
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearsPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000Flight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1K
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
Extra Benefits*
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Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Amex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™: From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
Extra Benefits*
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.Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guestsExtra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStoreFree Extra Night at Hotels
Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points.Amex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™ opens doors for you to access a number of special events, including special dining experiences, VIP parties, advance film screenings and more
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 every 4 years
Priority Travel
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.Priority Travel
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 - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Unlimited Access for you and one guestAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
30% Annual1
Cash Advance:
30% Annual1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
Annual Fee*
$120
Annual Fee*
$599
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*
Earn 30,000 Aeroplan® points after spending $3,000 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13.
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.
Rewards Rate*
- 2x Aeroplan® points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- 1.5x Aeroplan® points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- 1x Aeroplan® point on everything else
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
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.
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.
Pros
- Free checked bag benefit: Every checked bag might cost you $60 - $100 per person on a round trip. The amount you can save in a year if you travel a few times or travel with a few companions can easily be much higher than the annual fee of the card.
- If you are interested in a higher Aeroplan Status, the card helps you get there faster.
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.
Cons
- The main reward category is only for Air Canada purchases. Unless you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, this reward category is not useful to most people.
- The only other rewards category offered is for food, and it doesn't offer that high of a reward rate either.
- In terms of insurance benefits, the types and coverage amounts provided are lower compared to other cards with a similar annual fee.
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.
Other Comparisons
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Other Comparisons
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vs American Express Cobalt® Card
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American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
The American Express Aeroplan Card has a much lower annual fee compared to the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. Additionally, the Reserve Card has significantly higher income requirements, which may limit its accessibility to high-income individuals. The Aeroplan Card’s lower fee makes it more suitable for a broader range of users, while the Reserve Card is designed for frequent travelers who can justify its premium cost.
Rewards Comparison
Both cards offer rewards centered around Air Canada and dining purchases, but the Reserve Card provides higher rates, especially for Air Canada-related spending, earning up to 3x points per dollar. The standard Aeroplan Card offers up to 2x points on Air Canada and 1.5x on dining. The Reserve Card, with its higher rewards on Air Canada purchases, is better suited for those who travel frequently with the airline, while the regular Aeroplan Card is more practical for less frequent travelers.
Benefits and Insurance
The Aeroplan Reserve Card offers extensive premium travel perks, such as unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges, priority services, and a complimentary Nexus membership credit. It also provides superior insurance coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The standard Aeroplan Card also offers good insurance and benefits like free checked bags but lacks the high-end perks of the Reserve Card. For frequent travelers, the added benefits of the Reserve Card may provide significant value.
Conclusion
When choosing between the American Express Aeroplan Card and the Aeroplan Reserve Card, it comes down to whether the extra benefits of the Reserve Card justify the significantly higher annual fee. If you travel frequently with Air Canada and can take advantage of perks like unlimited lounge access, priority services, and enhanced insurance coverage, the Reserve Card may be worth the additional cost. However, if these perks are not essential for you, the standard Aeroplan Card offers solid rewards and travel benefits at a much lower fee.
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