AmericanExpress Gold Rewards Card®

American Express Gold Rewards Card®

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American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Apply Now

American Express Gold Rewards Card® vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?


AmericanExpress Gold Rewards Card®

American Express Gold Rewards Card®

4.25


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

3.3


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$619.03

American Express Membership Rewards


First Year Bonus

$1,260

American Express Membership Rewards


Annual Fee

$250


First Year Value

$1,629.03

$369.03 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

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.

Insurance Included*

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500 after 6 hour delay
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K, up to 48 days
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days, Up to $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 after 4 hour delay

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,500 per person, $6,000 combined

Insurance Included*

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K, up to 48 days
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days, $1,000 per occurrence
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)

Extra Benefits*

  • star fall

    Status lift

    Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • travel

    Travel Credit

    $100
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $50 statement credit every 4 years
  • hotel

    Complimentary Hotel Benefits

    Hotels booked American Express Travel
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

    Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium

    4 Free complimentary visits

Extra Benefits*

  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands

  • luggage

    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
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
  • Amex logo

    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

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

30% Annual2

Cash Advance:

30% Annual2

Annual Fee*

$250

Annual Fee*

$120

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 5,000 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in purchases on your Card in the first Year

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.

Rewards Rate*

  • 2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
  • 2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

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

Point Redemption Options*

  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.63¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    1¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.75¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.72¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    flight plane

    Aeroplan® Flights

    2.1¢ / point
  • car rental

    Car Rentals

    0.9¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point

Is this card worth it?

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.

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.

Pros

  • Flexible Rewards: Enjoy flexible Membership Rewards point conversion with up to 2 points per $1 spent.
  • Travel Perks: Includes $100 annual travel credit and 4 free passes to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.
  • Comprehensive Insurance: Comes with 11 types of insurance coverage.
  • Multiple Redemption Options: Offers 4 ways to redeem points for maximum value.

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.

Cons

  • High Annual Fee: The card comes with a $250 annual fee.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: A 2.5% fee applies to foreign transactions.
  • Limited Travel Insurance for Seniors: No travel medical insurance coverage for those over 65.
  • Lower Acceptance: As an American Express card, it may have lower acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard.

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.

Legal


*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.
2 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.

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