Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
3.3
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Finly Rebate
Now $200 until Oct 31, 2024
Finly Rebate
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$613.54
Scene+
Welcome Bonus
$450
Scene+
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$1,063.54
$493.54 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$506.17
Air Canada Aeroplan
Welcome Bonus
$630
Air Canada Aeroplan
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$1,016.17
$386.17 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
Flight Delay
$500/person
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrence
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/trip
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Insurance Included*
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursFlight Delay
$500/personTravel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrencePurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Extra Benefits
American Express Experiences
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD.svg)
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Extra Benefits*
American Express Experiences
Free first checked bag
You and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
30% Annual2
Cash Advance:
30% Annual2
Annual Fee
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$120
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus
Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 on your Card within the first 3 months. Additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in month 13.
Rewards Rate
- 6 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
- 5 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
- 3 Point on Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
- 3 Points on eligible streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
- 1 Point on everything else
Rewards Rate*
- 2 points on Aircanada and AirCanada Vacations
- 1.5 points on Dining
- 1 Point on everything else
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options
Travel
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Entertainment
1¢ / point
Groceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / point
Restaurants
1¢ / point
Merchandise
0.76¢ / point
Statement Credits
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Travel
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.74¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
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
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
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
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
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.
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