Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs American Express Platinum Card®: Which one is better?
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
American Express Platinum Card®
4
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
$570.43
American Express Membership Rewards
Welcome Bonus
$0
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
$799
First Year Value
-$228.57
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/trip
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
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 yearEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Insurance Included*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysTrip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/tripTrip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/tripBaggage 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
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Concierge Services
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Extra Benefits*
American Express Experiences
Concierge Services
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Travel Credit
$200
Dining Credit
$200 at Select Restaurants
Nexus Application
$100 statement credit every 4 years
Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Unlimited Access for you and a Guest!
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel.svg)
Status lift
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold StatusStatus lift
Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
Airport Benefits
At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park
Trip and legal Assistance
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99% - 30%2
Cash Advance:
21.99% - 30%2
Annual Fee
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$799
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 70,000 points after spending $10,000 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new Platinum® Cardmember. Earn an additional 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.
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*
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases (restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, food delivery)
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent for all other purchases
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options
Merchandise
0.76¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Statement Credits
0.7¢ / point
Entertainment
1¢ / point
Travel
1¢ / point
Groceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / point
Restaurants
1¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Merchandise
0.76¢ / pointGift Cards
0.74¢ / pointStatement Credits
0.7¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point.svg)
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / 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?
If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum card is an excellent choice. It's highly recommended for its extensive travel benefits, including unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Lounge collection, making it the best card for lounge access in Canada. The card also offers unique perks not commonly found with other Canadian cards, such as status upgrades at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, dining and travel credits, concierge service, airport benefits, Nexus application reimbursement, and more. These benefits can more than offset the annual fee. However, if you don't travel often or are mainly looking for a card that maximizes rewards, this card may not be the best option for you.
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
- Offers more perks than any other credit card in Canada, catering to premium users who value extensive benefits.
- Enjoy $400 in annual travel and dining credits, which can offset some of the card's cost.
- Gain unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, enhancing your travel experience.
- Multiple options for redeeming points for high value, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
- Includes 11 types of insurance coverage, offering comprehensive protection for cardholders.
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
- As with other American Express cards, it may have lower acceptance in some locations compared to other networks.
- The high annual fee of $799 may be a barrier for some users, especially those who do not fully utilize the card's benefits.
- Some benefits are limited to specific airports and hotels.
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