Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve vs Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

Both business cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

4.7

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Marriott Bonvoy Business

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

4.5

Apply now

Worked out on a typical small business spending $4,000 a month. Enter yours to see your own numbers.

$1,674

First-year value

$1,204

$439

Every year after

$602

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve is worth $470 more to your business in year one.

From year two, Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card pulls ahead by $163 a year.

How the first year adds up

Rewards and the welcome bonus in, the annual fee, FX fees and employee cards out, at your spending.

$1,217.75Better of the two
in Aeroplan points a year

Annual rewards

$931.9
in Marriott Bonvoy points a year
+ $1,235Better of the two
first year only

Welcome bonus

+ $602
first year only
− $599

Annual fee

Better of the two− $150
− $180
2.5% on $600/mo

FX fees

− $180
2.5% on $600/mo
$1,673.75Better of the two

First-year value

$1,203.9

Where each card earns

A year of your spending on each card, category by category, biggest spend first.

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve earns more on 13 of your 17 categories, Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card on 4.

$299.14Better of the two
at 1.25x

All Other Business Expenses

$12,600 a year

$216.72
at 2x
$146.15Better of the two
at 1.25x

US Dollar Purchases

$6,150 a year

$105.78
at 2x
$114Better of the two
at 1.25x

Recurring Bills & Subscriptions

$4,800 a year

$82.56
at 2x
$85.5
at 1.25x

Gas & EV Charging

$3,600 a year

Better of the two$92.88
at 3x
$85.5
at 1.25x

Dining & Restaurants

$3,600 a year

Better of the two$92.88
at 3x
$71.14Better of the two
at 1.25x

Office Supplies

$3,000 a year

$51.6
at 2x
$57Better of the two
at 1.25x

Phone, Internet & Cable

$2,400 a year

$41.28
at 2x
$68.4Better of the two
at 2x

Hotels

$1,800 a year

$46.44
at 3x
$42.64Better of the two
at 1.25x

Shipping & Courier

$1,800 a year

$30.96
at 2x
$42.64Better of the two
at 1.25x

Accounting & Bookkeeping

$1,800 a year

$30.96
at 2x
$29.18Better of the two
at 1.25x

Other Foreign Currencies (EUR, GBP, etc.)

$1,230 a year

$21.16
at 2x
$28.5Better of the two
at 1.25x

Electronics & Software

$1,200 a year

$20.64
at 2x
$68.4Better of the two
at 3x

Air Canada

$1,200 a year

$30.96
at 3x
$28.5Better of the two
at 1.25x

Transportation

$1,200 a year

$20.64
at 2x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Other Airlines

$600 a year

Better of the two$15.48
at 3x
$22.8Better of the two
at 2x

Car Rental

$600 a year

$15.48
at 3x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Other Travel

$600 a year

Better of the two$15.48
at 3x
$1,217.75Better of the two

Rewards in a year

$931.9

Welcome bonus

Each offer as the issuer words it, then which milestones your spending reaches.

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

  • Earn up to 90,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan®* points
  • Earn 65,000 Aeroplan®* points after spending $10,500 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Cardmember.
  • Plus, earn 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in month 13.
  • You can earn up to $5,600 in value within your first 13 months. When you combine the Welcome Bonus offer of up to $1,800 in value, your earn potential in accelerated and everyday spend earn rate categories with approximately $2,825 in value, and the $1,000 in value you get from exceptional benefits, you can earn up to $5,600 or more in value within your first 13 months. Terms and usage assumptions apply.

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

  • Earn up to 80,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points
  • New Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Cardmembers can earn 70,000 points after you spend $5,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn 10,000 points when you spend $1,000 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

Worth $1,235 at your spending

65,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,500 in the first 3 months

65,000 pts

25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in month 13 (card year 2)

25,000 pts

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

Worth $602 at your spending

70,000 points after you spend $5,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership

70,000 pts

Fees, rates and eligibility

What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.

$599

⁕ Notice: As of Jan 12, 2027, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card annual fee will increase to $799. Annual fees charged on or after this date will reflect the new fee. The Employee Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card annual fee will increase to $249. The Employee Aeroplan®* Business Reserve No Fee Card will be renamed to the Employee Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Expense Card and the annual fee will increase to $25. Learn more about new benefits.

Annual fee

Better of the two$150
$0

Employee cards

$50
2.5%

Foreign transaction fee

2.5%
Aeroplan

Rewards

Marriott Bonvoy
American Express

Network

American Express

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

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 29.99%.

Recommended credit score

300
Poor
693
Fair
743⁎
Good
790⁎
Very Good
833⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

Income required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99%2

Cash Advance:

21.99%2

2 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 29.99%.

Recommended credit score

300
Poor
693
Fair
743⁎
Good
790⁎
Very Good
833⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

Income required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

How each card earns

The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

  • 3x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations® purchases
  • 2x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible hotel and car rental purchases in Canada
  • 1.25x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

  • 5x points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 3x points per $1 on eligible gas, dining and travel purchases
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases (everyday business expenses and more)

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

Insurance

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000/person after 6 hours
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K MSRP up to 48 consecutive rental days
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $500,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 years
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000/person after 4 hours

  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    $5M/insured up to 15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500/person, $3K/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,500/person, $6K/trip

Perks

  • star fall

    Status lift

    Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's Club
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Get 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card, up to 25,000 SQC
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Get a 10% Head Start. Starting in 2027, eligible Basic Cardmembers with Aeroplan Elite™* Status will receive a 10% head start toward qualification, based on Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) accumulated the year before. Roll over any unallocated unused eUpgrade Credits to the following year to enjoy during your travels.
  • star fall

    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.
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points. Enjoy even more at over 300,000 hotel properties worldwide

  • airplane love

    Companion Voucher

    Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card
  • luggage

    Free first checked bag

    First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on Air Canada branded flight and up to 8 guests
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $100 every 4 years
  • airport waiting room

    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.
  • airport waiting room

    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)
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes

    Unlimited Access for you and one guest
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

    Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
  • Amex logo

    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

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

Insurance

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Yes
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $500,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000

Perks

  • star fall

    Status lift

    Earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status by spending $30,000 or staying 10 nights combined with 15 Elite Night Credits. Status retention depends on Marriott Bonvoy terms.
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Each year, 8-10 weeks after your anniversary, receive a Free Night Award for a Marriott Bonvoy room up to 35,000 points, valid for 1 year. Resort fees excluded.

Our take

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

The most aggressive Aeroplan earning card you can get for a business: 3x on Air Canada, 2x on hotels and car rentals, and 1.25x on everything else. The $599 annual fee is steep, but the perks are hard to match — unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access, Priority Pass membership, free checked bags, and an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass that alone can be worth hundreds. If your business spends heavily on Air Canada flights and travel, this card can return serious value. But be honest about your travel volume — at this fee, light travelers will lose money. This is a card you need to actively use to justify.

  • Premium earning rates
  • Comprehensive coverage
  • Unlimited airport lounge access
  • Priority Pass membership
  • Annual companion pass
  • Free first checked bags
  • NEXUS program rebate
  • Priority travel perks
  • High annual fee
  • Benefit limitations and conditions
  • Less valuable for non-travellers

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

Built for businesses that book Marriott hotels regularly. You earn 5x Bonvoy points per dollar at Marriott properties, 3x on dining and gas, and 2x on everything else — the earn structure is strong across the board. The annual free night certificate (worth up to 35,000 points) can easily cover the $150 fee on its own, and Silver Elite status means room upgrades and late checkout. The main limitations: it’s an Amex, so acceptance can be spotty in Canada, and the points are most valuable within the Marriott ecosystem. If you don’t stay at Marriott properties, this card loses its edge.

  • Generous welcome bonus
  • High hotel optimization
  • Annual free night certificate
  • Automatic Silver Elite status
  • Lower acceptance
  • Annual fee

More business card comparisons

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Legal


Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve

*Terms and conditions apply.


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 29.99%.


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.

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express® Card

*Terms and conditions apply.


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 29.99%.


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.