Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve vs Amex Platinum Business

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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amex platinum business
Finly rebate
$175

Business Platinum Card® from American Express

4.6

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

$1,674

First-year value

$164

$439

Every year after

$164

Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve is worth $1,509 more to your business in year one.

It stays ahead after that, by $274 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

$1,143.42
in American Express Membership Rewards points a year
+ $1,235Better of the two
first year only

Welcome bonus

+ $0
not reached at this spending
− $599Better of the two

Annual fee

− $799
− $180
2.5% on $600/mo

FX fees

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

First-year value

$164.42

Finly rebates are paid on top and aren't counted in these values.

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 3 of your 17 categories.

$299.14
at 1.25x

All Other Business Expenses

$12,600 a year

$299.14
at 1.25x
$146.15
at 1.25x

US Dollar Purchases

$6,150 a year

$146.15
at 1.25x
$114
at 1.25x

Recurring Bills & Subscriptions

$4,800 a year

$114
at 1.25x
$85.5
at 1.25x

Gas & EV Charging

$3,600 a year

$85.5
at 1.25x
$85.5
at 1.25x

Dining & Restaurants

$3,600 a year

$85.5
at 1.25x
$71.14
at 1.25x

Office Supplies

$3,000 a year

$71.14
at 1.25x
$57
at 1.25x

Phone, Internet & Cable

$2,400 a year

$57
at 1.25x
$68.4Better of the two
at 2x

Hotels

$1,800 a year

$42.64
at 1.25x
$42.64
at 1.25x

Shipping & Courier

$1,800 a year

$42.64
at 1.25x
$42.64
at 1.25x

Accounting & Bookkeeping

$1,800 a year

$42.64
at 1.25x
$29.18
at 1.25x

Other Foreign Currencies (EUR, GBP, etc.)

$1,230 a year

$29.18
at 1.25x
$28.5
at 1.25x

Electronics & Software

$1,200 a year

$28.5
at 1.25x
$68.4Better of the two
at 3x

Air Canada

$1,200 a year

$28.5
at 1.25x
$28.5
at 1.25x

Transportation

$1,200 a year

$28.5
at 1.25x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Other Airlines

$600 a year

$14.14
at 1.25x
$22.8Better of the two
at 2x

Car Rental

$600 a year

$14.14
at 1.25x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Other Travel

$600 a year

$14.14
at 1.25x
$1,217.75Better of the two

Rewards in a year

$1,143.42

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.

Amex Platinum Business

  • Earn up to 120,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you charge $15,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn 40,000 points when you make a purchase between 15 and 17 months of Cardmembership
  • That’s up to $1,200 in statement credit that can be reinvested in your business

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

Amex Platinum Business

Worth $0 at your spending

80,000 MR points when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months

0 pts

40,000 MR points when you make a purchase in months 15-17 (card year 2)

40,000 pts

40,000 points when you make a purchase between 15 and 17 months of Cardmembership (card year 2)

40,000 pts

Fees, rates and eligibility

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

$599Better of the two

⁕ 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

$799
$0

Employee cards

$250 per Platinum, $0 per Gold (max 99)
2.5%

Foreign transaction fee

2.5%
Aeroplan

Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards
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

Amex Platinum Business

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99% - 30%2

Cash Advance:

21.99% - 30%2

2 This charge Card has both Due in Full and Flexible Payment Option balances. All Due in Full balances must be paid each month. Interest rate of 30% applies to each delinquent Due in Full charge. The Preferred rate of 21.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance. If you have 2 separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate will be 29.99%. These rates are effective from the day account is opened.

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

Amex Platinum Business

  • 1.25x points per $1 spent on all purchases

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
  • 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
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000/person after 4 hours

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
  • 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)

  • 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
  • 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

Amex Platinum Business

Insurance

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000
  • 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

    $1,000
  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,500

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.
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    Access a $100 credit for NEXUS with your Cardmembership
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

    Personalized concierge at your service
  • discount

    Discount

    Your Business Platinum Card gets you savings on the seats you really want and lower fares on premium tickets with participating airlines
  • grwoth

    Interest on Balance

    Up to 55 interest-free days
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

    Access Front Of The Line® Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts, theatre shows, and special offers with American Express® Experiences
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit each year of your Cardmembership
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge

    Take full advantage of the American Express Global Lounge CollectionTM which unlocks access to over 1400 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • hotel

    Complimentary Hotel Benefits

    Enjoy Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits at over 1,600 properties worldwide like guaranteed late check-out, complimentary breakfast for two, and more with Business Platinum.
  • mobile phone wifi

    Wireless Credit

    Up to $120 in statement credits each year. Spend $10 each month with eligible wireless providers month and get a $10 credit.
  • business briefcase

    Business Statement Credits

    Up to $500 in business statement credits. Enroll and earn statement credits on eligible purchases with $200 Dell statement credit, $300 Indeed statement credit.

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

Amex Platinum Business

The most premium business card in Canada, and priced accordingly at $799/year. You get 1.25x Membership Rewards points on everything, a massive welcome bonus of up to 120,000 points, and a deep roster of perks: airport lounge access, hotel elite status, statement credits, and comprehensive insurance. The value proposition only works if you travel frequently and use the perks — the earn rate alone doesn’t justify the fee. But for businesses that fly often, entertain clients, and want best-in-class coverage, the benefits can far exceed the cost. Amex acceptance gaps in Canada remain a consideration.

  • Optimize all purchases
  • Premium travel perks
  • Comprehensive insurance
  • Interest grace period
  • Business statement credits
  • High annual fee
  • Limited acceptance

More business card comparisons

Each card against every other business card we review.

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.

Amex Platinum Business

*Terms and conditions apply.


This charge Card has both Due in Full and Flexible Payment Option balances. All Due in Full balances must be paid each month. Interest rate of 30% applies to each delinquent Due in Full charge. The Preferred rate of 21.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance. If you have 2 separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate will be 29.99%. These rates are effective from the day account is opened.


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.