American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card vs American Express® Green Card: Which one is better?

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
4.1

American Express® Green Card
3.9
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$659.8
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
$0
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$599
First Year Value
$60.8
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$467.86
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$210
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$677.86
$467.86 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
1 yearsPurchase Protection
90 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1KBaggage Delay
$1K/person after 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$85K Up to 48 consecutive rental daysTravel Accident
$500,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured up to 15 daysTrip Cancellation
$1.5K/person, $3K/tripTrip Interruption
$1.5K/person, $6K/tripFlight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Extra Benefits*
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStoreAmex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™ opens doors for you to access a number of special events, including special dining experiences, VIP parties, advance film screenings and moreCompanion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your cardStatus lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 of net purchasesStatus lift
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's ClubStatus lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status can roll over up to 200,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) beyond the status level for which they’ve qualified, from the prior qualification year to qualify for status the next year.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.Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guestsFree 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 worldwideNexus Program Rebate
$100 every 4 yearsPriority 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.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)Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Unlimited Access for you and one guestAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Extra Benefits*
Extra points
2 points on Amex Travel Online purchasesAmex Experiences™
With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
Annual Fee*
$599
Annual Fee*
$0
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*
60,000 Aeroplan® points after spending over $7,500 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Cardmember, plus 25,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $2,500 in month 13. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.
Welcome Bonus*
Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.
Rewards Rate*
- 3x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations® purchases
- 2x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases
- 1.25x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Rate*
- 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Merchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMost Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Gift Cards
0.91¢ / pointMerchandise
0.63¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / pointFixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / pointAmazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.
Is this card worth it?
The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.
Pros
- Generous rewards rate with up to 3 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on purchases, particularly beneficial for frequent flyers.
- Enjoy free checked bags when flying with Air Canada, reducing travel costs.
- Access to preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight awards, maximizing the value of your points.
- Unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges when flying with Air Canada, providing a more comfortable travel experience.
- Extensive insurance coverage, including 11 types of insurance, offering peace of mind during your travels.
Pros
- No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
- Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
- VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through Amex Experiences™.
- Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.
Cons
- As an American Express card, it may have limited acceptance compared to other credit cards, potentially limiting its use in some places.
- The most valuable rewards are generally tied to Air Canada flights, which may not appeal to travelers who fly with other airlines.
- The card comes with a high annual fee of $599, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
- The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.
Cons
- Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
- Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.


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