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Side by Side Credit Cards Comparison
American Express Gold Rewards Card®VSAmerican Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
Which one is better?
American Express Gold Rewards Card®
4.3
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
300Poor
693Fair
743⁎Good
790⁎Very Good
833⁎Excellent
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
4.7
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
300Poor
693Fair
743⁎Good
790⁎Very Good
833⁎Excellent
Welcome Bonus
- Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
- New American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card
Welcome Bonus
- New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points
- Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months
- Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13
- You could earn up to $4,400 in value within your first 13 months. When you combine the Welcome Bonus offer of up to $1,700 in value, your earn potential in accelerated and everyday spend earn rate categories with approximately $1,760 in value, and the $1,000 in value you get from exceptional benefits, you can earn up to $4,400 or more in value within your first 13 months. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
Rewards Breakdown
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Rewards
$543.5
28,605 pts
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus
+
$1,140
+60,000 pts
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
-
$250
First Year Value
$1,433.5
88,605 pts
$293.5 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending.
1.9¢/pt
via Aeroplan® Flights
Rewards Breakdown
Aeroplan
Annual Rewards
$598
31,473 pts
Aeroplan
First Year Bonus
+
$0
Aeroplan
Annual Fee
-
$599
First Year Value
-$1
31,473 pts
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending.
1.9¢/pt
via Aeroplan® Flights
First year bonus shows $0 because spending inputs don't meet the minimum requirements. The actual welcome bonus is Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan® points, valued at $1,445.
How to Earn Rewards
- 2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
- 2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
How to Earn Rewards
- 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
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Travel Medical Insurance
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
Trip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combinedFlight Delay
$500
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000Baggage Delay
$1,000/person after 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
48 daysCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Travel Medical Insurance
15 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $3,000/tripTrip Interruption
$1,500/person, $6,000/tripFlight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Extra Benefits
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Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers
Nexus Program Rebate
$50 statement credit every 4 years
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
American Express® Experiences
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Travel Credit
$100
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express TravelAirport Lounge - Plaza Premium
4 Free complimentary visits
Extra Benefits
Status lift
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's ClubStatus lift
Get a 10% Head Start. Starting in 2027, eligible Basic Cardmembers with Aeroplan EliteTM* 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 travelsStatus 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.Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStoreNexus Program Rebate
$100 every 4 yearsAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card.svg)
Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on Air Canada branded flight and up to 8 guests
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
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.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 guestAmex 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
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
1 Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.
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%.
Annual Fee
$250
Annual Fee
$599
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
1.9¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / point
Transfer to Airline Partners
1.6¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.16¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.16¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
1.9¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.
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.
Pros
- Flexible rewards
- Travel perks
- Comprehensive insurance
- Multiple redemption options
Pros
- Generous rewards rate
- Free checked bags
- Preferred flight pricing
- Unlimited airport lounge access
- Extensive coverage
Cons
- High annual fee
- Foreign transaction fees
- Limited senior travel insurance
- Limited acceptance
Cons
- Limited acceptance
- Limited loyalty rewards
- High annual fee
- Limited lounge brand access
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
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vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs American Express® Green Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs American Express® Green Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.
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.
*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.