Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card: Which one is better?

Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
1.7

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
4.1
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$242.9
First Year Bonus Value
$45
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$287.9
$242.9 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
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.
Insurance Included
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Purchase Protection
90 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1KBaggage Delay
$1K/person after 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$85K Up to 48 consecutive rental daysTravel Accident
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearsHotel 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
Extra Benefits
N/A
Extra Benefits*
Companion 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 guestsExtra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStoreFree 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!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
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.89% - 26.99%
Cash Advance:
22.97% - 27.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
Annual Fee
$0
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
Welcome Bonus
$45 on Approval
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.
Rewards Rate
- 1.25% cashback on Walmart store and Walmart.ca purchases
- 1% cashback on all credit card purchases.
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
Loyalty Program
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options
Not Applicable
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The Walmart Rewards Mastercard is ideal for frequent Walmart shoppers who want to spread out payments on larger purchases without paying much interest. It offers 1.25 Walmart Reward Dollars for every dollar spent at Walmart stores and the ability to pay in installments. Additionally, you can earn up to $45 in Walmart Reward Dollars when you sign up. However, the rewards can only be redeemed at Walmart, and the card lacks additional benefits or insurance coverage beyond purchase assurance and extended warranty.
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
- Installment Payments: Allows you to pay for Walmart purchases in installments over six months.
- Walmart Rewards: Earn 1.25 Walmart Reward Dollars for every dollar spent at Walmart stores.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Get up to $45 in Walmart Reward Dollars when you sign up.
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.
Cons
- Limited Redemption: Rewards can only be redeemed at Walmart and Walmart.ca.
- Lower Rewards: Offers lower rewards compared to other store and cashback credit cards.
- Minimal Benefits: No additional benefits or insurance coverage aside from purchase assurance and extended warranty.
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.


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