American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.
Welcome bonus
Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.
The offer
The offer
New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points:
- Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 6 months.
- Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13
- You could earn up to $1,550 in value within your first 13 months. When you combine the Welcome Bonus offer of up to $900 in value, your earn potential in accelerated and everyday spend earn rate categories with approximately $515 in value, and the $140 in value you get from exceptional benefits, you can earn up to $1,550 or more in value within your first 13 months. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
- 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* — combining the Welcome Bonus (up to $1,700), accelerated and everyday spend earn rates (~$1,760), and $1,000 in benefits value. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
What each card is worth
Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.
Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.
$1,010
First-year value
$144
$345
Every year after
-$6
Amex Aeroplan® is worth $866 more to you in year one.
It stays ahead after that, by $351 a year.
How the first year adds up
Annual rewards
$465.12
24,480 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $665
first year only
Annual fee
− $120
First-year value
$1,010.12
Annual rewards
$592.8
31,200 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $0
not reached at this spending
Annual fee
− $599
Finly rebate
paid by FinlyWealth
First-year value
$143.8
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
1.5xFood and drinks
6,300 pts
$119.7
2xAir Canada
480 pts
$9.12
1xAll other purchases
17,700 pts
$336.3
2xFood and drinks
8,400 pts
$159.6
3xAir Canada
720 pts
$13.68
1.25xAll other purchases
22,080 pts
$419.52
Fees, rates and eligibility
What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.
⁕ Notice: As of Jan 12, 2027, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card annual fee will increase to $150. Annual fees charged on or after this date will reflect the new fee. The Additional Aeroplan®* Card annual fee will increase to $59. The Additional Aeroplan®* No Fee Card will be renamed to the Additional Aeroplan®* Companion Card and the annual fee will increase to $25. Learn more about new benefits.
Annual fee
⁕ Notice: As of Jan 12, 2027, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card annual fee will increase to $799. Annual fees charged on or after this date will reflect the new fee. The Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Card annual fee will increase to $249. The Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve No Fee Card will be renamed to the Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Companion Card and the annual fee will increase to $25. Learn more about new benefits.
Additional cards
Interest rates
Interest rates
Purchase:
30% Annual1
Cash Advance:
30% Annual1
1 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
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
Recommended credit score
Income required
Income required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
How each card earns
The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.
- Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- Earn 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- Earn 1X the points on everything else
- 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
Points and how we value them
Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.
Loyalty program
Loyalty program
We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Flights, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Flights, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
Point redemption options
Point redemption options
Most Optimal
Flights
1.9¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Most Optimal
Flights
1.9¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay).svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 days
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrence
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Baggage 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
$1,000Flight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $3,000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1,500/person, $6,000/trip
Perks
Perks
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Status lift
Get 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) for every $20,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card, up to 25,000 SQC.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Amex Experiences™
From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
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.Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on Air Canada branded 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 worldwideAmex 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
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 every 4 years
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 guestAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like it
This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.
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 we 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
Pros
- Expedited status upgrades
- Free first checked bags
- Free extra hotel night
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
- Generous rewards rate
- Free checked bags
- Preferred flight pricing
- Unlimited airport lounge access
- Extensive coverage
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Limited rewards
- Weaker insurance coverage
- Limited acceptance
- Limited loyalty rewards
- High annual fee
- Limited lounge brand access
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
The American Express Aeroplan Card has a much lower annual fee compared to the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. Additionally, the Reserve Card has significantly higher income requirements, which may limit its accessibility to high-income individuals. The Aeroplan Card’s lower fee makes it more suitable for a broader range of users, while the Reserve Card is designed for frequent travelers who can justify its premium cost.
Rewards Comparison
Both cards offer rewards centered around Air Canada and dining purchases, but the Reserve Card provides higher rates, especially for Air Canada-related spending, earning up to 3x points per dollar. The standard Aeroplan Card offers up to 2x points on Air Canada and 1.5x on dining. The Reserve Card, with its higher rewards on Air Canada purchases, is better suited for those who travel frequently with the airline, while the regular Aeroplan Card is more practical for less frequent travelers.
Benefits and Insurance
The Aeroplan Reserve Card offers extensive premium travel perks, such as unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges, priority services, and a complimentary Nexus membership credit. It also provides superior insurance coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The standard Aeroplan Card also offers good insurance and benefits like free checked bags but lacks the high-end perks of the Reserve Card. For frequent travelers, the added benefits of the Reserve Card may provide significant value.
Conclusion
When choosing between the American Express Aeroplan Card and the Aeroplan Reserve Card, it comes down to whether the extra benefits of the Reserve Card justify the significantly higher annual fee. If you travel frequently with Air Canada and can take advantage of perks like unlimited lounge access, priority services, and enhanced insurance coverage, the Reserve Card may be worth the additional cost. However, if these perks are not essential for you, the standard Aeroplan Card offers solid rewards and travel benefits at a much lower fee.
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.
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Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
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.
*Subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. 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%. See the Information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to changes 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.
