To the point
Here's our detailed comparison of the Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, two card for frequent travellers.
American Express Canada offers two cards for frequent travellers:
Let’s analyze the major differences between these credit and charge cards.
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.
Here is how the current offer is structured:
With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points.
Here’s how:
- 70,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
- 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership
With this welcome offer for the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 60,000 Aeroplan points after charging $7,500 to your Card in the first three months
- 25,000 additional Aeroplan points by spending $2,500 in the 13th month
Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $1,700.
Advantage: Platinum Card
The American Express Platinum Card® offer is much easier to get compared to the offer structure of the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card.
Minimum income
The Platinum Card® requires no minimum income.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card requires no minimum income.
Draw
Like the vast majority of American Express Cards, these two cards require no minimum income, unlike other high-end cards such as Visa Infinite Privilege Cards requiring $200,000 household income.
If you want travel benefits but don’t have a very high income, either of these cards may be right for you.
Annual fee
The Platinum Card® has a $799 annual fee.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card has an annual fee of $599.
Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
On paper, the annual fee for the Platinum Card® is $200 higher than the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
However, as you’ll see below, the American Express Platinum Card® comes with an additional $200 Annual Travel Creditas well as a $200 Annual Dining Credit, which virtually brings the fee down to $399 in net cost.
Earning points
The Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card each offer 3 levels of point accumulation.
Maximum earning level
With the Platinum Card®, you can earn 3 points per dollar of purchases for:
- Accommodation and car rental reservations made through Amex Travel Services
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can earn 3 points per dollar for:
- purchases from Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
Advantage: Platinum Card
Here we could have declared a draw. However, the fact that the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card restricts this category to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations means that you will probably earn more points with the American Express Platinum Card® during the year for other travel booked via the American Express platform.
Unless, of course, you spend a lot of money with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations (but by choosing the Platinum Card® you’ll still earn 2 points per dollar, the same level offered by Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards)!
Intermediate earning level
With the Platinum Card®, you can earn 2 points per dollar of purchases for:
- restaurants, bars, food delivery services
- Travel (flights, hotel nights, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.)
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn 2 points per dollar spent on purchases at:
- restaurants, bars, food delivery services
Advantage: Platinum Card
Travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, cruises, car rentals, etc.) are generally higher than restaurant expenses. As a result, you’ll earn more points with the Platinum Card® than with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
Again, you should analyze your annual expenses to determine which card to choose based on your personal situation.
Basic earning level
With the Platinum Card®, you can earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can earn 1.25 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
0.25 points that make a difference for those who make a lot of purchases outside of the bonus categories. The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card will therefore be more advantageous here.
We would like American Express to offer 1.25 points for the Platinum Card® as it does for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express).
Redeeming points
Both cards are made for travellers.
However, their loyalty programs are completely different:
- American Express Membership Rewards points for the Platinum Card®
- Aeroplan for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
This means that the ways you can redeem your points are different.
For travel
With the Platinum Card®, you can apply its Membership Rewards points to travel purchases charged to the card (flights, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.).
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $10.
You can also use the American Express fixed rate chart for specific flights.
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $20.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can use your points to purchase flights with Air Canada, Star Alliance and partner airlines.
Here, you will need to refer to the Aeroplan Flight Rewards Chart.
1,000 points could be worth as little as $5 for economy travel as well as $40 for business or first class travel (or for specific flights).
You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel bookings, car rentals and vacation packages. Generally, you will be able to earn a value of 1,000 points = $10.
Advantage: Platinum Card
The Platinum Card® has one undeniable advantage: flexibility. With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you must use your points through the Aeroplan program.
Whereas with the Platinum Card®, you can book your trip wherever you like.
For everyday shopping
With the Platinum Card®, you can apply Membership Rewards points to everyday purchases charged to the card.
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $10.
You need to redeem a minimum of 1,000 points (i.e., a minimum of $10).
No options are available for everyday purchases with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (other than purchasing gift cards with Aeroplan points).
Advantage: Platinum Card
With the Platinum Card®, whether you want to use your points for travel or everyday purchases, you’ll get the same value: 1,000 points = $10.
Whereas with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you don’t have this option.
Transfers to other programs
With the Platinum Card®, you can transfer your points to other rewards programs:
- Aeroplan
- Air France KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Delta Skymiles
- Asia Miles
- Etihad Guest
- Alitalia Millemiglia
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hilton Honors,
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you cannot transfer your points to other programs.
Once Aeroplan Points are in your Aeroplan account, there is no way out: you must use them within the Aeroplan program.
Advantage: Platinum Card
Not only can you transfer Platinum Card® points to Aeroplan, but you also have the option of transferring them to other programs (or using them for travel or cash back as seen above).
This flexibility is not available with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
The Benefits
Access to airport lounges
With the Platinum Card®, you and a guest can gain free access to many airport lounges around the world:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you have complimentary access to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf lounges in North America.
You have a complimentary Priority Pass membership. However, you will have to pay for each access.
Advantage: Platinum Card
If you regularly travel internationally, there is no question: the American Express Platinum Card® will open the doors of many lounges around the world for you and a guest (even up to two children) according to the lounges), as well as in Canada in the Plaza Premium Loungesthe National Bank Lounge or the WestJet Elevation Lounge.
However, if you are travelling exclusively within Canada or even the United States on Air Canada, the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card may be the card of choice: you will have free access to all Maple Leaf lounges in North America (as well as the Air Canada Café in Toronto).
Other benefits
With the Platinum Card®, you enjoy the following benefits:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit
- $200 annual dining credit
- $100 credit for NEXUS membership
- Pearson Priority Security Control
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounge(including American Express Centurion)
- Complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges for the cardmember and one guest
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Gold Status
- Fine Hotels & Resorts Program
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you receive the following benefits:
- Annual Companion Pass (after $25,000 in purchases)
- Pearson Priority Security Control
- Access to Maple Leaf lounge in North America
- Paid access to Priority Pass lounge
- Air Canada benefits: priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions
- Earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles with your purchases
- Carryover of unallocated Aeroplan Elite Status Qualifying Miles and unused eRating credits to the following year
Advantage: Platinum Card
The Platinum Card® is for all frequent flyers, whether they travel with Air Canada or many other airlines. But also to those who stay at Marriott or Hilton hotels, luxury hotels belonging to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is aimed primarily at Air Canada’s frequent flyers. You will then benefit from many advantages with the airline. But that’s where it ends.
As with every aspect of these cards, the answer will be up to you depending on your personal situation. But if you’re not a frequent Air Canada traveller, we recommend getting the Platinum Card® instead.
Promotional offers
With the Platinum Card®, for example, cardholders were able to take advantage of certain promotional offers:
- $250 credit for groceries
- $200 credit for groceries
- $175 credit for restaurants
- $50 credit during each Shop Small events
- $200 credit at YYZ Duty Free
- $100 credit at Birks
- Numerous online offers each month through promotional offers
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, for example, cardholders were able to take advantage of certain promotional offers:
- $250 credit with Air Canada
- $150 credit for groceries
- Numerous online offers each month through promotional offers
Advantage: Platinum Card
The Platinum Card® is the Premium Card from American Express: it’s usually on this Card that the offers will be the most generous.
However, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card hasn’t fallen short since its inception (November 2020), with many attractive offers. To date, these have proven to be somewhat less lucrative, or “closed” with Air Canada.
Insurance
| Insurance | |
|
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | Up to $5,000 | Up to $3,000 |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | Up to $6,000 | Up to $6,000 |
| Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance | Up to $5,000,000 15 days |
Up to $5,000,000 15 days |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $1,000 after 4 hours |
Up to $1,000 after 4 hours |
| Misdirected Baggage Insurance | Up to $1,000 after 6 hours |
Up to $1,000 after 6 hours |
| Lost or stolen luggage insurance | Up to $1,000 | Up to $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Up to $1,000 | Up to $1,000 |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | Up to $85,000 | Up to $85,000 |
| Travel accident insurance | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan | 1 additional year | 1 additional year |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | Up to $1,000 120 days |
Up to $1,000 90 days |
| Medical Concierge Service Standby | Included | – |
Advantage: Platinum Card
The insurance offered by the two cards is almost identical.
However, the Platinum Card® has better coverage forTrip Cancellation Insurance and the Purchase Protection Guarantee.
Bottom Line
So? Which Card is the winner?
It’s hard to declare an official winner. In fact, it will be up to each person to make up their own mind according to their needs.
The Platinum Card® stands out thanks to:
- flexible points
- better earning rates for all types of travel
- the diversity of airline and hotel partners
- a wide choice of airport lounge
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card stands out on:
- many benefits with Air Canada
- an unbeatable 3 points per dollar accrual rate for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
- an earning rate of 1.25 points per dollar for all purchases
- access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America
