What are the annual fees for the Amex Gold Card and the Scotiabank Amex Gold Card?

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card costs $250 per year, but includes a $100 annual travel credit, bringing the net cost down to $150. The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card costs $120 per year, sometimes reduced to $0 with an Ultimate bank account or a Scotiabank premium package. In terms of pure fees, Scotiabank wins, especially for existing Ultimate package customers. The Amex Gold compensates with a travel credit and more extensive travel benefits.

Which one earns more points at the grocery store in Quebec?

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card largely outperforms the Amex Gold at Quebec grocery stores: 6 Scene+ points per dollar at Empire banners (IGA, Sobeys, Foodland) and 5 Scene+ points everywhere else for groceries and restaurants. The American Express® Gold Rewards Card earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at grocery stores. For a family spending $1,000 per month on groceries at IGA, Scotiabank yields 6,000 points (approximately $60) versus 2,000 Amex points (approximately $20) per month, a Scotiabank advantage of $480 per year.

Which one has the best point redemption flexibility?

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card offers superior flexibility: Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta SkyMiles, plus 5:6 to Marriott Bonvoy, opening up high-value reward tickets. Scotiabank's Scene+ points are limited to a 10,000 points for $100 conversion towards travel purchases and groceries at Sobeys. For anyone aiming for Aeroplan or Marriott reward tickets, the Amex Gold is clearly more advantageous.

Which one offers airport lounge access, Amex Gold or Scotia Amex Gold?

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card includes 4 complimentary annual accesses to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada via the Amex Lounge Access program, plus 24/7 Amex concierge. The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card does not include any basic lounge access: you have to pay for each visit or upgrade to the Scotiabank Amex Platinum Card ($399) for 10 annual visits. For frequent travelers who want integrated lounge benefits, the Amex Gold clearly wins with its 4 Plaza Premium visits per year.

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.

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