Comparison: Platinum Card vs. Aeroplan Reserve Card from American Express
Current welcome offers:
- American Express Platinum Card®: up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points
- American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card: up to 85,000 Aeroplan points
American Express Canada offers two cards designed for frequent travellers:
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 85,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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 for the American Express Platinum Card®, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points.
Here’s how:
- 70,000 points after spending $10,000 on your Card within the first 3 months of membership
- 30,000 additional points when you make a purchase during months 15 to 17 of Cardmembership
Based on our valuation of Membership Rewards points (1.7 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to a value of $2,890.
With this welcome offer for the Aeroplan®* American Express® Prestige Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. This is the best offer in a long time!
Here’s how:
- 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 on your Card within your first 3 months of Cardmembership
- 25,000 additional Aeroplan points after spending $2,500 on your Card within your 13th month of Cardmembership
Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $3,000.
Advantage: Tie
With an estimated value of $2,890 for the Platinum Card and approximately $3,000 for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, both offers are among the best currently available in Canada.
The choice mainly depends on the rewards program you wish to prioritize.
Minimum Income
The American Express 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 the Visa Infinite Privilege, which require a family income of $200,000.
If you’re looking for travel benefits, but don’t have a very high income, either of these cards may be right for you.
Annual Fee
The American Express Platinum Card® has an annual fee of $799.
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 American Express Platinum Card® is $200 higher than the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
However, as you will see later, the American Express Platinum Card® comes with an annual travel credit of $200 as well as an annual dining credit of $200, which virtually reduces the annual fee to a net cost of $399.
Earning Points
The American Express Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card each offer 3 levels of point accumulation.
Maximum Earning Level
With the American Express Platinum Card®, you can earn 3 points per dollar on purchases for:
- accommodation and car rental bookings made through Amex Travel services
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn 3 points per dollar on purchases for:
- purchases with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
Advantage: Platinum Card
Here, we could have declared a tie. However, the fact that the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card restricts this category to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations means you will likely earn more points with the American Express Platinum Card® throughout the year for other travel booked through the American Express platform.
Unless, of course, you spend a lot of money with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations (but by choosing the American Express Platinum Card® you will still earn 2 points per dollar, the same level offered by Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards)!
Intermediate Earning Level
With the American Express Platinum Card®, you can earn 2 points per dollar on purchases for:
- restaurants, bars, food delivery services
- travel (flights, hotel stays, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.)
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn 2 points per dollar on purchases in:
- restaurants, bars, food delivery services
Advantage: Platinum Card
Travel expenses (flights, hotels, Airbnb, cruises, car rentals, etc.) are generally higher than dining expenses. Thus, you will earn more points with the American Express Platinum Card® than with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
Here too, you should analyze your annual expenses to determine which card to choose based on your personal situation.
Basic Earning Level
With the American Express Platinum Card®, you can earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn 1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Advantage: Aeroplan Reserve Card
The 0.25 point difference is significant for those who make many 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 American Express 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 American Express 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 American Express Platinum Card®, you can apply its Membership Rewards points to travel purchases charged to the card (flights, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.).
The usage rate is 1,000 points = $10.
You can also use the American Express fixed rate chart for specific flights.
The usage rate is 1,000 points = $20.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can use your points to get flights with Air Canada, Star Alliance airlines, or partner airlines.
Here, you will need to refer to the Aeroplan flight reward charts.
1,000 points could be worth as little as $5 for economy travel or as much as $40 for business or first class travel (or for certain specific flights).
You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel bookings, car rentals, or vacation packages. Generally, you can get a value of 1,000 points = $10.
Advantage: Platinum Card
The American Express Platinum Card® has an undeniable advantage: flexibility. With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you must use your points through the Aeroplan program.
Whereas with the American Express Platinum Card®, you can book your travel wherever you wish.
For Everyday Shopping
With the American Express Platinum Card®, you can apply Membership Rewards points to everyday purchases charged to the card.
The usage rate is 1,000 points = $10.
A minimum of 1,000 points (minimum $10) must be applied.
No option is available for everyday purchases with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (except for purchasing gift cards with your Aeroplan points).
Advantage: Platinum Card
With the American Express Platinum Card®, whether you want to use your points for travel or for everyday purchases, you will get the same value: 1,000 points = $10.
Whereas with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you do not have this option.
Transfers to Other Programs
With the American Express Platinum Card® you can transfer your points to other rewards programs:
- Aeroplan
- Air France KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways 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, you have no exit route: you must use them within the Aeroplan program.
The only other possibility is to have Aeroplan Elite Status, in order to transfer Aeroplan points to the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Advantage: Platinum Card
Not only can you transfer points from the American Express Platinum Card® to Aeroplan, but you also have the option to transfer them to other programs (or use them for travel or cash back as seen above).
This is a flexibility that the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card does not have.
The Benefits
Access to airport lounges
With the American Express Platinum Card®, you and a guest can access numerous airport lounges worldwide for free:
- Priority Pass Lounges
- National Bank Lounge Montreal-Trudeau
- V.I.P Lounge at Jean Lesage International Airport Quebec
- Executive Lounges by Swissport
- Plaza Premium Lounge
- Delta Sky Club
- Airspace Lounges
- Escape Lounges
- Centurion Lounges
- American Express International lounges
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can access Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges in North America for free.
You receive a complimentary Priority Pass membership. However, you will have to pay for each access.
Advantage: Platinum Card
If you travel internationally regularly, it’s simple: the American Express Platinum Card® will open the doors to numerous lounges worldwide for you and a guest (or even up to two children depending on the lounge), as well as in Canada to Plaza Premium lounges, the National Bank lounge, or the WestJet Elevation Lounge.
However, if you travel exclusively within Canada or to the United States on Air Canada, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card may be the preferred Card: indeed, you will have free access to all Maple Leaf lounges in North America (as well as the Air Canada Café in Montreal, for example).
Other Benefits
With the American Express Platinum Card®, you enjoy the following benefits:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit
- $200 Annual Dining Credit for certain restaurants
- $100 NEXUS membership credit
- Pearson Priority Security Control
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounges (including American Express Centurion)
- Free access to Priority Pass lounges for cardholder and one guest
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Gold Status
- Fine Hotels Resorts Program
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you benefit from the following advantages:
- Annual Companion Pass (after $25,000 in purchases)
- Pearson Priority Security Control
- Access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America
- Paid access to Priority Pass lounges
- Air Canada benefits: priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling
- First checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions
- Earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles with your purchases
- Roll over unused Aeroplan Elite Status Qualifying Miles and eUpgrades to the following year
Advantage: Platinum Card
The American Express Platinum Card® is for all frequent travellers, whether they travel with Air Canada or many other airlines. But also for those who stay in Marriott or Hilton hotels, luxury hotels belonging to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program.
For its part, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is primarily aimed at frequent Air Canada travellers. You will then benefit from numerous advantages with the airline. But that’s where it stops.
As with every aspect of these cards, the answer will depend on your personal situation. But if you are not a frequent Air Canada traveler, we advise you to get the American Express Platinum Card® instead.
The American Express Platinum Card® is American Express’s Premium Card: it is generally on this Card that the offers will be the most generous.
However, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card has not disappointed since its inception (November 2020) with many interesting offers. However, so far, these have proven to be slightly 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 |
| Purchase Protection Plan | 1 additional year | 1 additional year |
| Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan | Up to $1,000 120 days | Up to $1,000 90 days |
| Standby medical concierge service | Included | – |
Advantage: Platinum Card
The insurance offered by the two cards is almost identical.
However, the American Express Platinum Card® has better coverage for Trip Cancellation Insurance as well as for Purchase Protection.
Conclusion
So? Which Card is the winner?
The American Express Platinum Card® has an edge, especially due to the flexibility of points and the benefits it provides for someone who travels frequently. However, if you travel often with Air Canada, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card would probably be better for you.
These welcome bonuses change regularly. Review the current welcome offer for Aeroplan American Express cards before applying.
For all the details of the current welcome offer for the Platinum Card, see our full American Express Platinum Card review.
The American Express Platinum Card® stands out thanks to:
- Flexible points;
- A better earn rate for all types of travel;
- The diversity of airline and hotel partners to transfer points to various rewards programs;
- A very wide choice of airport lounges worldwide.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card stands out for:
- Its excellent and very profitable current welcome offer;
- Numerous benefits with Air Canada;
- An unmatched earn rate of 3 points per dollar for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations;
- A rate of 1.25 points per dollar for all purchases;
- Access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America.
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 85,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Frequently Asked Questions about the Platinum Card vs. American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
Comparison
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.
Platinum Card or Aeroplan Reserve Card from American Express — which offers the best welcome bonus?
The American Express Platinum Card currently offers up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points, an estimated value of approximately $2,890 based on our 1.7 cents per point valuation. Meanwhile, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card offers up to 85,000 Aeroplan points, a value of approximately $3,000 based on our 2 cents per point valuation.
Both bonuses are among the best in Canada. The Aeroplan Reserve Card will be more suitable for travellers loyal to Air Canada, while the Platinum Card remains the most flexible choice thanks to its many transfer partners, including Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, and British Airways Executive Club.
What are the net annual fees after credits on each card?
The Platinum Card costs $799 per year, but includes an annual travel credit of $200 and a dining credit of $200 — which brings the net fees down to approximately $399 for cardholders who use both credits. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card costs $599 per year, without automatic credits, but includes the worldwide companion pass with $25,000 in annual spending (potential value of several hundred dollars on a flight). On paper, the Platinum Card is cheaper after credits, but the Aeroplan Reserve Card can generate more value for an active Air Canada traveller who triggers the companion pass every year.
Which card provides access to Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges?
Only the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card provides unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges in North America when you travel on the same day on an Air Canada operated flight. The Platinum Card provides access to Priority Pass lounges (1,400 lounges worldwide) and American Express Centurion lounges, but not to Maple Leaf lounges. For a loyal Air Canada traveler who regularly transits through YUL, YYZ, YVR, or YYC, the Aeroplan Reserve Card offers a superior Air Canada airport experience. For global coverage, the Platinum Card remains unrivaled in Canada.
Which of the two earn rates is more advantageous for everyday spending?
The Platinum Card earns 3 points per dollar for hotels and car rentals booked through American Express Travel, 2 points per dollar for restaurants, bars, and travel, and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. The Aeroplan Reserve Card earns 3 Aeroplan points per dollar on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases, 2 points on restaurants and food delivery, and 1.25 points on other purchases. The Reserve Card has an advantage on direct Air Canada purchases and a better base rate of 1.25x. The Platinum Card dominates for hotels and restaurants. Choose according to your dominant spending profile.
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