Amex Fixed Points Travel is a lesser known way to use your accumulated Membership Rewards (MR) points to save money on flights so that you can enjoy travelling for less.
Amex Fixed Points Travel
Amex Fixed Points Travel is an easy and convenient way to redeem your Membership Rewards (MR) points, particularly if you’re not able to find an award ticket through other loyalty programs.
Although you’re not able to access any outsized value with the Amex Fixed Points Travel option, the available redemption values are actually quite reasonable, especially when weighed against the ease of access and simplicity of booking.
With Amex Fixed Points Travel, you can redeem a fixed number of points to offset or completely cover the base fare of your return flight. The fixed prices and maximum base fares are shown in two charts, and we’ll illustrate these limits in action in some examples below.
However, keep in mind that Amex Fixed Points Travel options are only available for round-trip fares that depart from Canada. You’re also only able to redeem if you have enough MR points to cover the entirety of the fixed-points cost.
Additionally, the fixed price doesn’t cover taxes, fees, and surcharges, so you’ll want to watch out for outrageous costs in this area.
What Are Membership Rewards Points?
Membership Rewards points are American Express’ reward currency, and they’re one of the most valuable and flexible loyalty currencies in Canada.
Transferring your points gives you the opportunity to redeem for some exceptional value thanks to the way many of the above programs work. You can check out our guides to these programs to learn how to really maximize the value of your future redemptions.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$170Total$170Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply 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”).
Do you want a cash back credit card with no annual fee that earns travel points? Here’s an option for you: American Express® Green Card.
By signing up for the American Express® Green Card, you can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards Welcome Bonus Points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. This is a $100 value for travel or any purchase on the Card.
You can also transfer your points to airline partners (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue, etc.) and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning:
10,000 Aeroplan points
10,000 Avios points
10,000 Flying Blue Miles
12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
That’s a nice welcome bonus for a credit card with no annual fee.
You’ll also have access to online promotional offers to earn points or rebates on your purchases with this no annual fee credit card.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
$255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
Apply 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”).
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer
The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.
Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.
You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.
You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:
Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.
5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:
Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.
The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
Category
Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)
5
Home food delivery
5
Restaurants and bars
5
Convenience stores
5
Streaming services
3
Service station
2
Transport
2
Travel
1
Other
1
That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.
The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.
Travel insurance
Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.
Rental car insurance
Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.
Mobile device insurance
Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.
Purchase protection and extended warranty
Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.
American Express Cobalt® Card fees
Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.
Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.
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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Annual fee
Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xConvenience
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas & EV
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply 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”).
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:
5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).
You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :
60,000 Aeroplan points
60,000 Avios
60,000 Flying Blue Miles
72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With this Card, you get many benefits like:
$100 annual travel credit
Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
$50 NEXUS credit
You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:
gas stations
grocery stores
drugstores
And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Primary card$250
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
2xPharmacy
2xGas & EV
2xTravel
2xGroceries
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,555
2nd Year Value$589
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Airport lounge access$160
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Plus $510 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply 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”).
The Platinum Card® is the best premium card in Canada for travellers.
With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points:
70,000 points after charging $10,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
30,000 points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after your Cardmembership begins
With this Card, you get:
2 points per $1 on eligible dining and delivery purchases in Canada
2 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases charged to the Card
1 point per $1 on all other purchases charged to the Card
You can use your Membership Rewards® points in many ways:
Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, etc.
Transfer points to hotel partners, including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
And more!
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards® points to a partner loyalty program, you could earn up to:
100,000 Aeroplan points
100,000 Avios
100,000 Flying Blue Miles
120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:
$200 Annual Travel Credit
An annual meal credit of $200
A $100 statement credit for NEXUS membership
Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to more than 1,550 airport lounges in over 140 countries
Hilton Honors Gold status
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program
Last but not least, The Platinum Card® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply. American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of the information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Annual fee
Primary card$799
Additional card$250
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
2xTravel
2xRestaurants
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,482
2nd Year Value$470
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $1,000
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply 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”).
Earn a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Membership Rewards® points with the American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card®
50,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $7,500 in purchases within the first three months of Cardmembership.
20,000 additional points after spending $30,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 10,000 bonus points in each calendar quarter when you spend $20,000 or more.
With this Card, you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on your purchases.
You can then use your points in many ways:
Statement credit for travel purchases
Statement credit for all purchases
Transfer to partner programs (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, etc.).
Book your flight with American Express Travel at a special rate
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:
70,000 points Aeroplan
70,000 Avios
70,000 Flying Blue Miles
84,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Alternatively, 70,000 Membership Rewards points can also represent a value of $700 for travel or for any purchase charged to the Card.
Also, as a cardmember, you get many advantages such as up to 55 interest-free days to maximize your cash flow.
Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply. American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Primary card$199
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,450
2nd Year Value$209
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $100,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,360Total$1,360Plus $680 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply 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”).
Earn up to 120,000 points with this welcome offer for the American Express Business Platinum Card:
80,000 Membership Rewards points for $15,000 net purchases within the first 3 months of membership
40,000 additional points if you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after enrollment
You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:
Transfer your points to airline partners: Aeroplan Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
Transfer your points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
Redeem your points for statement credits to offset any eligible purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
And more!
120,000 points have a minimum value of $1,200 for a Statement credit, and much more if you transfer your points to a partner.
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :
120,000 Aeroplan points
120,000 Avios
120,000 Flying Blue Miles
144,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With this Card, you earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all purchases. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a host of travel and business benefits:
Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in over 130 countries
$200 Annual travel credit
$100 Card Statement Credit for Nexus
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Hilton Honors Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
Up to $120 in eligible Wireless Credits each year
With this Card you can maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest free days. It is a card that is particularly appreciated by contractors when making large purchases in home improvement stores, for example.
Last but not least, Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of the information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Annual fee
Primary card$799
Additional card$250
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
1.25xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,815
2nd Year Value$311
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$400
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $1,000
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Amex Fixed Points Travel – Economy class
Let’s start by digging into the Amex Fixed Points Travel economy class chart to understand how you can best use your MR points.
First, if you want to get the best value on an economy class redemption, the Popular Routes: Canada/US (short-haul) category is the way to go.
This category is specifically for the following 5 routes:
Calgary – Vancouver
Montreal – New York
Toronto – Montreal
Toronto – New York
Toronto – Ottawa
The reason this category offers the best value is because you can redeem for a base fare of up to $300 for only 15,000 MR points, giving you up to 2 cents per MR point.
Comparatively, the maximum value you can get in the other economy class categories ranges from 1.5 to 1.75 cents per MR point.
When redeeming your MR points for a business class fare through Amex Fixed Points Travel, you can get upwards of 1.6 to 1.8 cents per point worth of value if you’re able to max out the base fare amounts.
However, as you can see in the business class chart below, the cost in points to cover these base fares is considerable, and you’ll still have to pay the fare’s notable taxes and fees with cash (or with points at a rate of 1 MR point = 1 cent).
Given this, you’ll want to do some further research and shop around before committing 100,000+ MR points to this type of redemption.
Redemption Examples
To best take advantage of the Amex Fixed Points Travel program and the value of your accumulated MR points, you should ideally aim to redeem for around 1.7 cents per MR points or higher since this is the value we’ve assessed for these points.
However, part of the appeal of the Amex Fixed Points Travel program is that it can help you access flight redemptions that might not be available elsewhere (or at least not for a reasonable price), so ultimately the value target you set is about personal priorities and how many points you have available.
Now, let’s look at 4 redemption examples to see how the Amex Fixed Points Travel program can work in real life.
Example 1 – Base fare below maximum amount
In this first example, we can see a redemption that uses the Amex Fixed Points Travel economy chart for a round-trip flight between Montreal (YUL) and New York City (LGA).
With this route falling within the chart’s first category (Popular Routes: Canada/US Short-Haul), the fixed-rate redemption is 15,000 MR points for up to a maximum base fare of $300.
In this example, you can see that in order to book this flight, you’ll need to redeem 15,000 MR points for the base fare of $267.99 plus $179.95 for the taxes, fees, and surcharges.
This gives you a value of 1.78 cents per MR point for the redemption portion ($267.99/15,000).
What’s important to note from this example is that even though the base fare is under the $300 maximum amount, you still need to redeem the full fixed amount of 15,000 MR points.
Example 2 – Base fare above maximum amount
In this second example, we’re looking at the same route of Montreal (YUL) to New York City (LGA), but this time we’ve chosen a different airline and a different flight time that costs more.
When we look at the price breakdown here, it shows that we’ll be redeeming 15,000 MR points for the maximum base fare of $300, and we’ll then need to pay a difference of $202.00 for the rest of the base fare and $191.65 for taxes, fees, and surcharges.
Interestingly, in this example, we’re redeeming our points for the maximum value of 2 cents per MR point, but it’s costing us more out of pocket to choose this specific flight.
As you can see, maximizing the value of your points can be a balancing act and sometimes involves trade-offs.
Example 3 – Poor redemption value
In the first two examples, we redeemed MR points for between 1.78 cents and 2 cents each, accessing the top value (or nearly).
In the example below, you can see a flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Punta Cana (PUJ) that falls into the « Pick your vacation spot » category and requires a fixed fee of 50,000 MR points for a maximum base fare of $800.
However, as shown in the price breakdown, the flight we selected has a base fare of only $208 and taxes, fees, and surcharges of $300.14.
Given the base fare that’s well below the category maximum of $800, if you were use 50,000 MR points for this redemption, you would only get a value of 0.42 cents per MR point, which is not a good use of MR points.
Example 4 – High fees and surcharges
Within the Amex Fixed Points Travel program, you’ll not only want to watch out for low-value redemptions like the one in example 3 above, but you’ll also want to watch out for over-the-top taxes, fees, and surcharges.
This can particularly happen when airlines choose to offer very low base fares and then shift some of the cost into various surcharges instead.
For example, looking at the price breakdown for a flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Paris (CDG), you can see that we’d need to redeem 60,000 MR points for a low base fare of only $215, and we’d also have to pay a whopping $863.08 in taxes, fees, and surcharges.
This means that 1) 80% of that fare’s cost is taxes, fees, and surcharges, AND 2) you would only get a value of 0.36 cents per MR points for the base fare redemption ($215/60,000 MR points).
This final example demonstrates one of the least valuable ways to redeem your MR points, and its something we would never recommend you do.
How to Redeem MR Points Using Amex Fixed Points Travel
To redeem your MR points for a flight using Amex Fixed Points Travel, you’ll need to do the following:
Step 1.
Login to your American Express account and navigate to your Membership Rewards balance; then click « View and Redeem Points. »
Step 2.
On this new page, navigate down to the « Ready to Redeem » section, select « Book Travel, » and click on « Explore Amex Travel. »
Step 3.
Now that you’re on the Amex Travel page, select « Air » and then enter your desired departure and arrival airports and dates. Click the search button (usually designated with a magnifying glass image).
Step 4.
You should now see all available flights that fit within your destination and dates.
If you’ve chosen a route that’s eligible for Amex Fixed Points Travel, you should see a column for this redemption option as well as one for the Flexible Points Travel option.
Additionally, you can click on « Price Breakdown » to find out how much of the price is the base fare and how much is fees/surcharges.
Remember, with Amex Fixed Points Travel, the fixed number of points only covers the base fare up to a maximum specific price in each destination category.
Step 5.
Once you’ve chosen the departing flight you’d like to book, click « Select. » You can then select your preferred return flight and fare preference on the next page.
Step 6.
After selecting both legs of your flight and your fare class, you can click « Continue to checkout. »
On the check-out page, you’ll be given the option to pay the taxes and fees with either your American Express card or MR points.
If you have enough points, you can redeem them at a rate of 1 MR point = 1 cent – although we don’t usually recommend that you do that.
The rate of 1 MR point = 1 cent is the same redemption rate that you get when using Amex’s Flexible Points Travel option or when you use your points for statement credits against travel purchases made on your eligible American Express card.
While this redemption rate is not terrible, there are considerably more valuable ways to spend your points (like transferring to other loyalty programs) and most of the time you’ll be better off going one of these routes instead.
What Happens on Your Statement
With Amex Fixed Points Travel, the base fare does not come off your bill at checkout. According to the program's terms and conditions, American Express charges the full cost of the flight to your card when you book, including taxes, fees and carrier surcharges. Within 5 to 10 business days of booking, you then receive a statement credit for the base fare, up to the category's maximum base ticket price. Seeing the full amount on your account right after booking is therefore normal. As of September 2026, the terms also set these rules:
Statement timing: if your statement closes between the charge and the credit, you still need to pay that statement in full. The credit applies to the next one.
Fare below the maximum: the unused difference is not credited to your card and cannot cover taxes, fees or changes.
Changes and cancellations: the points you redeemed are not returned, even if the airline issues a refund or a credit.
If the credit has not posted after 10 business days, call American Express at 1-800-668-2639 (small business cardholders: 1-888-721-1046) with your booking confirmation in hand.
Bottom Line
The Amex Fixed Points Travel program offers a decent way to redeem your hard-earned Membership Rewards (MR) points for travel if you’re not able to find a more valuable award flight through other loyalty programs or if you prefer not to transfer your points at all.
Although it’s not the best use of your MR points from a value perspective, it is incredibly convenient since Amex Fixed Points Travel lets you book pretty much any flight with any airline for whenever you want.
Overall Amex Fixed Points Travel represents a helpful and potentially valuable redemption avenue, though whether it’s a good option for you will depend on your travel priorities, your budget, and how many MR points you have saved up.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
$255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
Apply 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”).
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer
The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.
Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.
You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.
You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:
Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.
5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:
Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.
The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
Category
Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)
5
Home food delivery
5
Restaurants and bars
5
Convenience stores
5
Streaming services
3
Service station
2
Transport
2
Travel
1
Other
1
That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.
The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.
Travel insurance
Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.
Rental car insurance
Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.
Mobile device insurance
Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.
Purchase protection and extended warranty
Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.
American Express Cobalt® Card fees
Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.
Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Annual fee
Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xConvenience
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas & EV
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
FAQs
What is Amex Fixed Points Travel?
Amex Fixed Points Travel is a convenient way to redeem your Membership Rewards points to cover the base fare of eligible round-trip flights for a set number of points.
The number of points required for each flight can be found in the Amex Fixed Points Travel economy class and business class charts on the American Express website.
How do I earn Membership Rewards points?
Membership Rewards points are earned by spending on an eligible American Express credit card, which include the following:
What is the best way to redeem Amex MR points for travel?
The best way to redeem American Express MR points for travel is generally to transfer your points to another loyalty program like Aeroplan, where you can get higher value redemptions.
However, ultimately the best way to redeem depends on many factors including your travel desires and priorities, your budget, and how many points you have saved up.
Do I earn points on a Fixed Points Travel booking?
As of September 2026, the Fixed Points Travel terms and conditions do not specify whether points are earned on the part of the charge that the statement credit later offsets. To see how your booking was treated, check your Membership Rewards activity once the credit has posted.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$469Annual fee rebated$120Total$589Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa Infinite rewards credit cards in Canada. Its welcome offer lets you earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points, for a total value of up to $1,150*.
It also includes a monthly statement credit for streaming services, an annual $50 lifestyle credit, and no annual fee for the first year (a $120 value)*.
With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you also get:
5x BMO Rewards points for every dollar spent on groceries, meal delivery or takeout, rideshare, public transit, and gas*
1 BMO Rewards point for every dollar spent on all other purchases*
10% more points when you add an authorized user to your account*
Mobile device insurance offering coverage up to $1,000*
The Pay with Points feature, which allows you to redeem your points on recent purchases starting at $1*
Six months of Instacart+ membership plus a monthly $10 Instacart credit with an eligible card*
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply
BMO is not responsible for updating the content of this site. For the most up-to-date information, please click on the Online Application link.
Annual fee
Primary card$120
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$60,000
Household$100,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xTransit
5xGas & EV
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,128
2nd Year Value$365
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Our editorial integrity
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.
