To the point
Earn up to 100,000 points with Canada's best premium card for travellers: the Platinum Card®!
Welcome offer
Membership Rewards Value
Everyday life benefits
Improved earning rates for some purchases
$200 annual dining credit
A metal card
Benefits for your travels
Access to Airport Lounges
$200 Annual Travel Credit
$100 credit for NEXUS
Status in hotel programs
The car rentals benefits
The Fine Hotels and Resorts program
High-end travel insurance
A Membership Rewards Card
Redeeming points to book flights with American Express
Using points against any expense
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
Annual fee and welcome bonus
Bottom Line
Milesopedia recommends this card from American Express Canada
American Express Platinum Card®
Up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points
Welcome offer
The Platinum Card® is the Best Premium Travel Card in Canada.
With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points:
- 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 card, you get:
- 2 points per dollar for dining purchases
- 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
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 programs (Hilton Honors, 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!
With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit
- $200 Annual Dining Credit
- $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
- Complimentary and unlimited access for you and one additional traveller to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide
- Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Finally, the Platinum Card® comes with premium insurance: Car Rental Theft and Damage, $500,000 Travel Accident, Emergency medical insurance (outside the province or country), Lost or Stolen Baggage, Flight delay insurance and misdirected baggage, Hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection® Plan, Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Membership Rewards Value
100,000 Membership Rewards points have a $1,000 value if used towards any purchase charged to your card. That’s a value of 1 cent per point.
But in our opinion, the value can be much greater by transferring your points to partner loyalty programs like Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue or Marriott Bonvoy!
In my case, I convert my Membership Rewards points into Aeroplan points to book:
- Business class flights: here the return I get is at least 4 cents per point (so a $4,000 value for 100,000 points).
- Multi-destination flights in North America: here, I often withdraw at least 2 to 3 cents per point (i.e. a $2,000 to $3,000 value for 100,000 points).
Or I use my Membership Rewards points via the American Express fixed-point travel program for specific North American destinations: the return is 2 cents per point (so a $2,000 value for 100,000 points).
Everyday life benefits
Improved earning rates for some purchases
The earning rate of the Platinum Card® is adapted to the Cardmembers lifestyle: travel and gastronomy!
For example, with the Platinum Card®, you can earn:
- 3X points per dollar of travel purchases through American Express Travel
- 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel
- 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
Membership Rewards points can be transferred to:
- Airline programs such as Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles or Flying Blue
- Hotel programs such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.
$200 annual dining credit
You can benefit from a $200 annual dining credit.
This credit is automatically applied following a single transaction of CAN$200 or more, including taxes and gratuities, at one of the eligible restaurants.
The benefit is automatically reset to zero on January 1 of each year in which it is offered.
A metal card
As a high-end card, the Platinum Card is a metal card!
The Platinum Card® is one of the only cards in Canada to be made of metal, which establishes the Premium (and different) side of the Platinum Card® against the competition.
And this Card is really beautiful with only your name on the front: all the other information is on the back (but your wallet will weigh a little more)!
Benefits for your travels
Access to Airport Lounges
Platinum Cardmembers have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
Here are the conditions of access for each type of lounge:
| Lounge | Details |
| Priority Pass | Complimentary and unlimited access for the Cardmember AND a guest 1300 airport lounges worldwide |
| Executive Lounges by Swissport | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and his spouse 2 children under the age of 21 by presenting the Platinum Card Ex: National Bank Lounge in Montreal, Aspire in Amsterdam, Gatwick… |
| V.I.P. International Airport Lounge Jean-Lesage from Quebec City |
Complimentary access for the Cardmember and a travel companion 2 children under the age of 18 by presenting the Platinum Card |
| Plaza Premium Lounges | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and his spouse by presenting the Platinum Card Ex: Plaza Premium lounges in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg |
| Delta Sky Club | Complimentary access for the cardmember upon presentation of the Platinum card and a Delta Airlines boarding pass |
| Airspace Lounges | Complimentary access for the Cardmember and his spouse 2 children under the age of 21 or 2 travel companions by presenting the Platinum Card San Diego and Cleveland Airports |
| Escape Lounges | Complimentary access for the cardmember & 2 travel companions by presenting the Platinum Card Oakland Airports, Minneapolis… |
| The Centurion Lounge | Complimentary access for the cardmember & 2 travel companions by presenting the Platinum Card Miami, Las Vegas, La Guardia, San Francisco, Hong Kong… |
| International American Express Lounges American Express |
Complimentary access for the Cardmember |
For example, you can get complimentary access to the Air France Lounge or the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.
$200 Annual Travel Credit
American Express Canada offers a $200 Annual Credit for travel booked through American Express Travel with the Platinum Card®.
This may be:
- A flight
- A hotel
- A car rental
- A travel package
This credit is renewed each year based on Cardmembership anniversary date.
$100 credit for NEXUS
The Platinum Card® comes with another benefit for travellers: the $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit. Simply charge your NEXUS membership (every 4 years) onto your Platinum Card® to get this credit.
Status in hotel programs
The Platinum Card® also offers status in several hotel loyalty programs, which entitles you to many benefits:
| Program | Status | Key benefits |
 |
Elite Gold | Room upgrade 2 p.m Late departure 10 points for every eligible U.S. dollar and 25% more points than base members Premium Internet access |
 |
Gold | Complimentary breakfast Room upgrade 80% more points than base-level members Premium Internet access 2 free bottles of water per stay |
 |
Gold | Room upgrade Early check-in and late check-out 25 points per US dollar spent 15% discount on food and drinks 2 free bottles of water per stay |
The car rentals benefits
The Platinum Card® offers some benefits with 2 major car rental agencies:
| Car rental agency | Advantages |
 |
Five Star Level Priority counter service Upgrade of a one-car category Discounts on standard rates Special rates on the Prestige collection Grace period of up to 4 hours to return the car One free additional driver Read our review here on booking a rental car with Hertz and the Platinum Card |
 |
Avis Preferred Priority counter service Upgrade of a one-car category Special discounts |
The Fine Hotels and Resorts program
Platinum Cardmembers have access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, which provides significant benefits in high-end hotels such as:
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Room upgrade
- 4 p.m.guaranteed Late departure
- $100 hotel property credit
High-end travel insurance
The Platinum Card® travel insurance is particularly worthwhile with very high reimbursement levels, whether for flight delays, luggage delays, overseas assistance, high-end car rentals.
Here is a summary of insurance coverages (this information is informational. Refer to your Platinum Card documents).
| Insurance | Coverage |
| Emergency Medical Insurance Out of Province/Country |
Can provide coverage of up to a maximum of $5,000,000 for eligible emergency medical expenses incurred by an insured person under age 65 while travelling outside your Canadian province or territory of residence for the first 15 consecutive days of a covered trip. |
| Flight Cancellation | You can be reimbursed for the non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your travel arrangements when charged to your Card before your departure date should you cancel your trip for a covered reason.maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons), if you have to cancel a trip due to an eligible situation. |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | When you fully charge your travel arrangements to your Card, this insurance can cover the non-refundable and non-transferable unused portion of your travel arrangements purchased before your departure date, should your trip be interrupted or delayed for a covered reason.You can be covered for up to $2,500 per insured person, per trip, up to a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons combined. |
| Flight Delay Insurance | Fully charge your airline ticket to your Card and receive up to $1,000 (maximum in combination with Baggage Misplacement Insurance) for any necessary and reasonable charges incurred within 48 hours at a hotel, motel or restaurant if your flight is delayed or you are denied boarding for more than four hours without providing alternative transportation. |
| Baggage Delay Insurance | When you fully charge your airline ticket to your Card, you can receive up to $1,000 (maximum in combination with Flight Delay Insurance) for any necessary and reasonable routine purchases of clothing and sundries deemed essential that you make within four days, if your luggage is not not returned within six hours of arrival at your departure flight destination. |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance | You can be covered for loss or damage to your checked-in or carry-on baggage and personal effects while in transit for up to $1,000 per trip for all insureds. |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage | Save when you travel with flight and damage insurance for rental cars included with your Platinum card. You can be covered for theft, loss and damage of your rental car with an MSRP of up to $85,000 for rentals of 48 days or less. To take advantage of this protection, simply decline the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or similar option offered by the car rental agency and fully charge your rental to your Platinum Card. This insurance is available at no extra cost and you do not have to pay the insurance charged by the car rental company (usually costing between $16 and $23 per day). |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | You can receive up to $1,000 in coverage against the loss of most personal items (excluding cash) if your accommodation is burglarized when you fully charge your accommodations to your Card. |
| $500,000 Travel Accident Insurance | You can be covered up to $500,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance when you fully charge your common carrier (plane, train, ship or bus) tickets to your Card. Additional cardmember, their spouse and dependent children under the age of 23 are also covered. |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | You can be insured for eligible items charged to your Card for 120 days from the date of purchase in the event of accidental physical damage or theft for up to $1,000 per occurrence (for all purchased items combined). No registration required. You can be reimbursed for eligible events not covered by any other insurance. |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | Your coverage can automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year when you fully charge eligible items to your Card. This protection applies to card items around the world, if the manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada and the United States and does not exceed five years. Jewelry, motor vehicles and parts are not covered. Before you have an item repaired, you must get permission. Replacement and repair costs for each eligible item may not exceed $10,000, up to a maximum of $25,000 per Cardmember, per year, for all claims. |
A Membership Rewards Card
Redeeming points to book flights with American Express
American Express has two charts:
- Flexible points: here you use your points at a value of 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10
- Fixed Points: the fare will be depend on the destination
And this is how we will be able to get the most value out of our Membership Rewards points!
Up to 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $20. So 100,000 points = $2,000!
Using points against any expense
Another way to use Membership Rewards points is by applying them to your purchases. The rate is 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10.
So 100,000 Membership Rewards points = $1,000!
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
Here are all the transfer partners for American Express Membership Rewards program:
| Partners | Conversion rate |
 |
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 100,000 Aeroplan points |
 |
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 75,000 miles |
 |
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 75,000 miles |
 |
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 100,000 Avios points |
 |
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 75,000 miles |
 |
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 75,000 miles |
|
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 100,000 Hilton Honors points |
|
100,000 Membership Rewards points = 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points |
Annual fee and welcome bonus
See below for details of the current offer for the Platinum Card®:
Remember:
- all the advantages offered by this Card including unlimited access to airport lounges for the Cardmember and a guest
- the excellent welcome bonus, mainly covering the costs of the first year
- $200 annual travel credit, renewed each year on Cardmembership anniversary date
- $200 annual dining credit, renewed each year on January 1
- $100 NEXUS credit every four years
Bottom Line
There is no card with benefits comparable to the Platinum Card®, justifying its annual fee.
For a frequent traveller, all the benefits of the Card far outweigh the effective cost of $399 (since each year, you receive a $200 credit on your travel reservations and $200 for certain restaurants):
- access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world
- the benefits of hotel status, some of which offer complimentary breakfasts
- the flexibility offered by both the transfer of Membership Rewards points and the fixed flight chart of American Express
- high-end insurance coverages
To this, American Express adds an improved earning rate of:
- 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel
Take advantage of this exceptional welcome offer:
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