Exceptional Offer: up to 110,000 points with the American Express Gold Rewards Card!

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Alexandrine Bertrand
Alexandrine Bertrand Alexandrine Bertrand
An avid solo traveller, Alexandrine is an expert on loyalty programmes such as Aeroplan, Avios, AIR MILES, Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. With a budget-conscious approach, she helps travellers make the most of their points and miles to experience affordable, off-the-beaten-path getaways. She also shares a love of gastronomy and enjoys exploring local flavours and culinary traditions.
All posts by Alexandrine Bertrand
Deux personnes admirent une vue côtière au coucher du soleil, accompagnées d’une image de cartes American Express
To the point Earn up to 110,000 welcome bonus points with this offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card, the best of the year!

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 110,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s $1,100 worth of 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);
  • 30,000 additional points after you have charged a total of $20,000 to your Card in your first 12 months of membership;
  • 20,000 additional Membership Rewards points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month of membership.

Offer ends August 18, 2025.

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 :

  • 110,000 points Aeroplan
  • 110,000 Avios
  • 82,500 Flying Blue Miles
  • 132,000 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.

American Express Gold Card - How to maximize the welcome offer

Most of the welcome offer is distributed monthly for the first 12 months. You’ll earn 5,000 Membership Rewards points for every $1,000 in purchases charged to your card during the month.

For the monthly welcome bonus, it’s best to shop at stores offering 2 points per dollar:

  • 5,000 points for the monthly welcome bonus
  • 2,000 points for these purchases in a 2 points per $ category
  • That’s 7,000 points per month between the welcome bonus and the points earned through your purchases

That’s a minimum return of approximately 7% for the first 12 months on each of your first $1,000 in purchases in 2 points-per-dollar categories such as groceries, gas stations, drugstores and travel purchases.

gold rosegold metal diag lockup ca x

Here’s how you could earn 84,000 points in your first year by optimizing your purchases in the 2X categories:

Months Purchases Category 2x Bonus Total
1 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
2 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
3 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
4 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
5 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5,000 points 7 000 points
6 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7 000 points
7 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
8 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
9 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
10 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7 000 points
11 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
12 1 000 $ 2,000 points 5 000 points 7,000 points
Total 12 000 $ 24,000 points 60,000 points 84,000 points

84,000 points for $12,000 in purchases over 12 months, that’s a minimum return of about 7% if you use your points for a statement credit on any purchase. That’s a value of $840!

If you subtract the cost of the card’s membership fee ($250), you are left with a net value of around $590 in the first year. However, don’t forget that this card comes with annual benefits, such as a $100 travel credit or four complimentary access visits to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.

Deux personnes admirent une vue côtière au coucher du soleil, accompagnées d’une image de cartes American Express

You could also earn up to 50,000 additional points via this exceptional welcome bonus if you spend more and keep your card for a second year:

  • 30,000 additional points after $20,000 in the first 12 months (i.e. $8,000 more than in the table above)
  • 20,000 points for purchases made between the 15th and 17th month of membership

Here’s another scenario in which you could earn 84,000 points in your first year by optimizing your purchases in the 2X categories:

Months Purchases Category 2x Bonus Total
1 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
2 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
3 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
4 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
5 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
6 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
7 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
8 1 667 $ 3,334 points 5,000 points 8,334 points
9 1 666 $ 3,332 points 5,000 points 8,332 points
10 1 666 $ 3,332 points 5,000 points 8,332 points
11 1 666 $ 3,332 points 5,000 points 8,332 points
12 1 666 $ 3,332 points 35,000 points 38,332 points
15 1 $ 2 points 20,000 points 20,002 points
Total 20 001 $ 40,002 points 110,000 points 150,002 points

150,002 points for $20,001 in purchases over 15 months, that’s a minimum return of about 7.5% if you use your points for a statement credit on any purchase. That’s a value of $1,500!

If you subtract the cost of the first and second year’s card fees ($250 x 2), you’ll have a net value of around $1,000 over the first two years. However, don’t forget that this card comes with annual benefits, such as a $100 travel credit or four access visits to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.

It’s straightforward: thanks to this exceptional welcome bonus, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card dethrones the American Express Cobalt® Card, as you can see in our comparison.

What about Aeroplan?

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, you can transfer your points to the Air Canada loyalty program : Aeroplan. The conversion rate is 1:1. Therefore, 10,000 points = 10,000 Aeroplan points.

The welcome bonus of up to 110,000 points is equivalent to 110,000 Aeroplan points.

What about Flying Blue?

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, you can transfer your points to the Air France KLM loyalty program: Flying Blue. The conversion rate is 1:0.75. So 10,000 points = 7,500 Flying Blue Miles.

The welcome bonus of up to 110,000 points is equivalent to 82,500 Flying Blue Miles.

What about Marriott Bonvoy?

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, you can transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy. The conversion rate is 1:1.2. Thus, 10,000 points = 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

The welcome bonus of up to 110,000 points is equivalent to 132,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Benefits

A new Metal Card with a Rose Gold option

In 2021, American Express Canada has decided to launch this new metal card (like the American Express Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card).

When you sign up for this card, you can choose one of two versions:

  • Yellow Gold
  • Rose Gold

And don’t forget that this is a new product: if you previously held the old version of the Gold Card (and hadn’t renewed it before its features changed), you can get the new version of this Card (and the welcome bonus that goes with it)!

gold rosegold metal diag lockup ca x

$100 Annual Travel Credit

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card you’ll receive a $100 Annual Travel Credit.

You can use this travel credit directly on the American Express Travel portal to book flights, rental cars or hotels.

Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year

This card gives you access to airport lounges worldwide.

First, it offers a Priority Pass membership (a value of about USD 99 per year). You can then pay $32 for each visit to one of the 1,200 Priority Pass lounges worldwide.

In addition, this Card includes 4 comlimentary annual visits to Plaza Premium lounges.

This is good news, since most credit cards that offered Priority Pass or LoungeKey have lost access to the many Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.

For example, you can access the excellent Air France lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

$50 NEXUS Statement Credit

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, you receive a CAD 50 NEXUS credit every 4 years.

This is convenient if you regularly travel across borders.

Nexus Passeports Milesopedia

Earning Points

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card you get:

  • 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on gas purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on grocery purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on drugstore purchases
  • 1 point per dollar for other purchases

For groceries, we always recommend using your American Express Cobalt® Card which offers 5 points per dollar!

Using Points

Using Membership Rewards Points for Any Purchase

This is the easiest way to use your points: you apply them to any purchase made on the card (travel or everyday purchases).

  1. You buy something with your American Express® Gold Rewards Card
  2. You redeem your points on this purchase: 1,000 points = $10

110,000 Membership Rewards points have a value of $1,100.

As you can see from the screenshot below, the exchange rate is the same for Airbnb (travel), Couche-Tard and Première Moisson.

Shopping New Amex Gold Card

Redeeming Membership Rewards points via American Express Fixed Travel Point Chart

This is one of the best ways to use Membership Rewards points from the American Express® Gold Rewards Card:

  1. Connect to the American Express travel portal
  2. You book some flights at fixed-points pricing: 15,000 points = $300!

110,000 Membership Rewards points have a value of $2,400.

But this only applies to specific flights:

amex points fixes eco

Membership Rewards Transfer Partners

Here are all the transfer partners for American Express Membership Rewards program:

Partners Conversion rates
Aeroplan New Logo 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
110,000 Aeroplan points
flying blue logo 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
82,500 Flying Blue miles
in asia miles 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
82,500 Asia Miles
british airways club 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
110,000 Avios
pg logo delta skymiles e1496111335578 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
82,500 miles
etihad guest 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
82,500 miles
hilton honors e1488115875520 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
110,000 Hilton Honors points
marriott bonvoy logo 110,000 Membership Rewards points
=
132,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Étihad Business BCN-DXB-15
Etihad en classe affaires avec les points Aéroplan

Insurance

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card you’ll benefit from a host of attractive insurance options.

Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Coverage

This insurance provides coverage up to a maximum of $5,000,000 for eligible emergency medical expenses incurred by a person under age 65 while travelling outside their province or territory of residence in Canada for the first 15 consecutive days of an insured trip.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

You can be reimbursed for the non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your travel expenses when they are charged to your Card before your departure date, should you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason.

Trip Interruption Insurance

When you charge your travel arrangements to your Card, this insurance reimburses you for the unused, non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your travel arrangements paid prior to your departure date in the event your trip is interrupted or delayed for a covered reason.

Coverage is available up to $1,500 per insured person per trip, for a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons combined.

Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance

Save when you travel with the flight and damage Insurance for rental cars included with your Card This insurance provides compensation for theft, loss and damage up to the market value of the rental car with a maximum MSRP of $85,000 depending on the year of the model.

To take advantage of this benefit, simply decline the loss/damage coverage or similar option offered by the rental company and charge the entire rental to your Card. There’s no additional charge for this coverage, and you save yourself the daily insurance fee (usually $16 to $23 per day) charged by the car rental company.

Baggage Delay Insurance

Having booked your flight with your Card, you can receive up to $500 (maximum in combination with Flight Delay Insurance) for any necessary and reasonable everyday purchases of clothing and minor items deemed essential that you make within four days, if your baggage is not returned to you within six hours of arriving at your departure flight destination.

Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance

If you charge the full cost of your airline ticket to your Card, you are covered for loss or damage to your personal effects, carry-on baggage or checked baggage while traveling, up to a combined maximum of $500 per trip .

Flight Delay Insurance

Charge your airline tickets to your Card and receive up to $500 (maximum in combination with Baggage Delay Insurance) for reasonable and necessary hotel, motel, restaurant or incidental expenses incurred within 48 hours if your flight is delayed or you are denied boarding for four hours or more without alternate transportation.

$500,000 Travel Accident Insurance

Travel Accident Insurance provides automatic coverage of up to $500,000 for accidental death and dismemberment for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when you travel on a common carrier (plane, train, boat or bus) and charge the full cost of all tickets to your Card. Supplementary Cardholders, their spouses and dependent children under 23 are also covered.

Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance

Simply pay for your hotel or motel room with your card and you will receive coverage of up to $500 in case of loss of most personal belongings in the event of a burglary at your hotel or motel room.

Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan

Eligible items purchased on your card may be insured for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase against accidental property damage and theft up to a maximum of $1,000 per claim (all items purchased combined).

Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan

Your coverage can automatically extend the original manufacturer’s warranty for up toone additional year when you carry all eligible items on your Card.

If you need to consult the insurance booklet, it can be found at this address.

Bottom Line

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is a very interesting Membership Rewards card.

Take advantage of the current welcome offer until August 18, 2025 to sign up!

This article was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this article are purely my own.

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For complete and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply Now link. Terms and conditions apply.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine

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