American Express Cobalt Card: Earn Up to 15,000 Bonus Points!

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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.
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cobalt new card promo featured
To the point With this welcome offer, new American Express Cobalt Cardholders can earn up to 15,000 bonus points!

American Express Cobalt Card - Welcome Offer

New American Express Cobalt® Cardmembers can earn up to 15,000 points as a welcome bonus.

This corresponds to a value of $150 using your points for any purchase made with the Card. And up to $300 when you use the American Express fixed-point travel program to book flights! You can even transfer your points to numerous partners such as Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy.

With American Express credit cards increasingly accepted in many stores in Quebec (including some IGA grocery stores) and across Canada, there is no longer any reason not to get the best 5X card in Canada!

For your information, this credit card requires no minimum income!

American Express Cobalt Card - How to Maximize the Welcome Offer

The welcome bonus is split monthly for the first 12 months. You’ll earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for every $750 in purchases charged to your card during the month (whether in the 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X category).

For the monthly welcome bonus, it is best to shop in the 5X categories:

  • 1,250 points for the monthly welcome bonus
  • 3,750 points for these purchases in a 5X category
  • That’s 5,000 points per month between the welcome bonus and the points earned through your purchases.

That’s a minimum return of about 6.7% for the first 12 months on each of your first $750 in purchases in 5X categories like groceries.

cobalt super c
5x points at Super C

Here’s how you can earn 60,000 points in your first year by optimizing your purchases in the 5 points-per-dollar categories:

Month Purchases Category 5x Bonus Total
1 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
2 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
3 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
4 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
5 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
6 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
7 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
8 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
9 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
10 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
11 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
12 $750 3,750 points 1,250 points 5,000 points
Total $9,000 45,000 points 15,000 points 60,000 points

60,000 points for $9,000 in purchases over 12 months, that’s a minimum return of about 6.7% if you use your points for a statement credit on any purchase. That’s a value of $600!

Removing the cost of the card fee ($12.99 per month, or $155.88 over 12 months, or $150 in Quebec), you get a net value of around $444 in the first year !

One way to do this is through your grocery shopping. And if you don’t have $500 to $1,000 worth of groceries a month, you could buy gift cards for other stores you frequent regularly, like Amazon, SAQ, GAP, Old Navy, etc. Which is an alternative way to accumulate 5x points for these purchases.

What about Aeroplan?

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

The welcome bonus of 15,000 points is equivalent to 15,000 Aeroplan points.

By taking into account your minimum spending over the first 12 months and optimizing your purchases in the 5 points per dollar categories, you could earn up to 60,000 points in the first year, which represents a value of 60,000 Aeroplan points!

What about Flying Blue?

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

The welcome bonus of 15,000 points is equivalent to 11,250 Flying Blue Miles.

Taking into account the minimum spend in the first 12 months and optimizing your purchases in the 5 points per dollar categories, you could earn up to 60,000 points in the first year, which represents a value of 45,000 Flying Blue Miles!

What about Marriott Bonvoy?

With the American Express Cobalt® 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 15,000-point welcome bonus is equivalent to 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

By taking into account your minimum spending in the first 12 months and optimizing your purchases in the 5 points per dollar categories, you could earn up to 60,000 points in the first year, which represents a value of 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points!

Learn more in this article:

American Express Cobalt Card - Features

American Express Cobalt Card - Earning Points

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

To maximize the use of your card, you can purchase gift cards (Amazon, SAQ, Netflix, etc.) at grocery stores or Couche-Tard convenience stores. You will earn 5x points for these purchases, for a maximum of $30,000 in purchases per membership year in this category.

5X The Points On Amazon.ca For Cobalt Cardmembers!
super c gift cards

American Express Cobalt Card - Redeem Points

You can use the American Express Cobalt® Card in a variety of ways:

Use Points
Airline ticket purchases (American Express fixed-point program) Up to 10,000 points = $200
Travel Purchases with the Card 10,000 points = $100
Transfer points to Aeroplan 10,000 points = 10,000 Aeroplan points
Transfer points to British Airways Club 10,000 points = 10,000 Avios miles
Transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy 10,000 points = 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Transfer points to Hilton Honors 10,000 points = 10,000 Hilton Honors points
Other card purchases 10,000 points = $100
Buy with points on Amazon.ca 10,000 points = $70

You could even use the Marriott Bonvoy program to transfer your points to other airline programs: 50,000 Membership Rewards points = 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 25,000 miles.

American Express Cobalt Card - Insurance

With American Express Cobalt® Card, you benefit from a wide range of insurances:

  • Mobile Device Insurance
  • Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
  • Baggage Delay Insurance
  • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
  • Flight Delay Insurance
  • $250,000 Travel Accident Insurance
  • Hotel/motel burglary insurance
  • Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan
  • Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan

Bottom Line

The American Express Cobalt® Card is one of our favourite cards for all the aspects mentioned above.

Every time someone asks “Which credit card should I apply for?” in the Facebook group, many enthusiastic members are quick to praise the American Express Cobalt® Card !

Especially since it is accessible to everyone, as there is no minimum income requirement.

If you don’t have this Card yet, don’t hesitate to apply with this welcome offer and start earning up to 5 points per dollar on your everyday purchases like groceries!

Would you like to apply for this Card and support Milesopedia at the same time? Click here!

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
All posts by Marie-Ève Leclerc

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