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

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Alexandrine Bertrand
Alexandrine Bertrand

Alexandrine Bertrand

Alexandrine Bertrand
A passionate solo traveler, Alexandrine is an expert on loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Avios, AIR MILES, Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. With a budget-conscious approach, she helps travelers maximize their points and miles for low-cost, off-the-beaten-path getaways. A food lover, she enjoys discovering the local flavors and culinary traditions that enrich her adventures.
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cobalt new card promo featured
To the point With this welcome offer, new American Express Cobalt Cardmembers can earn up to 15,000 bonus points!

American Express Cobalt Card - Welcome Offer

New American Express Cobalt® cardholders 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 many partners such as Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy.

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

For your information, this credit card does not require any 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 could earn 60,000 points in your first year by optimizing your purchases in the 5x the points spending categories:

Months 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 $600 value!

If you remove the cost of the card fee ($12.99 per month or $155.88 over 12 months), you have a net worth of approximately $444 in the first year!

One way to do this is to do your grocery shopping. And if you don’t have $500-$1,000 worth of groceries a month, you could buy gift cards there for other businesses you regularly frequent like Amazon, SAQ, GAP, Old Navy, etc. Another way to earn 5x the points for these purchases.

What about Aeroplan?

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

15,000 points are equivalent to 15,000 Aeroplan Points.

By taking into consideration 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 Aeroplan points in the first year!

What about Flying Blue?

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

15,000 points are equivalent to 11,250 Flying Blue Miles.

Considering your minimum spending over the first 12 months and optimizing your purchases in the 5X categories, you could earn up to 60,000 points in the first year, representing 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 ratio is 1:1.2. Thus, 10,000 points = 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

15,000 points are equivalent to 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

By taking into consideration the minimum spend in the first 12 months and optimizing your purchases in the 5x the points spending categories, you could earn up to 60,000 points in the first year, which is worth 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 CobaltMD 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 your card, you can purchase gift cards (Amazon, SAQ, Netflix, etc.) in grocery stores or at your 7-eleven / Couche-Tard convenience store. 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
À la carte Travel purchases 10,000 points = $100
Transfer points to Aeroplan 10,000 points = 10,000 Aeroplan points
Transfer points to British Airways Executive 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
  • Purchase Protection® Plan
  • Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan

Bottom Line

The American Express CobaltMD Card is one of our favorite 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 arrive to extol the virtues of the American Express Cobalt® Card !

And this Card is accessible to almost everyone since there is no minimum income requirement.

If you don’t have this Card yet, don’t wait any longer to sign up with this welcome offer and start earning up to 5 points per dollar on 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!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine

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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