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The American Express Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (Aeroplan Reserve, in English) is the premium card in American Express’s Aeroplan lineup in Canada. It targets a specific profile: the traveller who flies Air Canada several times a year, wants airport lounge access, and is looking to build Aeroplan status without necessarily flying enough to earn it otherwise.
With a $599 annual fee, it’s not a card for everyone. This review breaks down what you get for that amount, who the card is really for, and how we quantify its value. All figures reflect the current American Express Canada offer.
Shopping for a travel card? Start with our comparison tool for the best credit cards in Canada to see how the American Express Aeroplan®* Reserve Card stacks up against other options.
The American Express Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is a fit for frequent Air Canada travellers. If you fly three times a year or more, connect through airports where Air Canada operates lounges, and spend enough to hit the welcome tiers, the card pays for itself. On the other hand, if you fly once or twice a year on other carriers, a more versatile travel card will serve you better.
The $599 fee is not refunded in the first year. Keep this in mind: the card needs to generate more than $599 in value to justify keeping it year after year once the welcome bonus is in the bank.
The current welcome offer goes up to 85,000 Aeroplan points, split across two tiers:
American Express does not announce an end date for this offer. Always confirm the terms on the official American Express page before applying, as welcome offers change regularly.
Check out our dedicated page on current American Express Aeroplan Card welcome offers to compare the three versions currently available.
For full details of the current promotion, consult our page on the offer up to 85,000 Aeroplan points with the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.
The card’s strength lies in the 3 points per dollar with Air Canada and 2 points per dollar on dining. The base rate of 1.25 points per dollar remains decent for an Aeroplan card, without being exceptional. A traveler who concentrates their flight and restaurant spending on this card accumulates quickly, but everyday spending would benefit from being put on a card with a better base rate.
You get complimentary access to any Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and any Air Canada Café located in Canada and the United States, for yourself and one guest. Access requires an Air Canada or Star Alliance carrier ticket for same-day departure.
The card gives you 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) for every $5,000 in eligible purchases, up to a maximum of 25,000 SQC per year. Starting in 2027, members holding Aeroplan 25K status or higher will receive an advance equivalent to 10% of the SQC accumulated the previous year.
Here’s how we quantify first-year value for a traveller who fully uses the benefits. Our method uses a value of 2.0¢ per Aeroplan point, consistent with our current valuation, and assigns value to benefits only if the cardholder actually uses them.
The American Express Platinum Card® is in a different category: its Membership Rewards points transfer to several programs, including Aeroplan, and its lounge access is global rather than limited to the Air Canada network. If your loyalty is with Air Canada and you care about Aeroplan status, the Aeroplan Reserve still has the edge. Our Platinum Card® vs Aeroplan Reserve comparison breaks down that choice.
The American Express Aeroplan®* Reserve Card rewards loyalty to Air Canada. For a traveller who flies regularly, uses lounges, and is aiming for Aeroplan status, the $599 fee is justified in the first year thanks to the welcome bonus and airport perks. For a more occasional profile, or for anyone who wants the flexibility of transferring points to multiple programs, a card like the Platinum Card® or a more versatile travel card will be a better choice.
Before you choose, compare this card to the rest of the market with our ranking of the best credit cards in Canada, updated regularly.
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