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The American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card is the premium card in American Express Canada’s Aeroplan lineup. It targets a specific profile: travellers who fly with Air Canada several times a year, want airport lounge access, and want to build Aeroplan Status without necessarily flying enough to earn it otherwise.
With a $599 annual fee, this card isn’t for everyone. This review breaks down what you get for that amount, who the card actually suits, and how we calculate its value. All figures come from the official American Express Canada page, verified on July 8, 2026.
Shopping for a travel card? Check out our best credit cards in Canada comparison first to see how the Aeroplan Reserve Card stacks up against other options.
The American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card suits the frequent Air Canada flyer. If you fly three times a year or more, pass through airports where Air Canada operates lounges, and spend enough to hit the welcome tiers, the card pays for itself. 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 waived 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 you’ve cashed in the welcome bonus.
The current welcome offer reaches up to 150,000 Aeroplan points, spread across three tiers:
The offer’s deadline is July 28, 2026, according to our internal records. Always confirm the date and terms on the official American Express page before applying, since welcome offers change regularly.
The card’s strength lies in the 3 points per dollar with Air Canada and the 2 points per dollar on dining. The base rate of 1.25 points per dollar is decent for an Aeroplan card, without being exceptional. A traveller who concentrates flight and restaurant spending on this card earns quickly, but everyday spending would earn more on a card with a better base rate.
You get free access to every Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Cafe in Canada and the United States, for you and one guest. Access requires an Air Canada or Star Alliance ticket for a same-day departure.
The card grants 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 receive an advance equal to 10% of the SQC earned the previous year.
Here’s how we calculate the first-year value for a traveller who fully uses the benefits. Our method uses a value of 2.0 cents per Aeroplan point, consistent with our current valuation, and assigns value to a benefit only if the cardholder actually uses it.
The Platinum Card® from American Express plays in a different league: 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 lies with Air Canada and Aeroplan Status matters to you, the Aeroplan Reserve Card keeps the edge. Our dedicated comparison of the Platinum Card vs. the Aeroplan Reserve Card breaks down that choice.
The American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card rewards loyalty to Air Canada. For the traveller who flies regularly, uses the lounges, and is chasing Aeroplan Status, the $599 fee pays for itself in the first year thanks to the welcome bonus and the airport perks. For a more occasional traveller, or for someone who wants the flexibility to transfer points to several programs, a card like the Platinum Card® or a versatile travel card will be a better fit.
Before you decide, compare this card against the rest of the market with our ranking of the best credit cards in Canada, updated regularly.
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