American Express Canada offers two cards for entrepreneurs and frequent travelers:
Let’s analyze the major differences between these credit and chargecard.
The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.
Here is how the current offer is structured:
With this welcome offer from the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can earn up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points.
Here’s how:
With this welcome offer from the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you can earn up to 90,000 points Aeroplan.
Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $1,800.
If you can spend $15,000 in 3 months, you’ll get a lot more points and value from the Business Platinum Card® from American Express welcome bonus.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express requires no minimum income.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card requires no minimum income.
Like the vast majority of American Express cards, these two cards require no minimum income.
If you want travel benefits but don’t have a lot of sales, either of these card may be right for you.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $799.
The American ExpressMD Aeroplan Business Reserve Card has an annual fee of $599.
The annual fee for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is designed for frequent travellers on Air Canada flights.
If these Air Canada benefits don’t grab your attention, then you’d be better off subscribing to the Business Platinum Card® from American Express. There’s an extra $200 fee, but you’ll have all the freedom to travel on different airlines and have access airport lounges.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card offer different points accumulation rates.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can earn 1.25 points per dollar on all your purchases.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Cardyou get different levels:
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is dedicating its highest accumulation rate to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. If you do a lot of business with these companies, this will be to your advantage.
Travel spending at 2 points per dollar (hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.) also gives a big advantage to the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card. So you’ll get more points with it than with the 1.25 points of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
What’s more, it’s a draw for basic accumulation, as you’ll earn just as many points with the Business Platinum Card® from American Express throughout the year, as their accumulation rate is similar.
However, remember that with the Business Platinum Card® from American Expressyou can use your points in many different ways, whereas points obtained with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card must be used via Aeroplan.
If you wish to obtain a Aeroplan 25K status via your expenses (to benefit from credits eUpgrades for example), the best thing to do would be to purchase the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card. Points earned through your Card purchases will count towards your Elite status. This is not the case for points transfers made to Aeroplan from the Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Both cards are designed for travelers.
However, their loyalty programs are completely different:
This means that the ways you can redeem your points are different.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express À la carte Travel card, you can apply Membership Rewards points to all travel purchases charged to the card. The usage rate is 1,000 points = $10.
But you can also use your Membership Rewards points in other ways, such as :
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Cardyou can use your points to purchase flights with Air Canada, Star Alliance and partner airlines.
In this case, please refer to the Aeroplan Flight Rewards Chart.
1,000 points could be worth as little as $5 for economy travel, or as much as $40 for business or first class (or specific flights).
You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel reservations, car rentals or vacation packages with Air Canada Vacations. Generally, you will be able to earn a value of 1,000 points = $10.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has one undeniable advantage: flexibility. With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you can only use your points via the Aeroplan program.
Whereas with the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can book your trip wherever you want and do whatever you want with your points.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can apply your Membership Rewards points to everyday purchases charged to the card.
The usage rate is 1,000 points = $10.
A minimum of 1,000 points (minimum $10) must be applied.
No option is available for everyday purchases with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card. However, gift cards can be purchased with Aeroplan points.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express,whether you want to use your points for travel or everyday purchases, you’ll get the same value: 1,000 points = $10.
Whereas with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you don’t have this option.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you can transfer your points to other rewards programs:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you cannot transfer your points to other programs.
Once you have Aeroplan points in your Aeroplan account, you can only use them in the Aeroplan program. The only other option is to have Elite Aeroplan status, in order to transfer Aeroplan points to the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Not only can you transfer points from the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can also transfer them to other programs (or use them for travel or cash back, as described above).
This is a flexibility that the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card does not have.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you and a guest have free access to many airport lounges around the world:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you have free access to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf lounges in North America.
You have a complimentary Priority Pass membership. However, you will have to pay for each access.
If you’re a regular international traveller, it’s easy: the Business Platinum Card® from American Express will open the doors of many lounges around the world for you and one guest (or even up to two children , depending on the lounge), as well as in Canada in the Plaza Premium lounges, the Air France KLM lounge, the National Bank lounge or the WestJet Elevation Lounge.
However, if you travel exclusively within Canada or the United States on Air Canada, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is the Card of choice. It gives you free access to all Maple Leaf lounges in North America (plus the Air Canada Café lounge in Toronto).
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you benefit from the following advantages:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you benefit from the following advantages:
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is aimed at all frequent flyers, whether they travel with Air Canada or other airlines. But also for those staying at Marriott or Hilton hotels, luxury hotels belonging to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is aimed primarily at frequent Air Canada travellers. You’ll benefit from numerous advantages with the company. But that’s where it ends.
As with every aspect of these cards, the answer will be up to you depending on your personal situation. But if you’re not a frequent Air Canada traveller, we recommend that you purchase the Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, cardmembers can take advantage of certain promotional offers. For example, you can get credit for purchases at:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card it’s the same thing, because the promotional offers come from American Express. For example, you can get credit for purchases at:
The 2 cards often receive the same promotional offers from American Express, as they share the same issuer. However, certain offers will be targeted according to the cardholder’s profile. They may be aimed at the Platinum Card only, the Reserve Card only or both.
The insurance offered by both card is exactly the same.
So? Which Card is the winner?
If you travel a lot with Air Canada, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is perfect for you.
If you prefer flexibility, you’d be better off taking out the Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is distinguished by:
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card stands out for:
Savings are here (if you don’t see the sign-up form, please click here):
