Head-to-Head: AMEX Business Platinum Card vs. AMEX Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

Updated Jan 29, 2025
Fact checked by
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.
All posts by Alexandrine Bertrand
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Business Platinum Card vs American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
To the point Here's our comparison between the American Express Business Platinum Card and the Aeroplan Business Reserve Card, two cards for small businesses.

American Express Canada offers two cards for entrepreneurs and frequent travelers:

Welcome Bonus

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:

  • 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you charge $15,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • 40,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership
  • That’s up to $1,200 in Statement credits that you can reinvest in your business.

With this welcome offer from the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you can earn up to 90,000 points Aeroplan.

Here’s how:

  • 65,000 points Aeroplan after charging $10,500 to your Card in the first 3 months
  • 25,000 additional Aeroplan points for spending $3,500 in the 13th month

Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $1,800.

Advantage: Business Platinum Card

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.

Minimum Income

Draw

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.

Annual Fees

Advantage : Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

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.

Earning Points

Maximum Earning Level

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:

  • 3 points per dollar for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on eligible lodging, car rental and Rocky Mountaineer purchases
  • 1.25 points per $1 on all other purchases
Advantage : Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

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.

Aeroplan 25K Elite Status

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.

Redeeming Points

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.

For Travel

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 :

  • Points transfer with airline partners (Aeroplan, Air France Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, etc.)
    Points transfer with hotel partners (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)

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.

Advantage: Business Platinum Card

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.

For Everyday Shopping

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.

Advantage: Business Platinum Card

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.

Transfers to other programs

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.

Advantage: Business Platinum Card

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.

Advantage: Business Platinum Card

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).

Other Benefits

With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you benefit from the following advantages:

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • Annual Wireless Credit of up to $120
  • $100 NEXUS credit
  • Special benefits at Toronto Pearson International Airport
  • Access to over 1,300 airport lounges (including American Express Centurion)
  • Free access to Priority Pass lounges for cardholder and one guest
  • Marriott Bonvoy Elite Gold Status
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star Status
  • Fine Hotels Resorts Program
  • The Hotel Collection from American Express
  • Luxury airport transfer service
  • Stainless steel card

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card you benefit from the following advantages:

  • Annual Companion Pass (after $25,000 in purchases)
  • Pearson Priority Security Control
  • Access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America
  • Paid access to Priority Pass lounges
  • Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Class of Service
  • Air Canada benefits: priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling
  • Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions
  • Earn Qualifying Miles at Aeroplan with your purchases.
  • Unallocated Aeroplan Elite Qualifying Miles and unused eUpgrades credits are carried over to the following year.
  • Metal credit card
Advantage: Business Platinum Card

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.

Promotional Offers

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:

  • lululemon, Turo, Canac, Instacart
  • Norton, Dropbox, Indeed
  • FedEx and netParcel
  • HP
  • Expedia and Luxury Escapes
  • Burberry
  • Shop Small

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:

  • lululemon, Turo, Canac, Instacart
  • Norton, Dropbox, Indeed
  • FedEx and netParcel
  • HP
  • Expedia and Luxury Escapes
  • Burberry
  • Shop Small
Advantage: Tie

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.

Insurance

Insurance Business Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express Amex Business Reserve
Trip Cancellation Insurance up to $1,500 Up to $1,500
Trip interruption insurance up to $1,500 up to $1,500
Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance Up to $5,000,000
15 days
Up to $5,000,000
15 days
Flight delay insurance Up to $1,000
after 4 hours
Up to $1,000
after 4 hours
Misdirected Baggage Insurance Up to $1,000
after 6 hours
Up to $1,000
after 6 hours
Baggage loss or theft insurance up to $1,000 up to $1,000
Hotel burglary insurance up to $1,000 up to $1,000
Rental car theft and damage insurance up to $85,000 up to $85,000
Travel accident insurance 500 000 $ 500 000 $
Purchase Protection 1 additional year 1 additional year
Purchase Guarantee Up to $1,000
90 days
Up to $1,000
90 days
Advantage: Draw

The insurance offered by both card is exactly the same.

Bottom Line

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:

  • Its highly profitable welcome offer
  • Flexible points
  • A wide range of airline and hotel partners
  • A wide choice of airport lounges

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card stands out for:

  • many benefits with Air Canada
  • an unparalleled 3 points per dollar accumulation rate for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
  • access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America
  • its annual companion pass after $25,000 in purchases
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Caroline Tremblay
Caroline Tremblay
Caroline, a loyalty program specialist, helps families maximize their points to travel more frequently and affordably. With expertise in Disney, AIR MILES, and Costco, she travels the world with her partner and two children through rewards. Passionate about the latest in loyalty programs, Caroline shares tips to help you earn more points and turn your travel dreams into reality.
All posts by Caroline Tremblay
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