Head-to-Head: AMEX Business Platinum Card vs. AMEX Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
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American Express Canada offers two cards for entrepreneurs and frequent travelers:
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,360Total$1,360$680 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,360
- Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months
- Up to 120,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,300Total$1,300$500 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,300
- Welcome offerAfter $10,500 in 3 months
- Up to 90,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Let’s analyze the major differences between these credit and chargecard.
Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.
Here’s 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 points after charging $15,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
- 40,000 additional points when you make a purchase between the 14th and 17th month following your Cardmembership
- That’s up to $1,200 in Statement credits that you can reinvest in your business.
Based on our Membership Rewards points valuation (1.7 cents per point), and if you want to maximize your points even further, this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $2,040.
With this welcome offer for the American Express® AeroplanMD* Business Reserve Card, you can earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how to collect all those points:
- Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after charging $10,500 in purchases to your Card within the first 3 months of cardmembership.
- Plus, earn 25,000 Aeroplan points when you charge $3,500 in purchases to your Card during 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.
Minimum Income
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express requires no minimum income.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card requires no 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 Fee
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.
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
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card offer different points accumulation rates.
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.
Redeeming Points
Both cards are designed for travelers.
However, their loyalty programs are completely different:
- American Express Membership Rewards points for Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Aeroplan for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
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, ALL Accor)
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:
- Aeroplan
- Air France KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Club
- Delta Skymiles
- Asia Miles
- Etihad Guest
- Alitalia Millemiglia
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hilton Honors
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.
The Benefits
Access to airport lounges
With the Business Platinum Card® from American Express you and a guest have free access to many airport lounges around the world:
- Priority Pass Lounges
- National Bank Lounge Montreal-Trudeau
- V.I.P lounge by Club Med at Jean-Lesage International Airport in Montreal Quebec
- Executive Lounges by Swissport
- Plaza Premium Lounge
- Delta Sky Club
- Airspace Lounges
- Escape Lounges
- Centurion Lounges
- American Express International lounges
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.
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 |  |  |
| 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 your employees often fly for work, also enrol the company in the free Air Canada Embarq program: your travellers earn 50% more Aeroplan points on eligible business flights until December 30, 2026.
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
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,300Total$1,300$500 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,300
- Welcome offerAfter $10,500 in 3 months
- Up to 90,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,360Total$1,360$680 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,360
- Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months
- Up to 120,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Frequently Asked Questions about the AMEX Business Platinum vs AMEX Aeroplan Business Reserve comparison
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.
Which business card has the higher welcome bonus, the AMEX Business Platinum or the AMEX Aeroplan Business Reserve?
The AMEX Business Platinum currently offers up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points after meeting the spending requirement, valued at roughly $2,040 in flexible transfer redemptions. The AMEX Aeroplan Business Reserve offers up to 90,000 Aeroplan points, worth approximately $1,800 in Air Canada flight value. The Business Platinum wins on raw point quantity and flexibility, but the Aeroplan Business Reserve includes a Worldwide Companion Pass after $25,000 in annual spend, which can offset the smaller welcome bonus on a single Business Class redemption. Both fees sit at $599 to $799 depending on the offer.
Are charge card balances reported to business credit bureaus?
Both the AMEX Business Platinum and the Aeroplan Business Reserve are charge cards, meaning the full balance is due each month and there is no preset spending limit. American Express does not report monthly balances to consumer credit bureaus the same way as a revolving credit card, which means high business spending will not artificially inflate your personal credit utilization ratio. This is one of the strongest advantages of an AMEX charge card for incorporated businesses with seasonal cash flow or large one-time purchases.
What earning rate makes the AMEX Aeroplan Business Reserve stand out?
The Aeroplan Business Reserve earns 3 Aeroplan points per dollar on Air Canada purchases, 2 points per dollar on lodging and car rentals booked directly, and 1.25 points per dollar on every other purchase. The Business Platinum earns a flat 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all purchases, with no category bonuses. For businesses spending $30,000 or more annually on Air Canada flights, the Aeroplan Business Reserve produces materially higher airline rewards. For diversified business spending, the Business Platinum’s flat rate plus Membership Rewards transfer flexibility usually wins.
Which business card has better travel insurance coverage?
Both cards include extensive travel coverage, but the Business Platinum is broader. It offers up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance, $2,500 in trip cancellation per insured person, lost or delayed baggage protection, and a $300 wireless credit annually. The Aeroplan Business Reserve adds Air Canada-specific perks like free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same itinerary, plus priority boarding. For frequent international business travelers, the Business Platinum’s lounge access through Centurion and Priority Pass is the deciding factor.
For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.