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

Updated Jan 29, 2025
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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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Carte Platine vs Carte Prestige Aéroplan American Express
To the point Here's our detailed comparison of the Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, two cards for frequent travellers.

American Express Canada offers two cards for frequent travellers:

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, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points.

Here’s how:

  • 70,000 points when you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card within the first 3 months of membership
  • 30,000 points if you make a purchase in the 14 to 17 months following your membership

With this welcome offer for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can earn up to 85,000 points Aeroplan.

Here’s how:

  • 60,000 points Aeroplan after charging $7,500 to your Card in the first 3 months
  • 25,000 additional Aeroplan points for spending $2,500 in the 13th month

Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $1,700.

Advantage: Platinum Card

Minimum Income

The American Express Platinum Card® requires no minimum income.

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card requires no minimum income.

Draw

Like the vast majority of American Express cards, these two cards require no minimum income, unlike other high-end cards such as the Visa Infinite Privilege, which require a family income of $200,000.

If you’re looking for travel benefits, but don’t have a very high income, either of these cards may be right for you.

Annual Fees

The American Express Platinum Card® has an annual fee of $799.

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card has an annual fee of $599.

Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

On paper, the annual fee for the American Express Platinum Card® is $200 more than the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.

However, as you will see below, the American Express Platinum Card® comes with an Annual Travel Credit of $200 as well as a $200 Annual Dining Credit for certain restaurants, virtually reducing the net cost of the membership to $399.

Earning Points

The American Express Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card each offer 3 levels of point accumulation.

Maximum Earning Level

With the American Express Platinum Card® you can earn 3 points per dollar spent on:

  • accommodation and car rental bookings made with Amex travel services

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can earn 3 points per dollar spent on:

Advantage: Platinum Card

Here, we could have declared a draw. However, the fact that the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card restricts this category to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations means that you’ll probably earn more points with the American Express Platinum Card® during the year for other trips booked via the American Express platform.

Unless, of course, you spend a lot of money with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations (but if you choose the American Express Platinum Card® you’ll still earn 2 points per dollar, the same level offered by Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards)!

Intermediate Earning Level

With the American Express Platinum Card® you can earn 2 points per dollar spent on:

  • restaurants, bars, food delivery services
  • Travel (flights, hotel nights, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.)

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on:

  • restaurants, bars, food delivery services
Advantage: Platinum Card

Travel expenses (plane tickets, hotels, Airbnb, cruises, car rentals, etc.) are generally higher than restaurant expenses. As a result, you’ll earn more points with the American Express Platinum Card® than with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.

Here too, you should analyze your annual expenses to know which card to choose according to your personal situation.

Basic Earning Level

With the American Express Platinum Card® you can earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you can earn 1.25 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

0.25 points that make a difference for those who make a lot of purchases outside of the bonus categories. The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card will therefore be more advantageous here.

We would like American Express to offer 1.25 points for the American Express Platinum Card® like it does for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express).

Aeroplan 25K Elite Status

If you’d like to earn Aeroplan 25K status through your spending (to benefit from eUpgrades credits, for example), your best bet is to get the American Express® Aeroplan®* 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 American Express Platinum Card®.

Redeeming Points

Both cards are made for travellers.

However, their loyalty programs are completely different:

This means that the ways you can redeem your points are different.

For Travel

With the American Express Platinum Card®À la carte Travel card, you can apply Membership Rewards points to travel purchases charged to the card (plane tickets, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.).

The usage rate is 1,000 points = $10.

You can also use the American Express fixed rate chart for specific flights.

The usage rate is 1,000 points = $20.

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you 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 to book hotels, car rentals or vacation packages. Generally, you will be able to earn a value of 1,000 points = $10.

Advantage: Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card® has one undeniable advantage: flexibility. With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you have to use your points via the Aeroplan program.

Whereas with the American Express Platinum Card® you can book your trip wherever you like.

For Everyday Shopping

With the American Express Platinum Card®, you can apply 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 options are available for everyday purchases with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (except for buying gift cards with Aeroplan points).

Advantage: Platinum Card

With the American Express Platinum Card®card, whether you want to use your points for travel or for everyday purchases, you’ll get the same value: 1,000 points = $10.

Whereas with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardyou don’t have this option.

Transfers to other programs

With the American Express Platinum Card®you can transfer your points to other rewards programs:

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you cannot transfer your points to other programs.

Once you have Aeroplan points in your Aeroplan account, you have no way out: you must 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: Platinum Card

Not only can you transfer American Express® Platinum Card points to Aeroplan, but 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®* Reserve Card doesn’t have.

The Benefits

Access to airport lounges

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you have free access to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf lounges in North America.

You have a free subscription to Priority Pass. However, you will have to pay for each access.

Advantage: Platinum Card

If you’re a regular international traveller, there’s no contest: the American Express Platinum Card® will open the doors to many lounges around the world for you and a guest (and even up to two children, depending on the lounge), and in the Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, plus the National Bank lounge or the WestJet Elevation Lounge.

On the other hand, if you’re travelling exclusively within Canada or even the U.S. on Air Canada, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card may be the card to choose: you’ll enjoy free access to all Maple Leaf lounges in North America (as well as the Air Canada Café lounge in Toronto).

Other Benefits

With the American Express Platinum Card®, you enjoy the following benefits:

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • $200 Annual Dining Credit for certain restaurants
  • $100 NEXUS membership credit
  • Pearson Priority Security Control
  • Access to over 1,300 airport lounges (including American Express Centurion)
  • Free access to Priority Pass lounges for cardholder and one guest
  • Hilton Honors Gold status
  • Marriott Bonvoy Elite Gold Status
  • Fine Hotels Resorts Program

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* 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
  • 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.
Advantage: Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card® 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®* 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 American Express Platinum Card®.

Promotional Offers

With the American Express Platinum Card® holders were able to take advantage of certain promotional offers:

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card holders were able to take advantage of certain promotional offers:

Advantage: Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card® is the Premium Card from American Express: it’s usually with this Card that the offers will be the most generous.

However, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card hasn’t fallen short since its inception (November 2020), with many interesting offers. To date, these have proven to be somewhat less lucrative, or “closed” with Air Canada.

Insurance

Insurance New Platinum Card amex aeroplan reserve
Trip Cancellation Insurance up to $5,000 up to $3,000
Trip interruption insurance up to $6,000 up to $6,000
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
120 days
Up to $1,000
90 days
Standby medical concierge service Included
Advantage: Platinum Card

The insurance coverage offered by the two cards is almost identical.

However, the American Express Platinum Card® has better coverage for Trip Cancellation and Purchase Protection.

Bottom Line

So? Which Card is the winner?

It’s hard to declare an official winner. In fact, it will be up to each person to make up their own mind according to their needs.

The American Express Platinum Card® stands out thanks to:

  • A highly profitable welcome offer
  • Flexible points
  • Better earning rates for all types of travel
  • A wide range of airline and hotel partners
  • A wide choice of airport lounges

The American Express® Aeroplan®* 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
  • a rate of 1.25 points per dollar for all purchases
  • access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America
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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