To the point
Here's our detailed comparison of the Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, two card for frequent travellers.
American Express Canada offers two cards for frequent travellers:
Let’s analyze the major differences between these credit and charge cards.
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 80,000 Membership Rewards points.
Here’s how:
- 60,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 in Card purchases within the first three months
- Plus, earn 20,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership
With this welcome offer for the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $6,000 in net purchases on your Card within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
- 5,000 Aeroplan points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in purchases on your Card for the first 6 months. That’s up to 30,000 Aeroplan Points
Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
With the offer’ structure of the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points in the first six months. And therefore the full welcome offer within the first year.
Minimum income
The 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 Visa Infinite Privilege Cards requiring $200,000 household income.
If you want travel benefits but don’t have a very high income, either of these cards may be right for you.
Annual fee
The Platinum Card® has an annual fee of $699.
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 Platinum Card® is $100 higher than the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
However, as you will see below, the Platinum Card® comes with a $200 annual travel credit, which virtually brings the fee down to $499 in net cost.
Earning points
The Platinum Card® and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card each offer 3 levels of points earning.
Maximum earning level
With the Platinum Card®, you can earn 3 points per dollar of purchases for:
- restaurants, bars, food delivery services
- Accommodation and car rental reservations made through Amex Travel Services
With the Carte Prestige AéroplanMD* American ExpressMDCard, you can earn 3 points per dollar of purchases for:
- purchases from Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
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 will likely earn more points with the Platinum Card® during the year. Especially for every restaurant outing or food delivery.
Unless, of course, you spend a lot of money with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations (but choosing the Platinum Card® will still get you 2 points per dollar, the same level offered by Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards)!
Intermediate earning level
With the Platinum Card®, you can earn 2 points per dollar of purchases for:
- Travel (flights, hotel nights, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.)
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn 2 points for every $1 in purchases at:
- restaurants, bars, food delivery services
Advantage: Platinum Card
Travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, cruises, car rentals, etc.) are generally higher than restaurant expenses. So you will earn more points with the Platinum Card® than with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card.
Again, you should analyze your annual expenses to determine which card to choose based on your personal situation.
Basic earning level
With the Platinum Card®, you can earn 1 point per dollar of purchases for all other purchases.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn 1.25 points per dollar in purchases for 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 Platinum Card® as it does for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express).
Redeeming points
Both cards are made for travellers.
However, their loyalty programs are completely different:
- American Express Membership Rewards for the Platinum Card®
- Aeroplan for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
This means that the ways you can redeem your points are different.
For travel
With the Platinum from American Express, you can apply its Membership Rewards points to card travel purchases (airline tickets, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.).
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $10.
You can also use the American Express fixed rate chart for specific flights.
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $20.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can use your points for flights on Air Canada, Star Alliance and partner airlines.
Here, you will need to refer to the Aeroplan Flight Rewards Chart.
1,000 points could be worth as little as $5 for economy travel as well as $40 for business or first class travel (or for specific flights).
You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel bookings, car rentals and vacation packages. Generally, you will be able to earn a value of 1,000 points = $10.
Advantage: Platinum Card
The Platinum from American Express has one clear advantage: flexibility. With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you must use your points through the Aeroplan program.
While with the Platinum Card®, you can book your trip anywhere you want.
For everyday shopping
With the Platinum Card®, you can apply its Membership Rewards points to everyday purchases charged to the card .
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $10.
You need to redeem a minimum of 1,000 points (i.e., a minimum of $10).
No options are available for everyday purchases with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card (other than purchasing gift cards with your Aeroplan points).
Advantage: Platinum Card
With the Platinum Card®, whether you want to use your points for travel or everyday purchases, you’ll get the same value: 1,000 points = $10.
While with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you do not have this option.
Transfers to other programs
With the Platinum Card®, you can transfer your points to other rewards programs:
- Aeroplan
- Air France KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Delta Skymiles
- Asia Miles
- Etihad Guest
- Alitalia Millemiglia
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hilton Honors
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you cannot transfer your points to other programs.
Once Aeroplan Points are in your Aeroplan account, there is no way out: you must use them within the Aeroplan program.
Advantage: Platinum Card
Not only can you transfer Platinum Card® Points to Aeroplan, but you also have the option of transferring them to other programs (or using them for travel or cash back as seen above).
This is a flexibility that the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card doesn’t have.
The Benefits
Access to airport lounges
With the Platinum Card®, you and a guest can gain free access to many airport lounges around the world:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can access Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges in North America at no charge.
You have a complimentary Priority Pass membership. However, you will have to pay for each access.
Advantage: Platinum Card
If you regularly travel internationally, there is no question: the American Express Platinum Card® will open the doors of many lounges around the world for you and a guest (even up to two children) according to the lounges), as well as in Canada in the Plaza Premium Loungesthe National Bank Lounge or the WestJet Elevation Lounge.
However, if you are travelling exclusively within Canada or even the United States on Air Canada, the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card may be the card of choice: you will have free access to all Maple Leaf lounges in North America (as well as the Air Canada Café in Toronto).
Other benefits
With the Platinum Card®, you receive the following benefits:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit
- $100 credit for NEXUS membership
- Pearson Priority Security Control
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounge(including American Express Centurion)
- Complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges for the cardmember and one guest
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Gold Status
- Fine Hotels & Resorts Program
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you receive the following benefits:
- Annual Companion Pass (after $25,000 in purchases)
- Pearson Priority Security Control
- Access to Maple Leaf lounge in North America
- Paid access to Priority Pass lounge
- Air Canada benefits: priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions
- Earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles with your purchases
- Carryover of unallocated Aeroplan Elite Status Qualifying Miles and unused eRating credits to the following year
Advantage: Platinum Card
The Platinum Card® is for all frequent flyers, whether they travel with Air Canada or many other airlines. But also to those who stay at Marriott or Hilton hotels, luxury hotels belonging to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program.
For its part, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is primarily aimed at Air Canada’s frequent flyers. You will then benefit from many advantages with the airline. 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 are not an Air Canada frequent flyer, we recommend getting the Platinum Card® instead.
Promotional offers
With the Platinum Card®, for example, Cardmembers were able to take advantage of specific promotional offers:
- $250 credit for groceries
- $200 credit for groceries
- $175 credit for restaurants
- $50 credit during each Shop Small events
- $200 credit at YYZ Duty Free
- $100 credit at Birks
- Numerous online offers each month through promotional offers
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, Cardmembers were able to take advantage of targeted promotional offers, for example:
- $250 credit with Air Canada
- $150 credit for groceries
- Numerous online offers each month through promotional offers
Advantage: Platinum Card
The Platinum Card® is the American Express Premium Card: it is usually on this Card that the offers will be the most generous.
However, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card has not fallen short since it was introduced (November 2020) with many great offers. To date, these have proven to be somewhat less lucrative, or “closed” with Air Canada.
Insurance
| Insurance | |
|
| 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 |
| Lost or stolen luggage insurance | Up to $1,000 | Up to $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Up to $1,000 | Up to $1,000 |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | Up to $85,000 | Up to $85,000 |
| Travel accident insurance | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | 1 additional year | 1 additional year |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | Up to $1,000 120 days |
Up to $1,000 90 days |
| Medical Concierge Service Standby | Included | – |
Advantage: Platinum Card
The insurance offered by the two cards is almost identical.
However, the Platinum Card® has better coverage forTrip Cancellation Insurance as well as for the Purchase Warranty.
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 Platinum Card® stands out thanks to:
- flexible points
- better earning rates for all types of travel
- the diversity of airline and hotel partners
- a wide choice of airport lounge
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card stands out on:
- many advantages with Air Canada
- an unbeatable 3 points per dollar accrual rate for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
- an earning 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!
