How to Activate and Use Your Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
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Scotiabank® Platinum American Express® Card
For a limited time, when you sign up for the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card, you can earn up to 100,000 Scene+ points, or up to $3,000 in value in the first 14 months (including about $1,000 in travel rewards from the bonus points).
With the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card, you earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases. You can redeem these points against any travel purchase (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), and you can also use them for other Scene+ rewards such as cash back.
Plus, with this card, you pay no foreign currency transaction fees, and you get 10 free airport lounge visits (Priority Pass).
You also get excellent travel and purchase insurance, a premium concierge service and exclusive American Express Invites offers.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $399 |
Discover Your Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
Approval
To take advantage of the card, you will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Annual income of at least $12,000;
- Be of legal age in your province of residence and a Canadian resident;
- Have not declared bankruptcy in the last 7 years.
If your request is approved, you will receive your Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card by standard mail, within 7 to 10 business days.
You can also ask Customer Service to send it to your nearest Scotiabank branch. As I was leaving on a trip in the next few days, I opted for this option and received it within 5 working days.
Delivery and Card Activation
I picked up my card at the branch, after receiving an email from Scotiabank to confirm that it had arrived.
The card comes in an elegant black envelope.
The card must then be activated by calling 1-800-806-8600 or on the dedicated Scotiabank website.
This is the first step to unlocking the full potential of your new card!
Browse Your Insurance Coverage Guide
In your welcome envelope, take the time to read the large black booklet. It contains a wealth of important insurance information:
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | Up to $2,500 per person, maximum of $10,000 per trip |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | Up to $5,000 per person, maximum of $25,000 per trip |
| Out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical insurance | Up to $2,000,000 Up to 31 days up to age 64Up to 10 days for age 65 and over |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $1,000 after 4 hours |
| Baggage Insurance – Delayed or lost baggage | Up to $1,000 after 4 hours |
| Hotel burglary insurance | Up to $1,000 |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | For vehicles up to $65,000 in value, for 48 consecutive days |
| Travel Accident Insurance | $500,000 per person, $1M maximum |
| Purchase Protection Plan | 2 additional years, up to $60,000 lifetime |
| Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan | Up to $60,000 lifetime 120 days |
| Mobile Device Insurance | Up to $1,000 |
The coverage guide for these insurances is also available in electronic format on the Scotiabank page.
Enrolling in Benefits
Priority Pass
Then you have to sign up for Priority Pass, which gives you 10 free admissions per year of membership at a lounge airport affiliated to the Priority Pass network.
One entry is equal to one person entering lounge. From the 11th entry onwards, each additional visit costs USD 35 per person.
The membership year begins on the day you register for Priority Pass. For example, if you register on April 1, 2025, you will be able to use your 10 free tickets until March 31, 2026. If you do not use them, they will be lost.
On April 1, 2026, the counter will reset to 10 free admissions.
The primary cardholder registers on the special Priority Pass page, using the code included in their welcome kit. If there is a secondary cardholder (the cost is $99 in annual fees), he or she will receive four free admissions per membership year.
Create your profile to activate your 10 free admissions. Your physical Priority Pass card will arrive in the mail approximately two weeks later.
However, I advise you to download the Priority Pass application, to get your virtual card immediately.
Five Star Status at Hertz
Normally, each year between January 1 and December 31, Five Star status is acquired through at least one of the following:
- 10 car rentals;
- or $2,000 in car rental expenses (excluding taxes and other charges).
Whereas with the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card you get it for free! It’s the second of three levels in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program.
Hertz Five Star status gives you the gift of:
- 25% more reward points for future days of free car rental;
- Up to 15% off the rental price;
- A free car upgrade, depending on participating branches;
- Upgrades to a higher car category, subject to availability;
- The option of simply handing over the keys and driving off, with the Hertz e-return express service, at selected branches;
- More choice of vehicles thanks to the Hertz Five Star section, at branches with the Hertz Ultimate Choice option;
- Your spouse can be added free of charge as an additional driver.
Visit the Hertz website dedicated to Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card to create your account.
American Express Benefits
Concierge for Securing the Best Seats
Whether you’re planning a dream trip, a memorable gourmet evening or an enriching cultural getaway, the complimentary concierge service will be happy to orchestrate everything for you.
- Priority access to the best restaurants, securing last-minute or nearly impossible reservations;
- Access to the best tickets for concerts, shows and sports;
- Global Hotel Collection: Book your stay through the concierge to enjoy a room upgrade, complimentary Wi-Fi and breakfast, flexible check-in and check-out times and up to $100 to redeem at the restaurant or spa during your stay.
The service is provided by Ten Concierge and they are available 24 hours a day at 1-866-800-5160.
Amex Front Of The Line Presale Tickets
As a member of this exclusive circle of American Express cardholders, you have the privilege of choosing the best seats for pre-sale concerts and shows, before anyone else. Register on the American Express page.
Experiences with American Express
In Toronto, stop by the Budweiser Stage’s Amex Lounge for drinks and food before your show.
At Osheaga, îleSoniq or LASSO Montreal, American Express cardholders enter the site faster thanks to the special entrance.
Amex Offers for Statement Credits
Keep an eye on this Amex offers page for credits on purchases. Simply enter our card on the Amex Offers page for each offer you are interested in. Offers vary and change frequently.
Here are some examples:
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Spend at least $1,000 and get a $250 credit
- Avis Car Rental: Spend at least $300 and get a $50 credit
- SAXX Underwear: Spend at least $175 and get a $35 credit
- VistaPrint: Spend at least $150 and get a $30 credit
Zero Percent Foreign Transaction Fees While Traveling
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card has a 0% conversion fee on foreign currencies. The vast majority of credit cards have a conversion fee of 2.5%.
So, the cost of my spending outside the country was only converted at the current exchange rate, with no additional fees.
Earning Your Welcome Offer Points
When I signed up for the card, the welcome offer was:
- 60,000 Scene+ points paid after $3,000 in card purchases;
- 20,000 Scene+ points paid after $10,000 in card purchases.
The first instalment of Scene+ points was paid out promptly, the same day that the first $3,000 expenditure requirement was met.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $399 |
Using Your Scene+ Points to Pay for Travel
I took the opportunity to use them to reimburse my hotel for a weekend getaway at The Westin Ottawa!
Scene+ points can be redeemed at the rate of 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount on my travel expenses. As a result, my hotel bill of $328.93 was totally reimbursed thanks to 32,893 Scene+ points.
I even have some Scene+ points left over for a future trip. Here’s how to use your Scene+ points on your trip.
Also, I could have used my Scene+ points for a discount at the grocery store.
My 60,000 Scene+ points would have given me $600 worth of free groceries at IGA, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry, Safeway, Sobey, Foodland, Freshco, and so on.
Advantages – Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is a good choice for frequent travellers who want a little something extra.
With its attractive travel benefits, you’ll enjoy personalized service and great experiences. The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is certainly an option to consider for optimizing your lifestyle.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $399 |
Does the Scotiabank Amex Platinum Card give me access to airport lounges?
Yes! Thanks to Priority Pass, the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card provides 10 free lounge visits at airports around the world. After that, the cost is $35 US for each additional entry.
Does the Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card offer presale tickets with Amex Front Of The Line?
Yes! You have the privilege of choosing the best seats for pre-sale concerts and shows, before anyone else. Register here on the American Express page.
Is Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card worth it?
It’s designed for travellers who make several trips during the year, to enjoy free airport access and no foreign currency conversion fees for purchases outside Canada.
How to activate the Priority Pass benefits of the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card?
Once you receive your Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card, follow these steps to activate Priority Pass:
- Locate the unique code in your welcome kit
- Create an account on the dedicated Priority Pass-Scotiabank page
- Activate the account with your unique code
- Download the Priority Pass mobile app for immediate digital access
- The physical card will arrive in about 2 weeks by mail
You get 10 free lounge visits per year (Priority Pass + Plaza Premium in Canada). Beyond that, each additional visit costs $35 US per person.
What is the current welcome bonus on the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card?
The current offer on the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card offers up to 100,000 Scene+ points as a bonus, worth approximately $1,000. This bonus is part of an offer of up to $3,000 in savings and rewards over the first 14 months.
Combined with the earn rate of 2 Scene+ points per dollar everywhere, this bonus is enough to cover a transatlantic flight by strategically using the Scene+ portal.
What insurance and conversion fees are included with this card?
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is one of the few Amex cards in Canada with 0% foreign currency conversion fees, saving 2.5% on all your purchases abroad. On the insurance side:
- Emergency medical: up to $2,000,000
- Trip cancellation: up to $2,500 per person
- Baggage delay: up to $1,000 after 4 hours
- Car rental: up to $65,000 MSRP
- Purchase protection: 2-year extended warranty, up to $60,000 lifetime
- Mobile device insurance: up to $1,000
Who is the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card for?
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is particularly suited to the following profiles:
- Frequent international travellers who benefit from the 0% conversion fees and the 10 airport lounge visits
- Users of Amex Front Of The Line presale tickets for concerts and events
- People who value the 24/7 concierge service (Ten Concierge)
- Frequent car renters who take advantage of automatic Hertz Five Star status
It is less suited to those who prioritize pure accumulation (the 2x per dollar remains moderate vs. 5x on the Cobalt Card at grocery stores).
