American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
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Travel
Welcome bonus – Earn up to $1,200 in first-year bonuses.
Card highlights
Welcome bonus
Anniversary bonus
Annual fee
Ratehub’s review
Natasha Macmillan
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is a top-tier Aeroplan credit card, offering a large welcome bonus and a blend of premium perks from both Air Canada and American Express. If you like VIP treatment while traveling, this card definitely delivers.
Pros
- Premium travel benefits: Enjoy exclusive perks with Air Canada, such as priority boarding, check-in, and a free first checked bag on all Air Canada flights. Plus, complimentary visits to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges within North America
- Comprehensive insurance coverage:The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card offers a wide array of insurance coverage, including travel insurance for Aeroplan flight rewards and 11 types of coverage such as flight delay, baggage delay, and hotel burglary
Cons
- High annual fee: While the card offers impressive perks, the annual fee is steep at $599. Consider maximizing the benefits to offset this cost
- Limited acceptance: American Express isn’t as widely accepted in Canada compared to Visa and Mastercard
- Subpar rewards rates: Despite the high annual fee, the card doesn’t have the best earn rates, especially compared to other Aeroplan cards. It may not be the most rewarding unless you frequently fly with Air Canada or dine out often
Rewards & bonuses
See what you could earn based on how you spend.
Welcome bonus
Earn up to $1,200.
Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months
Anniversary bonus
Earn up to 25,000 points (a $500 value).
Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13
Earn rates
3 points/$1
On eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®* *
2 points/$1
On eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada *
1.25 points/$1
On everything else*
Caps apply where shown. Rewards are earned on eligible purchases only, see the card’s terms for full details. 50 points = $1.
Your earning potential
First year reward
Based on spending $2,200/mo after $599 annual fee
Second year reward
Based on spending $2,200/mo after $599 annual fee
These numbers are based on estimations and the calculation breakdown below.
Adjust your spending
First year reward†
- If you spend $2,200/month, you’ll earn
- Welcome bonusnot met
- Annual fee
- First year reward
Second year reward†
- If you spend $2,200/month, you’ll earn
- Anniversary bonus
- Annual fee
- Second year reward
† Estimate calculated by Ratehub.ca and is based on current offers and a monthly spend of $2,200. It is for illustrative purposes only.
Perks & insurance
Perks and insurance coverage included with the card.
| Perks | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Enjoy access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf LoungesTM* and Air Canada CaféTM in North America for you and a guest, with a same day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
| No foreign exchange fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
| Extended warranty | up to one additional year | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
| Price protection | Not included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
| Insurance | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel accident insurance | up to $500,000 | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
| Travel emergency medical | up to $5,000,000 under 65 years old | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
| Car rental insurance | up to 48 days; MSRP up to $85,000 | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
| Trip cancellation | up to $1,500 per insured person per trip, to a maximum of $3,000 for all insured persons combined | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
| Trip interruption | up to $1,500 per insured person per trip, to a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons combined | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
| Flight delay insurance | flights delayed 4 hours or more; up to $1,000 (combined maximum with Baggage Delay Insurance) | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
| Baggage loss insurance | up to $1,000 per trip for all insured person(s) combined | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
| Baggage delay insurance | delayed for 6 hours or more; up to $1000 (combined maximum with Flight Delay Insurance) | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
| Hotel/motel burglary | up to $1,000 | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
| Mobile insurance | Not included | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
| Purchase assurance | up to 90 days; up to $1,000 per occurrence | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Details & eligibility
Fees
- Annual fee
- $599
Rates
- Purchase interest
- 21.99%
- Balance transfer rate
- N/A
- Cash advance rate
- 21.99%
Type
- Provider
- American Express
- Card type
- Travel
- Payment network
- American Express
Eligibility
- Minimum personal income
- N/A
- Minimum household income
- N/A
- Minimum credit score
- 725+