American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

Last updated: March 6, 2024
  • 95,000 Aeroplan points
  • $1,147 First-year value
Best offer is available via a referral link
Signup bonus:
Earn 70,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $10,500 in the first three months
Earn 25,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $3,500 in month 13
Total of up to 95,000 Aeroplan points
Annual fee:
$599
Annual interest rates:
19.99% purchases
21.99% cash advances
21.99% balance transfers
Earning rate:
3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals
1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on everything else
Referral bonus:
20,000 Aeroplan points, up to a maximum of 150,000 Aeroplan points per year
Perks & benefits:
Priority check-in, boarding, and free first checked bag on Air Canada flights
Maple Leaf Lounge access within North America
Priority airport services at YYZ
Preferred pricing on Air Canada flights
Insurance:
Strong
Card type:
Credit card

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card generally offers one of the highest signup bonus of all Aeroplan co-branded credit cards, with an annual fee and spending requirements to match.

However, for those who can reach the monthly spend requirement, it’s a great choice for its large signup bonus, and a blend of premium perks from both Air Canada and American Express.

Bonuses & Fees

As American Express’s high-end Aeroplan co-branded credit card for small business owners, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card currently offers 95,000 Aeroplan points as part of its welcome offer via a referral link.

The bonus is distributed as follows:

  • Earn 70,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $10,500 in the first three months
  • Earn 25,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $3,500 in month 13

You can refer friends and family from the Aeroplan Business Reserve Card to Aeroplan Business Reserve Cards or Aeroplan Reserve Cards of their own, earning a referral bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points each time, up to a maximum of 150,000 Aeroplan points in a calendar year.

The card has an annual fee of $599, and you can add supplementary cardholders for $199 apiece; alternatively, you can also add a lower-tier Aeroplan Business Reserve No Fee card for free.

Earning Rewards

In terms of the returns on everyday spending, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card has a very unique structure, offering cardholders:

  • 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
  • 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals
  • 1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on everything else

Whether or not you find value in the earning rates will depend on your spending patterns and how well they fit with the bonus categories.

The 3x earn rate on Air Canada makes this the ideal card when purchasing cash fares on Air Canada or any of its codeshare partners, and the 2x earn rate on dining and food delivery is also the highest among all the Aeroplan-branded cards. It’s worthwhile to point out that this structure is the same on the American Express Aeroplan Reserve personal card as well.

Meanwhile, the 1.25x Aeroplan points per dollar spent on all other purchases is fairly competitive against the 1.25x MR points that you’d get on the Business Platinum Card, too.

Redeeming Rewards

Aeroplan remains the program of choice for the vast majority of Canadians aiming to redeem their points for high-value international business and First Class redemptions.

Redeeming Aeroplan points follows the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, and can cost as little as 55,000 points one-way from Vancouver to Tokyo in business class.

From the East Coast, 60,000 Aeroplan points (or often fewer, thanks to Air Canada’s preferred pricing if you hold Elite Status or a credit card) would unlock a transatlantic flight to most parts of Western Europe.

Closer to home: short-haul flights within North America that are under 500 miles only cost 6,000 Aeroplan points one-way.

Perks & Benefits

As Air Canada’s premium small business travel credit card, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card leans in heavily on the Air Canada travel benefits:

  • Priority boarding, priority check-in, and a free first checked bag on all Air Canada flights, for the primary and supplementary cardholders
  • Complimentary visits to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges within North America, for the primary and supplementary cardholders
  • Preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points for Air Canada flights
  • The ability to earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) and 1 Status Qualifying Segment (SQS) for every $5,000 you spend on the card
  • The ability to rollover up to 200,000 SQMs and 50 eUpgrades per year
  • The ability to earn an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass after spending $25,000 on the card per year
  • Your Aeroplan points won’t expire for as long as you’re a cardholder

In addition to the Air Canada benefits, the card also offers some travel benefits via American Express, such as priority benefits (valet parking, fast track security, etc.) at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Insurance Coverage

As a high-end product, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card excels in the insurance department. Some examples of its strong coverage include:

  • Emergency medical insurance: Up to $5 million of coverage for the first 15 days of your out-of-province trip, for travellers aged under 65.
  • Delayed and lost baggage insurance: For delayed baggage, up to $1,000 of coverage per insured person if delayed more than 4 hours. For lost or stolen baggage, up to $1,000 of coverage total.
  • Flight delay insurance: Up to $1,000 in coverage if your flight/trip is delayed more than 4 hours
  • Trip cancellation / trip interruption insurance: for Trip Cancellation, up to $1,500 of coverage per insured person, with a maximum of $3,000 for all insured persons, and for Trip Interruption, up to $1,500 of coverage per insured person, with a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
  • Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance: Comprehensive coverage for up to 48 consecutive days for cars with an MSRP of up to $85,000, which can help you save on the insurance fees that the car rental company would otherwise charge.

It’s important to note that these benefits would also apply on Aeroplan reward tickets, as long as you charge the taxes and fees of your booking to your American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card.

Additionally, the card also offers Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection, covering most eligible items you’ve purchased with your card should they be stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase, as well as an extended one-year warranty period compared to the manufacturer’s warranty.

Historical Offers

Apply Now

There is no minimum income requirement for this card. You can qualify for an American Express small business card as a sole proprietor, doing business under your own name.

You'll earn the best available signup bonus if you apply using a referral link. Consider supporting Prince of Travel by applying for the card via our referral link below.

23 Comments
  1. Ahmed Adeeb

    This article says that “and the 2x earn rate on dining and food delivery is also the highest among all the Aeroplan-branded cards.” but this card no longer seems to earn the 2x rate on dining and food delivery and is now hotels. Just a heads up 🙂

  2. Duda

    Hello, your link at the very bottom of this credit card says that if we apply through your link we will receive 115,000 Aeroplan points. Is this correct? The sign up bonus currently is 90,000, otherwise.

  3. Shay

    Hi,
    I have had AMEX Aeroplan Reserve for 11 months.
    I have spent $95k and reached 50k status on Aeroplan.
    I am wondering if it makes sense to renew. Most of the benifets that come with the card are now available to me with 50k status.
    I may cancel and get an AMEX platinum to get a boost on points and access more rewards.
    What do you think?

  4. Ashley

    This article isn’t correct?

    The ability to rollover up to 200,000 SQMs and 50 eUpgrades per year

    This isn’t found under the terms and conditions for this specific business aeroplan reserve card. It is only found for TD, cibc, and the Amex aeroplan cards (premium)

  5. chris

    So you/traveling companions get first bag checked free; does this include traveling on basic fares?

  6. Paulk YYZ

    Business reserve has gone to 1.25 ap points on everything else.

    1. Ricky YVR

      Thanks for the heads up!

  7. Alex YYZ

    Hi Ricky,

    The offer for this business card ends August 3, 2021.
    Should I wait – or apply now?

    1. Ricky YVR

      Apply now, it won’t be higher after that date.

  8. noob

    Hi, I’m super new to all of this and just learned of the current Amex bonuses like yesterday, ha. I want to know how you got $2698 as the first year value? I must be slow cos I can’t seem to get that number .. Thanks!

    1. Ricky YVR

      It’s a bit complicated. The first-year value assumes that you spend the minimum amount needed to unlock the bonus. That would be a maximum of $5,000 on food and drinks to unlock the 10x bonus, as well as $7,000 on purchases in any category over the first six months. That would earn you a total of 157,000 Aeroplan points (since the 10x on food and drinks is included in the 150,000). We value Aeroplan points at 2.1 cents/point, so that’s worth $3,297. Subtract the $599 annual fee and you have $2,698.

      We’ll be adding features in the future that surface the first-year value calculation a lot more clearly.

  9. Koukun

    I can’t seem to refer from the Aeroplan Reserve to the Business Aeroplan Reserve. Is there any way to do this?

    1. Ricky YVR

      Open the referral link in a new tab and then you’ll be able to select “View Other Cards” and choose the Business Reserve.

      1. Koukun

        Thanks Ricky! That helps alot!

  10. Doug Wallace

    Just wondering if I get the 10 times eats bonus if I got the card in January this year. I have no actual offer on the card.

    Cheers

    1. Ricky YVR

      Nope, the Aeroplan Business Reserve unfortunately didn’t extend the 10x offer to existing cardholders (unlike the personal card).

  11. Jfz

    Amex’s site says this card has priority pass eligibility, that’s missing on this page.

  12. Santhosh Chakkungal

    Hi Ricky
    Just wanted to know the Amex website states 70000 points after spend of $10000 but your post says its only $6000 . Does applying through referral link reduce the required spend amount.

    1. Josh YVR

      It is indeed $10,000. Thanks for pointing that out!

  13. Andy YYC

    Is the earn rate for the Aeroplan Reverse updated to 1.25 miles/$ for everyday spend?

    1. Ricky YVR

      For the personal card, yes. Not for this business card at the moment.

  14. Grantie

    AMEX Site states only 35,000 points after spending $5000 in first 3 months NOT 45,000 points. Do I get more bonus points if I use your referral??
    And Annual World Wide Companion
    Pass Costs $99 plus taxes charges etc is only earned after spending $25,000.

    1. Ricky YVR

      Yes, applying via a referral offer gives 45,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months, rather than 35,000.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have an Account? Click here to Login