Aeroplan
Redeem on 25+ Star Alliance airlines
As American Express’s high-end small business Aeroplan co-branded credit card, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card currently offers 75,000 Aeroplan points as its best signup bonus.
The bonus is distributed as follows:
The card has an annual fee of $599, which is offset by a $100 statement credit, upon spending $5,000 in the first three months months, bringing the net annual fee to $499 for the first year.
This puts the Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve’s signup bonus on par with the Business Platinum Card which is widely considered one of the best signup bonuses in all of Canada!
While the annual fee of $599 is relatively high, the $100 statement credit brings it down to $499, and needless to say, the welcome offer of up to 65,000–75,000 Aeroplan points makes this one an easy pill to swallow. The card’s additional travel benefits (such as unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access) can go a long way towards justifying that fee as well.
This Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve also allows you to add supplementary cardholders for $199 apiece.
In terms of the returns on everyday spending, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card has a very unique structure, offering cardholders:
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.
However, earning 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on all other purchases is not appealing at all compared to, say, the 1.25x MR points (which can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio) that you’d get on the Business Platinum Card instead.
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:
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.
As a high-end product, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card excels in the insurance department. Some examples of its strong coverage include:
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.
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