Aeroplan
Redeem on 25+ Star Alliance airlines
As American Express’s high-end Aeroplan co-branded credit card, the American Express Aeroplan 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 $3,000 in the first three months months, bringing the net annual fee to $499 for the first year.
This puts the Amex Aeroplan Reserve’s signup bonus well above than American Express’s other high-end products, such as the Platinum Card, and 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 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 Reserve also allows you to add supplementary cardholders for $199 apiece; alternatively, you can also add the lower-tier Aeroplan Card for your authorized users for $50 apiece.
Note that there’s also an alternate offer on this card, which allows you to earn 40,000 Aeroplan points and an Air Canada Buddy Pass:
This offer is available only if you apply over the phone; however, unless you highly value the Air Canada Buddy Pass (essentially a buy-one-get-one voucher for paid Air Canada economy class flights within North America), then we believe the first offer is much stronger for the purposes of maximizing Aeroplan points.
In terms of the returns on everyday spending, the American Express Aeroplan 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 the 1.5 points per dollar spent on both TD’s and CIBC’s Visa Infinite Privilege cards in the same market.
As Air Canada’s premium travel credit card, the American Express Aeroplan 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 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 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.
Will you qualify for the 75,000 points if you spend $6k in the first couple of months, or does the spend have to be over a six month period?
I noticed that Priority Pass is now included in the advertised benefits for this card, in addition to the Maple Leaf Lounge access. A Priority Pass Prestige membership to be specific. I got approved right away and immediately received 5,000 AP points before making a single purchase. I met the MS requirements in the first couple of weeks (just under $5k spending) and have over 65,000 total points posted to this card, so it seems that the 5,000 points per $1k for first six months posts immediately as you spend each $1k segment.
Can anyone else confirm this DP, that we don’t need to wait every month to spend $1,000 per month? We can just spend the $6k right away??
^correction – It’s a Basic Prestige Priority Pass, so you have to pay for each visit. Will continue to use Biz Platinum card for lounge visits. Given that so many of the Maple Leaf lounges are closed or offering limited services you would think a higher level of Priority Pass would be included with this card, especially with it launching during a time with such restrictions in place. Maybe this explains why they added the $100 statement credit.
My Amex Platinum automatically changed to AMEX reserve card this November. I haven’t travelled since but I am about to in a few weeks. Do you have any idea if the Reserve card still allows you to have access to airport lounges other than Maple Leaf Lounges for a fee? ( Such as the Plaza Premium Lounges and other Star alliance affiliated ones?)
Must the full cost of the flight be charged on the reserve card for one to be eligible for flight delay insurance? Say $200 taxes and fees for aeroplan rewards redemption is paid by a $25 AC gift card and the rest of the $175 is charged on the reserve card, would you still be entitled to the coverage?
When does this offer expire?
There’s no published expiry date on the public 75K offer. The waitlist offer expires on December 31, 2020.
Isnt the Maple Leaf lounge access just for international flights? So this is worse than the amex plat PP access which you can use for international and domestic itineraries? (I’m likely still going to sign up as i just churned my amex plat last month)
“A Basic Cardmember and Supplementary Cardmember(s) are each entitled to complimentary access to any Maple Leaf Lounge located in Canada and the United States, including International Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the United States when travelling on an international itinerary. Access excludes Air Canada Signature Suites and lounges operated by third parties, such as Star Alliance member airlines. Guests of Basic Cardmembers or Supplementary Cardmembers may enter upon paying an applicable fee. Access will be granted in conjunction with a same-day, confirmed ticket on a flight marketed or operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, under the Air Canada Express brand, or any Star Alliance member airline. Anyone under the age of majority entering a Maple Leaf Lounge must be accompanied by an adult with access to the lounge. Age of majority is determined by the jurisdiction in which the Maple Leaf Lounge is located. Benefit may only be used as described, and otherwise cannot be transferred. Access is subject to space availability. See aircanada.com/lounges-termsandconditions for applicable Maple Leaf Lounges Terms and Conditions”
I think they’ve just worded it poorly. They’re saying along with domestic and trans-border lounges, you get access to the international lounges within N.A. when travelling internationally.
Hi Ricky, thanks for all your hard work on running this website! Just wondering would you recommend someone who has amex platinum and Aeroplan elite status to apply the reserve card just to get the 75k welcome bonus? If so, should the card holder keep both after a year or cancel the reserve card afterwards as platinum have stronger earning ratios? Thanks.
I’d say the 75K is a very strong bonus, yes. However, it’s probably not necessary to keep both the Platinum and the Aeroplan Reserve in the long run. Between the two cards, the Platinum does seem stronger for its earning rates and travel benefits; the only reason to keep the Reserve instead would be if you really value the Air Canada priority/lounge benefits on the card.
Thanks Ricky for your reply, absolutely, since platinum have lounge benefits and my Aeroplan elite status offers priority, so I guess I’ll apply this card just to get the welcome bonus then.
Has anyone got an automatic approval with Aeroplan reserve card? I got a generic response that my application will be reviewed. Then about 2 days after, I got a call from Amex saying that they still need 24-48hrs more to review my application.
I did, automatically approved and was given the option of showing card number right away for use. Physical metal card received TWO days after, fastest application ever.
Hey guys. Just wanted to know what’s the waitlist email looks like. I have joined the waitlist back in September but I have not received the email as of yet.
Got my email on Nov 8 or 9. Don’t bother, just go to Air Canada and apply. The WB is the same.
Thank you for your reply. Does that mean I will still get the 10,000 pts bonus without getting the RSVP code? Will they just capture the email and compare to the waitlist when I submit the application?
Not sure. I received 2 waitlist emails in the last few days. I applied through the email link.
Amex is offering 75K pts for waitlist. Only 65K pts on the Amex of Air Canada site.
For what it’s worth there’s also a direct link for 75K points on the Air Canada website: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/credit-cards/amex/offer.html
How come on the amex website says that the core card is a charge card whereas the reserve card is a credit card? is that a mistake on the amex website or it is actually a credit card?
That’s correct. The Aeroplan Card is a charge card, whereas the Aeroplan Reserve Card is a credit card.
Hello! Do you guys plan on cancelling this card when the 2nd year annual fee comes up or keeping it? I’ve heard that cancelling amex cards before the 12 month annual fee comes up can have bad consequences, but I’m not sure if that is strictly with american amex or if that applies to Canadian amex too.
That’s mostly with American Amex cards but it’s getting more and more true with Canadian Amex cards these days. I’d definitely recommend against cancelling before the second year’s annual fee comes up; if you must cancel, do so after that fee posts and ask for a refund within 30 days.
Great reviews and a resource for all new Cards. Thkx! How does this compared to Amex Biz personal or platinum? If all other benefits are redundant, can this card replace Amex Plat?
I still think the personal and business Platinum Card’s perks are stronger, due to the superior lounge access benefits and hotel statuses. The Aeroplan Reserve could be stronger for a frequent Air Canada flyer who values the benefits there, but that’s about it.
Here are some much more detailed comparisons:
https://princeoftravel.com/blog/head-to-head-amex-platinum-card-vs-new-premium-aeroplan-cards/
https://princeoftravel.com/blog/head-to-head-amex-business-platinum-vs-amex-aeroplan-business-reserve/
I literally just got the email from Amex at 5:34PM EST
Nevermind, just got it!
Hello. Has anyone received their Waitlist emails from Amex yet with promo code?