Amex Aeroplan Reserve
Niche cardWhat the roles mean
- Frequent Air Canada flyers: Maple Leaf Lounge access for you + 1 guest, priority airport service and a free checked bag
Welcome offer now
"Elevated offer": earn 70,000 Aeroplan points (crossed-out 60,000) after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months, plus 40,000 points (crossed-out 25,000) when you spend $2,500 in month 13.
Checked on Amex's own page October 21, 2026. See Amex's page
What it earns in a year
43,950 points a year
Worth about −$159 after the $599 fee at the simplest redemption, up to $280 at the best.
Based on $30,000 a year of spending ($9,600 groceries, $3,000 gas, $3,000 dining…). Welcome offer not included.
Try it with your own spending →
- Travel: 3× points.
- Dining & restaurants: 2× points.
- Everything else: 1.25× points.
Highlighted = use this card here.
Using your points
On the spending above, 43,950 points a year: worth $440 the easy way, $879 the best way.
- Easy way (1¢): Gift cards, merchandise or paying toward a cash fare
- Best way (2¢): Economy flights, best on Star Alliance partners. Business class on partners can reach 3–8¢
How to apply for the Amex Aeroplan Reserve
Check first
- Bonus once per lifetime: you can't get it if you've ever had this card
- Check you qualify No minimum income listed. You need to live in Canada and be the age of majority in your province.
- Have this ready Your address and how long you've lived there, your employer and yearly income, and your monthly rent or mortgage. Your SIN is optional for a credit card; you can leave it blank.
- Expect a credit check Applying adds a hard inquiry to your credit report, which lowers your score a little for a few months. Space applications about 90 days apart.
- Apply on Amex's own site Apply online from the bank's product page, where the offer above is shown. This isn't an affiliate link: we earn nothing if you apply.Apply on Amex's site →
- After you're approved Put the spending needed for the welcome offer on the card before the deadline, and pay the full balance every month.
How to use it
- Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: book direct on this card for 3 points per $1
- Restaurants and food delivery in Canada: 2 points per $1
- Everything else: 1.25 points per $1. Keep a Visa or Mastercard for Costco and stores that don't take Amex
- Companion Pass: spend $25,000 before your card anniversary to unlock a companion economy fare of $99–$599 plus taxes
- Fee rises January 12, 2027: $599 → $799 (additional Reserve card $199 → $249). If you apply now, the 40,000-point month-13 bonus comes after you pay $799
- Example: $250/month dining + $1,350/month of other spending = 26,250 Aeroplan points a year
Key facts
- Annual fee
- $599Rises to $799 on January 12, 2027
- Purchase interest
- 21.99%
- Foreign currency fee
- 2.5%
- Min. personal income
- None published
- Min. household income
- None published
- Rewards
- AeroplanSee every Aeroplan card
Annual fee waiver
- None
From americanexpress.com product page, checked October 17, 2026. Not an affiliate link.
More Amex cards
Best paired with
Neo World Elite Mastercard
- This card: dining & restaurants, travel, transit, drugstore / pharmacy, entertainment, everything else
- Neo World Elite Mastercard: groceries, gas / ev, bills & subscriptions
- Together: $203 a year after both fees, vs −$159 with this card alone
Computed on our standard household ($30,000 a year): each kind of spending goes to whichever card pays more, both fees taken off. Partners are everyday, category and churning cards on Visa or Mastercard. Points at their simplest redemption. Welcome offers not included.
Pros
- Maple Leaf Lounge access for you + 1 guest on same-day Air Canada or Star Alliance flights
- Free first checked bag, priority check-in, boarding and bags for you + up to 8 companions
- Year one: up to 110,000 points: 70,000 after $7,500 in 3 months + 40,000 after $2,500 in month 13
- 3 points per $1 on Air Canada, 2 on dining and Hyatt (to July 15, 2029), 1.25 on everything else
- $5 million travel medical, trip cancellation and $1,000 delay and bag cover
- Up to $100 toward NEXUS every 4 years
- No published minimum income
Cons
- $599 a year, including year one; $799 from January 12, 2027
- The 40,000-point month-13 bonus needs you to pay the fee a second time
- Companion Pass needs $25,000 of spending a year, and the companion fare is not free
- Amex: not accepted at Costco (Mastercard only) and turned away at some stores; carry a Visa or Mastercard
- 1.25 points per $1 on groceries, gas and bills
- No phone insurance
- 2.5% on foreign-currency purchases
- No welcome offer if you have held this card before
Insurance included
- Travel medical: $5 million, first 15 days, age 64 or under
- Trip cancellation: $1,500 per person ($3,000 per account)
- Trip interruption: $1,500 per person ($6,000 per account)
- Flight delay and delayed bags: $1,000 combined, after 4 hours (flight) or 6 hours (bags)
- Lost bags: $1,000
- Hotel burglary: $1,000
- Travel accident: $500,000
- Rental car damage: up to 48 days, cars up to $85,000
- Purchases: 90 days of theft/damage cover (up to $1,000), +1 year warranty
- Trip cover needs the full fare on the card (or paid with this card's Aeroplan points)
Maximums as Amex lists them. Conditions apply; the insurance certificate decides claims.
Perks
- Maple Leaf Lounge: you + 1 guest when flying Air Canada or Star Alliance the same day
- Air Canada: free first checked bag and priority airport service for you + up to 8 companions
- Aeroplan hotels: an extra night free for every 3 nights booked with points
- From January 12, 2027: Priority Pass with 2 free visits a year, 8 Aspire lounge passes in Canada, up to $100 a year in Air Canada credit, 15% fewer points on Air Canada flight rewards
- NEXUS: up to $100 back every 4 years
Other cards for travel
Back a year on $2,400 of travel, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.
| Card | Earns on travel | Back a year | Annual fee | Terms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy American Express | 5× points≈ 7.0% in value | $168 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege | 3× points≈ 6.0% in value | $144 | $499 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | 3× points≈ 6.0% in value | $144 | $599 | October 21, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa | 4× points | $96 | $0 | November 2, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Amex | 4× points | $96 | $0 | November 2, 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $96 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
Other cards for dining & restaurants
Back a year on $3,000 of dining & restaurants, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.
| Card | Earns on dining & restaurants | Back a year | Annual fee | Terms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Cobalt | 5× points≈ 10.0% in value | $300 | $192 | October 21, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | 5× points | $150 | $120 | November 2, 2026 |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | 5× points | $150 | $150 | October 21, 2026 |
| Simplii Cash Back Visa | 4% back | $120 | $0 | October 21, 2026 |
| RBC British Airways Visa Infinite | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $120 | $165 | October 23, 2026 |
| Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege | 4% back | $120 | $395 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $120 | $599 | October 21, 2026 |
How the offer has changed
One row per check of Amex's page, newest first. Old rows are never edited.
| Checked | Welcome offer | Fee, year one | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2026 | Unchanged: elevated 110,000 pts: 70k ($7,500 / 3 mo) + 40k ($2,500 in month 13); 60k / 25k shown crossed outStandard 85,000 (60k + 25k; "up to $1,700" footnote) showed on 2 of 10 loads (both versions saved). Notice unchanged: fee rises to $799 from January 12, 2027 | $599, not waived | none stated |
| October 17, 2026 | Unchanged: elevated 110,000 pts: 70k ($7,500 / 3 mo) + 40k ($2,500 in month 13); 60k / 25k shown crossed outNotice: fee rises to $799 (additional $249; free additional becomes $25 Companion Card) from January 12, 2027, with new benefits. New 2x on Hyatt | $599, not waived | none stated |
| September 7, 2026 | "Elevated offer" 110,000 pts: 70k ($7,500 / 3 mo) + 40k ($2,500 in month 13); 60k / 25k shown crossed outMonth-13 bonus requires paying the fee a second time | $599, not waived | none stated |
| July 31, 2026 | 85,000 pts: 60k ($7,500 / 3 mo) + 25k ($2,500 in month 13). "Up to $4,400 over 13 months."$45k tier and months 15–17 tier removed. (Doc §2 was not updated at the time.) | $599, not waived | none stated |
| June 14, 2026 | Up to 150,000 pts: 70k ($7,500 / 3 mo) + 40k ($45,000 / 12 mo) + 40k (a purchase in months 15–17). "Up to $5,700 or more." | $599, not waived | July 28, 2026 |
General information, not financial advice. Offers change; confirm on Amex's page before you apply.