American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card review

The basics

• Welcome offer. Earn up to 90,000 welcome bonus Aeroplan points. Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after spending $10,500 on purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you $3,500 on purchases in month 13.
• Decent return on points. Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible hotels and car rentals, and 1.25 points for every $1 spent on everything else.
• Companion flight. Book flight reward tickets for even fewer points with Air Canada. Plus, enjoy access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges for you and a guest, and Air Canada Café in North America, with a same day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight.
  
• Priority airport access. Get priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling for you and up to eight other guests on your travel reservation when you fly with Air Canada.
• First checked bag free. Lighten your load with your first checked bag (up to 23kg/50lb) for free on any Air Canada flight (also valid for up to eight other companions flying on the same reservation as you).
• Lounge access. Get access to more than 1,200 Priority Pass airport lounges around the world. Plus, enjoy access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes in North America, with a same day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight.
• Reach Elite Status faster. Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 worth of eligible purchases you charge to your card.
• Get a $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit. Receive up to $100 CAD in statement credits every four years when NEXUS application or renewal fees are charged to your Aeroplan Business Reserve Card.
• Comprehensive travel insurance. Enjoy multiple forms of travel insurance including travel medical, trip interruption/cancellation, flight delay and hotel burglary insurance.

The perks

• Purchase insurance. Protect your purchases up to $1,000 with 90-day purchase insurance and extended warranty coverage for up to one additional year.
• Employee card misuse protection. Get up to $100,000 worth of coverage if any of your employees uses your card to make unauthorized purchases.
• Special perks at Toronto Airport. Take advantage of discounted parking, free valet services and priority access to security lines at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
• Flight rewards. Book your flights with less Aeroplan points than a regular member would require just for holding an American Express Aeroplan credit card.
• Flexible points. Cash your Aeroplan points in for rewards such as flights, hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, merchandise and more.
• Amex invites. Enjoy exclusive invites and offers to all the hottest events, music, dining and entertainment offered by American Express.
• Business management tools. Control employee expenses plus track and accumulate points on your account with Supplementary Cards, so you have an opportunity to maximize the points you earn.

What to watch out for

• High annual fee. You’ll have to pay $599 per year to maintain this card and you won’t be able to waive this fee under any circumstances.
• Fee for additional cards. There’s an added fee of $199 for every additional card you add to your account.
• No extra points for daily purchases. You won’t earn accelerated rewards for purchasing daily essentials such as gas or groceries.
• Cash advances cost more. You’ll pay a high interest rate of 21.99% whenever you take money out using a cash advance from your card.

American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card interest rates

What should I know before I apply?

Eligibility requirements

To apply for an American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old (19 in some provinces)

You will also need to provide the following documents and information:

• Your name, residential status and contact information
• Your Social Insurance Number and date of birth
• Your email address and phone number

How to apply

1. Click the green “Go to site” button to be securely redirected to the online application for the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card.
2. Click “Apply now” and complete the application, which includes providing your name, email address, Social Insurance Number and birth date.
3. Review and submit your application.

Bottom line

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card lets you earn Aeroplan points whenever you spend money on your credit card. It comes with a host of travel and airport benefits including a free companion pass, priority services at the airport, lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance. Just keep in mind that this card comes with an annual fee of $599 which is much higher than a typical credit card.

Frequently asked questions about the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

• Does the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card have a welcome offer?

  Yes! You should be able to take advantage of a welcome bonus for signing up depending on what time of year it is. Your best bet to find out what’s available and how you can qualify is to check for the current offer on the Amex website.

• Can my Aeroplan points expire?

  Your Aeroplan points can expire if you leave your account inactive for 18 months or more. You can make sure this doesn’t happen by using your Aeroplan membership or Aeroplan credit card to earn points or by redeeming a portion of your points before they’re set to expire.

• What else can I redeem my points for?

  You can redeem your points for just about anything you can think of. This includes travel rewards such as hotel stays, vacation packages and car rentals as well as other rewards such as merchandise, gift cards and one-of-a-kind activities.

• Will I get a low interest rate with this card?

  Yes. This card sets itself apart from the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card by offering a low interest rate on outstanding purchases (21.99% instead of 19.99%). It also offers employee card misuse protection as an added benefit.

• Can I apply online?

  Yes, you can apply online. Just click the green “Go to site” button to be securely redirected to the online application.