American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card review

The basics

If you want tons of airport perks along with a comprehensive suite of travel insurance, then the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card could be just the ticket.

• Welcome offer. Earn up to 85,000 welcome bonus Aeroplan points. That's a value of up to $2,600 or more when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits.
• Decent return on points. Earn 2X the points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada, and earn 1.25X the points on everything else.
• Companion flight. free checked baggage for yourself and up to 8 companions, access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America and Air Canada Cafés for you and a guest (with same day tickets on departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flights), Priority Airport Check-In, Priority Boarding, and Priority Baggage Handling with Air Canada and priority access to eUpgrades/standby list and worldwide airport lounge access with Priority Pass
• Priority airport access. Access priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling with Air Canada. Plus, get your first checked bag free for up to nine passengers travelling on the same reservation when you fly with Air Canada.
• Lounge access. Take advantage of 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. Plus, get access to more than 1,200 Priority Pass airport lounges.
• 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. Plus, you could receive a Complimentary Hotel Room Category Upgrade, on the first and last night, and a Complimentary Upgrade from SilverLeaf to GoldLeaf class of service when you book directly with Rocky Mountaineer using your card.
• Get a $100 NEXUS card statement credit. Receive up to $100 CAD in statement credits every four years when a NEXUS application or renewal fee is charged to your American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
• Comprehensive travel insurance. Enjoy multiple forms of travel insurance including travel medical, trip interruption/cancellation, flight delay and lost baggage insurance.

The perks

• Purchase insurance. Get purchase protection and extended warranty coverage for any products you buy with your card.
• Amex invites. Enjoy exclusive invites and offers to all the hottest events, music, dining and entertainment offered by American Express.
• Special perks at YYZ. Get discounts on parking rates and car care services, enjoy complimentary valet services and get priority access to security at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
• Exclusive metal card. Pay for your purchases with a precision cut and engraved 13g metal card reserved exclusively for American Express Aeroplan Reserve cardholders.
• 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. Redeem your Aeroplan points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, merchandise and more.
• Fraud protection. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your account is protected with encryption and other security features like special passcodes for online purchases.

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 groceries, gas or other daily essentials.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card interest rates

What should I know before I apply?

Eligibility requirements

To apply for an American Express Aeroplan 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 (SIN) and date of birth
• Your email address and phone number

How to apply for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

1. Click the green “Go to site” button above or the following link to be securely redirected to the online application for the American Express Aeroplan 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 Reserve Card is a loyalty credit card that gives you a high return on Aeroplan points. It also comes with a slew of travel insurance and airport perks. This card may be an ideal fit for you if you travel regularly, earn a high annual income and want to maximize your Aeroplan points and associated travel benefits. Just be aware that this card comes with an annual fee of $599, which can make it inaccessible to some customers. For more on Aeroplan partners, read our guide here.