American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card Review 2024

• Earn up to 90,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan®* points.
  • Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after spending $10,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months.
  • Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in purchases in month 13.
• Earn Aeroplan points that you can redeem in a variety of ways.
• 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.
• Earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent on everything else.
• Make the most out of a full suite of business management tools that give you more control over your business – anytime and anywhere.
• Leverage your cash flow with the option of carrying a balance or paying in full each month.
• Control employee expenses plus track and accumulate points on your account with Employee Cards, so you have an opportunity to maximize the points you earn.
• Unlock business travel possibilities to make every work trip one to look forward to.
• Access more than 1,200 Priority Pass™ airport lounges around the globe. That means an oasis of comfort before your flight—regardless of your choice of airline or cabin class.
• 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
• Enjoy Priority Check-In, Priority Boarding, and Priority Baggage Handling when you fly with Air Canada, together with up to eight companions
• Receive one Annual Worldwide Companion Pass when you spend $25,000 in net purchases prior to your Card anniversary date; your Pass entitles you to buy an accompanying Air Canada economy class ticket for a companion at a fixed base fare from $99 to a maximum of $599 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges, and surcharges)
• Stay focused on getting where you need to go. 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
• Pay with your American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card and present your Aeroplan Membership Card at over 170 Aeroplan partner brands and 120 online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore to earn points twice
• If you’re departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport, enjoy the benefits of being an American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Cardmember. Get more from your travel experience with access to Pearson Priority Security Lane, Complimentary Valet Service, 15% discount on parking rates, and 15% discount on Car Care Services
• Roll over any unallocated Aeroplan Elite™ Status Qualifying Miles and unused eUpgrade Credits to the following year to enjoy during your travels.
• Enjoy priority access to the standby list and eUpgrades. Get prioritized on the standby waitlist for an Air Canada flight and higher priority when you request an eUpgrade
• Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card
• Book flight reward tickets for even fewer points with Air Canada. In addition to flights, you can also redeem for hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, merchandise and more
• Unlock two-car-class rental upgrades, expedited service, dedicated phone line, and more with complimentary upgrade to Avis President’s Club
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment

As far as premium business credit cards, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card is a top contender if you use Air Canada for business travel. While its annual fee of $599 may seem steep, a deeper dive into its offerings and benefits may open your eyes to its total value. Card members earn 3 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. If you spend even more on hotel stays and car rentals, you’ll benefit from 2 points for every dollar. Then there’s a standard earn rate of 1.25 points per dollar on everything else.

The card also has the ability to earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 spent. Also, after spending $25,000 annually, you earn a Worldwide Companion Pass. As you get deeper into the program, and want to earn points faster, log into Aeroplan’s eStore to discover special deals on merchandise that could amplify your earn rate.

However, every credit card fades and cracks over time. In particular, the Aeroplan Business Reserve faces stiff competition from other business cards like the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card, and the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business Plus—all of which arguably offer more benefits for a lower annual fee.

That said, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card is a stellar choice for businesses prioritizing travel with Air Canada and wishing to make the most of every dollar spent. Aeroplan’s expansive reward system, the welcome bonus, and VIP treatment at airports position it as an enticing option. Yet, it might be worth exploring alternatives for businesses seeking a lower fee and more flexibility.

• Earn 3 points per dollar with Air Canada, 2 points per dollar on select hotels and rental cars, and 1.25 points per dollar on everything else.
• Get a free first checked bag, priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary visits to Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges and priority pass lounges and a $100 NEXUS credit to speed through security.
• Insurance package includes emergency medical, travel accident, delayed and lost baggage, flight delay, trip cancellation/interruption and rental car insurance up to $85,000 MSRP.

Earning rewards

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card’s highest earning category is with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations at 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent. You earn 2 points for every dollar on registered hotels and car rentals on American Express Systems (think major chains vs. Airbnb). To qualify, you must make these purchases directly through the provider or Amex Travel Services. On everything else, your earn rate is 1.25 points for every dollar spent.

The rewards keep stacking with the ability to earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 spent with the card.

And, finally, after $25,000 of spending per year, you earn an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass.

Plus, before making a retail purchase, check out Aeroplan’s eStore for any featured retailers and special offers where you can earn up to 5 points per dollar on selected merchandise.

Redeeming Rewards

It’s intuitive for those with experience with Aeroplan and Amex or other reward programs, especially with the Amex and Aeroplan integration.

Simply log in to your Aeroplan account, peruse available flights based on your available points, choose the flight that best fits your plans and check out.

For those eyeing premium-class international flights, you could book a one-way business class journey from Vancouver to Tokyo for 55,000 Aeroplan points. From the East Coast, you can also take a transatlantic flight to most of Western Europe for 60,000 Aeroplan points (maybe even less if you benefit from Air Canada’s preferred pricing). For domestic travellers, short-haul flights within North America (under 500 miles/800 km) will only cost you 6,000 Aeroplan points for a one-way trip.

While the card is best for travel rewards, you can redeem points for car rentals, hotels, merchandise and gift cards at Aeroplan’s eStore.

Rewards Potential

The annual fee of $599 is steep, but do the rewards and benefits of card membership make it worth the price?

The Forbes editorial team estimates the welcome bonus value at $600, so you’re breaking even immediately. Beyond that, based on average Canadian spending, this card can earn $287.76 with Air Canada spending on travel or $236.06 with other travel spending, once you factor in the annual fee. It’s worth noting that this average spending is based on individuals. Business owners may spend far more with or without travel purchases, making the steep fee even more worthwhile.

Meanwhile, throw in a $100 NEXUS credit, a free first checked bag, complimentary airport lounge access to Maple Leaf Lounge and Priority Pass and a complimentary upgrade to Avis President’s Club (which you’d only access after spending $6,000 per year with Avis) and this card’s benefits’ potential are starting to add up quickly, especially if you’re a frequent flyer. Plus, there’s a $99 Annual Companion Voucher.

• Remove the pains of airport lines with a free first checked bag, priority boarding and check-in, and a $100 NEXUS credit. If you’re flying out of Toronto’s Pearson Internal Airport, you can fast-track security and get other priority benefits such as valet parking and complimentary visits to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges for you and supplementary cardholders.
• Peace of mind travel with excellent insurance coverage, including up to $5 million in emergency medical, $500,000 in travel accident insurance, trip delay/interruption/cancellation and delayed and lost baggage, car rental theft and damage, and hotel burglary. It also includes coverage for your purchases with extended warranties and up to $100,000 of coverage for employee card misuse.
• Generous welcome offer to the Aeroplan program that also allows you to reach Aeroplan Elite status faster by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles for every $5,000 spent and one Air Canada economy class ticket starting at $99 for anywhere around the world.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 21.99%
• Cash Advance APR: 21.99%
• Balance Transfer APR: N/A

Fees

• Cash Advance fee: N/A
• Balance Transfer fee: N/A
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
• Annual fee: $599
• Any other fees: $199 for a supplementary Aeroplan Business Reserve card ($0 for Aeroplan Business Reserve no-annual-fee cards)

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card vs. Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a charge card with a $799 annual fee and a welcome bonus of up to 120,000 Membership Rewards® points. Both cards cater to business owners but differ depending on the needs and spending habits of the cardholder. For instance, the Business Platinum card’s generous welcome bonus is available much sooner by spending $15,000 in net purchases within the first three months. In contrast, the Aeroplan Business Reserve requires 13 months to access the full 90,000 Aeroplan points (and intricate spending structure). Unless Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is at the top of your wish list, the Business Platinum may be your better choice.

Both cards earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, but the Aeroplan Business reserve card unlocks more value when you’re frequently flying with Air Canada at 3x the points (and 2x the points for hotels and rental cars).

The Business Platinum Card has the edge in terms of flexibility for redeeming points. You can transfer Amex’s Membership Rewards points to any airline or hotel program (e.g. Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors), including Aeroplan, at a value of 1:1. With the Business Platinum card, your redemption rate is 1,000 points = $10 on any purchase (even non-travel related).

For airport lounge access, the Business Platinum card is the clear winner because you and a guest get free access to Airport lounges around the world, including Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Amex International lounges, to name a few. The Aeroplan Business Reserve gives you complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges, so long as they’re in North America. You also get access to Priority Pass, but you’ll have to pay for each visit.

The insurance on both cards is basically the same. Ultimately, it boils down to your spending habits and travel preferences. If you’re exclusively using Air Canada or its partners, the Aeroplan Business Reserve card is a wise choice. Otherwise, the Business Platinum card is the more versatile option for broader benefits, especially in terms of lounge access and flexible point redemption.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card vs. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card

Both cards are great for business travellers. However, their rewards structures and benefits make the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business card more versatile and appealing to those not entrenched in Aeroplan’s ecosystem.

Scotia’s Infinite Business card’s annual fee is much less at $199, and so is its welcome bonus of 40,000 Scene+ points, a potential value of $400 in the first year towards travel. The card also provides a first-year annual fee rebate, making it significantly less expensive than the Amex.

The Visa Infinite Business card also boasts no foreign transaction fees, six complimentary passes to over 1,200 airport lounges, including participating Plaza Premium lounges and a slightly higher earn rate of 1.5 Scene+ points for every dollar spent. You can also earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar on select grocery store chains (Sobey’s, FreshCo, etc.) and 2 Scene+ points per dollar on other groceries, dining, entertainment and transit. The Scotiabank Passport is often recognized as one of the best Visas for travel, but the point flexibility means you can also convert points into cash-back rewards through Scene+.

Both of the insurance packages are top-notch. It truly depends on what you’re looking for in a card. If you’re not a frequent flyer with Air Canada and prefer to earn rewards in everyday categories like groceries and entertainment and want worldwide Airport lounge access, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business card is a better choice.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card vs. CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business

Again, both cards are great for business owners, so it’s more about the points programs (Aeroplan vs. Aventura) and flexibility.

On the welcome offer side, CIBC gives you a total of up to 60,000 Aventura points, which equates to about $1,000 in travel value—25,000 points after your first purchase, the remaining 35,000 Aventura points when you spend a minimum of $35,000 during your first year (about $3,000 per month).

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve card’s annual fee is steep at $599, especially compared to CIBC’s $120 with a one-time annual fee rebate. Now, if you sometimes miss paying your bills on time, you can pay a yearly fee of $180, which gives you a lower purchase rate of 12.99% compared to the typical 19.99%.

CIBC’s earning rate is decent, with 2 points for every dollar spent on travel purchases through the CIBC rewards centre, but it’s not as good as the 3 points for every dollar spent on travel through Air Canada. However, CIBC has more options to earn more points with 1.5 points for every dollar spent on gas/EV charging and other travel-related expenses such as airline expenditures, hotels, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies and even ground transportation like trains, cabs, and transit, even parking. CIBC allows you to book any airline, flight and seat. However, its travel insurance package lacks the robustness of the Amex without emergency medical and travel accident coverage (though it is available for purchase).

Another valuable differentiator for business is getting up to nine additional cards for only $50 to maximize your earnings among your staff. The Amex Aeroplan can give you additional cards, but only one extra card at the $599 annual fee, with all the same benefits.

If you want premium travel, specifically with Aeroplan, the Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve is the card of choice. If you want more flexibility in earning and redemption for a little less cash, you can’t lose with the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With this card, the scoring model considers factors such as, but not limited to, rewards rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses and other benefits and features. Remember, what may be best for some people might not suit you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

Whether you’re a long-time Aeroplan member or wish to become one, the generous welcome offer and ability to rack up points as a frequent flyer, this card is great for you.

As a business owner, the $599 price tag is steep, but it unlocks benefits to keep you at ease when travelling, like priority boarding and check-in, a NEXUS credit and lounge access.

If you’d prefer the flexibility of using points for different programs, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to switch points into Aeroplan and others at equal rates for a cheaper annual fee, the same great insurance, and arguably better benefits.

Alternatively, to maximize your earning rate, you may want a credit card with a stronger earning potential on everyday spending, like the CIBC Aventura or Scotia Momentum business credit cards.

The best “business” perk of this “business” card is $100,000 insurance for employee card misuse, but it better be the real thing because you’ll have to show termination papers to get the credit.

Related: Best Overall Credit Cards