American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card Review

By: Heather Hanks Jun. 25, 2019

American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card is one of our top picks for people who travel. It allows you to earn miles points and cash them in for travel-related expenses. You’ll receive a hefty 50,000 Aeroplan®* Miles just for signing up when you spend $3,000 within the first three months of membership. Plus, you can enjoy an extra $200 annually in credit to use on hotel and other travel expenses. However, you’ll pay a steep annual fee for these great rewards. Here is everything you need to know about the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card and whether or not it’s right for you.

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Overall Rating

American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card

American Express recently launched three different cards for travel lovers. The American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card provides the most benefits and rewards, but it comes with the biggest price tag. Unlike other cards in the American Express lineup, the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card is a credit card and not a charge card. With other cards, you'll have to pay an annual fee to use them and make monthly payments in full. However, the AmEx Reserve card does not require you to pay in full each month. Keep in mind that any payments that are made after your monthly due date will be subject to a high-interest fee. You can earn points by using the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card to pay for all your travel expenses. This includes your hotel stay, car rental, and any other expenses related to your trip. Here are some key highlights of using the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card:

Interest rate: 19.99% preferred rate for purchases and 22.99% for fund advances
Welcome bonus offer: 50,000 Aeroplan®* Miles when you spend $3,000 within your first three months of membership
Reward: You'll get $200 worth of annual credit that you can spend on travel-related purchases
You must be a Canadian resident, have a Canadian credit history and have an annual income of $60,000 or more to apply

Card Type:

Credit Card

Annual fee:

$899

How Does It Work?

The American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card works by offering you Aeroplan miles that you can cash in and redeem for travel-related expenses. You'll earn 1.25 Aeroplan miles for every dollar you spend with your card. Plus, you'll get to Aeroplane mile for every dollar that you spend on eligible Air Canada purchases. This helps encourage you to keep your business within the country. The card also allows you to earn miles twice when you use it at over 170 Aeroplan partner brands. You'll need to provide your Aeroplan number in addition to paying with your card to get these miles. The more you use your card, the more you’ll earn! It’s a great card for someone who needs to put their travel expenses on a credit card anyway.

Here’s a summary of the major benefits you’ll get when you use the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card:

Get 1.25 Aeroplan miles for every dollar spent with your card
Get two Aeroplan miles for every dollar you spend on eligible Air Canada purchases
Get twice the miles when you pay with your American Express AeroplanPlus Reserve card at more than 170 Aeroplan partners and provide your Aeroplan number

What Do You Get from using American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card?

The American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card is ideally suited for travel enthusiasts. Despite a high annual fee, the card allows you to make your money back by offering points that you can cash in for various traveling perks. You’ll get 50,000 Aeroplan®* Miles just for signing up when you spend $3,000 within your first three months of membership. Anyone who travels often knows that spending this kind of money on traveling is a piece of cake! You’ll also get rewarded just for using your card. American Express will give you 1.25 points for every dollar you spend when you use your American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card. Then, you’ll get 2 points for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases through Air Canada.

Here are some of the key benefits of a membership with a Reserve card:

Earn a $200 annual voucher that you can spend on travel expenses. You can earn this credit by using your card to book hotels, car rentals or flights. This is just one way using your American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card saves you money when you travel!
Enjoy Aeroplan miles flexibility when you redeem your miles for hotel stays, vacation packages, experiences, car rental, cruises, merchandise, and more. You can spend your points however you want as long as it's travel-related. The more you travel, the more you'll save on future travels.
Gain access to unlimited airport lounges at Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge when you use your reserve card. You can also get complimentary priority pass lounges worldwide so that you can relax no matter where your travels take you to.
Use priority check-in so that you can skip the lines at the airport and get to your destination sooner. This also includes complimentary check-in baggage rewards. You can check up to five bags per year with Air Canada.
Get access to valet service at Pearson International Airport when you fly out of Pearson in Toronto. Crew members will park your car for free so that you can get to your flight quicker.
Bring a partner along with you once per year when you travel. When you use your reserve card, American Express allows you to bring a partner or family member along with you on a round-trip flight. You will need to redeem 25,000 of your Aeroplan miles through the fixed mileage flight reward program. This will earn you an extra seat in economy class with your partner ticket. The company asks that you have the same itinerary is your partner for a free of charge upgrade.
Enjoy complimentary seat upgrades through AeroplanPlus market fare flight Rewards to get unrestricted access available seats when you fly Air Canada.
Get access to Priority line through the AeroPlan contact center when you book your hotels, add a partner, or change flights.
Receive purchase protection when you invest in the American Express Reserve card. The company will double the manufacturer's warranty on any items you use the card to purchase. Eligible items are also covered against accidental damage and theft with the purchase protection program.
Become an exclusive American Express Rewards member and enjoy a range of experiences at travel events. You may gain access to films, theaters, concerts, and shopping or travel advantages just by being a member.
Indulge before your flight with unlimited access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge™** where available, in airports worldwide
Relax before you fly with access to over 1,200 state-of-the-art lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass membership

Travel Insurance With American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card

The travel insurance provided by the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card is so extensive that we had to give it special attention! The company guarantees that you'll be insured anytime you use your card, no matter what the purchases. You'll be insured anytime you book a hotel, flight, or car rental. Your card protects you against theft, baggage delay, and anything that can possibly inconvenience you as a traveler. They also provide insurance protection any time you use the card for matters other than traveling. All items you purchase using your card are covered.

Here are some of the advantages that you'll receive as a member:

Medical insurance coverage for emergencies when out of the province or country

Insurance for trip cancellation or trip interruption

Up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance

Emergency assistance when traveling

Insurance for flight delays and baggage delays

Insurance for lost or stolen baggage

Insurance for burglary of hotel or motel room

Insurance for car rental theft and damage

Purchase plan protections

Buyers protection plan to protect the items you purchase with your card

Other Perks That You Get With American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card

Have you ever seen a card with more travel perks than this? In addition to the best travel insurance around, the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card offers the following perks when you become a member:

Travel to more than 13,000 destinations in 190 countries all over the world when you fly Air Canada or through one of its affiliates
Take advantage of AeroPlan Market Fare Flight rewards, which allows you to have access to any available seat on Air Canada flights. This includes Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada
You'll get a complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership when you sign up for an American Express Reserve card
You can redeem your points for hotel stays, vacation packages, experiences, car rentals, and more

American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card PROS and CONS

Like all cards, there are some things you’ll want to consider before you dive into a membership with American Express for their reserve card. First, keep in mind that this card is for high rollers and dedicated travel enthusiasts who spend most of their time in the air. You will lose money on this card if you don’t use it to travel with often. The annual fee alone is enough to turn most people away! But you can easily earn this money back if you use the card how it was designed. We also recommend that you study the ins and outs of this card extensively. It offers a wide array of benefits and you should take advantage of all of them. Make sure you know all the perks and advantages of being a member, like front line access and priority seating. If you’re on the fence about this card, these benefits can be a game changer. Not everyone needs a card this extensive for their traveling needs. But if you’re in the air a majority of the time, then this card has everything you need.

Here are some pros and cons of the American Express AeroplanPlus Reserve Card:

**American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card PROS**

Welcome bonus of 50,000 Aeroplan®* Miles when you spend $3,000 within the first three months of membership (this is the most of any card we’ve seen!)
Extensive insurance plans that cover everything you use your card for
There are lots of ways to earn points. You’ll get 1.25 miles for every dollar you spend with your card. Plus, you’ll get two miles for every dollar you spend on some Air Canada purchases. Finally, you’ll get twice the miles when you use your card at more than 170 Aeroplan partners (you’ll also need to provide your Aeroplan number).
Access to Priority Lane and priority check-in so that you can cut in line and get to your destination faster
Seat upgrades available for any available see on Air Canada flights
Purchase protection plan
Annual partner ticket when you cash in 15,000 miles to redeem a ticket for a friend or family member to be used on round trip flights
Complimentary access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and other lounges around the world
Valet service available at Pearson International Airport
$200 voucher that can be used once per year on travel expenses
Online portal that you can check any time day or night
Customer service provided 24/7
Emergency card replacement offered
Enjoy the ability to fly to 1,300 destinations in over 190 countries all over the world
This card is a credit card unlike other American Express travel cards, which are charge cards. You can use it to build your credit while receiving travel-related rewards at the same time

**American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card CONS**

There is an annual fee of $899. Keep in mind that much of this money can be made back by using your card extensively for travel-related expenses. The more you use the card, the more you will get back from it. If you are not a big time traveler, then the annual fee alone might be unworthy of your time.
Additional cards are provided at $299. This means that you can buy additional cards and give to your family and friends, but it will come at a price. One of the benefits of purchasing additional cards is that you can wreck up your miles faster. Keep in mind that as the primary cardholder, you will be responsible for the account regardless of who has a card.
Interest rates are 19.99% for preferred purchases and 22.99% for funds advance. This tends to be rather high considering the amount you are spending on annual fees. You can save money by making sure you pay all of your bills on time. Late payments are subject to late fees. These late fees may also be charged with an interest rate of 23.99% and/or 26.99%.

How To Apply for American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card?

The application process is simple and the American Express website guarantees that you'll get an answer within 60 seconds. Before you decide to apply, make sure you meet the following requirements:

You must be a Canadian citizen or have a permanent resident status in Canada

You must have a Canadian credit history and bank account

You must be 18 years or older

If you meet all of these qualifications, then go to the American Express website and click on the apply now button. You'll be asked for some personal information, including your full name, date of birth, address, and email address. Before you start your application process, American Express will make sure you know all the terms and conditions of your new card.

Here are some key highlights of those terms:

Effective on the day you open your account is a 19.99% preferred interest rate
Interest rate for funds advances is 22.99%, effective as soon as you open your account
Interest rates will remain 23.99% for 12 billing. If you miss two missed payments
Interest rates will increase to a basic rate of 26.99% for the next 12 billing periods if you miss three or more payments
There is a 21 day grace period where you don't pay any interest at all
There is a $29 if you go over your limit on your card

Make sure you check out the agreement so you're aware of all additional charges before you decide to become a member.

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Conclusion

The above review of the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card is solely based on the opinion of Creditnervana. It’s our opinion that the American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Reserve Card is an excellent choice for those who travel often. If you do not, then the annual fee of $899 is probably not worth your time. You can make most of this money back by traveling and earning miles. Redeem these points and put them towards expenses that can be applied to further travel. For example, you can redeem these points for hotel stays, vacations, car rentals, and more. One of the things we like most about this card is the extensive insurance policy programs. No matter what you use this card for, your purchase will be protected. You'll get insurance for flight cancellations, car or hotel damage and theft, and more. American Express offers a welcome bonus of 50,000 Aeroplan®* Miles when you spend $3,000 within the first three months of membership. From here, you'll earn 1.25 points every time you use your card and two points for all eligible Air Canada purchases.