American Express Aeroplan Card vs. Aeroplan Reserve Card: full comparison
| Feature | Aeroplan Card | Aeroplan Reserve Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | ||
| Annual fee | $120 | $599 |
| Income requirement | None published | None published |
| Earn rates | ||
| Air Canada | 2x Aeroplan | 3x Aeroplan |
| Dining and food delivery | 1.5x Aeroplan | 2x Aeroplan |
| Everything else | 1x Aeroplan | 1.25x Aeroplan |
| Lounge and travel | ||
| Maple Leaf Lounge access | — | Unlimited + 1 guest per visit |
| Priority Pass membership | — | Included (US$32 per visit) |
| Companion pass | — | After $25,000 annual spend |
| Priority airport services | — | Check-in, boarding, baggage |
| Free checked bag | Yes (cardholder + 8 companions) | Yes (cardholder + 8 companions) |
| Preferred Aeroplan pricing | Yes | Yes |
| Status acceleration | ||
| SQM per card spend | 1,000 SQM per $10,000 | 1,000 SQM per $5,000 |
| Insurance | ||
| Emergency medical | — | Up to $5,000,000 (15 days) |
| Trip cancellation | — | Up to $1,500 per person |
| Trip interruption | — | Up to $1,500 per person |
| Flight delay | Yes | Up to $1,000 per person |
| Baggage delay / lost | Yes | Up to $1,000 per person |
| Rental car coverage | — | Yes |
| Travel accident | Up to $500,000 | Up to $500,000 |
Insurance limits are approximate; verify current coverage with American Express before travel. Learn more about Aeroplan →
The companion pass
The Reserve companion pass requires $25,000 in annual card spending to trigger. Once earned, Amex issues one companion ticket valid for Air Canada economy cash fares. The companion pays the base airfare ($99–$599 depending on the route) plus all applicable taxes and fees. The voucher is valid for 12 months from issue.
This is a spend condition that the TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege cards do not impose: those cards issue the companion pass annually regardless of how much you spend. The $25,000 threshold works out to $2,083 per month. For most primary cardholders who route household spending through the card, it is reachable. For lower spenders, the pass may not trigger at all.
American Express Aeroplan Card vs. Aeroplan Reserve Card: does the fee gap pay off?
The earn rate difference between the two cards at a given spend level. This shows the extra points value from the Reserve — not the lounge access or companion pass, which are the primary fee justifiers.
At this spend level, the earn differential covers roughly $162 of the $479 fee gap. The Maple Leaf Lounge access and companion pass need to account for the remaining ~$317.
Which card is right for you?
| Choose Aeroplan Card if | Choose Reserve if | |
|---|---|---|
| Flying frequency | You fly Air Canada occasionally and do not need lounge access | You fly Air Canada regularly and will use the Maple Leaf Lounge on most trips |
| Annual spend | Your card spend stays below $25,000 per year and the companion pass won’t reliably trigger | You spend $25,000 or more per year and will earn the companion pass annually |
| Insurance needs | You carry separate travel insurance or another card covers emergency medical | You want $5M emergency medical coverage built into your card for every trip |