No foreign transaction fees
Most Canadian credit cards add 2.5% on purchases made in a foreign currency. On $5,000 in international spending that is $125 in fees; on $10,000 per year it is $250. The Gold Amex eliminates this entirely, and unlike some no-FX cards, it also earns a meaningful rate on those international purchases rather than reverting to a flat 1x. That combination, high earn rate plus no FX surcharge, makes it effective for both domestic and international spending.
It is one of two Scotiabank cards that waive foreign transaction fees, the other being the Passport Visa Infinite. The key distinction here is network: the Gold Amex runs on American Express, which has lower merchant acceptance than Visa globally. For travel where Amex acceptance can be patchy, particularly in parts of Asia, Eastern Europe, and smaller towns, carrying a second no-fee Visa or Mastercard as backup is worth considering.
Earn rates
The Gold Amex earns at four tiers. Sobeys-owned grocery banners earn 6x Scene+. Dining out, food delivery, entertainment (movies, live events, streaming services), and eligible grocery stores outside the Sobeys network earn 5x. Gas stations and daily transit (buses, subways, taxis, rideshare) earn 3x. Everything else earns 1x.
| Spending category | Earn rate | Points per $100 spent |
|---|---|---|
| Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods | 6x Scene+ | 600 pts |
| Dining and food delivery | 5x Scene+ | 500 pts |
| Entertainment (movies, live events, streaming) | 5x Scene+ | 500 pts |
| Groceries (other stores) | 5x Scene+ | 500 pts |
| Gas stations | 3x Scene+ | 300 pts |
| Transit (bus, subway, taxi, rideshare) | 3x Scene+ | 300 pts |
| Everything else | 1x Scene+ | 100 pts |
Scene+ points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through the Scotia travel portal, or as a statement credit against a travel purchase charged to the card. The earn math is direct: 500 Scene+ on $100 of dining spend equals $5 toward your next trip.
What the earn math looks like
A cardholder spending $2,500 per month across typical categories:
| Category | Monthly spend | Rate | Monthly points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sobeys / IGA / Safeway | $400 | 6x | 2,400 pts |
| Dining and food delivery | $300 | 5x | 1,500 pts |
| Gas | $150 | 3x | 450 pts |
| Transit | $100 | 3x | 300 pts |
| All other spending | $1,550 | 1x | 1,550 pts |
| Total | $2,500 | 6,200 pts / mo |
74,400 Scene+ points per year at this spend mix. At 1 cent per point redeemed for travel, that is $744 in travel value against a $120 annual fee. The gap between the annual fee and the earned value is substantial, and that is before counting the FX fee savings on international purchases.
Scene+ points
Scene+ is Scotiabank’s flexible rewards program. Points redeem for travel through the Scotia travel portal, as a statement credit against a travel purchase on the card, for movies at Cineplex, for dining at participating restaurants, and for grocery purchases at Sobeys-owned stores. The travel redemption rate is 1 cent per point, with no blackout dates and no seat restrictions.
Scene+ does not transfer to airline loyalty programs. The Gold Amex is a strong accumulation engine for cardholders who want flexible travel redemptions. If accumulating Aeroplan miles for Air Canada redemptions is the priority, an Aeroplan-earning card is the more direct path. These are not mutually exclusive: some cardholders carry the Gold Amex for elevated earn on daily spending and a separate Aeroplan card for flight bookings.
Travel insurance
- Emergency medical: up to $1,000,000 (15 days if under 65)
- Travel accident: up to $500,000
- Trip cancellation: up to $1,500 per person
- Trip interruption: up to $1,500 per person
- Flight delay: up to $500 per person
- Baggage delay: up to $1,000 per person
- Lost or stolen baggage: up to $1,000 per person
- Hotel / motel burglary: up to $1,000 per person
- Rental car theft and damage: coverage applies
- Purchase protection: 90 days
- Extended warranty: 1 additional year
Emergency medical coverage runs up to 15 days per trip for cardholders under 65, which is more generous than many comparable cards. Travellers 65 and older should review the age-specific limits in the certificate of insurance and consider supplemental coverage for longer trips.
American Express acceptance
American Express has narrower merchant acceptance than Visa or Mastercard, particularly outside North America and Western Europe. In Canada, acceptance at major retailers and restaurants is generally good. Abroad, particularly in Japan, Southeast Asia, Central America, and smaller towns throughout Europe, Amex can be declined at merchants that would take a Visa without issue.
For travellers who use the Gold Amex primarily for domestic spending and switch to a backup Visa or Mastercard while abroad, the acceptance gap is manageable. For travellers who want a single card that works everywhere internationally, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite runs on Visa and also carries no FX fees, though its earn rates on dining and groceries are lower.
Gold Amex vs. Passport Visa Infinite
| Feature | Gold Amex | Passport Visa Infinite |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $150 |
| Income requirement | None | $60,000 personal |
| Grocery earn (Sobeys banners) | 6x Scene+ | 3x Scene+ |
| Dining earn | 5x Scene+ | 2x Scene+ |
| No foreign transaction fee | Yes | Yes |
| Airport lounge passes | None | 6 per year (DragonPass) |
| Network | American Express | Visa |
The Gold Amex wins on earn rates and annual fee. The Passport Visa Infinite wins on lounge access and global acceptance. Some cardholders carry both: the Gold Amex for everyday spending in Canada and the Passport Visa Infinite (or a no-fee Visa) as the travel-ready backup card abroad.
Good fit if
- You spend heavily on groceries, dining, or entertainment and want earn rates well above what most Canadian cards offer in these categories.
- You travel internationally and want to avoid the 2.5% FX surcharge while still earning a meaningful rate on every foreign purchase.
- You want a strong everyday earner without an income requirement or a high annual fee.
Less useful if
- You need reliable international card acceptance without carrying a backup: Amex is declined more frequently abroad than Visa or Mastercard, particularly outside major cities.
- You want airport lounge access included: the Gold Amex has no lounge benefit; the Passport Visa Infinite includes six DragonPass passes per year.
- You are accumulating Aeroplan miles for Air Canada redemptions: Scene+ does not transfer to Aeroplan, so a dedicated Aeroplan-earning card is the more direct route.