American Express® Gold Rewards Card review

• Earn 2 Membership Rewards points on travel, including eligible flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more
• Earn 2 Membership Rewards points on gas, grocery and drugstore purchases in Canada
• Earn an additional 1x point when booking travel through the American Express Travel website
• Earn 1x point on everything else

Here's how you can use the points earned through the Amex Gold Card:

• Travel: Easily book flights, hotels stays and other travel needs through the American Express Travel portal. You can also transfer your points to Amex’s airline and hotel partners, often for greater value (such as Delta, British Airways, or Marriott Bonvoy). We recommend these redemption options for the best dollar value.
  
• Statement credits: Redeem points for statement credits, though this option generally provides a lower value per point compared to travel or gift cards.
• Gift cards: You can access a variety of gift cards (for dining, retail, etc.) through the Amex rewards portal.

• Access to Priority Pass enrollment and worldwide airport lounges.
• 4 complimentary Canadian Plaza Premium Lounge entries per calendar year.
• Convertibility of points to loyalty programs like Aeroplan, Avios and Marriott Bonvoy.
• 1 free additional card ($50 for additional cards)

To access this coverage, any bookings must be wholly charged to your American Express® Gold Rewards Card. 

• Out of province/country emergency medical insurance: Up to $5 million for eligible expenses for primary cardholders under 65 for the first 15 consecutive days.
• Travel accident insurance: Up to $500,000 for accidental death and dismemberment for the primary cardmember (your spouse and children can also be covered).
• Trip cancellation insurance: Up to $1,500 per insured person per trip.
• Trip interruption insurance: Up to $1,500 per insured person per trip should your trip be interrupted or delayed for a covered reason.  
• Flight delay insurance: Up to $500 (included with baggage delay insurance) for necessary and reasonable accommodations, restaurant expenses and toiletries purchases within 48 hours. 
• Hotel burglary insurance: Up to $500 in coverage against the loss of personal items if your accommodation is burglarized (also check your home insurance coverage for more). 
• Lost or stolen baggage insurance: Up to $500 per trip max for any loss or damage to your checked-in or carry-on baggage. 
• Car rental theft and damage insurance: Up to $85,000 for collision damage and loss damage (you must decline car rental coverage). 
• Extended warranty coverage: Automatically extended the manufacturer’s original warranty for up to 1 year under the Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan from Amex. 
• Purchase protection: Up to 90 days from the date of purchase for any accidental damage or theft. 

The Scotiabank Gold Amex, with a $120 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, is appealing. It rewards users with Scene+ points, especially beneficial for those shopping at Sobeys or Safeway. 

The Amex Gold asks for twice as much in an annual fee and nearly double for any additional cards. 

So, is it worth it?

While both Welcome Bonuses are relatively the same in terms of cash value, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® earns 6x Scene+™ on every $1 spent in Canada on groceries, dining and entertainment. Amex MR points are worth about the same as Scene+ points when booking travel, however, if you transfer your Amex MR points to one of their 20 airline and hotel partners (e.g. Aeroplan, Marriott), each point can be worth up to double, or nearly triple the value. So, if travel is your game, the Amex may win this battle. 

Disclosures:

Both the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the Amex Gold Card are excellent options for travelers, with the key difference often coming down to Aeroplan points versus Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards points stand out for their flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to Aeroplan or other travel loyalty programs. The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has a lower annual fee, especially with its first-year rebate, while the Amex Gold has a higher fee but offers added benefits, such as a free additional card.

In terms of welcome bonuses, TD provides strong upfront value with Aeroplan points, while the Amex Gold rewards you with Membership Rewards points for meeting monthly spending thresholds. When it comes to earning rewards, the TD card focuses on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, while the Amex Gold provides more versatility with higher points on both travel and everyday purchases.

Insurance coverage depends on your priorities. Amex offers higher emergency medical coverage but for a shorter duration, while TD provides extended coverage for longer trips. If you value flexibility in how you redeem points and are comfortable with a higher annual fee, the Amex Gold is an excellent choice. However, for those who prefer a lower fee and dedicated Aeroplan perks, the TD card is a strong contender.

If you can handle the $250 annual fee (with the annual travel credit), the winner here is the Amex for the extra intangible benefits like the flexibility of points (including transferring to Aeroplan at 1:1)

Disclosures:

To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders while this offer is in effect.

The Platinum Card®, with its $799 annual fee, may put you off immediately. However, they give you a which brings the cost closer to $399. They also throw in a $100 NEXUS◊ statement credit and you can Unlock $200 or more in additional value with Member extras. You can earn statement credits for qualifying purchases with participating brands.

At the airport, you also unlock unlimited access to the Priority Pass lounge collection of more than 1,300 airport lounges across 140 countries. If you’re a high net worth individual, who travels often and enjoys the finer things in life, consider The Platinum. But know, to truly unlock its full benefits, it requires expensive tastes.

Disclosures: