Amex Gold Rewards Card Review 2026: 60K Welcome MR Points

60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. The 60,000 points are worth approximately $600 in flight redemptions when transferred to Aeroplan or other airline partner programs. The minimum spend works out to ~$1,000/month for 3 months.

Cobalt is better for everyday spending — 5x on groceries and restaurants is the highest earn rate among Canadian cards. Gold is better for diversified spending — 2x on travel, gas, groceries, and pharmacies is broader but lower per-category. If your spending is heavy on groceries and dining (~$1,000+/month combined), Cobalt wins. If you spend more on travel and gas, Gold's 2x rate compounds across more categories.

Platinum at $799/year only makes sense for premium travelers who use Centurion lounges, the $200+ travel credit, hotel elite status, and concierge services. Gold at $250/year is for cardholders who want MR points and basic travel benefits without the premium price. If you don't fly business class regularly or use luxury hotels, Gold is the better value.

No, Amex Gold Rewards does not include airport lounge access. Lounge access is reserved for the Amex Platinum (Centurion + Priority Pass) or for cards with specific lounge programs like the Aeroplan Reserve (Maple Leaf Lounge). For lounge access at Gold's price tier, look at the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite ($150 + 6 Priority Pass visits) instead.

Each anniversary year, cardholders receive a $100 statement credit when booking flights, hotels, or vacation packages through Amex Travel. The credit is automatic — book through amex.travel.ca and the $100 reduces your statement after the booking posts. Effective annual fee after the credit: $150, comparable to the Scotia Passport.

Yes. Amex Gold's Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Marriott Bonvoy (1:1), Hilton Honors (1:1), and several other programs. Transfers to Aeroplan are typically instant. This flexibility is the main reason to choose Gold over single-program cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite.

No, the Amex Gold Rewards charges a 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee, the same as most Canadian Amex cards. For international travel, pair the Gold with the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite (no FX fees) and use the Gold only for Canadian-billed purchases.

Gold's 2x earn rate is mid-tier — slightly behind the RBC Avion's 1.25x but with broader categories, similar to the Scotia Passport's 3x on Canadian categories. The MR transferability is Gold's main advantage; non-Amex cards lock you into single programs (Avion or Scene+). For pure earn-rate maximization, the Cobalt or Scotia Passport often beats Gold; for flexibility, Gold wins.