The American Express Business Gold Card: A Great Option for Canadian Travellers

The American Express Business Gold Card is one of the leading travel rewards credit cards in Canada. While it is a step below the Business Platinum Card in terms of travel perks, it still offers a great sign-up bonus, that can help propel you to your dream vacation.

At first glance, the word “business” may deter people from applying for the card. However, even as a sole proprietor, you can secure business credit cards with relative ease. Simply put your name down in lieu of the business name, and proceed with the application.

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The Basics 

Annual Fee: $199

Sign up Bonus: 110,000 MR

First Year Free: No

GCR Rebate: $125 

Referral Bonus: 7,500 Membership Rewards

Lounge Access: No

First Year Value: $1,500

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American Express Business Gold Card Sign-up Bonus 

New cardholders will earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after charging $5,000 in net purchases to their card in the first 3 months.

Cardholders can also earn 10,000 Membership Rewards when they make $20,000 in purchases in one quarter, for a total of 110,000 MR

If you’re currently an American Express Business Business Gold cardholder, You can earn 7,500 Membership Rewards by referring a friend or family member to the Business & Personal Gold Card, Business & Personal Platinum Card, Cobalt Card, & Business Edge card.

Earning Rewards

The American Express Business Gold card has a below-average everyday earning rate. The earn rates are as follows: 

• 1 Membership Reward for every $1 spent.

Given that the value of 1 Membership Reward is still fairly strong when factoring in the ability to transfer those points to other loyalty programs, the earning rate is still higher than most cards. 

However, when comparing the Business Gold to other American Express cards, the earning rate is below par (the American Express Cobalt Card offers 5 MR per dollar spent at on food & beverage, and the Business Platinum offers 1.25 MR per dollar spent).

Redeeming Your Rewards

The American Express Business Gold Card allows you to earn Membership Rewards.

Read: Your Complete Guide to Membership Rewards

Membership Rewards is one of, if not the best travel currency for Canadians. One of, if not the best reason for you to start collecting American Express Membership Rewards (MR) is that you can transfer your MR to multiple transfer partners including: 

• Air Canada/Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club 
• Alitalia MilleMiglia
• Asia Miles 
• Delta Airways Sky Miles
• Etihad Guest
• Marriott Bonvoy Points
• Hilton Honours Points

You can view the transfer ratios below

The best value to Canadians is to transfer the points out to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. 

110,000 Aeroplan points can earn you multiple free flights as you can see from the table below. 

Here’s the new award chart for travel within North America:

Here’s the new award chart for travel between North America and the Atlantic region:

You can leverage your Aeroplan points to travel to almost any worldwide destination:

How to Travel to Frankfurt from Canada on Points

How to Travel to Rome from Canada on Points

How to Travel to Lisbon From Canada on Points

Here’s the new award chart for travel between North America and the Pacific region:

Here’s the new award chart for travel between North America and South America:

If you choose not to transfer your Membership Rewards to one of the transfer partners listed above, you can alternatively use those points directly within American Express’ in-house travel platform

You can apply your Membership Rewards to both domestic & international travel as outlined below

It should be noted that the value you receive by TRANSFERRING your Membership Rewards is greater than if you were to use it within the American Express travel portal 

American Express Business Gold Card Benefits

The American Express Business Gold doesn’t have the perks associated with some of the higher-tier American Express cards. Business Gold cardholders receive the following benefits.

American Express Perks

Cardholders receive regular Perks, throughout the year including access to great events, and discounts on a number of Canadian retailers (through American Express Offers)

American Express Business Gold Card Insurance Coverage

The American Express Business Gold card is a mid-tier travel credit card and naturally comes with mid-tier insurance coverage. 

• Purchase protection insurance for 90 days – up to $1,000
• Automatic doubling of the manufacturer’s warranty for up to 1 additional year when the item is purchased through the Business Gold card
• Car rental damage insurance 
• Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $1,500
• Trip Interruption Insurance – up to $1,500
• Flight Delay Insurance – up to $500
• Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $500
• Baggage delay insurance – up to $500
• Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $500

Summary

While the $199 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 70,000 Membership Rewards will earn you potentially multiple free flights. 

It’s a great sign-up bonus

The 10,000 MR for every quarter in which you spend $20,000 may be worthwhile if you run a high number of expenses through this card, but for most Canadians, it’ll be in your best interest to leverage other cards for your everyday spending. 

Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $199 annual fee is worth spending after year one. Given the lack of everyday earnings on the card, I find it hard to imagine keeping the American Express Business Gold card past year one.