American Express Membership Rewards: The Essential Guide for Canadians
Easy earning, strong redemption potential and an unmatched selection of transfer partners.
In my opinion, American Express Membership Rewards are the most valuable travel rewards points in Canada.
They’re relatively easy to earn, offer excellent redemption potential and most importantly, they’re transferable points. Instead of automatically redeeming your points for 1 cent each, you can transfer Membership Rewards to several airline and hotel loyalty programs when a high-value travel opportunity comes along.
American Express also has the best selection of transfer partners in Canada.
That combination of easy earning, strong redemption potential and an unmatched selection of transfer partners is why Membership Rewards are my #1 travel rewards currency in Canada.
Why I Love American Express Membership Rewards
I’ve personally used Membership Rewards to book some of my favourite travel experiences, including my very first business class flight.
✈️ My First Business Class Flight
Four years ago, I transferred my Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue and booked Air France business class from Paris to Vancouver for just 60,000 points per person, one way.
✈️ Cathay Pacific Aria Suite to Vietnam
I transferred Membership Rewards points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles to help book our business class flights to Vietnam on Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suite for 88,000 points.
✈️ WestJet Flights to Mexico – Booked With Flying Blue
I’ve also transferred Membership Rewards to Flying Blue and used those miles to book WestJet flights to Mexico for a fraction of the points it would have cost me using WestJet points.
That last example is a great illustration of why transferable points are so valuable. Airline loyalty programs have partnerships that can open up entirely different ways to book the same flights, sometimes for significantly fewer points.
You don’t need to understand every airline partnership to get started. The important thing is knowing that your Membership Rewards can open the door to far more airlines than just the programs listed on the Amex transfer page.
What Are American Express Membership Rewards Points?
Membership Rewards, often shortened to Amex MR, are transferable rewards points earned with eligible American Express cards. There are several ways you can use them:
- Transfer them to participating airline programs
- Transfer them to participating hotel programs
- Book travel through American Express
- Use the Fixed Points Travel Program
- Redeem them toward eligible purchases
- Redeem for merchandise or gift cards
The Real Power of Membership Rewards: Transfer Partners
This is where Membership Rewards really shines. You can transfer your points directly to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, giving you far more ways to use your points for travel.
All Transfer Partners
| Program | Ratio | Points Value | Transfer time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan | 1:1 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 pts | Instant | Star Alliance partners, international travel, premium cabins |
| Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) | 1:1 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | Instant | WestJet flights, Europe, monthly Promo Rewards deals |
| British Airways Avios | 1:1 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 Avios | Instant | Europe on Iberia, short haul sweet spots, Aer Lingus, Qatar |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:0.75 | 1,000 MR = 750 miles | 2–5 days | Cathay Pacific flights, Asia travel, premium cabins |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:0.75 | 1,000 MR = 750 miles | Instant | Delta flights. Compare other options first due to ratio |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1:1.2 | 1,000 MR = 1,200 pts | Up to 2 days | Topping up Marriott balance, luxury hotels worldwide |
| Hilton Honors | 1:1 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 pts | Up to 5 days | Hilton properties worldwide |
| Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | 1,000 MR = 500 pts | Varies | Fairmont, Raffles, Sofitel – luxury Canadian hotels |
Do Membership Rewards Points Expire?
Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
However, if you cancel your American Express card your points will expire. Before cancelling any Amex card, make sure to transfer your points to an airline or hotel partner first to preserve their value.
This is especially important if you’re considering cancelling a card after the first year to avoid the annual fee. Have a plan for your points before you close the account.
How to Earn Membership Rewards Points
Here are my five favourite ways to build my Membership Rewards balance: credit card welcome offers, everyday spending, referring your partner, upgrading, and special offers. Ideally, you can take advantage of all five!
1. Credit Card Welcome Offers
Welcome offers can be one of the fastest ways to build a large Membership Rewards balance, but the offers change throughout the year. Don’t choose a card based solely on the number of points being advertised.
Instead, consider the annual fee, spending requirement, earning rates and benefits you’ll actually use. Most importantly, never spend more just to earn points.
2. Everyday Spending
This is where Membership Rewards really stands out for me. Some Amex cards offer excellent category multipliers, allowing you to earn multiple points per dollar on expenses you’re already paying for.
3. Refer Your Partner
If you’re earning points as a couple, don’t automatically add your partner as an additional Cardmember. After you’ve received your own Amex card and earned your welcome offer, check your account for a Refer a Friend offer.
Your partner may be able to apply for their own eligible American Express card. This can create three separate opportunities to earn: you earn your welcome offer + you may earn a referral bonus + your partner can earn their own welcome offer.
Referral offers, eligible cards and bonus amounts can change, so always check the current terms before applying.
4. Amex Upgrade Offers
American Express may occasionally offer eligible Cardmembers a bonus to upgrade from one Amex card to another. These can be a great opportunity to earn additional Membership Rewards without making a brand-new application.
Upgrade offers are targeted and can vary considerably, so always read the offer carefully and make sure the new card, annual fee and spending requirement make sense for you — not just the bonus.
5. Amex Offers
Don’t overlook Amex Offers. Eligible Cardmembers regularly receive targeted promotions that can give you statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards for spending with participating businesses.
I wouldn’t buy something simply because there’s an offer, but before making a purchase you were already planning, check the Offers section in your Amex account first. Over the course of a year, these offers can add meaningful value to your card.
Why the Amex Cobalt Is My Favourite Earning Card
The Cobalt doesn’t always have the biggest welcome offer, but that’s not why I love it. The Cobalt is an everyday earning powerhouse.
It earns:
- 5X points on eligible groceries, restaurants, bars, cafés and food/grocery delivery in Canada, up to $2,500 in eligible spending per month
- 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2X points on eligible gas, transit and rideshare purchases in Canada
- 1X point on other eligible purchases
How to Redeem Membership Rewards Points
There are numerous ways to redeem your Membership Rewards. To get the most value from your points, you will want to transfer your points to the airline partners.
Redeem Points for Purchases – 1 Cent Per Point
You can apply Membership Rewards toward eligible purchases at 1,000 MR = $10. It’s a simple and predictable way to use your points, but if travel is your goal, I’d check your other options first.
Book Through American Express Travel at 1 Cent Per Point
You can also redeem Membership Rewards toward eligible travel through American Express Travel at 1,000 MR = $10 toward travel. It’s convenient and doesn’t require you to learn airline loyalty programs, although you’re still getting the standard 1-cent-per-point value.
BEST POTENTIAL VALUE: Transfer Partners
This is where I generally look first. Transfer Membership Rewards to the right airline program for the right redemption and you may be able to get 2, 3, 4 cents per point or even more.
It won’t always be the best deal, so compare the points price with the cash price before booking. But this potential for outsized value is one of the biggest reasons transferable points are so powerful.
Watch for Transfer Bonuses
Occasionally, there may be a bonus when transferring Membership Rewards to a participating loyalty program. For example, a 30% transfer bonus could turn 10,000 MR into 13,000 airline points.
These bonuses can be valuable, particularly when you’re booking multiple tickets, but don’t transfer just because there’s a promotion. Find the redemption first.
How to Find Transfer Bonuses
Transfer bonuses aren’t announced far in advance and they don’t last long. The best way to make sure you never miss one is to follow @pointsnavigator on Instagram. I share transfer bonus alerts as soon as I spot them.
You can also check the American Express website directly under the Membership Rewards transfer section, any active bonus will be displayed there when you’re logged into your account.
Membership Rewards Mistakes to Avoid
1. Automatically Redeeming Your Points for 1 Cent Each
The 1-cent redemption is easy, but those transferable points could potentially give you significantly more value through an airline partner. Before cashing out your MR, compare your options and make sure the easy redemption is actually the one you want.
2. Automatically Redeeming for Gift Cards
It’s tempting to cash out your points for gift cards at the end of the year or around the holidays, but check what those same points could potentially do for your travel first. Know what you’re giving up before you redeem.
3. Transferring Points Without a Plan
Once transferred, you generally can’t move the points back to American Express. This is why I always follow the same rule: Search first. Transfer second. Book third.
4. Ignoring Transfer Ratios
Not every Membership Rewards transfer is 1:1. For example, 1,000 MR = 1,000 Aeroplan points, while 1,000 MR = 750 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Always check the transfer ratio before deciding where to move your points.
5. Spending More Just to Earn Points
Don’t buy things you don’t need to earn more MR, and don’t chase a welcome offer if the spending requirement doesn’t fit your normal expenses.
Treat your credit card like a debit card. Pay your balance in full and never pay interest just to earn travel rewards.
Who Should Collect Membership Rewards?
Membership Rewards may be a great fit if:
- You want transferable points rather than being tied to one airline
- You want the potential to get more than 1 cent per point
- You spend a significant amount on groceries and restaurants
- You travel internationally
- You want to use points for business class or other premium travel
- You’re willing to learn a little about airline transfer partners
You don’t need to learn everything at once. Start with one or two transfer partners that can help you get where you want to go, and build your knowledge from there.
A Note on Amex Acceptance in Canada
Amex acceptance has improved significantly in recent years. Most major grocery chains, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies and online retailers now accept American Express in Canada.
That said, it’s still not universal. Two notable exceptions that affect a lot of Canadian families:
❌ Loblaws, No Frills and Real Canadian Superstore do not accept Amex
❌ Costco Canada does not accept Amex
Walmart does accept Amex, however, the Walmart purchases are not coded as grocery and do not count as a 5x spend category.
If you do most of your grocery shopping at these stores, the Cobalt’s 5X grocery multiplier won’t apply there. This is worth knowing before you apply.
This is why I always recommend keeping a Visa or Mastercard as a backup. Use your Amex Cobalt where it’s accepted for the 5X earning power, and your Visa or Mastercard everywhere else.
The good news? Sobeys, Safeway, Save-On-Foods, IGA, Metro and most other major Canadian grocery chains DO accept Amex, so for many families the Cobalt still works exactly as intended for grocery earning.
My Membership Rewards Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Earning Potential | ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ |
| Transfer Partners | ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ |
| Redemption Potential | ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ |
| Ease of Use | ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ |
| Overall Rating | ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ |
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
For me, American Express Membership Rewards are the best travel rewards currency in Canada.
Earning Potential: 10/10
Welcome offers can give your balance a big boost, while cards like the Cobalt make it possible to continue earning quickly on everyday expenses. The combination of welcome offers and strong category multipliers gives Membership Rewards excellent earning potential.
Transfer Partners: 10/10
This is where Membership Rewards really stands apart. The number and variety of airline and hotel transfer partners gives you access to an incredible range of travel opportunities and, in my opinion, is unmatched by any other Canadian transferable points currency.
Redemption Potential: 9/10
You always have the simple 1-cent-per-point option, but transferring to the right airline program can potentially unlock significantly more value. The downside is that award availability isn’t guaranteed, transfer ratios vary and getting the best value requires some work.
Ease of Use: 9/10
Membership Rewards are easy to earn and easy to redeem, but getting the best value requires learning a little about transfer partners and award travel. That’s why I wouldn’t give the program a perfect score for ease of use.
The Bottom Line
American Express Membership Rewards: 9.5/10
They’re easy to earn, have excellent redemption potential and offer the best selection of transfer partners in Canada. For me, no other Canadian travel rewards currency offers the same combination.
Want to Earn More American Express Membership Rewards?
If you want to build your Membership Rewards balance faster, the right credit card can make a big difference. Here are three American Express cards to consider, depending on how you spend and travel.
1. American Express Cobalt Card
Best for: Everyday Earning
This is my favourite everyday points-earning card. The Cobalt earns up to 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible groceries, restaurants, cafés, bars and food delivery in Canada, making it a powerhouse for turning everyday expenses into transferable travel points.
2. American Express Gold Rewards Card
Best for: Points + Travel Benefits
The Gold Rewards Card can be a good fit if you want to earn Membership Rewards while also getting additional travel benefits and credits.
3. The Platinum Card
Best for: Frequent Travellers + Premium Benefits
The Platinum Card has a much higher annual fee, but it comes with premium travel benefits, lounge access and travel credits that can make sense for frequent travellers who will actually use them. It’s not the best everyday earning card, but the benefits and the welcome bonus often make up for it.
VIEW CURRENT AMEX PLATINUM OFFER
Before You Apply
The card with the biggest welcome offer isn’t automatically the best card for you. Consider the annual fee, spending requirement, earning categories and benefits you’ll actually use. The best card is the one that fits both your spending and your travel goals.
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