/AMEX

The flat bonus is the story: each eligible card now carries one spend hurdle, and the premium cards pay 30,000 points for just $3,000 on an added card. On the Aeroplan Reserve, a $199 additional card returns 30,000 Aeroplan points, worth about $600 at a 2cpp valuation, plus a free checked bag and Maple Leaf Lounge access. The Platinum version is the same math: $250 for 30,000 Membership Rewards, convertible 1:1 to Aeroplan, with lounge access for the cardholder. Max two added cards per account, so two Platinum or Reserve additions get you 60,000 points for $500 or $398 in fees. The no-fee Cobalt and Marriott Bonvoy cards are the easy 7,500-point wins if your cardholders can hit the $2,000 spend.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy's 125,000-point welcome plus $150 statement credit is solid, but the card's real value is the annual free night certificate after $15,000 spend, redeemable at up to 75,000 points per night with a 25k top-up. The 4x on dining and grocery is capped at $15,000 per year (60,000 points max), so heavy spenders hit a ceiling. At a $250 annual fee, the yield hinges on that certificate covering an aspirational property, not just the sign-up math.