News Releases

Unique card delivers premium travel experience and exclusive benefits.

TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, American Express Canada and the AIR MILES®* Reward Program are taking travellers and avid AIR MILES Collectors on a first-class journey with the launch of the new American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card. This premium travel AIR MILES Credit Card delivers the finer things in life, like more luxurious travel experiences and exclusive Reserve Cardmember concierge services that will transform your next trip into an unforgettable journey.

"For the avid reward mile Collector and refined traveller, the American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card puts the focus on premium travel and service experiences," says Tracy Hendricks, Vice President, New Business Development and Rewards, American Express Canada. "Whether travelling for business or pleasure, Cardmembers can indulge in more exclusive benefits - making their time away feel extra special."

The American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card breaks through barriers often associated with travel rewards programs with the introduction of AIR MILES FlexFly^TM*, the first service of its kind available through the AIR MILES Reward Program. Through this unique offering, Reserve Cardmembers can travel in both economy and business class with no blackout dates, use reward miles to cover taxes and fees on flight redemptions, and are given access to additional airlines, destinations and departure times not available within the current AIR MILES program, exclusively to Reserve Cardmembers.

"We are thrilled to be launching this elite travel experience based credit card with American Express," said Andy Wright, president, AIR MILES Reward Program. "This is the first credit card of its kind for the AIR MILES program, and one that aims to provide our valued Collectors with superior service and travel offerings. Our avid Collectors are looking for that personalized concierge and travel experience that only American Express and AIR MILES, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, can offer."

The American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card isn't just about earning and redeeming reward miles, but about enhancing the overall travel experience, from booking to destination. Reserve Cardmembers receive a full suite of benefits set to deliver a premium travel experience, including:

• Exclusive AIR MILES FlexFly Redemptions - you can access additional airlines and destinations, departure times, and economy, business and first class seats on flights not available within the AIR MILES flight program
• 1 annual Companion Flight for a round-trip economy flight (to a maximum of 1,450 reward miles)  for your companion to travel with you on the same itinerary through the Exclusive Companion Flight Benefit
• Exclusive access to an AIR MILES Concierge Service, offering personalized travel planning
• Priority Pass worldwide lounge access - 4 Lounge Passes per year to more than 600 participating airport lounges around the globe
• Access to the Toronto Pearson Priority Security Lanes in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3
• Access to Priority Limo and Taxi Lanes at Toronto Pearson
• The exclusive choice to redeem AIR MILES to cover taxes and fees on flight redemptions
• Access to available Business Class seats for flight redemptions
• Waived AIR MILES Flight Administration Fee
• Comprehensive travel insurance and retail coverage

"Putting the American Express premium touch on the traditional AIR MILES flight rewards program only improves an already great offering," said Norman Howe, President and CEO of Butterfield & Robinson. "I love this Card as it offers both exclusive travel experiences and personalized concierge service; two qualities at the heart of luxury travel."

The American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card offers the same high quality level of customer care you've come to expect with American Express' Card offerings. Services include access to agents 24/7, a one-call resolution promise, and worldwide service for the avid traveller. The American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card also offers access to the AIR MILES Concierge team, who can offer you personalized travel planning and allow you to take advantage of AIR MILES FlexFly Redemptions and the Exclusive Companion Flight Benefit.

With the flexibility to earn AIR MILES reward miles on everyday eligible purchases, American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Cardmembers can earn 1 reward mile for every $10 in Card purchases at AIR MILES Sponsors, 1 reward mile for every $10 in Card purchases at other eligible grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores in Canada, and 1 reward mile for every $15 in Card purchases everywhere else the Card is used. From your daily latte and parking, to monthly bill payments and bigger expenses like travel and entertainment, everyday spend can add up to more reward miles and the chance to redeem for an amazing travel adventure.

Cardmembers also have access to entertainment offerings through American Express Front Of The Line® and as an AIR MILES Collector, have access to the AIR MILES Experiences offered by the Air Miles Program, as well as the AIR MILES Reward Program's more than 1,200 rewards to choose from - everything from movie tickets to electronics, travel and more.

The American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card is available now for an annual fee of $299. For more information, or to apply, please visit americanexpress.ca/welcomeamreserve or call 1-888-261-2639 (AMEX)

About American Express Canada
American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express charge and credit cards, with outstanding products like the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, and the American Express® AIR MILES® Platinum Card. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Corporate Travel and Travellers Cheques divisions in Canada. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now employs 3,700 Canadians coast-to-coast. For more information, visit www.Facebook.com/AmericanExpressCanada.

About the AIR MILES Reward Program
Founded in 1992, the AIR MILES Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program with more than 10 million active Collector accounts, representing approximately two-thirds of all Canadian households. The AIR MILES Reward Program allows Collectors to earn reward miles simply by doing their everyday shopping at more than 220 leading brand-name Sponsors, representing thousands of retail and service locations across Canada and leading global brands online. The AIR MILES Reward Program also allows Collectors to indulge in more than 1200 leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and a range of accredited, environmentally-friendly lifestyle rewards. With AIR MILES Cash, Collectors can also have the flexibility to instantly redeem their AIR MILES reward miles in-store towards many every day and high value purchases like gas, grocery, drug store items and home improvement purchases at participating Sponsors.

®, TM : Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

®*, TM*:  Trademark of AIR MILES®* International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and Amex  Bank of Canada.

Image with caption: "Howard Grosfield, president and CEO of American Express Canada and Bryan Pearson, president and CEO of LoyaltyOne launch the new American Express AIR MILES Reserve Card (CNW Group/American Express)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130214_C5531_PHOTO_EN_23738.jpg

SOURCE: American Express