American Express Cobalt^® Card

Welcome bonus structure (12 separate bonuses)

1,250 points Bonus after spending $750 in the month (every month for 12 months)

15,000 points Total with the 12 parts of the bonus

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Earn on the minimum spending requirement

45,000 points Estimated earn on the minimum spending requirement of $750/month for 12 months (at multiplier earn rate of 5 pts/$)

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Total rewards by unlocking the welcome bonus

60,000 points Welcome bonus + earn on the minimum spending requirement to unlock it

‣Apply for the American Express Cobalt^® Card

Value of the welcome bonus offer
(at our Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ 1.5¢/pt)

≈ $225 Monthly welcome bonuses for 12 months (15,000 pts)
≈ $675 Earn on the spend for monthly bonuses (45,000 pts)
–$156 Card fee charged $12.99 per month (deducted from Flytrippers Valuation)

≈ $744 Total net value by unlocking the welcome bonus alone

‣Learn more our Flytrippers Valuation of welcome bonuses

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Effective return rate

≈ 8% Return on the minimum spending requirement (≈ $744 on $9,000)

‣Learn more about effective return rates (coming soon)

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Rewards acquisition summary

≈ $900 Rewards you get for $156

‣Apply for the American Express Cobalt^® Card

Value of redemption options (welcome bonus)

For each available redemption option, here is the value of the 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points you get by unlocking the welcome bonus:

≈ $900 to UNLIMITED Specific flights booked via transfers to airline programs
≈ $900 to ≈ $1200 Flights booked with the Amex award chart
≈ $648 to UNLIMITED Specific hotels booked via transfers to hotel programs
$600 Travel booked via any website website
$600 Statement credit

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of American Express points (detailed guide coming soon)

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Value of redemption options (per point)

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Amex Membership Rewards point to help you understand:

≈ 1.5¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific flights booked via transfers to airline programs
≈ 1.5¢/pt to ≈ 2¢/pt Flights booked with the Amex award chart
≈ 1.08¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific hotels booked via transfers to hotel programs
1¢/pt Travel booked via any website website
1¢/pt Statement credit

‣Learn more about the basics of the values per point (coming soon)

Redemptions with transfers to partners (Aeroplan)

The more valuable type of reward redemption, with a variable value: the amount of points required is unrelated to the cash price of the flight. The value depends on how many points are required by the reward chart and the cash price. So the value you can get from airline award charts is unlimited. You can redeem only for specific flights: only certain airlines are available and seat availability is limited (or all seats on Air Canada flights, but there’s no award chart).

Redeem your 60,000 Amex points for one-way flights (roundtrips are simply twice the price):

6,000 pts Up to 500 miles from Canada on United (Toronto-Chicago, Montreal-New York, Ottawa-Washington, etc.)
6,000 pts Up to 500 miles within Central America on Copa/Avianca (San José-Panama City, Guatemala City-San Salvador, etc.)
10,000 pts Up to 1500 miles from Canada on United (Toronto-Miami, Montreal-Nashville, Vancouver-Las Vegas, etc.)
12,500 pts Up to 2750 miles from Canada on United/Copa/Avianca (Toronto-Costa Rica, Montreal-Panama, Vancouver-Mexico, etc.)
35,000 pts From Toronto/Montreal to Western Europe on United/Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian/Brussels (Toronto-Germany, Montreal-Switzerland, etc.)
35,000 pts From Vancouver to Japan on ANA (Vancouver-Tokyo)
55,000 pts Business class from Vancouver to Japan on ANA (Vancouver-Tokyo)
60,000 pts Business class from Toronto/Montreal to Western Europe on United/Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian/Brussels (Toronto-Germany, Montreal-Switzerland, etc.)

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Amex points (detailed guide coming soon)

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Redemptions with transfers to partners (Avios)

The more valuable type of reward redemption, with a variable value: the amount of points required is unrelated to the cash price of the flight. The value depends on how many points are required by the reward chart and the cash price. So the value you can get from airline award charts is unlimited. You can redeem only for specific flights: only certain airlines are available and seat availability is limited.

Redeem your 60,000 Amex points for one-way flights (roundtrips are simply twice the price):

4,750 pts Up to 650 miles within Europe on British/Iberia/Aer Lingus (Madrid-Ibiza, Dublin-Amsterdam, London-Nice, etc.)
6,000 pts Up to 650 miles within Asia on Cathay/JAL/Malaysia (Tokyo-Osaka, Kuala Lumpur-Phuket, Taipei-Hong Kong, etc.)
6,000 pts Up to 650 miles elsewhere on Royal Air Maroc/Qantas (Sydney-Melbourne, Casablanca-Marrakech, etc.)
7,250 pts Up to 1151 miles within Europe on British/Iberia/Aer Lingus (London-Lisbon, Dublin-Prague, Madrid-Rome, etc.) 
7,500 pts Up to 650 miles from Canada on American/Alaska (Toronto-New York, Montreal-New York, Edmonton-Seattle, etc.)
9,000 pts Up to 1151 miles from Canada on American (Toronto-Miami, Montreal-Charlotte, Vancouver-Los Angeles, etc.)
11,000 pts Up to 2000 miles from Canada on American (Toronto-Miami, Montreal-Miami, Vancouver-Phoenix, etc.)
11,000 pts Up to 2000 miles from Miami on American (Miami-Cartagena, Miami-Costa Rica, Miami-Barbados, etc.)
13,000 pts From Toronto to Ireland on Aer Lingus (Toronto-Dublin)
17,000 pts From Boston/New York/Chicago to Spain on Iberia (Boston-Madrid, New York-Madrid, Chicago-Madrid)
25,000 pts From Montreal/Toronto to the UK on British (Toronto-London, Montreal-London)
34,000 pts Business class from Boston/New York/Chicago to Spain on Iberia (Boston-Madrid, New York-Madrid, Chicago-Madrid)
35,000 pts From Montreal to Qatar on Qatar Airways (Montreal-Doha)
36,250 pts From Vancouver to Asia on Cathay Pacific/JAL (Vancouver-Hong Kong, Vancouver-Tokyo)
47,500 pts From Montreal to Southeast Asia on Qatar Airways (Montreal-Bangkok, Montreal-Bali, Montreal-Hanoi)
50,000 pts Business class from Toronto to Ireland on Aer Lingus (Toronto-Dublin)
51,500 pts From Toronto to Asia on Cathay Pacific (Toronto-Hong Kong)
70,000 pts Business class from Montreal to Qatar on Qatar Airways (Montreal-Doha)
95,000 pts Business class from Montreal to Southeast Asia on Qatar (Montreal-Bangkok, Montreal-Bali, Montreal-Hanoi)

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Amex points (detailed guide coming soon)

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Redemptions with the Amex rewards chart

Another more valuable type of rewards redemption, with a variable value. All flights and all seats are available, but bank flight reward charts give you the best value when the cash price of a ticket’s base fare is very high. There’s a maximum base fare so the value is not unlimited. Some routes have surcharges, so the value depends on that too. Only roundtrips are available.

Redeem your 60,000 Amex points for roundtrip flights:

15,000 pts Specific popular routes such as Toronto-New York, Montreal-New York, Montreal-Toronto, Toronto-Ottawa, and Calgary-Vancouver (maximum $300 base fare)
20,000 pts Within your province/territory or to adjacent provinces/territories/states, except Alaska (maximum $300 base fare)
40,000 pts Canada to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean, or Central America (maximum $700 base fare)
60,000 pts Europe (maximum $900 base fare)
100,000 pts Anywhere else in the world (maximum $1700 base fare)

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Amex points (detailed guide coming soon)

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Redemptions with transfers to partners (Marriott)

The more valuable type of reward redemption, with a variable value: the amount of points required is not necessarily related to the cash price of the hotel. The value depends on how many points are required by the program and the cash price. So the value you can get from hotel programs is unlimited. You can redeem only for Marriott hotels but availability in not limited.

Redeem your 60,000 Amex points for free hotel nights:

60,000 pts Up to 10 free nights in Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, and a few other destinations
60,000 pts Up to 6 free nights in a few dozen other countries
60,000 pts Discount of ≈ $648 on most of the 9000 Marriott hotels

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Amex points (detailed guide coming soon)

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Redemptions for any travel expense

The more simple type of redemption, but should be avoided as much as possible (get other cards for this type of redemption).

Redeem your 60,000 Amex points for:

60,000 pts Discount of $600 on travel booked on any website

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Amex points (detailed guide coming soon)

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Redemptions for anything other than travel

Should always be avoided, as with all rewards!

‣Learn more about why you should always redeem your rewards for travel (coming soon)

Expiry
Amex points never expire as long as you have the card. And even if you no longer have the card, you can easily extend the expiration indefinitely.

‣Learn more about American Express points expiry (coming soon)

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Pooling
Amex points can be pooled with travel companions via transfer partners.

‣Learn more about pooling American Express points (coming soon)

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Transfers
American Express points can be transferred to multiple partner programs and this often provides the best value.

‣Learn more about American Express point transfers (coming soon)

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Logistics
Amex points can be used directly on the American Express website or app.

‣Learn more about how to get started with American Express rewards (coming soon)

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Rewards program summary
Rewards: American Express Membership Rewards points
Source: Bank rewards
Type: More valuable
Flytrippers Valuation: ≈ 1.5¢ per point
Minimum value: 1¢ per point
Maximum value: Unlimited
Transferable: Yes (8 partners)

‣Learn more about rewards programs basics (coming soon)

• Groceries
• Indirectly at retailers available via grocery store gift card displays
• Restaurants and food delivery apps
• Bars

• Streaming service subscriptions

• Gas
• Local transportation (subway, streetcar, etc.)
• Ride sharing (taxi, Uber, etc.)

• Everywhere else

Amex Offers program
Access to discounts, credits, and special offers throughout the year.

‣Learn more about the Amex Offers program

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Amex Experiences^TM
Access to exclusive virtual and in-person experiences and pre-sale tickets to lots of events.

‣Learn more about Amex Experiences^TM (coming soon)

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The Hotel Collection program
Benefits at top luxury hotels, such as a US$100 credit to use at the hotel and a free room upgrade.

‣Learn more about The Hotel Collection program (coming soon)

Insurance included

Medical travel insurance (15 days)
Flight delay insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Rental car insurance
Lost or stolen luggage insurance
Hotel burglary insurance
Travel accident insurance
Mobile device insurance
Purchase insurance
Extended warranty

‣Learn more about the American Express Cobalt^® Card’s insurance coverage (coming soon)

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Insurance not included

Trip cancelation insurance
Trip interruption insurance

‣Learn more about the different types of insurance coverage (coming soon)

Card eligibility
Minimum personal/household income: $0
Age: Majority in your province
Estimated credit score: Good or Excellent
Credit bureau: TransUnion

‣Learn more about credit card eligibility requirements (coming soon)

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Welcome bonus eligibility
You must not have had the American Express Cobalt^® Card before.

‣Learn more about credit card welcome bonus eligibility rules (coming soon)

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Offer end date
Offer subject to change at any time

‣Subscribe to Flytrippers’ free travel rewards newsletter to get all card updates

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Card details
Issuer: American Express
Network: American Express
Card Type: Credit card
Product Type: Personal card

‣Learn more about credit card types (coming soon)

Fees and rates
Card fee: $12.99/month ($155.88/year)
Fee for additional card: $0
FX fee: 2.5%
Purchases annual interest rate: 21.99%
Funds advances annual interest rate: 21.99%
Balance transfer fee: N/A

‣Learn more about why Flytrippers recommends ignoring fees and rates (coming soon)

• In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards^® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets
• Earn 5x the points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.
• Earn 3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
• Earn 2X the points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas in Canada
• Earn 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online
• Earn 1X point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
• Enjoy access to hotel bookings, a room upgrade (when available), 12pm check-in and late check-out (when available), and up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities when charged to the room for a stay of 2 or more consecutive nights through The Hotel Collection from American Express Travel
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
• Cobalt Cardmembers receive regular Perks such as bonus reward offers and access to great events
•  Access Front Of The Line^® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences^TM
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment