[Updated July 17, 2026] Canadian Amex MR can now transfer to Accor hotel points at a ratio of 1,000:500. Accor’s website currently shows the partnership, and transfers are expected to become available this summer.
Accor points are redeemed at a fixed rate of 2,000 points for €40. That gives Canadian Amex MR transferred to Accor and used for hotel stays an estimated value of about 1.6 cpp CAD.
Accor Hotels and the ALL - Accor Live Limitless loyalty program explained
Introduction
Canadian American Express Membership Rewards, usually called MR, is American Express’s Canadian rewards program. You can earn points through spending and other activities, then use them for airline miles, hotel points, gift cards and statement credits.
Based on the blog’s comparison of Canada’s major bank rewards programs, Amex MR is one of the most popular programs in Canada and, in my view, one of the programs most worth learning. The main reasons are that there are many ways to earn it at a relatively low cost, and it can be used flexibly for strong value.
The sections below cover earning, using and valuing MR, with examples and practical takeaways.
How to earn points
Canadian Amex MR has many earning sources, and the cost of earning it can be low. The main routes are:
- Welcome bonuses: American Express Canada offers welcome bonuses to attract new customers. Meet the required spending threshold within the stated period after approval and you receive MR points.
- Daily spending: Use an eligible credit card to earn MR. Different spending categories can have different earn rates; some cards offer more points at restaurants, on travel or at grocery stores.
- Referral program: You can earn points by referring friends through the Amex referral program. When a friend applies through your referral link and is approved, you can receive a referral bonus.
- Amex Offers: Amex sometimes partners with merchants to provide statement credits or extra MR points on qualifying purchases.
- Promotions: Amex periodically runs promotions, such as referral campaigns and offers tied to a spending threshold.
Amex cards and a quick comparison
Here are some American Express cards available in Canada that can earn Membership Rewards points:
- Amex Platinum Card
- Amex Gold Rewards Card
- Amex Cobalt Card: A Canadian Everyday-Spending Favourite
- Amex Green Card
- Amex Business Platinum Card
- Amex Business Gold Card
- Amex Business Edge
| Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Card | Base | Dining | Grocery | Gas | Travel | Transit | Amex Travel | Drugstore | Convenience | Streaming | Office/electronics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 699 | 100,000 | Platinum | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 250 | 70,000 | Gold | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| 156 | 30,000 | Cobalt | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | ||
| 0 | 12,500 | Green | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| 499 | 100,000 | Biz Platinum | 1.25 | ||||||||||
| 199 | 110,000 | Biz Gold | 1.5 | ||||||||||
| 99 | 67,000 | Biz Edge | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
How to use your points
As noted above, Amex MR can be used for gift cards, statement credits or hotel points, but these options generally offer poor value. For frequent travellers, the preferred use is transferring points to airline partners.
1️⃣ Transfer to frequent-flyer programs
Log in to your American Express online account, open the Membership Rewards section and choose a transfer partner. The ratios are:
| Partner | Transfer ratio |
|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Cathay Asia Miles | 1,000 : 750 |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1,000 : 750 |
| Hilton Honors | 1,000 : 1,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1,000 : 1,200 |
⚠️ Transfers from MR to Aeroplan usually arrive within 30 minutes.
- That means you can find the award flight you need on Aeroplan, transfer points and then book soon afterward.
⚠️ Transfers to British Airways and Cathay usually take five business days.
[Updated January 2026] The Flying Blue ratio changed from 1:0.75 to 1:1. The Etihad Guest partnership ended on June 20, 2026.
2️⃣ Fixed Points Travel
Overview
Go directly to Fixed Points Travel. The redemption value is between 1.5 cpp CAD and 2 cpp CAD.
Pros and cons:
✅ It is treated as a cash fare, so you can earn miles
✅ You can book as little as one day in advance
✅ Fly from Canada to almost anywhere, without being limited to one airline
✅ Economy and business class are available
✅ Paying taxes with an Amex MR-earning card can provide the relevant insurance
❌ Only round trips departing from Canada qualify; one-way tickets do not
❌ Points cover the base fare only; taxes are separate
❌ You need enough points to redeem the fare
Example
Search directly in Amex Travel; you need to be logged in to your Amex account.
For example, a Toronto–New York round trip costs either CAD 435.18 or 15,000 points plus CAD 161.19. The approximate value is:
(43,518 cents - 16,119 cents) / 15,000 points = 1.83 cpp
Some redemptions are much worse. If the value is below your personal valuation, skip the booking.
⚠️ Some business-class flights to Europe have very high taxes, so using Amex Fixed Points for them is usually not recommended.
Practical takeaways
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In general, transferring MR to airline partners is more likely to produce high value, especially for business- and first-class awards. The trade-off is that some transfers are not instant and you are limited to specific partners. Amex Travel offers more airlines and more choice.
-
If you need a last-minute flight, or the cash fare is extremely expensive, check Fixed Points Travel. It can sometimes produce a surprisingly good result.
-
Popular routes that can offer better value include:
- Toronto–Montreal
- Montreal–New York
- Toronto–New York
- Vancouver–Calgary
- Toronto–Ottawa
What are MR points worth?
The value of MR depends on how you use the points and what you redeem for. Some common estimates are:
- Airline or hotel transfers: This is often the most effective use, especially for business- or first-class flights. With the right redemption, an MR point can sometimes be worth 1.5 to 2 cents or more, but finding those opportunities takes knowledge and experience.
- Shopping or statement credits: The value is usually much lower, generally around 0.6 to 0.7 cents per point.
- Gift cards and other rewards: The value depends on the specific option and is often around 0.7 to 1 cent per point.
Example and personal takeaways
In my experience, MR’s biggest advantages are flexibility and the wide range of ways to use it. Getting the best value takes time and effort to learn the transfer partners and compare redemption options.
Transferring Canadian Amex MR to Air Canada Aeroplan is currently the simplest and most recommended use of Canadian Amex MR.
Long-haul business- and first-class awards can deliver strong value. For one example, first search Aeroplan or another award-search tool, confirm how many points you need, then transfer MR to Aeroplan. Transfers are very fast and can be close to real time, so it is better to find a suitable award before moving points. This one-way business-class trip back to China cost 87,500 points plus $128.31. Two segments were in business class and one was in economy, with a manageable connection. I considered it good value; with more time to search and compare, you may be able to find an all-business itinerary.
Keywords: Canadian credit cards, Canadian Amex, Amex MR, Air Canada, Aeroplan, long-haul business class, business-class award tickets
Further reading
Is buying Flying Blue miles during a promotion worth it? An analysis with redemption sweet spots
Flying Blue: An introduction to the Air France and KLM points program
