I have an Amex Gold Aeroplan card.

I am thinking of switching to a Platinum Amex (non-Aeroplan) card.

The most attractive thing to me about it is the FHR program.

The other features (airport lounges etc.) wouldn't be much use to me.

It looks like the miles benefits (transferring Amex points to Aeroplan) would be a little worse with the platinum card vs. the Aeroplan gold card.

I figure I would use the FHR benefits about twice per year.

I have a few questions about the switch:

1. Are the Canadian Amex Card FHR benefits the same as the U.S. ones, ie. the same hotels and the same benefits.

2. On average, would the FHR rate for a hotel be the same as booking it myself on Expedia, a little higher than Expedia, or a lot higher?

3. If it doesn't work out will there be any hassle in switching back to the Gold Aeroplan card, and would I get my pro-rated fees back?

We will go to Las Vegas in October and then likely to Cancun later in the year so I thought I would try out the FHR program and see how it works out.