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How to see the world on points: Best travel rewards programs in Canada

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Updated: December 04, 2024

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Evaluating the various rewards programs in Canada can be subjective. Do you judge a program based on its flexibility, how easy it is to earn points, or how complicated it is to make a redemption? Or perhaps it's important to identify a program's niche features that will appeal to specific groups of consumers?

No matter what you value most in a rewards program, one thing's for sure: It's very rare for Canadians to stick to a single loyalty program throughout their lives. And if you've been using the same rewards provider for a while, it might be worth your time to review the options out there. To that purpose we've analyzed the best travel rewards in Canada and how their programs work.

  • Why you can trust Money.ca's credit card picks

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    Money.ca rates all credit cards on a numeric scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest rating, respectively. Money.ca’s proprietary scoring formulas break down the confusing language, complex points, rewards and earn rates to give you the real data that caters to your needs first, not ours.

    Our partnerships have no impact on our ratings, which are solely determined by the merits of each card. To learn more about how we researched and ranked these cards, read our full credit card review methodology. You can view the results of our methodological process on our Best Credit Cards Canada 2024 list.

Travel rewards program Recommended credit card Average point value Flexibility* Transfer partners Expiry date
Aeroplan TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card $0.02 Good No 18 months after account inactivity
AIR MILES BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®* $0.105 Weak No 24 months after account inactivity
American Express Rewards The Platinum Card® $0.01 Excellent Yes None with active account; 90 days after account closed
BMO Rewards BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®* $0.0067 Good No None with active account; 90 days after account closed
CIBC Aventura CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card $0.0116 Excellent Yes None with active account; 60 days after account closed
Marriott Rewards Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* $0.01 Excellent Yes 24 months after account inactivity
MBNA Rewards MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® $0.01 Good No None with active account
RBC Avion Rewards RBC Avion Visa Infinite $0.021 Excellent Yes None with active account; 90–365 days after account closes
Scene+ Travel Scotiabank Gold American Express® $0.01 Excellent Yes None with active account; account may close after 24 months of inactivity
TD Travel Rewards TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card $0.005 Excellent No None with active account
WestJet Rewards WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard $1 Excellent No None with active account

*Flexibility refers to the number of different redemption paths available, minimum number of points required to redeem, ability to redeem points for existing purchases, etc.

Aeroplan Travel Rewards

Air Canada recently purchased Aeroplan and  there are still some lingering questions  about what that means for the value of Aeroplan miles. But as of now Aeroplan is still one of the best travel rewards programs out there, as its miles can be used to redeem flights on Canada's largest carrier and its partners.

Aeroplan has two options when it comes to redeeming flights: Fixed Mileage and Market Fare. As the name implies, fixed fares will cost you a set amount of points to  fly to different zones  as long as there is a reward seat available. With market fare redemptions, you get access to any seat that hasn't sold, but you'll pay the market price in points which is often significantly higher than prices in the fixed fare program.

Market fare prices can be lower than the fixed mileage seats, but that's usually for routes or times that are less desirable. Some airlines charge high fees, taxes, and surcharges, so you need to keep that under consideration when booking a redemption flight.

A great thing about Aeroplan is that there are  multiple Aeroplan credit cards where you can earn points, but an Aeroplan card that we particularly love is the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card:

Featured Aeroplan credit card

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Apply now

4.7

up to 80K pts

Welcome offer

Excellent

Suggested credit score

Earn up to $2,900 in value† including up to 80,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 6, 2025.

Expires

Jan 6, 2025

Pros

  • Welcome bonus up to 80,000 Aeroplan® points† (up to $2,900 in value†) (enough for a round trip to Honolulu†)

  • Complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge† access and six worldwide lounge visits annually†

  • Priority Airport Services† like Boarding and Baggage Handling

  • High Aeroplan® earn rates, double points on eligible Air Canada purchases

  • Extensive travel insurance benefits

  • Free checked bags on Air Canada

  • Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan® flight rewards

  • Visa Infinite Privilege* designation perks (e.g. DragonPass membership)

  • Up to $100 CAD NEXUS credit†

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $599

  • High eligibility requirements ($150,000 personal or $200,000 household income)

  • Additional cardholder fee of $199

  • High-value rewards mainly for Air Canada flights

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Required Annual Personal Income

$150,000

Required Annual Household Income

$200,000

Pros

  • Welcome bonus up to 80,000 Aeroplan® points† (up to $2,900 in value†) (enough for a round trip to Honolulu†)

  • Complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge† access and six worldwide lounge visits annually†

  • Priority Airport Services† like Boarding and Baggage Handling

  • High Aeroplan® earn rates, double points on eligible Air Canada purchases

  • Extensive travel insurance benefits

  • Free checked bags on Air Canada

  • Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan® flight rewards

  • Visa Infinite Privilege* designation perks (e.g. DragonPass membership)

  • Up to $100 CAD NEXUS credit†

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $599

  • High eligibility requirements ($150,000 personal or $200,000 household income)

  • Additional cardholder fee of $199

  • High-value rewards mainly for Air Canada flights

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Required Annual Personal Income

$150,000

Required Annual Household Income

$200,000

Earn 2 points† for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada® including Air Canada Vacations®.

2 points†

Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 you charge to your Card on eligible gas, groceries, travel and dining purchases.

1.5 points†

Earn 1.25 points† for every $1 you charge to your Card on all other purchases.

1.25 points†

Get 6 lounge visits included for each Cardholder per membership year at over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide with DragonPass†

6

Earn points twice when you provide your Aeroplan number to Aeroplan partner brands and on the Aeroplan eStore

2x

Get 50% more Aeroplan points at Starbucks when you link your TD card with your Starbucks® Rewards account. Conditions Apply.

50%

Get a NEXUS application fee rebate up to $100 (CAD) every 48 months.†

$100

Get your 1st checked bag free for you and up to eight companions† when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight.

1st

Get 10% savings at Avis and Budget in North America, 5% off internationally†

10%

Purchase APR

20.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$599

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

    +

    • Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†

    • Complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges lounges

    The earn rate is 2 Aeroplan points† per $1 spent on eligible grocery, gas, and direct through Air Canada® purchases—for all other purchases you get 1.5 point† per $1 spent. With this credit card, you can double dip your Aeroplan earnings at participating merchants. All you need to do is show your Aeroplan loyalty card first when paying and then charge your purchase to your TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card.†

    Additionally, get a huge welcome bonus that more than offsets the annual fee:

    Earn up to $2,900 in value† including up to 80,000 Aeroplan points (enough for a round trip to Honolulu†) and additional travel benefits. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 6, 2025.

    •Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†
    •Earn an additional 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 180 days of Account opening†
    •Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $24,000 within 12 months of Account opening†

    Additional Travel Benefits

    •Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate† 
    •Share first free checked bags with up to 8 travel companions† and get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges† including complementary access for one guest.
    •Plus, primary cardholders get 6 complimentary worldwide select airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program†

    Learn more by reading our complete TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card review.

    This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

    †Terms and conditions apply.

    You can learn more about the Aeroplan program by reading our complete Aeroplan Points Guide .

AIR MILES Travel Rewards

Some Canadians have historically disliked AIR MILES because it can be difficult to earn points quickly without an  AIR MILES credit card , and making redemptions can be tricky. That said, there is a sweet spot to be found: If you book interprovincial flights through the AIR MILES Dream Miles option, you get an incredible value for your points since those flights typically cost a fair amount in cash. The amount of AIR MILES it takes depends on where you're going and what season you're flying, which complicates things a bit. But Air Miles does provide a helpful chart  to show you what it'll cost.

The nice thing about AIR MILES is that they have a co-branded credit card with no annual fee in the BMO AIR MILES ® MasterCard ® *.

Featured AIR MILES credit card

BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®*

Apply now

3.1

1,500 AIR MILES

Welcome offer

Good

Suggested credit score

to receive the latest news, tips and offers by email

Pros

  • No annual fee with a substantial welcome offer

  • Earn Air Miles with both credit and collector cards

  • Low eligibility requirements

  • Additional Benefits include discounts, insurance, and a low balance transfer rate

Cons

  • A 2% fee applies to balance transfers.

  • Limited redemption options

  • Variable redemption values may vary based on last-minute short-haul flights

  • Its specific rewards program is best for those interested in the Air Miles loyalty program

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$15,000

Pros

  • No annual fee with a substantial welcome offer

  • Earn Air Miles with both credit and collector cards

  • Low eligibility requirements

  • Additional Benefits include discounts, insurance, and a low balance transfer rate

Cons

  • A 2% fee applies to balance transfers.

  • Limited redemption options

  • Variable redemption values may vary based on last-minute short-haul flights

  • Its specific rewards program is best for those interested in the Air Miles loyalty program

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$15,000

the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners

3x

the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store*

2x

the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible wholesale clubs, membership-based retailers and alcohol retailers

2x

for every $25 that you spend with your credit card everywhere else

1 Mile

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$0

  • Overview of the BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®*

    +

    You can double dip on points at AIR MILES sponsored locations* and you'll get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners and 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible wholesale clubs, membership-based retailers and alcohol retailers

    All other purchases get you 1 Air Mile per $25 spent* and there is a welcome bonus of

    1,500 AIR MILES Bonus Miles when you spend $1,000 in the first three months* of card membership*

    . It's a good entry level card for those who want to start collecting Air Miles.

    Learn more by reading our complete BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®* review.

    You can learn more about the AIR MILES program by reading our complete AIR MILES Guide .

    *Terms and conditions apply

American Express Membership Rewards®

If you're primarily looking for flexibility, you should consider American Express Membership Rewards ® . Travel can be booked through the American Express travel portal, where you can redeem 1,000 Membership Rewards ® (MR) points for $10 in travel. Alternatively, you can charge any travel expense to your  American Express credit card  and then redeem your points toward that purchase at the same ratio.

American Express has multiple travel partners where you can transfer your points, but the two that give the most value are Aeroplan and Marriott Rewards. With Aeroplan, it'll cost you 1,000 MR points to get 1,000 Aeroplan points (ie a 1:1 transfer). If you want Marriott Rewards points, you'll get 1,200 points for every 1,000 MR points transferred.

American Express also has the Fixed Points Travel Program, which can be beneficial. Most of the redemptions require the same amount of points compared to Aeroplan, but with Amex, you get access to all seats available on any airline, so that means you get more options for your travels.

One of the best ways to earn American Express Membership Rewards ® is with The Platinum Card ® .

Featured American Express card

The Platinum Card®

Apply now

3.6

up to 140k pts

Welcome offer

Excellent

Suggested credit score

Earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $1,400 in value.

Pros

  • Access to a wide range of luxury perks, including premium concierge service

  • Complimentary lounge membership providing access to over 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide

  • Annual statement credits: $200 annual travel credit, $200 annual dining credit

  • Special insurance coverages like trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, lost or stolen baggage and rental car theft & damage.

  • Provides extended warranty (2 years) and purchase protection (120 days).

Cons

  • High annual fee of $799, one of the heftiest among Canadian cards

  • The rewards system can be complicated, especially for users not familiar with maximizing credit card points

  • Requires good to excellent credit for eligibility

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Pros

  • Access to a wide range of luxury perks, including premium concierge service

  • Complimentary lounge membership providing access to over 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide

  • Annual statement credits: $200 annual travel credit, $200 annual dining credit

  • Special insurance coverages like trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, lost or stolen baggage and rental car theft & damage.

  • Provides extended warranty (2 years) and purchase protection (120 days).

Cons

  • High annual fee of $799, one of the heftiest among Canadian cards

  • The rewards system can be complicated, especially for users not familiar with maximizing credit card points

  • Requires good to excellent credit for eligibility

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada

2x

points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel

2x

point for every $1 in all other Card purchases

1x

additional point on Amex Travel Online for eligible hotel or car rental bookings

1

Variable APR

21.99% - 28.99%

Annual Fee

$799

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of The Platinum Card®

    +

    The Platinum Card® comes with a hefty fee of $799 per year, but it also comes packed with commensurate benefits: Supplementary Platinum Cards: $250 each; an impressive array of perks; comprehensive travel insurance; The American Express Global Lounge Collection TM access; etc.

    With its earn rates, every dollar charged to the card helps earn American Express Membership Rewards ® points: Earn 2X points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada, 2X points on travel from eligible flights, hotels, tours and more, and 1X point on everything else. New cardholders can also receive a signup bonus: Earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $1,400 in value.

    Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points* after spending $10,000 on your Card within your first 3 months as a new Platinum® Cardmember.* That’s $1,000 towards your next flight.

    Plus, earn 40,000 points* when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership.* That’s $400 towards dinner out with friends.

    *Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.

    Offer ends January 28, 2025.

    You can learn more about Amex Membership Rewards ® points by reading our complete guide to American Express Membership Rewards Program .

    Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    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.

BMO Rewards Travel

Admittedly, BMO Rewards is a bit more complicated than it needs to be, but it's still among the best travel rewards in Canada since BMO will price match if you call into its customer service line.

You can redeem travel with any provider with BMO Rewards points. You have full control and freedom of choice to book with any travel provider you like so you can benefit from any last-minute deals or better pricing found on another platform including Air Canada/West Jet, Expedia, Airbnb/VRBO while still receiving BMO Rewards ' richest redemption rate (150 pts = $1). Once you make your booking, you can immediately redeem BMO Rewards points using the Pay with Points feature. After the redemption is completed, a credit will be applied to your account within 3 to 5 days.

Featured BMO Rewards credit card

BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®*

Apply now

4.5

up to 90K pts

Welcome offer

Excellent

Suggested credit score

to receive the latest news, tips and offers by email

Pros

  • High-value welcome offer

  • Flexible airport lounge access

  • BMO Rewards points can be used to cover flight taxes and fees

  • Great for those who frequently rent cars

  • Good for Costco and No Frills shoppers

Cons

  • So-so earn rates relative to its annual fee

  • Points have low redemption value compared to other travel rewards programs

  • Charges foreign transaction fees

  • Relatively high minimum income requirements

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Required Annual Personal Income

$80,000

Required Annual Household Income

$150,000

Pros

  • High-value welcome offer

  • Flexible airport lounge access

  • BMO Rewards points can be used to cover flight taxes and fees

  • Great for those who frequently rent cars

  • Good for Costco and No Frills shoppers

Cons

  • So-so earn rates relative to its annual fee

  • Points have low redemption value compared to other travel rewards programs

  • Charges foreign transaction fees

  • Relatively high minimum income requirements

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Required Annual Personal Income

$80,000

Required Annual Household Income

$150,000

Earn 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases*

5x

Earn 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments*

3x

Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else*

1x

Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass, with 4 annual complimentary passes

4

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

23.99%

Cash Advance APR

23.99%

Annual Fee

$150

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®*

    +

    The marquee card of the BMO Rewards program, the BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®*, does come with some impressive features that counterbalance the relatively low value of a BMO Rewards point. It includes some of the best travel insurance offered by Canadian credit cards* and Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass,* with four annual complimentary passes.

    Plus, the first-year annual fee is both waived for the primary ($150) and first authorized ($50) cardholders*.

    Learn more by reading our complete BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®* review.

    You can learn more about BMO Rewards by reading our complete BMO Rewards Guide .

    *Terms and conditions apply.

    BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

CIBC Travel Rewards

CIBC Travel Rewards has its own travel portal, which gives access to flights, hotels, car rental, and all-inclusive properties, but if you call the CIBC travel agency, you'll also get access to anything sold on Expedia or Orbitz. This little-known trick allows you to make travel purchases such as cruises, tours, and attraction tickets. The redemption ratio is 100 Aventura points for $1 in travel.

There's also the Aventura Airline Rewards Chart, which allows you to book travel at fixed prices. This is an attractive option since you can get a higher value for your points compared to when you book via the travel portal or CIBC travel agent.

For example, you could book a flight within a province, territory or US state to an adjoining province, territory or US state with a maximum base fare of $400 for 10,000 – 20,000 Aventura points. In many cases, that's a better value compared to Aeroplan and RBC's fixed schedule. Taxes and fees are extra, but you can use your points to pay for them.

Featured CIBC Aventura credit card

CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card

Apply now

4.9

up to $1,300

Welcome offer

Good

Suggested credit score

Join and get up to $1,300 in value†! And get a one-time annual fee rebate.

Pros

  • High value welcome offer

  • Minimal household annual income required

  • Exceptional points-redeemable travel opportunities and other perks

Cons

  • High annual fee (rebated for your first year)†

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$15,000†

Required Annual Household Income

$15,000†

Pros

  • High value welcome offer

  • Minimal household annual income required

  • Exceptional points-redeemable travel opportunities and other perks

Cons

  • High annual fee (rebated for your first year)†

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$15,000†

Required Annual Household Income

$15,000†

Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†

2

points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†

1.5

point for every $1 spent on all other purchases†

1

Purchase APR

20.99%†

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%†

Cash Advance APR

22.99%†

Annual Fee

$139

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card

    +

    The CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card is a great earning card overall, combining a big welcome offer, decent earn rates, airport lounge access, and relatively low-barrier eligibility requirements. New cardholders can get up to $1,300 in value including a first year annual fee rebate!

    • Get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each): up to $189 value†

    • Elevate your airport experience with 4 complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally through Visa Airport Companion Program: up to $261 in value.†

    Plus, get a NEXUS◊ Application Fee rebate†: A $67 value

    The card earns 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Center and 1.5 points per $1 spent at gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†; all other purchases earn 1 point for every $1 spent . The Purchase Annual Interest Rate is 20.99% ; the Balance Transfer Annual Interest Rate and Cash Advance Annual Interest Rate are 22.99% (for non-Quebec residents only) and 22.99% (for non-Quebec residents only) respectively.

    Those who are interested in the card and make more than $60K annually should instead apply for the CIBC Aventura ® Visa Infinite* Card , which has a slightly better insurance package and identical features otherwise.

    Learn more by reading our complete CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card review .

    This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.

    †Terms and Conditions Apply

    The information for the CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Marriott Bonvoy

With more than 7,000 properties in 130+ countries, not only does Marriott have the most hotels in the world, it also has the best hotel loyalty program in Marriott Bonvoy ® . What makes this program appealing is that it's free to join and you earn points with every stay in a participating Marriott Bonvoy ® * property. Eventually you can use your accumulated points to redeem for free hotel nights or experiences. Alternatively, you can transfer them to various airline programs.

If you frequently stay at hotels, then being loyal to Marriott really pays off as your status level increases when you accumulate more nights. Every time you hit a new status tier you get additional benefits such as free breakfast and a higher earn rate on eligible expenses.

Featured Marriott Bonvoy® card

Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®*

Apply now

4.3

50k pts

Welcome offer

Good

Suggested credit score

Earn 50,000 Welcome Bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points

Pros

  • Annual free night award — Receive an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points†

  • Earn points with every eligible card purchase

  • Complimentary upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status

  • Flexibility to transfer to other frequent flyer programs

  • Includes travel accident insurance†

  • Generous welcome bonus

Cons

  • Annual fee—$120

  • Travel medical insurance not included

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$0

Required Annual Household Income

$0

Pros

  • Annual free night award — Receive an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points†

  • Earn points with every eligible card purchase

  • Complimentary upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status

  • Flexibility to transfer to other frequent flyer programs

  • Includes travel accident insurance†

  • Generous welcome bonus

Cons

  • Annual fee—$120

  • Travel medical insurance not included

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$0

Required Annual Household Income

$0

points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®

5x

points for every $1 in all other Card purchases

2x

Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide every year after your first anniversary

1

Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status membership

1

Elite Night Credits each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card.

15

Purchase APR

21.99%

Cash Advance APR

21.99%

Annual Fee

$120

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®*

    +

    Unlike the United States, Canada doesn't have a lot of hotel branded credit cards ; but Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* is certainly a standout. There are lots of perks for the consummate traveler, including the much-loved Annual Free Night Award every year after your first anniversary, which has a redemption value of as much as 35,000 points (worth a free night in a Category 5 hotel).

    You also get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and you receive an automatic upgrade to Gold Elite status once you stay 25 nights (the card comes with 15 Elite Night Credits already) within a calendar year or charge $30,000 to your card. Gold Elite status has lots of perks like 25% extra points at Marriott properties, late checkout, room upgrades and more.

    To top things off, the card features a good line-up of insurance like travel accident insurance, car rental theft and damage insurance, flight delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost and stolen baggage insurance, and hotel/motel burglary insurance. Sadly, it doesn't include travel medical insurance.

    Learn more by reading our complete Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* review.

MBNA Rewards

MBNA Rewards points have competitive value: Points are worth $0.01 each when redeemed for travel (flight, hotel, car rental, etc.) and between $0.005–$0.0083 each when redeemed for a statement credit, depending on the credit card that was used to earn them. Points can also be redeemed for merchandise and gift cards, for which redemption values ​​vary.

The most glaring weakness of the program is probably the fact that you can't use points to pay for an independently booked travel purchase; you need to use MBNA's own portal to book travel with points, though it's worth noting that you can at least take advantage of MBNA's Price Match Guarantee if you find better travel deals elsewhere.

Featured MBNA Rewards card

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

Apply now

3.4

up to 10K pts

Welcome offer

Good

Suggested credit score

Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $10,000 is spent annually. You could also receive up to 10,000 bonus points.

Pros

  • No annual fee

  • Accelerated rewards on groceries, restaurants, and more

  • Simple point structure with flexible redemption options

  • Generous introductory bonus of up to 10,000 points

  • No cap on total points earned

Cons

  • Lower cash back redemption rate compared to designated cash back cards

  • Limited benefits beyond rewards

  • Points system may not appeal to cash back enthusiasts

  • Higher earning categories have a spending cap of $10,000 annually

  • Better suited for travel rewards than cash back

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Pros

  • No annual fee

  • Accelerated rewards on groceries, restaurants, and more

  • Simple point structure with flexible redemption options

  • Generous introductory bonus of up to 10,000 points

  • No cap on total points earned

Cons

  • Lower cash back redemption rate compared to designated cash back cards

  • Limited benefits beyond rewards

  • Points system may not appeal to cash back enthusiasts

  • Higher earning categories have a spending cap of $10,000 annually

  • Better suited for travel rewards than cash back

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Get up to 10,000 MBNA Rewards points†† as an introductory bonus (see details below)

10,000

Purchase APR

19.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

24.99%

Annual Fee

$0

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

    +

    The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® can earn a colossal amount of points for a card that doesn't charge an annual fee.

    New cardholders can get up to 10,000 MBNA Rewards points †† when they sign up for paperless e-statements (5K points ††) and make $500 or more in purchases within the first 90 days (another 5K points ††).

    That's on top of a special earn rate of 4 points †† per dollar spent on groceries, restaurants, digital media, memberships, and household utilities during the first 90 days—after that period ends the rate is reduced to 2 points per $1 in those categories, which is still strong. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent. These earn rates are what regularly land the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® on our lists of the best credit cards for people with average credit scores and the best rewards credit cards in Canada.

    Learn more by reading our complete MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ® review .

    ‡, ††, ✪, ***, Terms and Conditions apply.

    This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.

    Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

RBC Avion Rewards

The most impressive aspect of Avion Rewards points is perhaps their transferability. Points can be converted to a number of other travel rewards programs, like WestJet, British Airways Avios, and Cathay Pacific; and the conversion rates are generally very favorable, eg 100 RBC Avion Rewards points for 1 WestJet Dollar, 1:1 conversion ratios for Avios and Cathay Pacific, etc. And quite often RBC runs promotions that generate extra miles when transferring to partners like Avios, which can get you extra bang for your buck.

Featured RBC Avion credit card

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

Apply now

3.9

55,000 pts

Welcome offer

Very Good

Suggested credit score

to receive the latest news, tips and offers by email

Pros

  • Rewards program is highly flexible, transferable, and includes a slew of non-travel-related reward options

  • Partnerships with other retailers like HBC and Petro-Canada

  • Provides excellent travel insurance

  • New cardholders earn 55,000 welcome Avion points on approval*

  • Solid option for looking for a travel-centric points program

Cons

  • The points-to-dollars ratio is only average and there are few opportunities for accelerated earning.

  • The $120 annual fee isn’t cheap

  • High annual income requirement: Personal: $60,000 or Household: $100,000

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Very Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$60,000

Pros

  • Rewards program is highly flexible, transferable, and includes a slew of non-travel-related reward options

  • Partnerships with other retailers like HBC and Petro-Canada

  • Provides excellent travel insurance

  • New cardholders earn 55,000 welcome Avion points on approval*

  • Solid option for looking for a travel-centric points program

Cons

  • The points-to-dollars ratio is only average and there are few opportunities for accelerated earning.

  • The $120 annual fee isn’t cheap

  • High annual income requirement: Personal: $60,000 or Household: $100,000

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Very Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$60,000

Earn 1.25 Avion point for every dollar you spend*.

1.25

extra Avion points on eligible travel purchases

25%

mobile device insurance

$1,500

savings on fuel at Petro-Canada and always earn 20% more Avion points

3¢/L

Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

50

off at Hertz and earn 3x the Avion points

20%

delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash

$0

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$120

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite

    +

    The RBC Avion Visa Infinite starts new cardholders off with a respectable welcome bonus (see above). The card's regular earn rate, however, is perhaps a little underwhelming relative to competing travel rewards cards, as you get 1.25 Avion points per $1 spent on travel 3 but only 1 Avion point per $1 on all other spending*; a bit low for a card with an annual fee above $100.

    That said, there are other card features that will make the RBC Avion Visa Infinite a worthwhile investment for some: If road trips are your thing, linking your Petro-Points card with your RBC card will help you save an extra 3¢/L on gas4 and earn 20% more Petro-Points and RBC rewards points when you fuel up at Petro-Canada 5 . The card also comes with insurance a traveler will appreciate, including medical8, trip interruption and cancellation insurance9 , and rental car collision and damage protection7 .

    Learn more by reading our complete RBC Avion Visa Infinite review.

    You can learn more about RBC Rewards points by reading our complete RBC Avion Rewards Guide . Refer to RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

    Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

    This post contains affiliate links. Please read disclaimer for more info.

    Disclaimer: Money.ca may engage in affiliate marketing, which is done by embedding tracking links into Money.ca. If you click on a link for an affiliate partnership, a cookie will be placed on your browser to track any sales for purposes of commissions.

Scene+ Travel

There is no fixed travel program with Scene+, but you can redeem your points at a ratio of 100 points for $1 through the Scene+ travel portal or on travel expenses you've already charged to your  Scotiabank credit card . There is a minimum redemption of 5,000 points for independently booked travel (no minimum for bookings with the Scene+ travel portal), but you can also apply that redemption to any fees, taxes, and surcharges.

Featured Scene + credit card

Scotiabank Gold American Express®

Apply now

4.8

up to 45K pts

Welcome offer

Very Good

Suggested credit score

Earn up to $950* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived.

Expires

Jan 3, 2025

Pros

  • Lots of daily spend options to earn multiplied point bonuses

  • Swanky Amex perks like Front of the Line presale concert tickets

  • Save on foreign transaction fees when abroad

  • Fantastic insurance coverage, especially for travel

Cons

  • Relatively low-value welcome bonus

  • $120 annual fee that chews into your point value substantially

  • Scene points redeem poorly for travel

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Very Good

Pros

  • Lots of daily spend options to earn multiplied point bonuses

  • Swanky Amex perks like Front of the Line presale concert tickets

  • Save on foreign transaction fees when abroad

  • Fantastic insurance coverage, especially for travel

Cons

  • Relatively low-value welcome bonus

  • $120 annual fee that chews into your point value substantially

  • Scene points redeem poorly for travel

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Very Good

Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more

6x

Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.

5x

Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.

5x

Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more

3x

Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services

3x

Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases

1x

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$120

Foreign Transaction Fee

0%

  • Overview of the Scotiabank Gold American Express®

    +

    Although Scotiabank doesn't have any travel related transfer partners, they do have some great cards that generate rewards very quickly. The Scotiabank Gold American Express® card earns 6x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco and Foodland, and more eligible grocers.¹

    It also generates 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery, food subscriptions and other eligible grocery stores, as well as on eligible entertainment purchases (movies, theater, and ticket agencies). Plus, you'll get 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options, including rideshares, buses and subways and eligible select streaming purchases, and 1 Scene+ point¹ on all other purchases.

    Learn more by reading our complete Scotiabank Gold American Express® card review.

    Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

    *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

    You can learn more about the Scene+ program by reading our complete Scene+Guide .

TD Travel Rewards

TD Travel Rewards is a relatively flexible rewards program since it allows for a variety of different redemption options. If you're booking travel through Expedia for TD (not to be confused with Expedia.ca), it'll cost you 200  TD Points  to redeem $1 in travel. This is the best value for consumers since you can book anything that is offered on Expedia for TD, which includes flights, hotels, all-inclusive packages, cruises, car rentals and attraction tickets.

You also have the option to redeem your points for any travel expenses that you have charged to your TD credit card, but it'll cost you 250 points per dollar redeemed for the first $1200 of a travel charge and 200 points per dollar redeemed after that . This is obviously a lower redemption value than Expedia for TD, but TD's definition of eligible travel expenses is quite generous as it not only includes flights but also air travel taxes, baggage fees, lodging, car rentals while traveling, and more.

The top-earning card for TD Travel Rewards is the TD First Class Travel ® Visa Infinite* Card:

Featured TD Travel Rewards credit card

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

Apply now

3.8

Good

Suggested credit score

Earn up to $1,000 in value†, including up to 135,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 6, 2025.

Expires

Jan 6, 2025

Pros

  • Major combined value for the welcome bonus (up to $1,000 in value)†

  • Good base earn rate on all purchases

  • Huge earn rate when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†

  • Very flexible redemption options

  • $100 TD Travel Credit†

  • Visa Infinite Benefits

  • Great savings on annual fees for accountholders of TD’s All-Inclusive Banking Plan

Cons

  • Does not provide free lounge access

  • Charges foreign transaction fees

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$60,000

Required Annual Household Income

$100,000

Pros

  • Major combined value for the welcome bonus (up to $1,000 in value)†

  • Good base earn rate on all purchases

  • Huge earn rate when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†

  • Very flexible redemption options

  • $100 TD Travel Credit†

  • Visa Infinite Benefits

  • Great savings on annual fees for accountholders of TD’s All-Inclusive Banking Plan

Cons

  • Does not provide free lounge access

  • Charges foreign transaction fees

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$60,000

Required Annual Household Income

$100,000

Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend through ExpediaForTD†

8 Points

Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on groceries and restaurants.†

6 Points

Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on recurring bill payments.†

4 Points

Earn 2 TD Rewards points for every $1 you spend using your card.†

2 Points

Earn a Birthday Bonus of 10% of the TD Rewards Points you have earned over the past year, up to a maximum of 10,000 TD Rewards points†.

10% Bonus Points

Get an annual TD Travel Credit when you book at Expedia For TD†

$100

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$139

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

    +

    • Earn an annual Birthday Bonus† of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points

    • Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD.

    • Get an Annual Fee Rebate for the first year†.

    To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders by January 6, 2025.

    The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card offers particularly high earn rates when you book with Expedia for TD: Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†. 6 TD Rewards Points on groceries and restaurants†. Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†. Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card†.

    Learn more by reading our complete TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card review.

    This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here .

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

    † Terms and conditions apply.

WestJet Rewards

The biggest draw of WestJet is its use of tiers: As soon as you enroll in the WestJet program, you're instantly awarded Teal tier status, which provides 0.5% back in WestJet dollars on flights. As you spend more on WestJet travel and services, your tier increases, garnering additional travel benefits such as advanced seat selection, free checked bags, airport lounge access, and higher earn rates. Those who reach Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers earn 3%, 5%, and 8% back on WestJet flights respectively. Best of all, your tier stacks with the earn rates provided by WestJet credit cards, so you can potentially earn up to  10%  in WestJet dollars on qualifying purchases.

One of the few major criticisms to note about WestJet Rewards is that your WestJet dollars can only be redeemed for base fares; they can't be used to pay for a flight's taxes, fees, or surcharges.

Featured WestJet RBC credit card

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Apply now

3.8

Good

Suggested credit score

to receive the latest news, tips and offers by email

Pros

  • A generous welcome bonus of up to $450 WestJet dollars

  • Good earn rate of up to 2% back in WestJet dollars

  • Good travel insurance coverage

Cons

  • High annual income requirement: Personal: $80,000 or Household: $150,000

  • Insurance doesn't include trip cancellation coverage or lost baggage

  • Reward redemptions are restricted to WestJet

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$80,000

Required Annual Household Income

$150,000

Pros

  • A generous welcome bonus of up to $450 WestJet dollars

  • Good earn rate of up to 2% back in WestJet dollars

  • Good travel insurance coverage

Cons

  • High annual income requirement: Personal: $80,000 or Household: $150,000

  • Insurance doesn't include trip cancellation coverage or lost baggage

  • Reward redemptions are restricted to WestJet

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$80,000

Required Annual Household Income

$150,000

Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet vacation packages.

2%

Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars for everyday purchases.

1.5%

access to over 1 million Wi-Fi hotsports around the world with Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard

Wi-Fi

annual companion voucher (starting at $119)

1

savings at Petro-Canada and 20% more Petro-Points

3¢/L

delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash

$0

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$119

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

  • Overview of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

    +

    If you're looking for the holy grail of air travel—the coveted round-trip companion voucher —look no further. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, after activation and use, lets you fly a companion 3 return to anywhere in continental North America for $119, annually, with no restrictions. Or spend $399 and fly with your companion anywhere else in the world that WestJet flies.

    If you typically find yourself flying solo you can instead opt to exchange your annual round-trip companion voucher for 4 airport lounge vouchers. The card also offers a free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight additional guests on the same reservation 4 . Cardholders receive travel coverage including emergency medical insurance20 as well as trip interruption insurance 21 , hotel burglary 18 and rental car insurance 19 . Even eligible purchases you make on the card are protected.

    • Save $240 with free first checked bags for a family for 4 (traveling on the same reservation)1

    • $119 for the second guest using your annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher3

    Learn more by reading our complete WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard review.

    Refer to the RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

How to calculate the value of your travel rewards points

It's essential to have a good idea of ​​the real value of a program's travel rewards points before you select the rewards program or credit card for you. To figure out your cost per point (CPP), you would divide 1 by the number of points to earn $1 in travel. That means if it takes 100 points for $1 in travel, then your CPP is $.01. Alternatively, if it takes 140 points to claim $1 in travel, your CPP is $.007. Of course, you also need to factor in any fees, taxes, and surcharges you might pay when making a redemption.

You'll also want to know how many points you can earn with a specific credit card, since the ability to rapidly earn points is just as important as their value when redeemed. If the value of each point is high, but you rarely earn rewards, or earn a low amount, the card is probably not the right choice for you.

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


Barry Choi Contributor

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who makes frequent media appearances. When he's not educating people on how to be smarter with money, he's earning and burning miles and points for luxury travel.

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The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.

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