Bank card comparability instrument
Examine your journey card choices with our interactive instrument and filter bank cards based mostly on rewards worth, annual charges, revenue necessities and extra.
Why belief us
MoneySense is an award-winning journal, serving to Canadians navigate cash issues since 1999. Our editorial crew of educated journalists works intently with main private finance consultants in Canada. That can assist you discover the perfect monetary merchandise, we evaluate the choices from over 12 main establishments, together with banks, credit score unions and card issuers. Study extra about our advertising and trusted partners.
The perfect journey playing cards by class
The perfect journey bank cards in Canada mix robust earn charges with perks like lounge access, no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance coverage. Finally, you’ll need to select a card based mostly in your journey and spending habits, in addition to the journey perks that suit your life-style. We’ve compiled this checklist that will help you get began.
| Greatest bank card by class | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Greatest general journey rewards bank card American Express Cobalt Annual price: $156 |
A few of the highest earn charges (with as much as 5x the factors on eating and groceries), mixed with a versatile factors, equals your greatest return on spending |
| Greatest airline journey bank card (Air Canada) TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Annual price: $139 |
Excessive earn charges on fuel, groceries and Air Canada purchases, straightforward redemptions and a $100 Nexus price rebate each 2 years |
| Greatest airline journey bank card (WestJet) WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard Annual price: $119 |
1.5% earn fee paired with an annual round-trip companion voucher on WestJet |
| Greatest no-fee journey bank card American Express Green Card Annual price: $0 |
Constant earnings of 1 level per greenback on all of your purchases, mixed with the flexibleness and worth of Amex Membership Rewards |
| Greatest lodge bank card Marriott Bonvoy American Express Annual price: $120 |
Redemptions without spending a dime stays at over 30 lodge manufacturers (from Marriott to Ritz-Cartlon), plus level transfers to accomplice airline packages |
| Greatest bank card for premium perks American Express The Platinum Card Annual price: $799 |
$400 in journey and restaurant credit, limitless airport lounge entry, lodge upgrades, and extra |
| Greatest journey bank card for college students CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students Annual price: $0 |
Good return on spending, plus a couple of journey advantages and student-friendly perks |
Upcoming adjustments to Amex Cobalt
Beginning October 8, 2024, the American Categorical Cobalt’s earn fee on journey purchases will lower from 2 Membership Rewards (MR) factors per greenback spent to 1 MR level per greenback spent. That is unhealthy information for cardholders who often use the Cobalt for travel-related bills. Regardless of this alteration, the Amex Cobalt stays a robust contender for on a regular basis spending in Canada, notably resulting from its spectacular 5 factors per greenback earn fee on groceries, eating and drinks. Those that prioritize journey rewards might need to think about different playing cards that supply higher earn charges and extra complete journey insurance coverage protection.
—MoneySense editors
Greatest general journey rewards bank card
At a look: With excellent earn charges in broadly-defined, in style spending classes, the American Categorical Cobalt card is a journey rewards beast. Factors are straightforward to redeem and versatile, and you may improve their worth by transferring them to different journey loyalty packages. It comes with a complete insurance coverage bundle, so that you journey carefree.
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American Categorical Cobalt
Annual price: $156
Welcome provide: earn 1,250 factors for every month you spend $750, as much as a most of 15,000 factors.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | None specified |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Amex Membership Rewards level = $0.01 when redeemed with the Versatile Factors Journey Program, $0.015 on common with the Mounted Factors Journey Program, and as much as $0.02 with airline factors transfers. |
Execs
- This card has a number of the highest earn charges round. Plus, the excessive earn fee on meals and groceries is capped at $2,500 monthly, and no limits are utilized to different classes.
- The boosted spend classes are very broadly outlined so that you’ll earn extra factors for extra of your purchases. For instance, “eats and drinks” contains every part from grocery shops to espresso retailers to meals supply, and every part from fuel to rideshares to flights falls underneath “journey and transit.”
- Amex Membership Rewards factors are versatile and profitable. Redeem factors the straightforward manner at a flat fee of 10,000 factors for $10 in the direction of any journey expense—or, for those who’re a savvy factors collector—increase your level values by utilizing Amex’s Mounted Level chart or transferring factors to a different program like Aeroplan.
Cons
- Though American Categorical is accepted at tens of 1000’s of companies throughout the nation, it’s not as broadly accepted as Visa or Mastercard at house and overseas.
- The annual price of $12.99 is charged month-to-month, which barely obscures the truth that the overall is $155.88 per 12 months, a bit greater than the $120 charged by some comparable playing cards.
- The journey insurance coverage bundle lacks Journey Cancellation safety which covers you in case of a sudden sickness or different surprising occasions which will trigger you to cancel your journey.
Honourable point out
At a look: With a decrease annual price and no overseas change charges, the Scotiabank Gold American Categorical offers the Amex Cobalt a run for its cash. You’ll take pleasure in robust earn charges, straightforward and versatile redemptions, and among the finest journey insurance coverage packages available on the market. Frequent prospects of Sobeys-affiliated shops like Safeway, FreshCo and Thriftys will particularly admire the additional factors increase on grocery purchases there.
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Scotiabank Gold American Categorical
Annual price: $120
Welcome provide: earn as much as $950 in worth within the first 12 months, together with as much as 45,000 bonus Scene+ factors. To qualify, apply by October 31, 2024.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | $60,000 per 12 months |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Scene+ level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey on any airline or lodge (together with Airbnbs). |
Greatest airline journey bank cards
For Air Canada
At a look: Though you possibly can use our primary journey card, the Amex Cobalt, to switch Amex factors to Aeroplan, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite tops our checklist of best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for its straightforward redemptions and extras just like the $100 Nexus price rebate. Plus, for those who often spend on Ubers or are an everyday at Starbucks, you possibly can stretch your rewards even additional with this card.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Annual price: $139
Welcome provide: earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan factors while you make your first buy along with your new card; earn 15,000 Aeroplan factors while you spend $7,500 inside 180 days of account opening. Situations apply. Account have to be authorized by September 3, 2024.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 or family revenue of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 660 or larger |
| Anniversary bonus | Earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan factors while you spend $12,000 inside 12 months of opening the account. Situations apply. Account have to be authorized by September 3, 2024. |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are price $0.02 on common. |
For WestJet
At a look: With a 1.5% base fee and a pair of% again on WestJet flights or trip packages, this card offers travellers a stable instrument to take the sting out of the price of airfare. Add to that aggressive perks like an annual round-trip companion voucher and a free first checked bag for you and as much as eight journey companions, and also you’ve obtained a card WestJet flyers will need to think about.
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WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
Annual price: $119
Welcome provide: earn as much as $700 in WestJet {dollars} with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, Plus a Spherical-Journey Companion Voucher Each Yr
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | None specified |
| Level worth | 1 WestJet Greenback = $1 CAD when redeemed for eligible flights or trip packages. |
Execs
- Get one round-trip companion voucher to anyplace WestJet flies yearly, which helps you to e book a companion fare at a lowered fee while you additionally e book a full fare. Or, you’ll be able to change the companion voucher for 4 airport lounge passes.
- Obtain as much as three $500 Standing Lifts yearly, which get you to the subsequent rewards tier sooner. The upper your tier, the extra advantages you’ll get, like lounge entry.
- The WestJet rewards program is straightforward, with out complicated charts or blackout durations. One level equals 1 cent in financial savings on Westjet flights.
- You get rewarded on your loyalty—earn 2% on WestJet flights or holidays, which is a better earn fee for journey bookings than different playing cards on this checklist.
Cons
- Whenever you use a round-trip companion voucher, the low cost solely applies to the bottom fee of the fare. Taxes, airport charges, and air transportation fees stay the identical—and these will be fairly hefty.
- WestJet {dollars} usually are not transferable to another airways or airline packages.
Greatest no-fee journey bank card
At a look: One in every of our best no-fee cards in Canada, the American Categorical Inexperienced Card earns you factors in your on a regular basis spending that you would be able to redeem for assertion credit, items, playing cards, merchandise or journey, and just like the Cobalt, they’re transferable at a 1:1 ratio to different frequent flyer or rewards packages. That is notable as a result of by transferring to a program like Aeroplan, you’ll be able to increase the worth of your factors considerably.
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American Categorical Inexperienced Card
Annual price: $0
Welcome provide: earn 10,000 Membership Rewards factors while you cost $1,000 in purchases to your card within the first three months of cardmembership.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | None specified |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Amex Membership Rewards level = $0.01 when redeemed with the Versatile Factors Journey Program, $0.015 on common with the Mounted Factors Journey Program, and as much as $0.02 with airline factors transfers. . |
Honourable point out
At a look: This no-fee journey card presents accelerated earn charges on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and family utility purchases, providing you with numerous methods to earn factors by way of your on a regular basis spending. Plus, the birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your annual earnings in factors. Factors are price $0.01 every while you redeem for journey, and so they by no means expire.
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MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard
Annual price: $0
Welcome provide: earn 10,000 bonus factors ($50 in money again worth). Plus, get 4 factors per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and family utility purchases through the first 90 days. (Not out there for residents of Quebec.)
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 19.99% on purchases, 24.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | None specified |
| Credit score rating | 660 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 MBNA Rewards level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey. |
Greatest lodge bank card
At a look: You’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy factors on each buy you make on the world’s largest lodge conglomerate, redeemable at greater than 30 lodge chains (from Marriott and St. Regis to The Ritz-Carlton) in 130 nations. Get service upgrades like free Wi-Fi, spa therapies, eating experiences, or free lodge stays. Factors are additionally transferable to round 40 different airline packages like Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic.
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Marriott Bonvoy American Categorical
Annual price: $120
Welcome provide: earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | None specified |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Marriott Bonvoy level = $0.0117 on common when redeemed for eligible flights or lodge stays. |
Execs
- You possibly can deal with your self to hotel-related upgrades, providers and free nights at inns, together with St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and Westin, or for different travel-related bills like flights or automobile leases. Bonvoy factors are versatile—you may as well use them for merchandise and experiences.
- The bottom fee of two factors per greenback is kind of good, however your factors will actually rack up while you earn 5 factors per greenback spent in your Marriott lodge stays.
- This card comes with some worthwhile perks like one free evening’s keep at a Marriott property yearly and 15 Elite Evening Credit that will help you obtain the subsequent stage of standing.
- Should you attain $30,000 in whole annual spending on the cardboard, you’ll be upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite standing and unlock perks like room upgrades, financial savings on factors redemptions for lodge stays and extra.
- As an Amex card, this bundle will get you Amex advantages like Entrance of the Line and eating, retail and wellness experiences.
Cons
- The worth of Marriott Bonvoy factors can fluctuate based mostly on a mixture of elements—from the lodge you’re staying at to the time of the 12 months—that means maximizing factors and switch choices isn’t all the time easy to newer level collectors.
- Factors are price much less for airline transfers at a 3:1 ratio, that means you’re lacking out on maximizing worth for something aside from lodge bookings.
- American Categorical is much less broadly accepted than Mastercard or Visa.
Greatest bank card for premium perks
At a look: The Amex Platinum offers new that means to the previous saying, “You get what you pay for.” On this case, the $799 annual price pays for itself by way of a smorgasbord of unbelievable perks. Your journey expertise might be remodeled with limitless airport lounge entry, partnerships at High-quality Resort + Resorts properties, and precedence remedy at Toronto Pearson Airport. The numerous perks—like a number of hundred {dollars} price of annual journey and eating credit and a Nexus price rebate—go a good distance towards offsetting the value tag.
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American Categorical Platinum
Annual price: $799
Welcome provide: earn as much as 100,000 rewards factors ($1,000 worth). Situations apply.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | N/A (as a cost card, you’re required to repay your stability in full each month) |
| Revenue required | None |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual eating credit score to make use of at a curated checklist of Canada’s prime eating places. Plus, $200 annual journey credit score when reserving by way of American Categorical Journey On-line. |
| Level worth | 1 Amex Membership Rewards level = $0.01 when redeemed with the Versatile Factors Journey Program, $0.015 on common with the Mounted Factors Journey Program, and as much as $0.02 with airline factors transfers. |
Execs
- You’ll get a $200 journey credit score annually that may be redeemed in the direction of a journey buy made by way of American Categorical Journey On-line. Spend your further annual $200 eating credit score at choose eating places all over the world, together with 100 in Canada.
- Get entry to The American Categorical World Lounge Assortment composed of greater than 1,300 lounges in over 140 nations, together with American Categorical Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium and Delta Sky lounges. Cardholders might have limitless free visits and companion passes at no further price, relying on the lounge.
- Routinely obtain the upper tier within the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy lodge packages.
- Get hold of customized help by way of Platinum Concierge service. The concierge could make restaurant reservations, acquire tickets to particular occasions, e book providers for you, and extra—at no further price to you.
- As a result of the Platinum is a cost card, high-volume spenders usually are not restricted by a standard credit score restrict.
Cons
- Further playing cards price $250 every yearly.
- Given the annual price, the journey medical insurance coverage is lackluster. Whereas some playing cards provide 20 days or extra, this card solely covers you for as much as 15 consecutive days and doesn’t provide any insurance coverage to those that are 65 or older.
- Cost no matter you need to the cardboard (there’s no credit score restrict), however as a result of it’s a cost card, you’re required to repay the stability in full each month.
Greatest journey bank card for college students
At a look: The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for College students bundles the flexibility to earn Aeroplan rewards with a couple of journey advantages and student-friendly perks to ship a aggressive bundle for no annual price.
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CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for College students
Annual price: $0
Welcome provide: earn 10,000 Aeroplan factors while you make your first buy ($200 worth)
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on money advances (21.99% in Quebec) |
| Revenue required | None specified |
| Credit score rating | None specified |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are price $0.02 on common. |
Honourable point out
At a look: The no-fee TD Rewards Visa combines the flexibility to earn versatile journey rewards factors with different student-friendly perks like bundled banking providers. Though TD Rewards factors are price lower than another loyalty packages, the earn fee is pretty beneficiant throughout on a regular basis spending classes providing you with numerous alternatives to earn.
How we decide the perfect journey bank cards
Our editors apply their bank card experience and data of Canadians’ monetary targets to give you choice standards that matches the wants of the supposed cardholder. For journey bank cards, your return on spending is a key consideration, as a result of it represents the worth of the factors you might be incomes with each buy. We think about annual charges and eligibility standards (for scholar playing cards), perks and insurance coverage (for premium playing cards) and different elements, particular to the class. The addition of hyperlinks from affiliate companions has no bearing on the outcomes. Learn extra about our selection process and about how MoneySense makes money.
Incessantly requested questions
Various kinds of journey bank cards
Generic journey rewards bank cards
Some bank cards give you the flexibility to earn rewards on on a regular basis purchases and different buy classes, which will be redeemed in the direction of all kinds of issues, together with journey. This implies you aren’t essentially restricted to reserving by way of sure airways when redeeming your factors on flights. You may additionally be capable of switch your bank card factors to an airline rewards program, comparable to with the American Express Cobalt.
Airline rewards bank cards
Some journey bank cards provide rewards with particular airways the place your factors’ redemption values might range, such because the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card. Whenever you accumulate sufficient factors, you’ll be able to e book a flight or trip bundle with affiliated airways like WestJet or Air Canada. Take into account although that the worth of your factors can rely on the date of your flight and your vacation spot.
Resort rewards bank cards
Resort rewards bank cards give you the flexibility to redeem your factors in the direction of a lodge keep, and to earn factors while you e book at affiliated inns like Marriott or Delta, or earn perks comparable to room upgrades or free breakfasts while you e book eligible lodge stays. Should you often e book inns for work or journey, think about a lodge rewards bank card just like the Marriott Bonvoy American Express.
Journey bank card options
Some necessary options to look out for in journey bank cards, moreover factors worth and your reserving redemption choices (flights, inns, automobiles), embody:
- Journey insurance coverage protection for medical points or journey delays. Most credit card travel insurance programs cowl you as much as 15 days and are typically extra restricted for these over the age of 65, however there are exceptions. (Examine how you can know in case your bank card comes with enough travel insurance coverage.)
- Airport lounge access without spending a dime or discounted lounge passes by way of Precedence Go, Visa Airport Companion Program, Dragon Go and others.
- Resort reductions, like reductions at Marriott inns.
Whether or not the cardboard fees you foreign transaction fees if you are overseas, on prime of standard change charges. These charges will be as excessive as an added 2.5% on each buy.
What journey factors program is greatest?
Not all journey reward packages are created equal. So how do you select the precise one for you?
First, it’s necessary to know that journey rewards packages will be damaged down into two primary sorts: Constant and chart-based.
It’s price noting that in uncommon instances, just like the American Categorical Membership Rewards Program, you would possibly get to decide on to redeem factors for journey based mostly on both a constant system or as a chart-based system.
Most of the large banks provide constant factors journey reward packages. They’re geared toward individuals who need to function inside a easy program that has an easy-to-understand redemption course of; individuals who dislike difficult packages will admire these. Chart-based packages will be significantly extra difficult—but additionally probably extra worthwhile. Because the variety of factors wanted to redeem for a flight isn’t constant, utilizing the rewards chart strategically might help you stretch the worth of your factors and internet a better return when flying on sure routes, and even when reserving premium seats or enterprise class. These packages are extra in style with private finance fans and left-brain thinkers.
Examine journey bank cards rewards factors values
| Rewards program | Level worth |
|---|---|
| Aeroplan | 1 Aeroplan level is price $0.02 on common. |
| Air Miles | 1 Air Mile is price roughly $0.121 in journey rewards |
| American Categorical Versatile Factors Program | 1 American Categorical level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| American Categorical Mounted Factors program | 1 American Categorical level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| BMO Rewards | 1 BMO Rewards level is price 0.7 of a cent in journey rewards |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1 Marriott Bonvoy level is price $0.0117 on common when redeemed for eligible flights or lodge stays |
| MBNA Rewards | 1 level MBNA Rewards level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| Nationwide Financial institution | 1 Nationwide Financial institution level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| RBC Avion Rewards | 1 Avion Rewards level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| RBC Avion – Air Journey Redemption Schedule | 1 Avion level is price $0.01 when redeemed for flights or inns |
| Scene Rewards | 1 Scene Rewards level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| TD Rewards | 1 TD Rewards level is price 0.5 of a cent in journey rewards booked through Expedia For TD |
| WestJet {Dollars} | 1% in WestJet {Dollars} is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
What number of journey rewards factors do you want for a flight?
What number of Aeroplan factors you want for a flight
Aeroplan’s chart system makes use of Miles to measure the minimal level redemptions. For shorter flights inside North America, you’d want at the least 6,000-22,500 factors for an Financial system flight, 35,000-70,000 factors for North America and Atlantic zones, and so forth.
What number of Air Mile Dream miles you want for a flight
Air Miles doesn’t have a set flight chart. The variety of Air Miles Dream miles wanted for a free flight varies considerably as pricing is predicated on demand and what provider and sophistication you choose. On common, 1 Air Mile level is price 12.1 cents in journey rewards.
What number of Avion factors you want for a flight
Premium Avion cardholders want at the least 15,000 factors for a flight inside or close to your province or territory, at the least 35,000 factors for a flight inside North America, 65,000 factors for a flight to Europe and 100,000 factors for different locations across the globe.
What number of Amex factors you want for a flight
Utilizing the American Categorical Mounted Factors Program, you’d want at the least 15,000 factors for a brief flight inside North America, 20,000 factors for a flight from a Canadian province or territory to a close-by U.S. State, 40,000 factors for an extended North American route, 50,000 factors for a trip vacation spot and at the least 60,000 factors for Europe or 100,000 factors for different continents.
What number of Scene factors you want for a flight
1 level is price 1 cent. For a $300 airline ticket, you’d want 300,000 Scene factors.
What number of BMO Rewards factors you want for a flight
You possibly can redeem your factors for an announcement credit score in the direction of flights. 1 BMO Rewards level is price 0.7 of a cent in journey rewards.
What number of TD factors you want for a flight
You want a minimal of 200 factors for a redemption by way of Expedia for TD. 1 TD Rewards level is price 0.5 cents in journey rewards.
What number of MBNA rewards factors you want for a flight
You possibly can redeem a minimal of 10,000 factors for a $100 assertion credit score on journey.
Do journey bank card factors expire?
Some journey rewards factors expire after a sure interval of inactivity, whereas others don’t. For instance, Aeroplan factors expire after 18 months of inactivity, and Marriott Bonvoy factors expire after 24 months, whereas WestJet {dollars} typically don’t expire, until they have been earned throughout sure promotions or different circumstances. To keep away from having your factors expire, you’ll be able to e book inns along with your factors, purchase merchandise by way of the loyalty program’s retailer, switch factors from one other program or to a member of the family, in some instances, and extra.
