Bank card comparability software
Examine your journey card choices with our interactive software and filter bank cards based mostly on rewards worth, annual charges, earnings necessities and extra.
Why belief us
MoneySense is an award-winning journal, serving to Canadians navigate cash issues since 1999. Our editorial staff of skilled journalists works carefully with main private finance specialists in Canada. That will help 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 promoting and trusted companions.
One of the best journey playing cards by class
One of the best journey bank cards in Canada mix robust earn charges with perks like lounge entry, no overseas transaction charges and journey insurance coverage protection. 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 way of life. We’ve compiled this record that will help you get began.
| Journey bank card | Highlights | Particulars | Eligibility necessities |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURED American Specific Cobalt  GO TO SITE |
Award: Greatest total journey rewards bank card
Greatest function: 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 |
Annual payment: $156
Rewards: 1 to five Membership Rewards factors per greenback Rates of interest: 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances |
Revenue: None specified
Credit score rating: 725 or increased |
| FEATURED TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite  GO TO SITE |
Award: Greatest airline journey bank card (Air Canada)
Greatest function: Excessive earn charges on fuel, groceries and Air Canada purchases, straightforward redemptions and a $100 Nexus payment rebate each 2 years |
Annual payment: $139 (waived first 12 months)
Rewards: 1 to 1.5 Aeroplan factors per greenback Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
Revenue: $60,000 (private) or $100,000 (family)
Credit score rating: 680 or increased (beneficial) |
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard |
Award: Greatest airline journey bank card (WestJet)
Greatest function: 1.5% earn fee paired with an annual round-trip companion voucher on WestJet |
Annual payment: $119
Rewards: 1.5% to 2% in West Jet {Dollars} per greenback Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
Revenue: $80,000 (private) or $150,000 (family)
Credit score rating: None specified |
| FEATURED American Specific Inexperienced Card  GO TO SITE |
Award: Greatest no-fee journey bank card
Greatest function: Constant earnings of 1 level per greenback on all of your purchases, mixed with the flexibleness and worth of Amex Membership Rewards |
Annual payment: $0
Rewards: 1 to 2 Membership Rewards factors per greenback Rates of interest: 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances |
Revenue: None specified
Credit score rating: 725 or increased |
| FEATURED Marriott Bonvoy American Specific  GO TO SITE |
Award: Greatest resort bank card
Greatest function: Redemptions free of charge stays at over 30 resort manufacturers (from Marriott to Ritz-Cartlon), plus level transfers to accomplice airline applications |
Annual payment: $120
Rewards: 2 to five Marriott Bonvoy factors per greenback Rates of interest: 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances |
Revenue: None specified
Credit score rating: 725 or increased |
American Specific The Platinum Card |
Award: Greatest bank card for premium perks
Greatest function: $400 in journey and restaurant credit, limitless airport lounge entry, resort upgrades, and extra |
Annual payment: $799
Rewards: 1 to 2 Membership Rewards factors per greenback Rates of interest: N/A (you will need to pay your stability off in full each month) |
Revenue: None specified
Credit score rating: 760 or increased |
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for College students |
Award: Greatest journey bank card for college students
Greatest function: Good return on spending, plus just a few journey advantages and student-friendly perks |
Annual payment: $0
Rewards: 0.67 to 1 Aeroplan level per greenback Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on money advances (21.99% in Quebec) |
Revenue: None specified
Credit score rating: None specified |
How we decide the perfect journey bank cards
Our editors apply their bank card experience and data of Canadians’ monetary targets to provide you with choice standards that matches the wants of the meant 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 take into account annual charges and eligibility standards (for pupil 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 choice course of and about how MoneySense makes cash.
Greatest total journey rewards bank card
At a look: With excellent earn charges in broadly-defined, common spending classes, the American Specific Cobalt card is a journey rewards beast. Factors are straightforward to redeem and versatile, and you may enhance their worth by transferring them to different journey loyalty applications. It comes with a complete insurance coverage bundle, so that you journey carefree.
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American Specific Cobalt
Annual payment: $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 increased |
| 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. |
Greatest airline journey bank cards
For Air Canada
At a look: Though you can use our primary journey card, the Amex Cobalt, to switch Amex factors to Aeroplan, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite tops our record of greatest Aeroplan bank cards in Canada for its straightforward redemptions and extras just like the $100 Nexus payment rebate. Plus, when you regularly spend on Ubers or are an everyday at Starbucks, you can stretch your rewards even additional with this card.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Annual payment: $139 (waived first 12 months)
Welcome provide: Earn as much as $1,500 in worth, together with as much as 50,000 Aeroplan factors and no annual payment for the primary 12 months. Circumstances apply. Account should be authorized by Jan. 6, 2025.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | Private earnings of $60,000 or family earnings of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 680 or increased (beneficial) |
| 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 software 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 bought a card WestJet flyers will need to take into account.
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WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
Annual payment: $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 earnings of $80,000 or family earnings of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | None specified |
| Level worth | 1 WestJet Greenback = $1 CAD when redeemed for eligible flights or trip packages. |
Professionals
- Get one round-trip companion voucher to wherever WestJet flies yearly, which helps you to ebook a companion fare at a decreased fee once you additionally ebook a full fare. Or, you’ll be able to trade the companion voucher for 4 airport lounge passes.
- Obtain as much as three $500 Standing Lifts yearly, which get you to the following rewards tier quicker. The upper your tier, the extra advantages you’ll get, like lounge entry.
- The WestJet rewards program is easy, with out complicated charts or blackout durations. One level equals 1 cent in financial savings on Westjet flights.
- You get rewarded in your loyalty—earn 2% on WestJet flights or holidays, which is a better earn fee for journey bookings than different playing cards on this record.
Cons
- Once 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 prices stay the identical—and these might be fairly hefty.
- WestJet {dollars} usually are not transferable to every other airways or airline applications.
Greatest no-fee journey bank card
At a look: Considered one of our greatest no-fee playing cards in Canada, the American Specific Inexperienced Card earns you factors in your on a regular basis spending that you could 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 applications. That is notable as a result of by transferring to a program like Aeroplan, you’ll be able to enhance the worth of your factors considerably.
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American Specific Inexperienced Card
Annual payment: $0
Welcome provide: earn 10,000 Membership Rewards factors once 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 increased |
| 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. . |
Greatest resort bank card
At a look: You’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy factors on each buy you make on the world’s largest resort conglomerate, redeemable at greater than 30 resort chains (from Marriott and St. Regis to The Ritz-Carlton) in 130 international locations. Get service upgrades like free Wi-Fi, spa remedies, eating experiences, or free resort stays. Factors are additionally transferable to round 40 different airline applications like Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic.
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Marriott Bonvoy American Specific
Annual payment: $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 increased |
| Level worth | 1 Marriott Bonvoy level = $0.0117 on common when redeemed for eligible flights or resort stays. |
Professionals
- You possibly can deal with your self to hotel-related upgrades, providers and free nights at motels, together with St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and Westin, or for different travel-related bills like flights or automotive leases. Bonvoy factors are versatile—you may also use them for merchandise and experiences.
- The bottom fee of two factors per greenback is sort of good, however your factors will actually rack up once you earn 5 factors per greenback spent in your Marriott resort stays.
- This card comes with some invaluable perks like one free evening’s keep at a Marriott property yearly and 15 Elite Night time Credit that will help you obtain the following stage of standing.
- Should you attain $30,000 in complete 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 resort 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 resort you’re staying at to the time of the 12 months—that means maximizing factors and switch choices isn’t all the time simple 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 apart from resort bookings.
- American Specific 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 outdated saying, “You get what you pay for.” On this case, the $799 annual payment pays for itself by way of a smorgasbord of unimaginable perks. Your journey expertise might be remodeled with limitless airport lounge entry, partnerships at Effective Lodge + Resorts properties, and precedence therapy at Toronto Pearson Airport. The numerous perks—like a number of hundred {dollars} price of annual journey and eating credit and a Nexus payment rebate—go a good distance towards offsetting the worth tag.
American Specific Platinum
Annual payment: $799
Welcome provide: earn as much as 100,000 rewards factors ($1,000 worth). Circumstances 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 increased |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual eating credit score to make use of at a curated record of Canada’s prime eating places. Plus, $200 annual journey credit score when reserving by way of American Specific 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. |
Professionals
- You’ll get a $200 journey credit score every year that may be redeemed in the direction of a journey buy made by way of American Specific 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 Specific International Lounge Assortment composed of greater than 1,300 lounges in over 140 international locations, together with American Specific 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.
- Mechanically obtain the upper tier within the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy resort applications.
- Receive personalised help by way of Platinum Concierge service. The concierge could make restaurant reservations, acquire tickets to particular occasions, ebook 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 traditional credit score restrict.
Cons
- Further playing cards price $250 every yearly.
- Given the annual payment, 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 power to earn Aeroplan rewards with just a few journey advantages and student-friendly perks to ship a aggressive bundle for no annual payment.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for College students
Annual payment: $0
Welcome provide: earn 10,000 Aeroplan factors once 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. |
Ceaselessly requested questions
Various kinds of journey bank cards
Generic journey rewards bank cards
Some bank cards give you the power to earn rewards on on a regular basis purchases and different buy classes, which might 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, akin to with the American Specific 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. Once you accumulate sufficient factors, you’ll be able to ebook a flight or trip bundle with affiliated airways like WestJet or Air Canada. Take note although that the worth of your factors can rely on the date of your flight and your vacation spot.
Lodge rewards bank cards
Lodge rewards bank cards give you the power to redeem your factors in the direction of a resort keep, and to earn factors once you ebook at affiliated motels like Marriott or Delta, or earn perks akin to room upgrades or free breakfasts once you ebook eligible resort stays. Should you regularly ebook motels for work or journey, take into account a resort rewards bank card just like the Marriott Bonvoy American Specific.
Journey bank card options
Some necessary options to look out for in journey bank cards, in addition to factors worth and your reserving redemption choices (flights, motels, automobiles), embrace:
- Journey insurance coverage protection for medical points or journey delays. Most bank card journey insurance coverage applications cowl you as much as 15 days and are typically extra restricted for these over the age of 65, however there are exceptions. (Examine learn how to know in case your bank card comes with sufficient journey insurance coverage protection.)
- Airport lounge entry free of charge or discounted lounge passes by way of Precedence Go, Visa Airport Companion Program, Dragon Go and others.
- Lodge reductions, like reductions at Marriott motels.
Whether or not the cardboard prices you overseas transaction charges while you’re overseas, on prime of normal trade charges. These charges might be as excessive as an added 2.5% on each buy.
What journey factors program is greatest?
Not all journey reward applications are created equal. So how do you select the appropriate one for you?
First, it’s necessary to grasp that journey rewards applications might be damaged down into two primary sorts: Constant and chart-based.
It’s price noting that in uncommon instances, just like the American Specific 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 applications. 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 applications will admire these. Chart-based applications might be significantly extra difficult—but additionally doubtlessly extra invaluable. Because the variety of factors wanted to redeem for a flight isn’t constant, utilizing the rewards chart strategically can assist you stretch the worth of your factors and web a better return when flying on sure routes, and even when reserving premium seats or enterprise class. These applications are extra common 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 Specific Versatile Factors Program | 1 American Specific level is price $0.01 in journey rewards |
| American Specific Mounted Factors program | 1 American Specific 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 resort 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 motels |
| 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 by way of 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 a minimum of 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 service 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 a minimum of 15,000 factors for a flight inside or close to your province or territory, a minimum of 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 Specific Mounted Factors Program, you’d want a minimum of 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 a minimum of 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} usually don’t expire, except they had been earned throughout sure promotions or different circumstances. To keep away from having your factors expire, you’ll be able to ebook motels together 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.
