Guide: How can I save on plane tickets with points?

Updated Oct 23, 2024
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To the point Find out how to save a lot of money on flights with credit card travel points!

We have written a detailed article on the best point hunting techniques for finding cheap flights. As part of this strategy, we are only interested in programs that offer travel points that can be applied directly to your flights.

Goal: Save on Flights

Here, your goal is to be able to:

  • book on the website that suits you best(Air France, Kiwi.com, Skyscanner, Momondo…).
  • travel on the dates that suit you
  • Take the itinerary of your choice
  • Use the airlines that are right for you
  • etc.
kiwi nomad 2

So you want more freedom than the one you could have with Aeroplan or AIR MILES. You should always hold a credit card with travel points: it will offer you some flexibility!

Sometimes, we use credit cards with hotel points to get free hotel nights, while on other occasions, we redeem travel points to pay for flights!

Reward Programs to save on flights

Some will offer you the possibility:

  • to book with any travel agency or airline
  • while others will have their own online agency, often offering the same prices

Of course, we will prefer programs that offer more flexibility, but we should not disregard the others!

Here are the top 4 travel reward programs to save money on flights:

American Express Membership Rewards Points (flexible option)

With the Membership Rewards program, you can apply points to any flight purchase charged to one of the six Membership Rewards Cards.

You can apply 1,000 points for a $10 credit or 10,000 points = $100. As in this example for a ticket purchased on Air Transat:

cobalt transat

So 25,000 Membership Rewards can save $250 on a flight!

American Express Membership Rewards Points (fixed option)

For some flights, American Express has assigned a fixed chart: you will be able to use a predetermined number of points based on the cost of your flight.

amex points fixes eco

So in this case, 15,000 Membership Rewards points = $300! An option to keep in mind and which we have detailed here.

Scene+ Scotiabank

The Scotiabank SCENE+ program works the same way: you can apply your points directly to the purchase of your flight charged to one of the cards from the program.

This means that 5,000 points can be used for a $50 credit, or 10,000 points = $100.

points bonis scotia sncf appliquer

For example, 25,000 SCENE+ points can save you $250 on your flight!

TD Rewards

To redeem your TD Rewards points, go to the Expedia for TD portal.

You can use your TD Rewards points when you book your flight.

Here’s an example of how TD Rewards points can be used for travel:

Use of Td Rewards ExpediaforTD

For example, 20,000 TD Rewards points can save you $100 on your flight!

BMO Rewards

The BMO Rewards program works differently: points earned with any of the cards in the program can be used on the BMO travel booking portal. Alternatively, you can book your flight on your chosen site at the same redemption rate (a new feature of the BMO Rewards program).

The redemption rate will always be the same when using points for travel, in this case to save on flights: 10,000 points = $71

bmo rewards

For example, 35,000 BMO Rewards points can save you $250 on your flight!

Credit Cards

With the goal and programs set, we can now look at credit cards that earn points to save money on airfares.

American Express Membership Rewards offers

Here are the 7 Cards of the American Express Membership Rewards Program, whose points can save you money on your flights.

The best Membership Rewards credit card for flights

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card. That’s a $600 value for travel or any purchase on the Card.

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

  • 60,000 Aeroplan points
  • 60,000 Avios points
  • 45,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

  • gas stations
  • grocery stores
  • drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Scene+ Scotia Offers

Here are the five best credit cards in the Scotia SCENE+ program.

The best Scene+ credit card for flights

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn up to 35,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus (a $350 value) :

  • 25,000 points after just $1,000 in purchases
  • 10,000 points after $40,000 in purchases in the first year

Then, each year, if you make at least $40,000 in purchases on the card, you’ll earn an annual bonus of 10,000 points, a $100 value.

With the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You’ll also earn 2 points for every dollar you spend, including on foreign transactions, in the following categories:

  • Grocery shopping
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers
  • Transit

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is an excellent Visa credit card for this type of purchase.

You can redeem your points for any travel purchase at the rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusive properties and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back with Scene+, such as at your grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Concierge service

We voted this credit card the Best No-FX Fee Credit Card of 2024.

TD Rewards Offers

Here are the 3 best credit cards in the TD Rewards program.

The best TD Rewards credit card for flights

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 135,000 TD Rewards points and a rebate on the annual fee for the first year:

  • 20,000 TD Rewards points for the first purchase made with your Card
  • 115,000 TD Rewards points if you spend $5,000 within 180 days of opening
  • A birthday bonus equal to 10% of the TD Rewards points you’ve earned in the past year, up to a maximum of 10,000 TD Rewards points.

Get an Annual Fee Rebate for the first year

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you get:

  • 8 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD
  • 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants
  • 4 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account
  • 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases

This TD credit card is one of the best TD travel rewards cards.

BMO Rewards Offers

There are several cards in the BMO Rewards program:

The best BMO Rewards credit card for flights

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada. With our exclusive offer, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points:

  • 55,000 points after $4,500 in Card purchases in the first 3 months
  • 3,750 points per month after $2,500 in monthly purchases from the 4th to the 15th month (up to 45,000 points)

Plus, the annual fee is waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, a premium credit card from BMO, you get:

  • 5 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on dining purchases
  • 3 points per dollar for entertainment purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on recurring bill payments

And 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including at Costco. You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard also offers:

  • Four annual complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
  • Excellent Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
  • a premium concierge service

Bottom Line

To apply this strategy to save on airline tickets with Reward Points, you could only focus on one program. Or you can get into multiple programs, which is ideal for a couple: each of you applying for a different card.

According to us, the four best credit cards are:

Also, as you can see, sometimes these cards require high incomes ($60,000 – $80,000 / year), while others require lower incomes ($12,000 with the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card) or even no minimum income at all(American Express® Gold Rewards Card.

So everyone can benefit from travel points to save on flights!

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Audrey Voisine

Audrey Voisine

Audrey Voisine
Audrey, co-founder of Milesopedia, is a dedicated entrepreneur, avid traveler, and mother of two children. She shares valuable tips and recommendations for families and frequent travellers alike, helping everyone get the most from points and rewards programs. As Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, she is committed to guiding Milesopedia readers toward more accessible, practical, and memorable journeys.
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