Head to Head: Scotiabank Scene+ Credit Cards

Q: Which Scene+ card has the better welcome bonus?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card® offers up to 35,000 Scene+ points (worth ~$350 in travel value), for a total first-year value of up to $1,250 once you factor in foreign transaction fee savings and airport lounge access. The Scotiabank Gold American Express® offers up to 50,000 Scene+ points (worth ~$500 in travel value), for a total first-year value of up to $950. The Passport's point bonus is now smaller than the Gold Amex's, but its overall value edges ahead thanks to no foreign transaction fees and 6 complimentary airport lounge visits — perks the Gold Amex doesn't offer. The Gold Amex still compensates with substantially higher ongoing earn rates — up to 6 points per dollar at Empire-banner grocery stores.

Q: How do the earning rates differ between the Passport and the Gold Amex?

The earning structures are quite different:- Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card: 3 points per dollar at Empire-banner grocers, 2 points per dollar on restaurants and travel, 1 point per dollar on everything else (and abroad with no FX fee); - Scotiabank Gold American Express: 6 points per dollar at Empire-banner grocers, 5 points per dollar on supermarkets, dining, and entertainment, 3 points per dollar on gas and streaming, 1 point per dollar elsewhere; The Gold Amex delivers the highest grocery rate among Canadian credit cards, beating even the Cobalt at Empire-banner stores.

Q: Which card is better for international travel?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card wins decisively for travel because it includes:- 0% foreign transaction fee (saves the standard 2.5% FX charge); - 6 complimentary VIP airport lounge visits per year via Priority Pass; - Visa-network acceptance, which is broader than Amex internationally; - 2 Scene+ points per dollar abroad; The Gold Amex offers strong rewards in Canada but charges the standard 2.5% FX, includes no lounge access, and faces narrower acceptance abroad. Frequent travelers should hold the Passport; the Gold Amex is best paired with it for domestic spend.

Q: What are the income requirements for each card?

The income thresholds differ significantly:- Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card: $60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income (Visa Infinite standard); - Scotiabank Gold American Express: $12,000 personal income (one of the most accessible mid-tier cards); The Gold Amex is therefore reachable for students, part-time workers, and newcomers, while the Passport requires a more established income. Annual fees are $150 for the Passport (waived with the Scotiabank Ultimate Package) and $120 for the Gold Amex.

Credit Cards Head to Head: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card vs Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

To the point Let's compare two Scotiabank credit cards: the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.

Scotiabank offers two credit cards that earn Scene+ points: one in partnership with American Express and the other with Visa.

They come from the same financial institution and earn the same type of points, but their characteristics are different. Let’s see which one is the best.

We will base our analysis on the major differences between these credit cards regarding:

Welcome Bonus
Earning Points
Using Points
Annual Fee
Minimum Income
Travel insurance
Benefits

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies depending on the promotions. However, there are some important differences between the two!

Head-to-Head: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite vs. BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard - Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you can get up to $1,250 in rewards and savings in the first year, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points:

25,000 points after ,000 in purchases in the first three months
An annual bonus of at least 10,000 points every year you spend ,000 on the card

Comparison: American Express Gold Rewards Card vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card - scotiabank gold american express card

With the Scotiabank American Express^® Gold Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Scene+ points:

30,000 points after $2,000 in purchases within the first three months
20,000 points after $7,500 in purchases in the first year

This has a $450 value.

Earning Points

The Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card each offer different levels of point accumulation.

Earnings Levels

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar (i.e. 3%) on purchases at:

IGA
Rachelle Béry
Les Marchés Tradition
Voià by IGA / Safeway / Sobeys
Sobeys and Safeway
Foodland and Thrifty Foods
FreshCo and Chalo! FreshCo

Then you earn:

2 Scene+ points / $1 purchase in restaurants, entertainment, grocery stores and travel
1 Scene+ point / $1 purchase on everything else

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card, you earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar (or 6%) on purchases at:

IGA
Rachelle Béry
Les Marchés Tradition
Voià by IGA / Safeway / Sobeys
Sobeys and Safeway
Foodland and Thrifty Foods
FreshCo and Chalo! FreshCo

Then you earn:

5 Scene+ points / $1 purchases for groceries, home food delivery, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues;
3 Scene+ points / $1 purchases on local transportation, gas stations and streaming services;
1 Scene+ point for everything else.

Redeeming Points

Both cards are linked to the Scene+ program, and the Scene+ points can be used in the same way.

Scene+ points and travel:

You can apply them to travel purchases in two ways, thanks to the fixed redemption rate where 10,000 points = $100 credit:

Redeem points directly when booking travel with Scene+ Travel, administered by Expedia.
Make your own travel arrangements and use your points to pay off the balance on the card

It also lets you apply your points to everyday purchases.

You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount at the IGA/Sobeys checkout.

Points can also be used to purchase gift cards on the Scotiabank/Scene+ website, from 1,000 to 1,400 points for a $10 discount.

Scene+ points can also be redeemed for:

500 points for a $5 discount at selected restaurants (Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, etc.);
100 points for $1 off movie tickets at Cineplex;
500 points for $5 off food and beverages at Cineplex, Rec Room and tokens for Playdium ;
At least 3,000 points for a Statement credit of between $6.67 and $8 on any card expense.

Scene+ points and travel:

You can apply them to travel purchases in two ways, thanks to the fixed redemption rate where 10,000 points = $100 credit:

Redeem points directly when booking travel with Scene+ Travel, administered by Expedia.
Make your own travel arrangements and use your points to pay off the balance on the card

It also lets you apply your points to everyday purchases.

You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount at the IGA/Sobeys checkout.

Points can also be used to purchase gift cards on the Scotiabank/Scene+ website, from 1,000 to 1,400 points for a $10 discount.

Scene+ points can also be redeemed for:

500 points for a $5 discount at selected restaurants (Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, etc.);
100 points for $1 off movie tickets at Cineplex;
500 points for $5 off food and beverages at Cineplex, Rec Room and tokens for Playdium ;
At least 3,000 points for a Statement credit of between $6.67 and $8 on any card expense.

Annual Fee

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card has an annual fee of $150. At the moment, there is no promotion that reimburses these costs in the first year.

If you have the Scotiabank Ultimate Package, you’ll get the annual fee waived. Learn more about this here.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card has an annual fee of $120. It’s charged on the first statement, and at the time of renewal.

At the moment, there is no offer to get the first year free.

Minimum Income

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card requires:

$60,000 (individual income)
or $100,000 (household income)

The Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card requires a minimum income of $12,000.

Insurance

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card offers various insurances. The certificate of insurance can be found here:

Global Travel Medical Emergency Insurance	2,000,000 and 25 days (age 64 and under)
Baggage delay or loss insurance	Up to $1,000 per trip
Flight delay insurance	Up to $500 per person
Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance	Up to $1,500 (cancellation) and $2,500 (interruption) per person
Vehicle rental insurance	Up to 48 days, maximum $65,000
Hotel/motel theft insurance	up to $1,000
Public transport accident insurance	Up to $500,000 per person
Purchase insurance	90 days
Mobile device insurance	—
Extended warranty insurance	Doubles warranty up to an additional year

The Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card offers various types of insurance, and you can find its certificate of insurance here:

Global Travel Medical Emergency Insurance	1,000,000, age 64 and under, for 25 days
Baggage delay or loss insurance	up to $1,000
Flight delay insurance	up to $500
Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance	up to $1,500
Vehicle rental insurance	Up to 48 days, up to $65,000
Hotel/motel theft insurance	up to $1,000
Public transport accident insurance	Up to $500,000 per person
Purchase insurance	90 days
Mobile Device Insurance	up to $1,000
Extended warranty insurance	Doubles warranty up to an additional year

Advantage

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card insurance amounts are slightly higher than those of its competitor. In fact, the amounts are equal to or greater than the other. Please note that at least 75% of the cost of the trip or tickets must be charged to the card for certain insurances to apply.

This is an important detail, because for some coverages, the full or partial cost of the trip must be charged to the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card. The latter has the advantage of being the only one with mobile device insurance, in case you have an unfortunate incident with your phone or tablet.

We strongly advise you to read the insurance brochures of both cards carefully, to find out which one is best for your situation.

The Benefits

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card offers a number of advantages:

No conversion fees for purchases in foreign currencies;
2 points / $1 foreign purchase ;
6 complimentary visits to VIP airport lounges per year;
Earn double Scene+ points with your Scene+ membership card with their partners;
Visa Infinite privileges .

In addition, the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card offers a range of benefits:

No conversion fees for purchases in foreign currencies;
Promotional offers in the form of Statement credit at several retailers;
1 point / $1 foreign purchase;
Earn double Scene+ points with your Scene+ membership card with their partners;
Exclusive Front Of The Line^{^®}Presale Access to concerts and shows through American Express^® Experiences;
Concierge Service

Bottom Line

So? Which card wins this duel?

For those with a big grocery budget, it’s the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card!

It stands out for:

The unbeatable accumulation of 5 or 6 points at the grocery store;
Lowest annual income requested;
Lowest annual fee;
American Express promotional offers to offset the annual fees.

In contrast, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card will be perfect for people who travel a lot thanks to:

6 free airport lounge visits;
More generous welcome offer;
Greater insurance coverages.

In any case, these are two cards we recommend in many of our rankings:

Frequently Asked Questions about the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card vs Scotiabank Gold American Express Comparison

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about these cards.

Which Scene+ card has the better welcome bonus?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card^® offers up to 35,000 Scene+ points (worth ~$350 in travel value), for a total first-year value of up to $1,250 once you factor in foreign transaction fee savings and airport lounge access. The Scotiabank Gold American Express^® offers up to 50,000 Scene+ points (worth ~$500 in travel value), for a total first-year value of up to $950. The Passport’s point bonus is now smaller than the Gold Amex’s, but its overall value edges ahead thanks to no foreign transaction fees and 6 complimentary airport lounge visits — perks the Gold Amex doesn’t offer. The Gold Amex still compensates with substantially higher ongoing earn rates — up to 6 points per dollar at Empire-banner grocery stores.

How do the earning rates differ between the Passport and the Gold Amex?

The earning structures are quite different:

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card: 3 points per dollar at Empire-banner grocers, 2 points per dollar on restaurants and travel, 1 point per dollar on everything else (and abroad with no FX fee)
Scotiabank Gold American Express: 6 points per dollar at Empire-banner grocers, 5 points per dollar on supermarkets, dining, and entertainment, 3 points per dollar on gas and streaming, 1 point per dollar elsewhere

The Gold Amex delivers the highest grocery rate among Canadian credit cards, beating even the Cobalt at Empire-banner stores.

Which card is better for international travel?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card wins decisively for travel because it includes:

0% foreign transaction fee (saves the standard 2.5% FX charge)
6 complimentary VIP airport lounge visits per year via Priority Pass
Visa-network acceptance, which is broader than Amex internationally
2 Scene+ points per dollar abroad

The Gold Amex offers strong rewards in Canada but charges the standard 2.5% FX, includes no lounge access, and faces narrower acceptance abroad. Frequent travelers should hold the Passport; the Gold Amex is best paired with it for domestic spend.

What are the income requirements for each card?

The income thresholds differ significantly:

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card: $60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income (Visa Infinite standard)
Scotiabank Gold American Express: $12,000 personal income (one of the most accessible mid-tier cards)

The Gold Amex is therefore reachable for students, part-time workers, and newcomers, while the Passport requires a more established income. Annual fees are $150 for the Passport (waived with the Scotiabank Ultimate Package) and $120 for the Gold Amex.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!

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.

All posts by Audrey Voisine

Review type

Credit Cards

Welcome Bonus

Earning Points

Earnings Levels

Redeeming Points

Annual Fee

Minimum Income

Insurance

The Benefits

Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions about the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card vs Scotiabank Gold American Express Comparison

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