Companion Fares: Which Credit Card is Best?

Airline companion fares are a handy addition to your rewards wallet that can give you either free or discounted base fares for your favourite travel companion.

In Canada, there are four airlines that offer companion fare vouchers, and all four do so through their co-branded credit cards.

In this article, we’ll explore these options to help you find the best credit card for companion fares.

Companion Fares: Which Credit Card is Best? - Best Companion Passes ticket graphic

What Are Companion Fares?

Companion fares are an airline product (usually provided as a perk to loyalty members) that can help you save money when you and another person book and travel together on the same flight.

With a companion fare, one traveller buys their ticket at full price and the second traveller then enjoys a discounted (or free) fare by applying the companion fare voucher.

Since the vouchers only cover the base fare cost of the tickets, the second traveller does still need to pay the taxes and fees. That said, you can still usually save a nice chunk of money on your travels, especially if you use your vouchers strategically.

Essentially, the process to get and use a companion fare voucher is as follows:

Earn a companion voucher through an eligible credit card (or loyalty program)
Buy a full price ticket for Traveller 1
Apply the companion voucher for Traveller 2’s fare
Pay for the discounted fare (when applicable) and the fare’s taxes/fees
Enjoy your discounted/free fare!

Now, completing step one of this process – getting your hands on a companion fare voucher – is relatively straight forward. It all starts with having the right credit card!

In Canada, there are four airlines that offer companion fares through their co-branded credit cards: Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and British Airways.

Each airline has its own rules for earning and redeeming these companion fare vouchers, so read on to learn which credit cards offer these perks and how you can take advantage of the savings on your next trip.

Which Credit Cards are Best for Companion Fares?

Premium Aeroplan Credit Cards

There are four premium Aeroplan credit cards that let you earn an Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass each year:

As premium cards, each of these comes with a fairly high annual fee of $599, making them among the more expensive cards in the Canadian market.

However, they do each offer a nice array of travel perks and benefits to make up for this fee, such as complimentary airport lounge access, free first checked bag with Air Canada, and strong travel insurance coverage.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months Up to 85,000 points After $7,500 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Business Reserve Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $10,500 in 3 months Up to 120,000 points After $10,500 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months Up to 100,000 points After $24,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
CIBC^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $25,000 in 12 months Up to 100,000 points After $25,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare

How to earn

To earn an Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass with any of the four Air Canada co-branded cards listed above, you’ll need to spend $25,000 during the year before your card’s anniversary date.

If you meet this requirement, the companion pass will be deposited into your Aeroplan account around 8 to 10 weeks after your card’s annual renewal date.

How to redeem

When redeeming your Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass, the cost of the discounted base fare that you can enjoy changes based on where you’re travelling to/from, as follows:

$99 for travel within Canada and the continental US (excluding Hawaii)
$299 for travel to/from Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
$499 for travel to/from South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
$599 for travel to/from Asia, Australia, and New Zealand

The pricing above is for a round-trip ticket in economy class, and you still have to pay the full taxes and fees on top of this price.

Additionally, your companion pass will expire 12 months after its been issued, so travel must be booked before these 12 months are up; however, your travel date can be after the expiry date.

Thanks to Air Canada’s large global route network, there’s lots of interesting ways to redeem this companion pass. Check out of full guide on the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass to learn the best ways to redeem.

Companion Fares: Which Credit Card is Best? - Best Companion Fares Air Canada prices

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard / WestJet RBC Mastercard

There are two versions of the WestJet Round-Trip Companion Voucher, and they’re provided annually to everyone who has either the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard or the WestJet RBC Mastercard.

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $119, and comes with the following perks and more:

earn up to 2% back in WestJet dollars/points on everyday purchases
get an annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher
earn WestJet rewards status faster with the WestJet’s Rewards Status Lift
enjoy a free first checked bag with WestJet

Comparatively, the WestJet RBC Mastercard comes with an annual fee of $39, and let’s you earn up to 1.5% back in WestJet dollars/points on everyday purchases in addition to giving you an annual round-trip companion voucher.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
FeaturedWestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$139	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 3 months Up to 70,000 pointsEnds Nov 18, 2026 After $5,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
WestJet RBC^® Mastercard‡ Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$39	Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 3 months Up to 15,000 pointsEnds Nov 4, 2026 After $1,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

How to earn

Unlike with the co-branded Aeroplan cards mentioned above, you don’t have to meet a spending requirement to get either of the WestJet round-trip companion vouchers.

As long as you have either of the co-branded WestJet RBC Mastercards, you’ll be given a voucher annually as part of the perks and benefits of being a cardholder.

The voucher should appear in your WestJet Rewards account each year shortly after your annual fee has been charged.

How to redeem

To redeem your WestJet round-trip companion voucher, you’ll need to purchase a full price ticket and then apply the companion voucher for the second fare.

If you have the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, you’ll be given a voucher that can be redeemed for the following base fares:

$119 for a round-trip economy flight within Canada and the continental US (or $219 for Premium economy)
$399 for a round-trip economy flight to/from the rest of the WestJet network (or $499 for Premium economy)

The WestJet RBC Mastercard also provides an annual round-trip companion voucher to its cardholders except this one is only valid for round-trip travel within Canada and to/from the continental US.

The costs when using this voucher are $199 for Basic, Econo, and EconoFlex fares, and $299 for Premium and PremiumFlex fares.

Also, don’t forget that taxes, fees, and additional charges are then added on top of the discounted base fare regardless of which voucher you use.

If you’re looking to maximize your value with these vouchers, check out complete guide to the WestJet round-trip companion vouchers to learn all the ins and outs.

Companion Fares: Which Credit Card is Best? - Best Companion Fares WestJet image

RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

Another card that offers the ability to earn a companion fare is the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite, which lets you earn a Companion Voucher for British Airways.

This voucher is unique as it can only be used when you’re booking a reward flight using your Avios points.

With this voucher, you can either bring a friend for free, or you can enjoy a 50% discount on the Avios fare costs of your reward ticket.

The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite comes with an annual fee of $165, and lets you earn Avios points on all your purchases. The card also comes with solid travel insurance coverage and Visa Infinite exclusive benefits like 24/7 Concierge Service.

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RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

RBC British Airways Club

Annual fee: $165
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Total$1,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $1,000
Welcome offerAfter $6,000 in 3 months: 50,000 Avios

With this exceptional welcome offer for the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card, you can earn 50,000 Avios!

With this card, you benefit from a companion voucher (by spending $30,000 or more during a calendar year). Additionally, you can enjoy a 10% discount on British Airways flights when booking with your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card.

With the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card, you get:

3 Avios per dollar spent with British Airways and BA Holidays
2 Avios per dollar on dining and food delivery
1 Avios per dollar for all your other purchases

In addition, you benefit from extensive insurance coverage:

Out-of-province/country emergency medical insurance
Travel Accident Insurance
Flight delay and essential items purchase insurance
Hotel or motel burglary insurance
Rental vehicle collision and damage insurance

Legal

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

ˆ This offer only applies to new applications for a RBC British Airways Visa Infinite credit card received and approved by Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”), subject to the conditions below. Additional cardholders(s) (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) on the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite credit card account are not eligible for this offer. Existing cardholders on any RBC Royal Bank personal credit card account transferring to a RBC British Airways Visa Infinite credit card, are not eligible for the offer.

To receive the offer of 50,000 Avios points (“Bonus”), (i) a total of $6,000 or more (“Qualifying Transaction Amount”) in qualifying net purchases and/or pre-authorized bill payment transactions (“Qualifying Transactions”) must be posted to your Credit Card Account within the first 90 days of your Credit Card Account opening date (“Period”), and (ii) your Credit Card must remain open and in good standing, “good standing” meaning that your Credit Card Account must not be past due for more than two (2) consecutive Credit Card Account statement periods, closed, charged off or in credit revoked status at that time. If you are not currently a member of The British Airways Club, you will be enrolled automatically once you are approved for the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite credit card. Please note that the address your British Airways Club account is registered under must match the one for your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite account at all times for the Avios to be posted to your British Airways Club account. The Bonus will be awarded to your British Airways Club account, approximately 15 weeks after the date you reach $6,000 in Qualifying Transactions within the Period.

Qualifying Transactions exclude cash advances (including balance transfers, cash-like transactions and bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges and fees. Credits for returns and adjustments posted to your Credit Card Account during the Period will reduce the amount of your Qualifying Transactions. The Qualifying Transaction Amount is based on the transaction posting date of each Qualifying Transaction, not the transaction date. This means that transactions that take place prior to the last day of the Period will not be considered for the Qualifying Transaction Amount if they have not yet been posted or processed by the merchant, the payment network (Visa) or Royal Bank by the last day of the Period.

If you close or change your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite credit card for another type of RBC Royal Bank credit card before the Bonus has been credited to your British Airways Club account, you may lose the benefit of this offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer, except as otherwise set out. Royal Bank of Canada and British Airways reserve the right to modify, cancel or withdraw this offer at any time. British Airways, not Royal Bank of Canada, is responsible for this offer and The British Airways Club program. For all British Airways Club Terms and Conditions, please visit ba.com/theclub .

An eligible member who makes at least $30,000 CAD in eligible purchases on their card during a calendar year (a calendar year is the period starting January 1 and ending December 31) will receive a single companion voucher during that same calendar year. See ba.com/rbc-visa for full terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$165

Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xRestaurants
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,447

2nd Year Value$243

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included

Travel medical (55-64)Included

Travel medical (65+)Included

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $50,000 / 90 days

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

How to earn

You can earn the British Airways companion voucher when you spend $30,000 within the calendar year (January 1 to December 31) on your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite.

Once you hit the $30,000 in spend on the card, a companion voucher will arrive in your British Airways Executive Account in around 6 to 8 weeks.

How to redeem

As we mentioned, this voucher can only be used when accompanying a reward flight booked with Avios or a combination of Avios and cash. Additionally, the reward flight can also only be booked on flights operated by British Airways (no franchise, codeshare, or alliance partners are eligible).

Uniquely, with this voucher you can opt to either use it to cover the base fare of a second ticket on the same flight as you, or you can enjoy a 50% discount on the number of Avios needed for your single reward flight.

Also, although this voucher gives the second traveller a completely free base fare (instead of the “discounted” fares provided with the Air Canada and WestJet vouchers), you’ll want to be cautious about British Airways’ notoriously high costs for « taxes, fees, and other charges. » In many cases, it may be most lucrative to use the voucher for a discount on solo travel.

Companion Fares: Which Credit Card is Best? - Best Companion Fares Person with suitcase looking at water

BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard

The last card through which you can get a companion pass is the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard.

New to the market in 2025, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard is one of two Porter Airlines co-branded credit cards and the only one that offers a companion pass as part of its perks and benefits.

With this pass, your travel companion can join you on a flight anywhere that Porter flies for no additional base fare cost, giving you lots of fun travel options.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $199, though this is often waived for the first year. With this card, you’ll earn VIPorter points on all your purchases, and you can enjoy a number of travel perks like complimentary checked and carry-on bags, free seat selection, and priority boarding.

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BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*

BMO Porter VIPorter First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $199
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Annual fee rebated$199Total$1,249Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $1,249
Welcome offer+ one round-trip companion passAfter $18,000 in 12 months: Up to 70,000 points; Ends Oct 31, 2026

With this offer for the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard, you get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass. Plus, you pay no annual fees for the first year and receive $1,000 in eligible spending towards your VIPorter status.

Here’s how to get your full welcome bonus:

20,000 points after $5,000 in purchases within the first 110 days of account opening
20,000 points, a round-trip companion pass, and $1,000 in eligible spending towards your VIPorter status after $9,000 in purchases within the first 180 days of account opening
30,000 points after $18,000 in purchases within the first 365 days of account opening

So, to get the full welcome bonus of 70,000 VIPorter points, you’ll need to spend $18,000 in the first year.

With the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard, you earn 3 points per dollar at Porter and 2 points per dollar on gas, transportation, grocery, restaurant and hotel purchases. And 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, including Costco.

With the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard, you and up to 8 companions travelling on the same booking enjoy Porter travel benefits such as:

On free checked bag
1 complimentary carry-on bag on all Porter fare types
Free PorterClassic seat selection
Priority security screening.
Priority rebooking on another flight in case of a delay
Exclusive check-in.
Early boarding

Additionally, as a BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard holder, your VIPorter points do not expire, and you automatically receive VIPorter Horizon Grand Traveller status. You also earn $1 in eligible spending towards your Porter status for every $25 spent.

You can also earn one round-trip companion pass per year if you spend $50,000 on your BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard during your membership year.

Finally, you are covered by a wide range of insurance policies:

21-day out-of-province or country emergency medical insurance
Trip Cancellation/Interruption/Delay insurance
Car rental-collision/loss damage insurance
Common carrier insurance
Flight Delay Insurance
Baggage insurance
Hotel burglary insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended warranty insurance

Finally, enjoy six months of Instacart+ membership and a monthly $10 Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.

Legal

^†Conditions apply.

BMO is not responsible for updating the content of this site. For the most up-to-date information, please click on the Online Application link.

Annual fee

Primary card$199

Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$80,000

Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

3xPorter flights
2xGroceries
2xConvenience
2xTransit
2xGas & EV
2xRestaurants
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,878

2nd Year Value$316

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days

Trip CancellationUp to $2,000

Trip InterruptionIncluded

Delayed BaggageIncluded

Lost BaggageIncluded

Flight DelayIncluded

Hotel BurglaryIncluded

Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

How to earn

To earn the VIPorter annual companion pass, you need to spend a set amount of money within a set amount of time.

During your first year as a cardholder, you need to spend a minimum of $9,000 in the first 180 days to earn a companion pass. After you meet the spending requirement, your companion pass will arrive in your account within 4 to 6 weeks.

In all the following years, you need to spend $50,000 within the 12 months before your card anniversary date to earn the annual companion pass.

How to redeem

The VIPorter annual companion pass can be redeemed by booking one full price round-trip ticket and then using the pass to receive a free base fare for a second seat on the same flight. As with the other companion passes, you’ll still need to pay for all taxes, fees, and additional charges when you redeem.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that the VIPorter annual companion pass expires 12 months after its been issued. This means that you need to have your flights booked before the 12 months are up, but your travel dates can be for after the expiration date.

Companion Fares: Which Credit Card is Best? - Porter-1024x538

Bottom Line

Companion fares can be a nice way to save a few dollars when travelling with another person. With companion fare vouchers available from Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and British Airways, there’s plenty of opportunities to save.

Determining which companion fare and which credit card is the best for you will very much depend on your spending habits and travel preferences.

To further help you choose, check out our variety of guides to Air Canada’s Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, VIPorter, and British Airways Executive Club to dive a little deeper into these loyalty programs.

FAQs

What credit cards offer companion fares?

In Canada, the following credit cards offer companion fares:

Air Canada

WestJet

British Airways

RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

Porter Airlines

BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard

How do I exchange my WestJet companion voucher for lounge access?

You can exchange your WestJet Annual World Elite Companion Voucher for 4 lounges passes on WestJet’s website. If you qualify, you’ll receive your lounge passes in your account within 4 days.

Are companion passes transferrable?

No. None of the companion passes offered in Canada can be transferred.

Airline companion fares are a handy addition to your rewards wallet that can give you either free or discounted base fares for your favourite travel companion.

In Canada, there are four airlines that offer companion fare vouchers, and all four do so through their co-branded credit cards.

In this article, we’ll explore these options to help you find the best credit card for companion fares.

What Are Companion Fares?

Companion fares are an airline product (usually provided as a perk to loyalty members) that can help you save money when you and another person book and travel together on the same flight.

With a companion fare, one traveller buys their ticket at full price and the second traveller then enjoys a discounted (or free) fare by applying the companion fare voucher.

Essentially, the process to get and use a companion fare voucher is as follows:

Earn a companion voucher through an eligible credit card (or loyalty program)
Buy a full price ticket for Traveller 1
Apply the companion voucher for Traveller 2’s fare
Pay for the discounted fare (when applicable) and the fare’s taxes/fees
Enjoy your discounted/free fare!

Now, completing step one of this process – getting your hands on a companion fare voucher – is relatively straight forward. It all starts with having the right credit card!

In Canada, there are four airlines that offer companion fares through their co-branded credit cards: Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and British Airways.