Intermediate Level: Which Credit Card(s) to Apply For?

As a follow-up to our article on credit cards for beginners, it is important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint! It’s important to take it slow in the beginning to avoid negative repercussions on your credit file.

When starting, the norm is to apply for 1 or 2 credit cards every six months. Then, apply for 2 credit cards every 4 months once you are more experienced.

This list was compiled based on our analysis, personal experiences and those of Milesopedia readers. Once you have some experience managing credit cards, here are the best cards we most often recommend.

We assume you already have one or two cards from the Beginner Level article : Which credit card(s) to get? These top intermediate-level credit cards are for people with some experience and have been selected based on:

• Their profitability
• Medium- and long-term benefits
• And the ability to earn rewards at a higher level than the previous ones

To sum up, here are our picks for the best credit cards to start this new stage:

Why hold the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card ?

• Excellent and rare welcome bonus of up to 110,000 points
• One free night at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel after one year of card ownership (more than offsets the $120 annual fee)
• Benefits for Marriott Bonvoy Members
• No minimum income required
• Excellent customer service from American Express

Those bonus points are more than enough to spend a few nights near Mount Fuji in Japan!

It’s a common myth that American Express cards are not accepted anywhere. But it’s not true – check out our article on where these cards are accepted. Don’t miss out on major savings because of an urban legend.

To book flights with Aeroplan points, there is this very interesting card.

Why subscribe to the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card ?

• 10,000 Aeroplan points earned on just the first purchase made with this card
• 15,000 additional Aeroplan points can be earned with an average monthly spend of $1,250 during the 180 days following card opening.
• To get one free checked bag on Air Canada flights
• First year’s annual fee waived
• Exclusive benefits and experiences with Visa Infinite
• Optional TD Auto Club membership for roadside assistance

For example, these 25,000 points Aeroplan, together with the 7,500 points accumulated on the expenses required to obtain the welcome bonus, make it possible to travel at a lower cost to relax in Mexico.

The TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card requires an annual income of at least $60,000. For a card that doesn’t require a minimum income, you can sign up for its cousin, the TD^® Aeroplan Visa Platinum^* Card . It doesn’t offer the same benefits, but at least you’ll earn Aeroplan points for future travel.

Why apply to this BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard^®*?

• Up to 100,000 points thanks to this never-before-seen welcome bonus;
• 4 free visits to airport lounges
• Points easily redeemable as travel credits for travel expenses (airfare, airport parking, hotel rooms, all-inclusives, etc.);
• One of the best travel insurances;
• Earn 5X BMO Rewards points per dollar on all travel purchases (air, car rental, hotel, cruise, train, travel agency, etc.) made with the card;
• Earn 3X BMO Rewards points per dollar in restaurant, entertainment and recurring bill payments.

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard requires a minimum annual income of $80,000.

Here’s another option that gives you effortless free entry to airport lounges:

• CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card ($60,000 minimum annual income required)
• CIBC Aventura^® Gold Visa* Card ($15,000 minimum annual income required)

The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard is one of the newest and most underrated credit cards on the market. Its points are redeemable with Porter Airlines, and can be exchanged for flights with Porter, as well as with Air Transat for travel to Europe, for example.

• No annual fee for the first year
• 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 VIPorter spending 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
• High status given automatically (VIPorter Horizon)
• Numerous travel benefits (free first checked baggage, free carry-on baggage, free seat selection, early boarding, etc.)

This card requires a minimum annual income of $80,000. Another alternative is its little sister, the BMO VIPorter Mastercard.

But most importantly, whatever you choose, it is crucial to pay your credit card balances in full every month! Otherwise, all your profits will be wiped out by interest charges.

Also, take a few minutes to carefully read all the credit card terms and conditions. These few moments of reading are important, to make sure you get your welcome offer and make it rain points!