Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® CardEarn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year

Guide: Save on Flights With Points

  • The strategies
Guide: Save on Flights With Points
Share

Airfare often represents the largest expense of a trip. Fortunately, there is an effective solution to significantly reduce these costs: using reward points.

From airline loyalty programs to financial institution rewards programs, let’s look at all the options for turning your points into flights.

Goal: Save on Flights

In the world of rewards, there are two main kinds of travel points:

With airline points, you book flights directly, paying only airport fees and taxes. For example, a flight from Montreal to Paris with Aeroplan could cost you between60,000and70,000points plus taxes.

Avis : Air Canada Airbus 330-300 | Aer Lingus A320neo | YUL-LHR-DUB

Credit card points offer more flexibility: they generally allow you to book any flight on any airline and then receive a statement credit by using your points.

Before choosing your strategy, ask yourself these important questions:

  • Where are you headed?
  • Which airline serves this destination best?
  • Are you ready to make a stopover for less?
  • Do you prefer economy or business class?
  • Are you traveling during peak periods, such as summer vacations or spring break?

These criteria will guide you towards the most appropriate points program for your situation. To find out more, read our guide to choosing the best loyalty program for your destination:

Airline Rewards Programs

For each loyalty program available in Canada, you’ll discover the essential information, with links to our detailed guides if you wish to delve deeper.

Aeroplan

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program. It allows you to book flights on Air Canada and more than 45 partner airlines that are members of Star Alliance, such as United Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA, and many others.

Points are easily accumulated on daily purchases via Aeroplan co-branded credit cards.

Featured
Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$1,139
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

With this offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year.

  • Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card
  • Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening.
  • Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on:

  • Grocery purchases
  • Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
  • Purchases made directly with Air Canada® (including Air Canada Vacations®)

You also earn 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.5xGas & EV
  • 1.5xGroceries
  • 1.5xAir Canada flights
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,714
2nd Year Value$425

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

To find out more about the Aeroplan program, consult our complete guide:

Avios

Avios is the common currency of the loyalty programs for British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Vueling, and Aer Lingus. With these programs, you can book flights on all Oneworld alliance member carriers, including American Airlines, LATAM, and Japan Airlines.

Avios are particularly advantageous for short-haul flights in economy class and are easily accumulated via RBC credit cards.

Annual fee
$165
Our valuation
$850
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$850Total$850Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
50,000 Avios
Apply Now

on RBC's website

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 groceries, 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

Annual fee

Primary card$165
Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,348
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

Read our complete Avios program guides to find out more:

Flying Blue

Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France, KLM, and Transavia. With Flying Blue miles, you can book flights on these airlines and all their SkyTeam partners, such as Delta and Aeroméxico.

In Canada, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue or earn them directly with an Air France KLM co-branded credit card.

Discover all the possibilities of the program in our detailed guide.

Annual fee
$0 $132
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$132
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$132Total$132Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate
$132 annual fee rebated
Apply Now

on Brim's website

With the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®, you can earn Flying Blue Miles on all your purchases:

  • 2 miles per dollar on food and drinks
  • 1 Mile per dollar for all other purchases (including at Costco)

As an Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard credit cardholder, you earn 30 XP per year to help you qualify for Flying Blue Elite Status.

This card comes with many insurance coverages for your purchases and travels.

Annual fee

Primary card$132
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xRestaurants
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$490
2nd Year Value$283

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,000
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $150,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $999 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $85,000 / 48 days

WestJet Rewards

WestJet Rewards is the loyalty program of the Canadian airline WestJet. It works differently from other programs: WestJet dollars are used like cash to book WestJet and partner flights.

WestJet dollars are primarily accumulated with RBC credit cards.

Learn how to make the most of your WestJet dollars with our complete guide.

Featured
Annual fee
$139
Our valuation
$700
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$700Total$700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

With the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, you can earn up to 70,000 WestJet points as a welcome bonus:

  • 30,000 WestJet points as a welcome bonus with your first purchase
  • 30,000 WestJet points when you charge at least $5,000 in eligible purchases to your card within the first three months
  • 10,000 additional WestJet points after your credit card account’s first anniversary

The offer ends on November 4, 2026.

The benefits in numbers

An annual companion voucher from $119
Charge at least $5,000 in purchases to your card each year and you receive a World Elite Companion Voucher for a round-trip flight, starting at a $119 base fare, plus taxes, fees, surcharges and other air transportation charges. You can exchange it instead for a 30% flight discount for one traveller, a $200 credit towards a WestJet Vacations or Sunwing Vacations package, or airport lounge passes. The exact number of lounge passes granted is to be verified against the RBC terms in force.

A free first checked bag for up to nine people
The first checked bag is free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation, on WestJet flights. For a family of four, that is four bags on every leg.

Status Lift: $200 in tier qualifying spend per $5,000
Your everyday purchases move you towards Silver, Gold and even Platinum status. You earn $200 in tier qualifying spend for every $5,000 in purchases charged to the card, up to 50 times per year.

Up to 2 WestJet points per dollar

  • 2 points per dollar on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations packages
  • 2 points per dollar at grocery stores and on transportation, including gas, EV charging, public transit and rideshare
  • 1.5 points per dollar on all other everyday purchases

The annual fee is $139, plus $59 per additional card.

Finally, you benefit from extensive insurance coverage: out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, flight delay and delayed baggage insurance, hotel or motel burglary insurance, rental vehicle collision and damage insurance.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$59

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xWith the partner brand
  • 1.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,098
2nd Year Value$263

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceIncluded
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Other Programs

Other loyalty programs are easily accessible in Canada:

These programs allow you to travel with other airlines and their respective partners through the transfer of American Express Membership Rewards or RBC Avion points.

Credit Card Rewards Programs

In Canada, most financial institutions offer their own travel rewards programs with their credit cards. These programs operate independently of airline loyalty programs, and often offer greater flexibility.

The main Canadian banking programs are:

There are two main ways to use your points for travel. Some programs let you book wherever you want: travel agency, airline, or the website of your choice.

Other programs direct you to their own booking portal, where you will generally find the same rates as elsewhere.

Flexible BookingsDedicated Booking Portal
American Express Membership Rewards PointsTD Rewards
BMO RewardsNBC À la carte Rewards
CIBC AventuraMBNA Rewards
Scene+RBC Avion Rewards

Flexible programs also give you access to their own travel portal. By using it, you will benefit from earning bonus points on your bookings.

Programs with a dedicated agency also allow you to use your points for external bookings, but at a less favorable exchange rate.

To fully understand the specifics of each program, please refer to the detailed guides in the following sections.

American Express Membership Rewards Points

✈️ 25,000 Membership Rewards points can be exchanged for a $250 credit on an airline ticket or transferred into 25,000 Aeroplan points.

The American Express Membership Rewards program stands out as the most flexible travel program in Canada. It offers four options for booking airline tickets with your points:

To find out all you need to know about the American Express Membership Rewards program, consult our complete guide:

Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
  • Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
  • Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
  • The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
  • Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
  • A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
  • Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

TD Rewards

✈️ 50,000 TD Rewards points can be exchanged for a $250 discount on an airline ticket.

The TD Rewards program offers two ways to book airline tickets:

  • Book via Expedia for TD, where 2,000 points are worth $10;
  • Use the Book Any Way option to be reimbursed for travel purchases made elsewhere (2,500 points are worth $10).

To find out how to save on your next vacation with TD Rewards points, consult our detailed guide:

Sponsored
Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$939
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 160,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 160,000 TD Rewards Points as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year:

  • 20,000 TD Rewards Points for the first purchase made with your card
  • 140,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of account opening
  • A Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points

Get an annual TD Travel Credit of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD, and enjoy your time at the airport with global airport lounge access and 4 complimentary lounge visits with Visa Airport Companion Program (a value of up to $277).

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

  • 8 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD
  • 6 TD Rewards Points per dollar on your grocery, dining and public transit purchases
  • 4 TD Rewards Points per dollar on your recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as digital games and media
  • 2 TD Rewards Points per dollar on all other purchases made with your card

This card also allows you to enjoy a range of travel benefits, including an annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge visits, and a birthday bonus that boosts your points each year.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 6xGroceries
  • 6xRestaurants
  • 6xTransit
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xStreaming
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,430
2nd Year Value$531

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$160

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

CIBC Aventura

✈️ 25,000 CIBC Aventura points can be exchanged for a $250 credit on an airline ticket.

With the CIBC Aventura program, you have three options for booking airline tickets with points:

  • Use the CIBC Rewards Center powered by Expedia portal, where 1,000 points provide a $10 discount;
  • Take advantage of the fixed-rate chart to book economy class flights, with predetermined amounts based on the destination;
  • Choose the Shopping with Points option to be reimbursed for travel purchases made elsewhere, where 1,000 points are worth $10 in reimbursement. Very important: The transaction must be in Canadian dollars and pending on your credit card to apply points.

Learn how to make the most of your Aventura Points with our complete guide:

Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$679
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$540Annual fee rebated$139Total$679Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 45,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on CIBC's website

If you do not meet the income requirements of CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card, you can apply for CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card. The minimum annual income required for this card is $15,000 (household).

With this offer, get over $1,600 in value, including a first-year annual fee rebate.

CIBC has a digital offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points :

  • 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase
  • 30,000 Aventura Points if you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods

In addition, you can benefit from a rebate on the first year’s annual fee for the primary card holder ($139 value) and up to three authorized users ($50 each).

With this CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:

  • 2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
  • 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores
  • 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases

The CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card also offers:

  • Access to airport lounges: one Visa Airport Companion Program membership and 4 free visits
  • Reimbursement of NEXUS membership fees ( $160 value)
  • A free Skip+ membership (a $110 first-year value)

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$15,000
Household$15,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.5xGroceries
  • 1.5xGas & EV
  • 1.5xPharmacy
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$968
2nd Year Value$359

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$160

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 3 days
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 ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Scene+

✈️ 25,000 Scene+ points can be exchanged for a $250 credit on an airline ticket.

The Scotiabank Scene+ program is designed to be simple and very versatile. It allows you to book airline tickets in two ways:

  • Use the Scene+ Travel portal, powered by Expedia, where 1,000 points are worth a $10 discount;
  • Get reimbursed for any travel expense with the Apply Points to Travel option, at the same rate of 1,000 points for $10.

Save on your next trip by consulting our detailed Scene+ guide:

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

NBC À la carte Rewards

✈️ 25,000 NBC Rewards points can be exchanged for a $250 discount on an airline ticket.

Members of the NBC À la carte Rewards program can convert their points into an airline ticket in two ways:

  • Book via the NBC À la carte Travel portal, with a conversion rate of 1,000 points for a $10 discount;
  • Choose the Redeem for travel option to reimburse travel purchases made on other sites, at a minimum rate of 12,000 points for a $100 credit.

Find out how to plan your next trip with points at NBC in our complete À la carte Rewards guide:

Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $150
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$150
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate
$150 annual fee rebated
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on National Bank's website

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

RBC Avion

✈️ 25,000 RBC Avion points can be exchanged for a $250 discount on an airline ticket or transferred into 25,000 Avios.

The RBC Avion program offers four options for booking your airline tickets:

  • Convert your points to several partner airline loyalty programs, such as WestJet, British Airways, or American Airlines;
  • Book via the Avion Rewards portal, where every 1,000 points is equivalent to a $10 discount;
  • Use the air travel chart for economy or business class flights, with fixed values based on the destination;

Maximize the value of your Avion points by consulting our detailed program guide:

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$1,050
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Total$1,050Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

For a limited time, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, worth up to $1,500 in travel.

  • 35,000 points upon approval of your application
  • 20,000 points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your account within the first six months
  • 15,000 points on the first anniversary of your account

You can redeem your Avion points for flights with more than 500 airlines, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions, or transfer them to partner programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage, The British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and WestJet Rewards.

The card earns you 1.25 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all your other eligible purchases. It also includes extensive insurance coverage: emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, collision coverage for rental vehicles, and mobile devices.

The annual fee is $120.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.25xTravel
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,369
2nd Year Value$271

Transfer partners

  • American Airlines AAdvantageAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • WestJet RewardsAirline

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
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 ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

MBNA Rewards

✈️ 25,000 MBNA Rewards points can be exchanged for a $250 discount on an airline ticket.

The MBNA Rewards program offers two easy ways to book your flights:

  • Book directly on the MBNA Rewards travel portal, where 1,000 points equals a $10 discount.
  • Opt for a statement credit at the rate of 1,000 points for a $5 reimbursement on any purchase.
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$300
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Total$300Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 30,000 points
Apply Now

on MBNA's website

With the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®, you can earn 5 points per dollar of purchases for:

  • Dining
  • Grocery purchases
  • Digital media purchases (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  • Memberships
  • Household utility purchases (electricity, etc.)

Everywhere else, you will get 1 point per dollar.

Enough to make the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard the best MBNA credit card for restaurants, groceries, digital media, subscriptions and household utilities.

Knowing that Mastercard recognizes Walmart Supercenters as grocery stores, this is the best credit card for Walmart customers!

Plus, depending on your province of residence, you’ll get a welcome bonus of between 20,000 and 30,000 points, a value of $200 to $300!

And each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xBills & recurring payments
  • 5xStreaming
  • 5xTelecom
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,368
2nd Year Value$533

Travel insurance

Travel MedicalIncluded
Trip InterruptionIncluded
Delayed BaggageIncluded
Lost BaggageIncluded
Flight DelayIncluded
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionIncluded
Price protectionIncluded

BMO Rewards

✈️ 37,500 BMO Rewards points can be exchanged for a $250 discount on an airline ticket.

The BMO Rewards program offers you two ways to book your airline tickets:

  • Use the BMO Rewards portal to book your flights, where 1,500 points are equivalent to a $10 discount;
  • Choose the Pay with Points option to reimburse travel purchases made elsewhere, at the same rate of 1,500 points for $10.
  • Use the BMO Rewards portal to book your flights, where 1,500 points are equivalent to a $10 discount;
  • Choose the Pay with Points option to reimburse travel purchases made elsewhere, at the same rate of 1,500 points for $10.

Our detailed guide on BMO Rewards will help you plan your next trip at a lower cost:

Annual fee
$0 $150
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$921
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$771Annual fee rebated$150Total$921Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 115,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on BMO's website

Limited Time Offer

The BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®* is one of the best World Elite Mastercard travel rewards credit cards in Canada. With our welcome offer, you can get up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points, for a total value of up to $1,900, including up to $200 in Instacart benefits.*

Plus, there’s no annual fee in the first year for the primary cardholder and additional cardholders, and you benefit from a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% balance transfer fee).*

With the BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®*, you get:

  • 5 points per dollar on eligible travel*
  • 3 points per dollar on eligible dining, entertainment, and recurring bill payments*
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases*

The card also offers:

  • 4 complimentary airport lounge accesses per year via Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*
  • comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency medical coverage up to $5 million for 21 days*
  • A NEXUS statement credit in the first year*
  • Up to $200 in Instacart benefits*

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xTravel
  • 3xRestaurants
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xBills & recurring payments
  • 3xEntertainment
  • 3xTelecom
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,249
2nd Year Value$289

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$160

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Bottom Line

In conclusion, whether it is airline loyalty programs or bank reward programs, each offers different ways to exchange your points or miles for airline tickets. The choice of the most advantageous program will depend on your spending habits and travel goals.

If you are new to the world of points, focus first on a single program to master its rules and benefits. Once comfortable, you can gradually explore other programs and combine them strategically to maximize your savings.

To choose the travel credit card that best suits your needs, consult our comparison tool, discover our ranking of the best travel credit cards, and come chat with our community on our Facebook group!

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$1,050
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Total$1,050Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

For a limited time, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, worth up to $1,500 in travel.

  • 35,000 points upon approval of your application
  • 20,000 points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your account within the first six months
  • 15,000 points on the first anniversary of your account

You can redeem your Avion points for flights with more than 500 airlines, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions, or transfer them to partner programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage, The British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and WestJet Rewards.

The card earns you 1.25 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all your other eligible purchases. It also includes extensive insurance coverage: emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, collision coverage for rental vehicles, and mobile devices.

The annual fee is $120.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.25xTravel
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,369
2nd Year Value$271

Transfer partners

  • American Airlines AAdvantageAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • WestJet RewardsAirline

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
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 ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.