Understanding Airline Surcharges

Have you ever tried to use your American Express Membership Rewards points, RBC Avion points or AIR MILES to book a ticket to Europe, only to discover that you have to pay almost as much in taxes as the price of the ticket?

Let’s use the example of a flight between Montreal and Paris sold for around $725 in cash. With American Express’s fixed fare structure, a flight between North America and Europe costs 60,000 points. So why do we have to pay an extra $665 in fees and taxes?

Understanding Airline Surcharges and Ticket Pricing - yul-cdg-surcharges-amex

Illogical at first glance, this is explained by the concept of carrier surcharges or fuel surcharges. Let’s take a closer look at what this means and how to avoid them when booking tickets with points.

Airline Surcharges Explained

Several years ago, airlines were faced with soaring fuel costs. Many decided to introduce a fuel surcharge line on their tickets. Since then, despite falling barrel prices, this surcharge has been renamed carrier surcharge. It enables airlines to protect themselves against the volatility of fuel prices and other factors influencing the commercial aviation market.

When you pay for your airfare in cash, this surcharge is somewhat invisible, since it’s included in the final price. However, when you use miles or points, this carrier surcharge is displayed as a surcharge to be paid, just like the various airport taxes.

This practice is under increasing criticism, and some countries, such as Brazil, have even banned surcharges for tickets paid for with miles. Other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Thailand, also impose restrictions on surcharges.

ITA Matrix: The Software for Dissecting Tariffs

The cost of an airline ticket is made up of several elements added together: the base fare, taxes and fees. To understand this breakdown, the ITA Matrix site is very useful. Let’s take the example of a round-trip flight between Montreal and Paris on Air Transat at $694:

Understanding Airline Surcharges and Ticket Pricing - yul-cdg-air-transat-tarif-detaille

First of all, it’s important to understand that the fixed fare grids for loyalty program flights (such as American Express, RBC Avion, CIBC Aventura or AIR MILES) are set up in such a way that points are only used to cover the base fare. All other fees and taxes must be paid in addition to points.

Back to our $694 ticket to Paris. From the first few lines, we can see that the base fare is a meager 50 cents per segment. This means that your points will only cover that dollar… and the remaining $693 will have to come out of your pocket.

Let’s look at another example, this time for a flight from Montreal to Orlando:

Understanding Airline Surcharges and Ticket Pricing - yul-mco-air-transat-tarif-detaille

On this $266 ticket, the base fare is a much more reasonable $90, and the rest is made up of various taxes and fees. In this case, there is no carrier surcharge.

To get the most out of your points with a fixed-fare schedule, it’s best to use them for short- or medium-haul flights within North America or to the Caribbean. For Europe, Asia and other destinations, you will very rarely get good value for your points due to high surcharges. So it’s best to turn to other programs that don’t charge these fees.

How to Avoid Carrier Surcharges on Award Tickets

Surcharges and fees for tickets between North America and Europe can reach an exorbitant 90% of the total ticket price, while the basic fare is just a few dollars.

Similarly, for long-haul flights to Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Pacific, these charges can run into the hundreds of dollars. By contrast, surcharges are generally much lower for medium-haul flights in North America and the Caribbean.

Airlines and Frequent Flyer Programs That Do Not Charge Surcharges

To avoid surcharges, you need to choose the right program for your destination. Airlines that do not charge surcharges on award tickets include:

Air Canada (Aeroplan)
Alaska Airlines (Alaska Mileage Plan)
American Airlines on their own flights (AAdvantage)
Avianca (LifeMiles)
British Airways on their own flights (British Airways Executive Club)
Delta (SkyMiles)
United Airlines (MileagePlus)
Qatar Airways on their own flights (Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
Singapore Airlines on their own flights (KrisFlyer)

For Canadians, the most accessible programs are Aeroplan, AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. The possibilities for transferring credit card points to these programs are explained in detail in this guide.

Aeroplan is an excellent program for avoiding surcharges. However, please note that a flat fee of $39 is applied to book a flight on a partner (Star Alliance or other).

With the LifeMiles program, there is no way to transfer miles from a credit card. However, LifeMiles often has good offers on the purchase of miles.

Airlines With the Highest Surcharges

Conversely, some airlines charge substantial surcharges on award tickets, including :

Air France-KLM on partner flights (Flying Blue)
British Airways on partner flights (British Airways Executive Club)
Emirates (Skywards)
Lufthansa (MilesMore)
WestJet (WestJet Rewards)

To avoid surcharges with British Airways, you can search the websites of other airlines that use Avios as their currency:

Qatar Airways
Finnair
Iberia and Aer Lingus

Availabilities are not the same and tickets can be harder to find, but it’s worth taking a look around before you book.

Airport Taxes Explained

Another aspect to consider when minimizing the cost of an award ticket is the amount of airport taxes charged. These cover security measures, infrastructure maintenance, and services such as passenger and baggage handling. They also cover certain governmental obligations, such as customs and immigration controls.

In general, the highest fees are charged by the departure airport, rather than the transit or arrival airports. On top of that, some countries apply a departure tax, often included in the total cost of the ticket.

Airports With the Highest Taxes

Some airports are notorious for charging higher-than-average taxes. If possible, avoid flying from these airports if you want to save money.

Europe :

United Kingdom (London-Heathrow being the highest)
Germany (Frankfurt being the highest)
France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle being the highest)
Stockholm (consider other Scandinavian airports, which are among the lowest in the world)

Americas :

Mexico
Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Bahamas

Asia :

Delhi

Airports With the Lowest Taxes

Conversely, airport taxes are particularly low for the destinations listed below.

Europe :

Dublin
Istanbul
Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki
Amsterdam
Spain
Rome

Americas :

Canada
Brazil

Asia-Pacific :

Philippines
New Zealand
Japan (no tax on domestic flights)
China

How to Get to Europe Without Paying (Too Many) Surcharges

Understanding carrier surcharges is a good start, but ultimately, how do you get to Europe on points without spending a fortune on taxes and fees? Here are some strategies for your next vacation.

The Best Programs for Award Tickets

The best programs for flying to Europe from North America are Air Canada’s Aeroplan and Air France’s Flying Blue. These frequent flyer programs do not charge carrier surcharges on their own flights (or not at all in the case of Aeroplan, but charge a $39 fee to book with a partner).

British Airways Executive Club is also a good option, with non-stop flights to London from Toronto or Montreal for just $100 in taxes in economy class. Fees have been significantly reduced in recent years, since they used to run to over $500. However, taxes are still very high for Economy/Premium or Business Class seats.

Whichever program you use, you’ll save precious dollars by choosing airports with low taxes. In Europe, look to Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS), Rome (FCO), Barcelona (BCN), Madrid (MAD), Oslo (OSL), Copenhagen (CPH) or Helsinki (HEL). These are the airports with the lowest airport taxes on the continent.

Pay for Your Ticket in Cash and Use Flexible Points

Alternatively, another strategy to consider is to buy a flight at a good cash price, then use flexible points to reimburse the expense. Good programs to use for this strategy include :

Scene+ points can be exchanged for an acount credit at the rate of 100 points per $10 on travel expenses. In the case of a $750 plane ticket, you’ll need 75,000 Scene+ points to cover the full fare.

With CIBC Aventura, a similar exchange can be made, but the points must be used when the transaction is pending on the account and in Canadian dollars. For a $750 ticket, you’ll need 60,000 Aventura Points to redeem in full.

TD Rewards points are just as versatile, but you have to go through the Expedia portal for TD. A $750 flight is free with 150,000 TD Rewards points.

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TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card

TD TD Rewards First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual fee: $0 $139No annual fee the first year; No annual fee the first year
Our valuation: $939Milesopedia first-year estimate First-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.; 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

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^†.

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^†Terms and conditions apply.

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
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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

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Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $120
Our valuation: $500Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards 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; Ends Nov 1, 2026

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until November 1, 2026, you can earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points, broken down as follows:

30,000 Scene+ points by charging $2,000 in purchases to the card within the first 3 months
20,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

Grocery stores
Restaurants
Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

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* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year and the value of foreign transaction fee savings as of May 22, 2026:

$300 in travel rewards (30,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Gold American Express Cardholders who make purchases totaling $2,000 in the first 3 months

$200 in travel rewards (20,000 bonus Scene+ points) for making purchases totaling $7,500 in the first 12 months

$59 in foreign transaction fee savings based on the average annual amount of foreign currency purchases made per account over the last 24 months (saving on the 2.5% foreign transaction fee typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$398 corresponding to the potential value of points earned in the first year (38,500 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made, per account, over the last 24 months, assuming an average spend of 28% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 6X, 5X and 3X points.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $957 (rounded to $950)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and rewards earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer Description and Conditions: The 50,000 Scene+ points offer (the « Offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card accounts (the « Accounts ») opened between July 2, 2026, and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account), subject to the conditions below. All other program terms and conditions continue to apply during the Offer period. The Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer.

To qualify for the 30,000 bonus Scene+ points (the « 30,000 Bonus Points Offer »), you must make eligible purchases totaling at least $2,000 within three months of the account opening date. To qualify for the 20,000 additional bonus Scene+ points (the « 20,000 Additional Bonus Points Offer »), you must make $7,500 in eligible purchases on your new account during the first year (twelve months). Eligible purchases mean purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and exclude payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the Annual Bonus: Bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account within approximately eight weeks after you qualify for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 30,000 bonus points and the 20,000 additional bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000 or $7,500) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months or the first 12 months). If a supplementary cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 30,000 bonus points or the 20,000 additional bonus points, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. Points can be transferred between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, co-borrower or supplementary cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not delinquent, the credit limit is not exceeded, and the holder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement applicable to the account. All other program terms and conditions continue to apply during the Offer period. The Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Eligibility and exclusions: You are not eligible for the Offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or if you have been within the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are eligible for this Offer.

Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $120 for the primary card and $29 for each additional card (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates currently applicable to the account are: 21.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions).
Rates, fees, features and benefits, which are described in the application statement, are subject to change.

Annual fee

Primary card$120

Additional card$29

Annual income required

Individual$12,000

Household$12,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

6xWith the partner brand
5xGroceries
5xEntertainment
5xRestaurants
3xStreaming
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3xGas & EV
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Value

1st Year Value$1,460

2nd Year Value$461

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

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 $1,500

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

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

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Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuation: $350Milesopedia first-year estimate First-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.; 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

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card ^+* Card^MC, 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.

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* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

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

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CIBC Aventura^® Gold Visa* Card

CIBC CIBC Aventura First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual fee: $0 $139No annual fee the first year; No annual fee the first year
Our valuation: $679Milesopedia first-year estimate First-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.; 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

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)

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This is an exclusive digital offer^†. To be eligible for this offer:
1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner or affiliate;
2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you^†.

This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Aventura card within the last 12 months.^†

^† Conditions apply. To learn more, select the Apply Now option.

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

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CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card

CIBC CIBC Aventura First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual fee: $0 $139No annual fee the first year; No annual fee the first year
Our valuation: $679Milesopedia first-year estimate First-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.; 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

The CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa credit cards with travel rewards.

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

CIBC has an 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^® Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

Airport lounges access: Visa Airport Companion Program membership with 4 complimentary visits
Reimbursement of NEXUS membership fees ( $160 value)
A free Skip+ membership (a $110 first-year value)

The minimum annual income required for this card is $60,000 (personal) or $100,000 (household).

Legal

^† Conditions apply. To learn more, select the Apply Now option.

Annual fee

Primary card$139

Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

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

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 $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

Compare

TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card

TD TD Rewards First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual fee: $0 $89No annual fee the first year; No annual fee the first year
Our valuation: $339Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$250Annual fee rebated$89Total$339Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$250Annual fee rebated$89Total$339Rewards 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

Terms of the offer

Limited Time Offer - Apply by December 1, 2019 to get an Annual Fee Rebate¹ for the Primary Cardholder for the first year and earn up to 70,000 TD Rewards Points (a travel value of $350 when you book travel purchases through ExpediaForTD.com!²) as follows:
- Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your card¹.
- + Earn 2X TD Rewards Points on all Purchases in the first three months up to a total of 45,000 TD Rewards Points¹.
- + Earn 10,000 TD Rewards Points when you add an Authorized User to your Account by December 1, 2019. Annual Fees for Authorized Users continue to apply¹.
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
Book your trip through Expedia For TD³ or any other travel provider – the choice is yours!
Choose Expedia For TD to maximize the number of TD Rewards Points you can earn on your travel purchases.
No blackouts⁴or seat restrictions⁴ under the TD Rewards Program
A suite of travel insurance
Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in grocery purchases³ and regularly recurring bill payments⁴
Earn⁵ 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 when you book travel online through ExpediaForTD.com
Earn 2 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases⁶

Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on this TD credit card, please click the Apply Now button.

Fees / Rates / Eligibility

Type	Details
Personal annual income	N/A
Household annual income	N/A
Purchase APR	19.99%
Cash Advance APR	22.99%
Interest Grace Period	21 days on all new purchases
Balance Transfer Rate	22.99%
Foreign Transaction Rate
Annual Fee	$89
Authorized User Cards	$35
Balance Transfer Fee	Promotional Balance Transfer/ Cheque Fee: 3% of the amount of each Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque that we may offer to you at a promotional interest rate which is an interest rate that is lower than the regular annual interest rate that applies to Cash Advances on your Account. The Bank may waive or lower this 3% fee at the time the promotional interest rate offer is made to you. You will be advised of the exact fee that applies at the time the offer is made.
Cash Advance Fee	1% of the amount of the transaction (minimum fee of $3.50 up to a maximum fee of $10.00) (in Canada) or $5.00 (outside Canada), plus $3.00 at a PLUS* network ATM. (Fee does not apply to a Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque)
Foreign Currency Conversion Fee	2.50%
Over Credit Limit Fee	$29

Disclaimer

'1 Must apply by December 1, 2019. Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points will be awarded to the TD Platinum Travel Visa* ("Account") only after the first Purchase is made on the Account. Rebate of the Annual Fee is for the first year for the Primary Cardholder only and will occur when you have applied for an Account by December 1, 2019. Rebate will be applied within 2 monthly statements from the date of Account opening. The Annual Fee for any Authorized User Cards added to the Account continues to apply. Welcome Earn Bonus of 2x in TD Rewards Points ("Welcome Earn Bonus") applies to new Accounts in the first 3 months of Account opening ("First 3 Months") to a maximum total collective TD Rewards Points of 45,000 ("Welcome Earn Bonus Cap") on all purchases charged to your Account. During the Welcome Earn Bonus promotional period; earn 10 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made online through Expedia For TD ("Online Travel Purchases") and charged to the Account, earn 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made by phone through Expedia For TD ("Phone Travel Purchases"), grocery purchases ("Grocery Purchases") and regularly recurring bill payments ("Pre-Authorized Payments") and earn 4 TD Rewards Points on every $1 on all other Purchases ("Other Purchases") charged to the Account. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits on any Purchases made during the First 3 Months will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned at the Welcome Earn Bonus on the original Purchase, as applicable. Welcome Earn Bonus Cap: Once the Welcome Earn Bonus Cap is reached, any further Purchases made in the First 3 Months will earn TD Rewards Points at the regular 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on Online Travel Purchases, earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on Phone Travel Purchases, Grocery Purchases, and Pre-authorized Payments, and earn 2 TD Rewards points ("Standard Rebate") for every $1 on all Other Purchases. To receive the additional 10,000 TD Rewards Points for adding an Authorized User to your Account ("Authorized User Bonus"), you must: (a) apply for an Account and add an Authorized User between September 4, 2019, and December 1, 2019; and (b) Authorized User must call and activate their Card by January 31, 2020. You can have a maximum of three (3) Authorized Users on your Account but you will only receive 1 (one) 10,000 Authorized User Bonus TD Rewards Points offer. Annual Fee for each Authorized User Card added to the Account will apply. The Primary Cardholder is responsible for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. If you have opened an Account in the last 6 months, you will not be eligible for this offer. We reserve the right to limit the number of Accounts opened by any one person. Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer unless otherwise indicated. 2 Primary Cardholder remains liable for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. Maximum of 3 Authorized User Cards on the Account. 3 Earn 3 TD Rewards Points ("Grocery Rebate") for every $1 in Purchases of groceries or grocery items ("Grocery Purchases") charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Grocery Purchase, as applicable. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. $15,000 Cap: The Grocery Rebate is only available to a $15,000 maximum net annual spend ("$15,000 Cap"). Once the $15,000 Cap has been reached for Grocery Purchases, then any further Grocery Purchases made on the Account will earn TD Rewards Points at the standard rebate rate of 2 TD Rewards Point that applies to all other Purchases on the Account as set out in your Cardholder Agreement ("Standard Rebate"). Applicability of Grocery Rebate: The Grocery Rebate is in place of, and not in addition to, the Standard Rebate. Merchant Category Codes: To earn the Grocery Rebate, the Grocery Purchases must be made at merchants classified through the Visa network with a Merchant Category Code ("MCC") that identifies them in the "grocery" category. Some merchants may (i) sell groceries or grocery items; or (ii) have separate merchants located on their premises that also sell groceries or grocery items; but may not be classified with a grocery MCC and such Purchases will not earn the Grocery Rebate as applicable. If you have questions about the MCC that applies to a Purchase, contact TD at 1-800-983-8472. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 4 Earn 3 TD Rewards Points ("PAP Rebate") on each $1 in payments made on a monthly or other regularly recurring basis for merchant bills, including insurance premiums, magazine/newspaper/online streaming subscriptions, membership fees and telecommunication fees, that are set up by the merchant with your consent to be automatically charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account") and that are classified through the Visa network as "recurring payments" ("Pre-Authorized Payments"). You must confirm with your merchant if they can accept Pre-Authorized Payments. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Pre-Authorized Payment. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. $15,000 Cap: The PAP Rebate is only available to a $15,000 maximum net annual spend ("$15,000 Cap"). Once the $15,000 Cap has been reached, then any further Pre-Authorized Payments made on the Account will only earn TD Rewards Points at the standard rebate rate of 2 TD Rewards Point that applies to all other Purchases on the Account as set out in your Cardholder Agreement ("Standard Rebate"). Applicability of PAP Rebate: The PAP Rebate is in place of, and not in addition to, the Standard Rebate. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 5 Earn 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made online through Expedia For TD ("Online Travel Purchases") and charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Online Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made by phone through Expedia For TD ("Phone Travel Purchases") and charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Phone Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 6 Earn 2 TD Rewards Points ("Standard Rebate") on every $1 on all other Purchases ("Other Purchases") charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. * Trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license. ^®The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

Legal

^†Terms and conditions apply.

With this new welcome offer for the TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card, you can get up to 50,000 TD points and a Annual Fee rebate for the first year:

15,000 TD Rewards points for the first purchase made with your card^†
35,000 additional TD Rewards points when you spend $3,000 within 180 days of account opening^†

This TD travel rewards credit card requires no minimum income.

Annual fee

Primary card$89

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

4.5xTransit
4.5xGroceries
4.5xRestaurants
3xBills & recurring payments
3xStreaming
1.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$723

2nd Year Value$219

Travel insurance

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

Bottom Line

Navigating carrier surcharges can be complex. To sum up, it’s best to use the fixed fare grids of frequent flyer programs for flights within North America, Central America and to the Caribbean.

For an affordable points-based flight to Europe, consider Air Canada’s Aeroplan and Air France’s Flying Blue programs. Finally, for other international destinations from Canada, Aeroplan and Qatar Airways Privilege Club are best for their accessibility and for paying as few surcharges as possible.

Finally, choose airports such as Amsterdam, Rome or Barcelona rather than London, Paris or Frankfurt.

Still have questions? Feel free to ask them in our Facebook group.

FeaturedCompare

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

TD Aeroplan First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual fee: $0 $139No annual fee the first year; No annual fee the first year
Our valuation: $1,139Milesopedia first-year estimate First-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.; 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

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.

Legal

^†Terms and conditions apply.

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

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