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

Travel to France With Your Points and Miles

Travel to France With Your Points and Miles
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Travelling to France from Canada is a dream for many, but did you know that this dream can become a reality without putting too much strain on your wallet? Many French people, or Franco-Canadians like us, take this route every year.

By making intelligent use of your points and miles, you can book flights, accommodation and even cover certain expenses on the spot. Don’t book your tickets to France without applying these tips.

Olympic Flame: France's 13 Most Beautiful Cities to See the Flame Pass Through - Flamme-olympique-mont-saint-michel

Understanding the Basics: Points and Miles for Travelling to France From Canada

The more experienced know that before diving into the strategy, it’s essential to understand the different types of points and miles available to you. So, to travel to France (or elsewhere in the world), you will have different types of points that can be used:

  • Credit card points: these can be redeemed for flights, hotels or Statement credit. For example, with the Scene+ or American Express Membership Rewards. In this case, you won’t benefit from the same low fares as with miles, but you can reduce the cost of your ticket thanks to a statement credit. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize booking economy class flights.
  • Airline miles: these are adapted to flight bookings, particularly with Aeroplan or Flying Blue, and are the most practical way of booking your tickets and accessing the different fare classes (economy, business, first class).
  • Hotel programs: you can use your hotel program points to convert them into airline points. It’s not the best use, but it’s possible. It is advisable to wait for promotions to transfer your points and benefit from a better conversion rate.
Travel to France With Your Points and Miles - Programmes-Fidelite-Expirati-Points-Milles-2400x1260

Choosing the Right Credit Card Before Booking Your Trip to France

Credit Cards With No Conversion Fee

Travelling abroad often involves conversion fees, but some credit cards eliminate them, allowing you to save money as soon as you arrive in France. It’s an undeniable advantage, and one that makes them the « preffered » cards of our team!

For my part, one of the cards I have is the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, which offers the following benefits:

  • No foreign currency conversion charges
  • 5 points per dollar at grocery stores and participating restaurants and bars
  • A generous welcome bonus to save on your next trip
Sponsored
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$500
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
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

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.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$29

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 6xWith the partner brand
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xEntertainment
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

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

However, it doesn’t offer access to airport lounges, which isn’t a problem for me as Jean-Maximilien has the American Express Platinum Card® which offers Priority Pass membership and access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. Despite the high annual fee, it’s a card that easily pays for itself thanks to the annual credits: $200 for travel and $200 for meals, in addition to its other benefits.

Annual fee
$799
Our valuation
$1,700
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards 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 100,000 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”).

Terms of the offer

  • Unlock special experiences with the newly designed metal Platinum Card
  • New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 25,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points when you charge $2,000 in purchases to your Card in the first three months of Cardmembership
  • Earn 3 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
  • You will have access to a $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit to use towards any single travel booking of $200 or more charged to your Platinum Card and made on www.americanexpress.ca/travel or through Platinum Card® Travel Service
  • Take full advantage of the American Express Global Lounge Collection which unlocks access to over 1200 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
  • Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $550 USD at over 1,000 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels & Resorts.
  • Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
  • Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport including security bypass, complimentary valet car service and discount car care and parking
  • You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts®, Radisson Hotel Group Hotels and Resorts, Hertz® and Avis®
  • As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges
  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information and Terms and Conditions, click the Apply now link. Conditions Apply

The Platinum Card® is the best premium card in Canada for travellers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points:

  • 70,000 points after charging $10,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • 30,000 points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after your Cardmembership begins

With this Card, you get:

  • 2 points per $1 on eligible dining and delivery purchases in Canada
  • 2 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases charged to the Card
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases charged to the Card

You can use your Membership Rewards® points in many ways:

  • Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, etc.
  • Transfer points to hotel partners, including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
  • Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
  • Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
  • And more!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards® points to a partner loyalty program, you could earn up to:

  • 100,000 Aeroplan points
  • 100,000 Avios
  • 100,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • An annual meal credit of $200
  • A $100 statement credit for NEXUS membership
  • Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to more than 1,550 airport lounges in over 140 countries
  • Hilton Honors Gold status
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program

Last but not least, The Platinum Card® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Annual fee

Primary card$799
Additional card$250

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xTravel
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,482
2nd Year Value$470

Transfer partners

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

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

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

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

If you’re interested in airport lounge access, I’d recommend the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, which gives you six free annual accesses to VIP airport lounges. There are no conversion fees, 3 points per dollar at grocery stores and restaurants, and a generous welcome bonus in Scene+ points.

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

Start your trip in the Air France KLM lounge at the Montreal-Trudeau YUL airport, before taking off for Paris or any other French or European city.

By using one of our Scotiabank cards to pay for your flight, you can redeem your points for a Statement credit to reduce the cost of your trip.

With 25,000 Scene+ points, for example, you can reduce the cost of a booked plane ticket by $250!

Airline Points Credit Cards

To earn airline points or miles, the best way is to have a credit card co-branded with an airline.

In Canada, Air Canada’s Aeroplan frequent flyer program is the best known, of course, and offers access to a wide range of partner flights. One of the best cards for travel rewards is American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card. This credit card is the best for frequent travellers and offers, among other things:

  • 3 times the points with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations,
  • a generous welcome bonus in Aeroplan points,
  • access to the Maple Leaf Lounges and
  • access to a preferential rate when booking airfares.
Annual fee
$599
Our valuation
$1,700
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards 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 85,000 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”).

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class="checkmarks"]This metal credit card is the Best Premium Aeroplan Credit Card in Canada. For a limited time, you can earn up to 150,000 Aeroplan points as a welcome bonus (an estimated $2,550 value). With this Card you can earn:
  • 3 points per dollar on purchases made with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
  • 2 points per dollar for dining and food delivery purchases
  • 1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Also, as a Cardmember, you get many benefits such as:
  • Unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in North America
  • The first checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions
  • An Annual Worldwide Companion Pass
  • Exclusive benefits with Air Canada (Priority check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Standby List)
  • The ability to earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Statuts Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in purchases charged to your Card.
Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

With this welcome offer for American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:

  • Earn 60,000 points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in the 13th month

With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Amex Aeroplan Premium Card, you receive many Air Canada travel benefits, such as access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.

With this American Express Aeroplan Card, enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Annual fee

Primary card$599
Additional card$199

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 3xAir Canada flights
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 1.25xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,938
2nd Year Value$430

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$400

Travel insurance

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

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Points can also be accumulated with Aeroplan via the following excellent credit cards offered by CIBC and TD:

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$599Welcome offer
Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
Annual fee$139 $0Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 points
Apply Now

To travel to Europe on low-cost flights, in addition to Aeroplan points, other airline points can be useful and accumulated, in particular via:

The latter will be useful if you wish to make a stopover via London, for example, in the off-season. You can then reach France by short-haul flight or train.

Credit Cards Offering Flying Blue Miles

Flying Blue Miles can be earned in Canada with the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®. You can earn 30 XP per year to increase your Flying Blue status, and 2 Miles per dollar spent in restaurants and bars. You can travel on Air France KLM and all Skyteam alliance partner airlines.

Flying Blue Miles can then be exchanged for flight awards. As a member of the program, you have access to all classes and all seats. Prices are dynamic, starting at 21,500 Flying Blue Miles in economy class and 53,000 Flying Blue Miles in business class to Europe.

Flying Blue also offers an attractive 25% discount on award tickets for children aged 2 to 11 travelling with an adult, regardless of class of service.

Finally, in 2025, it was announced that it will be possible to combine a long-haul flight with a train journey via a single booking. It will be interesting to evaluate prices with this option for travel to France via London.

Membership Rewards Credit Cards

Finally, one of the best options for easy travel to France or elsewhere is the American Express Membership Rewards card, which lets you transfer your points to other programs. With the American Express Cobalt® Card one of the best cards in Canada (who doesn’t already have one?), lets you quickly accumulate Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to a partner loyalty program when you book your ticket to France. For example, 15,000 Membership Rewards points can be converted into:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • or 11,250 Flying Blue Miles
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

Book Your Flights With Points

To maximize your savings, as always, we recommend booking your tickets in advance or at the last minute. To find availability, use the Google Flights and Seats Aero tools to check the different possible routes and get an idea of the prices in effect at the time of your search.

Then, take advantage of the airline points programs to book on any fare class at the best price. The easiest way is to book with Aeroplan for a direct flight to Paris.

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Getting to Paris With Points

Looking at Google Flights and ticking the Flexible dates option with a one-week trip in the next six months, you can quickly see the most economical flight offers.

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In comparison, you can find flights with Aeroplan and its Star Alliance partners. With Aeroplan, fares start from 35,000 points for an economy flight. This amount may vary according to availability and dynamic fluctuations in fare regulations imposed by Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners.

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To make sure it’s a good deal, calculate the value of your points before booking (cost per point). Flying Blue, especially in low season, can offer significant discounts thanks to its dynamic fares in both economy and business class.

Getting to One of France’s Major Cities With Points

Whether you want to get to Lyon, Marseille, Nice or any other French city from Canada, it’s easy. All are particularly well served from Paris, from where you’ll find numerous short-haul flights.

Travel to France With Your Points and Miles - Visiter-Marseille-07

Keep an eye out for Flying Blue’s Promos Rewards promotions, which regularly offer discounts of up to 50% on certain routes to Marseille, particularly in low season.

Alternatively, you can use your Aeroplan points to fly to Paris, then take a TGV (about 3 hours) or a domestic flight with Air France. In this case, use your Scene+ points to cover the cost of the train or domestic flight.

However, to optimize your points and miles, it’s best to look at other options.

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That being said, if you want to reach another French city, a stopover in Paris is not the best solution. Consider the flights offered by Aeroplan ‘s partners, which can take you to other European destinations (Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich, etc.) to save more and take a train or low-cost flight to the French city you want.

This is what we do at least once a year, so we can travel business class with our families at a lower cost. These options via Star Alliance partners often offer better value than direct flights or connections via Paris. What’s more, they avoid the high carrier surcharges sometimes found on Air Canada flights.

If you’re travelling with Lufthansa, Frankfurt airport offers excellent Star Alliance lounges, such as Senator Lounge, available to Star Alliance Gold status holders.

Similarly, flights via Zurich with Swiss also offer comfortable lounges. However, as Swiss’s connecting flights are generally very short (1 hour), it’s difficult to take full advantage of them. You could also take advantage of a stopover of less than 24 hours and visit Zurich!

Bottom Line

Travelling between France and Canada with points requires planning and flexibility, but also offers substantial savings. We know this well, as we’ve been travelling between the two countries for over ten years now.

Here are the key points to remember:

  • Combine different points programs intelligently (Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Membership Rewards)
  • Book early (11 months in advance) or at the last minute.
  • Consider alternative airports and train connections.
  • Take advantage of seasonal loyalty program promotions.
  • Don’t forget to use a card with no conversion fees once you’re there.

With these strategies in hand, your next trip to France will not only be possible, but economical too. Have a good trip!

All these routes are considered as flights of less than 6,000 miles in Aeroplan’s fare structure, which means that you can get great fares, especially in business class. These options via Star Alliance partners often offer better value than direct flights or connections via Paris. Plus, they avoid the high carrier surcharges sometimes found on Air Canada flights.

Ready to plan your trip to France? Check out our guides to Paris and Disneyland Paris.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to enter France?

To enter France from Canada, you will need:

  • A passport valid for the duration of your stay.
  • Proof of travel insurance to cover medical expenses, if required.
  • A return ticket or proof of exit from France.

Do Canadians need a visa to come to France?

No. Canadian citizens can enter France without a visa for tourist or business stays of less than 90 days. However, they must comply with the requirements of the Schengen Area, notably by presenting a valid passport and the documents mentioned above.

How can I use my points to book a hotel in France?

You can use your points from programs like Marriott Bonvoy to book luxury or affordable hotels. Some cards, like American Express Membership Rewards, also allow you to convert points into hotel stays.

Can I use points to pay for my train journeys in France?

Yes, some programs like Aeroplan or Scene+ allow you to redeem points to cover train tickets or journeys with partner services.

How can I avoid carrier fees when booking tickets with points?

Opt for flights with partners such as Swiss or Lufthansa via Aeroplan, as they often apply fewer surcharges than direct flights with Air Canada.

When is the best time to book a flight with points to France?

We recommend:

  • to book 11 months in advance,
  • wait for last-minute promotions to maximize the value of your points.
  • to travel in low-season periods.

To visit France, spring and autumn are the best times to avoid the crowds and take advantage of low fares.

What if my points aren’t enough for an award ticket?

You can top up with cash using credit cards with no conversion fees, or buy extra points during program promotions.

Can I travel with a dog in France?

Yes, but your pet must have a pet passport, a microchip and be vaccinated against rabies.

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