New Benefits for Mastercard Cardholders and the End of Free Boingo Wi-Fi
Here are the details of new and existing benefits. We recommend that you read the terms and conditions of each benefit carefully on the benefits page, and check your eligibility before using them.
New Mastercard World Elite Benefits
Free FlexiRoam Data
Mastercard World and World Elite credit cardholders will be able to take advantage of data roaming to stay connected around the world, available as an eSIM when abroad. Although it will no longer be possible to get Wi-Fi in mid-flight, this will save on the often expensive roaming fees charged by mobile providers.
Here are the details:
- Mastercard World credit card holders can get up to 1 GB of data roaming with FlexiRoam
- World Elite Mastercard credit card holders will get up to 3 GB of data, with three 1 GB roaming packages with FlexiRoam
- Eligible cardholders will also benefit from a 15% discount on subsequent FlexiRoam purchases.
All terms, conditions and guidelines for this benefit with FlexiRoam are detailed on this page.
H&R Block Discount
World Elite Mastercard cardholders will also be eligible for a 30% discount on H&R Block services. Details of the offer are not yet known, but to find out more about H&R Block, read our guide: Evaluating the H&R Block tax return company.
Booking.com Discounts
Mastercard holders can get up to 7% discount on prepaid accommodations booked via Booking.com. This offer is valid from April 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. Find full details on the Booking.com Mastercard offer page.
Fubo Discount
Eligible cardholders can get $30 off a Fubo Canada Sports subscription if they are new customers. Unfortunately, this offer is not available to Quebec resident cardholders. Full details here.
Benefits for Businesses
On October 1, 2024, Mastercard announced new benefits for Business cardholders, including:
- FlexiRoam: eSIM for corporate Mastercard World Elite cardholders, as explained above
- HR Block: Discounts on services for new customers
- Slack: Mastercard Business cardholders can get a 25% discount on upgrades to Slack Pro and Business+.
- Asana Work Management: Mastercard Business cardholders can get a 20% discount on annual subscriptions to the Asana management tool
- Mastercard Easy Savings Specials : Targeted offers for Mastercard Business cardholders to save on tools and services useful to their business.
If you would like to find out more about these benefits, please consult the press release and the terms and conditions of each benefit.
End of Free Boingo Wi-Fi on October 1, 2024
The Boingo service giving free Wi-Fi to World and World Elite cardholders ended on October 1, 2024.
Boingo still seems to be available for those who wish to subscribe, at a monthly price of $14.99. Otherwise, a few airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet offer (or will offer) free Wi-Fi or free messaging, but this service still has to be paid for by the majority of airlines.
This article will be updated when we have more details. Those affected by these changes will be World and World Elite Mastercard holders. You can see the full list in our guide: How to get free Wi-Fi worldwide with credit cards.
Existing Benefits
Mastercard Travel Pass
Since February 10, 2023, Mastercard Travel Pass includes:
- Access to priority security lanes called Mastercard Airport Security Fast Track
- Transfer services from/to certain international airports called Mastercard Airport Transfer
Mastercard Airport Security Fast Track: Priority Security Lines
Previously, only American Express and Visa offered priority security lanes. On the American Express side, this service is offered at certain airports such as Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) for holders of certain credit cards such as the Platinum Card® from American Express or the Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Since September 2022, obtaining a QR code has been necessary before leaving for the airport.
On the Visa side, this service is available at selected airports such as Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) for all Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card holders such as the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card Card or the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card.
Mastercard now offers this service at selected airports to World and World Elite Mastercard holders. It’s a service offered by its partner, DragonPass, in 70 airports located in 16 countries (mostly in Europe and Asia).
You can book these services via the Mastercard Travel Pass application for your entire party (up to 6 passengers).
Like the airport lounge access provided by DragonPass to Mastercard holders, this service is subject to a fee. During our tests here at Nice-Côte-d’Azur Airport (NCE), the cost was $12.30 US per person!
It looks like you can even book your security line access last minute. So, it’s up to you to decide, once at the airport, if it’s better to wait in line or to pay that extra fee to benefit from the priority security line!
Mastercard Airport Transfer: Transfer Service To/From the Airport
With Mastercard Airport Transfer, Mastercard now offers, through its partner DragonPass, a transportation service to/from the airport.
The service is currently available in 75 countries at 179 airports, including Montreal-Trudeau (YUL), Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR).
The Mastercard Travel Rewards Program
In 2020, Mastercard Canada introduced a program implemented in several countries: Mastercard Travel Rewards.
In practical terms, these are automatic cashback rewards that you can get through purchases at selected retailers when you travel.
Mastercard Travel
All Mastercard World Elite cardholders benefit from access to the Mastercard Travel program with DragonPass.
This provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
Be careful, though. There is a USD 32 per visit lounge entry fee, charged to your Mastercard credit card.
Some Mastercard credit cards include free visits:
- 4 annual accesses with the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*.
- 150 annual travel credit also applicable on lounge admissions with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard®.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
If you are interested in accessing airport lounges, we recommend you to read our strategy for complimentary airport lounges access.
Priceless Cities
The Priceless Cities program offers access to a wide range of experiences all over the world.
This may include:
- Culinary courses
- Priority access to concerts or shows
- Culinary encounters
- Access to world class events
- Guided tours
- Shopping experiences
Bottom Line
The benefits of the Mastercard credit card network continue to evolve.
After travel insurance and access to VIP lounges, Mastercard is now adapting its benefits to customers’ travel habits with its roaming data and accommodations discount offer.
Unfortunately, all this comes at a cost, payable per unit. But it also explains why Mastercard World Elite credit cards have annual fees of around $150, when competing credit cards from American Express and Visa offering similar benefits « for free » have annual fees of $399 to $799!
This type of service will undoubtedly satisfy occasional travellers.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $120 |
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