To the point
Let's compare two credit cards: the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card vs. the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard.
With the withdrawal of AIR MILES from IGA grocery stores as of March 23, 2023, opportunities to collect AIR MILES miles have changed. The Scene+ program was launched on March 24, 2023.
Have you changed your habits since then? Are you thinking of changing your rewards program? While we’re at it, would it be better to switch credit cards?
For a clearer picture, let’s compare the best Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you can earn Scene+ points while with the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, you earn AIR MILES miles.
We will base our analysis on the major differences between these credit cards regarding:
Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies depending on the promotions. However, there are some important differences between the two!
With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you can earn up to 40,000 Scene+ points:
- 30,000 Scene+ points with total purchases of $2,000 or more during the first three months (value of 300 $)
- 10,000 additional points with $40,000 in purchases during the first year with the card (value of 100 $)
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard offers up to $1,200 in value, including up to 7,000 bonus AIR MILES miles.
- 3,000 miles after $4,500 in purchases in the first 110 days
- 2,000 additional miles after $10,000 in total purchases (including the $4,500 from the previous condition) within 180 days
- 2,000 additional miles after $20,000 in total purchases (including all expenses under the preceding conditions) in the first year
This is worth approximately $736. Plus, receive a rebate of 25 cents per litre on up to 8 fill-ups at Shell between July 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025, to a maximum of 100 liters per transaction.
What’s more, the annual fee is refunded for the first year (a value of $120).
Winner: BMO
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard has a more generous welcome offer than its competitor. What’s more, the annual fee is refunded in the first year.
However, to get a bonus faster, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card has an advantage because only $2,000 in purchases are required to get 30,000 Scene+ points. Unfortunately, you’ll need to make an additional $38,000 in purchases to get the second part of the offer.
Earning Points
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite each offer different levels of point accumulation.
Maximum Earning Level
With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar (i.e. 3%) on purchases at:
- IGA
- Rachelle Béry
- Les Marchés Tradition
- Voià by IGA / Safeway / Sobeys
- Sobeys and Safeway
- Foodland and Thrifty Foods
- FreshCo and Chalo! FreshCo
With the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, you can earn 3 miles per $12 at AIR MILES partners such as:
- Shell
- Budget, Alamo and National
- Pitou minou & Compagnons
- Samsung
This has a value of 2.6%.
Winner: Scotiabank
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card stands out for its value received with purchases at Empire Group grocery stores (IGA, Sobeys, Foodland, etc.).
Other accumulation levels
Then, in other purchase categories, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offer other accumulation rates.
With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you earn 1 or 2 points per dollar on these purchases:
- 2 points Scene+ / $1 purchase in restaurants, entertainment, grocery stores and travel (2% value)
- 1 Scene+ point/$1 purchase for the remainder (1% value)
With the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, you can earn :
- 2 miles for every $12 spent at any grocery store (1.8% value)
- 2 miles for every $12 spent at warehouse clubs (like Costco) and liquor retailers (like SAQ or LCBO) (1.8% value)
- 1 mile for every $12 for all other expenses (0.9% value)
Winner: Scotiabank
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite will offer you just a little more than its competitor. But its categories are also more varied than just the “grocery” category.
However, if you are a Costco customer, you should know that you can use the BMO Mastercard credit card at the warehouse since it is a Mastercard credit card. Since Scotia’s is a Visa, it is not accepted at Costco checkouts (but there is a way around this problem. Read our article on How to use a Visa on the Costco.ca website).
Redeeming Points
Both cards are point cards that can be used in many ways.
Points for travel
With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you can apply your points to travel purchases in two ways:
- Redeem points directly when booking travel with Scene+ Travel, administered by Expedia.
- Make your own travel arrangements and use your points to pay off the balance on the card
The redemption rate is fixed for travel expenses, with 10,000 points = $100 credit.
With the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*, you can book travel using your accumulated Dream Miles.
The rate of use is highly variable, and to redeem them, you absolutely must use the AIR MILES platform, in the Travel section. To be worth it, a mile redeemed must equal 10.5 cents (or $10 off for 95 miles).
Dream Miles are also used to pay for :
- All-inclusive packages through Redtag Travel Agency
- Tickets for skiing, zoo, golf
- Theme park tickets (DisneyWorld, Disneyland and Universal Studios)
- Hotels, airfare, car rental and cruises
Winner: Scotiabank
When it comes tousing points for travel purchases, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is simpler than the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard. The redemption rate is fixed and easy to remember.
Redeeming AIR MILES points is fine, but the value depends on the travel product. For example, the value is very poor for a plane ticket to Europe. At the opposite, AIR MILES can make substantial savings on a car rental, which is one of the best uses of Dream Miles when traveling.
Points for Other Rewards
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card both allow you to use points for other rewards: everyday purchases, gift cards or merchandise.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card lets you apply your points to everyday purchases.
You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount at the IGA/Sobeys checkout.
Points can also be used to purchase gift cards, starting at 1,000 to 1,400 points for a $10 discount.
Scene+ points can also be redeemed for:
- 500 points for a $5 discount at selected restaurants (Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, etc.)
- 100 points for $1 off movie tickets at Cineplex
- 500 points for $5 off food and beverage at Cineplex, Rec Room and chips at Playdium
- At least 3,000 points for a statement credit of between $6.67 and $8 on any card charge.
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard can also be used to redeem for gift cards and merchandise.
For example, 95 Cash Miles can be used to deduct $10 of the bill for gas at Shell. Or this gives us an electronic gift card for Walmart, Home Depot, Air Canada, Starbucks, etc.
Although we don’t encourage redemption in this way due to their low value, Dream Miles can be redeemed for items ranging from movie tickets to a computer.
IT'S A DRAW
Use Scene+ points for grocery store and restaurant discounts, and your Cash Miles for electronic gift cards (Walmart, Tim Hortons, Dollarama, La Vie en Rose, Sail, Reitmans, etc.).
Annual Fee
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $150.
And if you have a Scotiabank Ultimate Package, you’ll get your annual fee waived at any time. Find out more here.
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* has a $120 annual fee.
However, with this limited-time welcome offer, the first year is free!
Winner: BMO
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* has a lower annual fee.
Minimum Income
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card requires:
- $60,000 (individual income)
- or $100,000 (household income)
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* requires :
- $80,000 (individual income)
- or $150,000 (household income)
Winner: Scotiabank
In terms of required income, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is more affordable than the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard.
Insurance
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card offers various insurances. The certificate of insurance can be found here:
| Global Travel Medical Emergency Insurance | 2,000,000 and 25 days (age 64 and under) |
| Baggage delay or loss insurance | 1,000 per trip |
| Flight delay insurance | 500 per person |
| Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance | Up to $2,500 per person |
| Vehicle rental insurance | Up to 48 days, maximum $65,000 |
| Hotel/motel theft insurance | up to $1,000 |
| Purchase insurance | 90 days |
| Mobile device insurance | — |
| Extended warranty insurance | Doubles warranty up to an additional year |
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard offers a variety of insurance coverages, and its certificate of insurance can be found here:
| Global Travel Medical Emergency Insurance | 2,000,000, age 64 and under, for 15 days |
| Baggage delay or loss insurance | up to $750 |
| Flight delay insurance | up to $500 |
| Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption/Delay insurance |
Up to $2,500 (cancellation) Up to $2,000 (interruption) |
| Vehicle rental insurance | 48 days, up to $65,000 |
| Hotel/motel theft insurance | — |
| Purchase insurance | 90 days |
| Mobile device insurance | — |
| Extended warranty insurance | Doubles warranty up to an additional year |
Winner: Scotiabank
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite’s insurance coverage is slightly superior to that of its competitor. In fact, the amounts are equal to or greater than the other. Please note that at least 75% of the cost of the trip or tickets must be charged to this card for certain insurances to apply.
Whereas for the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, the cardholder is eligible for insurance, if purchased in part with AIR MILES miles.
The Benefits
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card offers a number of advantages:
- No conversion fees for foreign currency purchases
- 6 free VIP airport lounges per year
- Double up at Scene+ points with your Scene+ membership card at our partners.
- Visa Infinite Privileges
In addition, the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* offers a range of benefits:
- 25% discount on the number of AIR MILES miles required for a flight reservation (maximum of 750 miles per year)
- Earn AIR MILES Onyx status automatically
- Free access to Boingo WiFi hotspots worldwide
- Earn double miles with the AIR MILES Collector Card at our partners
- Mastercard Travel Rewards Benefits
- Free membership to DragonPass network lounges (with paid admission at $32 USD per person)
It's a tie !
Other benefits include travel. Depending on the needs of the traveler, his heart will swing between the two cards.
However, avoiding the 2.5% foreign currency conversion charge and access to VIP lounges do provide some benefit.
For AIR MILES Collectors who redeem their miles to book airline tickets, the 25% annual discount is a welcome benefit.
Bottom Line
So? Which card wins this duel?
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card!
It stands out for:
- The first part of the welcome offer is easy to obtain;
- Accumulation of 2 or 3 points in the grocery store;
- Variety of accumulation categories;
- The flexibility to use Scene+ points for travel;
- The savings generated by travel due to the absence of conversion costs;
- 6 free accesses to airport lounges;
- Lowest annual income requested;
- Insurance.
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* stands out from the crowd:
- People who want to redeem their Shell Cash Miles and other gift cards, or their Dream Miles for tickets to Disney and Universal.
- Its use at Costco
- People who book at least one airline ticket per year can take advantage of the 25% discount with AIR MILES.
- Obtain Onyx member status automatically
- Its lowest annual fee
Anyway, these are two cards that we recommend in many of our rankings:
