Review: Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard

The Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard stands out with a different approach: instead of relying on a welcome offer that fluctuates with promotions, it provides generous benefits from your very first use.

With this card, you can earn BONUSDOLLARS rewards on your daily purchases and it offers peace of mind when travelling.

The annual fee is $130. An additional card has an annual fee of $40 for both members and non-members.

To be eligible for this card, one of these conditions must be met:

• a minimum annual individual income of $80,000 or;
• a minimum family income of $150,000 or;
• assets under management of $400,000 or more (such as financial investments, a cottage, or an income property).

With the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard, you can earn up to 3% of your purchases in BONUSDOLLARS.

To learn more about this Desjardins program, please consult our BONUSDOLLARS guide here.

A percentage of your spending on the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard is converted into BONUSDOLLARS, depending on where the purchase is made.

• 3% on grocery purchases (up to $10,000 in purchases per year, then the accumulation rate is 1%)
• 3% on restaurant purchases (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then the accumulation rate is 1%)
• 2% on entertainment and public transit purchases
• 2% on travel purchases (up to $20,000 in purchases per year, then the accumulation rate is 1%)
• 1% for all other categories

For example, if you spend $100 on groceries, you’ll earn $3 ($100 x 3%) in BONUSDOLLARS.

When travelling, this card offers comprehensive insurance coverage for up to 60 consecutive days for:

• Emergency medical care
• Trip cancellation
• Theft, loss, or damage to luggage

All these coverages are valid for the cardholder, their spouse, and their dependent children. Even grandchildren can benefit from intergenerational coverage at no extra cost when travelling with the cardholder.

For all the conditions and coverages listed below, I advise you to carefully read the Travel Insurance Guide for the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Desjardins Insurance at 1-855-368-6924.

Emergency medical care coverage is up to $5,000,000 per person per trip. It includes transportation, repatriation, living expenses and dental care. The duration of this coverage depends on the traveller’s age and is one of the most generous among all credit cards:

• 60 days for those 59 years or younger
• 31 days for 60-64 year olds
• 15 days for 65 to 75 years old

The coverage is $2,500 per person if the trip is cancelled before departure. If the trip is cancelled after departure, coverage is unlimited.

However, the ticket must have been paid for with the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard.

Compensation for loss, theft, or damage to luggage caused by the public carrier is up to $1,000 per person. It includes reimbursement of expenses if official documents (such as a passport) are stolen, damaged or lost.

If there is a baggage delay of more than 6 hours, the compensation can be up to $500.

In addition, a travel assistance service is available for help if there is a problem:

• Loss of documents (passport, identification papers, etc.);
• Loss of travel tickets (such as an airline ticket);
• Sending messages to your loved ones in case of emergency;
• Need for medical emergency or legal assistance.

Simply call Desjardins Assistance Service at 1-888-419-2495 to start the process.

There is a Desjardins Odyssey Lounge located at Gate 63, in the international zone, and another Desjardins Odyssey lounge near Gate 76, in the transborder zone.

The Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard offers 8 complimentary visits per year. Each person entering the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge with the card uses the equivalent of one access, including children over 3 years old.

Then, after the 9th visit, a 50% discount is granted. Regular admission is $42 for adults and $26 for children, before taxes.

To enjoy these VIP Lounges, simply present your credit card and boarding pass at the lounge entrance. It allows you to obtain free of charge before the flight:

• Food and beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic);
• Wi-Fi;
• USB charging outlets.

These 8 accesses, with a maximum value of $336, largely offset the card’s annual fees.

With the Mastercard network, enjoy privileges to make your trip more pleasant:

• Free subscription to the DragonPass Program, which provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Simply pay the entrance fee of USD 32 per person afterwards;
• Priceless Cities Program, for exclusive experiences and events;
• Mastercard Travel Rewards shopping portal for premium brands;
• Stay connected anywhere in the world with your exclusive FlexiRoam benefit. Benefit from a free eSIM package including 3 GB of data (3 x 1 GB) usable for international roaming.

Rental vehicle theft and damage insurance is available for up to 48 consecutive days. The total cost of the rental must be charged to the card.

In order to be covered up to the actual value of the damaged or stolen rental vehicle, the rental company’s Collision Damage Waiver coverage offered must be declined.

Read all the details of the Desjardins insurance coverage summary.

Increased protection on eligible items is granted in case of loss or damage within 120 days following the purchase date.

In addition, an extended warranty doubles the duration of the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to 2 years.

All items eligible for this protection and warranty must have been purchased with the card. The conditions are in the Insurance Guide.

Compensation of up to $1,000 is available in the event of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical failure of a smartphone or tablet.

However, the following conditions must be met:

• The purchase of the mobile device must have been paid with the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard
• The card must have been used to cover the initial costs and all monthly wireless bill payments, if financing was used during the purchase through a plan

A deductible is applicable according to the purchase price of the device. Other conditions can be found in the Mobile Device Insurance Guide.

The Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard is a premium Desjardins credit card for those who travel regularly and wish to maximize their BONUSDOLLARS. The peace of mind it provides while travelling amply justifies its annual cost.