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BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Review 2024: Earn More Air Miles, Faster

Updated: Sep 26, 2023, 4:48pm

Fact Checked

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard offers earn rates on rewards that outpace most other Air Miles cards on the market. While it has some decent travel perks and discounts, this card is best thought of as an add-on to your basic Air Miles collector cards. That said, frequent flyers might see more benefit from another points or cash back card, since the value of Air Miles fluctuates.

  • High Air Miles earn rates.
  • Earn Bonus Miles with an Air Miles Membership Card.
  • Comprehensive travel insurance.
  • Miles don’t transfer between rewards categories.
  • Inconsistent dollar value per mile.
  • $120 annual fee.
  • $80,000 minimum income requirement.
  • $500 per month cap on grocery earnings.

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Review

Table of Contents

Introduction, quick facts, bmo air miles world elite mastercard rewards, bmo air miles world elite mastercard benefits, how the bmo air miles world elite mastercard stacks up, methodology, is the card name right for you.

  • Receive 2,000 bonus Air Miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
  • $120 annual fee is waived for the first year.
  • Earn 2 Miles for every $12 spent on eligible grocery purchases (up to $500 per month).
  • Earn 3 Miles for every $12 spent at participating Air Miles partners.
  • Earn 1 Mile for every $12 you spend on your credit card.
  • Save 25% on Air Miles used to book one flight per calendar year (up to 750 Reward Miles).
  • Get extra Miles when you present your Air Miles Membership Card when shopping at partner locations.
  • Use Miles as cash on in-store or online purchases with participating Air Miles partners (95 Miles equals $10).
  • Redeem Miles for vacation packages, hotels, flights, events, merchandise, car rentals and more.
  • Connect to more than 1 million free Wi-Fi spots around the world.
  • Safeguard your credit card with built-in protection from identity theft and fraud.
  • Gain access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for just $32 USD per person, per visit.
  • Get automatic protection against theft or damage on items purchased with your card (up to 90 days).
  • Extend the manufacturer’s warranty period on eligible purchases up to one additional year.
  • Pay 25% less on car rentals from participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-a-Car locations.
  • Access travel insurance for trip cancellations and interruptions, legal services, lost or stolen baggage, car rental damage and 15 days of emergency medical care.
  • Enjoy free 24-hour access to experienced concierge staff.
  • Earn cash back on purchases made outside of Canada with Mastercard Travel Rewards.

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is among the best Air Miles credit cards available. On top of getting 2,000 bonus Miles for signing up, cardholders collect 1 Mile on every $12 purchase. The base rate jumps up to 2 Miles at eligible grocery stores. Air Miles partners pay out 3 Miles plus extra Miles when you scan your Air Miles Collector Card. These earn rates gain more traction than most competitors and help offset the $120 annual fee.

This card also includes some incredibly useful travel perks, like comprehensive travel insurance, airport lounge access and a 25% discount on the Air Miles required to book one flight every year (with no blackout periods). The downside is you can only book flights departing from Canada. Aeroplan cards let you book flights in most countries, and they often have more flight options through Air Canada even though Air Miles has partnerships with multiple airlines.

Cardholders also have to choose between earning Cash Miles, Dream Miles or a combination of both. Cash Miles sound nice, but you can only redeem them in increments of 95 Miles for $10. Dream Miles, on the other hand, offer more value and over 800 reward options for flights, hotels, vacation packages, events and merchandise.

  • Every $12 purchase earns 3 Miles at partner locations, 2 Miles at eligible grocery stores and 1 Mile everywhere else.
  • Collect Miles twice at partner locations by scanning your Air Miles Collector Card at the time of purchase.
  • Redeem Miles in-store as cash or online for travel, merchandise, events and more.

Earning rewards

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard rewards every $12 purchase with 3 Miles at partner locations, 2 Miles at eligible grocery stores and 1 Mile everywhere else. Cardholders can also double dip on points from partners by scanning an Air Miles Collector Card as well. These earn rates are a big jump from the standard Air Miles program that pays out 1 Mile per $20 spent at participating merchants.

New cardholders can skip the annual fees for the first year and claim 2,000 bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months. You have the option to collect the extra miles as cash or travel rewards. They’re worth about $210, depending on the rewards category you choose.

While this card has impressive Air Miles earn rates, its value is generally lower than other premium travel cards. For example, the American Express Cobalt Card offers up to 5 points for every dollar spent and you can transfer points to several frequent flyer programs at a 1:1 ratio.

Redeeming Rewards

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard rewards can be Cash Miles or Dream Miles. You can choose to earn 100% of Miles in one category or split them up (e.g. 30% Cash Miles, 70% Dream Miles). Choose wisely—settings can be adjusted, but Miles can’t move between categories.

Miles collected on credit card purchases will show up in your Air Miles account. Cash Miles can be used online or in-store for gift cards and discounts with participating retailers. The catch is, you can only redeem Cash Miles in increments of 95 Miles for $10.

Dream Miles can be redeemed online for flights, hotels, events and merchandise. Flights generally offer the most value at 17.2 cents per mile (CPM). The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard also comes with travel insurance, lounge access and a 25% discount on the Air Miles required to book one international flight every year.

At the end of the day, free money shouldn’t be this hard to spend. There are plenty of cash back cards with higher earn rates and flexible payouts.

Rewards Potential

To calculate the return on BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard rewards, Forbes Advisor uses data from multiple government agencies to determine baseline income and credit card spending averages across various categories. Based on this information, the average Canadian spends $30,965.70 in annual credit card charges .

With every $12 purchase earning up to 3 Miles, cardholders can collect around 2,931 Miles per year on top of the first-year welcome bonus. Based on an average reward value, that could be $308.63 in annual rewards. When you factor in the annual $120 fee, that becomes a return of $188.63. Not many credit cards earn Air Miles at this level, but some other travel cards offer more flexible rewards with a similar value. And, since there is such a fluctuation in rewards value, these amounts can vary.

  • Travel Insurance: Plan your trip with built-in coverage for rental car collision and loss, trip interruption and cancellation, flight delays, lost or stolen luggage and 15 days of emergency medical care.
  • Trip Assistance: Contact the Operations Centre while you’re away to get help with lost or stolen travel documents, emergency cash transfers, legal services and information about visa or vaccine requirements.
  • Flight Discounts: Get a 25% discount on Air Miles for one flight anywhere in the world (750 Miles in total savings). There are no blackout periods and the discount resets every year.

Interest Rates

Regular APR Min: 20.99% Regular APR Max: 25.99%

Cash Advance: 23.99% (21.99% Quebec) Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5% Annual Fee: $120 Balance Transfer Fee: 2%

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard vs. Westjet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The Westjet RBC World Elite Mastercard offers 2% back in Westjet dollars on Westjet purchases and 1.5% on everything else. This card is a good option for frequent flyers who only want to collect and redeem travel points with Westjet. Otherwise, the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard offers $188.63 worth of annual rewards, compared to $311.69 with the WestJet RBC card (both using average rewards value with their respective annual fees factored in).

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard vs. BMO Air Miles Mastercard

The BMO Air Miles Mastercard has no annual fee or minimum income requirement. Rewards follow a similar structure, but it takes $25 to collect 1 Mile instead of $12. Other no-annual-fee Air Miles credit cards offer 1 Mile for every $15 or $20 spent. The BMO Air Miles Mastercard still earns $149 worth of annual rewards, only slightly less than the World Elite’s $188.63. If you can meet the World Elite Mastercard $80,000 income requirement, the accelerated earn rates are worth the $120 annual fee.

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard vs. CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, groceries and Air Canada vacations and 1 point on all other purchases. Aeroplan points offer more perks for flight upgrades and priority status with Air Canada. Even with the annual fee factored in, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite can earn $527.32 in annual rewards, which makes it the clean winner, considering the BMO Air Miles only earns $188.63.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With travel, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, miles earned, redemption flexibility, fees, welcome bonus, and other rewards and features. Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

If you already collect Air Miles, the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is worth adding to your wallet. This card is essentially an extension of the Air Miles Collector Card with better earn rates and extra travel perks. On the other hand, anyone that isn’t married to Air Miles should check out some other premium travel cards that offer cash back or points.

Related : Best Credit Cards in Canada

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do i use my bmo air miles.

Choose from over 800 reward options for BMO Air Miles, including merchandise, gift cards, travel, leisure and entertainment items. The dollar value of your BMO Air Miles depends on the rewards program (Cash Miles or Dream Miles) and what you redeem your Air Miles for.

How many Air Miles do I get with the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard?

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard earns Air Miles on every $12 purchase. The number of Air Miles you receive will depend on where you shop. Every $12 you spend will earn 3 Miles at partner locations, 2 Miles at eligible grocery stores and 1 Mile on everything else you buy.

Is the BMO World Elite Mastercard good?

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is one of the best Air Miles credit cards on the market. Cardholders collect 1 Mile for every $12 purchase compared to the standard earn rate of 1 Mile for $20. However, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is a favourable alternative for people that want to get paid in cash instead of Air Miles.

Candice Reeves is a financial writer based out of Nova Scotia. She specializes in personal finance, investing, and cryptocurrency. Her work is featured in leading publications across various industries, including Wealth Rocket, CryptoVantage, and StackCompare.

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Money We Have

  • $150 Annual fee – First year free*
  • Get 45,000 BMO Rewards points when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months, and 3,750 points for each subsequent month in which you make at least $2,500 in purchases on your card, for 12 months
  • Earn 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on travel
  • Earn 3 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills
  • Earn 1 BMO Rewards point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass, plus 4 annual passes

The sign up bonus of up to 90,000 points is in line with many of the other best travel credit cards in Canada . That said, it’s broken up into two parts. You’ll get 45,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, and 3,750 points for each subsequent month in which you make at least $2,500 in purchases on your card, for 12 months. The card has an annual fee of $150, which is waived for the first year.

As for the earn rate, it sounds good at 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on travel ($15,000 cap); 3 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills ($10,000 cap). All other purchases get you 1 BMO Rewards point per $1 spent. While that may sound good, it’s worth noting that BMO Rewards point is worth .67n cents. That means the card has one of the lowest base earn rates on the market.

What’s appealing about the BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* (referral link) is Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by DragonPass and 4 free passes each year. LoungeKey is nearly identical to Priority Pass which has a huge network of airport lounges all over the globe. If you frequently travel, then the included lounge access should be appealing.

Either way, the BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* is one of the best credit cards with free airport lounge access . Since lounge membership normally costs $99 USD a year and $32 per visit. You end with $227 USD in lounge passes which is worth more than the annual fee. That said, Plaza Premium lounges recently left LoungeKey. This is significant since most airport lounges in Canada are operated by Plaza Premium. That means your lounge access is of limited use within the country.  

One benefit included with this card that often gets overlooked is the free Boingo Wi-Fi membership. Although you can get free Wi-Fi just about anywhere these days, you can use your Boingo Wi-Fi membership to get internet access on many planes. As in, you can surf while you’re in the air.

I personally think concierge service is a bit overrated since you still need to call them to describe what you want. In the same time, you could have bought the item or made reservations on your own. That said, if you’re trying to make reservations at a restaurant where English isn’t their first language, concierge service could be incredibly useful.

BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* Insurance

In my BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* review , I’m going to go over the comprehensive insurance package that you get. Not only do you get great travel insurance, but there’s also purchase insurance included.

Travel insurance

  • Travel medical – $5,000,000 for 21 days 
  • Trip cancellation – up to $1,500 per person / $5,000 total
  • Trip interruption – $2,000 per person / $10,000 total
  • Trip delay – $200 / Max 10 days
  • Flight delay – up to $500 / 6 hours
  • Delayed and lost baggage – up to $500 per person / $1,000 total / 6 hours
  • Auto rental collision / loss damage – 48 consecutive days / $65,000
  • Common carrier travel accident – $500,000

The BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* travel insurance is pretty comprehensive but one thing I want to point out right away is that you don’t get hotel/motel burglary included which I find a bit odd. It’s not really a dealbreaker, but considering this is BMO’s top travel credit card, it’s a bit surprising that you don’t get it.

That said, the rest of the travel insurance doesn’t disappoint. Those under the age of 65 get up to $5,000,000 in travel medical for trips up to 21 days. If you’re 65 or older, there is no coverage.

Your trip cancellation insurance is good up to $1,5000 per person but trip interruption only covers each person up to $2,500. The delayed and lost baggage insurance is pretty generous, while the auto rental collision/loss damage is pretty standard.

Here’s the most important thing about the BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* travel insurance. If you look at the terms and conditions, it states the following: “Coverage applies only when You charge the full or partial cost of Your Trip to the Primary or Family Cardholder’s Mastercard prior to departure.”

That means if you charge just $1 of your travel expenses to the BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* travel insurance, you would be covered. This is significant since most travel credit cards require you to charge 75%-100% of your trip expenses for your travel insurance to be valid.

Purchase insurance

  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty

Although purchase protection and extended warranty are pretty standard for premium credit cards, I can’t state how important they are. With purchase protection, any purchases that are fully charged to your BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* will be covered for 90 days from loss, theft or damage. There’s been more than one occasion where I’ve bought something and shortly after I’ve lost it or it’s been damaged. With purchase protection, I’d be able to get it repaired or replaced at no cost. With the extended warranty, the manufacturer’s warranty is doubled up to one additional year which is obviously handy.

How BMO Rewards works

To claim $1 in travel, you need 150 points. Based on this, you end up with a 3.35% return on travel purchases, a 2% return on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills. All other purchases get you .67% in points which is meh. In case you’re wondering, the 150 points is not a typo. BMO devalued its points on May 5, 2021. It now takes 150 points instead of 140 points to claim $1 in travel.

That’s not bad for travel purchases, but it’s a bit low for dining . For example, the American Express Cobalt card gives you a 5% return on dining and the Scotiabank Gold American Express gives you a 4% return. Yes, those are Amex cards, and your Mastercard would be accepted in more places, but it’s important to point out what else is out there.

You can redeem your BMO Rewards points for any travel purchase charged to your BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®*. Once the charge has been made, you would use the Pay with Points option found in your BMO Rewards account. Once redeemed, you’d see a credit applied to your account in 3 – 5 business days. For more information about BMO Rewards, read my BMO Rewards guide .

Final thoughts

My BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* review is neutral. The change in earn rate with spending caps is not something people will be excited about, especially since there are better options out there. That said, the 4 free lounge passes are certainly appealing.

BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information

*Terms and conditions apply

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

99 Comments

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I’ve had this card for a few years now, really liked it until they recently changed the rules a bit, so you’re getting a bit less velue/$. I was wondering what in your opinion is best travel card in Canada at the moment? When I find a better option I’m planning to try negotiating waving the annual fee or getting a credit in points, any experience with this? Thanks and btw great article!

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

It depends on what you’re looking for. I like Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card since it offers a decent earn rate, a high sign up bonus, 6 airport lounge passes, and no forex fees. You could likely get BMO to waive the fee or offer you points if you threaten to cancel the card, but you need to be prepared to do so if you don’t like what they say. Alternatively, you could check out my list of the best travel credit cards which focuses on sign up bonuses https://www.moneywehave.com/the-best-travel-credit-cards-in-canada/

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If I get an additional card for my partner, will he/she also get a referral to LoungeKey and 4 free passes?

Supplementary card members do not get lounge access passes

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I’ve had this card for one month. Saw the inflated rates that you have to book at…. No thanks!!

BMO price matches if you call in.

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What do you mean BMO price matches?

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Have you had travellers comments about BMO master card world elite? I’m in Maui and my card is blocked…ok for security I guess. But there’s no way to do unblock it by phone no matter what. So what is it good for if you can’t fix problem when away!!!! So that’s it for me!

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Hi, I have this card and no you don’t have to book at their high inflates rates, not at all. I have booked multiple trips through – including car rental just this week, and they will match what ever best deal you find on the web. Yes it does take a bit longer to book since you have to do it through their agent (so they can match the price)…but I really love this card. Family of four…booked flight to Europe on points, went to Caribbean on points and as I said, just rented cars for Europe on points. Love the lounge access! We go a bit early to the airport and feel like royalty! Yes the redemption rate was better before but I still think it’s worth it!!

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I was denied access to the Maple Leaf lounge at YUL. That was frustrating. Is that legitimate?

This card gives you access to Plaza Premium lounges, not Maple Leaf Lounges.

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I have had this card for 30 years , finally booked a trip to use points so now am getting rid of it (can’t get rid of it until your points are used) . They really butchered their reward system , hope it was worth it to them . And still advertising that you get 2 points for every dollar , what a farce . There is a multitude of good cards out there with 2% cash back , no games . I have two other choice reward cards and they are great . You would think companies would learn from the Aeroplane and Airmiles fiascos ???

When they changed the points system, customers saw no devaluation as they received extra points. That being said, the new earn rate is definitely not as good as the old one.

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I am approaching 1 mill in points on my BMO elite account. Do I lose all my reward points if I cancel my credit card? I am thinking of signing up for a card with positive first year incentives.Can the points be transferred to another program?

Unfortunately, BMO Rewards has no transfer partners. You would indeed lose all your points if you cancel the card.

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I’ve had this card for years and just signed up for my LoungeKey account. The app doesn’t show any complimentary passes and my confirmation email states all visits are charged at 27USD. When you say four free annual passes, is that the membership (not the entry fee) you’re talking about?

You card gives you the free annual pass AND 4 annual free passes. Check with BMO to see how the passes are credited to you.

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Hi Barry. Specifically dealing with Toronto’s Lounge access, terminal three, are there time limits on how long you can linger there? We have to fight traffic to get to our flights, thought about leaving extra early from home and just holing up in the lounge itself. Would they kick you out if you stayed over 3 hours?

Technically speaking, there’s a 2 hour limit, but it’s not like anyone is going around timing you. That being said, if they asked you to leave after 2 hours, they’d be within their rights. I’ve just never heard of any reports where that has actually happened.

Note that Toronto’s T3 international departure hall has 2 different priorty pass lounges. There’s one that caters towards Asian guests which is better as it’s newer and is more spacious.

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Am I able to get the signup bonus for this card if I’ve held (and cancelled/closed) the Air Miles BMO World Elite card within the last year?

Yes, you shouldn’t have any issues getting the bonus since it was a different card you held.

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It say on my bmo banking plan that if I have a premium plan my annual fee for the credit card is waive. Too bad there have foreign currency marked up of 2.5%

Yes, if the BMO World Elite Mastercard had no forex fees, it would be even more popular.

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I am pissed off at BMO looking for a credit card company where your purchases are protected as with BMO there is no protection at all for online sales when you purchase thru an online form for which you get no copy of your purchase.

I bought a CeeVoo Antenna online thru a form and then by phone because they had no options for Canada.

BMO wants a copy of the purchase order, which they did not give me and if I would have ordered thru the form, there would be no copy of the purchase agreement, so no protection at all.

Thanks for nothing BMO, no looking for a bank I can trust

By the way The CeeVoo antenna is a scam

Too bad BMO doesn’t keep up on scams

To be fair, no credit card company would compensate you the money unless you have proof of purchase. As you stated, CeeVoo antenna is a scam so they probably know to not issue these receipts so you can’t perform a chargeback on your credit card.

I have proof of purchase, but they changed the product. Also how are over the phone sales and online sales protected?

How do you get a copy of an online form, or should we record all calls for over the phone credit card purchases as well?

They finally answered their phone and say the other antenna is from their parent company?

Bait and switch scam is my opinion.

As for BMO very poor

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Make a screen capture of your online form next time. That should serve as proof of purchase.

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Hey Barry, great review!

So I noticed that if you sign up for their premium chequing account , they give you 150$ rebate towards world elite cards annual fees ( therefore making this card free every year). On top of that, being military I can get that premium chequing for 14$ a month instead of 30$ ( im already paying 14 a month with scotia anyways for my scotia one).

So my question is, is it worth it to switch from my scotia gold amex to this card? Im really interested in the lounge access as well as the no annual fee, but what im hesitating on is the amex 4 points for every dollar spent VS this 3 points for 1 system.

Let me know what you think!

The Scotiagold Amex has a slightly higher earn rate. That being said, since you can get the BMO World Elite Mastercard for free, you might as well get it and use it just for the lounge passes.

Yea I think I’ll just get it and keep earning with the Amex. I’ll literally just get the world elite for lounge passes

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I recently got the BMO World Elite card, and with my 4 lounge passes, is the anniversary date for reset based on the calendar year, or my own anniversary date?. Thanks.

It’s based on your anniversary date

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This is incorrect. The 4 lounge passes are renewed annually and not on your anniversary date. I made this mistake this year and was charged over $75 cad this spring after using the 4 comp passes in March then 2 passes in May. When I called to question the charges I was told the passes were renewed annually. I received bonus rewards points for the trouble.

Interesting, I looked at the handbook and it just says annually. I assumed that meant per anniversary.

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Hi, Barry, Thank you for answering those questions, very helpful. I am with BMO for years with premium chequing account. How do I sign up for 4 free lounge pass?

You need to have the BMO World Elite Mastercard for you to get access to the free lounge passes.

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I have the BMO World Elite card in my name, but always travel with my husband. Does that mean he can’t come into the lounges with me? What if I got him a supplementary card? I think I read above that he doesn’t get in even with that?

Your husband can get in as long as you’re travelling with him and you have an extra free pass available. Getting him a supplementary card would not get him access.

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Hi Barry – I got the BMO World Elite card for the insurance coverage. If I book a flight through BMO Rewards and pay entirely with my points, will the trip still be eligible for trip cancellation/interruption coverage? Should I charge $1 of the cost to my World Elite card to make it an insured trip?

The BMO World Elite Mastercard insurance is indeed quite generous. If you charge $1 to your card in travel expenses, you’re covered.

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Hi Barry, What would be considered travel expenses? Does it have to an air flight?Could it be gas on the way to the airport? A hotel on the trip? Since I will have my annual fee waived every year, I am thinking that I should get one of the Scotiabank cards for the better travel rewards. I spend money on food and bills and very little on dining and entertainment. Thank you so much for your very informative articles and advice!

I’m assuming you’re referring to the travel purchases category where you earn 3 points per $1 spent? It would apply to any merchant that’s considered travel e.g. flights, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators. Gas stations are considered gas.

Do you get the annual fee on the BMO card or a Scotiabank card waived? The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is one of the best all in one cards since it gives you a decent earn rate, good benefits and no forex fees.

Hi Barry, Sorry I wasn’t clear! I can get the BMO World Elite annual fee waived every year. I am wondering about the using the travel insurance? You suggested above that $1 of the trip be charged to the card to get the cancellation/interruption coverage for a trip. My understanding is that even a small part of the trip could be charged to the card to have this cancellation/coverage coverage kick in. Is this correct? You also suggested to someone that they get the card for the lounge passes alone as they would be free since the annual fee is waived. I am thinking that we would earn more points, looking at our spending, with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card because we will be building a house(building materials), rarely eat in restaurants or go to concerts/movies, buy lots of groceries, gas and travel a fair amount (no forex with Scotiabank Passport). We do have a Home Trust Visa and only use it to save the foreign exchange when traveling or buying online out of country. Since we will get the one card annual fee waived, do you think it would be wise to get the Scotiabank and pay the annual fee while taking advantage of the lounge passes and perhaps the cancellation/interruption coverage that would come with the BMO World Elite? Thanks a lot! Sorry for the lengthy post!

The BMO World Elite Mastercard has excellent insurance since their terms are so open e.g. charge any amount and you’re covered. You’re right in that you could charge $10, and trip cancellation would apply.

If you don’t mind paying an annual fee, getting a card like Scotiabank Passport Visa could benefit you since it has a nice sign up bonus and you get 6 free lounge passes a year. Before your first anniversary, decide if you want to keep the card or cancel it. If you plan to cancel, do it before your annual fee kicks in.

Thanks Barry! Your insight is appreciated!

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Hi Barry, regarding the lounge passes is given/credited on an annual basis. I wish to clarify what annual means. For example, if I joint BMO World Elite card in October, 2018, when and what month do I get the next 4 lounge passes, in 2019, or 2020? Thanks.

You’d have to call BMO to find out exactly. I was under the impression that it was on the anniversary if your card membership so that would be October but some people have said it’s Jan. of the new year. I checked the handbook and it doesn’t say definitely what the answer is.

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Hi Barry. I have a BMO world elite MasterCard but am only entitled to two passes. Does the benefit vary by province? I’m in Ontario.

The BMO AIR MILES World ELite Mastercard gives you 2 annual lounge passes whereas the BMO World Elite Mastercard gives you 4 annual passes.

Thanks. Do you recommend I switch cards?

I personally prefer the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card since it gives you 6 annual lounge passes and has no forex fees.

https://www.moneywehave.com/scotiabank-passport-visa-infinite-card-review/

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On a phone call August 21 2019 with MasterCard World Elite I was told I can redeem 14,000 points for $100, today September 24th I called and I was told 12000 points will get me $50. What is going on here? I lost half my dollar amount since the point system has changed and MasterCard claims no record of my conversation.

14,000 points for $100 is in travel. You can claim 12,000 points for a $50 statement credit (not travel) which is why there’s such a difference. You’ll obviously want to use your points for travel to maximize your value.

When I first started with this credit card it was great because I could have access to all Airlines and get decent prices. Later on I was restricted to which airline’s I could book or not book and when I was able to book a flight was at a higher rate than I could get elsewhere. This credit card has gone downhill. Actually I have been paying Colby creditor card for my flights for last 2 years and haven’t used these points as they are worthless to me. Time to change to a credit card that doesn’t change their program (originally I got 2% on all purchases). Bye bye scammy BMO world elite MasterCard.

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The lounge access to BMO elite card is very cheap. I am right now in LAX airport and lounge access for this card is only till 10:30 am. This means most time of the day it is not usable.

I’m guessing that’s something LAX implemented because there are too many crowds. It has nothing to do with Mastercard.

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Hi Barry, I have the BMO World Elite Card for two years and never know how to use the lounge access at the airport, and if I never use before, will the balance carry over year to year? And I usually travel with guess, can I bring guess with me? How many guess allow, and is there a charge for the guess?

First you need to create an account – https://airport.mastercard.com/en/create-account

The four annual passes do not carry over, but you can use them on guests. One pass per guest as well as for you. As long as you have passes, there is no charge. Once you run out of passes, it’s $32 CAD per visit, per person.

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BMO World Elite used to be a pretty good card and I spend a lot on it – until now. I am now looking for an off-ramp because the card and service has gone downhill and the travel booking experience is not great as there are always better prices and booking options available directly on the airline sites. I have examples of the BMO Rewards site not working at all and not providing any options whereas the airline sites have a plethora of options. BMO needs to do what Scotiabank is doing with their Passport Infinite card which is brilliant as it allows you to apply your credit to past purchases so you aren’t stuck booking through the bank’s credit card rewards vendor. I also have the Scotiabank Passport Infinite and it has a much lower fee, no supplementary card fee, more lounge visits as well as zero FX fee. Definitely a better option.

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Does BMO charge you for the airport lounge visits or memberships fee if you cancel the card before the annual fee kicks in?

No, you won’t get charged for the lounge visits or the annual fee for the second year as long as you cancel it before your anniversary. Obviously any unused lounge passes would be void as soon as you cancel your card.

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My husband has a BMO world elite mastercard and I just registered it on airport experiences website. It said that he has 2 free passes to lounges. We are travelling with another couple and I am wondering if we can take them as guest into the plaza lounge in Toronto. I know we will have to pay the cost ( can you confirm $32 CAD each) and would it be just charged to our credit card upon entering the lounge. Also is there a time limit on how long you can stay in the lounge area.

You should be able to bring them as a guest. I believe it’s $32USD, not CAd but I could be wrong. The limit is technically for 3 hours but not one checks.

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Can I give my free pass to friend going to thr lounge without me ? Thanks

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Hi! I have had the BMO world elite air miles m/c for years. On this forum, I am reading people are collecting BMO points of some sort with use of this card. Is the BMO world Elite air miles card the same as the BMO world elite card? I didn’t know there was a difference.

Hi Krystal,

They are two different cards. There’s the BMO World Elite Mastercard and the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard.

The Air Miles version earns you Air Miles while the regular one earns you BMO Rewards points. Which one is more valuable depends on how you like to redeem your travel.

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I plan to use my aeroplan points for a filght to Venice and Hanoi. If I pay the taxes of the flight ticket with the BMO WE mastercard, will I be covered with the travael insurance, trip cancellation trop interruption, flight delay, Delayed and lost baggage ?

Yes, you would be covered as long as you charge any amount to your BMO World Elite Mastercard.

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Will this card cover my car rental insurance in Ireland?

You would need to check directly with BMO’s insurance provider for that answer

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Looking for senior’s coverage and just looked up BMO World Elite insurance policy before signing up and it looks like it only covers medical if you are 65 and under now.

https://www.bmo.com/pdf/World_Elite_Cardholder_Agreement.pdf

You’re right. I’m not sure if this is a recent change or I just screwed up.

I’m sure it was correct originally when you wrote it but it seems they change these benefits regularly. National Bank’s says “10 days for over 65” which is great compared to others (and OK for me) but despite what it sounds like, it is a bit deceiving as after a long search to find the insurance policy, it seems it’s capped at 74. NB also says it gives access to the Lounge in Montreal (not sure if that’s of any benefit when you live in the other Provinces) but again, the small print says “for international travel”.

BNS says 10 days for 65 or older but the policy is dated 2017 so will check that out to see if they cap it as well. Of course (as you indicated) it may be better to purchase separate insurance if you are over 65 for better coverage. Insurance is a big deal as we get older when travelling!! Many thanks again for your great site and all the information.

Yeah I would advise just getting a separate policy, it’s just more secure and you can find out exactly what you’re covered for at the time of purchase.

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If I booked a hotel (3-star or higher) with BMO world elite MasterCard, is the breakfast free according to Mastercard Luxury Portfolio ?

It depends on the hotel but generally speaking, you only get complimentary upgrades, early check-in and late checkout.

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Does my BMO Mastercard Elite travel insurance apply to BMO Reward trips?

As long as you paid the remaining balance with your BMO World Elite Credit Card, you’re good.

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Is Scotia bank Visa Passport Infinite better than BMO world Elite I was planning on switching what do you recommend? I like the Fact that Scotia has no foreign exchange rate. I

Scotiabank has arguably a better rewards program, but you could argue the BMO World Elite Mastercard has better insurance and the first year is free.

Forex is also a huge benefit of the Scotiabank card but there are credit cards with no annual fee that don’t charge forex fees.

You kind of need to look at everything offered and decide what’s best for you.

Can you give me a list of “no annual fee that don’t charge forex fees.” I was looking at Rogers but I see there program is being downgraded in June 2020.

This article lists all your options. It includes the ones with fees so just read the bullet points.

https://www.moneywehave.com/canadian-credit-cards-without-foreign-transaction-fees/

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I have a BMO World Elite Master card. I have booked airfare and hotels for a holiday in Netherlands next month for my wife and I. The airfare was paid using my Reward points and the hotels on my Master card. Due to the current issues with travel, I am concerned the trip may be cancelled. If that happens, can I claim the points used for the flight reservation and the cost of lost hotel bookings? Thanks

AYou would only be able to make a claim if Amsterdam has a travel advisory.

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Hi Barry, I have had a BMO World Elite Mastercard for 8 years and have used the complimentary passes that were a benefit of this card several times. However, in March 2020 I visited a LoungeKey airport lounge (Heathrow) but on my next statement I noted a charge, even though I had not been to an airport lounge for over 18 months. I disputed the charge with BMO and was told there are no complimentary passes with this card. When did this change and were you aware of that? Thanks, Chris

The BMO World Elite Mastercard still has lounge access – https://www.bmo.com/main/personal/credit-cards/bmo-rewards-world-elite-mastercard/

I don’t get why the rep was told there are no complimentary passes when there are clearly 4.

I would call back and ask again.

Is there a direct comparison showing detailed numbers for BMO world elite Mastercard vs Scotiabank Passport Visa benefits, insurance, etc?

For price matching, let’s say you find a cheaper price on Air Canada’s site compared to the BMO Travel portal. BMO will price match.

As for comparing the card to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, you can check out my two reviews.

https://www.moneywehave.com/bmo-world-elite-mastercard-review/ https://www.moneywehave.com/scotiabank-passport-visa-infinite-card-review/

Thank you very much! Great info gained.

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I have the world elite and plan to use Paytm to pay property tax charged to the MC. Can I use the BMO rewards to pay the balance once the bill is posted? (Points to pay CC balance)?

BMO Rewards does allow you to use points to claim a statement credit. In case you didn’t know, Paytm recently increased their fees so using them to pay your property taxes may not be worth it.

Thanks. The property is rental so the charges are deductible. I have a great number of points and will be cancelling the card since the only value was the (4) lounge key passes. The Scotia Visa has 6 Priority Pass passes and has no FOREX so I should not be carrying two cards with passes especially when there is no travel for at least 2021. Thanks

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Hi Barry. Thanks for all the great info, and especially for replying to comments. I have always saved my BMO World Elite points just for travel, because of the 1.4% return compared to the much lower return for either merchandise or statement credit. However, I recently noticed on their rewards site (under the “invest” section) that they are offering $100 for 15000 points redeemed, as long as it goes into one of three types of BMO bank accounts. This is a 1.33 % rate of return for cash, which is way better than what you would get for a statement credit, although it seems like it’s pretty much the same thing (since I could just use the money in the account to pay my statement). Is there something I’m missing? I don’t currently have a BMO bank account, but one of the account types that is eligible for the offer has no monthly fees, so it’s not like I’d be losing out that way. Just wondering your thoughts on this. (BTW, I was only able to see the $100-for-15000 points offer when I was signed into my account; the info is not there when I am not signed in.

In the past, using points for the invest section usually only applied to things such as RRSP, TFSA, Investorline etc.

Is there now a regular bank account that it applies to? The $100 for 15,000 points may also just be a limited time offer.

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Hi Barry. Big fan of your site. It could be worth mentioning that Lounge Key and Priority Pass recently lost access to Plaza Premium lounges, which makes those 4 free passes much less valuable. I have this card, and am planning to cancel it for that reason.

https://creditcardgenius.ca/blog/priority-pass-loungekey-plaza-premium

I had been meaning to update this with the change, but frankly, I’ve been too lazy.

Smart of you to cancel. With the removal of Plaza premium, your lounge passes are almost useless in Pearson (unless you’re flying T3) and Vancouver.

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DO NOT GET THIS CARD.

I am a physician who has been using their World Elite Master Card for 3 years now. I make almost all my purchases with the card, and they’ve continued to increase my credit limit accordingly. I hadn’t run into any issues with them initially – but that was because I hadn’t had any issues needing to be dealt with period. But I remember the first couple of times I needed assistance (to dispute unfair charges), the bank did little to help my cause. Not particularly satisfied, I continued with them anyways, mostly for the travel perks including lounge access.

Then things really got bad. Due to COVID, I hadn’t been able to use the lounge pass until recently when lounges finally reopened in my city (Toronto). I attempted to use the pass a few days ago and was shocked to hear that, actually, BMO neglected to renew its contract with Toronto’s Pearson Airport this summer. I ended up needing to pay for the lounge. I sent an angry message via my online account asking for compensation for the lounge cost, as it should’ve been included in my credit card anyways and I had used it at the same location in pre-covid days without problem. I had also said that if they fail to resolve the matter appropriately, I wanted to move forward with canceling my card. The rep who messaged me back gave a standard message stating that with my World Elite I have access to “1000 airport lounges”….and basically provided no explanation as to what just happened nor any compensation. They said to feel free to message them again if I still wanted to cancel the card.

And here, ladies and gents, is where things went from bad to ridiculous: every time I tried sending a message (to cancel the card) a 404 error showed up. At a loss, I ended up “disputing” the airport lounge payment in order to write down my desire to move forward with the cancellation. Another 404 message. Essentially anything I tried to do on that account took me to a 404 page as if they’re purposely stopping me from cancelling. I figured maybe if I accessed via my phone instead of my laptop, I may miraculously be able to send the message. Not so – in fact I suddenly ended up being locked out of my account. I called various service numbers at BMO, first to try and access my online account again. And then to actually cancel my card and close my account. Both times I was told I had to “visit a branch and provide ID in order to proceed”. No explanation as to why, only that my account was “flagged” as such and they had no clue. I frustratingly told them that from the very beginning starting with my application for this card, I had never needed to step into a branch to “provide ID” in order to do anything. I am currently traveling and won’t be back home to “step into a branch” until another 2 weeks. Again, crickets on their end as to any suitable explanation.

So, now I’m abroad without access to my credit card account or any ability to monitor what the heck this fraudulent bank is doing to it until I return. I’m pondering whether to report it stolen or something just so they’d actually close the card. It’s apparent they’re putting up barriers upon barriers to stop me from canceling, and in the meantime just cementing my decision further to do so. I will never ever use any of BMO’s services again.

All very valid points.

In regards to the lounge access. Plaza Premium lounges (which are in almost every Canadian airport) recently left Priority Pass and Mastercard Airport Experiences.

So technically, it wasn’t BMO’s fault. That said, you’re not wrong as the lounge passes are almost useless in Canada now.

I’ve been advising my readers to switch to the American Express Gold Rewards Card since they specifically give you Plaza Premium passes.

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By Keph Senett  and  Luca Tatulli on May 11, 2022 Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard review

Everything you need to know about BMO Ascend World Elite, from what travel rewards are included to whether it’s worth the annual fee.

a woman on vacation poses for a picture with scenery behind her

If you’re itching to travel again, BMO has a card designed to help you get there. With an attractive insurance package and perks like airport lounge access, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard seeks to tempt users into the BMO Rewards program. But here’s the big question: Is the card good enough to justify the $150 annual fee? We delve into what the card offers and show you exactly how it stacks up against other travel reward cards.

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

  • Annual fee: $150 (waived for the first year)
  • Earn rates: 5 points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases; 3 points per $1 on dining, entertainment, and recurring bill payments; 1 point per $1 on everything else
  • Welcome bonus: You can earn up to 100,000 points and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.
  • Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
  • Points values: 1 BMO Rewards point = $0.0067 when redeemed for travel
  • Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers

5 things you need to know about the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

  • The card lets you collect BMO travel rewards The BMO Rewards program allows you to earn BMO Points on your credit card purchases, redeemable for travel expenses such as flights (including all taxes), hotels, cruises and vacation packages. With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you earn 5 points per dollar on travel, 3 points per dollar on dining and entertainment and 1 point per dollar on everything else—a competitive offering.
  • The card has a generous sign-up bonus New members can earn up to 100,000 points and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.
  • You’ll get airport lounge access Cardholders of the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard receive complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass which entitles them to VIP access and four annual complimentary passes, good at 1,000 airport lounges across the globe.
  • It comes with great travel insurance The BMO Ascend World Elite Total Travel and Medical Protection package is a tempting and valuable perk, providing out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical protection up to $5 million, plus coverage for flight delay or cancellation, lost or delayed baggage (including personal effects insurance), and car rental collision damage coverage. Purchased separately, this coverage could cost around $120 per trip, but cardholders get it for an unlimited number of journeys of up to 21 days each.
  • It’s widely accepted  While most main credit card processors enjoy extensive international coverage, Mastercard has an edge as the only brand accepted at Costco .

How do I redeem my BMO Rewards?

With BMO Rewards, the redemption process is as simple as logging in to your account. To redeem for rewards, you can avail yourself of the full-service online travel agency or shop from their catalogue. You can book with any airline without blackout dates or seat restrictions, and BMO also offers price matching, so you can be sure you’re getting the very best deal.

What are BMO Rewards Points worth?

Points redeemed for travel come in at a value of 140:$ 1 ($0.007 per point), m eaning that you’ll need 35,000 points for $250 towards travel expenses. Importantly, you don’t have to redeem a minimum number of points, or any, to book travel—and you can pay whatever your points don’t cover by charging that amount to your card. Redemptions for gift cards and merchandise are just as simple (you select from an online catalogue), but you’ll typically get less value from your points compared to travel. Finally, you can redeem your points for financial products, but this option comes at a steep reduction in value. For 7,000 points you can get $50 in a BMO investment account (which is about $0.007 per point) , or for 15,000 points you’ll receive $50 towards your credit card bill (about $0.003 per point). With all these redemption options, the BMO Rewards program is extremely flexible—this is one of the main reasons it’s so popular—but for the very best point-to-dollar ratio, travel rewards are the way to go.

Does BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard have trip cancellation insurance?

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard has a strong travel coverage package, the card offers both trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. The card has got you covered for up to $1,500 for the non-refundable and non-transferable portion of your canceled trip. As for trip interruption, BMO has also got your back , as it will cover up to $2,000 for the cost of one-way airfare departure and any unused non-refundable prepaid arrangements. 

Does the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard come with lounge access? 

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you get a free membership to Mastercard Travel Pass, which gives you four annual airport lounge visits that can be used at 1,000 airport lounges worldwide.

What are the best ways to benefit from this card?

Even though the BMO Rewards program offers numerous redemption possibilities, travel rewards give you the very best value—with no seat restrictions or blackouts. Add to that the card’s airport lounge access , and travel and medical insurance, and you’ve got a very competitive product for travellers.

Are there any drawbacks to the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard?

Despite a very strong showing in many respects, there are a few drawbacks you should be aware of. The first is that the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard commands an income threshold of $80,000 per year for an individual (or $150,000 per household) an d an annual fee of $ 150 (most travel cards come in around the $120 mark). An extra $30 per year may not matter much to high-earners, but the fee may give you pause, especially when you consider that some cards offer more lucrative bonus categories. The Scotiabank Gold American Express , for example, offers 5 Scotia Points on restaurants and groceries. Finally, the BMO Rewards website could use some work, given that it’s the portal through which users must make redemptions. Improvements to site speed would go a long way to keeping customers happy, and would help cement the brand’s reputation as a top-tier provider. The $ 150 annual fee on the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is nothing to sneeze at, but for frequent flyers, the travel rewards more than make up the expense. Still undecided? New cardholders get their money back instantly in bonus points and a fee waiver, so you effectively have a year to see for yourself. If you’re interested in BMO cards, but don’t want to collect travel rewards, check out our list of BMO’s best credit cards .

Is the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard worth the annual fee?

The answer to whether the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is worth the high annual fee of $150 will depend on a variety of factors. If you’re a frequent flyer and traveler and earn more than the card’s income requirement, the answer is yes. The annual fee would most likely be canceled out by the free lounge access and travel insurance, if you’d be paying for those two services out of pocket each time you travel. On the other hand, the card’s high-income requirement and annual fee may be a barrier for some and a reason to choose another card instead. And, if you’re a fan of earning cash back instead of points then may not be the best choice since there is no such offering with the card. 

More on  credit cards :

  • Canada’s best credit cards for gas
  • Canada’s best credit cards for grocery purchases
  • Best cash back credit cards
  • Tangerine credit card review: Is it really the best no-fee credit card in Canada?

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The points redemption on this card are not advantageous at all. On top of using a lot of points you also have to pay money, at a rate that makes absolutely no sense compared to, say, one of the Aeroplan cards. I got this card a year ago and I am getting rid of it before they ding me for the annual fee….

THe redemption program has not been working form the past ten days. No solution no eta

I have 453,000.00 points to use.

Don’t use this credit card, terrible service

Do not use your points to get merchandise. They don’t give you a tracking no. Merchandise not received, no able to get an answer from them. Finally canceled the merchandise but did not get my points back. Terrible service, waited 1h30 to talk to somebody but still did not get my points. Do not get BMO Mastercard World Elite

‘…any airline without blackout dates…’ NOT TRUE! Flights on Qatar Airways from YUL are not available on BMO rewards.

IF YOUTHINK YOU HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH BMO WORLD ELITE ADMINISTERED BY GLOBAL ALLIANZ DON’T WORRY YOU DON’T

So twice I’ve used my points. First time for a coffee maker…. Took at least 5 calls because they couldn’t except my address… go figure, had to have it mailed to a friends house! 2x booked a trip before Covid and so was told I had a year to rebook… spent 3 days calling and a minimum of 4 hours each time on the phone ( at least 3-5 x a day) no answer. Finally got through and they couldn’t find my rescheduled number although this was what they gave me when I called about canceling because of Covid! Took down all my info and said they would call back… it’s been 3 days and nothing! And I’ve sent 5 emails today to see what is going on…. Not even a response. So do I get my points back or is this just another SCAM?? Disappointed customer of BMO rewards

I would hold back off using any BMO credit cards for points right now. They have a new travel system and it has been a disaster. For instance, I used my points on their website for a value of almost $2000. However, the booking didn’t grab the points and after waiting over 3 hours to speak to someone, they said they had to do it manually. I thought it would take a few weeks at most but it seems that this is a very common issue for them right now and it takes about 3 months to get your money back. Basically, i’m set back $2000 for a couple of months. Their supervisor on the phone tried to make me feel better by telling me that I wasn’t the only one and alot of people are facing this issue. He proudly told me that people from April are now resolved and they’re working through cases from May now. When I signed up for this card many years ago, 100 points were worth a dollar, then it became 140 and now it is 150. The entire program has been devalued massively. The extreme difficulty in resolving an issue with your points together with how regularly it seems to be happening makes this one of the worst cards I’ve ever owned. It’s no point having perks you have to painfully jump through hoops to use. Me and my partner will be cancelling all our BMO products after this. I recommend other credit card companies where you are not tied to a bad redemption system. Also, the fact that BMO credit cards ad BMO rewards don’t work together is a huge issue since the bank can’t do much to help resolve your issue. Strongly recommend everyone stay away from BMO credit cards for this reason.

They brag about the returns but they used to be 2 percent return on all money spent and the second card used to be paid for considering getting rid of the card. It also takes almost three times the points to get plane tickets compared to what it used to. Very disappointed.

I believe that Mastercard have removed the complimentary lounge passes. You now have ACCESS, but it will cost you $32 USD per person. This drastically reduces the benefit of this card, compared to others.

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BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Review for 2023

By Heidi Unrau | Published on 10 Aug 2023

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

There are Air Miles, and then there are World Elite Air Miles. The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard has one of the best Air Miles earn rates of all the credit cards in Canada and offers all the exclusive VIP travel perks you’d expect from an elite credit card. This card offers great flexibility to those who love to travel and shop. Additional perks and benefits ensure all your bases are covered whether your shopping, travelling, or both. 

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

Annual Fee: $120, waived the first year

Welcome Offer: 2,000 bonus Air Miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months

Interest Rates: 20.99%, Cash advances 23.99%, Quebec Residents 21.99%

Air Miles Earn Rate: 1 mile for every $12 spent on every card purchase

Additional Card: $50

Min. Income Required: $80,000 annual personal income or $150,000 annual household income

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Welcome Offer

Travel credit card lovers are welcomed to BMO with up to 2,000 bonus Air Miles when you sign up and spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. They’ll also waive the annual fee of $120 for your first year. New and returning cardholders also get a special offer for Apple Music.

Elite Travel Benefits at a Glance

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is loaded with travel perks and benefits, and with bmorewards.com you can easily cash out your rewards or book and redeem travel, anytime, anywhere without restrictions. You can also book discount flights, hotels, and rental cars, or even plan your entire vacation from the website. Other travel benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • Earn a 15% flight discount on all AIR MILES flights in North America with no blackout periods
  • Earn 2X the reward miles at National Car Rental
  • Complimentary MasterCard Airport Experiences with access to over 850 VIP lounges
  • Two annual complementary LoungeKey passes
  • Earn up to a 25% discount at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Car Rental locations
  • Free trip cancellation insurance
  • Free purchase protection against theft or damage for 90 days

Earning Air Miles at a Glance

BMO offers one of the largest loyalty programs in Canada, and that means you earn more miles on everyday purchases at national retailers such as Costco, Staples, Transat, and Shell. You can also earn miles at participating grocery stores. Here’s the numbers on your Air Miles rewards:

  • Earn 1 mile for every $12 in credit card purchases
  • Earn 3x the miles when you use your card at participating Air Miles partners
  • Earn additional Air Miles for purchases charged to Supplementary Cards.
  • Earn more Air Miles when retailers run Mega Miles promotions
  • Double dip Air Miles rewards when you use your BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard and show your Air Miles membership card

Air Miles Reward Flexibility

The Air Miles program is one of Canada’s biggest and most loved rewards programs. Not only does the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard help you earn them faster, Air Miles can be redeem in different ways  based on your preferences. If you’re an avid traveler, you’ll want to focus on earning Dream Miles that can be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels, car rentals as well as merchandise and gift cards. If you’re less into travel and more into free stuff and discounts, you’ll want to focus on earning Cash Miles that can be used for in-store purchases at Air Miles partner retailers, as well as travel.

Be careful though, when a reward is earned in one category, like Dream Miles, you can’t transfer it to the other category, like Cash Miles. When you get your BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard , make sure you also set up an Air Miles account on the airmiles.ca website. There, you can choose how you earn miles in each category, like splitting them equally or something like 75% to one category and 25% to the other. You have a lot of flexibility to decide what’s more important to you here: discount travel, or discount stuff.  Keep in mind that Dream Miles have a higher conversion value when you redeem them to book flights and eligible travel expenses.

Additional Travel Perks of the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard offers travel insurance and medical protection insurance on bookings are made with the card. Customers under 65 will automatically get emergency medical protection up to $2 million when they travel of the province or country for 15 days. You’ll also get a Collision Damage Waiver when you rent a car with your BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard . You’ll also get access to Trip Assistance Services like emergency cash transfers, lost document and ticket replacement, help with lost luggage, and pre-trip information.

Additional travel benefits include trip cancellation, interruption, and delay coverage, benefits for delayed or lost baggage, coverage for damage to qualified personal effects from theft or damage to your rental car, legal assistance, and more.

When you book flights with your BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard you’ll get a complimentary Mastercard Airport Experiences membership provided by LoungeKey, which gives you access to air port lounges. You’ll also get a complimentary Boingo account giving you free access to over a million Wi-Fi Hotspots around the world. 

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard also offers cardholders exclusive cash back offers when they shop with partners around the world. You’ll continue to earn Air Miles rewards anywhere in the world when you use your card to shop, dine, and unwind with their partner merchants while travelling abroad.

New BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard customers get will get Apple Music free for the first 4 months. Return customers will get 3 months free, but current cardholders are not eligible for this offer. Apple Music gives you access to 90 million songs that you can listen to across all your devices.

Available Add-ons for your BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard

Customize the card to fit your needs. The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard offer a la carte add-on’s to added security and to help you get the most of your card. There are 4 additional features you can add to your card, each for a monthly subscription fee:

  • Credit Alert costs $19.99 a month to help protect you against identity theft and fraud. You’ll get quarterly credit report summaries, an update credit score every month, alerts when there is activity on your report, and additional support.
  • BMO Roadside Assistance is $69 per year for the basic package or $98 per year for the enhanced package. You’ll get access to free emergency calls and tow truck services anywhere in North America for non-commercial passenger cars.
  • InfoProtector360 is $9.99 and protects all your personal information and important documents whether you’re home or traveling abroad. Lost Wallet Protection will cancel all your cards and offer identity fraud support. Information Protection backs up your important personal information and documents so they can be accessed from anywhere in the event of an emergency. It also monitors and sends alerts if your information is being used in the public domain. Travel Protection provides resources and alerts about your travel destinations.
  • Balance Protection costs $1 per $100 of your credit card balance. Covers your balance up to $20,000 and protects your credit in the event you are unable to work from a job loss, disability, or death.

Digital Features and Security

Use the BMO mobile app to have full control over your BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard . From the app, you can report your card lost or stolen, lock it, unlock it, and even reset your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Keep track of your spending, balance, dispute a transaction, and even get 24/7 access to your credit score through CreditView.

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard offers zero liability protection if you suffer a monetary loss from the unauthorized use of your card. Online purchases include an identity check. You’ll also get alerts on suspicious activity and large purchases.

 BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Rating

Benefits and perks.

  • 15% flight discount when you book with Air Miles
  • Air Miles can book any flight(s) in North America with no blackout periods
  • Air Miles high conversion rate when redeemed for flights
  • Earn 2X the rewards at select car rental companies
  • Earn 3X the rewards at Air Miles partner retailer
  • Double dip rewards with BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard and your Air Miles membership card
  • Stack Air Miles rewards with Mega Miles events
  • Earn additional AIR MILES points for purchases charged to Supplementary Cards
  • Free 24/7 BMO Concierge Service
  • 2 Complimentary Lounge Passes
  • 12 other insurance coverage benefits and protections
  • Discounts and exclusive offers on dining & entertainment
  • Access to over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots around the world
  • Apple Music free for 4 months
  • App with self-serve security features
  • Customize card to your needs with optional add-ons

FAQ about BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard

As a new BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard cardholder, you will receive a welcome offer of 2 000 AIR MILES points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. In addition, the $120 annual fee is waived for the first year.

All BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard holders receive complimentary membership to the Airport Experiences MasterCard program, which provides access to over 850 VIP lounges.

AIR MILES points can be redeemed in a variety of ways. If you’re a frequent traveler, you can focus on earning Dream Miles, which can be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels and car rentals. If you’re less interested in travel, you can focus on Silver Miles, which can be used for in-store purchases.

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Heidi Unrau

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TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

  • Credit cards

Head-to-Head: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite vs BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

BMO is now one of the few institutions in Canada to offer multiple credit card networks:

Both the Visa and Mastercard credit cards featured in this comparison are part of the BMO Rewards program.

Let’s take a look at the different features of the new BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card versus those of the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard .

Let’s look at the big differences between these credit cards in regards to:

Welcome bonus

Minimum income, earning points.

  • Using points
  • Travel Insurance

The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies according to promotions. However, there are differences to be aware of between the two credit cards.

When you sign up for the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card , you can earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points , plus the first year’s annual fee of $120 will be waived :

  • 40,000 points after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months
  • 30,000 points at annual renewal if you have made $25,000 in purchases with the card in the first 12 months

When you sign up for the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard , you can earn up to 100,000 BMO Rewards points as well as a $150 annual fee waiver for the first year :

  • 55,000 points after $4,500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 3,750 points per month after $2,500 in monthly purchases from the 4th to the 15th month, i.e. up to 45,000 points

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers more points, but requires much more spending. If your budget allows, this is the best card for getting a lot of BMO points.

Still, most of the welcome offer on the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is easier to obtain, with a reasonable minimum spending requirement.

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum income of:

  • $60,000 (individual)
  • $100,000 $ (combined)

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard requires a minimum income of:

  • $80,000 (individual)
  • $150,000 (combined)

Advantage: BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is more accessible than the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard (the latter now “outclassed” by the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card , which requires an individual income of $150,000 and a family income of $200,000).

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $120 (but has an annual fee waiver for the first year).

However, this card offers an annual credit of $50 , which means it only costs $70 a year!

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $150 (but has an annual fee waiver for the first year).

However, it comes with four airport lounge visits , which may justify its cost.

Both cards are free in the first year.

However, afterwards, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card costs less and comes with credit that can be used any way you like: travel, everyday purchases, etc.

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card and the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offer several levels of point accumulation.

Maximum earning level

With the new BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card , you can earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar in purchases for:

  • Food delivery

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard , you can earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on travel.

And you get 3 points for every dollar you spend on:

  • Entertainment
  • Recurring Bill payments

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is perfect for everyday purchases, with 5 points per dollar for everyday categories such as groceries, gas or local transportation.

For its part, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard will be particularly interesting if you make a lot of travel purchases: 5 points per dollar .

Basic earning level

Outside these accelerated purchase categories, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card and the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offer a basic accumulation rate.

With the new BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card , you can earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard , you can earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Both cards offer 1 point per dollar for non-category purchases. The only advantage of the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is that, unlike the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card , it is accepted at Costco.

Redeeming points

These are two credit cards with travel points that are part of the BMO Rewards program.

Here’s a chart of your different options for redeeming BMO Reward s points:

Whichever BMO credit card you choose, the best use of BMO Rewards points will be to book travel (airline ticket, hotel accommodations, car rental, etc.) through the BMO Rewards portal. 40,000 points = $285 .

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card offers a number of insurance coverages:

  • Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical Insurance: $5,000,000 and 15 days (under 64 years of age)
  • Insurance on board a common carrier: $500,000 per person
  • Vehicle Rental Insurance: up to 48 days
  • Purchase insurance: 90 days (loss, damage, theft)
  • Extended Warranty Insurance: Doubling the Warranty
  • Mobile device insurance: $1,000

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers a range of insurance options:

  • Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical Insurance: $2,000,000 for 21 days (under 65 years of age)
  • Flight Delay Insurance: $500 per person
  • Baggage Delay or Loss Insurance: $750 per person
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance: $2,500 per person
  • Trip Interruption Insurance: $2,000 per person
  • Rental Vehicle Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: Up to $200,000
  • Personal effects insurance when renting a vehicle: up to $2,000

Advantage: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best credit cards in the country for points-based travel insurance . Indeed, for most of the proposed insurances, it is enough to have paid only a part of your trip with the card. Even just the airport taxes for an Aeroplan reward ticket, for example!

In contrast, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card does not offer any travel-related insurance, apart from medical or car rental insurance.

The Benefits

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card offers a range of benefits:

  • an annual credit of $50 (per calendar year) for any purchase
  • 10% more points with an additional account holder
  • access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotels Collection

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers a range of benefits:

  • 4 complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
  • Wi-Fi Boingo access
  • accepted at Costco

On the one hand, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card comes with a $50 annual credit that you can use as you wish.

On the other hand, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers 4 airport lounge accesses, which has a higher value than $50, but is more restrictive: if you don’t use them, it’s worthless to you.

Bottom Line

So? Which card wins this duel?

It’s hard to give a definite winner. In fact, it will be up to each person to make up their own mind according to their needs.

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card stands out from the crowd:

  • the 5 points per dollar earning for regular purchases
  • the annual credit of $50

It will be more of a credit card for people who regularly earn points for everyday expenses and do not require robust travel insurance. The points can easily be used for hotel nights or car rentals, for example!

Against it, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard ® * stands out for:

  • 5 points per dollar for travel and 3 points for everyday purchase categories
  • 4 annual VIP Lounge passes
  • great insurances
  • the fact it’s accepted at Costco

This credit card is perfect for people who travel regularly and require extensive insurance.

These are 2 cards that we recommend in many of our rankings:

  • Best Credit Cards With Insurance
  • The Best Credit cards For Costco
  • The Best Mastercard Credit Cards
  • The Best Visa Credit cards

Milesopedia

  • Cartes de crédit - Comparatifs

Jean-Maximilien

All posts by Jean-Maximilien

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WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard Review 2024: Is It Worth It?

Shannon Terrell photo

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

NerdWallet Rating

NerdWallet CA

Best for: WestJet flyers.

With annual round-trip travel vouchers, free checked bags and accelerated rewards rates on dollars spent through the airline, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is a practical pick for jetsetters who frequently fly with WestJet. Learn more about how we evaluate cards .

This travel rewards card earns WestJet dollars and comes with numerous travel perks. Cardholders earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on eligible purchases with accelerated earn rates on WestJet flights or vacation packages.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

  • Get up to $450 in WestJet dollars¹ with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard. Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD³ (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
  • Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation⁴
  • Earn WestJet dollars 1.5% on everyday purchases and 2% on flights or packages with WestJet or WestJet Vacations⁸
  • WestJet dollars never expire¹⁰ Use your WestJet dollars to book flights anytime so you can travel when and where you want.
  • No blackout periods.
  • Travel coverage including emergency medical insurance²⁰ as well as trip interruption insurance²¹, hotel burglary¹⁸ and rental car insurance¹⁸. Even eligible purchases you make on the card are protected.
  • Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to and instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel¹² and always earn 20% more Petro-Points¹³ at Petro-Canada.
  • Free Boingo Wifi for Mastercard holders¹¹ at over 1 million hot spots.
  • Get $0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash^. Add your eligible RBC credit card to your DoorDash account to: Get a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription± – a value of almost $120. Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card.
  • Eligibility: This card requires a minimum personal income of $80,000 or a minimum household income of $150,000. Must also be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory of residence.
  • Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.
  • Full review
  • Customer ratings
  • Eligibility
  • How to apply

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

  • Rating methodology

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard full review

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is a travel rewards card that earns WestJet dollars. Points can be redeemed for WestJet flights or vacation packages.

Benefits of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

This co-branded WestJet Mastercard has many of the perks and features you’d expect from a travel card, like travel vouchers, free checked bags, free global Wi-Fi and travel insurance. 

Drawbacks of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard has a lot going for it. However, its high annual household income requirements could be a barrier to entry, and its rewards are limited to WestJet flights, as well as WestJet Vacation and Sunwing Vacation packages. 

Who should get the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard?

Jet-setters who frequently fly with WestJet stand to gain the most from the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. The card offers its highest earn rate on dollars spent booking WestJet flights and vacation packages. WestJet dollars can be redeemed for WestJet flights, and WestJet Vacation and Sunwing Vacation packages.

Is the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard worth it?

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard may be worthwhile for those who like to fly with WestJet, as the card’s reward redemptions are limited to travel booked through WestJet.  One WestJet dollar is worth $1 CAD, according to WestJet. So, you’d need to earn at least 119 WestJet dollars to recoup the card’s $119 annual fee. 

RBC customer ratings

  • Below average customer satisfaction: The Royal Bank of Canada ranks 8th out of 13 institutions in online banking satisfaction according to J.D. Power’s 2023 Canada Credit Card Satisfaction Study.
  • Poor Trustpilot rating: 1.2 out of 5 possible stars based on over 1,100 customer reviews, as of this writing.
  • Unfavourable Better Business Bureau rating: 1.21 out of 5 possible stars based on over 100 customer reviews, as of this writing. 

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard eligibility

Who qualifies for the westjet rbc world elite mastercard.

To qualify for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, you must:

  • Be a Canadian resident.
  • Be at least the age of majority for your province or territory.
  • Have a personal annual income of at least $80,000 or an annual household income of at least $150,000.  

Don’t meet the income requirements? You could consider cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card or the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card that have low or no income requirements but still offer travel perks and rewards. 

Approximate credit score needed for approval

Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores , which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. However, higher scores generally mean better chances of approval, and that’s true regardless of the type of credit you’re applying for. Want to learn more? Visit our “ What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card? ” page.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard rewards

Earn up to 450 WestJet dollars. 

  • Get 250 WestJet dollars when you become a WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard cardholder. 
  • Earn an additional 200 WestJet dollars by making at least $5,000 in purchases within your first three months of card membership.

Earn WestJet dollars at the following rates:

  • 2% back in WestJet dollars when you book WestJet flights or vacation packages.
  • 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on all other purchases.

WestJet dollars can be redeemed for WestJet flights or vacation packages.

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard’s welcome offer includes up to 450 WestJet dollars, worth $450, according to WestJet. 

Beyond its welcome offer, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard earns up to 2% back in WestJet dollars on eligible purchases. It also comes with a number of benefits that provide additional value, including annual round-trip travel vouchers, free checked bags, free global Wi-Fi, Petro-Canada discounts, a complimentary 12-month DoorDash subscription and more.

Plus, additional value can be squeezed from the card’s insurance protection, should it ever need to be put to use.

Point value breakdown

According to WestJet, 1 WestJet dollar is worth $1 CAD when redeemed for the base fare of eligible flights and vacation packages.

How to apply for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The application process for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard can be completed online by visiting RBC’s website: 

  • From the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard webpage, select Apply Now. 
  • Review the card’s terms and conditions. Select Continue. 
  • Enter your full name, email address, phone number, date of birth, residential address, monthly housing expenses and employment status.  
  • Review your information and submit your application.

You may also be able to fill out an application for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard in person at an RBC bank branch.

For those interested in a travel card but want to participate in a larger, more robust rewards program, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card may be worth a look. Despite offering fewer travel-related perks, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is the more accessible of the two cards thanks to its lower annual income requirement.

Reasons you might want a different card

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard may not be a practical fit if:

  • You don’t travel often.
  • You want a card that earns Aeroplan points , like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card or the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card .
  • You want a card that earns Air Miles , like the BMO Air Miles Mastercard or the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard. 
  • You want a card that earns cash back, like the Tangerine World Mastercard or the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card .

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard facts

Rating methodology.

NerdWallet Canada rates credit cards according to overall consumer value and their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation methodology  include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points.

About the Author

Shannon Terrell is a lead writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet, where she writes about credit cards and personal finance. Previously, she was a writer, editor and video host for financial…

DIVE EVEN DEEPER

23 Best Credit Cards in Canada for April 2024

23 Best Credit Cards in Canada for April 2024

NerdWallet Canada’s picks for the best credit cards include top contenders across numerous card categories. Compare these options to find the ideal card for you.

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

Interest charges don’t need to be a mystery. Use our credit card interest calculator to see how much interest you’d owe if you carry a credit card balance.

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How to Choose a Travel Credit Card

With so many cards, rewards programs and benefits available, choosing the right travel credit card can be overwhelming. However, once you’ve got one in your wallet, you can reap the rewards on your next trip.

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When Do Air Miles and Other Travel Rewards Expire?

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Mastercard announces new cardholder benefits to enhance health & wellness, travel and lifestyle rewards for consumers, small businesses 

Alo Moves and HealthLock can help provide cardholders peace of mind and elevate their well-being  

Booking.com, Lyft and ResortPass can help cardholders streamline and make most of their travel experience  

Instacart Business and MoviePass can help bring added value to cardholders’ lifestyle choices

Today, Mastercard announced new credit card benefits, working with leading health & wellness, travel, and lifestyle brands to help bridge the gap between everyday essentials and enriching experiences. New offerings with Alo Moves , Booking.com , HealthLock , Instacart Business , Lyft , MoviePass , and ResortPass bring value in areas where consumers and small businesses frequently spend, adding to the existing portfolio of meaningful rewards and benefits that Mastercard cardholders already enjoy.  

According to Mastercard research, 87% of American consumers say they look forward to redeeming their credit card rewards [1] and in fact, the prospect of rewards influences most consumers’ purchasing decisions [2]. Mastercard’s new benefits for consumers and small businesses, combined with zero liability protection, a secure global network, multiple payment options and easy transactions with millions of merchants worldwide, enhance the overall value provided to its cardholders. 

To address the demand for meaningful rewards and benefits, Mastercard has partnered with Booking.com, Lyft and ResortPass to provide unique benefits that support peace of mind and maximum value across all aspects of a trip, from where you stay, to how you get there and the experiences to enjoy while at your destination, whether you are there for work or play. Meanwhile, other new partnerships with Alo Moves, HealthLock, Instacart Business, and MoviePass can help cardholders save money and time across wellness memberships, healthcare, online shopping grocery delivery at home and work, as well as movie theater subscriptions.  

“From savvy shoppers to ambitious entrepreneurs, Mastercard provides a full complement of valuable benefits to help cardholders simplify their daily routines, fuel their passions, and enhance their lifestyles,” said Seema Chibber, executive vice president of North America Product and Engineering at Mastercard. “In today’s dynamic market, credit card rewards and benefits remain pivotal for consumers and small businesses, offering unparalleled value and financial flexibility, while driving loyalty and responsible spending.” 

Now available across eligible Mastercard consumer and small business rewards credit cards, cardholders can access, and earn new meaningful rewards and savings on their purchases, specifics include:  

  • Booking.com: Eligible Standard, World and World Elite Mastercard® consumer credit card cardholders and Mastercard BusinessCard® and World Elite Mastercard for Business® credit cardholders will receive up to 7% off pre-paid bookings of accommodations made through https://www.booking.com/mastercardUS [3]. 
  • HealthLock: All eligible consumer credit and small business Mastercard cardholders will receive complimentary access to HealthLock's Medical Claim Monitor service and a 90-day premium upgrade to HealthLock's Medical Claim Saver. After the 90- day free trial, cardholders can continue with the Medical Claim Monitor at no cost or opt-in to the premium services [4]. 
  • Lyft: Eligible World Elite Mastercard® consumer credit cardholders and World Elite Mastercard for Business® small business credit cardholders will receive 10% off all scheduled rides to the airport. Lyft will automatically apply the credit to the eligible ride [5]. 

Other new offers available to Mastercard consumer cardholders also include: 

  • Alo Moves: Eligible World Elite Mastercard® cardholders will receive 50% off Alo Moves, the award-winning, on-demand holistic wellness platform. Cardholders enrolled in the offer for Alo Moves will be eligible to receive 300 bonus points to Alo Access, Alo’s Loyalty Program [6]. 
  • MoviePass: Eligible Standard Mastercard® cardholders who are new to MoviePass will receive a 50 % discount off the first two months of a Standard or Premium MoviePass subscription plan [7].  
  • ResortPass: Eligible World Elite Mastercard® consumer credit cardholders will receive a $30 statement credit, and eligible World Mastercard consumer credit cardholders will receive a $20 statement credit, on all ResortPass bookings of $200 or more for pool, spa, and amenity access at hotels and resorts [8].  

In addition to Mastercard’s existing consumer Instacart cardholder benefit , Instacart Business is now added to the suite of benefits for small business owners. Eligible Mastercard BusinessCard® and World Elite Mastercard for Business® credit cardholders who are new to Instacart will receive a two-month free trial to Instacart+ , its premium membership service which gives customers benefits like free same-day delivery on orders over $35. Qualifying Mastercard cardholders will also get a $20 discount on their second qualifying monthly order after completing their first qualifying monthly order [9]. 

Mastercard consumer and small business cardholders will receive benefits from Mastercard’s new partnership, and continued partnerships with Instacart , Lyft , Peacock , ShopRunner and others, to help deliver the highest value from their everyday spend and protection as they shop and run their business.  

For additional information and the full terms and conditions associated with the suite of valuable offerings across the Standard Mastercard®, World Mastercard®, World Elite Mastercard®, Mastercard BusinessCard® and World Elite Mastercard for Business®, cardholders can visit www.mastercard.com/standard , www.mastercard.com/world ,  www.mastercard.com/worldelite , mastercard.us/businessoffers or call 1-800-MASTERCARD. 

Hear from our partners 

“At Alo Moves, we’re passionate about inspiring mindful movement and meditation and making these practices accessible to everyone,” said Natasha Trindall, general manager of Alo Moves. “Our exciting new partnership with Mastercard perfectly aligns with this mission by providing cardholders with exclusive benefits, like discounted Alo Moves memberships and additional loyalty program points, allowing us to empower a wider audience to embrace a holistic approach to well-being.” 

“The healthcare landscape is more complex and costly than ever, and in today's challenging economic environment, one of the most important things a person can do to protect their wallet is proactively managing their medical bills,” said Scott Speranza, CEO of HealthLock. “Even so, managing medical bills is often easier said than done, and most folks simply don't have the time or resources to play phone tag with providers or sit on hold for hours. That's why we created HealthLock, which continuously monitors members' medical claims for potential medical overbilling, errors and fraud. Through our partnership with Mastercard, consumer and small business cardholders will have access to increased privacy, control and savings when it comes to their healthcare, ultimately freeing them to focus on what matters most: their well-being.” 

“As any business owner knows, unplanned needs are inevitable. Instacart Business can give businesses that shop on Instacart a more flexible way to get the last-minute– and often, unexpected– items they need to keep things running,” said Andrew Nodes, vice president and general manager of Instacart Business and Supply Chain at Instacart. “We’re thrilled to offer eligible Mastercard business cardholders exclusive discounts on their next Instacart Business order–so if you're a coffee shop owner that runs out of oat milk halfway through the morning rush, an office manager that needs to stock up snacks and beverages when there’s an unexpected spike in office attendance or a restaurant owner and whose weekly avocado delivery from your supplier has been delayed– Mastercard and Instacart Business can help.” 

“We are excited to make it even more rewarding for riders who use eligible Mastercard cardholders to unlock the best value for all their transportation needs,” said Zach Greenberger, executive vice president, Partner Ecosystem at Lyft. “Partnerships like this one give riders one more reason to choose Lyft when getting to the airport - making the whole travel experience even more seamless than ever before.” 

“As the nation’s first theater subscription platform, we’re proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Mastercard and MoviePass by offering Mastercard customers exclusive access and substantial savings to all major movies, spanning across 99% of theaters nationwide,” said Stacy Spikes, CEO of MoviePass. “In North America alone, more than 200 million people go to the movies over one billion times a year, making movie-going the number one out-of-home entertainment activity. The partnership reinforces how much both brands understand the importance of spending time together with friends and family, and that special something that can only be experienced at the movies.” 

"Day-guesting at hotel pools and amenities is a growing way that consumers are carving out more time for wellness in their hometowns and while they travel - we salute Mastercard’s commitment to helping cardholders live better lives,” said Michael Wolf, CEO of ResortPass. 

"The collaboration with Mastercard is a great opportunity to further enhance the travel experiences of Mastercard cardholders,” said Cintia O Tavella Gomez, head of Partnerships at Booking.com. “At Booking.com, we are committed to providing seamless and memorable travel experiences and this partnership allows us to continue making it easier for everyone to experience the world in an easy and affordable way." 

[1] NAM Mastercard Insights, Consumer Benefits Study, Sept. 2023  

[2] Law Econ Center. (2023, November 17). The Credit Card Competition Act's Potential Effects on Airline Co-Branded Cards, Airlines, and Consumers. Retrieved from https://laweconcenter.org/resources/the-credit-card-competition-acts-potential-effects-on-airline-co-branded-cards-airlines-and-consumers/  

[3] Booking.com: Valid until 9/30/2025. Bookings must be prepaid and made through booking.com/mastercardUS to be eligible for this offer. To redeem, visit booking.com/mastercardUS, choose a property marked with a "Save when you pay now with your eligible Mastercard" tag, and then select "Pay Now" using an eligible Mastercard credit card at checkout. The discount will be applied automatically at the time of prepayment and will vary based on the property and dates selected. The discount applies to the accommodation cost only and does not include any additional fees or taxes. All bookings are subject to availability and Booking.com's terms and conditions. Additional eligibility restrictions, exclusions, and terms apply. 

[4] HealthLock: HealthLock is an end‑to‑end analytics‑driven platform that helps protect cardholders’ medical identities and data and monitors their medical claims for errors, fraud and overbilling. HealthLock provides three plan levels: 

  • Medical Claim Monitor: Helps guard against medical fraud and privacy intrusions by monitoring medical data breaches, providing alerts and helping remediate medical fraud issues.
  • Medical Claim Auditor: Organizes, tracks and audits all healthcare bills (24‑month retroactive audit and ongoing auditing) in one place, verifying that all bills are accurate and identifying potential overcharges and insurance errors. This level includes everything from the previous plan.
  • Medical Claim Saver: Provides access to medical bill negotiation with providers and insurance companies to potentially help reduce bills and reverse claim rejections. This level includes everything from the previous plan.

Enrolled users receive, at no cost, Medical Claim Monitor, plus a premium upgrade to Medical Claim Saver for the first 90 days. After 90 days, users will continue to receive Medical Claim Monitor at no monthly cost and have the option to continue with Medical Claim Auditor for $4.99 per month or Medical Claim Saver for $19.99 per month. See full terms here . 

All third‑party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. 

[5] Lyft : Beginning 4/1/2024 and running through 9/30/2025, subject to early termination. Lyft users who book a ride to an airport in the United States using the "Schedule a Ride" feature using their US-issued World Elite Mastercard consumer credit, World Mastercard for Business credit, or World Elite Mastercard for Business credit card will get ten percent (10%) off the Scheduled Ride’s upfront pricing as reflected at the time of booking the Scheduled Ride. Lyft Business Profiles and accounts are not eligible; only Scheduled Rides ordered in personal mode are eligible. Tips on Scheduled Rides are not included within the ten percent (10%) discount and the full ride cost must be paid for using an eligible card. Payments made using digital wallets are not eligible for this promotion. Valid only in the United States. By participating in the program, you agree to Lyft's terms. Additional terms apply, please visit https://www.lyft.com/mastercard#airports . 

[6] Alo Moves: Ends 9/30/2025, subject to early termination. Receive a 50% discount on a monthly or annual Alo Moves subscription purchased at www.alomoves.com/mastercard (the "Offer Page") using an eligible U.S. World Elite Mastercard consumer credit card. Must have or create an Alo Moves account to qualify. Offer is only valid via the Offer Page, and cannot be redeemed elsewhere including but not limited to iOS or Android applications. Alo Moves subscriptions are subject to Alo Moves’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy each available at www.alomoves.com. To cancel your Alo Moves subscription at any time, see www.alomoves.com/settings/membership. Eligible Mastercard cardholders who redeem this discounted subscription offer will receive 300 points to Alo Access, Alo Yoga’s loyalty and rewards program, if they enroll in an Alo Yoga membership account with the same email address used for their Alo Moves subscription account. Additional eligibility restrictions, exclusions, and terms apply. For full terms, see www.alomoves.com/mastercard. 

[7] MoviePass: This offer is valid from April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, subject to early termination. MoviePass customers who use an eligible U.S. Standard Mastercard credit card to purchase a new MoviePass Standard Subscription Plan or a new MoviePass Premium Subscription Plan at moviepass.com/mastercard will receive a 50% discount on the first two months of the applicable monthly subscription price. 

To subscribe to a MoviePass plan, you must create a MoviePass account and be at least eighteen (18) years of age or older and reside in the United States. By redeeming this offer, you agree to adhere to the subscription pricing and terms, cancellation procedures, and the other terms and conditions outlined in MoviePass's General Terms and Subscription Terms. This offer may be modified or terminated by MoviePass at any time. Mastercard is not the sponsor of this offer and is not responsible for providing the service. For full terms and conditions, visit [www.moviepass.com/mastercard]. 

[https://www.moviepass.com/terms] 

[https://www.moviepass.com/subscription-terms-and-conditions] 

[8] ResortPass: Ends 9/30/2025, subject to early termination. Make a booking or purchase of a gift card of $200 or more on ResortPass using your eligible World Elite Mastercard and receive a $30 statement credit. Make a booking or purchase of a gift card of $200 or more on ResortPass using your eligible World Mastercard and receive a $20 statement credit. Cannot be combined with other discounts. Statement credits may take up to 60 days to appear on your statement. Additional eligibility restrictions, exclusions, and terms apply. For full terms, see [www.resortpass.com/mastercard]. 

[9] Instacart Business: Ends 9/30/2025, subject to early termination. Add an eligible US Mastercard® small business credit card and subscribe as a new Instacart+ member to receive a free 2-month trial and a $20 Instacart coupon on your second qualifying order each month. Must have an active Instacart+ membership paid for with an eligible card and complete one qualifying Instacart order each month. By redeeming this offer, you agree to the Instacart+ terms, and if you select a paid plan, your Instacart+ membership will auto-renew and the applicable membership fee will be billed automatically to any payment method on file until you cancel. Additional terms apply, please visit instacart.com/mastercard-business.  

Instacart Business Terms: Credit back terms apply. Must be an Instacart+ member and registered business entity to receive the offer. Instacart reserves the right to request additional information for verification, and to modify or cancel this offer at any time. Offer may not be combined with other offers. 

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About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

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bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

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BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

Signup bonus:

Annual fee:, earning rate:, perks & benefits:.

The BMO AIR MILES ® † World Elite ® * Business Mastercard ® *   is the best credit card for business owners who are dedicated to the AIR MILES ® † program.

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Bonuses & Fees

Currently, the BMO AIR MILES ® † World Elite ® * Business Mastercard ® * is offering a welcome bonus of up to 3,000 AIR MILES ® † , which are awarded upon spending $5,000 in the first three months.*

The card has an annual fee of $149, which is waived for the first year. You can give the card a spin at no cost before deciding whether it’s a good long-term fit for your business needs.

The fee for adding authorized users is $50. You can add up to 22 secondary cardholders on your account.

Earning Rewards

The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Business Mastercard has a two-tier earning structure. You’ll earn:

  • 4 AIR MILES ® † for every $12 spent at participating partners*
  • 1 AIR MILE ® † for every $12 spent on all other purchases*

The base earning rate is fairly competitive for a business credit card, and is on par with the personal BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* . The 4x bonus at AIR MILES ® † partners is a nice extra bonus.

Having said that, unless you’re specifically aiming to collect AIR MILES ® † with your business expenses, there could be much more valuable points currencies towards which you could put your business spending instead.

Additionally, you’ll automatically be enrolled for offers on Mastercard® Easy Savings , good for 1–25% cash back rebates at select merchants, on top of your regular rewards.

Redeeming Rewards

AIR MILES ® † are redeemed in two categories: Cash Rewards  and  Dream Rewards . You can set your preference on the AIR MILES ® † website in any ratio (e.g., 95% Cash Rewards, 5% Dream Rewards), but keep in mind while you can change this later, the miles cannot be reallocated.

Cash Rewards can be redeemed at a rate of 95 AIR MILES ® † = $10 (10.5 cents per point) at participating merchants, including the Sobeys and Metro grocery chains.

bmo world elite mastercard travel booking

Perks & Benefits

Cardholders will get five free virtual care visits per year with Maple ,* an online health platform. Maple’s Canadian-licensed doctors can diagnose and treat many conditions, including reproductive health, mental health, and other specialties. They can also write prescriptions and sick notes for you. You can connect on-demand 24/7 or with an appointment, via text, voice, or video.

In addition, cardholders can get up to 7 cents off per litre on all Shell®± fuel*, until December 31, 2024. Eligible cardholders will receive 2 cents off per litre on regular fuel, and 7 cents off per litre on premium fuel, up to 1,000 litres per month.

Insurance Coverage

The BMO AIR MILES ® † World Elite ® * Business Mastercard ® * provides travel insurance to cardholders. There’s the usual coverage for out-of-province and out-of-country medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, lost or stolen baggage, and more.*

As far as car rentals go, this card covers up to an MSRP of $65,000.*

This card will also double the manufacturer’s warranty for purchases made with the card, up to one additional year.*

Legal Disclaimers

Terms and conditions apply.

BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

This card is available for any business, whether you run a sole proprietorship or a corporation. You may need to show various types of business registration documents and proof of income depending on the structure of your enterprise. Consider supporting Prince of Travel by applying for the card via our affiliate link below.

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    The BMO AIR MILES ® † World Elite ® * Business Mastercard ® * provides travel insurance to cardholders. There's the usual coverage for out-of-province and out-of-country medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, lost or stolen baggage, and more.*. As far as car rentals go, this card covers up to an MSRP of $65,000.*.