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American Express Travel Rewards Cards

Enjoy all the benefits, convenience and security of an American Express ®  Card – while earning points for travel when you use your Card.

Our Travel Rewards Cards

Choosing a Travel Rewards Cards

Key benefits

About eligibility

Explore our types of Cards

Cards Explained

Our Travel Rewards Cards

American express ® aeroplan ® * reserve card.

Earn up to 85,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan ®*  points 1

• $100 NEXUS◊ Card Statement Credit 2
• Earn 3X the points on eligible Air Canada ® * & Air Canada Vacations ®* purchases 4
• Earn up to $2,600 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus and card benefits! 3

American Express ® Aeroplan ® * Card

• Earn up to $900 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus and card benefits 6
• Travel lightly with an eligible free checked bag 7
• Earn 2X the points on eligible Air Canada ®*  & Air Canada Vacations ®*  purchases 8

Marriott Bonvoy ® American Express ®* Card

• Earn 5 points for every $1 in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 10
• Enjoy an Annual Free Night Award 11
• Receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status

Show more Cards

The Platinum Card ®

• Enjoy a $200 Annual Dining Credit at some of Canada's best restaurants 25
• Access to a $200 Annual Travel Credit 24
• Earn 2X the points on eligible travel, dining & food delivery purchases in Canada 23

American Express Cobalt® Card

• Earn 5X the points on eligible eats & drinks 18
• Earn 3X the points on eligible streaming subscriptions 18
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs 19

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

• Earn 2X the points on eligible travel, gas, grocery and drugstore purchases 13
• Earn 1X the points everywhere else 13
• Pay for almost anything charged to your Card with points 22

Why choose an American Express Travel Rewards Card?

If you love to travel, for business or pleasure, an American Express Travel Rewards Card is the perfect travel companion. That's because you can earn rewards points on eligible purchases charged to your credit or charge card. Rewards can be exchanged for flights, holidays or hotel bookings or, with some Cards, a combination of all three.

Front Of The Line ®29

American Express Cardmembers can purchase advanced tickets to many sought-after events before they go on sale to the general public. During the public on-sale period for many major events, Cardmembers can purchase  Front Of The Line ®21  tickets from a block of great seats reserved exclusively for American Express.

Key benefits at a glance

An American Express Card offers you:

• Travel insurance coverage
• 24/7 customer service

Emergency Card Replacement

• Front Of The Line ®21

The range of benefits and coverage varies from Card to Card, so do have a good look to see exactly what each Card has to offer.

24/7 Customer Service

Your life doesn't keep regular office hours, so neither do we. If you want us, there is always someone to speak with you, 24/7, about whatever you need big or small. Wherever you are in the world.

Lose your Card? Don't lose any sleep. If your Card is ever lost or stolen, we'll arrange to get you a new one as soon as possible. If it happens in a remote location, arrangements can be made to have a Card waiting at a point along your way.

Fraud Protection Guarantee

Use an American Express ® Card online or off, and you won't be held responsible for any fraudulent charges, as long as you've taken reasonable care to protect your account details and PIN.

Manage your account online

With Online Services from American Express, you can stay on top of your account. Check statements, set account alerts and more while you're on the go.

Eligibility

Before we can consider your application, please ensure you can say yes to the following:

You are a Canadian resident and have a Canadian credit file.

You are of the age of majority in the province or territory of the residence

Some Cards may have additional specific eligibility criteria, and you will be asked to provide employment, income and bank account information in order to submit your application.

Once you have found the Card that suits you best, make sure you read the important information, then hit the 'Apply now' button to begin the application process. At this stage, you can decide how you'd like your name to appear on your Card, and choose optional additional benefits. You can get a response from your application in 60 seconds.

Explore our Types of Cards

Travel Rewards Cards

Enjoy all the benefits, convenience and security of an American Express ®  Card - with the added bonus of earning points for travel when you use your Card.

SOME OF OUR FEATURED CARDS

Marriott Bonvoy ® American Express ® Card

Aeroplan Cards

Any place can be your happy place with the remarkable benefits, rewards, and bonus offers available with our new American Express ® Aeroplan ® * Cards.*

*Conditions apply

Cash Back Credit Cards

Get all the convenience and security of an American Express Card while earning cash back on all your eligible purchases with the card.

SimplyCash ® Card from American Express

Simplycash ® preferred card from american express.

No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Want a Credit Card that meets your needs without having to pay an annual fee?

American Express® Green Card

Credit Cards Explained

Has talk of interest, annual fees, rates and percentages left you feeling confused?

Our simple Credit and Charge Card Guides are a great place to start.

Find a type of card to suit your needs

Explore our range of Cards, you're bound to find something to suits your needs and lifestyle.

1. These offers are only available to new American Express ® Aeroplan ®* Reserve Cardmembers (‘Cardmembers’). For current or former American Express Aeroplan Reserve Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for these offers. If you receive points in error, we reserve the right to deduct them from your points balance. Offers subject to change at any time. Account must be in good standing. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Aeroplan points. All deductions for returns made on eligible purchases will be calculated at the earn rate in effect at the time of the return. This means that the points deducted from your points balance may be different from the amount originally earned. Points may be deducted if returns result in the required spend threshold not being achieved. Please allow up to 8 weeks after earning your Aeroplan points for your Aeroplan account to be updated.

60,000 Aeroplan Points

To qualify for the welcome bonus of 60,000 Aeroplan points, you must have at least $7,500 in net purchases posted to your account on or before your three (3) month anniversary date. Please allow up to eight weeks from the date the bonus points were earned for the bonus to be awarded. Offer subject to change. 

Additional 25,000 Bonus Points

To qualify for the additional 25,000 Aeroplan points in month 13 of Cardmembership, eligible American Express Aeroplan Reserve Cardmembers must have at least $2,500 in net purchases charged to your Card in month 13 of Cardmembership and subsequently posted to your account. For example, if you reach your 12 months of Cardmembership on March 31, 2025, you must have at least $2,500 in net purchases made on or after April 1, 2025, and be posted to your account no later than April 30, 2025, to be eligible for the 25,000 Aeroplan bonus points. Please allow up to eight weeks after earning your Aeroplan points for your Aeroplan account to be updated. Aeroplan points will be earned by the Basic Cardmember on the amount of purchases, less credits and adjustments. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Aeroplan points.

  2. American Express ® Aeroplan ®* Reserve Cardmembers are eligible to receive up to $100 CAD in statement credits every four (4) years for application or renewal fees for the NEXUS program when charged to an eligible Card. Cardmembers will receive statement credits for their total spend on NEXUS fees rounded down to the nearest dollar, up to a maximum of $100 CAD in cumulative statement credits, per account per four (4) year period, regardless of whether the NEXUS fees are charged on the Basic or Supplementary Card. American Express will not provide additional statement credits once the maximum of $100 CAD in cumulative statement credits have been issued for subsequent NEXUS application or renewal fees charged to the same eligible Card within the same four (4) year period even if the original application is rejected. For existing Cardmembers as of September 1, 2021, the first four (4) year period runs from September 1, 2021 until August 31, 2025. For new Cardmembers after September 1, 2021, the first four (4) year period runs from the initial Card anniversary date until the day before the fourth (4th) Card anniversary date. In either case, each subsequent four (4) year period follows the period that immediately preceded it. American Express has no control over the application and/or approval process for the NEXUS program and does not have access to any information provided to the government by the Cardmember or by the government to the Cardmember. American Express has no liability regarding the NEXUS program. The NEXUS program is run by CBSA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection independently (without administration by American Express). For additional information on the NEXUS program, please visit www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/term-eng.html. The NEXUS program is subject to change, and American Express has no control over those changes.     Please allow up to 8 weeks after the qualifying NEXUS transaction is charged to the eligible Card account for the statement credit to be posted to the Card account. American Express relies on accurate transaction data to identify eligible NEXUS purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying purchase on your eligible Card after 6-8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Cardmembers are responsible for payment of all application charges until the statement credit posts to the Card account. To be eligible for this benefit, Card account(s) must be active and not in default at the time of statement credit fulfillment.     ◊Official mark and/or trademark of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, used under license.   3. The up to $2,600 or more in value is based on the combined total value of: Current Welcome Bonus of up to 85,000 Aeroplan points redeemed for a flight(s) (up to $1,700), based on the majority of current Aeroplan Cardmembers who receive a value of $0.02/points or more when redeeming for a flight as of November 1, 2023. Redemption calculation is based on actual redemptions made by cardholders between the period of November 8, 2020 to November 1, 2023; free first checked bags for two people on a round-trip in the first year ($120); unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge TM * access in North America ($550 annually), lounge access is subject to availability; complimentary guest access to Maple Leaf Lounge in North America for one guest accompanying an eligible Cardmember on a round-trip in the first year ($50 CAD); Priority Pass TM * membership ($99 USD annually); usage of the statement credit benefit for the NEXUS Card in the first year (up to $100 available every four (4) years); Toronto Pearson Discounted Car Care estimated value based on a classic wash for a standard car of $60 CAD. $60 CAD X 15% = $9; Complimentary Valet Service at Toronto Pearson International Airport ($20); and 15% Discount on Parking at Toronto Pearson International Airport estimated value calculated based on the Daily Park rate of $38 CAD per day. $38 CAD x 15% = $5.70. The up to $2,600 or more in value does not include the Card’s annual fee.

Aeroplan points have no cash value but are redeemable under the Aeroplan program for flights and other rewards. The retail value of rewards obtained using Aeroplan points will vary depending on a range of factors including the type of reward issued, details of which may be found at  www.aircanada.ca/aeroplan . Aeroplan points may be redeemed only in accordance with the General Terms & Conditions of the Aeroplan program. Full terms and conditions of the Aeroplan Program are available online at  https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/legal/terms-and-conditions.html . All offers are contingent on satisfying the criteria outlined in the offer terms and conditions.

  4. You can earn Aeroplan points (“points”) for eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: Earn 3 points for every $1 of eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada. Earn 2 points for every $1 at restaurant, quick service restaurant, coffee shop, and drinking establishments in Canada, and delivery of food in Canada as a primary business, but not including groceries. Eligible Air Canada purchases means only those purchases made directly with Air Canada as the merchant, including Air Canada Vacations packages purchased directly from Air Canada. Air Canada purchases using your card at another merchant or service provider that sells Air Canada goods or services would not be an eligible Air Canada purchase, such as purchasing (i) Air Canada tickets from an online website other than Air Canada, through a travel agent including American Express Travel Services, or as part of a vacation package from another merchant, (ii) Air Canada gift cards, (iii) Air Canada Maple Leaf Club memberships or (iv) if you make a purchase through Air Canada with another merchant such as a hotel or car rental booking on the aircanada.com website. Earn rate of 1.25 points for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants or the merchant category is otherwise not identified. Provided your account is in good standing, points can be earned on eligible purchases less returns and other credits. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Aeroplan points.

5. These offers are only available to new American Express ® Aeroplan ®* Cardmembers (‘Cardmembers’). For current or former American Express Aeroplan Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for these offers. If you receive points in error, we reserve the right to deduct them from your points balance. Offers subject to change at any time. Account must be in good standing. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Aeroplan points. All deductions for returns made on eligible purchases will be calculated at the earn rate in effect at the time of the return. This means that the points deducted from your points balance may be different from the amount originally earned. Points may be deducted if returns result in the required spend threshold not being achieved. Please allow up to 8 weeks after earning your Aeroplan points for your Aeroplan account to be updated

Up to 30,000 Aeroplan Points

To qualify for the monthly bonus of 3,000 Aeroplan points in the first 10 months of Cardmembership, eligible American Express Aeroplan Cardmembers must have at least $1,000 in net purchases posted to their account each month by the last day of each billing period. Up to a maximum of 30,000 Aeroplan points can be earned. Purchases made during a billing period but posted after the end of that billing period will not count towards eligible spend for that month and count towards eligible spend for the next billing period. For example, if your monthly billing period is from Aug 15 to Sept 14, a purchase made on Sept 14th (transaction date) and posts on Sept 15th (posting date) will not count for eligible spend for that month and will count towards spend in the next month's billing period. If the Aug 15 to Sept 14 period was your 10th monthly billing period, then the purchase that was made on Sept 14 and posted on Sept 15 would not count toward this offer. Account must be in good standing. Please allow up to eight weeks for your bonus points to be awarded.

Additional 10,000 Bonus Points

To qualify for the additional 10,000 Aeroplan points after 14 months of Cardmembership, one (1) purchase of any amount must be charged to your Card within 14 to 17 months of Cardmembership and subsequently posted to your account. For example, if you reach your 12 months of Cardmembership on June 1, 2024, you would have to make a purchase on or after August 1, 2024, and be posted to your account no later than November 1, 2024, to be eligible for the 10,000 Aeroplan bonus points. Please allow up to eight weeks after earning your Aeroplan points for your Aeroplan account to be updated. Aeroplan points will be earned by the Basic Cardmember on the amount of purchases, less credits and adjustments. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Aeroplan points.

6.  The up to $900 or more in value is based on the combined total value of: Welcome Bonus of up to 40,000 Aeroplan points are redeemed for a flight(s) (up to $800), based on over 70% of current Aeroplan Cardmembers that receive a value of $0.02/points or more when redeeming for a flight as of February 1, 2023. Redemption calculation is based on actual redemptions made by cardholders between the period of November 8, 2020 to February 1, 2023; free first checked bags for two people on a round-trip in the first year ($120). The up to $900 or more in value does not include the Card’s annual fee.

Aeroplan points have no cash value but are redeemable under the Aeroplan program for flights and other rewards. The retail value of rewards obtained using Aeroplan points will vary depending on a range of factors including the type of reward issued, details of which may be found at www.aircanada.ca/aeroplan . Aeroplan points may be redeemed only in accordance with the General Terms & Conditions of the Aeroplan program. Full terms and conditions of the Aeroplan Program are available online at https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/legal/terms-and-conditions.html . All offers are contingent on satisfying the criteria outlined in the offer terms and conditions.   

7.  A Basic Cardmember or eligible Supplementary Cardmember, and up to eight (8) other passengers traveling on the same reservation (up to a maximum of 9 travellers), are each entitled to a free first checked bag up to 23kg/50lb. Benefit only applies when checking in with Air Canada, for a flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express brand. Benefit is not available if check-in is with another airline. If the first checked bag is already complimentary (for example, as a result of Aeroplan Elite Status or fare purchased), there is no additional checked bag benefit that will be provided. Free first checked bag benefit may not be applied retroactively, and no refunds will be issued. Service charges for additional/oversized/overweight baggage may apply. For more information on baggage restrictions, please visit www.aircanada.com/baggage.  

8. You can earn Aeroplan points (“points”) for eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: Earn 2 points for every $1 of eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada. Earn 1.5 points for every $1 of eligible purchases at restaurant, quick service restaurant, coffee shop and drinking establishments in Canada, and delivery of food in Canada as a primary business, but not including groceries. Eligible Air Canada purchases means only those purchases made directly with Air Canada as the merchant, including Air Canada Vacations packages purchased directly from Air Canada. Air Canada purchases using your card at another merchant or service provider that sells Air Canada goods or services would not be an eligible Air Canada purchase, such as purchasing (i) Air Canada tickets from an online website other than Air Canada, through a travel agent including American Express Travel Services, or as part of a vacation package from another merchant, (ii) Air Canada gift cards, (iii) Air Canada Maple Leaf Club memberships or (iv) if you make a purchase through Air Canada with another merchant such as a hotel or car rental booking on the aircanada.com website. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants or the merchant category is otherwise not identified. Provided your account is in good standing, points can be earned on eligible purchases less returns and other credits. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Aeroplan points.  

9. These offers are only available to new Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers (‘Cardmembers’). For current or former Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for these offers. If you receive points in error, we reserve the right to deduct them from your points balance. Account must be in good standing. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Marriott Bonvoy points. All deductions for returns made on eligible purchases will be calculated at the earn rate in effect at the time of the return. This means that the points deducted from your points balance may be different from the amount originally earned. Points may be deducted if returns result in the required spend threshold not being achieved. Please allow up to 8 weeks after earning your Marriott Bonvoy points for your account to be updated. To qualify for these offers, an eligible application must be received  between February 13, 2024 and May 6, 2024 American Express reserves the right to accept applications after this date but you will not be eligible for these offers. Applications received after May 6, 2024 will be eligible for the offers available at that time.

65,000 Points Offer

To qualify for the 65,000 bonus points, you must have at least $3,000 in net purchases posted to your account on or before your three (3) month anniversary date.

Points Offer on Eligible Travel & Gas

You can earn three (3) additional Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 in eligible purchases charged on your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card  at American Express retail merchants as follows:  (i) at stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada; and (ii) for non-Marriott travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, but not including local and commuter transportation, and lodging, up to a combined maximum for (i) and (ii) of 15,000 additional points on these categories in the first six (6) months of Cardmembership. This is an additional 3 points for every $1 on top of the standard earn rate of 2 points, for a total of 5 points.  Once the combined maximum is reached or after 6 months of Cardmembership, whichever comes first, you will no longer earn a total of 5 bonus points for every $1 spent on these categories, rather you will continue to earn at the standard earn rate, which is 2 points for every $1 spent on these categories.

Purchases at merchants where these categories are not their primary business such as general merchandise retailers do not qualify. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 2 points for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone, or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants, or the merchant category is otherwise not identified.

10. Account must be in good standing. You will earn five (5) Marriott Bonvoy points from American Express for every $1 of eligible purchases (less credits and returns) charged on your Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card when charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, standalone Marriott Bonvoy retail establishments, and Marriott branded online stores (including online purchases of Marriott Bonvoy gift cards), that in each case, are owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc. and its affiliates. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of two (2) points for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants or the merchant category is otherwise not identified. Points will be earned on the amount of all eligible purchases, less credits and returns. Funds advances, interest, balance transfers, Amex cheques, annual fees (if applicable), other fees, and charges for travelers cheques and foreign currencies are not purchases and do not qualify for points.  

11. Each year, 8-10 weeks after your annual reset date, you will earn an Annual Free Night Award redeemable within 1 year from issuing for an available single or double occupancy standard room at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties with a room rate of up to 35,000 points, inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes but exclusive of resort fee. Account must be in good standing. To view the full terms and conditions, visit www.marriottbonvoy.com/terms.

12. Up to 60,000 Welcome Bonus – This offer is only available to new American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers. For current or former American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for the Membership Rewards points offers available in the first 12 months of Card Membership. Account must be in good standing. Offer subject to change at any time. To qualify, you must have at least $1,000 in net purchases posted to your account by the last day of each billing period. Purchases made during a billing period but posted after the end of that billing period may not count towards eligible spend for that month. If this occurs, that purchase will count towards eligible spend for the next billing period. For example, if your monthly billing period is from Aug 15 to Sept 14, a purchase made on Sept 14th (transaction date) and posts on Sept 15th (posting date) may not count for eligible spend for that month. In this case, that purchase will count towards spend in the next month’s billing period. If the Aug 15 to Sept 14 period was your 12th monthly billing period, then the purchase made on Sept 14 and posting on Sept 15 would not count toward this offer. Please allow up to eight weeks for your bonus points to be awarded. Membership Rewards points will be earned by the Basic Cardmember on the amount of purchases, less credits and adjustments. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Membership Rewards points.

13. You can earn 2 Membership Rewards points ('points') for every $1 in eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: (i) at stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada, (ii) at stand-alone drugstores in Canada, (iii) at stand-alone grocery stores in Canada, and (iv) for travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales but not including local and commuter transportation. Purchases at merchants where gas, grocery, pharmacy and travel sales are not their primary business (including superstores, wholesale clubs, alcohol retailers and general merchandise retailers) do not qualify for the earn rate in this category. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies if the merchant code is not in an eligible category, the purchase is made using an electronic wallet or is not made directly from the provider of the good or service, e.g. through a third party or by using a mobile device (e.g. smart phone) with an attached card reader. Provided your account is in good standing, points can be earned on eligible purchases less returns and other credits. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Membership Rewards points.  

14. Points transfer ratios vary by participant and transfers can take up to 5 days. Other terms apply. Visit membershiprewards.ca for details.  

15. Membership Rewards points transfers must be made in increments of 100 points, with a minimum redemption requirement of 1,000 points for each transfer. 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Aeroplan Points. Other terms and conditions, and restrictions apply. Visit membershiprewards.ca for full Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions.  

16. Membership Rewards point transfers must be made in increments of 100 points, with a minimum redemption requirement of 1,000 points for each transfer. 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Avios. Avios are subject to British Airways Executive Club terms and conditions. For more information please visit ba.com.   

17. Up to 15,000 Welcome Bonus – This offer is only available to new American Express Cobalt Cardmembers. For current or former American Express Cobalt Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for the Membership Rewards points offers available in the first 12 months of Card Membership. Offer subject to change. To qualify for 1,250 points for each monthly billing period in your first year of Cardmembership, you must have at least $750 in net purchases posted to your account by the last day of each billing period. Purchases made during a billing period but posted after the end of that billing period may not count towards eligible spend for that month. If this occurs, that purchase will count towards eligible spend for the next billing period. For example, if your monthly billing period is from Nov 13 to Dec 12, a purchase made on Dec 12th (transaction date) and posts on Dec 13th (posting date) may not count for eligible spend for that month. In this case, that purchase will count towards spend in the next month’s billing period. If the Nov 13 to Dec 12 period was your 12th monthly billing period, then the purchase made on Dec 12 and posting on Dec 13 would not count toward this offer. Account must be in good standing. Please allow up to eight weeks for your bonus points to be awarded.

18. You can earn Membership Rewards points for eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: Earn 5 points for every $1 at (i) restaurant, quick service restaurant, coffee shop and drinking establishments in Canada, (ii) stand-alone grocery stores in Canada, (iii) delivery of food and groceries in Canada as a primary business, up to a combined maximum of $2,500 in net purchases posted to your account monthly on these categories. Once the maximum is reached, you will no longer earn at 5 points for every $1 regardless of credits, returns and adjustments. Earn 1 point for every $1 thereafter. Calculation resets to zero on the 1st of each month. Earn 3 points for every $1 on eligible streaming subscriptions at select providers in Canada. The current list of providers is available at americanexpress.ca/streaming. Purchases with merchants that are not on the list or that are on the list but bundled with another product or service or billed by a third party such as a digital platform or a cable, telecommunications or internet provider, or a car manufacturer, are not eligible. Earn 2 points for every $1 at or for (i) stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada, (ii) travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales, (iii) local commuter transportation in Canada including subway, streetcar, taxi, limousine and ride sharing services. Purchases at merchants where these categories are not their primary business such as general merchandise retailers do not qualify. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone, or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants, or the merchant category is otherwise not identified. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Membership Rewards points.

19. Point transfer ratios vary by participant and transfers can take up to 5 days. Other terms apply. Visit membershiprewards.ca for details.  

20. These offers are only available to new Platinum Card® Cardmembers (‘Cardmembers’). For current or former Platinum Card® Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for these offers. If you receive points in error, we reserve the right to deduct them from your points balance. Account must be in good standing.

Welcome Bonus - To qualify for the 70,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points, you must have at least $10,000 in net purchases posted to your account in your first three months of Cardmembership.

Fourteen-Month Bonus - To qualify for the additional 30,000 points after 14 months of Cardmembership, one (1) purchase of any amount must be charged to your Card within 14 to 17 months of Cardmembership and subsequently posted to your account. For example, if you reach your 12 months of Cardmembership on October 4, 2022, you would have to make a purchase between December 4, 2022, and no later than March 4, 2023, to be eligible for the 30,000 bonus points. Please allow up to eight weeks after earning your Membership Rewards points for your Membership Rewards account to be updated. Membership Rewards points will be earned by the Basic Cardmember on the amount of purchases, less credits and adjustments. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Membership Rewards points. Offers are subject to change at any time.

21 . Purchase must be charged in full to an American Express Card. Subject to availability and to event and ticketing terms, restrictions, verification procedures and fees. Tickets and packages may not be transferable and should not be resold. No refunds and no exchanges subject to merchant's obligations under applicable law.

   22 . Use Points for Purchases –  You can redeem Membership Rewards points for a statement credit towards an Eligible Purchase charged to an Eligible Card. All Eligible Purchases: 1,000 points = $10 statement credit. You must redeem a minimum of 1,000 points per redemption. Eligible Purchases include purchases made at American Express merchants and charged to an Eligible Card. Funds advances, fees, balance transfers, Amex cheques and charges for traveler’s cheques are not Eligible Purchases. American Express may make changes to the types of purchases that are eligible for redemption with Use Points for Purchases at any time without notice. Eligible Cards are Consumer and Small Business Cards enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Statement credits on your Card Account should not exceed the aggregate amount of the Eligible Purchase(s) on your Eligible Card. You can register for Online Services to view your Eligible Purchases and to redeem online. Only Eligible Purchases posted to your Card Account during the last 3 months, up to 150 most recent Eligible Purchases, will be displayed for redemption. If you wish to redeem points towards an Eligible Purchase within the last 12 months that is not displayed online, please contact us at the number listed on the back of your Card.

Subject to Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions. Visit membershiprewards.ca for full Terms & Conditions of the Membership Rewards program or call 1 800 668 AMEX (2639). Small Business Cardmembers, please call 1-888-721-1046.

23. You can earn Membership Rewards points (“points”) for eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: 2 points for every $1 at restaurants, quick service restaurants, coffee shops and drinking establishments in Canada; and 2 points for every $1 for travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales, but not including local and commuter transportation. Purchases at merchants where these categories are not their primary business such as food delivery services and general merchandise retailers do not qualify. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies when the merchant code is not in an eligible category, using a payment account or service of a third party, a card reader attached to a mobile phone or online retailer that sells goods of other merchants or the merchant category is otherwise not identified. Provided your account is in good standing, points can be earned on eligible purchases less returns and other credits. Interest charges, annual fees, other fees and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and do not qualify for Membership Rewards points.   24. $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit - The $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit can only be redeemed at time of booking through American Express Travel Online at americanexpress.ca/travel or by calling Platinum Card Travel Service. Travel booking must be charged to your Platinum Card. Account must be in good standing. If you choose to use the Travel Credit, it will be credited to your Card account within 2 business days. Basic Cardmember is entitled to one (1) Annual Travel Credit each year based on Cardmembership anniversary date, towards a single travel booking of $200 or more, and will appear on your billing statement as “Platinum Annual Travel Credit”. If you cancel your travel booking after redeeming the Annual Travel Credit, you will not be able to use it again in the same year. You can only use one Travel Credit per booking.

25. Enrolled Cardmembers will be eligible to receive a statement credit of $200 CAD following a single transaction of $200 CAD or more (including taxes and gratuity) at one of the eligible restaurants listed on our website at go.amex/diningcreditrestaurants at the time of the transaction. Credit is available only once per redemption period. Participating restaurants are subject to change. Spend must be in one transaction. A one-time enrolment is required for the $200 Annual Dining Credit through Amex Offers and Cardmembers will automatically be enrolled for future redemption periods and do not need to re-enroll. Each calendar year is a separate redemption period.  In 2023, however, the redemption period will be from September 26, 2023 until December 31, 2023. 

Benefit resets automatically each year on January 1 for each year this benefit is available. American Express reserves the right to modify, replace or terminate this benefit at its discretion.

Any credit not redeemed during the applicable redemption period will not roll over to the following redemption period and will expire. Your Card must be charged prior to the end of each redemption period (December 31) to be eligible for the credit within that redemption period. 

This benefit is available to Basic Platinum Cardmembers only. If you switch to a new Card product that is not eligible for this benefit, enrolment will be removed from your Card account. If you are no longer eligible for this benefit due to a change in account status, including but not limited to fraudulent flags, suspension, or cancellation, it will be removed from your account.  

Benefit only available for dine-in services. Benefit excludes purchases of gift cards and vouchers, transactions made towards deposits charged upfront by the venue, cancellation and no-show charges, take away or dine-at-home services.   

Benefit limited to the Card to which the offer is saved and only spend on this Card counts towards the benefit. Transactions made with a Supplementary Card are not eligible for the credit. 

Credit should appear on your billing statement within 5 business days from qualifying spend but may take up to 150 days from the offer end date. Credit may be reversed if your qualifying purchase is refunded or cancelled.  

†All insurance coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the respective master policies. Certain limitations, exclusions and restrictions apply. Please read your Certificates of Insurance carefully.   ®,™: Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express   ®*, TM*: For trademark ownership details see: americanexpress.ca/aeroplantrademarks    

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How Does the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Travel Credit Work?

The American Express Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card from American Express are two of the best travel cards in Canada, as they come with a bevy of travel-related perks and a hefty welcome bonus to help justify the high annual fees.

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What is the american express platinum card annual travel credit, how to use the american express platinum card annual travel credit, how to maximize the american express platinum card annual travel credit.

The American Express Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express ‘s $200 annual travel credit is exactly what it sounds like. Each year, cardholders are given a $200 credit that can be used to book flights, hotels, car rentals, or other travel through the Amex Travel portal.

Aside from being approved for the card and paying the $799 annual fee, you don’t have to do anything extra to earn the $200 travel credit. It becomes available as soon as you activate your card, and then once per year on your cardholder anniversary date.

For example, if you’re approved for the American Express Platinum Card in March 2024, you’ll have one $200 travel credit that must be used before March 2025. Then, in March 2025, you’ll have a new $200 annual travel credit available in your account, which must be used by March 2026.

The $200 annual travel credit can only be used for bookings made through Amex Travel. This means that you won’t be able to book travel on your own elsewhere, and then apply the credit against your own travel expenses retroactively.

The $200 travel credit has to be used all at once towards a single travel booking of $200 or more. This means that you won’t be able to use it if your travel booking is less than $200, and you won’t be able to spread it out over multiple bookings.

Lastly, you need to opt in to using the travel credit at the time of booking. Simply booking $200 in travel through Amex Travel isn’t enough to trigger the credit — rather, you have to specify that you want to use your $200 annual travel credit, which we’ll cover in detail below.

Once you’ve made a booking, you’ll receive $200 as a statement credit on your Platinum Card within two business days or so. This means that you’re charged the full amount of the booking first, and then you receive a separate $200 statement credit posted to your account.

On September 26, 2023, the $200 annual travel credit became available on the Business Platinum Card from American Express . This new benefit came in tandem with other changes to the cards, including increasing the annual fee.

If you’re already a Business Platinum cardholder, you’ll have access to the $200 annual travel credit on the next anniversary date that falls on or after September 26, 2023, and every year thereafter on your anniversary date.

There are two ways to use the $200 annual travel credit from the American Express Platinum Card : over the phone, or online.

If you choose to phone in to book travel and redeem your credit, make sure the Amex Travel agent knows that you’d like to make use of your $200 travel credit. You’ll also need to use your personal or business version of the Platinum Card to pay for the rest of the charges on your booking, so be sure to have it handy.

If redeeming online, you’ll have to first login to your American Express account, and then head to Amex Travel.

You can do this by clicking on the “Menu” tab after you’ve logged in, selecting “Travel”, and then “Book Travel Online”.

If you have multiple American Express cards, you’ll be prompted to select the card you’d like to use.

In order to use the $200 annual travel credit, you’ll need to choose a Platinum Card from the list. If you haven’t used the travel credit yet, it’ll indicate that it’s available on this screen, as well as its expiry date.

After selecting the Platinum Card, you can choose which type of travel you’d like to book. The options include flights, hotels, or car rentals, as well as combinations of those three in the “Bundles” tab.

Once you’ve found your desired travel booking, head to the payment screen, and then keep an eye out for the option to apply your $200 annual travel credit.

If you don’t select it as an option at this point, the credit won’t automatically be applied against your travel.

After you’ve opted to use the travel credit, you’ll still need to enter the rest of your Platinum Card information. Your card will then be charged the full amount of the booking, and the $200 credit will appear on your Platinum Card account shortly thereafter.

Even though American Express restricts the $200 annual travel credit in that it can only be used through Amex Travel, there are still ways you can make the most out of your credit, and elevate your travel.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

One of the best ways to use the $200 annual travel credit is for a hotel stay with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts , which gives you additional perks to enjoy during your stay.

You can use the $200 annual travel credit to get a free or very inexpensive night if the stay costs around $200, or you could use it to offset the cost of a more luxurious stay.

For example, a one-night stay at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel , in Hobart, Tasmania might cost around $455 (CAD).

By booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, you’ll be able to use your $200 travel credit to reduce the cost down to $255 (CAD), and you’ll also have access to a number of additional perks.

You’ll receive a $100 (USD) property credit, free breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm late check-out, and, when available, a room upgrade upon arrival and early check-in.

What’s more, if you have Marriott Bonvoy Elite status , you’ll still be able to enjoy your status benefits through hotels booked through Amex Travel, and you’ll also be credited with an elite qualifying night to work towards reaching a higher status, or retaining your status for next year.

If you have an upcoming trip planned and want to try out a luxury hotel, be sure to apply your $200 annual travel credit against the cost.

Amex Travel Amex Offers

American Express cardholders have exclusive access to Amex Offers , which are special opt-in promotions offered through your online account.

In the past, there have been specific Amex Offers available for spending on Amex Travel online.

One offer that’s popped up over the past couple of years has been a “Spend $800, Get $200” Amex Offer for bookings made through Amex Travel .

If you’ve been targeted with such an offer, you’d receive a $200 statement credit after making $800 worth of eligible prepaid hotel or car rental bookings through Amex Travel, which is separate from your $200 annual travel credit.

However, it’s also possible to stack the $200 annual travel credit with offers like this, which would effectively result in an out-of-pocket cost of $400 for $800 worth of travel.

Therefore, if you’re able to take advantage of both an Amex Travel Amex Offer and the $200 annual travel credit, you’ll end up with a significant discount on your booking.

A situation such as this can also be a great opportunity to try out a high-end property, such as the Four Seasons, Shangri-La, or Mandarin Oriental, without paying anywhere near the full price.

Offset the Annual Fee

Lastly, the $200 annual credit can be used as a way to offset the card’s annual fee.

If your plans fall through and you have to cancel a refundable travel booking, you’ll no longer have access to the travel credit.

As per the terms and conditions on the American Express Platinum Card :

If you cancel your travel booking after redeeming the Annual Travel Credit, you will not be able to use it again in the same year.

However, since you’re charged the full amount to begin with, you’ll still receive a full refund for the Amex Travel booking, even after the $200 annual travel credit has been applied to your account. 

For example, if you make a refundable hotel booking for $400, you’ll have two items post to your account: a charge for $400 (your hotel booking), and a statement credit of $200 (from your travel credit). At this point, the net cost to you is $200.

If you need to cancel the hotel booking, you’ll receive a full refund of $400, and the $200 statement credit will remain posted to your account. Therefore, if you had a $0 balance before you made the booking, you’d now have a balance of –$200, since the annual travel credit can’t be reversed.

Having to cancel a booking due to unforeseen circumstances may not be ideal; however, if it comes to that, it’s nice to know that at least your $200 credit doesn’t go to waste.

The $200 annual travel credit is a great perk that comes with every Canadian-issued American Express Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express .

Fortunately, the credit is easy to use through Amex Travel. While you’re limited to what’s available on the platform, you can use it to score a deal on a luxury hotel stay through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts , or to otherwise lower the cost of other expenses for a trip.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to stack the $200 annual travel credit with an Amex Travel Amex Offer to unlock even more value. And if your plans fall through, it’s nice to know that the statement credit will remain on your account even after your booking is refunded.

It doesn’t matter how you make use of the $200 annual travel credit — just be sure to use it up before it expires each year.

• Earn 70 ,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  30,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• Also, earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
• Also, receive an annual $200 travel credit
• Also, receive an annual  $200 dining credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $799

I won’t ever deal with Amex again after their petty and frankly pathetic actions when they cancelled their Air Miles program. Cancelled cards with one day notice but mailed that notice. Very poor customer relations..

Amex always charged me back for the $200 travel credit after I cancelled my booking in the past couple of years.

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Business Platinum Card from American Express

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Up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†

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The best travel credit cards in Canada for 2024

From points to perks, a good travel credit card can make your trip more affordable, more comfortable and even more secure.

Why trust us

MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our  advertising and trusted partners .

The best travel credit cards in Canada by category

By Keph Senett on April 2, 2024 Estimated reading time: 22 minutes

There are numerous travel credit cards in Canada to choose from, but you can get the best value by selecting one that pairs a strong earn rate for rewards along with perks like lounge access, travel credits or rebates, superior insurance coverage and the flexibility to transfer points between cards. Ultimately, choose your card based how you like to travel, your spending and credit card habits and travel perks that fit your lifestyle. To help you pick the perfect card, we’ve come up with a list of Canada’s best travel credit cards.

MoneySense insight

Brim credit cards are getting a serious downgrade. Starting May 18, the Brim Mastercard, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard will no longer offer no foreign exchange fees. Cardholders will be charged 1.5% on all foreign currency purchases (which is less than the 2.5% typically charged, but a full 1.5% more than existing cardholders are used to). If you’re searching for an alternative no-forex card, the Scotiabank Gold Amex —our runner up for the overall best travel rewards card—is a good option. Or you can check out our list of the best no-forex cards in Canada .

—Justin Dallaire, senior editor

Best overall travel rewards credit card

At a glance: With outstanding earn rates in broadly-defined, popular spending categories, the American Express Cobalt card is a travel rewards beast. Points are easy to redeem and flexible, and you can increase their value by transferring them to other travel loyalty programs. It comes with a comprehensive insurance package, so you travel carefree.

American Express Cobalt

• Annual fee: $156
• Earn rate: 5 points per $1 spent on dining and groceries; 2 points per $1 spent on transit and gas; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: You can earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
• Annual income requirement: None
• Point value: 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers
• Recommended credit score for approval: 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• At 5 points per dollar spent on eats and drinks, 3 points per dollar on streaming services, and 2 points per dollar on travel and transit, this card has some of the highest earn rates around. Plus, the high earn rate on food and groceries is capped at $2,500 per month, and no limits are applied to other categories.
• The boosted spend categories are very broadly defined so you’ll earn more points for more of your purchases. For example, “eats and drinks”  includes everything from grocery stores to coffee shops to food delivery, and everything from gas to rideshares to flights falls under “travel and transit”.
• Amex points are flexible and lucrative. Redeem points the simple way at a flat rate of 10,000 points for $10 towards any travel expense—or, if you’re a savvy points collector—boost your point values by using Amex’s Fixed Point chart or transferring points to another program like Aeroplan.
• Although American Express is accepted at tens of thousands of businesses across the country, it’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
• The annual fee is charged monthly which slightly obscures the fact that the total is $155.88 per year, a bit more than the $120 charged by some comparable cards.
• The travel insurance package lacks Trip Cancellation protection which covers you in case of a sudden illness.

Honourable mention

At a glance: With a lower annual fee and no foreign exchange fees, the Scotiabank Gold American Express gives the Amex Cobalt a run for its money. You’ll enjoy strong earn rates, easy and flexible redemptions, and one of the best travel insurance packages on the market. Frequent customers of Sobeys-affiliated stores like Safeway, FreshCo and Thriftys will especially appreciate the extra points boost on grocery purchases there.

Scotiabank Gold American Express

• Annual fee: $120 (waived for the first year)
• Earn rates: 6 points per $1 spent at Sobeys-affiliated stores; 5 points per $1 on dining, entertainment and groceries; 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and streaming; 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn up to $650 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points. Must apply by July 1, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: $12,000
• Point value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners
• Recommended credit score   for approval : 700 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• With 5 points per dollar on entertainment, restaurants, food delivery and groceries (plus an extra point at Sobeys stores).
• Redemptions are simple and super flexible–especially for travel where 10,000 points is equal to $10 in value on any airline. In fact, you can apply points for travel purchases retroactively for up to one year by applying them in your app or online. 
• There are no foreign exchange fees when you use this card to pay in a foreign currency (most cards charge 2.5% on all foreign currency purchases).
• The card’s travel insurance package is excellent and includes up to 25 days of travel emergency medical for those under the age of 65.
• Like all American Express cards, this one won’t be accepted at some retailers such as Loblaws banner stores. 
• Supplementary cards are $29 each, unlike with our winning card, the Amex Cobalt, where they’re free.
• As a fixed-rate program, Scene+ points are always valued at 1 cent per point as opposed to some dynamic programs where you can get better value during certain time periods. 
• You’ll only earn the base rate of 1 point per dollar on foreign currency transactions regardless of whether they are in a bonus category or not.

Best airline travel credit cards

For aeroplan.

At a glance: Although you could use our number one travel card, the Amex Cobalt, to transfer Amex points to Aeroplan, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite tops our list of best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for its easy redemptions and extras like the $100 Nexus fee rebate. Plus, if you frequently spend on Ubers or are a regular at Starbucks, you could stretch your rewards even further with this card.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• Annual fee: $139
• Earn rates: 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and purchases made directly through Air Canada (including vacation packages), and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Welcome bonus: You can earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card; earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.  
• Anniversary bonus: Earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of opening the account. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
• Point value: Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average
• Recommended credit score for approval : 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99 % on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• You can earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases so you advance in Aeroplan status faster. The higher you go, the better the perks, like priority boarding, discounts on flights and priority seat selection.   
• Card holders and up to eight travel companions travelling on the same reservation get their first checked bag free when your trip starts on an Air Canada flight. 
• In addition to being able to redeem for Air Canada flights, you can redeem your points on a dozen Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa and United. 
• This card has valuable extras like a $100 Nexus fee rebate every two years. 
• The included insurance package is competitive, and includes emergency medical travel coverage for longer than some competitors (21 days, or 4 days for those 65 and older).
• If you’re looking for the absolute best way to get as many Aeroplan points as you can, using the Amex Cobalt and transferring your points at a 1:1 ratio is a better option, but this is our choice for a simple, Aeroplan-specific card.
• Aeroplan is a dynamic chart-based program which means point values can fluctuate based on where and when you’re flying, so it may not be the right program for cardholders looking for simplicity. 
• This card has a slightly higher annual fee ($139) than some other cards in its category.

Best Aeroplan alternative

If you’re currently a CIBC customer, you might find the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite card to be quite comparable. It shares almost identical earn rates and many similar perks (excluding the Nexus rebate). The insurance offerings are quite similar, though the CIBC card provides $5 million in emergency medical coverage, compared to the $2 million offered by the TD card. However, it’s important to note that CIBC’s coverage is limited to 15 days (or 3 days for those 65 and older). CIBC offers a supplementary card for $50, which is $25 less than the TD card.

For WestJet 

At a glance :   With a 1.5% base rate and 2% back on WestJet flights or vacation packages, this card gives travellers a solid tool to take the sting out of the cost of airfare. Add to that competitive perks like an annual round-trip companion voucher and a free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions, and you’ve got a card WestJet flyers will want to consider.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $119
• Earn rate : 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacations packages and 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to $450 in WestJet dollars with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
• Annual income requirements : Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Point value: 1 WestJet Dollar = $1 CAD when redeemed for eligible flights or vacation packages
• Recommended credit score: None specified
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances
• Get one round-trip companion voucher to anywhere WestJet flies annually, which lets you book a companion fare at a reduced rate when you also book a full fare. Or, you can exchange the companion voucher for four airport lounge passes.
• Receive up to three $500 Status Lifts annually, which get you to the next rewards tier faster. The higher your tier, the more benefits you’ll get, like lounge access.
• The WestJet rewards program is simple, without confusing charts or blackout periods. One point equals 1 cent in savings on Westjet flights. 
• You get rewarded for your loyalty—earn 2% on WestJet flights or vacations, which is a higher earn rate for travel bookings than other cards on this list.
• When you use a round-trip companion voucher, the discount only applies to the base rate of the fare. Taxes, airport fees, and air transportation charges remain the same—and these can be quite hefty. 
• WestJet dollars are not transferable to any other airlines or airline programs.

Best no-fee travel credit card

At a glance: One of our best no-fee cards in Canada , the American Express Green Card earns you points on your everyday spending that you can redeem for statement credits, gifts, cards, merchandise or travel, and like the Cobalt, they’re transferable at a 1:1 ratio to other frequent flyer or rewards programs. This is notable because by transferring to a program like Aeroplan, you can boost the value of your points significantly. 

American Express Green Card

• Annual fee: $0
• Earn rate: 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases and 1 additional point for every $1 spent on hotel or car bookings made on americanexpress.ca.
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your card in the first three months of cardmembership.
• Points values: 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers.
• You’ll earn a flat rate of 1 point per dollar on all of your everyday spending with no spending limits, and this will be doubled for hotel or car rental bookings made through Amex Travel Online. 
• When you transfer your points to another program, like Aeroplan, you can double their value to 2 cents apiece. A 1.5% to 2% return on your spending is rare for a no-fee card.
• Amex Membership rewards like Experiences allows you to take advantage of curated dining, shopping, and entertainment events, while Front of the Line gets you advance access to tickets.
• There is no included travel insurance nor travel-related perks like lounge or Wi-Fi access with this card, but that’s not unusual for a no-fee card.
• American Express cards are accepted at tens of thousands of locations across Canada and abroad, but there are limitations–mostly in the grocery sector. In Canada, you cannot use an Amex at Costco or Loblaws banner stores.

At a glance: This no-fee travel card offers accelerated earn rates on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases, giving you lots of ways to earn points through your everyday spending. Plus, the birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your annual earnings in points. Points are worth $0.01 each when you redeem for travel, and they never expire.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

• Earn rates: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible groceries, restaurants, digital media, membership and household utility purchases ($10,000 max annual spend) and 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 bonus points ($50 in cash back value). Plus, get 4 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days.. (Not available for residents of Quebec.)
• Points values: 1 MBNA Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 24.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• This card comes with an impressive five bonus categories, giving you many opportunities to rack up points. 
• Unique birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your yearly earnings in points so you’ll get an annual boost.
• Includes $1,000 in new mobile device protection.
• The point redemption process isn’t super intuitive or flexible. You have to redeem points on MBNA’s travel portal and can’t transfer points.
• The annual cap on the bonus categories, such as groceries, is $10,000 per category. Any purchases beyond that amount will earn at the base rate of 1 point per $1 spent.
• Unlike a lot of other travel credit cards, this card doesn’t include travel insurance but that’s to be expected in a no-annual-fee card.

Best hotel credit card

At a glance : You’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy points on every purchase you make at the world’s largest hotel conglomerate, redeemable at more than 30 hotel chains (from Marriott and St. Regis to The Ritz-Carlton) in 130 countries. Get service upgrades like free Wi-Fi, spa treatments, dining experiences, or free hotel stays. Points are also transferable to around 40 other airline programs like Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

• A nnual fee:  $120
• Earn rates:  5 points per $1 at Marriott properties, 2 points per $1 everywhere else
• Welcome offer:  Earn up to 80,000 points. Offer ends May 6, 2024.
• Point value: 1 Marriott Bonvoy point = $0.0117 on average when redeemed for eligible flights or hotel stays.
• Recommended credit score for approval : 725 or higher
• Interest rates:  20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• You can treat yourself to hotel-related upgrades, services and free nights at hotels, including St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and Westin, or for other travel-related expenses like flights or car rentals. Bonvoy points are flexible—you can also use them for merchandise and experiences.
• The base rate of 2 points per dollar is quite good, but your points will really rack up when you earn 5 points per dollar spent on your Marriott hotel stays. 
• This card comes with some valuable perks like one free night’s stay at a Marriott property every year and 15 Elite Night Credits to help you achieve the next level of status.
• If you reach $30,000 in total annual spending on the card, you’ll be upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and unlock perks like room upgrades, savings on points redemptions for hotel stays and more.
• As an Amex card, this package gets you Amex benefits like Front of the Line and dining, retail and wellness experiences.
• The value of Marriott Bonvoy points can fluctuate based on a mix of factors—from the hotel you’re staying at to the time of the year—meaning maximizing points and transfer options isn’t always straightforward to newer point collectors. 
• Points are worth less for airline transfers at a 3:1 ratio, meaning you’re missing out on maximizing value for anything other than hotel bookings.
• American Express is less widely accepted than Mastercard or Visa.

Best credit card for premium perks

At a glance: The Amex Platinum gives new meaning to the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” In this case, the $799 annual fee pays for itself through a smorgasbord of incredible perks. Your travel experience will be transformed with unlimited airport lounge access, partnerships at Fine Hotel + Resorts properties, and priority treatment at Toronto Pearson Airport. The many perks—like several hundred dollars worth of annual travel and dining credits and a Nexus fee rebate—go a long way toward offsetting the price tag.

American Express Platinum

• Annual fee: $799
• Rewards: 2 points per $1 on dining and food delivery; 2 points per $1 on travel, plus 1 additional point on purchases booked through Amex Travel Online; 1 point per $1 on everything else.
• Welcome bonus: You can earn up to 100,000 rewards points ($1,000 value). Conditions apply.
• Recommended credit score: 760 or higher
• Interest rates: N/A (as a charge card, you’re required to pay off your balance in full every month)
• You’ll get a $200 travel credit each year that can be redeemed towards a travel purchase made through American Express Travel Online. Spend your additional annual $200 dining credit at select restaurants around the world, including 100 in Canada.  
• Get access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection composed of more than 1,300 lounges in over 140 countries, including American Express Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium and Delta Sky lounges. Cardholders may have unlimited free visits and companion passes at no additional cost, depending on the lounge.
• Automatically achieve the higher tier in the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel programs.
• Obtain personalized assistance through Platinum Concierge service. The concierge can make restaurant reservations, obtain tickets to special events, book services for you, and more—at no additional cost to you. 
• Because the Platinum is a charge card, high-volume spenders are not restricted by a conventional credit limit.
• Additional cards cost $250 each annually. 
• Given the annual fee, the travel medical insurance is lackluster. Whereas some cards offer 20 days or more, this card only covers you for up to 15 consecutive days and doesn’t offer any insurance to those who are 65 or older.
• Charge whatever you want to the card (there’s no credit limit), but because it’s a charge card, you’re required to pay off the balance in full every month.

Best travel credit card for students

At a glance: The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students bundles the ability to earn Aeroplan rewards with a few travel benefits and student-friendly perks to deliver a competitive package for no annual fee.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

• Earn rates: 1 point per $1 spent on gas and EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases, and 1 point per $1.50 on everything else
• Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase ($200 value).
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (21.99% in Quebec)
• You can use your points on any available Air Canada seat and there are no blackout dates. Plus, you can use your points with any of Aeroplan’s many partners such as United and Aer Lingus.
• Aeroplan points are worth a lot compared to those of other programs, and they can be redeemed for flights with multiple airlines, not just Air Canada. 
• You can often get preferred pricing so you can often book flights using fewer points and you can pay for flight rewards with a combination of points and cash.
• A free SPC membership is included, giving you access to discounts and giveaways, and you’ll save up to 10 cents off per litre when you buy gas at participating stations with Journie Rewards.
• You’ll have common carrier accident coverage, car rental collision and loss damage protection and purchase protection.
• Unlike other Aeroplan cards, you won’t earn Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases. 
• The Aeroplan points program isn’t the most intuitive to understand, especially for first-time card holders, because point values fluctuate based on a regional chart.

At a glance: The no-fee TD Rewards Visa combines the ability to earn flexible travel rewards points with other student-friendly perks like bundled banking services. Although TD Rewards points are worth less than some other loyalty programs, the earn rate is fairly generous across everyday spending categories giving you lots of opportunities to earn.

TD Rewards Visa Card

• Earn rates: 4 TD Rewards points per $1 spent on travel purchases made through Expedia for TD , 3 points per $1 on groceries and at restaurants, 2 points per $1 on recurring bill payments, and 1 point on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: You can earn a value of $50 in TD Rewards Points to use on eligible Amazon.ca purchases, plus no annual fee. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Point value: 1 TD Rewards point = $0.005 when redeemed for travel via Expedia For TD or $0.004 when redeemed through other providers and websites
• Recommended credit score: 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and 22.99% on balance transfers
• You can quadruple your points by simply booking travel through Expedia for TD, but bookings made elsewhere still earn at a rate of 1 point per dollar and there’s no limit to how many points you can earn on travel.
• In addition to travel rewards like flights or hotels, you can redeem your points for Amazon purchases, or put them towards statement credits to cover your balance. 
• You’ll enjoy student-friendly perks and discounts at partners including Amazon, Starbucks, and Uber.
• Point values are easy-to-understand: 200 points always equals $1 in travel rewards booked on Expedia. 
• The boosted spending categories for grocery and restaurants, and recurring bill payments are capped at a $5,000 annual spend so after that, you’ll earn at the 1 point per dollar base rate.
• Travel insurance isn’t included with this card, so you’d have to pay extra to cover yourself.

How we determine the best travel credit cards

Our editors apply their credit card expertise and knowledge of Canadians’ financial goals to come up with selection criteria that matches the needs of the intended cardholder. For travel credit cards, your return on spending is a key consideration, because it represents the value of the points you are earning with every purchase. We consider annual fees and eligibility criteria (for student cards), perks and insurance (for premium cards) and other factors, specific to the category. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about our selection process and about how MoneySense makes money .

Frequently asked questions

The best travel credit card will depend on your needs, travel habits and how you intend to use the card. The American Express Cobalt , for example, is our pick for the best overall travel rewards credit card because you have the ability to earn rewards at a high rate across everyday purchases. The Scotia Gold Amex is a close second, because of its high earn rates and strong insurance package.

The most common types of travel points programs are consistent or chart-based. With consistent rewards programs, the value of the points is always the same. For example, BMO Ascend World Elite users earn BMO Rewards points, for which 150 points equals $1 in travel rewards. Point values in chart-based programs depend on variables like the destination, ticket price and time of travel. Points redemption for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite are based on Aeroplan’s dynamic redemption chart. Consistent points programs are ideal if you want a simple redemption process. Chart-based programs are more complex, but potentially more valuable.

Different types of travel credit cards 

Generic travel rewards credit cards.

Some credit cards offer you the ability to earn rewards on everyday purchases and other purchase categories, which can be redeemed towards a wide variety of things, including travel. This means you are not necessarily limited to booking through certain airlines when redeeming your points on flights. You may also be able to transfer your credit card points to an airline rewards program, such as with the American Express Cobalt .

Airline rewards credit cards

Some travel credit cards offer rewards with specific airlines where your points’ redemption values may vary, such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card. When you accumulate enough points, you can book a flight or vacation package with affiliated airlines like WestJet or Air Canada. Keep in mind though that the value of your points can depend on the date of your flight and your destination. 

Hotel rewards credit cards

Hotel rewards credit cards offer you the ability to redeem your points towards a hotel stay, and to earn points when you book at affiliated hotels like Marriott or Delta, or earn perks such as room upgrades or free breakfasts when you book eligible hotel stays. If you frequently book hotels for work or travel, consider a hotel rewards credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy American Express .

Travel credit card features 

Some important features to look out for in travel credit cards, besides points value and your booking redemption options (flights, hotels, cars), include: 

• Travel insurance coverage for medical issues or trip delays. Most credit card travel insurance programs cover you up to 15 days and tend to be more limited for those over the age of 65, but there are exceptions. (Read about how to know if your credit card comes with enough travel insurance coverage .)
• Airport lounge access for free or discounted lounge passes through Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion Program, Dragon Pass and others. 
• Hotel discounts, like discounts at Marriott hotels. 

Whether the card charges you foreign transaction fees while you are abroad, on top of regular exchange rates. These fees can be as high as an added 2.5% on every purchase.

What travel points program is best?

Not all travel reward programs are created equal. So how do you choose the right one for you? 

First, it’s important to understand that travel rewards programs can be broken down into two basic types: Consistent and chart-based.

It’s worth noting that in rare cases, like the American Express Membership Rewards Program, you might get to choose to redeem points for travel based on either a consistent system or as a chart-based system.

Many of the big banks offer consistent points travel reward programs. They’re aimed at people who want to operate within a simple program that has an easy-to-understand redemption process; people who dislike complicated programs will appreciate these. Chart-based programs can be considerably more complicated—but also potentially more valuable. Since the number of points needed to redeem for a flight isn’t consistent, using the rewards chart strategically can help you stretch the value of your points and net a higher return when flying on certain routes, or even when booking premium seats or business class. These programs are more popular with personal finance enthusiasts and left-brain thinkers.

Compare travel credit cards rewards points values 

How many travel rewards points do you need for a flight , how many avion points you need for a flight.

Premium Avion cardholders need at least 15,000 points for a flight within or near your province or territory, at least 35,000 points for a flight within North America, 65,000 points for a flight to Europe and 100,000 points for other destinations around the globe. 

How many Amex points you need for a flight 

Using the American Express Fixed Points Program, you’d need at least 15,000 points for a short flight within North America, 20,000 points for a flight from a Canadian province or territory to a nearby U.S. State, 40,000 points for a longer North American route, 50,000 points for a vacation destination and at least 60,000 points for Europe or 100,000 points for other continents. 

How many Aeroplan points you need for a flight

Aeroplan’s chart system uses Miles to measure the minimum point redemptions. For shorter flights within North America, you’d need at least 6,000-22,500 points for an Economy flight, 35,000-70,000 points for North America and Atlantic zones, and so on. 

How many Scene points you need for a flight

1 point is worth 1 cent. For a $300 airline ticket, you’d need 300,000 Scene points. 

How many BMO Rewards points you need for a flight

You can redeem your points for a statement credit towards flights. 1 BMO Rewards point is worth 0.7 of a cent in travel rewards.

How many TD points you need for a flight

You need a minimum of 200 points for a redemption through Expedia for TD. 1 TD Rewards point is worth 0.5 cents in travel rewards. 

How many MBNA rewards points you need for a flight

You can redeem a minimum of 10,000 points for a $100 statement credit on travel. 

Do travel credit card points expire? 

Some travel rewards points expire after a certain period of inactivity, while others do not. For example, Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity, and Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months, while WestJet dollars generally do not expire, unless they were earned during certain promotions or other circumstances. To avoid having your points expire, you can book hotels with your points, buy products through the loyalty program’s store, transfer points from another program or to a family member, in some cases, and more.

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More of Canada’s best credit cards :

• Best credit cards in Canada
• Best rewards credit cards
• Best cash back credit cards
• Best no fee credit cards
• Best low interest credit cards
• Best balance transfer credit cards
• Best student credit cards

Table of contents

• Compare travel cards at a glance
• Best travel cards by category
• About travel cards
• Also read: Best cash back cards

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About Keph Senett

The best travel credit cards in Canada

The options may differ from those in the United States, but Canadians with wanderlust have no shortage of rewards-earning credit cards. Whether you're looking for cash back, nearly-free flights or hotel stays, there are credit cards that can help you accomplish your travel goals.

There are other options to consider as well. Are you looking for a card with no annual fee or are you willing to pay a fee to get premium perks like lounge access at airports?

The best travel credit cards — in Canada or anywhere else — should come with a welcome bonus after completing a spending requirement and should offer benefits that justify keeping that card in your wallet year after year. Let's look at the best options for Canadians and highlight what we like about each of these cards.

Comparing the best travel credit cards in Canada

Before getting into the details of each card, below is a summary of the cards we think are worth considering. Here's an overview of the cards' key perks, annual fees and potential earnings:

^ The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. # The figures in the table above and in the discussions below are quoted in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Details on the best travel credit cards in Canada

American express cobalt card.

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 30,000 bonus points during your first year as a cardmember by earning 2,500 bonus points for each billing period in which you spend $500 or more on purchases.

Annual fee: No annual fee but a monthly fee of $12.99.

Why we like it: Cardmembers can earn valuable Membership Rewards points , which can be redeemed with airline programs like Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue and hotel programs Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, you can access several American Express benefits like Amex Offers and The Hotel Collection without the higher fees attached to premium credit cards.

American Express Aeroplan Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 50,000 bonus Aeroplan points. Earn 35,000 points after spending $3,000 or more on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. Plus, earn 2,5000 bonus points for each billing period in which you spend $500 or more on purchases during the first six months of cardmembership.

Annual fee: $120.

Why we like it: A free checked bag for 10 people (you and up to nine companions) could easily cost more than $120, so using this perk once a year could easily justify the annual fee. Additionally, those pursuing Aeroplan elite status can accelerate through progress by spending on the Amex Aeroplan card. Cardmembers also get access to valuable American Express perks.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 85,000 bonus Aeroplan points. Cardmembers can earn 55,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. Plus, earn 5,000 bonus points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 or more on purchases during the first six months of cardmembership.

Annual fee: $599.

Why we like it: Those looking for premium perks with Air Canada can find them in the Amex Aeroplan Reserve card. Benefits like lounge access, priority check-in and priority boarding are complemented by reimbursement for application and renewal fees to Nexus. There are additional perks with the Rocky Mountaineer, such as bonus earning rates, seat upgrades and even room upgrades on train packages that include a hotel. There's also the ability to earn a companion pass for someone to join you on an economy ticket flying with Air Canada or its subsidiaries, but you'll need to spend $25,000 on your card to earn this benefit.

BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn 2,000 bonus Air Miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, the annual fee will be waived during the first year. This offer ends July 31, 2023.

Why we like it: Those looking for a card with a moderate annual fee and points that can be redeemed in myriad ways have found that combination in the BMO Air Miles card. Plus, if you apply before July 31, 2023, the annual fee on your card will be waived during the first year.

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points. Get 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases during the first three months after account opening. Also, earn 2,500 bonus points during each month in which you make at least $2,000 in purchases on your card — valid for 12 months after the introductory three-month period.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $150.

Why we like it: Earning rates are strong, offering 5 points per dollar on a broad travel category and 3 points per dollar on dining, entertainment and recurring bill payments — categories in which many people spend regularly. Additionally, there are premium insurance perks to help in case something goes wrong during your trip, and you'll also get four free visits per year to airline lounges. The points your earn are flexible, allowing you to redeem points against a wide range of travel purchases or redeem your points for a deposit into a BMO savings or investment account.

BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Get up to 10% cash back in your first three months from account opening and a waived annual fee during the first year. The 10% back rate applies to the following limits: $500 on groceries, $300 on transit, $300 on gas and EV charging, $500 on recurring bill payments and up to $1,000 on other purchases. This offer ends July 31, 2023.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $120.

Why we like it: Not everything can be paid for with frequent flyer miles; using a cash-back rewards card can help you offset purchases where you can pay with points and miles. With an annual fee waived during the first year and strong earning rates in common spending categories, this can be a great card to round out your earning and your redeeming.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points and enjoyed a waived annual fee during the first year. Get 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Receive an additional 2,500 bonus points for each subsequent month in which you make at least $2,000 in purchases — valid for the next 12 months.

Why we like it: Earning 5 points per dollar on groceries, gas transit, dining out and ordering in is quite the combination. But you can boost your earnings to 5.5 points per dollar by adding an authorized user to your account. Bonus earning rates will apply to purchases made by both the primary account holder and the authorized user, meaning your rewards pile up even faster.

Business Platinum Card from American Express

Current welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.

Annual fee: $499.

Why we like it: The Canadian version of the Amex Business Platinum Card offers numerous perks and is one of the best travel credit cards in Canada regarding business spending and business travel. Along with access to numerous airport lounges, you'll get elite status with rental car programs and Marriott Bonvoy for hotel stays as well as premium travel perks at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) . That's on top of the card having no preset spending limit, meaning it adapts to your purchasing and payment behaviors, which can be great for businesses that spend a lot of money on the card.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus Aeroplan points after making your first purchase on the card.

Annual fee: $0.

Why we like it: There's no annual fee, but cardholders earn rewards with Canada's biggest airline loyalty program. Other perks include access to award flight deals exclusive to Aeroplan credit card holders and discounts on gas, which can be extremely valuable for those who spend a lot on fuel.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 80,000 bonus Aventura points during the first year. Get 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first four monthly billing periods. Get an additional 30,000 bonus points as an account anniversary bonus for keeping your account open the second year.

Why we like it: Those looking for flexible travel perks have a quality combination of these benefits in the CIBC Aventure Visa Infinite card. The $499 annual fee is offset by $200 in travel credits available each year, up to $100 in Nexus fee credits available every four years and six complimentary airport lounge visits per year. Other perks include savings on gas purchases and discounts on rental cars; these perks can be extremely valuable for those who use them often to save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. Plus, you earn Aventura points, which you can use on flights for free (or heavily discounted) travel.

CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card

Current welcome offer: Get up to 10,000 bonus Aventura points. Earn 7,500 bonus points after your purchase and another 2,500 points after completing five activities within 60 days of account opening: Share your email address with CIBC, sign up for electronic statements, add an authorized user to your account, have a CIBC checking account and add your card to an eligible mobile wallet.

Annual fee: $35.

Why we like it: Canadians who frequently travel to the U.S. or shop with U.S. retailers will love a card that avoids currency conversion and foreign exchange fees on purchases. There is a modest welcome bonus and a modest annual fee starting in the second year for the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura card. Plus, Aventura points can be used to pay for flights and can be moved between your Aventura-earning accounts to allow you to add up to the points needed for your next redemption.

HSBC World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 80,000 bonus points plus an annual fee rebate during the first year. Receive 20,000 bonus points on account opening and another 40,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within 180 days of account opening. Receive another 20,000 bonus points on your account anniversary.

There is a different offer for Quebec residents: Earn up to 110,000 bonus points during the first year. Receive 20,000 bonus points on account opening and another 70,000 bonus points after you keep your account open and active for 180 days. Then, receive another 20,000 points on your account anniversary.

Annual fee: $149.

Why we like it: Points are worth 0.5 cents each and can be redeemed against any travel purchases on your card, providing great flexibility. The annual $100 travel credit provides value against incidental expenses during your trip, and the anniversary bonus points are worth $100. These benefits easily provide positive value over the annual fee on the card.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.

Why we like it: Marriott Bonvoy. has a global footprint, so earning points with this hotel program can help you earn free nights at hotels on your next trip. It should be easy to get more than $120 in value from your annual free night award (worth up to 35,000 points), plus the card has built-in perks to help you reach higher status tiers with Marriott Bonvoy if you want additional perks during hotel stays.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn 5,000 bonus points after spending $500 or more on purchases during the first 90 days from account opening and another 5,000 points after enrolling for paperless statements within 90 days of account opening.

Plus, earn up to 10,000 additional bonus points by receiving 4 points per dollar on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during your first year. This is limited to the first $10,000 of combined purchases in these categories during the first 90 days from account opening, then 2 points per dollar.

Why we like it: The MBNA Rewards Platinum card has no annual fee but provides discounts on car rentals. If you rent cars often, it could be worth holding this card just for that perk and for the anniversary bonus points each year.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points in the first year. Receive 30,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within three months of account opening and another 10,000 points if you sign up for Mastercard credit card payment insurance for a minimum of three months. Receive another 20,000 bonus points on your first account anniversary if you spend at least $12,000 on purchases during the first 12 months from account opening. This offer ends Jan. 13, 2023.

Why we like it: The National Bank World Elite Mastercard provides up to $150 in annual travel credits, which is the same dollar amount as the annual fee. That means all other perks and points provide positive value, such as lounge access, points on purchases and the welcome offer during the first year.

RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

Current welcome offer: Receive up to 60,000 bonus Avios during your first year. Get 15,000 Avios on account approval and another 35,000 bonus Avios after spending $6,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Receive another 10,000 Avios on your account anniversary. This offer ends Feb. 28, 2023.

Annual fee: $165.

Why we like it: The earning structure on this card isn't great, but the companion award can provide incredible value when redeeming Avios and bringing a companion along with you. You'll pay the taxes and fees on this ticket (which can be hefty), but you won't pay any Avios for this person to join you. This is valid on British Airways flights only and can provide serious value in business or first class.

RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum

Current welcome offer: Receive up to 40,000 bonus Asia Miles. Get 15,000 bonus miles on account opening and another 25,000 miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.

Why we like it: This is the only credit card in Canada that earns Asia Miles directly. Asia Miles (the rewards program of Cathay Pacific) has some incredible sweet spots for redemptions with its Oneworld alliance partners. The RBC Cathay Pacific card comes with a moderate annual fee and perks that can save you money on gas and food delivery while earning Asia Miles on purchases.

Rogers World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn a $25 bonus after making your first purchase within three months of account opening.

Why we like it: For a card with no annual fee, the Rogers World Elite Mastercard provides numerous shopping and travel protections. If you don't have these on another credit card, putting purchases on this card to protect your belongings and your vacations could be a smart move — especially since it costs you nothing to keep this card in your wallet.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points during the first year. Receive 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Receive another 20,000 bonus points after spending $7,500 on purchases during the first year from account opening. This offer ends April 30, 2023.

Why we like it: The Scotiabank Gold Amex has a quality earning structure, earning up to a 6% return on grocery purchases and 5% return on entertainment. Points can be redeemed for past travel purchases up to a year after the fact or to pay for travel bookings in the rewards center, and there are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside Canada.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first year. Get 30,000 bonus points by making at least $1,000 in purchases within three months of account opening. Receive another 10,000 bonus points on your account anniversary after spending $40,000 on purchases during the year. This offer ends April 30, 2023.

Annual fee: $150.

Why we like it: The earning structure isn't overly exciting, but the $150 annual fee can be offset easily by the value received from six complimentary lounge visits and car rental privileges. If you use these frequently, finding value in the Scotiabank Passport Visa can be easy. Those who don't rent cars often may struggle to justify the $150 annual fee.

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 70,000 bonus Scene+ points. Receive 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Earn another 20,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases within 14 months of account opening. This offer ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Annual fee: $399.

Why we like it: The Scotiabank Platinum Amex offers great travel benefits without needing to track bonus categories on spending. You'll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and not needing to track rewards programs is a bonus for people who want simplicity from their credit cards.

TD Business Travel Visa Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus TD Rewards Points and up to $247 in annual fee rebates. Receive 30,000 points after your first purchase and another 60,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Earn 5,000 bonus points each month in which you spend $2,500 on purchases — valid for the first 12 months from account opening. Also receive an annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder and up to two additional cardholders during the first year. This offer ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Why we like it: Cardholders can redeem points against travel purchases or for bookings with Expedia for TD or redeem points as a statement credit, providing flexibility after earning points in some interesting bonus categories. For businesses with travel expenses or purchasing goods in other currencies, this card can help you rack up many points.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 145,000 bonus TD Rewards points plus waived annual fees during the first year. Get 20,000 bonus points after making your first purchase within three months of account opening and another 115,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within 180 days of account opening. Receive a birthday bonus of up to 10,000 bonus points (equal to 10% of the points earned in the previous year, up to 10,000 points maximum). This offer ends May 28, 2023.

Annual fee: $139.

Why we like it: The TD First Class Visa offers a wide range of travel protections to help if you encounter problems during a trip, so making travel purchases on this card could be a smart idea. The card has a robust earning structure, car rental discounts and easy paths to offset the annual fee through travel credits and birthday bonus points.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 105,000 Aeroplan points during the first year. Get 20,000 points after making your first purchase within 90 days of account opening. Receive another 30,000 points after spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. Plus, receive 55,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 within 12 months of account opening. This offer ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Why we like it: Regular flyers with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners who want premium perks during their trips will find them in the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card. You'll get access to Maple Leaf lounges, priority benefits at the airport to help you avoid lines and reimbursement for Nexus application fees. Plus, you can earn a companion fare after spending $25,000 on purchases during your cardmember account year. This perk can be extremely valuable when bringing a companion on a flight for just $99 plus taxes and fees.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 55,000 bonus Aeroplan points. Get 10,000 points after making your first purchase within 90 days of account opening and another 20,000 points after spending $1,500 on purchases within 90 days of account opening. Earn another 20,000 bonus points after spending $7,500 on purchases within 12 months of account opening. Plus, enjoy no annual fee during the first year. This offer ends Jan. 4, 2023.

Why we like it: Avoiding checked baggage fees is a key perk for travelers, and you'll find that on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. There's a modest annual fee of $139, but you may save more than that on checked bag fees for you and your companions each year. You can also receive reimbursement for your Nexus application fee, providing further value.

The Platinum Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Earn another 20,000 bonus points after making a purchase between 14 and 17 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $699.

Why we like it: Those looking for a premium travel experience should look no further. The Canadian version of The Platinum Card is easily one of the best travel credit cards in Canada for its many benefits. They includes lounge access, Nexus fee reimbursement, up to $200 in travel credits and elite status with three different hotel programs. You'll also earn Membership Rewards points, which you can use with multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs .

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business

Current welcome offer: Receive 25,000 bonus points automatically on your first billing statement.

Annual fee: $175.

Why we like it: Points can be redeemed at a flat rate of 1 cent per point to pay for purchases, so you never have to worry about whether you're getting good value on your redemptions. Redeem points for statement credit, pay for in-store purchases or pay for travel. You can attain even better value by transferring points to WestJet Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club and Asia Miles since these transfers are available through the Avion Elite status offered to cardholders. Transfers are at a 1-to-1 ratio, except for American Airlines; this transfer has a 1-to-0.7 transfer ratio.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Get 250 WestJet dollars after your first purchase and another 200 WestJet dollars after spending $5,000 on purchases and setting up pre-authorized bill payment transactions within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $119.

Why we like it: This is a great card for fans of Canada's second-largest airline. The companion pass can provide great savings, depending on how you use it. Plus, the free Wi-Fi benefit from Boingo can provide savings to those who use public Wi-Fi and need to use more than their free allowance.

Bottom line

Whether you're looking for a card with premium perks or no annual fee, there should be something for everyone as you review the top travel credit cards in Canada.

From the chart above and the reasons why we like each of these cards, look for cards that offer the benefits you want while charging an annual fee acceptable to you. It's also worth looking for cards that earn bonus points or extra cash back in categories where you spend regularly. Once you find a card (or cards) to match your travel style, travel goals and spending habits, read the details before applying.

Also, ensure you understand how to earn the welcome bonus since you don't want to lose out on that.

Additional reporting by Nancy Carr.

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American Express Green Card Review 2024: Is It Worth It?

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.

NerdWallet Rating

NerdWallet CA

Best for those seeking a no-fee card with flexible rewards points.

If you want a card without an annual fee and want to earn rewards points with flexible redemption options, the American Express Green Card may be a practical fit. Learn more about our star rating methodology.

American Express® Green Card

• Annual Fee $0
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 21.99% 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Points 2x on eligible hotel and car rental bookings, and 1x on all other eligible purchases.
• Intro Offer 10,000 Points Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,000 in the first three months. New cardmembers only.
• Get the Card that lets you live in the moment while getting ready for the future.
• The American Express® Green Card lets you go for it with every swipe or tap of your Card.
• As a new American Express® Green Cardmember, you can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards® points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. That’s $100 towards groceries or concert tickets.
• Earn 1x the points on Card purchases.
• Charge an eligible purchase to your Card and redeem your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit (All eligible purchases: 1,000 points = $10 statement credit).
• With American Express Experiences and Front Of The Line®, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada.
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs.
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.
• Full review
• Customer ratings
• Eligibility
• How to apply
• Amex Green Card vs Amex SimplyCash Card
• Rating methodology

American Express Green Card full review

The American Express Green Card is a no-fee credit card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points. Cardholders earn one reward point for each $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases. 

Benefits of the American Express Green Card

The Amex Green Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points and has no annual fee. It includes access to the American Express Experiences program, which offers opportunities to enjoy advanced film screenings, food festivals, private shopping experiences and more. It also comes with extended warranty and purchase protection coverage.  

Drawbacks of the American Express Green Card

The American Express Green Card doesn’t offer accelerated rates for categories like grocery store or travel spending, so it may take longer to accumulate points. Additionally, its insurance coverage is limited — it lacks travel, mobile device and rental car protection. 

Who should get the American Express Green Card?

The Amex Green Card earns one American Express Membership Rewards point for each $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases. There are no accelerated earn rates for categories like grocery store or travel spending. This means the Amex Green Card is well-suited to those who plan to use their card for everyday spending.

Is the American Express Green Card worth it?

Whether the Amex Green Card makes sense for you depends on your spending habits. You don’t need to worry about recouping the cost of an annual fee, but you’ll want to consider the card’s earn rates and rewards to make sure it’s a practical fit for your lifestyle.

American Express customer satisfaction ratings

• First in customer satisfaction: American Express ranks first in customer satisfaction with credit card issuers, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 Canada Credit Card Satisfaction Study.
• Poor Trustpilot rating: 1.5 out of 5 possible stars based on more than 3,800 customer reviews at the time of this writing.
• Poor Better Business Bureau rating: 1.08 out of a possible 5 stars, according to more than 400 customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau website, at the time of this writing. 

Amex Green Card eligibility

Who qualifies for the american express green card.

To qualify for the American Express Green Card, you must be:

• A Canadian resident.
• At least the age of majority for your province or territory.

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. What we do know is that higher scores have better chances of approval — that’s true no matter what type of credit you’re applying for.

Want to learn more? Visit our “ What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card? ” page.

American Express Green Card rewards

The Amex Green Card’s introductory offer includes up to 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when new cardholders spend at least $1,000 in their first three months of card membership (limited time offer, terms and conditions apply).

Earn one American Express Membership Rewards point for each $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases. Plus, earn one additional Amex Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on eligible hotel and car rental bookings booked through the Amex travel portal.

The total value of the Amex Green Card’s welcome offer depends on how you redeem the 10,000 points. Amex suggests it is worth $100, which is the minimum value when redeemed through statement credits.

The American Express Green Card has additional benefits that deliver value. For example, the card comes with extended warranty and purchase protection insurance that could be worth thousands should you ever need it.

Point value breakdown

The value of an American Express Membership Rewards point varies on the redemption method you choose, but you can expect to get around 0.7-2 cents per point, according to NerdWallet analysis. 

• Up to 2 cents per point for flights, fine hotels and resorts booked via the American Express Fixed Points Travel Program. 
• 1 cent per point for statement credits. 
• About 0.8 cents per point for gift cards. 
• About 0.7 cents per point for shopping with merchant partners.

How to apply for the Amex Green Card

You can complete the application for the Amex Green Card from the American Express website:

• Select the Apply Now button from the American Express Green Card page on the American Express website.
• Review the card’s terms and conditions and select Agree and Begin to continue. 
• Enter your personal details, including your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address and postal code.
• Tell American Express about your finances, including your annual personal income, household income and employment details. 
• Choose a four-digit PIN.
• Review the information you’ve supplied and submit your application. 

American Express Green Card vs American Express SimplyCash Card

If you are interested in a no-fee American Express credit card that earns rewards but favour cash back over points, you might consider the Amex SimplyCash Card. Here’s how it compares with the American Express Green Card.

Reasons you might want a different card

The Amex Green Card earns American Express Membership Rewards Points and offers numerous perks — all without an annual fee. But there are a couple of circumstances where it won’t be a practical fit: 

• You’d prefer a card that delivers a higher rate of rewards on your most frequent expenses, like groceries, gas or travel.
• You’d prefer a card with more robust insurance coverage.
• You’d prefer to earn a different reward, like cash back or travel miles. 

American Express Green Card 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.

Frequently asked questions about the American Express Green Card

The American Express Green Card is a credit card. Purchases are made using borrowed funds, and any balance unpaid by the billing date is charged interest.

No, the American Express Green Card is made with 99% recycled plastic.

About the Authors

Georgia Rose is a lead writer on the international team at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Independent and The Associated…

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…

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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.

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.

Best American Express Cards in Canada

Among the best Amex credit cards in Canada are options for travel, cash back, business and more. Cardholders can earn Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy and American Express Membership Rewards points.

How to Activate an American Express Card

You can activate your American Express card online, via the American Express app or over the phone. Activation is required before you can use an Amex card.

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Travel Hacking & Amex Card Insights For Canada

The $200 American Express Travel Credit in Canada: A Beginner’s Guide

Amex Cards Canada , Amex Cards Canada Guide / November 26, 2018 by Britt / Leave a Comment

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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, I may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Your support helps keep PointsWise running. Thank you!

How To Get The $200 American Express Travel Credit

When you apply and get approved for the American Express Platinum Canada Card, you’ll receive an annual $200 travel credit. The American Express Platinum Card is arguably one of the top travel rewards credit cards in Canada .

You can use your travel credit towards a single booking over $200 through:

American Express Travel : American Express’s travel booking portal, similar to Expedia and other travel websites.

American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts : Also a travel booking portal, but features select luxury hotels from around the world that American Express has partnered with. These hotels give cardholders extra benefits such as property credits, early/late check in/out, and daily breakfast when they book using their American Express Platinum personal or business card.

Here’s What You Can Use Your Travel Credit Towards:

• Car Rentals
• Vacation Packages

Be Aware of Recent Changes To The Amex Platinum Travel Credit

There have been some recent changes as to how American Express issues the annual travel credit. Previously, American Express issued travel credits once every calendar year which was a lucrative opportunity for credit card churners.

The loophole was to apply for the Platinum card late in the year and receive the first $200 travel credit and then wait for the next $200 travel credit to be issued in January the following year.

After receiving $400 in travel credits and meeting the minimum spend requirements to earn 60,000 bonus points, credit card churners would then cancel the card. That was quite an excellent investment for a $299 annual fee (factoring in the $400 in total travel credits after paying an initial $699 annual fee.)

American Express has tightened things up regarding this travel benefit, and now travel credits are issued on the anniversary date of when you applied for your card as opposed to the beginning of the calendar year.

$200 Amex Platinum Travel Credit Tips For Success

1. the credit is only applicable for single bookings over $200.

In order to use your $200 travel credit, you must make a single travel booking through American Express Travel worth at least $200. The credit can only be applied one time, and for the full amount.

2. Your Travel Credit Will Post in 1-2 Business Days

You will be charged the full amount at the time of booking, but within 2 business days, the $200 travel credit will be applied to your statement.

3. You Can Combine Your American Express Membership Reward Points

When you use your travel credit, you’ll also see an option to use points to pay for your booking. For the best point redemptions, you’re better off transferring your points to participating airline and hotel transfer partners, however, the option is there to use your American Express Membership Rewards in combination with your travel credit.

4. You’ll Still Earn Airline Miles/Points

If you’re booking a flight, you’ll still get your points/miles awarded just like you would if you booked through any other website such as Expedia. If you’re looking at booking a hotel though, that’s a different story. Read on.

5. You Can Book Travel as a Gift

Although you can’t directly transfer your travel credit to friends or family, you can, however, book the travel under your name and add that person to the reservation. This is useful if you’re planning on booking travel for someone as a gift.

6. No Search Results? Call American Express Concierge To Book

You may find that when you use American Express Travel to find a hotel, it might not show up. Don’t worry if the hotel you had in mind isn’t listed in the search results.

You’ll simply need to call American Express Concierge and tell them where you’d like to stay and they can make the booking for you using their “alternate reservation system”.

Call Platinum Card Travel Service at 1-800-263-1616 (press 2).

Cautions With Using The Platinum Travel Credit

1. your hotel loyalty status might not be honoured.

If you’re booking a hotel stay through American Express Travel, your hotel loyalty status will not be recognized.

Because American Express Travel , is considered a third party booking, your loyalty status will not be honoured. You may want to consider staying at a hotel where you’re not concerned about loyalty perks, or one partnered with American Express FHR in this case.

You can always email or call the hotel after you’ve booked and tell them to apply your loyalty membership number to the reservation. It’s worth a shot to ask and see if they’ll make an exception and give you your perks, but don’t expect it.

However, if you book your hotel using American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts , your loyalty status will be honoured.

2. There’s No Cancellation Policy With The Travel Credit

If you cancel your travel booking after redeeming the annual travel credit, you will NOT be able to use it again in the same year! This is a hefty penalty for cancelling a booking, so make sure you can commit to your travel plans. The travel credit should never be used for speculative travel.

Direct from American Express terms and conditions:

“If you cancel your travel booking after redeeming the Annual Travel Credit, you will not be able to use it again in the same calendar year.”

3. Travel Credits Don’t Carry Over

Your travel credit will expire on the anniversary date of your card, so you’ll need to make sure you use it each year, as they can’t be carried over, or combined.

How I Used My $200 American Express Travel Credit

This year I decided to use my Platinum travel credit towards a one night stay at the Watermark Beach Hotel Resort in Osoyoos, BC . Osoyoos is located in the Okanagan, a desert climate and is the heart of wine country .

The Watermark is a lakefront property on Osoyoos Lake, (Canada’s warmest lake on record!) and offers incredible value in the winter offseason months. Prices at this hotel skyrocket in the summer months, however, and I believe they are already booked solid for summer 2019.

We were able to score a great room for $243 taxes included:

• 836 sq ft suite
• 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms
• Large balcony
• A very pet-friendly room with no pet restrictions

So after the $200 travel credit was applied, we paid just $43 CAD plus a $25 pet fee for 3 large dogs.

That’s an exceptional value that simply doesn’t exist in Vancouver, which is why we decided to head east for a scenic 3-hour road trip for my 32nd birthday.

I had my heart set on the Watermark from the start but was a little panicked when I searched for it on American Express Travel and no results were found. This is a popular hotel relative to its location, so I wasn’t sure why it wouldn’t be available. Not giving up, I decided to call American Express Travel and they had to use their “alternative booking system” to make the booking. Don’t get me started about how inefficient this is, but if you run into the same problem where the hotel you’d like to book isn’t available on the website, just call Platinum Card Travel Services and they will make the booking for you.

In the next post, I’ll walk you through step by step how to redeem your travel credit, and we’ll also recap our trip with a review of the Watermark, so stay tuned!

Apply Now For The American Express Platinum Card Canada

You can get your own $200 travel credit on approval with the American Express Platinum Canada Card . You’ll also earn welcome bonus points.

How To Redeem Your $200 Travel Credit

Now that you’ve learned the basics about the American Express travel credit in Canada, you’ll probably want to make some travel goals and learn exactly how step by step to redeem the Platinum travel credit .

How do you plan to use your $200 American Express travel credit?

About Britt Phoenix

She loves using points for hotels and exploring the beautiful forests of west coast BC. From rustic cabins, to five star hotels, Britt is always ready for the next adventure.

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Featured Card: Amex Cobalt

Read the Amex Cobalt Review

Amex Cobalt Tips & Tricks

• Welcome Bonus: up to 15000 Amex points
• Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99/mo)
• Rewards: Earn 5x points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.

Amex Card Reviews

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• Marriott Bonvoy Card Amex Canada Review

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Home » Receive up to $200 in statement credits when booking hotels or cars via Amex Travel

Receive up to $200 in statement credits when booking hotels or cars via Amex Travel

Two new Amex Offers were released today for completing hotel and/or car rental bookings via American Express Travel. Depending on which American Express card you have you can receive a $125 credit or a $200 credit. Both of which work out to a maximum of a 25% rebate for the required spend.

$200 statement credit offer:

Spend at least $800 on prepaid hotel or car rental bookings using your registered Card at www.americanexpress.ca/travel by 22/08/2023 and earn a one-time $200 statement credit. Registration cap applies. Terms apply.

Personally, I received this offer on The Platinum Card from American Express   but you may receive it on a different card.

$125 statement credit offer:

Spend at least $500 on prepaid hotel or car rental bookings using your registered Card at www.americanexpress.ca/travel by 22/08/2023 and earn a one-time $125 statement credit. Registration cap applies. Terms apply.

Personally, I received this offer on the American Express Cobalt® Card but you may receive it on a different card.

Registering for the offers

Simply log in to your Amex account or go onto the Amex app to see if these offers have been sent to you and to register for them.  You can find this and many more offers in our Guide to American Express Canada ‘Amex Offers’

• Register right away for these offers if you know there is a chance you’ll use them as the $200 credit offer is limited to the first 10,000 cards registered and the $125 credit is limited to the first 20,000 cards registered
• You don’t actually have to travel by August 22 – you simply need to make your prepaid bookings by that date and can travel afterwards
• You can use your annual travel credits (Platinum and/or Gold Rewards Card) towards these bookings as well. * To be safe I would make sure your booking(s) reach the minimum spend required after subtracting an annual credit. For example, as a Platinum cardmember if you have the $200 statement credit offer I would book $1,000 in travel so that you hit $800 after using your $200 annual travel credit.
• You can have multiple bookings to reach the spend requirement as the terms state it is cumulative. For example, two $250 hotel stays would meet the $500 requirement to receive the $125 statement credit.
• You can also receive any benefits from the Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings

Images via American Express

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American Express Cobalt vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Updated: Apr 12, 2024, 12:31am

Table of Contents

At a glance: american express cobalt vs. scotiabank gold american express, side-by-side comparison summary table.

Welcome Bonus

Redeeming Points

Insurance coverage, alternatives to the american express cobalt and the scotiabank gold american express, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

When comparing the American Express Cobalt Card with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card , it’s important to keep in mind that each card has its own unique features that cater to different spending habits and reward preferences.

The American Express Cobalt Card stands out for its flexible reward structure, offering up to 5 points per dollar on eats and drinks and a range of point redemption options, including travel and retail. The card’s monthly fee, when annualized, is slightly higher but justified by a rich earn rate in everyday categories.

Conversely, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers a competitive 6 Scene+ points per dollar on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases in Canada. It also is one of the few credit cards in Canada with no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for travelers and international spenders.

In essence, if your spending leans heavily towards dining and entertainment, the American Express Cobalt Card may offer more value, despite its fee. However, for cardholders who travel or make foreign transactions frequently, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card could be a superior choice, especially with its foreign transaction fee waiver and higher point earning potential in multiple categories.

Ultimately, the better card hinges on your spending behaviour and reward preferences. The American Express Cobalt Card is tailored for maximized rewards on daily expenses, whereas the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card appeals to users seeking diverse point-earning opportunities and savings on foreign transactions.

Best Overall American Express and Travel Credit Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points

$155.88 ($12.99 per month)

Regular APR

The American Express Cobalt will not only earn you 2 American Express Membership Rewards per dollar spent on travel or gas purchases (make that 3 points per dollar if you make travel bookings online through the Amex Travel Portal), but it also comes with many valuable travel insurance coverages and a $100 USD hotel credit. Plus, Membership Rewards points are super flexible, with four ways to redeem them for travel purchases, including transferring them at a 1:1 rate to a myriad of other travel partners.

• 2 points per dollar on gas, transit and travel purchases and 3 points per dollar when you book online through the Amex Travel Portal.
• Amex Membership Rewards can be redeemed multiple ways.
• $100 USD hotel credit when you book at select hotels.
• 10 types of insurance, including $5 million in emergency travel medical coverage.
• Relatively high annual fee.
• Amex is still not accepted everywhere, including Loblaws stores and Costco .
• In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets
• Earn 5x the points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.
• Earn 3X the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
• Earn 2X the points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas in Canada
• Earn 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online
• Earn 1X point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
• Enjoy access to hotel bookings, and up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities when charged to the room for a stay of 2 or more consecutive nights through The Hotel Collection from American Express Travel
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
• Cobalt Cardmembers receive regular Perks such as bonus reward offers and access to great events
• Access Front Of The Line® Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Up to 40,000 Scene+ Points

With over $800 worth of rewards potential per year—and that’s with the annual fee factored in—this is the highest earning card on our list. It also gives you some of the highest earn rates at select grocery stores, on dining and movie theatre purchases—and its flexibility for redemption is excellent. Plus, it’s one of the few cards in Canada that doesn’t charge foreign exchange fees and it includes 13 types of insurance. In fact, the only reason it didn’t rank higher up on this list is because of that pesky annual fee and a few minor drawbacks.

Learn more:  Read our Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review

• Earns Scene+ rewards on every purchase
• No foreign transaction fees
• Built-in travel insurance
• American Express perks like Amex Front Of The Line
• $120 annual fee
• Amex is not accepted at all locations
• Welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Scene+ points (Earn 20,000 points by making at least $1,000 in the first three months, get 20,000 points when you spend at least $7,500 in your first year). Must open card by July 1, 2024 to qualify.
• Earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at select grocery stores including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and Foodland.
• Earn 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent at other grocery stores, restaurants and on food delivery and entertainment.
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, transportation and streaming services.
• Earn 1 Scene+ points per dollar spent on everything else.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• American Express perks like Amex Front Of The Line.
• Comprehensive travel insurance covers emergency medical, trip interruption, flight delays, travel accidents, rental car collision and hotel burglaries.
• Includes mobile device coverage up to $1,000.
• Includes purchase security and extended warranty protection.

Featured Partners

On American Express’s Secure Website

• TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

On TD’s Website

Up to $1200 in value†

Credit Score Description

Good/Excellent

On Scotia Bank’s Website

Up to 40,000 Scene+ points

The American Express Cobalt Card comes with a welcome bonus that can reach up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points, equalling a maximum of $300 if leveraged optimally through specific travel partner points transfers. This flexibility in redemption, particularly for travel, where points can be worth up to $0.02 each, offers significant value for cardholders seeking diverse redemption avenues, from airfare to hotel partners.

In contrast, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card’s welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Scene+ points translates directly to $400 if redeemed for travel or other eligible expenses, offering straightforward value for most cardholders. While this card’s dollar value is higher, Scene+ points maintain a consistent value of $0.01 across every category, lacking the higher potential value in travel redemption that the American Express Cobalt offers.

Bottom line: While the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card’s bonus initially appears more lucrative, the American Express Cobalt Card’s points provide a more flexible and potentially more valuable redemption choice for savvy users, especially when it comes to travel.

We break down average Canadian spending and how it would translate to rewards. We used the average redemption value of $0.01 for each Scene+ and Membership Reward point, though keep in mind, points for these cards in particular can have higher or lower value depending on how they are redeemed.

Both cards offer diverse redemption options, but the American Express Cobalt Card provides a potentially higher value for travel redemptions, especially when transferring points to airline and hotel partners. In contrast, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers solid and straightforward value across a variety of redemption options, like entertainment, travel, gift cards, donations and merchandise making it versatile for different types of spenders.

American Express Cobalt Point Value

With the American Express Cobalt Card, the value of Membership Rewards points varies by redemption option:

• Travel: Redeeming points for travel through American Express Travel offers $10 per 1,000 points (or one cent per point). Transferring points to airline partners could raise a point’s value up to $0.02 each, while hotel partners could value them at $0.10 each. Based on the total annual points of 62,538.4, travel redemptions could yield between $625.38 and $1,251.92 annually if transferred to airlines, or up to $6,253.84 annually with hotel partners.
• Statement Credits: Points redeemed for statement credits offer a consistent value of $10 per 1,000 points, equating to an annual value of $625.38.
• Merchandise: Points used for merchandise in Amex’s online portal maintain a value of $10 per 1,000 points, translating to $625.38 annually.
• Gift Cards and Certificates: Redeeming points for gift cards or certificates provides a flexible spending option, also valued at $10 per 1,000 points, or $625.38 annually.
• Experiences: Using points for unique experiences through the American Express Experiences program maintains the $10 per 1,000 points value, totaling $625.38 annually.
• Online Purchases: Points spent on Amazon.ca purchases are slightly less valuable at $7 per 1,000 points, resulting in an annual value of $437.69.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Point Value

Scene+ points from the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offer diverse redemption values:

• Travel: Points are worth one cent each when booking travel through Scene+ Travel or when applied to travel purchases, giving an annual value of $892.39 based on 89,239.1 points.
• Merchandise: Points redeemed for merchandise on the Scene+ portal are valued at one cent each, equating to $892.39 annually.
• Gift Cards: Exchanging points for gift cards or eCertificates maintains the typical one cent per point value, translating to an annual value of $892.39.
• Statement Credits: Using points for statement credits varies in value; the highest redemption rate is $0.71 per 100 points for a $100 to $150 credit, potentially offering up to $634.09 annually.
• Dining and Entertainment: Redeeming points in these categories maintains the one cent per point value, amounting to $892.39 annually.
• Special Experiences: Scene+ special experiences adhere to the standard point value, representing $892.39 in annual value.

American Express Cobalt Card

• Annual Fee: $155.88 (charged as $12.99 per month)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
• Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
• Annual Fee: $120
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Comparison and Outcome:

• Annual Fees: The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card’s annual fee is $35.88 cheaper than the American Express Cobalt.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: The American Express Cobalt has a standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee, whereas the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has no foreign transaction fees.

Bottom line: In terms of fees, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card comes out on top, with a lower annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, offering better value for travelers and cardholders who frequently make purchases in foreign currencies. The American Express Cobalt Card, while offering robust rewards, has a higher annual cost when its monthly fees are calculated over the course of a year, plus the additional cost of foreign transactions.

• Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance: Up to $5 million dollars in coverage for those under 65 for up to 15 consecutive days of travel
• Travel Accident Insurance: Up to a maximum of $250,000
• Flight Delay Insurance: Up to $500
• Baggage Delay Insurance/Loss or Stolen Baggage Insurance: Up to $500 (Amex counts these as two seperate coverages)
• Hotel Burglary Insurance: Up to $500
• Rental Car Loss/Damage Insurance: Up to 48 days
• Mobile Device Insurance: Up to $1,000
• Purchase Security: 90 days
• Extended Warranty: Up to one additional year
• Total Coverages: 9 insurance benefits.
• Travel Emergency Medical Insurance: Up to $1 million dollars in coverage for those under 65 for up to 25 consecutive days of travel (up to 3 consecutive days for people 65 and older)
• Travel Accident Insurance: Up to a maximum of $500,000 (to a maximum of $1,000,000 per occurrence)
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Up to $1,500 per person for travel expenses (maximum $10,000 per trip)
• Flight Delay Insurance: Up to $500 per person
• Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance: $1,000 per person
• Hotel Burglary Insurance: Up to a maximum of $1,000
• Total Coverages: 10 insurance benefits.

While both cards offer a range of travel and purchase protection insurances, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card provides one additional key insurance benefit compared to the American Express Cobalt Card. The inclusion of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance is a significant advantage for travelers, offering an extra layer of protection.

Bottom line: Considering the breadth and variety of insurance coverage that come with both cards, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card edges out the American Express Cobalt Card in this category with its additional trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and American Express Cobalt Card have many differences, but both credit cards are meant to appeal to different segments of the market.

The American Express Cobalt Card attracts everyday spenders and those travel-savvy cardholders looking to transfer points between loyalty programs for the most value.

Meanwhile, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card appeals to travellers when they reach their destination and are looking for strong earn rates and savings on foreign transactions.

The American Express Cobalt Card stands out for its strong rewards program, particularly in categories like dining and travel. Its flexible redemption options, especially the transfer to travel partners, are seen as a significant advantage. However, some cardholders might consider its monthly fee structure annoyingly unconventional compared to the typical annual fee model because of the frequency of the charge.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express is viewed favourably for its no foreign transaction fee feature, which is a standout in the Canadian credit card market. Additionally, its generous earn rates in popular spending categories like groceries, dining and entertainment make it competitive. However, some financial experts see its rewards as less flexible compared to the American Express Cobalt Card, especially for cardholders who value travel perks and transfer options.

Bonus categories

Bmo eclipse visa infinite card.

60,000 points

$120 (waived in the first year)

A premium rewards card with a competitive flat earn rate and a 10% boost on points for adding an authorized user.

• 10% more points for adding a supplementary card
• $50 annual lifestyle credit
• Limited travel insurance
• Travel redemptions only available through BMO Rewards
• Welcome bonus of 60,000 points (30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months and 2,500 points for each billing cycle with $2,000 in purchases for 12 months)
• 5 points per dollar on groceries, gas, restaurants and transit (capped at $50,000 annually)
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
• Forbes Advisor estimates a rewards value of $432.99 in annual earnings based on average Canadian spending, with the annual fee factored in
• Earn 10% more points when you add another cardholder
• Exclusive benefits and discounts at Visa Infinite luxury hotels, dining series and golf resorts.
• Includes travel insurance for emergency medical care, car rental loss and damage and common carrier accidents

Best for no fee perks

Scotiabank american express® card.

Up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

19.99% / 22.99%

The Scotiabank American Express Card offers big rewards and generous reward categories with no annual fee.

• No annual fee
• Welcome bonus of up to 7,500 Scene+ points
• Earns Scene+ points on every purchase
• No travel insurance coverage
• $12,000 annual income requirement
• Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $75 towards travel).¹
• Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshcoand more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spendon eligible entertainment purchases.Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit.Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming sevices
• Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
• Mobile Device Insurance coverage
• American Express Invites®
• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Mar.1, 2023. Subject to change.
• ¹ To qualify for these offers make sure to open a new Scotiabank American Express credit card account (“Account”) by July 1, 2024.

Best for no annual fee

Rogers red world elite® mastercard®.

Regular APR (Purchases)

The Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® is a great card to have on hand solely for the purpose of travel: It has no annual fee, a 3% cash back rate for purchases made in U.S. dollars and a variety of travel insurance benefits. Plus, it saves you that FX fee.

• No annual fee.
• Free membership to Mastercard Travel Pass, which gives you access to more than 1,300 airport lounges.
• Travel insurance coverage.
• High annual income requirement ($80,000 for individuals and $150,000 for households).
• Must spend at least $15,000 a year to keep this card.
• Lower cash back rate for purchases made in currencies other than U.S. dollars.
• No free lounge visits included.
• 2% unlimited cash back (exclusively for eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers); otherwise, earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on non-U.S. dollar purchases.
• 3% unlimited cash back on U.S. dollar purchases.
• 5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan (up to $75 value).
• 50% more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases.
• Annual income requirements of $80,000 personal and $150,000 household
• Complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass with access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide at a cost of $32 USD ($41.72 CAD) per person, per visit
• Included insurance benefits: Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection, Rental Car Collision/Damage, Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical, Trip Interruption and Trip Cancellation

Determining a clear winner between the American Express Cobalt Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card depends on your priorities and spending habits.

Related: Best Rewards Credit Cards

The American Express Cobalt Card stands out for its robust rewards program, especially when it comes to earning on dining and entertainment. It scores big on flexibility when redeeming points, since you can transfer your Membership Rewards points 1:1 to other loyalty programs, like Aeroplan. Plus, the card’s array of insurance coverage is comprehensive, although slightly less extensive than the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. However, its foreign transaction fees and monthly fee structure might be downsides for frequent travellers.

If you’re a frequent traveler or spend a significant amount in foreign currencies, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card likely offers better overall value with its no foreign transaction fees and strong insurance package. However, if your spending is heavily skewed towards dining and entertainment, and you value flexible travel rewards, the American Express Cobalt Card could be the better choice despite its higher fee structure and foreign transaction fees. Ultimately, the choice depends on your spending habits and priorities when it comes to card benefits and rewards.

Is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card good?

Yes, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is considered good, particularly for individuals who spend significantly on groceries, dining and entertainment.The lack of foreign transaction fees makes it an excellent choice for travelers or cardholders who make purchases in foreign currencies. The card also offers a competitive welcome bonus and a comprehensive insurance package, adding to its appeal.

Is the American Express Cobalt Card worth it?

The American Express Cobalt Card can be very worthwhile, especially for cardholders who also spend heavily on dining and entertainment.Its flexibility when it comes to redeeming points, particularly transfers to travel partners, is also a huge plus that increases its value as a credit card along with how much you can earn from it each year. The card’s range of insurance coverage and its monthly fee structure might not be to everyone’s liking, but for the right user, the benefits here can outweigh the costs.

Is the Scotiabank Amex the same as a regular American Express card?

While the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is part of the American Express network and offers many of the benefits associated with American Express cards, it’s issued by Scotiabank, not American Express directly. This means it combines features typical of Amex cards, like access to Amex offers and experiences, with unique benefits provided by Scotiabank, such as the Scene+ rewards program.

What’s the best gold card in Canada?

Determining the “best” gold card in Canada depends on individual spending habits, reward preferences and financial goals. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is often highly rated for its rewards structure and no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong contender as one of the best gold credit cards in Canada. However, the best card for one person might not be the best for another, so it’s essential to compare features, fees and rewards to find the credit card that aligns best with your financial lifestyle and goals.

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Kevin Nishmas is an expert financial content writer with a long and successful history of working with Canada's largest financial institutions. His knack (and passion) for transforming complex personal finance information into clear, compelling content has landed him in leading business publications such as Report on Business, Advisor’s Edge, Benefits Canada and Investor's Digest of Canada.