The major difference between the 2 types of rewards that exist is 1 of the 6 most important elements to understand about travel rewards. We’re preparing a lot of other content to clearly explain this to you in 2026, but I wanted to immediately show the concrete difference by comparing 2 amazing deals (get one right away).
Each card is the one we recommend right now for its reward type.
What’s more, these 2 points currencies happen to be the most simple and the most lucrative outright, so it’s perfect to make you understand well.
Here’s the comparison between these 2 deals.
What are the 2 recommended cards right now?
Honestly, the choice should be relatively easy, since these 2 currencies are completely different.
| Best credit card deal by type (December 2025) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Valuation (BONUS)(11.7% back on $7.5k)
Rewards: $875
Card fee: $0 $120
Spend required:$7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k)
Best for: Simple pts. Fixed value. Any travel expense.
 SIMPLE
12k
ends January 1st
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 6.0% back on $12k)
Rewards: ≈ $716
Annual fee: $0 $139
Spend required:$12k in 12 mos.
Best for: Lucrative pts. Unlimited value. Only certain flights.
 LUCRATIVE
60k/100k
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
|
Best credit card deal by type (December 2025) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SIMPLE 12k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $875
Card fee: $0 $120 (11.7% back on $7.5k)
Spend required:
$7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k)
Best for: Simple pts. Fixed value. Any travel expense.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LUCRATIVE60k/100k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $716
Annual fee: $0 $139 (≈ 6.0% back on $12k)
Spend required:
$12k in 12 mos.
Best for: Lucrative pts. Unlimited value. Only certain flights.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
Here’s an infographic that summarizes the difference between the 2 cards.
The 2 cards are completely different because the 2 types of rewards are completely different.
The rewards currency is THE most important thing for every time you are deciding which card you’ll get next. It’s the rewards that give you free travel.
I remind you that there are 2 types of reward redemption options that exist:
- More simple type
- More lucrative type
Let’s lool at the summary for those 2 cards.
Best deal for points of the SIMPLE type
The Scotiabank Gold Amex Card is a deal for rewards of the more simple type.
Its increased welcome bonus gives you 875 CAD… and it can absolutely never be worth more than 875 CAD. The value is entirely limited.
The value is not variable at all.
It’s a lot more simple: you can redeem the points for any travel expense on any website (you don’t need to be flexible at all).
It’s a lot less lucrative: you can never get a value higher than $875 (like the terrible cashback currencies you’re probably familiar with).
These are even the most simple points available in Canada.
End date for the increased welcome bonus: The Scotiabank Gold Amex Card‘s offer ends on January 1st!
(This is the highest offer ever seen on this card, so don’t miss out if you want simple points!)
Best deal for points of the LUCRATIVE type
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is a deal for rewards of the more lucrative type.
Its increased welcome bonus gives you ≈ 716 CAD… but it can also be worth 2000 CAD+ if you want it to!!! The value is literally unlimited.
The value is extremely variable.
It’s a lot more lucrative: you can get very expensive flights (like a Canada–Europe flight in a luxurious business class lie-flat pod seat as I did this summer, but not only business class flights).
It’s a lot less simple: you can only redeem the points for specific flights which are fairly limited (you need to be flexible about the itinerary or date).
These are even the most lucrative points available in Canada.
End date for the increased welcome bonus: The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card‘s offer has been here for a long time!
(The TD offer end date is not public. That said, Flytrippers recommends that you take advantage of it right away if you want lucrative points!)
Which of the 2 cards should I choose?
The most important thing is to get one, any of them in the worst case.
Any welcome bonus is always better than what almost everyone else does, which is sadly the least savvy thing possible… which is wasting your spending by putting it on a card that doesn’t have a welcome bonus. It’s really the worst thing imaginable (if you want to earn a lot).
Taking advantage of welcome bonuses is literally the most important thing to understand.
Sooooo simple.
It’s still difficult for many people to grasp, and that’s normal, because the world of travel rewards is really very counterintuitive. But if you understand this, you’re already better than 99% of people, and your 2026 will be full of free travel!!!
Then, as with just about everything in life, you have to choose what you want to prioritize between more simple or more lucrative.
Again, the choice should be relatively easy because the 2 cards are so opposite!
Best deal for points of the SIMPLE type
Choose the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card if you want points that give you $875 in a very simple way.
You can redeem the points for any travel expense made on any website or with any provider. No effort, no complexity. But it’s not as good a deal: it’s “only” $875 in free travel.
Best deal for points of the LUCRATIVE type
Choose the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card if you want points that can give you $2000 to get a much better deal.
You redeem the points for specific flights (which Flytrippers now helps you spot every day). More effort, more complex. But it’s an incredible deal: it gives you the highest possible value in free travel.
Indeed, traveling in business class with points is the best deal available in the entire travel industry. Objectively, in terms of the discount obtained.
I shared a fairly detailed article when I booked a 10-hour flight in THAI Airways’ excellent Royal Silk business class this summer at the guaranteed fixed price of 60,000 Aeroplan points (the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card gives you 57,000 Aeroplan points).
What are the possible points redemptions with the 2 cards?
To start 2026, our content priority will be the rewards redemption aspect. But I’ll still give you some concrete examples here to help you make the right choice.
Best deal for points of the SIMPLE type
If you choose the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card, you’ll get 87,500 Scene+ points by unlocking the welcome bonus (with our tip to maximize your 5X points earn rate for groceries or gift cards from other merchants purchased at the grocery store).
You can redeem the points for:
- $875 at Sobeys, Safeway, Thrifty Foods, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo
- $875 for any flight
- $875 for any hotel
- $875 for any package (but we encourage you to take real trips😉)
It couldn’t be more simple. It’s always worth $875. You can book with any travel provider.
Take advantage of the increased welcome bonus on the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card before January 1 to get $875 very easily.
Best deal for points of the LUCRATIVE type
If you choose the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, you’ll get 57,000 Aeroplan points by unlocking the welcome bonus (or either 47,000 or 57,000 if you’ve already had this card or another Aeroplan credit card with an annual fee in the $100s).
You can redeem the points for:
- 60,000 points for Eastern Canada–Europe in business class ($2000+)
- 70,000 points for Western Canada–Europe in business class ($2000+)
- 75,000 points for West Coast–Asia in business class ($2000+)
- 87,500 points for East Coast–Asia in business class ($2000+)
- Fixed price in economy class (good when the cash price is high)
It’s really more complex. But your points are worth so much more this way! We’ll have a lot more content coming, but we already have a comprehensive guide on how to travel in business class (in addition to the articles already mentioned that explain our business class deals and my experience this summer).
Take advantage of the increased welcome bonus on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card before it’s too late to get the most valuable points!
Learning how to travel for less
Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less — including thanks to the wonderful world of travel rewards!
Sign up for our travel rewards newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter
Summary
The 2 types of rewards that exist are very different. No matter what you prefer, what’s important is that you take action now. Choose the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card if you want points that give you $875 in a very simple way. Choose the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card if you want points that can give you $2000 to get a much better deal.
What would you like to know about the comparison between the best deal for simple points and the best deal for lucrative points? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Isle of Pines, New Caledonia (photo credit: Sébastien Jermer)
