All your redemption options for the most important travel rewards programs: introduction

With our new Flytrippers team members, we’re revamping our entire travel rewards section to make it the best possible. In the meantime, one of the most frequently asked questions that isn’t in our summary infographic that has all the basic answers is about the different redemption options for every travel rewards program.

So I present you this very important teaser on how to use the rewards from the 13 best most popular programs. And the value each option gives you most importantly, that’s what’s most important.

This information has always been on our Flytrippers resource page for most cards, but now it’s all here in 1 place to be more practical. Making everything easier to find and browse for you will be at the center of our new improved rewards section.

We’ll soon have a ton of more detailed content about each program — and free webinars — but this is an excellent and useful primer in the meantime. Sign up for our free newsletter specifically for travel rewards to receive everything, including plenty of videos.

Here are all your redemption options for the most important travel rewards programs (with more programs to come in the next update).

 

Basics of travel rewards redemption options

If you like to travel, Flytrippers highly recommends earning as many rewards as you can… it’s so easy to earn them.

As for using them, it can be really easy too, if you focus on rewards of the more simple type. You’ll still get a ton of free travel. But if you want to get a lot more value, learn how to maximize rewards of the more lucrative type by using them well — we’ll help you.

I very strongly encourage you to read our other new teaser guide with the basics of how all the main sub-types of travel rewards redemption options actually work, to help you better understand all the different options below. Especially if you want to maximize your value with rewards of the more lucrative type.

 

Bank rewards — Redemption options

Here are the 8 most popular bank rewards programs (unfortunately including cash back, at the end).

 

American Express Membership Rewards points

Amex Membership Rewards points are by far the best bank rewards currency in Canada because they’re transferable to more airline rewards programs… and airline points are rewards of the more lucrative type. If you want to maximize value, it’s really with airline price charts.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Amex MR point:

• ≈ 2.1¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins with airline award charts
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt to ≈ 2.1¢/pt Specific flights in economy class with airline award charts
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt to 2¢/pt Any flights with the Amex award chart
• ≈ 1.1¢/pt Any Air Canada flights with the airline’s program
• ≈ 1.08¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific hotels with hotel award charts
• 1¢/pt Any trips on any website
• 1¢/pt Any trips on the Amex website
• 1¢/pt Cash back as a statement credit

To illustrate the huge difference more clearly, here is the value of the 60,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the Amex Cobalt Card‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $1260 to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins with airline award charts
• ≈ $900 to ≈ $1260 Specific flights in economy class with airline award charts
• ≈ $900 to $1200 Any flights with the Amex award chart
• ≈ $660 Any Air Canada flights with the airline’s program
• ≈ $648 to UNLIMITED Specific hotels with hotel award charts
• $600 Any trips on any website
• $600 Any trips on the Amex website
• $600 Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for Amex MR points:

 

RBC Avion points

RBC Avion points are the only other transferable bank points and are, therefore, undeniably the 2^nd-best bank rewards currency in Canada, as they are the only other bank rewards of the more valuable type. However, they offer fewer options.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per RBC Avion point:

• ≈ 2.1¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins with airline price charts (Avion cards only)
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt to ≈ 2.1¢/pt Specific flights in economy class with airline price charts (Avion cards only)
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt to 2.3¢/pt Any flights with the RBC Avion price chart (Avion cards only)
• 2¢/pt Any flights in premium cabins on any website (Visa Infinite Privilege Card only)
• 1.5¢/pt Any trips on the RBC Avion website (HSBC points converted to RBC only)
• 1¢/pt Any trips on the RBC Avion website
• 0.58¢/pt Cash back as a statement credit

Here is the value of the 60,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $1260 to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins with airline price charts
• ≈ $900 to ≈ $1260 Specific flights in economy class with airline price charts
• ≈ $900 to ≈ $1380 Any flights with the RBC Avion price chart
• $1200 Any flights in premium cabins on any website (if you also get the Visa Infinite Privilege Card)
• $900 Any trips on the RBC Avion website (if you also had HSBC points converted to RBC)
• $600 Any trips on the RBC Avion website
• $348 Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for RBC Avion points:

 

Scene+ points

Scene+ points are rewards of the more simple type. The simplest that exist. Among all the rewards like those, that give you absolute flexibility, they are the easiest to earn in large quantities right now.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Scene+ point:

• 1¢ Any trips on any website
• 1¢ Any trips on the Scene+ website
• 1¢ Merchandise at participating stores
• ≈ 0.7¢ to 1¢ Gift cards
• ≈ 0.7¢ Merchandise
• 0.7¢ Cash back as a statement credit

Here is the value of the 77,500 points you’ll have by unlocking the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card‘s welcome bonus:

• $775 Any trips on any website
• $775 Any trips on the Scene+ website
• $775 Merchandise at participating stores
• ≈$543 to $775 Gift cards
• ≈$543 Merchandise
• $543 Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for Scene+ points:

 

TD Rewards points

TD Rewards points are rewards of the more simple type, but they are slightly less flexible if you want to maximize them. However, they are easy to earn in huge quantities.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per TD Rewards point:

• 0.5¢ Any trips on the TD website
• 0.4¢ Any trips on any website
• 0.33¢ Merchandise on Amazon
• ≈ 0.33¢ Gift cards
• ≈ 0.33¢ Merchandise
• 0.25¢ Cash back as a statement credit

Here is the value of the 165,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card‘s current increased welcome bonus:

• $825 Any trips on the TD website
• $660 Any trips on any website
• $545 Merchandise on Amazon
• ≈ $545 Gift cards
• ≈ $545 Merchandise
• $412 Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for TD Rewards points:

 

BMO Rewards points

BMO Rewards points are rewards of the more simple type that are also very flexible, but they’re harder to earn in huge quantities right now.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per BMO Rewards point:

• 0.67¢ Any trips on any website
• 0.67¢ Cash back indirectly with the refundable hotel trick
• 0.67¢ Deposits in a BMO investment account
• ≈ 0.5¢ Merchandise
• ≈ 0.5¢ Gift cards
• 0.33¢ Cash back as a statement credit

Here is the value of the 39,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card‘s welcome bonus:

• $360 Any trips on any website
• $360 Cash back indirectly with the refundable hotel trick
• $360 Deposits in a BMO investment account
• ≈ $144 Merchandise
• ≈ $144 Gift cards
• $96 Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for BMO Rewards points:

 

AIR MILES Miles

AIR MILES Miles used to be great in the past, but they’ve changed and are now rewards of the more simple type. It’s the least simple sub-type, as the value still varies — just not that much. 

For each available redemption option, here is the value per AIR MILES Mile:

• ≈ 10.5¢ to ≈ 12¢: Any trips on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)
• 10.5¢: Merchandise at in-store partners (Cash rewards)
• 10.5¢: Merchandise at many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)
• ≈ 8¢: Merchandise on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)

Here is the value of the 9,500 Miles you’ll have by unlocking the BMO AIR MILES World Elite MasterCard‘s increased welcome bonus:

• ≈ $998 to ≈ $1140: Any trips on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)
• $998: Merchandise at in-store partners (Cash rewards)
• $998: Merchandise at many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)
• ≈ $760: Merchandise on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)

Here are the best cards for AIR MILES Miles:

 

MBNA Rewards points

MBNA Rewards points are of the more simple type and are not easy to get in huge quantities. So they aren’t particularly interesting. But they can still be a great addition to many travelers’ strategy.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per MBNA Rewards point:

• 1¢ Any trips on the MBNA website
• ≈ 0.9¢ Gift cards
• ≈ 0.8¢ Merchandise
• 0.83¢ Cash back as a statement credit (World Elite Mastercard only)
• 0.5¢ Cash back as a statement credit (Platinum Plus Mastercard only)

Here is the actual value of the 40,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard‘s welcome bonus (bonus is lower for Québec residents):

• $400 Any trips on the MBNA website
• ≈ $360 Gift cards
• ≈ $320 Merchandise
• $332 Cash back as a statement credit (World Elite Mastercard only)
• $200 Cash back as a statement credit (Platinum Plus Mastercard only)

Here are the best cards for MBNA Rewards points:

 

Cash back (any bank)

Cash back rewards are objectively the worst that exist if you want to maximize value. They really mostly exist for those who don’t like to travel (believe it or not, there are many such people). If you like to travel, you should stay far away from cash back. Even if you like things to be simple, at least focus on travel rewards of the more simple type.

For the only available redemption option, here is the value for all cash back rewards:

• 1% = 1¢ Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for cash back rewards:

 

Airline rewards — Redemption options

Here are the 4 most popular airline rewards programs.

 

Air Canada Aeroplan points

Aeroplan points are by far the best airline rewards for Canadian travelers because they can offer both types of redemptions. And for the more lucrative type, Aeroplan is the easiest airline program to maximize, with more flight options. You can read the basics of Aeroplan while you await our revamped ultimate guide.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Aeroplan point:

• ≈ 2.1¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins (partners and Air Canada)
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt to ≈ 2.1¢/pt Specific flights in economy class (partners and Air Canada)
• ≈ 1.1¢/pt Any flights on Air Canada
• ≈ 1¢/pt Taxes on reward flights
• ≈ 1¢/pt Seat upgrades
• ≈ 1¢/pt In-flight Wi-Fi
• ≈ 1¢/pt Vacation packages
• ≈ 1¢/pt Hotels
• ≈ 0.65¢/pt Rental cars and activities
• ≈ 0.65¢/pt Merchandise and gift cards

Here is the value of the 52,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $1092 to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins (partners and Air Canada)
• ≈ $780 to ≈ $1092 Specific flights in economy class (partners and Air Canada)
• ≈ $572 Any flight on Air Canada
• ≈ $520 Taxes on reward flights
• ≈ $520 Seat upgrades
• ≈ $520 In-flight Wi-Fi
• ≈ $520 Vacation packages
• ≈ $520 Hotels
• ≈ $338 Rental cars and activities
• ≈ $338 Merchandise and gift cards

Here are the best cards for Aeroplan points:

 

British Airways Avios points

Avios points are by far the 2^nd-best airline rewards for Canadian travelers, but they offer way fewer options and require you to be a lot more flexible. 

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Avios point:

• ≈ 2.1¢/pt to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins (partners and British Airways)
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt to ≈ 2.1¢/pt Specific flights in economy class (partners and British Airways)

Here is the value of the 60,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the Amex Cobalt Card‘s welcome bonus (and transferring them):

• ≈ $1260 to UNLIMITED Specific flights in premium cabins (partners and British Airways)
• ≈ $900 to ≈ $1260 Specific flights in economy class (partners and British Airways)

Here are the best cards for Avios points:

 

VIPorter points

VIPorter points are rewards Canadians can now include in their strategy, but they’re not quite like **traditional** airline points. The value cannot be as high (no good business class redemptions, unlike the 3 previous ones) and not many partner airlines, but the new card offers are wildly generous.

For each available redemption option, here is the value per VIPorter point:

• ≈ 1.5¢/pt Any flights in economy class (Porter)
• ≈ 1.5¢/pt Specific flights in economy class (partners like Air Transat)

Here is the value of the 106,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the new BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $1590 Any flights in economy class (Porter)
• ≈ $1590 Specific flights in economy class (partners like Air Transat)

Here are the best cards for VIPorter points:

 

WestJet points (formerly WestJet dollars)

WestJet points are airline rewards of the more simple type, with a fixed value.

For the main redemption option, here is the value per WestJet dollar:

• $1/WestJet dollar Any flights on the WestJet website

Here is the value of the 525 WestJet dollars you’ll have by unlocking the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard‘s welcome bonus:

• $525 Any flights on the WestJet website

Here are the best cards for WestJet dollars:

 

Hotel rewards — Redemption options

Here is the most popular hotel rewards program.

 

Marriott Bonvoy points

Marriott Bonvoy points are by far the best hotel rewards in Canada. We just published how Marriott Bonvoy points work as a blueprint for all the other rewards programs, please let us know in the comments if there’s anything missing in that intro post!

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Marriott Bonvoy point:

• ≈ 0.9¢ to UNLIMITED Hotel nights at the 30+ Marriott brands
• ≈ 0.8¢ Nights in private lodging rentals with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
• ≈ 0.8¢ Unique experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments
• ≈ 0.6¢ Specific flights booked via transfers to airline programs
• ≈ 0.5¢ Flights and car rentals through Marriott
• ≈ 0.4¢ Gift cards
• ≈ 0.3¢ Merchandise

Here is the value of the 53,000 points you get by unlocking the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $477 to UNLIMITED Hotel nights at the 30+ Marriott brands
• ≈ $424 Nights in private lodging with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
• ≈ $424 Unique experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments
• ≈ $334 Specific flights booked via transfers to airline programs
• ≈ $265 Flights and car rentals through Marriott
• ≈ $212 Gift cards
• ≈ $159 Merchandise

Here are the best cards for Marriott Bonvoy 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!

 

Summary

All rewards programs offer many different redemption options, and these are those available for the best rewards programs for Canadian travelers. We’ll have a lot more content to explain each program and each type of redemption option very soon.

 

What would you like to know about the redemption options for travel rewards programs? 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: Bovilla Reservoir, Albania (photo credit: Drini Teta)

Share this post to help us help more people travel more for less: