Rewards programs overview

Here’s an overview of the different reward programs easily accessible to Canadian travelers.

 

Rewards of the more lucrative type

Here are the 8 rewards programs of the more lucrative type.

 

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 86,000 points you get by unlocking the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card‘s welcome bonus (you also get a separate 35,000-point free night certificate):

• ≈ $774 to UNLIMITED: Hotel nights at the 30+ Marriott brands
• ≈ $688: Nights in private lodging with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
• ≈ $688: Unique experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments
• ≈ $516: Specific flights booked via transfers to airline programs
• ≈ 430: Flights and car rentals through Marriott
• ≈ $344: Gift cards
• ≈ $258: Merchandise

Here are the best cards for Marriott Bonvoy points:

 

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 35,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $735 to UNLIMITED: Specific flights in premium cabins with airline price charts
• ≈ $525 to ≈ $735: Specific flights in economy class with airline price charts
• ≈ $525 to ≈ $805: Any flights with the RBC Avion price chart
• $700: Any flights in premium cabins on any website (if you also get the Visa Infinite Privilege Card)
• $525: Any trips on the RBC Avion website (if you also had HSBC points converted to RBC)
• $350: Any trips on the RBC Avion website
• $203: Cash back as a statement credit

Here are the best cards for RBC Avion points:

 

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:

 

Flying Blue

Flying Blue miles are airline points that can be very good for some specific redemptions, particularly to Europe. Air France and KLM are part of the 3^rd of the 3 airline alliances, SkyTeam. So you can book flights on all member airlines. You have access to 36 airlines in total because there are a few non-alliance partners. 

 

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

• TBD

Here are the best cards for Flying Blue points:

 

Asia Miles

Asia Miles are airline points that can be very good for some specific redemptions. Cathay Pacific is part of the oneworld airline alliance, so you can book flights on all member airlines. The non-alliance partners aren’t really that unique, though.

 

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Asia Miles:

• ≈ 1.8¢/pt to UNLIMITED: Specific flights in business class and first class (Cathay Pacific and partners)
• ≈ 1.3¢/pt: Specific flights in economy (Cathay Pacific and partners)

Here is the value of the 65,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the Cathay World Elite Mastercard – powered by Neo‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $1,170 to UNLIMITED: Specific flights in business class and first class (Cathay Pacific and partners)
• ≈ $845: Specific flights in economy (Cathay Pacific and partners)

Here are the best cards for Asia Miles:

 

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 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:

 

Rewards of the more simple type

Here are the 9 rewards programs of the more simple type.

 

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:

 

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 many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)
• 10.5¢: Merchandise at in-store partners (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 many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)
• $998: Merchandise at in-store partners (Cash rewards)
• ≈ $760: Merchandise on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)

Here are the best cards for AIR MILES Miles:

 

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 115,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card‘s current welcome bonus:

• $525: Any trips on the TD website
• $460: Any trips on any website
• $380: Merchandise on Amazon
• ≈ $380: Gift cards
• ≈ $380: Merchandise
• $288: 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:

 

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:

 

NBC À la carte points

For each available redemption option, here is the value per NBC À la carte point:

• 1¢: Any trips on the NBC website

There is currently no welcome bonus on the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, but you get $150 in travel extras credit per year. 

Here are the best cards for NBC À la carte points:

 

Aventura points

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Aventura points:

• ≈ 1¢ to ≈ 1.2¢: Any trips on the CIBC travel website

Here is the actual value of the 41,000 points you’ll have by unlocking the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card‘s welcome bonus:

• ≈ $492 in travel rewards at the Flytrippers Valuation
• $860 in rewards by maximizing the Aventura flight rewards chart
• $410 in rewards at the simpler minimum fixed value

Here are the best cards for CIBC Aventura 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 point:

• 1¢: Any flight on WestJet

Here is the value of the 45,000 WestJet points you’ll have by unlocking the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard‘s welcome bonus:

• $450: Any flight on WestJet

Here are the best cards for WestJet dollars:

 

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:

 

Learning how to travel for less

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Featured image: Carriès, Haiti (photo credit: Tim Wildsmith)