Loyalty programs offer powerful ways to boost your points, but most people miss out. By combining credit card spending, partner retailers, and promotions, you can earn 3–5x more than basic methods. 

Choosing programs that match your habits and goals is key. This guide reveals the best strategies to turn routine spending into premium travel perks and high-value redemptions.

Understanding Loyalty Programs and How Points Are Earned

Loyalty programs operate through different structures that reward customer engagement, with points and miles acting as the main currencies for earning rewards. Various program types provide unique earning options and redemption processes.

Types of Loyalty Programs

• Points-based programs represent the most common loyalty structure. You earn points for purchases, but it can vary by program. Some allow you to earn rewards on every purchase, while others may only provide benefits on in-store or targeted items.
• Tiered programs provide escalating benefits based on your spending or activity level. Airlines frequently use this structure for their frequent flyer programs, as it allows them to offer the best perks to their top spenders.
• Partnership programs allow you to earn points across multiple brands and retailers. For example, you can earn PC Optimum points at Superstore, Esso, and Shoppers Drug Mart. 
• Paid loyalty programs require membership fees but offer enhanced earning rates and exclusive benefits. Amazon Prime is a good example of this.

What Qualifies as Points and Miles

Points act as a universal currency in loyalty programs. Most retailers give one point per dollar spent, although bonus categories can boost earnings. Many programs have a fixed value for your points, but some airlines offer fluctuating value since they use dynamic pricing.

Miles function similarly to points but are primarily used by airlines and travel-related programs. The one exception is Air Miles. Despite its name, Air Miles has become more of a general rewards program as opposed to travel.

Hybrid systems combine points and miles, allowing transfers between programs. This flexibility helps frequent travellers maximize their earning potential across different loyalty ecosystems. American Express Membership Rewards and RBC Avion are two examples of hybrid systems.

Earning qualifiers beyond purchases include account activities, bonus promotions, and interactions with partners. Many programs offer double or triple points during promotional periods.

Maximizing Points for Flights and Hotels

Airline frequent flyer and hotel programs provide varying earning rates and redemption values based on your travel habits. Selecting programs that match your home airport’s main carriers and preferred hotel brands maximizes your points-earning potential.

Selecting the Right Frequent Flyer Program

Your home airport’s airline hub determines which program offers the most earning opportunities. Air Canada’s Aeroplan will get you the furthest since Air Canada has the largest fleet. However, if you’re based in Western Canada, WestJet Rewards could be valuable. VIPorter also has good reach since they’re partnered with Air Transat and Alaska Airlines.

Consider these key factors when choosing:

• Which airline you fly the most
• What your long term travel goals are
• How easy it is to earn points via flying or credit cards

If you live in Toronto and your goal is to travel to Europe on points, then choosing Air Canada is the natural choice. 

Earning from Hotel Loyalty Programs

As a Canadian, being loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain can be more complicated. Only Marriott Bonvoy offers a co-branded credit card, making it the easiest program to stick with. American Express Membership Rewards lets you transfer points to Hilton Honors, but it’s not a very favourable exchange.

Fairmont is a brand loved by many Canadians since it began in Canada, but there’s no straightforward way to earn Accor Live Limitless points beyond hotel stays.

Earning status with hotel loyalty programs can earn you some of the following benefits:

• Room upgrades
• Bonus point multipliers on stays
• Free breakfast
• Early check-in and late check-out privileges

If the price difference is minimal, focus your bookings within a single hotel loyalty program. This concentrated approach speeds up elite status qualification and boosts your long-term points earnings.

Frequent work trips offer the fastest route to elite status. Even with discounted corporate rates, you’ll still earn full loyalty points when booking directly with the hotel.

Collecting Retail Loyalty Rewards

Retail loyalty programs can be a powerful way to rack up points through everyday purchases. Grocery chains often feature rotating bonus categories and limited-time promotions, while gas stations offer steady fuel discounts and perks through partner merchants. It might not have the glamour of travel rewards, but for many, these programs deliver real savings where it counts.

Grocery Store Loyalty Programs

Most major grocery chains only provide points on in-store or targeted offers. However, there are some chains where you’ll earn points on every purchase as long as you scan your loyalty card. 

The most common grocery loyalty programs in Canada are:

• PC Optimum: This is the loyalty program for Loblaw’s owned grocery stores, such as Loblaws, No Frills, and Superstore. Note that T&T does not use PC Optimum.
• Scene+: Empire-owned grocery stores, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, and FreshCo, use these points.
• Moi: At Metro grocery stores, you earn Moi points on all items. However, at Food Basics, Moi only applies to targeted and in-store promotions.

Always load digital coupons found in your grocery store apps before shopping to earn additional loyalty points. Some apps only require you to open the app for the offers to load, while others require you to load them manually.

Gas Station Loyalty Programs

All the major gas stations in Canada are partnered with a loyalty program. Some of them even have strategic partnerships where you can earn two different types of points at the same time.

It’s not worth going out of your way to a specific gas station to earn points, but it does make sense to stick to one of the following chains:

• Petro-Canada/Gas+: You can earn Petro Points, Triangle Rewards and Avion Rewards if your accounts are linked and you pay with an RBC credit or debit card.
• Parkland: With Chevron, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Pioneer under Parkland, you can earn Aeroplan points as long as your account is linked to Journie Rewards.
• Esso/Mobil: Both Esso and Mobil allow you to earn PC Optimum points when filling up or making convenience store purchases.
• Shell: Air Miles has been the long-term partner of Shell. If you’re a CAA member, you can get additional savings right at the pump.

To maximize your earning rate at gas stations, consider using a co-branded credit card. Furthermore, these programs often feature promotions where you can earn extra points when filling up during specific periods, so stay alert to the offers in your app.

Boosting Points with Credit Cards and Sign-Up Bonuses

Credit cards provide some of the quickest ways to earn points and miles through strategic spending and welcome bonuses. The right mix of rewards programs and bonus earning opportunities can greatly speed up your point collection.

Choosing the Best Rewards Credit Cards

Select cards that align with your spending patterns and loyalty program goals. Travel-focused cards typically earn miles with airline partners, while general rewards cards offer flexible points you can transfer to multiple programs.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Annual fees versus potential rewards value
• Transfer partners and redemption options
• Earning rates for different spending categories
• Welcome bonuses

Start by comparing how different cards earn points. Some offer a flat rate on all purchases, while others reward specific categories like groceries, dining, or gas at higher rates.

Find cards that align with your favourite airlines or hotel chains. Direct partnerships make earning points seamless, while transfer partners offer flexibility across multiple programs.

If you spend heavily each month, premium cards with higher fees can be worth it thanks to elevated earning rates and perks. For lighter spenders, no-fee cards or a mix of multiple cards may offer better value

Utilizing Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Welcome bonuses offer significant point boosts when you meet minimum spending requirements within designated timeframes (usually three to six months). These bonuses often represent the best chance to earn rewards quickly.

Typical bonus structures:

• 50,000 to 100,000 points for premium travel cards
• Monthly points for 12 months
• Anniversary bonuses to encourage you to keep the card.

To make the most of credit card welcome bonuses, plan your applications around upcoming major purchases or expenses so you can meet spending thresholds naturally. 

Strategic timing is essential, so stagger new applications to safeguard your credit score and ensure you can meet each card’s minimum spend without difficulty. 

Use mobile apps or simple spreadsheets to track your progress and stay on top of bonus deadlines, so no opportunity slips through the cracks.

Maximizing Rewards with Bonus Categories

Many rewards credit cards offer elevated earning rates on select categories. These categories can multiply your point accumulation significantly when used strategically.

Common bonus categories include:

• Groceries 
• Gas stations 
• Dining and entertainment 
• Recurring payments

Use category-specific cards for maximum earning potential. This will require you to remember which card to use where, but the benefits are worth it. Also, keep in mind that some cards have spending caps. If you reach those limits regularly, have another card handy so you can keep earning additional points.

Multiplying Points with Online Shopping and Retail Purchases

Online shopping portals let you earn bonus rewards alongside your credit card points, while strategic retail purchases through loyalty programs can greatly boost your earning potential.

Using Shopping Portals for Extra Points

Shopping portals act as intermediaries between you and retailers, offering bonus points or miles for purchases made through their links. One of the most popular shopping portals is the Aeroplan eStore. This allows you to earn Aeroplan points at merchants such as Dyson, Sephora, Amazon, Dell, and more.

When you shop through a portal using a rewards credit card, you earn points from both sources on the same purchase. For example, if your credit card earns 2 points per dollar spent and the portal offers you 1 point, you’re earning 3 points per dollar spent.

Earning on Everyday Retail Purchases and Services

Keep in mind that many airline and retail programs have everyday partners where you can earn additional points. Some popular merchants where you can earn extra points include:

• LCBO and Uber for Aeroplan
• Shoppers Drug Mart for PC Optimum
• Cineplex with Scene+

Many Canadian programs allow points pooling between retail and travel partners. PC Optimum points can be redeemed at Loblaws grocery store, Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso. If you collect Scene+, you can use your points at Cineplex and select restaurants.

Final Thoughts

In today’s rewards-focused landscape, loyalty programs offer much more than occasional perks; they are a strategic tool for maximizing value from everyday spending. Whether you’re earning points through travel, retail, or credit card partnerships, the key is to align your choices with your lifestyle and financial habits. 

By understanding how different programs operate, utilizing bonus categories, and timing your credit card applications strategically, you can unlock a consistent flow of rewards that surpass the basics. 

With Chexy joining Aeroplan’s roster of partners, such as Starbucks, Uber, and LCBO, you now have an opportunity to earn additional points on a significant monthly recurring expense.

Aeroplan Chexy Partnership

As of April 15, 2025, Aeroplan members can now earn points when paying bills through Chexy. Anyone who’s currently renting and wants to travel for less will likely be interested in this partnership.

Aeroplan Everyday Partner

Now that Aeroplan is an Everyday Partner with Chexy, you can earn Aeroplan points on a range of expenses that were previously ineligible, such as rent and bill payments. This integration means you can accumulate points on your monthly expenses, which is handy for anyone looking to earn more Aeroplan points. 

Aeroplan Launch Offer with Chexy

To celebrate the launch, Chexy and Aeroplan are offering a limited-time promotion for new users. 

New Chexy users can earn up to 10,000 Aeroplan points by completing the following:

• Open a new Chexy account and make the first payment before July 15, 2025 and earn 2,000 points
• Earn an additional 1,000 points following the 12th consecutive monthly payment
• Earn 5,000 points after processing $5,000 in payments within 6 months of activating the first payment
• Earn 500 points for the second and each additional recurring payment (up to a total of four) made within 6 months of activating the first payment, up to 2,000 points
• All payments need to be a minimum of $50

Referral offer:

• Refer friends to earn more points: Earn 1,000 points for each new Chexy user referral who completes a first $50+ payment (up to 10 referrals per Chexy account).

Double-dip with an Aeroplan Credit Card

You can further increase your Aeroplan earnings by pairing an Aeroplan credit card with your Chexy payments. This allows you to double-dip, earning Aeroplan points from both your credit card and Chexy for the same transaction.

The best Aeroplan credit cards often come with strong welcome offers, but can also have a significant minimum spending requirement. By using Chexy, your monthly rent can help you meet those spending thresholds. 

Maximizing your earning potential means you’ll be able to get cheaper flights quicker. 

What is Chexy?

Chexy makes it possible for you to pay your rent, bills, and other significant expenses with a credit card, allowing you to earn points, miles, or cashback. This service is designed to unlock rewards on payments that are usually not eligible for credit card points or cash back.

How Chexy Works

Chexy allows you to pay with your credit card when they’re generally not accepted, such as rent, daycare, insurance, taxes, utilities, and gym memberships.

For example, after creating an account and verifying your identity, you’ll upload your lease and add your landlord’s details. Chexy charges your credit card and then sends the funds directly to your landlord by e-Transfer. You can easily customize the payment date and choose whether your landlord is an individual or a company. 

A unique feature is that you can change your payment method every month if necessary. This flexibility allows you to optimize your rewards for each rent cycle. Additionally, you receive a summary of your upcoming payment, detailing the fee, total cost, and estimated rewards, so you know what to expect.

Chexy Fees

Chexy charges a flat fee of 1.75% on each transaction when you pay with a Canadian Visa or American Express credit card. If you’re using an international card, a 2.5% fee applies.

For example, if your rent is $2,000, the fee will be $35 when paying with a Canadian credit card. This fee is added to your rent payment and is clearly displayed.

Depending on the credit card rewards you earn or the welcome bonus offered, this fee can be offset or even exceeded by the value of points, miles, or cash back.

Before making a payment, you can use Chexy’s calculator tool to estimate your net rewards after accounting for fees. This makes it simple to determine if using your card for rent is worthwhile based on your specific rewards program.

Final Thoughts

With the new partnership between Aeroplan and Chexy, you now have the option to earn points on expenses that typically wouldn’t qualify for rewards, such as rent and bill payments.

If you’re already an Aeroplan member, this can help you move closer to your next redemption without changing your day-to-day spending habits. While Chexy does charge fees, if you’re getting more value out of the points earned, it could be worth it. 

With various options available, understanding your travel habits and preferences is crucial in selecting a card that aligns with your goals. The key is to look for a card that offers generous rewards, flexibility in redemption options, and essential travel benefits like insurance and no foreign transaction fees.

You’ll quickly realize that no single card meets all your goals, so you may need to apply for multiple ones. Look for ones that match your spending patterns or offer additional perks like lounge access, priority boarding, and travel insurance.

While it may seem daunting, choosing the right travel credit card is easy if you follow these steps.

Set your travel goals

Identifying your travel goals is crucial when selecting a travel credit card. Consider where you plan to travel, which loyalty programs align with your goals, and how many points you need to make your dream trips a reality.

Determine where you want to go

Start by listing the destinations you wish to travel to. Generally, you want to come up with a few different destinations. Once you know where you want to go, make a priorities list. With your preferences set, it will give you some insights to help you choose a travel card that offers the best rewards and perks for your destinations.

Figure out what loyalty points will help you achieve your travel goals

Research the loyalty programs associated with your travel destinations. For example, if you live in eastern Canada and wish to go to Europe, the easiest way for most people to cross the Atlantic is with Air Canada. Therefore, you should focus on Aeroplan.

That said, it’s not always that simple. If you live in Toronto and want to visit London, you might naturally assume British Airways’ Avios is the best option. While this is sound logic, BA doesn’t make every seat available, so you could collect a ton of points with nowhere to go. 

Besides flights, you might have a specific property in mind. For example, the Ritz Carlton in the Maldives. In this scenario, you’ll need to start earning Marriott Bonvoy points.

Before applying for cards, research the loyalty programs to ensure they align with your travel goals. You want cards that provide rewards that maximize value.

Estimate how many points you’ll need

Calculating the points required for your desired trips is essential. Begin by checking the average point cost for flights or hotels in their respective loyalty programs. This information is available on the loyalty program’s website or app. You just need to create an account first.

For example, a return flight to Europe from eastern Canada costs roughly 80,000 Aeroplan points in economy class. If you want to fly business, you could easily spend 300,000 points. There’s no denying that business is a better experience, but you must earn 3.5 times more points for that journey. You need to decide what’s best for you.

Estimate the points based on when you plan to travel. If you’re travelling during peak times, you shouldn’t check prices during the shoulder season. You can develop a credit card strategy once you know how many points you’ll need.

Apply for Credit Cards

Once you know what type of rewards and the number of points you need to collect, choosing a travel credit card in Canada becomes much easier. You’ll mainly consider welcome offers, high earn rates, and transfer partnerships. Your focus should also extend beyond collecting points; consider additional benefits such as travel insurance and lounge access.

Choose cards based on the points you need

Once you know what type of points you’ll need, the natural thing is to apply for a credit card that earns you those points. For example, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is a great card to earn Aeroplan points on all your daily purchases.

Alternatively, you could consider an American Express Card that earns you Membership Rewards points since you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1 to 1 ratio or to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1 to 1.2 ratio.

This can be handy because a card such as the American Express Gold Rewards Card has a good earning rate, four free airport lounge passes and great travel insurance. 

At the start of your points-accumulating journey, getting as many points as possible quickly will be more important than any airline benefit. That means you may need to apply for multiple cards.

American Express Gold Rewards Card

• $250 annual fee
• Earn 5,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $1,000 each month for 12 months (60,000 points total)
• 10,000 additional points when using a referral link and spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on grocery, gas, pharmacy, and travel purchases
• Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual travel credit
• Priority Pass Membership + 4 annual Plaza Premium passes
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

Analyze welcome offers

Look for cards offering attractive welcome bonuses that align with your spending ability. These bonuses might include additional points that can be used towards future travel. For example, there might be an offer of 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 in the first three months. If you would naturally spend that much, you should sign up for a new card to take advantage of the welcome offer.

Sign-up bonuses can significantly boost your rewards balance. But there is one catch, the sign-up bonuses are becoming more complicated. Instead of getting a huge number of points that require you to spend $1,000 to $5,000, we’re now seeing bonuses that require monthly spending or a huge minimum spending requirement.

For example, you might get 5,000 points when spending $1,000 monthly for 12 months. Alternatively, you might need to charge $10,000 to your card in the first three months to get 100,000 points. Those are still good offers, but they require longer or more spending to earn points.

Since welcome offers always change, you should sign up immediately if you find a good one and can meet the minimum spending requirements.

Take advantage of referrals

When signing up for an American Express Card, there’s usually an elevated offer of 5,000 to 10,000 points when you use a referral link. These referral links come from existing members. If you sign up through their link, you get extra points.

The advantage here is obvious, but you can turbocharge things if you plan with a partner. For example, say you signed up for the American Express Platinum Card and received an enhanced offer of 10,000 points when you use a referral link. Once you have the card, you could refer your spouse. You could get an extra 10,000 points, and so would they, since they’re using your referral link.

Overall, you’ll receive roughly 30,000 extra points compared to signing up directly without a referral link.

Look at the earning rate

When you’re not working on a welcome bonus, you want to use a credit card with a high earning rate that gives you points in your preferred loyalty program. For example, if you spend a lot on groceries and eating out, then the American Express Cobalt Card is a good choice since it earns you 5 points per dollar spent on food and drinks. 

Remember, those points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1 to 1 ratio. Since one Aeroplan point is worth 1.5 to 2 cents each, you could get a return of up to 10% on dining and groceries.

American Express Cobalt Card

• $15.99 Monthly fee ($191.88 yearly)
• 1,250 monthly points when charging $750 each month for a year (15,000 points total)
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on eats and drinks
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on streaming services
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

Consider benefits beyond points

Don’t overlook additional benefits that complement reward earnings. Features like travel medical insurance, travel insurance, and airport lounge access can add great value. That said, many of these benefits are only relevant when you actually need to travel, so focusing on points accumulation is always the priority.

When you are ready to travel, you want to make sure you have cards that offer immediate benefits, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access. Cards such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and American Express Aeroplan Reserve are ideal for this.

Balancing rewards, fees, and additional benefits helps select a card that offers comprehensive value.

How to Meet Minimum Spending Requirements

When you’re aiming to meet your credit card’s minimum spending requirements, strategic planning is key.

1. Plan large purchases: Consider timing significant expenses such as travel bookings, home renovations, or insurance charges to align with your new card. These can quickly add up toward your spending target.
   
2. Prepay bills: You can prepay utilities, cell phone, or cable bills. This helps you meet spending milestones faster and ensures you don’t overextend each month.
   
3. Use gift cards: Purchase gift cards for stores or services you frequent. Note that you shouldn’t buy four to five $500 gift cards with American Express each month, as you’ll likely get banned. Smaller purchases of $100 to $200, combined with other purchases, are probably fine.
   
4. Family or friends’ expenses: Offer to pay for family or friends’ large expenses on your card and have them reimburse you. Make it clear to them what you’re doing so they don’t feel cheated. Also, only offer this if your friends and family can pay you back immediately.

Remember, tracking progress is vital. Keep an eye on your spending through your credit card portal or app to ensure you meet the required amount within the allotted time. Even if you’re $5 under, you will not get the bonus if you miss the spending deadline.

How New Credit Applications Affect Your Credit Score

Applying for new credit in Canada can notably impact your credit score. When you submit a new credit application, lenders perform a “hard inquiry” or “hard pull” on your credit report to assess your creditworthiness. 

Each hard inquiry will lower your credit score by 10 points. Multiple inquiries in a short period, especially for different types of credit, can compound this effect. While one or two applications may not significantly damage your score, frequent applications within a short time frame can raise red flags for lenders, suggesting potential financial instability. 

The good news is that this drop in your credit score is temporary. Your credit history will improve after a few months if you always pay your bills in full and on time each month.

When to Cancel Credit Cards

Cancelling a credit card can impact your credit score, so it’s important to consider the timing and reasons. You might want to cancel a card if it’s no longer serving its purpose or if the annual fees outweigh the benefits.

Consider these factors:

• No more use: You already received the welcome bonus and the card doesn’t have a good daily earning rate or yearly benefits
• Credit mix: It’s worth having two types of cards (American Express and Visa) so you have a backup card if one is not accepted.
• Annual fee: Annual fees can add up, so only keep cards where the annual benefits are more valuable than the yearly fee.
• Credit utilization: Your credit utilization ratio will change when you cancel a card, potentially increasing if your overall available credit decreases. It won’t make a difference if you’re cancelling a card with a low limit, but it might have a significant impact if you only have two cards.

Always verify that you’ve cleared any outstanding balance before closing your account. Double-check your credit report after cancellation to ensure accuracy.

Admittedly, some people find Aeroplan too confusing and difficult to find value. However, with Aeroplan, any available Air Canada seat can be booked on points. That means there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to find a reward seat to help you reach your dream destination. I’ve written a more detailed Aeroplan Rewards guide, but to help you navigate the best airline loyalty program in Canada, here are five tips you need to know about Aeroplan.

Earning points is easy

Of all the travel loyalty programs in Canada, Aeroplan is the easiest one to earn points. That’s because they have multiple ways to earn points, and you can double-dip in almost every situation. Since you can earn points quickly, that means you can easily redeem for free flights, hotel stays, and more. Simply put, it’s not difficult to earn 100,000+ Aeroplan points every year.

Credit cards

The easiest way for people to earn Aeroplan points is with a co-branded credit card. Aeroplan has more than 10 credit cards in three different tiers: entry, core and premium. Those who want a minimal annual fee should look at entry tier cards such as the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card. Core cards give you free checked bags and a higher earn rate but come with an annual fee of around $139. Premium cards have a healthy welcome bonus and tons of perks, such as free checked bags, priority check-in, priority boarding, and more, but the annual fee is $599.

I have a detailed list of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada available, but here are two cards you should consider:

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Apply now

• $139 annual fee – first year free
• 10,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• 15,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 in the first 180 days
• 20,000 Aeroplan points on your anniversary when you spend $12,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• First bag checked free on Air Canada flights

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card typically has a welcome bonus of 40,000 – 70,000 Aeroplan points. Although the annual fee is $139, it can be waived if you have a TD All-Inclusive bank account. Even if you don’t bank with TD, the card often offers to rebate the annual fee for the first year. Note that since this card is so similar to the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, you should apply for whichever one has the better welcome offer.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

• $599 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 points when spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
• Earn 25,000 points per month when spending $2,500 in month 13
• Earn 3 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on Air Canada, 2 points on dining and food delivery, and 1.25 points on all other purchases
• Unlimited free access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and a guest
• Free first checked bag, priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

Anyone looking for a bunch of Air Canada benefits should consider a premium card such as the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. The welcome bonus is typically worth 90,000 to 120,000 points, but it’s the perks that attract a lot of people. With this card, you’ll get Maple Leaf Lounge access for you and a guest in North America, priority airport check-in, priority boarding, and access to priority lines at select Canadian airports. In addition, you can roll over some unused status qualifying miles and eUpgrade credits to the following year.

Flying

As you can imagine, you can also earn Aeroplan points by flying on Air Canada or one of its partners. Oddly enough, this is not a great way to earn points since many restrictions are in place. The number of points you’ll get is based on how far you’re flying, the type of seat you’ve chosen, and the fare class. You can see how many points you’ll earn for a specific flight by looking at the fare options. Note that you’ll only earn points on cash fares. You don’t get any points on flights that are booked with your Aeroplan points.

Retail partners / eStore

Aeroplan has a partnership with Uber. All you need to do is link your account, and you’ll earn points on every ride. When shopping at the LCBO, you’ll earn Aeroplan points if you scan your Aeroplan card. In addition, Aeroplan has an eStore with 200+ retail partners, including Amazon, Best Buy, Lego, Apple, Sephora, and more.

Once you’ve logged into your Aeroplan account, head to the eStore section. Click the merchant you want to shop with, and you’ll be taken to the website. Any eligible purchases you make at that retailer will earn you Aeroplan points. Plus, if you pay with your Aeroplan credit card, you’ll get points from your regular earn rate. This effectively allows you to double-dip your points.

Transfer from American Express

One final easy way to earn Aeroplan points is to transfer your points from American Express Membership Rewards (MR). The transfer ratio is 1:1 (1,000 points minimum). This is a highly lucrative proposition since that gives you a points currency that can be converted to Aeroplan points. American Express has four consumer credit cards that earn you MR points. If you applied for one of these cards and one Aeroplan card a year, you could easily earn 100,000 points a year from the welcome bonus alone.

Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing

Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing for its reward seats on Air Canada flights. That means the number of points it’ll cost you per flight will vary depending on the supply and demand. In addition, Aeroplan uses a flight rewards chart. That means the number of points required for a flight redemption will vary depending on where you’re flying to and the distance flown. The four major zones are as follows:

Within North America

North America to Atlantic

North America to Pacific

North America to South America

Generally speaking, the ranges listed in the chart are accurate. There’s one exception. Business class seats will often far exceed the maximum threshold listed. This can be exceptionally annoying for Aeroplan users as there could be a 100,000+ points difference.

If you’re looking to fly in economy and want to minimize the number of points you’re using, play around with your dates and departure times. Flights departing Tuesday through Thursday often cost fewer points than those leaving from Friday to Monday. In addition, the first and last flights out for the day typically cost fewer points than the mid-day options since they’re less popular.

Even though you can pay a fixed number of points if you choose to fly with a partner airline, finding space on one of those partners can be very difficult.

The value of your points can differ

Since Aeroplan pricing fluctuates, your points’ value will also differ. Generally, 1 Aeroplan has a cost per point (CPP) value of 1.5 – 2 cents. When making redemptions, if you can get a CPP in that range, you should consider it a good deal. If the value falls below 1.5 cents, you may want to pay cash instead.

To calculate your cost per point (CPP), you would use the following formula:

(cash price – any taxes and fees) X 100 / Number of points required = CPP

Now let’s look at a practical example of a flight from Toronto to Cancun. Below is the cash price and the number of Aeroplan points required for a redemption.

If you were interested in the 8:50am flight, you’d use the following formula:

($575 – $118) X 100 / 35,200 = 1.30 CPP

That’s obviously a terrible CPP, so it’s not a good value for your points. However, you likely noticed that on the same flight, you can get a premium economy seat for 25,700 points. Using the formula again, you’d get the following:

($626 – $118) X 100 / 25,700 = 1.98 CPP

That’s a great value for premium economy, and it costs less than the economy seat, so that’s the obvious choice to go with.

But another thing to consider is that when you’re ready to confirm your ticket with Aeroplan, they give you four options. You can pay with fewer points and more cash, or all points and no cash. That said, each redemption has a different value. Take a look at the following example, which is taken from the 6:15am flight to Cancun.

From left to right, the actual value is as follows:

• 1.59 CPP
• 1.67 CPP (POPULAR)
• 1.71 CPP
• 1.42 CPP (POINTS ONLY)

Aeroplan will typically default you to the “popular” choice, but the best value is almost always the second one from the right (which is the amount you see during your initial search). Occasionally, the popular choice has a better CPP value, but that doesn’t happen often. Either way, when comparing the 6:15am and 8:50am flights, flying premium on points at 8:50am presents the best value. That said, remember that Aeroplan is dynamic. The search results above could change the next day.

You can cancel your ticket for free within 24 hours

With dynamic pricing, sometimes it makes sense to book some reward seats right away and figure out the logistics later. For many people, that’s impossible as they may need to coordinate with others or ask for time off. However, with cash and Aeroplan flights, you can cancel your ticket for a full refund as long as you do it within 24 hours of your original booking. This is essential if you ever come across a fare that offers exceptional value or is priced well below the norm.

Using the example above again, the premium economy flight to Cancun should obviously be priced more than the economy flight. You might as well book It immediately and try to sort out any details within your 24-hour window. If all things go well, you keep the ticket. If you’re unsure about your plans, cancel and rebook when ready.

In a worst-case scenario, you can change your ticket later (but a fee of about $100 applies, and you would pay the difference in points). You could also cancel for a fee of $150. The alternative is to book a higher fare class that costs more points but is fully refundable.

For example, let’s say you fund a business class flight on a partner airline to Europe would typically cost 70,000 points for a standard fare. However, a flexible fare is 85K points. Since these tickets are hard to find, you could book the flex fare first. Since the flex fare allows you to change at any time, you can take time to sort your plans. Alternatively, you can cancel the flight if you find something better or need to change your date without worrying about any fees.

To be clear, occasionally, you’ll come across a fare that costs way fewer points than it should. When you see those, book them immediately and think about the details afterward. If you wait even a day, or even a few hours, that ticket cost could increase.

You can pool your points with family

Another top Aeroplan tip is to take advantage of the Family Sharing Plan. With Family Sharing, up to eight Aeroplan members can join together. When this is done, points are earned and redeemed as a team. This is relevant because each person earns points individually.

For example, if you’re a family of four, each person would earn Aeroplan points when flying Air Canada as long as each member has an Aeroplan number. Individually, it would take quite some time for each person to earn enough points to get a good redemption. However, as a family, your points are pooled. This allows you to earn and redeem your points as a team, which means quicker redemptions.

As mentioned above, it’s not hard for someone to earn 100,000 Aeroplan points a year if they signed up for two credit cards each year that earned them Aeroplan points. That’s easily 200,000 points for a couple. 200,000 points is roughly enough points for four people to travel anywhere within North America in economy. In other words, a family of four can travel almost every year just on points.

Check out my Aeroplan Family Sharing guide for more details.

Final thoughts

Since Air Canada is Canada’s number one airline, many Canadians will naturally fly with them. As a result, it’s in your best interest to know the basics of the program. The good news is that earning points is easy and you can redeem your points for any seat available on Air Canada. If you read my Aeroplan Rewards guide, you can learn more details about the program. That said, the five tips provided above should put you on the path of travelling for less.

That said, if you adjust your strategy slightly, you can still travel for less. You just need to be more realistic about your goals and plan further ahead if you can.

Set your goal

Regarding reward travel, you need to set your goal first. You need to establish where you want to go and how many points it’ll take you there. Aeroplan uses a rewards chart, so in theory, you’ll have a rough idea of how many points it’ll take you to get to your destination. The problem is that Aeroplan also uses dynamic pricing, so the number of points required for a flight often exceeds what’s listed on the chart.

The good news is that the excessive number of points required typically only applies to premium economy and business class seats. You can still find flights in economy for a reasonable number of points. For example, a return flight from Toronto to many destinations in Europe is roughly 80,000 – 90,000 Aeroplan points. The cash value of those flights was over $1,500 $2,000, so you could easily get a cost per point (CPP) of over 1.5 – 2, which is good value.

Once you know roughly how many points you need for redemption, you can start figuring out which credit cards will help you reach your goal. The one issue now is that most credit card welcome bonuses use a monthly structure, so it’s hard to accumulate many points quickly. You need to plan ahead.

This is also an excellent time to review the details of Aeroplan, so you know how the program works and what tricks there are to earn and redeem your points.

• Aeroplan Rewards guide
• 5 Aeroplan tips you need to know

Calculating the value of your Aeroplan redemptions

Generally, I value one Aeroplan point at 1.5 – 2 cents. This value is based on me doing hundreds of searches for flight redemptions. To calculate the value of your points, you’d use the following formula

(Cash fare – addition charges) X 100 / Number of points required = Cost per point (CPP)

Let’s use a practical example of a one-way flight from Toronto to Tokyo.

Based on the above information, the CPP for each class would be as follows:

• Economy = 2.73 CPP
• Premium economy = 1.98 CPP
• Business = 1.46 CPP

The economy fare offers incredible value for this specific flight since you get a CPP of 2.73. Premium economy is also good at 1.98 CPP. However, business class is 1.46 CPP, which falls below the recommended value of 1.5 – 2 CPP. In this case, using points for economy or premium economy is a no-brainer. For business, you’d likely be better off paying cash.

Remember, since Air Canada uses dynamic pricing, the cost of flights and the value of your points can change at any given time.

Now, let’s use another example, but this time, it is with a partner airline. Here’s a cash fare on Turkish Airlines from Toronto to Istanbul compared to an Aeroplan redemption.

This specific flight gives you an incredible value of 4.91 CPP. That’s because Turkish Airlines is a partner airline, and partner flights use fixed pricing with Aeroplan. I searched for this flight about 10 months out and found it, but I also needed to search dozens of dates. If you have specific travel dates, finding a partner airline will be near impossible.

Understand the new rules of Aeroplan

Aeroplan introduced new terms and conditions regarding credit card welcome bonuses. This is in addition to new rules that were established previously. Generally, the main things you need to know are as follows:

• You can typically only get two welcome bonuses from Aeroplan credit cards in one year.
• You can only get one welcome bonus per card type per lifetime.

The good news is that there are five types of Aeroplan cards:

• Basic
• Core
• Premium
• Small business basic
• Small business premium

Even though there are five types of Aeroplan cards, you would likely only receive the welcome bonus for one personal and one small business card in the same year. Additionally, Aeroplan recently started clawing back welcome bonuses from those breaking the rules. You don’t want to abuse the system if you value your Aeroplan points.

These rules aren’t technically new, but they’re now being enforced to stop people from constantly cancelling and applying for new cards to get multiple welcome bonuses in a year. Regular card activity likely won’t affect you.

It’s also worth mentioning that American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Since these cards aren’t formal Aeroplan credit cards, the rules from Aeroplan don’t apply. That said, American Express has its own rules to be aware of. The good news is that American Express has excellent daily-use cards that come with great benefits such as:

• American Express Cobalt Card
• American Express Platinum Card
• American Express Business Platinum Card
• American Express Gold Rewards Card
• American Express Business Gold Rewards Card
• American Express Green Card

Choose a credit card for daily use

Regardless of your goals and timeline, earning as many Aeroplan points as possible should be your priority. To do this, you want a credit card that earns you Aeroplan points or an American Express card that earns you Membership Rewards points since you can transfer your points to Aeroplan.

Right now, the American Express Gold Rewards Card will give you the highest return.

American Express Gold Rewards Card

• $250 annual fee
• Earn 5,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $1,000 each month for 12 months (60,000 points total)
• 10,000 additional points when using a referral link and spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on grocery, gas, pharmacy, and travel purchases
• Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual travel credit
• Priority Pass Membership + 4 annual Plaza Premium passes
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

I recommend the American Express Gold Rewards Card if you want to earn decent points for a reasonable spend. For 12 months, you can earn 5,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when spending $1,000 each month, for a total of 60,000 points.

However, if you sign up with a referral link, you get an extra 10,000 points when spending $4,000 in the first three months. When you factor in the minimum spending requirement and referral bonus, that’s a minimum of 82,000 points you’ll earn in the first year.

The card does have an annual fee of $250, but you get a yearly $100 travel credit, great travel insurance, and four airport lounge passes.

Although the American Express Cobalt Card has a higher daily earning rate, the welcome bonus with the Gold Card is four times better, and you only need to spend $250 more a month.

Since your points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a one-to-one ratio, this is easily one of the best welcome offers if you want Aeroplan points. The downside is that you don’t get any Air Canada benefits with these cards.

Some other Aeroplan cards worth considering at the TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Cards.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Apply now

• $139 annual fee – first year free
• 10,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• 15,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 in the first 180 days
• 20,000 Aeroplan points on your anniversary when you spend $12,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• First bag checked free on Air Canada flights

The CIBC and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Cards are virtually identical, as they have the same earning rate. Some people prefer these cards because they give the primary cardholder and up to 8 travelling companions their first checked bag free. Aeroplan cardholders also get preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight redemptions. The travel insurance on the CIBC and TD cards is also better than that on the Cobalt card. While the Air Canada benefits are good with these cards, the welcome bonus has recently been lacking.

Now, let’s say you plan on doing a lot of travel in the upcoming year, and you have quite a few major expenses coming up; it may make sense to get a premium travel rewards card.

American Express Platinum Card

• $799 annual fee
• Earn 90,000 Membership Rewards points when using a referral link and spending $10,000 in the first 3 months
• 50,000 additional points when making any purchase in months 15 – 17
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining and travel, and 1 point on all other purchases
• $200 annual travel credit
• $200 annual dining credit (per calendar year)
• Unlimited airport lounge access
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

The American Express Platinum Card has an annual fee of $799, but you can reduce the fee to $399. You get a yearly $200 dining credit and an annual dining credit. The one downside is that the list of restaurants is limited.

The travel benefits included with the card are unlimited airport lounge access for you and a guest to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, hotel status upgrades, comprehensive travel insurance, and special perks at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

It’s also worth noting that the welcome bonus is typically worth between 70,000 and 100,000 Membership Rewards. If you transfer those points to Aeroplan and use my valuation of 1.5 – 2 CPP, that’s a real return of up to $2,000. That said, the minimum spend requirement is often quite high at $7,500 – $10,000, so only sign up for the card if you have a lot of natural spending coming up.

Be smart about your destination

Although I stated earlier it’s best to have a destination in mind and start accumulating points towards that goal, it’s often worth being flexible. For example, I toyed with the idea of going to Cancun last year, but the cost of flights was insane due to the demand. I instead pivoted to Florida.

Even though I visit Orlando regularly, the costs of flights were half the price compared to Cancun. I also felt there was more to do in Orlando. Cancun’s beaches are much better, but the value was better in Florida.

The same thing applied to a trip I planned to take to Europe later this year. My main goal is to fly to Amsterdam to visit family. Where I fly home from is less of a concern. I naturally considered Paris and London since they’re an easy ride. I found a decent business class flight home from London, but it still would have cost me 100,000 Amex points (I’d transfer them to FlyingBlue). Instead, I chose to fly home from London because economy seats were going for 40,000 points. Since this is a day flight, flying business is not a huge priority.

Many people look for business class flights or top-value flights, but I like to stretch my points so I can travel more.

Final thoughts

Whether you travel multiple times a year or only once with your family, earning Aeroplan points is worthwhile since it’ll allow you to save money on future travel. However, since welcome bonuses have become less lucrative with many personal credit cards, you need to adjust your strategy. Having one primary card that earns you points on all your daily spending is essential. However, applying for some business credit cards may be the way to go.

Figuring out the extra cost part is straightforward. Putting a value on the extra perks might be more challenging. In this article, I’ll cover all the benefits of booking a business class ticket with Air Canada to help you decide if it’s worth it for you.

Air Canada business pre-departure benefits

Many frequent flyers who have flown business with multiple carriers may complain about Air Canada’s service, but the reality is that Canadians may only fly business once or twice in their lifetimes. Booking business class on Air Canada comes with more than just a better seat in the plane. You get an entire experience, including:

• Concierge service – You get access to concierge agents who can assist you with all your flight needs. You can also find concierge agents in Maple Leaf Lounges and business class ticket counters.
• Priority check-in – There are dedicated counters for skipping the line-up during in-person check-in. Air Canada even offers a dedicated business class check-in area at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
• Free checked bags – Your first two checked baggage (up to 32kg) are free.
• Priority security clearance – You can use the priority security lanes in most airports.
• Executive lounge access – Enjoy free entry to Maple Leaf Lounges in 16 airports, plus Star Alliance partner lounges where Maple Leaf Lounge aren’t available. These lounges offer a quieter environment with superior seating compared to the general airport waiting area. They also provide working desks and complimentary food and beverages.
• Priority boarding – Business class passengers get zone 1 boarding. Depending on the aircraft, they also get their own entrance on the bridge to the plane.
• Priority baggage handling – Your checked baggage will have priority tags and should be among the first on the carousel.

It’s worth noting that you can enjoy many of these pre-departure benefits by holding one of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada. Premium co-branded credit cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite also give you your first checked bag free (regardless of class), just for being a cardholder.

Higher-end Aeroplan co-branded credit cards like the American Express Aeroplan Reserve offer nearly all the airport benefits of booking business class. This includes Air Canada Priority check-in, priority boarding, free first checked baggage, and complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounge for the cardholder when flying with Air Canada.

Air Canada Business cabin and seats

Air Canada has a wide range of aircrafts and routes, so the business class experience may vary significantly.

Air Canada signature service

If you book a business ticket on a route that offers Signature Service, you will get the best that Air Canada has to offer. Signature Class is offered on Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 aircrafts.

Signature Service provides a dedicated and isolated cabin for business class passengers. Each passenger has their own pod, which converts to a fully flat bed. Additionally, you will be provided with a pillow, blanket, mattress pad, amenity kit and headsets. It’s worth noting that Air Canada’s Boeing planes are newer than the Airbus 330, and the pods in Boeing aircraft are usually better.    

Business class

If you book a business class ticket on a narrow-body aircraft (with only a single aisle to walk down), you won’t have a dedicated business class cabin or lie-flat beds.
However, business class still offers better and wider seats with more legroom at the front of the plane. Business class rows have fewer seats compared to economy. For example, planes with a 3-3 seat configuration in economy will have a 2-2 seat configuration in business. You are guaranteed to have either a window or an aisle seat in any Air Canada business class seat. You can check the configuration of Air Canada’s entire fleet here.

Premium Rouge

Business class ticket booked on flights operated by Air Canada Rouge are branded Premium Rouge. The pre-flight benefits are the same as any Air Canada business class ticket. It is worth mentioning that Rouge aircrafts are on average older than Air Canada ones.

Air Canada business meals

The meals you get when flying business depend on the route, length and aircraft. Air Canada’s business meals aren’t nearly as good as other airlines, but what you get is significantly better than what you’d be served in economy. You can expect the following based on the class you’ve booked.

Air Canada signature service

For international flights in Signature Service, Air Canada offers a full meal depending on the departure time. It includes a choice of hot main dishes, an appetizer, a salad, a bread roll, cheese, crackers, and dessert. Breakfast may also be included depending on the flight’s duration and timing. Additionally, there are hot snack options available mid-flight, as well as a snack basket accessible throughout the entire flight. All beverages, including water bottles, espresso coffee, soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits, and champagne, are free. Please note that all-inclusive meal trays for flights within North America are provided for flights lasting over 2\two hours. However, there won’t be a mid-flight hot snack, and the dining menu may differ. You can find the exact menu for each flight here.

Business class & premium Rouge

For flights over 2 hours, both business class and Premium Rouge offer all-inclusive breakfast with hot meal trays served with premium tableware. Hot meal trays include a main dish, salad, bread and dessert. All drinks are free, including water bottles, espresso coffee, soft drinks and bar service (beer, wine and spirits).

Air Canada business class entertainment

The entertainment options on Air Canada flights have improved over the years. Not only are screens bigger, but quite often, movies will be available that are still in theatres or have recently ended their theatrical run. That said, the entertainment you’ll get will be different depending on the type of business class you’ve booked.

Air Canada signature service

Signature pods have 18 inches touchscreen entertainment system with a remote control. Air Canada also lends you noise-cancelling headsets, and you will have USB charging ports as well as power outlets. The in-flight entertainment selection offered by Air Canada is extensive and regularly updated, including movies, TV series, music, games, and live TV. It’s worth noting that Air Canada now offers free data texting for Aeroplan members.

Business class

The availability of in-flight entertainment will vary depending on the aircraft and route you select. Most of Air Canada’s aircraft are equipped with tv screens, although smaller regional planes may not have them. Some business class seats may have wider screens, while others will have the same as economy. In most cases, the in-flight entertainment experience in business class is very similar to that in economy class.

Premium Rouge

Rouge aircrafts are not equipped with individual screens on seats. You still have free access to the Air Canada entertainment directory, but you need to bring your laptop, tablet or phone and stream on it. Premium Rouge does offer free Wi-Fi.

How to book business class with Air Canada

In order to book a business class ticket with Air Canada, you need to go on aircanada.com under book and enter the desired route and date in the search engine. You will then see prices for each flight for economy, Premium Economy and Business Class.

You can also click on “Details” to see which aircraft is scheduled for that flight and click on “Seats” to see the cabin configuration and which seats are still available. Air Canada will also add a logo to quickly identify the flights with Signature Service which includes lie-flat beds. As you can see, the price jump to business class is significant. In the example above, that’s a one-way fare you’re looking at.

Fare options

Once you click on the price, it will open a tab and you’ll need to select your fare option.

There are two fare options: Lowest and Flexible. Lowest isn’t refundable and changing your flight has a fee of $100 within North America, more for international flights. Flexible fare is refundable, includes same-day standby and has no extra fee for changes. Of course, you pay a premium for those extra perks.

How to book Air Canada business class with Aeroplan points

The process to book an Air Canada business class ticket with Aeroplan points is almost identical as booking it with cash. You just need to check the “book with Point AEROPLAN” box.

The search results will then be shown in points instead of dollars. Since Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing, the number of points required for a redemption could change within hours. If you see a great price, booking it right away is sometimes worth it. You always get 24 hours to cancel without a fee, so you have some time to figure out if you want to keep the ticket.

Similar to cash fares, clicking on the price will also open on the fare tab:

Note that when you book with Aeroplan points, the Lowest Reward fare can be refundable but will cost $150 per person and per way.

The value of Aeroplan points

Some people will find the idea of paying for business class to be not worth it since the cost is significantly more than economy, but it is possible to fly in business for cheap with Aeroplan points. Generally, 1 Aeroplan point is worth about 2 cents. If you can get a value of 2 cents per point when redeeming your points, then you’re getting a good value. To calculate the cost per point of your redemption, you’d use the following formula:

(Cash price – taxes/fees) X 100 / Points required for redemption = CPP

Using the 6:45AM departure example from above, your formula would look like this:

($1,477 – $48) X 100 / 76,100 = 1.88 CPP

While this specific redemption isn’t the best value, it’s pretty close. 76,100 Aeroplan points is still a lot, but that’s not hard to obtain, thanks to all the generous welcome bonuses available when signing up for a new Aeroplan credit card.

Is Air Canada business class worth it?

So, is Air Canada business class worth it? Air Canada Business class is undoubtedly superior to economy, but I wouldn’t say it’s always worth the additional cost. As mentioned earlier, the experience in business class can vary significantly depending on the aircraft and route. In addition, the price difference compared to economy can also fluctuate significantly since Air Canada uses dynamic pricing.

How much a person values the benefits is also highly subjective. Some travellers exclusively book business class, while others prefer to save the extra money to spend during their trip or to afford more trips. Personally, my decision-making process is always based on value, and I sometimes find business class to be too expensive. The perks you get compared to economy or premium economy aren’t really worth the price. That said, there’s no denying that the comfort of business class is significantly better than economy

I knew I wanted to stay at an on-site Disney property during my recent visit to Orlando since it gave me early access to the theme parks. Considering how busy Disney World is these days, the extra 30 minutes you get as an on-site hotel guest makes a huge difference.

As a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member, one minor thing bothered me. That said, my only complaint will have no relevance to paying guests or anyone without Platinum or Titanium status. Check out my Walt Disney World Swan Reserve review for complete details. 

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve – Location  

The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is the newest property in the Epcot Resort Area. It’s located at 1255 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL. That puts it across the street from the Walt Disney World Swan and Reserve hotels. Admittedly, the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is the furthest hotel in the area from Epcot’s International Gateway (the back entrance), but it’s only a 15-minute walk. That said, you’re about equal walking distance to the entrance of Hollywood Studios, so it’s still in a very excellent location.

All of the hotels in the Epcot Resort area are designed to keep you on Disney property. You can easily access the parks, Disney’s Boardwalk, dining options, amenities, and Disney Springs. The hotel even provides free shuttles to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. If you don’t feel like walking, you can take the free water taxi to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Since all Disney-related things are nearby, you could get away without a rental car. Even if you plan on doing things like outlet shopping and visiting Universal Studios, you may not need a rental car since booking rideshares will be cheaper than paying for your vehicle and daily parking ($34 U.S.).

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve – Room type

The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve has 349 guest rooms. This is significant because its sister properties, Swan and Dolphin, have 756 and 1,514 rooms, respectively. This makes the Reserve a much more intimate property, which is no surprise since it’s part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

I stayed in the traditional guest room with two queen beds and an Epcot view. While some view hotels as just a place to sleep, I consider them as part of the vacation experience. So, while it may cost you more in cash or points, the views are epic if you’re on a higher floor.

Another reason this view is worth it is because it allows you to see the fireworks at both Epcot and Magic Kingdom. I let my daughter stay up every night to watch the shows, and she was mesmorized.

The room itself is a standard hotel size. So while not spacious, it does the job. I liked that the beds have a natural spot built into the bed frame so you can store your luggage. There were also more than enough charging ports, including USB-A and USB-C ports.

A giant TV is in the room, which can be easily seen when sitting on either bed. Directly below is a cabinet with storage, a safe, and a mini fridge. There’s also a desk with a comfortable chair if you need to work.

The spacious washroom features a huge standup shower with a rain shower and massage head. There’s even a little step for people who need to shave their legs. The shower features refillable body wash, shampoo and conditioner. You have individual bottles of body lotion, body wash and conditioner at the vanity. One thing I found lacking was towel hooks. There was only one in the washroom, so we had to hang our towels on coat hangers throughout the room.

Housekeeping and turndown service is provided each day. You’ll also be given two bottles of water each day by default. You can always request additional water bottles for free, but I just went to the gym and used the refill station to minimize waste. There’s an ice machine located on each floor by the elevators.

In case you’re wondering, I asked about a room upgrade as the suites looked amazing, but since three weddings were happening during my stay, no suites were available.

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve – Amenities

The amenities are where my Walt Disney World Swan Reserve review gets interesting. On the property, you can access a gym, pool, jogging tracks, lounge areas (no Marriott lounge), and shuttles to Disney attractions. In addition, since this hotel is part of the Walt Disney World Swan/Dolphin complex, you get access to all shared amenities too.

Let’s start with the Reserve’s pool. I personally think this pool is highly underrated. While it may not be as “fun” as other pools on the resort grounds, it’s heated. This was significant since I visited the property in December when temperatures could drop. Also, since there aren’t as many rooms at this hotel, fewer people use the pool.

The health club on the second floor is open 24 hours a day and has just about everything you need for a complete workout. You have weights, treadmills, stationary bikes, and more. They also have fruit for a post-workout snack (or a free breakfast).

The lounge area is technically part of the bar, but it wasn’t very busy when I visited. I hung out here during the mornings doing work while my wife and daughter slept in the room. 

As for the shared amenities, they did not disappoint. Since my daughter is still young, she loves playgrounds. Having a good-sized one available was great as we spent our downtime there when she had energy. The playground is located right beside one of their man-made beaches with hammocks.

I also visited the grotto pool, which is located on the Dolphin side of the resort. There’s also a lap pool and hot tub in the area. To access the pools, you’d cross the street from the Reserve and follow the path to the left. It takes less than three minutes to get there. You just need to show your room key to get towels.

Other amenities you can access include Camp Dolphin, a supervised Children’s play area for kids aged 4 to 12, an arcade in the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and Swan paddle boats. The Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf is found beside the parking lot of the Reserve Hotel, but you have to pay to play.

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve – Dining

The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve has four dining options available for guests:

• Amare – This is the main restaurant that has a Middle Eastern theme and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Tangerine – A poolside restaurant that serves small bites. Some menu items are the same as Amare.
• Grounds – A grab-and-go spot that serves typical sandwiches, pastries, beverages, and alcohol.
• Stir – The lobby bar. 

As a Titanium member, I chose complimentary breakfast as my welcome gift. The hotel provided me with vouchers for each day I was staying. Typically, these vouchers cover the full buffet and include tips, but these ones clearly stated that only continental breakfast was included. I personally have no problem with this, but it was disappointing nonetheless. Fortunately, the continental breakfast was still good, as I had access to pastries, fruit, juice, coffee, tea, cereal, and parfaits. I could have upgraded to the full breakfast for an additional US $16, but I decided against that.

I also booked a dinner at Rosa Mexicano located in the Dolphin Hotel. I love Mexican food, so I was not disappointed by this upscale joint. It’s not traditional Mexican food, but it was perfect for our last meal. Since all these dining options are located on hotel grounds, expect hotel prices.

It’s worth mentioning that you can book any Disney restaurant 60 days in advance. I highly recommend doing this as many restaurants will be booked fully and have long walk-in times. There are a few fast-casual spots, but even those can have waits of 30 minutes.

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve – Cost

A quick check of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve shows rooms for US$450ish per night during non-peak periods. However, that price can easily jump up to US$650+ per night during busy periods. You’ll need to pay even more if you want a nicer room, like the Epcot facing ones.

In addition, there’s a mandatory US$40+ taxes per night resort fee, which provides the following:

• In-room high-speed internet
• Daily instructor led fitness classes
• Swan paddle boat rides
• Parking at Disney parks

Although resort fees in Orlando are standard, I think they’re ridiculous. Hotels should add this charge right into the cost of the room instead of advertising lower prices and then charging travellers extra later. Like really, is free daily internet supposed to be some kind of a deal when you’re charging me US$40 a day? Free parking at the theme parks is not a big deal either since you can walk or get free transportation just by being a guest.

As mentioned, the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is a Marriott property so you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points to book a room. Depending on the room, rates are anywhere from 50,000 – 85,000 points per night. That means it’s not hard to get a value of 1 cent per point when making a redemption, which is a good return for your points.

The Canadian American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card only gives you a free night certificate worth 35,000 points, with the option to top it up with an additional 15,000 points. This may not be enough for a free night at the Reserve, but you could get something at Swan or Dolphin. 

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

Welcome bonus: 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Annual fee: $120

MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

I should also mention that I tried using a Marriott gift card, but the staff could not apply it. To be fair, they tried their hardest and even contacted accounting but had no luck. The issue is that even though it’s a Marriott property, it’s also Disney. That made the back-end stuff a bit complicated. Plus, I was using a Canadian gift card, adding an extra layer due to the currency exchange.

Final thoughts

My Walt Disney World Swan Reserve review is positive. This was my first time staying on-site at a Disney property, and it did not disappoint. All the staff I encountered were very friendly, and many remembered my name after my first interaction with them. 

Since this hotel opened in November 2021, it’s not dated or showing any signs of wear and tear. I also liked that the hotel never felt busy, even though they were at 90% occupancy.

For some people, the cost of the hotel (points and cash) may seem a bit high compared to off-site properties, but you’re staying here if you want luxury and easy access to the parks. I would stay here again, but I’m also tempted to try out the Swan or Dolphin hotels to see how they compare.

While some people who don’t have a formal business may be hesitant to apply for a business card, the reality is that people do it all the time. I’m not necessarily encouraging it, I’m just saying is a great strategy if you want to earn points quickly.

Can I get a business credit card without a business?

The short answer is yes, but it depends on the credit card provider and what you’re willing to do. When applying for a business credit card, the application will ask you for your business details. In most cases, you can put in whatever you want, and it could qualify you for a business credit card. That said, if you’re going to make something up, make it somewhat related to your everyday job.

I’m not suggesting you lie, but it’s never been easier to be a business owner. If your side hustle is driving for rideshare companies or doing food delivery, then you have a business. Technically speaking, if you provide advice or service to friends or family, you also have a business. 

What many people don’t realize is that you also don’t technically need to register a business to have a business. In many cases, there’s no need to. For example, someone who resells items from Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace has a business, but there’s no real reason to register. Also note that you’re not required to register for a GST or HST number unless you hit $30,000 in income each year. In other words, taxes is not something you need to worry about.

What is a business credit card?

A business credit card is pretty much the same as a personal card, but it may include some additional benefits, such as:

• Extended payment options
• Increased spending limit
• Increased earn rates
• Protection from employee abuse
• Business and expense management tools

It doesn’t matter if you run a small business, have hundreds of employees or you’re a freelancer. Access to one of Canada’s best business credit cards can help you improve your day-to-day operations. A business credit card ensures you’ll have the funds to operate and grow your business. Alternatively, business credit cards are just another tool to manage your expenses or earn you more points.

Business credit card requirements

While filling out a business credit card application, it’ll ask you for information about your business. The most common things will be things such as the name and address of your business. Remember, since anyone can have a business and side hustles are considered a business, there’s nothing unusual about having your own name, or a made-up business name, and your personal address as your business information.

There’s also typically a business income question. Obviously, the more income you make, the more likely you’ll be approved. That said, many people get a business credit card as they set up their business when their income is zero. Since that doesn’t always look great, they may put their projected income instead.

Although business income is relevant, you need to consider how credit card providers operate. For example, American Express has no formal income requirement for its personal credit cards. It’s safe to assume that they probably operate under similar conditions for their business credit cards. 

I suspect many credit card providers are more interested in your credit score during the approval process since that’s a more accurate way to tell if you’re creditworthy.

Again, I’m not suggesting you lie, but if you’re asking, can I get a business credit card without a business? The answer is yes if you’re creative.

How to qualify for a business credit card

I’ve listed the requirements above, but credit card providers have the right to audit each application. Even though you might be approved immediately, credit card providers may check your account later. This can happen when you immediately charge a large purchase after getting your card. 

There are also some business credit cards in Canada that may require you to head into a branch to prove that you have a business before they approve you. Some people might be concerned about these requirements, but there’s no reason to freak out.

For example, if you live in Ontario, Canada, the cost to register a business with the government is $60. It only takes a few minutes, and you can choose your business name and type of business. You could easily input information that matches your business credit card application.

Now, let’s say your credit card provider wants you to prove your income. All they’re really looking for is money coming into your bank account. You don’t need to have a separate business bank account. You can just show your personal bank account. Income could be things such as your regular payroll or e-transfers from friends, family, or even yourself if you have another bank account.

The easiest business credit card to get in Canada

Determining the easiest business credit card to get is purely subjective. As mentioned, American Express typically doesn’t have a minimum income requirement, and they’re well within their rights to ask you to prove that you have a business. Also, in most cases, your personal credit score will directly affect your application process.

Generally speaking, you’ll likely be approved if you have a good credit score. However, if you get asked to prove your business later, you better take the steps to show that you have things set up properly. 

In my opinion, these are the best business credit cards in Canada to get:

American Express Business Gold Rewards Card

• $199 annual fee
• Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
• Earn 20,000 points when you charge $30,000 in the first year
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases
• Mobile device insurance
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is easily the best business card to get if you’re looking to earn points fast. The welcome bonus is typically 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when you charge $5,000 to your card in the first 3 months. This is a lucrative deal because no personal credit card offers you that many points for such little spending.

Those points are valuable since you can transfer them to Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. This is incredibly important for people who want to rack up many travel points. For example, if you applied for one of the best Aeroplan credit cards and the American Express Business Platinum Card, you could easily have more than 150,000 Aeroplan points. That’s enough points for quite a few trips. 

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

• $150 annual fee
• 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when spending $6,000 in the first 3 months when using a referral link
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent at participating Marriott properties
• Earn 5 Mpoints per $1 spent on gas, dining, and travel for the first 6 months, up to 15,000 points
• Earn 2 points for per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card will appeal to people who want to earn points that can be used at hotel chains. Since Marriott has more than 7,000 properties in 120+ countries, you won’t have any problems spending your points. Speaking of points, the welcome bonus is usually between 50,000 – 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Plus, you get an annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s an incredible deal for a credit card with an annual fee of just $150.

If you frequently stay at Marriott properties, you can take advantage of the increased earn rate of 5 points per $1 spent. Spending on gas, travel and dining get you 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent. All other purchases earn you 2 points per $1 spent. This card also gives you 15 annual Elite Night Credits, which go towards increased status. Note that these 15 nights do not stack with what’s offered with the personal Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. 

Final thoughts

Just a few years ago, regular consumers would never consider a business credit card if they didn’t have a business. However, with personal credit cards offering weaker welcome bonuses, people are willing to apply for a business card because the offers are so good. While it’s entirely possible that the credit card companies could audit your account, setting up a business only takes a few minutes and doesn’t cost very much.

$400 in dining credits

When the new annual fee kicks in on September 26, 2023, cardholders will get a $200 dining credit. This dining credit is good each calendar year. That means the first credit is available between September 26 and December 31, 2023. You’d then get the dining credit again on January 1, 2024. That’s $400 in dining credits you’d get.

There are a few catches regarding the dining credit. First off, it only applies to select restaurants. Although American Express hasn’t formally revealed the full list, they did say that they’ve partnered with Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. Those living in major urban centres likely won’t have an issue using the credit, but if you live somewhere more rural, the credit could be harder to use.

In addition, the dining credit is structured as a single transaction. That means if you spend $175 at one of the participating restaurants, you’d lose $25. In an ideal world, you’ll just make a purchase that exceeds $200, so you get the entire credit. That said, I’m hoping Eataly is on this list, as I can buy a gift card and then spend it down as needed.

$200 travel credit

The other way to reduce your annual fee is with the $200 travel credit. Unlike the dining credit, the travel credit is only given once a year on your anniversary. This includes your first year. In other words, you get the $200 travel credit right away, but you won’t get it again until your second year anniversary fee posts. 

Redeeming this credit is easy since you can use it on any travel purchase made through the American Express travel portal. Just select your travel, and then when you go to pay, you’ll see an option to use your $200 travel credit. 

Alternatively, there’s the refundable hotel trick. Make a fully refundable hotel reservation. The $200 credit is applied right away. You can then cancel your hotel later for a full refund. This effectively turns your $200 credit into cash.

$99 annual fee or $199 after Sept. 26, 2023

If you applied for the American Express Platinum Card before Sept. 26, 2023, the annual fee is $699. Since you could redeem up to $600 in credits, the annual fee would be $99 for the first year. Even if you applied after the deadline, the first year would be just $199. That’s an incredible deal for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada. Other benefits you get with this card include unlimited airport lounge access for you and a guest, hotel elite status, a NEXUS rebate, comprehensive travel insurance, and more.

Although some people don’t like the idea of paying a high annual fee, the credits you get reduce your annual fee to $99 in the first year. There’s no better deal. Compare that to the American Express Cobalt Card, which has a monthly fee of $12.99 or $155.88 a year. The Platinum Card is even cheaper. Of course, if you want to keep your costs down, you could cancel your card before your annual fee posts for the next year.

90,000 American Express Membership Rewards welcome bonus

If the $600 in credit wasn’t enough to entice you to sign up, the welcome bonus should. When you apply with a referral link, you can earn 90,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. To get the bonus, you’d have to spend $7,500 in the first three months. That’s clearly a lot you need to spend, but it can be worth it.

90,000 American Express Membership Rewards points have a minimum value of $900. That means you’d actually come out ahead by $801 when you factor in the annual fee, credits, and welcome bonus. In addition, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Since Aeroplan points typically have a value of 2 cents each, your welcome bonus could be worth up to $1,800 or $1,701 when you factor in the annual fee and credits. 

To be clear, assuming you use all the credits and you’re able to meet the minimum spend requirement, you can easily come out ahead by $1,701. That’s clearly an incredible value. This offer is only available if you use a referral link. The regular offer only gets you 80,000 points.

The strategy moving forward

Even if you don’t sign up before the deadline, don’t worry as you can still get the card for $199 in the first year. That said, the welcome bonus can change at any time. It’s unlikely the minimum spend requirement will ever drop by much, so consider this card if you have a major purchase coming up. For example, my wife recently had to get a new laptop which came out to $3,000ish. I had her sign up for the Platinum Card first to take advantage of the welcome bonus. Check out my American Express Platinum Card review for more details about the card, including what benefits you get. 

Loyalty programs make it easy to redeem your points and miles, but they don’t always spell out the exact value you’re getting. As a consumer, you need to establish a base value for your points. Once you have that, you can easily compare different redemptions to see if what you’re getting is worth it or not.

Here’s how to calculate the value of your points and what numbers you should use for the base value of one point.

How to calculate the value of your points

For many people, calculating the value of your reward points is challenging. They don’t understand the math behind it and get confused when taxes or additional fees are factored in. 

Regardless of what loyalty program you’re part of, you need to figure out the value of one point or mile. Fortunately, the formula to calculate the value per point is the same for each loyalty program.

(Cash value of redemption – taxes paid on redemption) X 100 / points required = Cost per point

Remember that you would need to subtract any taxes or fees you need to pay out of pocket from the cash value before you make your calculations. For example, let’s say you want to book a round-trip ticket from Ottawa to Vancouver. The cash price is $600. However, booking via Aeroplan will cost you 24,000 Aeroplan points + $75 in taxes. That means the cash value of the redemption is $525, so your formula would be as follows:

$525 X 100 / 24,000 = 2.19 cents per point.

Since the value of this redemption is worth more than the established base value of 2 cents per point for Aeroplan, it’s worth redeeming your points.

Cents per point (or cpp) is the most common way to value redemption from points and miles.

The opportunity cost of redeeming points

Redeeming points for free flights, hotel stays or gift cards is awesome since everyone loves free stuff! What’s interesting is that many people view loyalty points as Monopoly money since the points they earned were “free.” Any redemption they get is considered a bonus. However, since loyalty points have a real value, you should treat them similarly to how you treat real money.

For example, you can redeem 24,000 Aeroplan points for a $170 gift card. But for the same number of points, you could have used them on that $525 Ottawa to Vancouver flight mentioned above. That’s a threefold difference in value!

As you can see, not all redemptions are equal in value, so you need to check the value of your redemptions to validate if it’s an acceptable use of points or not. The easiest way to quickly evaluate if a redemption is worth spending points for is to compare it against your base value for the points.

The value of one point for each travel rewards program

Before you start calculating the value of your reward points for each redemption, you need to establish a base value for one point. You would do this by comparing hundreds of flights and hotels in destinations all around the world at various times. With all of this data compiled, you’ll get an average value. That’s the base value you’ll use to compare all redemptions moving forward.

Obviously, no person in their right mind is going to do that. Who has that kind of time? Guess what? I do. As a travel writer, I’ve literally searched thousands of flights and have done detailed comparisons with many different loyalty programs. 

Generally speaking, you should use the following base values when comparing redemptions:

• Aeroplan – 2 cents per point for business seats, 1.5 cents per point for economy
• Marriott Bonvoy – .9 cents per point
• American Express Membership Rewards – 2 cents per point when transferred to Aeroplan or used for the fixed travel program. 1 cent per point otherwise
• WestJet Dollars – 1 WestJet dollar = $1
• British Airways Avion – 1.6 cents per point
• RBC Rewards – Up to 2 cents per point when used for fixed points flights or transferred to other programs. 1 cent per point otherwise.
• Scotia Rewards – 1 cent per point
• CIBC Rewards – 1 cent per point
• HSBC Rewards – .50 cents per point
• BMO Rewards – .67 cents per point
• TD Rewards – .50 cents per point
• Hilton Honors – .50 cents per point
• Air Miles – 10.5 cents per point

You only really need to worry about the base value of airlines and hotel programs since the value of your redemptions will change depending on what you’re booking. The rest of the programs have a fixed value per point (although a few have additional redemption options), so it doesn’t matter much. 

Basically, when redeeming Aeroplan points, you want them to be worth around 1.5 tp 2 cents each. For Marriott Bonvoy, aim for a value of 0.9 cents each. If the value falls below that, save your points and pay cash. Not only paying cash will save your points for a better value redemption later, but you will also earn points when paying for a flight or a stay.

If we go back to my Ottawa to Vancouver Aeroplan example, the redemption value was 2.19 cents per point. Since the value of this redemption is worth more than the established base value of 2 cents per point for Aeroplan, it’s worth redeeming your points.

Now let’s look at an example for Marriott. I recently searched for a stay at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. The cash rate was $296 per night after taxes and fees. At the time of my initial search, the points cost was 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a free night. 

$296 X 100 / 40,000 = 0.74 cent per point

Since I value one Marriott Bonvoy point at 0.9 cents each, this redemption represents an 18% opportunity cost. In my opinion, it wasn’t worth using my points, so I decided to pay cash. 

Oddly enough, a few days before my stay, I searched the hotel again, and I noticed that the points cost had changed and getting a free night would now only cost me 35,000 points. I quickly did the math to see if this was worth it.

$296 X 100 / 35,000 = 0.85 cent per point

While this value still fell below my target value of 0.9 cents per point, it was only a slight devaluation of 6%. I considered this a good enough deal and rebooked on points.

As you can see, once you know the formula to calculate the value of one point and have an established base value, it’s easy to determine whether a redemption is worth it.

Travel Hacking for Lazy People

• Part 1 – What is travel hacking?
• Part 2 – How to travel hack
• Part 3 – Credit card welcome bonuses
• Part 4 – Switching credit cards
• Part 5 – Travel loyalty programs in Canada
• Part 6 – Calculating the value of your reward points
• Part 7 – Creating a travel hacking strategy
• Part 8 – Earning rewards point as a family
• Part 9 – The risks and rewards of travel hacking
• Part 10 – Travel hacking walkthrough and tips
• Download the full eBook here