From humble beginnings to a coalition giant

SCENE launched in 2007 as Cineplex’s loyalty program, offering solid value from day one with free movie redemptions, upgrades to premium screenings like 3D, and discounts on concessions.

When Scotiabank bought into the program, and SCENE merged with Scotia Rewards to form Scene+, the pairing initially felt odd. But things became much clearer once Empire Company Limited – owner of Sobeys, FreshCo, IGA, Foodland, and Safeway – joined as a co‑owner, signalling that Scene+ was evolving into a much larger loyalty coalition.

Since then, Scene+ has steadily expanded its partner network, adding places to earn and redeem points, including Home Hardware, The Rec Room, Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, and more. While some of these brands don’t have a national presence, having more partners is never a bad thing.

Scene+ members can also earn points when booking hotels and car rentals through Scene+ Travel powered by Expedia, adding even more ways to rack up rewards. 

Scene+’s newest partner, Shell, joined the program in Alberta earlier this year, with a national rollout set for May 26. It’s a major win for Scene+, giving the program a true coast‑to‑coast gas partner. For drivers, it opens the door to stacking rewards and unlocking some of the best savings available at the pump.

Linking an eligible Tangerine or Scotiabank credit card to your Shell Go+ account gets you an instant 3 cents off per litre when paying with your card at Shell gas stations. If you’re filling up with Shell V-Power, you get an additional 4 cents off per litre. Plus, you’ll earn 3 cents per litre in Scene+ points on Shell V-Power purchases. That’s up to 10 cents per litre in value.

It’s also worth noting that if you have a CAA membership, you get an additional 3 cents off per litre, which means you could potentially get 13 cents in value when filling up at Shell, which is crazy.

Levelling up their credit card game

What’s interesting for many points collectors is that Scotiabank arguably offers some of the most underrated credit cards in Canada.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card remains the only major‑bank credit card in Canada that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees – a 2.5% surcharge typically added to any purchase made in a non‑Canadian currency.

When this card launched, I expected other major banks to follow with their own no‑FX products, but that never materialized. While points enthusiasts often overlook the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite because of its modest earn rate, it frequently comes with a first‑year annual fee waiver and a low minimum spend to unlock the welcome bonus.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express is another strong contender, offering 6 Scene+ points per dollar at Empire grocery stores, 5 points at other grocery stores, dining, and entertainment, 3 points on gas, transit, and streaming, and 1 point on everything else.

Some churners dismiss it as a weaker version of the Amex Cobalt, but it also has a much lower minimum spend to unlock the welcome bonus, and unlike Amex, there’s no once‑per‑lifetime rule holding you back. 

Room for improvement

Even though Scene+ has made strides in the loyalty space, it still has some room for improvement.

American Express Membership Rewards and RBC Avion consistently rank ahead of Scene+ because they offer a broad range of transfer partners. Depending on the program, you can move your points to Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, WestJet Rewards, or British Airways Avios, giving you far more flexibility and potential value. 

It’s unlikely that Scene+ will ever get dedicated airline or hotel transfer partners, but cardholders can redeem their points against any travel purchase charged to their credit card. That’s meaningful because booking direct still lets travellers earn loyalty points and keep any hotel or airline status perks, which are usually voided if using a third-party site such as Expedia.

Another challenge for Scene+ is that its points don’t offer standout value. Most redemptions land at about 1 cent per point. The old sweet spot – redeeming for premium movie screenings – has been replaced with a flat dollar value. It may seem minor, but loyalty programs need those pockets of extra value that make members feel like they’re getting ahead.

This is especially true given PC Optimum, arguably their top competitor, regularly offers up to 50% additional value during bonus redemption events at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Final Thoughts

Despite its limitations, Scene+ still delivers strong everyday value for many Canadians. It may not offer the “wow” redemptions you see in some travel or bank programs, but it could be argued that it has caught up to, and in some ways surpassed, PC Optimum in the retail loyalty space.

Overview of Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges is the rewards program of Choice Hotels, which has 7,500+ hotels worldwide in 45 countries. Over 350 of those hotels are here in Canada, offering travellers a mix of upscale, midscale, economy, and extended-stay options. Popular brands include Comfort, Quality®, Radisson®, and the Ascend Hotel Collection®, giving you plenty of options to suit your travel needs best.

On top of the large selection, one of Choice Hotels’ biggest draws is its best price available online guarantee. If you can find a better price elsewhere, not only will they match it, but they will also provide you with a $50 CAD reward card (Conditions apply).

Membership is completely free, and you can sign up on the website or through the mobile app. The latter conveniently lets you search and find hotels, manage your bookings, and redeem your Choice Privileges rewards.

Key Features of the Program

As a Choice Privileges rewards member, you’ll earn up to 10 points per $1 USD spent on guest room charges on qualifying stays. Rewards are best used toward future stays, but you can also use your points for gift cards, airline miles, or redeem them for unique experiences.

Being a member will also unlock member-only rates, personalized perks, exclusive deals, and more as you earn rewards and reach higher tiers.

Membership Tiers Explained

Coming in 2026, there will be five membership tiers, including the new Titanium tier, the program’s most exclusive. To earn status, you’ll need the following stays:

• Member: Where all new members start.
• Gold: After 5 nights or 10k credits
• Platinum: 15 nights or 30k credits
• Diamond: 35 nights or 70k credits
• Titanium (new): 55 nights or 110k credits

As you can see, it does not take long to get status with some incredible benefits:

After just five nights, you already get some great perks such as a higher earning rate, early check-in and late check-out, room upgrades, and more.

Once you hit Diamond status at 35 nights, breakfast is included for you and a guest, and you get guaranteed room availability.

For those who make it to Titanium, you unlock the ability to book up to seven nights on a single stay for half the points.

2026 Changes to Note

If you are already a Choice Privileges rewards member, some of these sections may appear new or a little different from what you know. These are the new updates that will add even more value to your membership.

• Faster paths to status: Members now require fewer nights to enjoy room upgrades and perks like Elite welcome gifts and preferred parking.
• Rewards every five nights: Members will gain milestone rewards, such as bonus points and gift cards, for every five qualifying nights between status tiers.
• Return and earn: Members will be awarded 1,000 bonus points after their 2^nd and 3^rd qualifying stays each year.
• Points never expire for Elite status holders: Plus, status benefit ensures that Elite status is never lost all at once if travel frequency drops.
• Transfer Points: Members can transfer points to friends and family as needed.

What if I’m already a member?

If you are already a member, you are all set. Everything will carry over automatically to the new program. If you have already earned Elite status, you’ll continue to enjoy those benefits and the new ones being added.

If you are not a member, it’s a great time to join now.

Eligible Hotel Brands

The Choice Privileges rewards program allows members to book at thousands of hotels worldwide and hundreds in Canada.

Here’s a list of hotels and the tier they fall into:

• Travel with more
  • Cambria Hotels
  • Radisson
  • Ascend Collection Hotels
  • Radisson BLU
  • Radisson Individuals
  • RED Radisson
  • Park Plaza by Radisson
  • Radisson Collection
• Travel and relax
  • Comfort
  • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
  • Sleep Inn
  • Quality Inn
  • Clarion
  • Clarion Pointe
  • Radisson Inn & Suites
• Travel simply
  • Park Inn by Radisson
  • Econo Lodge
  • Rodeway Inn
• Travel longer
  • Everhome Suites
  • MainStay Suites
  • Suburban Studios

Earning Choice Privileges Points

Earning Choice Privileges points is easy. Members will earn up to points per $1USD spent on eligible and participating hotels.

Currently, there is no Choice Privileges credit card in Canada, nor are there any Canadian loyalty programs where you can transfer your points to Choice Privileges.

Best Way to Use Choice Privileges Points

When redeeming, members can use their points towards future stays, gift cards, or transfer them to various airline programs. All of this can be done easily through the Choice Hotels website or mobile app, though the value depends on the redemption.

Redeeming for future stays

Redeeming for future stays is, traditionally, the best value for your rewards. Redemptions start at just 6,000 points and can be used towards unique getaways and luxury stays at partner brands.

Here are some examples for your reference:

To calculate the cost per point (CPP) of any redemption, you’d use the following formula:

(cash price X 100) / points required = CPP

That means the Radisson Blu gives you a CPP of .61, while the Quality Inn comes in at .60. In this scenario, the value of the redemptions is similar.

Note that there is no set value for your points. This formula is a quick way to determine the value of your points and is useful when comparing properties. It’s also worth noting that, because hotel prices and points redemptions use dynamic pricing, your CPP value will change.

Now let’s look at the same dates in New York.

Before diving into the CPP, it’s worth noting that when I ran the search, there was a sale on the hotels, which naturally reduced the CPP. Additionally, the prices listed are in USD, whereas the Toronto hotels were in CAD.

To get a property value, we must convert the USD prices to CAD, which gives us a nightly rate of $194 for the Cambria and $178 for the Mayfair. The CPP ends up being .41 and .40, respectively.

That’s not great for redemptions, but it’s an incredible cash price. Choice is also re-introducing the popular Radisson Hotels Americas redemption tool that allows members to book rewards nights starting at 6000 points–down from the previous minimum of 8,000.

Redeeming for gift cards

Another option is to use your rewards towards gift cards. The Choice Privileges program offers gift cards to dozens of retail and restaurant merchants across Canada.

As you can see, you can redeem 8,000 points for a $25 gift card. That’s a CPP of .31. In most cases, you’ll likely get better value redeeming your points for a future stay over gift cards.

Transferring to miles

Finally, if you are someone who flies regularly, consider transferring your Choice Privileges reward to miles. Choice Privileges partners with 15 different airline rewards programs. Here’s a breakdown of the value for each partner.

• Aeroplan: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Aeroplan miles
• Aer Lingus: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Avios
• Aero Mexico: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Aero Mexico Rewards
• Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Atmos Rewards
• Avianca: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 LifeMiles
• British Airways: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Avios
• Flying Blue: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Flying Blue Miles
• Iberia: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Avios
• Saudia: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 ALFursan miles
• Turkish Airlines: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Smiles & Miles
• United: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 MileagePlus miles
• LATAM: Starting at 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 LATAM Pass miles
• Qantas: Starting at 2,000 Choice Privileges points for 800 Frequent Flyer points
• Southwest: Starting at 6,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,800 Rapid Rewards points
• Velocity: Starting at 2,000 points for 800 frequent flyer points

Note: Later in 2026, members will also be able to transfer their points to friends and family members. Keep an eye out for these updates.

Final Thoughts

The Choice Privileges rewards program has undergone some exciting updates. With more Canadians choosing to explore their own backyard, these new perks deliver exceptional value for both business and leisure travellers, making every trip more rewarding. Not a member yet? Now’s the perfect time to join. Sign up today and start enjoying the benefits.

By learning how the program works and making informed choices, you can get the most value from your points and enjoy a more rewarding banking experience.

Avion Rewards points value

Avion Rewards points offer varying value depending on how you choose to redeem them, making it essential to consider your redemption options. Travel redemptions generally provide the highest value, with a base value of 1 cent per point when redeeming 1,000 points for $10 in travel. If you use the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you may get up to 2.33 cents per point, which is significant if you want to maximize your rewards.

The value of your points also depends on the RBC card you hold. Avion points are more beneficial when earned through an RBC Avion card, such as the RBC Avion Visa Platinum, RBC Avion Visa Infinite, or RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege. With an RBC ION Visa card, travel redemptions cost 172 Avion points for every $1, which decreases the value to about 0.71 cents per point.

Here’s a quick reference table on redemption values:

When you redeem points for travel, especially flights, you often receive the best return on your Avion points. Other options, such as merchandise, financial rewards, and statement credits, offer lower value. You can check your current balance or browse redemption options at the Avion Rewards page.

One thing to note is that RBC Rewards and RBC Avion are slightly different. Even though many RBC credit cards allow you to earn RBC Rewards, you may not get the full benefits that come with RBC Avion credit cards.

With standard RBC Rewards points, you don’t get as many travel benefits/options. Since RBC Avion points are more valuable, you’ll want to hold one of the three RBC Avion cards, which are as follows:

• RBC Avion Visa Platinum
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

How to redeem RBC Avion points for travel

You can redeem your RBC Avion points for travel by signing in to the Avion Rewards portal or the Avion Rewards app. Your points are flexible and can be applied to flights, hotels, cruises, vacation packages, and car rentals. There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions for flights, and you can use points to cover the entire travel cost, including taxes and fees.

If you don’t have enough points for the full amount, you can pay the balance with your RBC Rewards credit card—no minimum redemption is required. All bookings must be made through the RBC portal or by calling the travel centre, though a $30 booking fee applies for phone reservations.

You can use your RBC Avion Rewards points for any seat on any flight, and there are no blackout periods or seat restrictions. Points can be used to pay the entire airfare price, including taxes. If you don’t have enough points to pay for the whole redemption, you can use as few points as you wish, since no minimum redemption is required. The remaining balance will be charged to your RBC Rewards credit card. Unfortunately, RBC Rewards can’t be applied to travel booked on your own.

RBC Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule

With the RBC Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you can redeem your Avion points for economy or business class flights at specified point levels. This program features a chart that details the points needed for specific destinations and establishes a maximum base fare for each redemption. You must possess the entire amount of points to complete a redemption, as partial redemptions are not permitted.

Below is an overview of the points required and maximum base fares for different destinations:

Flights booked using the schedule cover the base fare up to the maximum ticket price, but you are responsible for taxes, fees, and any carrier surcharges above the covered amount. If the total base fare exceeds the maximum for your redemption, you will need to pay the difference in cash.

Using the schedule often gets you a value of up to 2–2.33 cents per point, especially on costly routes like last-minute short-haul or long-haul flights to European destinations. For example, a flight from Canada to Europe can be booked for 65,000 Avion points plus taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges, provided the base fare is $1,300 or less. If the base fare is higher, you pay the difference.

There are no blackout dates, and all seats on all carriers are available, making the process flexible and straightforward. You are free to choose any carrier and book a seat for any available travel period without restrictions.

When considering redeeming your points, compare the value you get here to other options, such as transferring points to another program. Often, the predictable value and flexibility of the RBC Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule make it attractive for high-cost or last-minute travel.

The RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule and the ability to convert your RBC Rewards points to other loyalty programs is why I rank RBC Rewards ranks #2 on my list of Canada’s best bank travel rewards programs.

How to redeem Avion Rewards points for gift cards

You can use your Avion Rewards points to get gift cards from a range of merchants, including Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Beer Store, Best Buy, Air Canada, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Food Basics, and Golf Town. The number of points needed for each gift card and its value vary by retailer.

The value you get per point varies depending on the merchant. For example, Food Basics offers $100 for 14,000 points, which works out to about 0.71 cents per point. Travel-related gift cards, like Air Canada, tend to offer the best redemption value, typically around 1 cent per point.

To redeem your points, sign in at avionrewards.com or use the Avion Rewards app. Once logged in, browse the gift cards section, choose your preferred brand, and proceed to checkout.

Occasionally, Avion Rewards offers bonus promotions on select gift cards, such as 10% to 30% more value for the same number of points. These promotions can make some gift card offers more appealing. Always check for any current offers before redeeming.

How to redeem Avion Rewards points for financial rewards

support your saving goals or help pay down debt. Simply log in to your RBC Rewards account and select RBC Financial Rewards from the “Shop & Redeem” menu if you have eligible RBC financial products.

A minimum of 12,000 points is required to redeem $100 towards these financial options:

• Add to your existing investments (e.g., RRSP, TFSA)
• Make a mortgage payment
• Repay your line of credit

Using points for financial rewards can help you save on interest if you pay off loans or a line of credit sooner. Adding to investments like your RRSP may result in tax advantages, while using a TFSA allows you to save with tax-free growth.

Merchandise, statement credits, charitable donations, and other redemptions

You have the option to redeem your RBC Rewards points for merchandise, statement credits, and charitable donations. The merchandise catalogue includes a range of items, but the points required often make it a lower-value choice, except when discounts are occasionally offered.

For statement credits, 17,200 points equal a $100 credit, resulting in only .58 cents per point. This is one of the least valuable uses for your points compared to other redemption methods, such as travel or gift cards. Cash back is not offered directly, but the statement credit works similarly by reducing your balance.

Charitable donations are available, allowing you to support various causes using your points.

RBC Avion points transfer partners

RBC Avion points offer a variety of flexible transfer options for both travel and retail loyalty programs. This flexibility enables you to maximize the value of your points based on your travel or shopping plans. Below is a breakdown of the main transfer partners, transfer ratios, and brief descriptions.

It’s hard to put an exact value on airline miles since there are so many variables, but generally speaking, their value is around a minimum of 1.5¢ per mile for economy tickets. Often you can get double the value if you’re booking in business class. That said, WestJet Rewards points are worth about 1 cent each.

Transfers to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and British Airways Avios are at a 1:1 ratio, which is favourable for international travel. American Airlines AAdvantage has a slightly different ratio but can still represent strong value, especially if you find good award seat availability.

Featured Benefits and Tips

• Promotions & Bonuses: RBC Rewards periodically offers transfer bonuses to select partners, sometimes increasing your conversion value by up to 30%. These bonuses typically apply to airline programs like WestJet, British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage. Check for these promos directly in your RBC Rewards account to maximize value.
• Combining with RBC WestJet Products: If you hold both an RBC Avion card and the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard, you can stack welcome bonuses and quickly accumulate WestJet points. Avion points can be transferred to WestJet at a clear fixed rate.
• Redemption Value: Airline miles fluctuate in value depending on route, class of service, and availability. On average, you might expect at least 1.5¢ per mile, and potentially much more for premium cabin bookings.

Avion Rewards expiration date

Your RBC Avion Rewards points do not expire as long as you maintain an eligible, active RBC Royal Bank credit card account. If you choose to close your credit card, you’ll have a 90-day period to redeem any remaining points before they are forfeited.

• Points don’t expire while your account is open and in good standing
• 90 days to use points after account closure

If you have questions about your points, it’s recommended to call RBC customer service for details or clarification.

How RBC Avion compares to others

RBC Avion Rewards stands out among major Canadian loyalty programs for its flexible redemption options, including no blackout dates and no minimum points required to redeem. You benefit from a fixed points flight program and regular promotions, which can improve your overall value.

The main limitation compared to American Express Membership Rewards is that you’re required to book travel through the RBC portal and it doesn’t have Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy as transfer partners. One major downside with RBC is that Avion cards don’t have strong earning rates compared to other banks. You can explore more with these links: CIBC Rewards, BMO Rewards, TD Rewards, Scene+, and American Express Membership Rewards.

How to earn RBC Avion Rewards

You can earn Avion points by using an eligible RBC Avion credit card for your everyday purchases. These cards allow you to accumulate points simply by making transactions, whether it’s groceries, gas, bill payments, or travel bookings. The range includes six personal credit cards (such as the RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card) and two business credit cards.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

Apply now

• $120 annual fee
• 35,000 Avion points on approval
• 20,000 Avion points when spending $5,000 in the first 6 months
• 15,000 Avion points when keeping your account open until month 16
• Earn 1.25 Avion points for every $1 spent on travel purchases
• Earn 1 Avion point per $1 on all other purchases
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Mobile device insurance up to $1,500

The sign up bonus for new cardholders is typically 35,000 -55,000 points which is comparable to some of the best travel credit cards in Canada.

The earn rate of 1.25 points per $1 spent on travel is decent, while the 1 RBC Reward point earned per dollar spent on all other purchases, including bill payments, is pretty common.

The RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card also provides good travel insurance when travelling outside Canada. Not only do you get travel medical, but you’ll also be covered for trip cancellation/interruption, delayed and lost baggage, hotel/motel burglary and more. Obviously, some exclusions apply, so read the certificate of insurance for complete terms.

Avion Rewards Retail Partners

You can also earn Avion points when shopping with select Avion Rewards retail partners. This includes making purchases through partner merchants online, in-store, or via the Avion Rewards app. Linking your RBC Avion credit card or debit card ensures you receive points automatically for eligible spending.

Ways to maximize earnings with retail partners:

• Shop through the Avion Rewards portal or app for special promotions and earning multipliers.
• Watch for limited-time offers, in which extra points are available on select categories like electronics, fashion, or travel bookings.
• Use Avion Rewards program tools, such as the rewards app and RBC online banking, to review participating partner offers and track transaction history.
• Combine points earned from credit cards with bonus points from partner promotions for faster accumulation.

Final thoughts

Avion Rewards is one of the best bank travel rewards programs. The RBC Visa Infinite Avion card may not give you the best signup bonus or have the highest earn rate, but there’s no denying that once you have the points, they’re easy to use. There are no blackout dates and no minimum points required to make a redemption, so you’ll never run into any issues using your points. If you’re a fan of RBC, check out my RBC InvestEase review and find out how you can reduce your investment management fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book travel with my Avion Rewards points?

You can book travel by logging into the Avion Rewards Travel portal. Once signed in, use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

How can I log into my Avion Rewards account?

To log into your account, visit the Avion Rewards website and click “Sign In.” You can also access your account through RBC Online Banking if your card is linked.

Are there special rewards for concerts like Taylor Swift’s?

Occasionally, Avion Rewards offers exclusive access or pre-sale opportunities for select concerts and live events, including popular artists. These offers are time-limited and are announced through the Avion Rewards website or member communications. Check the rewards platform regularly for the latest event rewards.

Where can I find the Avion Rewards catalogue for redemption?

The Avion Rewards catalogue is available online at the Avion Rewards website. Browse various redemption options, including merchandise, gift cards, and experiences. You need to sign in to view and redeem your points.

What is the phone number for Avion Rewards customer service?

You can reach Avion Rewards customer service at 1-800-769-2512. For additional support, you may also use the “Help” feature within your online account or the travel portal.

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. 

While these premium spaces were once available exclusively to business class travellers or those with elite airline status, credit cards have made lounge access available to all travellers. Several Canadian credit cards now offer airport lounge privileges as part of their benefits packages, ranging from unlimited access to a fixed number of free visits annually.

When selecting a credit card with lounge benefits, you’ll want to consider several factors: the type and number of lounges available, guest privileges, annual fees, and additional travel perks. Cards like the American Express Platinum offer extensive global lounge access through their Global Lounge Collection, while others provide entry to specific networks such as DragonPass or Plaza Premium. Your travel patterns will determine which card delivers the best value for your needs.

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

When looking at the best airport lounge access credit cards in Canada, the first one you need to consider is the American Express Platinum Card. With this card, you and a guest get unlimited access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection. That’s more than 1,200 lounges in 130+ countries you can visit. Generally, just about every major airport in the world will have a lounge that you can access with your Platinum Card.

The one downside is that the annual fee of the Platinum card is quite high at $799. However, you do get an annual travel and dining credit of $200 each, so that effectively makes your annual fee just $399. You also get a generous welcome bonus, higher loyalty status with Marriott Bonvoy, and great travel insurance. I personally never travel without this card. Note that you can get an increased welcome offer when signing up with a referral link.

Eligibility: There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 740 is recommended before applying.
Welcome bonus: Typically worth 80,000 to 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when using a referral link. The minimum spending requirement is usually $5,000 to $10,000.

American Express Business Platinum Card

• $799 annual fee
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points with a referral link when spending $15,000 in the first 3 months when using a referral link
• 40,000 additional points when making any purchase in months 14 – 17
• Earn 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases
• Unlimited airport lounge access
• $200 annual travel credit
• $120 annual wireless credit
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

As the name implies, the American Express Business Platinum is the business card version of the Platinum card. This card also has an annual fee of $799 and you also get the $200 annual travel credit. Although you don’t get the dining credit, you do get wireless and Dell credits. The earn rate is a flat 1.25 points per $1 spent. You and a guest still get unlimited lounge access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

What makes this card appealing over the consumer version is that the welcome bonus is typically higher. It’s often the highest one available in Canada. In addition, the American Express Membership Rewards points you earn are incredibly valuable as you can transfer them to Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. Alternatively, you could use them on the American Express Fixed Travel Program, and this could allow you to increase the value of your points.

Some people will not apply for this card if they don’t have a business, but American Express rarely verifies the information you put on your application.

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

In my opinion, the best airport lounges in Canada are Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes. Normally these are only available to people flying in business class or have 50K Aeroplan status, but you and a guest can get unlimited access if you have the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.

One thing to note is that you only get access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America. In addition, you get a PriorityPass membership, but no free annual passes are provided. Some people prefer this card over other premium Aeroplan credit cards because you get a slightly higher earn rate and when you refer friends to this card, you get a 10,000 Aeroplan points bonus. The annual fee is $599.

Eligibility: No minimum income is required. A credit score of at least 700 is recommended before applying.
Welcome bonus: The welcome offer is usually worth 80,000 – 120,000 Aeroplan points. To get the full bonus, you usually need to meet multiple minimum spending requirements.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

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• $599 annual fee
• Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 in the first 180 days
• Earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $24,000 within 12 months of account opening
• Earn 2 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points on gas, and groceries, and 1.25 points on all other purchases
• First bag checked free, priority check-in & boarding on Air Canada flights
• Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America
• Visa Airport Companion Program + 6 free annual passes

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is one of the best airport lounge access credit cards in Canada because you and a guest get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America. In addition, you get DragonPass lounge access + six free annual passes.

This card, along with the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege are the only credit cards with lounge access that give you access to Maple Leaf Lounge and the DragonPass network. This is incredibly convenient as you can use your lounge passes when there’s no Maple Leaf Lounge available. The obvious downside is that you only get six annual passes. The card also comes with an annual fee of $599.

If you travel a lot internationally, the Platinum Card is likely better for lounge access. But if you mainly travel domestically, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card and American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card should be your top choices.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite* Card

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• $150 annual fee
• 40,000 Scene+ points when spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
• 10,000 points when spending $10,000 in the first six months
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Empire owned supermarkets
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Visa Airport Companion Program membership + 6 passes per year
• No foreign transaction fees

Many of the best credit cards with lounge access come with high fees since you get unlimited access. However, if you’re looking for a flexible travel card with an annual fee of just $150, you should consider the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. Not only do you get six annual lounge passes that are good for any lounge in the Visa Airport Companion Program (DragonPass). In addition, the card has no foreign exchange fees.

Only this card, and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card give you airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees, so it’s not hard to see why they’re popular.

Eligibility: A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 or at least $250,000 in assets under management. A credit score of 700 is also recommended.
Welcome bonus: You’ll typically get 35,000 to 50,000 Scene+ points as the welcome offer. In most cases, you’ll need to spend a minimum amount in the first three months and another in the first 12 months for the full bonus.

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

When the American Express Gold Rewards Card was refreshed, they specifically added four free annual passes to Plaza Premium lounges. This was relevant because, at the time, Plaza Premium had pulled out of its agreement with Visa. That meant cardholders couldn’t use their passes at Plaza Premium lounges anymore. The problem was that most lounges in Canada were Plaza Premium, so cardholders found it difficult to use their passes.

About a year after the change, Visa switched to DragonPass, which restored access to Plaza Premium, so now everything is back to normal.

The question is, why would you choose the American Express Gold Rewards Card over others that give you more free annual passes? Simply put, Membership Rewards are more valuable than Scene+. Over the course of a year, the points you earn will likely be worth more than the two lounge passes you didn’t get.

BMO Ascend World Elite* Mastercard®*

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• $150 Annual fee – First year free*
• Get 45,000 BMO Rewards points when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months, and 3,750 points for each subsequent month in which you make at least $2,500 in purchases on your card, for 12 months
• Earn 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on travel
• Earn 3 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills
• Earn 1 BMO Rewards point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass, plus 4 annual passes

The BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* comes with four free airport lounge passes, and the annual fee is waived for the first year, so you check out some lounges for free. Your earn rate is 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on travel; 2 points on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills; and 1 point for all other purchases. While that may seem appealing, 1 BMO Rewards point is worth just .67 cents, so the overall earn rate is not the best. That said, it’s still one of the best BMO credit cards.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

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• $139 annual fee – First year free
• 15,000 Aventura points when you make your first purchase
• 20,000 Aventura points when you spend $3,000 in the first 4 months
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on CIBC travel
• Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, grocery, and drug store purchases
• Earn 1 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Visa Airport Companion Program membership and 4 free annual passes

Many people forget that the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card is one of the best airport lounge access credit cards in Canada. Not only do you get four free annual airport lounge passes to the DragonPass network, but you also get a rebate on your NEXUS membership. What’s interesting is that this card typically has a rebate on the annual fee for the first year. That means you can get airport lounge access for a year without having to pay an annual fee.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

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• $150 annual fee
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on grocery and restaurant purchases up to $2,500 per month. Then earn 2 points per $1 spent
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills and à la carte Travel
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Unlimited access to National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport
• Annual $150 travel credit

If you’re based out of Montreal and fly internationally frequently, then you’ll want to consider the National Bank World Elite Mastercard since it gives you and a guest, and up to two children under the age age of 12, unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge. Since this lounge is considered the best in YUL and you can bring two children and a guest with you, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard is a great choice. The Montreal airport has a Maple Leaf Lounge, but no lounge is available via the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Eligibility: Personal income requirement of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. A credit score of 700 is recommended.
Welcome bonus: The welcome bonus has been anywhere from 0 to 50,000 points.

What is airport lounge access?

Airport lounge access provides a peaceful retreat from the bustling main terminal areas. These exclusive spaces offer a comfortable environment where you can relax before your flight or during layovers. Most major airports feature at least one lounge per terminal, with international hubs typically hosting multiple lounge options.

As airports become more crowded and flight delays become more frequent, these havens have gained popularity. Lounges usually offer a variety of amenities that can enhance your travel experience. You’ll often find:

• Complimentary food and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
• Fast, reliable Wi-Fi connections
• Comfortable seating areas
• Flight information displays
• Reading materials (newspapers and magazines)

Premium lounges may offer additional luxuries such as:

• Business centres with computers and printers
• Shower facilities
• Quiet areas with beds or sleeping pods
• Outdoor terraces or viewing areas

Most lounges operate from early morning (around 5 a.m.) until late evening (typically 10 p.m.), although some premium facilities remain open 24 hours. While lounges generally allow a three-hour stay before your departure, enforcement is often inconsistent relaxed.

You can gain entry to these exclusive spaces through various methods. The most common access programs include Priority Pass, which connects to over 1,300 lounges worldwide, and credit card benefits. Many premium credit cards include lounge access as a cardholder perk, though guest policies vary. Some limit you to two free guests, while others may charge for accompanying travellers.

Before visiting a lounge, it’s beneficial to research the specific amenities and access requirements, as these can vary significantly between facilities. This preparation ensures that you will maximize your lounge experience.

Types of Airport Lounge Networks

Airport lounges offer travellers a comfortable space to relax before flights, but navigating the different networks can be confusing. Understanding which networks align with your travel habits and credit card benefits can enhance your journey significantly.

Air Canada Maple Leaf and Airline-Specific Lounges

Major airlines maintain their own premium lounges at key hubs and popular destinations. Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges can be found in 11 Canadian cities plus international locations including New York, Paris, London, Frankfurt, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Also note that Air Canada has Air Canada Cafe’s in Toronto and Montreal. These are grab and go style lounges.

If you’re flying business class on a Star Alliance partner airline, your boarding pass grants you access to their partner lounges as well. Airline-specific lounges typically offer superior amenities compared to independent options.

American Express Global Lounge Collection

American Express provides one of the most extensive lounge networks globally for Platinum cardholders. The Global Lounge Collection features exclusive Centurion Lounges, widely recognized as some of the best airport lounges available.

These premium spaces feature amenities like showers, gourmet food prepared by renowned chefs, and dedicated family rooms. When you have access to an American Express lounge, it’s generally worth seeking out as the quality typically exceeds other options.

Plaza Premium Network

Plaza Premium operates as a standalone brand of airport lounges with hundreds of locations globally. They manage most lounges found in Canadian airports and are integrated into larger networks like DragonPass.

Without a premium credit card providing complimentary access, you can purchase entry for approximately CA$50 per visit. Plaza Premium lounges offer consistent quality with comfortable seating, food options, and business facilities. That said, some of the Canadian options aren’t great.

DragonPass Program

DragonPass has emerged as Canada’s leading airport lounge network. Many premium Canadian credit cards include DragonPass membership through the Visa Airport Companion Program.

Its partnership with Plaza Premium is particularly valuable for Canadian travellers since Plaza Premium operates most domestic airport lounges. This connection ensures you’ll have accessible options when flying within Canada.

Priority Pass Membership

Priority Pass provides members access to VIP lounges worldwide through different membership tiers. Members pay annual fees based on their selected plan, with options ranging from pay-per-visit to unlimited access packages.

After a brief separation, Priority Pass has renewed its agreement with Plaza Premium, making its offering very similar to DragonPass. Conditions of use vary by membership level, with some credit cards offering complimentary Priority Pass memberships with limited or unlimited visits.

Mastercard Airport Experience by LoungeKey

Mastercard Airport Experience powered by LoungeKey grants entry to approximately 1,000 airport lounges globally. Through its partnership with DragonPass, cardholders gain access to their extensive network.

All Canadian World Elite Mastercard holders receive LoungeKey membership, though not all cards include complimentary visits. Check your card benefits to see if you receive free passes or need to pay per visit.

Visa Airport Companion Program

Visa Airport Companion serves as Visa’s equivalent to the Mastercard LoungeKey program, available exclusively to Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders. The service operates through DragonPass’s infrastructure.

Like LoungeKey, you’ll typically need to purchase individual passes unless your specific credit card includes complimentary visits. The programme grants access to independent airport lounges worldwide, with particularly good coverage in Canadian airports.

How to Get Airport Lounge Access

Purchasing a Membership

You can buy memberships to airport lounge networks for regular access. Basic memberships typically charge a fee per visit, while premium tiers offer unlimited access. Priority Pass is one popular option with various membership levels to suit different travel frequencies. Before purchasing, compare the coverage of lounges in airports you frequently visit to ensure good value for your investment.

Credit Card Benefits

Many premium credit cards include airport lounge access as a benefit. For example, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card provides six free airport lounge passes, where as the American Express Platinum card gives the primary cardholder and one guest unlimited access.

Single-Visit Options

Don’t travel often? Consider purchasing a day pass instead. Many lounges sell one-time entry passes ranging from $32-$65 CAD. Plaza Premium Lounges, for example, charge about $45 for a single visit. While this might seem expensive, it can be worth the cost during long layovers when you factor in the free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating.

Premium Cabin Tickets

When you fly business class, lounge access is typically included with your ticket. You’ll gain entry to your airline’s lounge or one operated by their alliance partners. For instance, an Air Canada business class ticket grants you access to Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and partner lounges like Lufthansa’s when travelling abroad within the Star Alliance network.

Frequent Flyer Status

Regular travellers who’ve earned elite status with airlines often receive lounge privileges. Lower-tier status typically includes a few complimentary passes annually, while higher tiers offer unlimited access. This benefit makes achieving and maintaining status particularly valuable for frequent travellers who spend significant time in airports.

How to Choose a Credit Card with Lounge Access

How Often You Travel

Your travel frequency should be your primary consideration when selecting a credit card with airport lounge access. If you’re in the air several times a year, a card offering unlimited lounge visits provides excellent value. Premium travel cards often include Priority Pass or other lounge network memberships that allow you to escape the terminal chaos whenever you fly. For occasional travellers, cards offering a limited number of annual passes might be sufficient for your needs.

Your Travel Style

Consider your typical travel patterns when evaluating lounge access benefits. Do you primarily fly with one airline? Cards affiliated with specific carriers might offer dedicated lounge access that serves you better than general networks. For Canadian travellers who primarily use domestic airports, a card with Maple Leaf Lounge access might be ideal. However, if you frequently travel internationally, look for cards that connect to broader networks, like the American Express Platinum Card.

Cost vs. Benefit Analysis

Evaluate whether the lounge benefits justify the annual fee. Many premium travel cards charge $120 – $799 annually but provide valuable lounge access that would cost more if purchased separately. For example, if a card provides six lounge passes annually (typically valued at $32-$50 each) plus TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits (worth up to $100), these benefits alone might exceed the annual fee. Don’t forget to calculate the value of bonus points earned from signup offers, which can often cover the first year’s fee entirely.

Additional Card Benefits

The best credit cards offer more than just lounge access. Look for comprehensive travel benefits such as:

• Travel insurance coverage (medical, trip cancellation, baggage)
• Statement credits for travel-related purchases
• No foreign transaction fees (saving you 2.5-3% on international purchases)
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement
• Priority boarding and free checked bags
• Annual travel credits that offset the card’s cost
• Mobile device insurance
• Bonus points on travel and dining purchases

Cards like the American Express Platinum or Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite may have higher annual fees but provide robust benefits packages that include expedited security access and substantial statement credits in addition to premium lounge access.

Are guests allowed with an airport lounge access credit card?

Most credit cards offering airport lounge access provide some form of guest privileges, though specific policies vary by card. Typically, premium travel cards allow you to bring one guest into lounges at no extra charge. 

If you have a card that provides a limited number of complimentary lounge visits rather than unlimited access, you’ll need to use one pass per person. This means a family of four would require four separate passes.

Remember these important guest policy details:

• The primary cardholder must be present with guests
• Children under two years typically enter free (doesn’t count against guest allowance)
• Family travellers may benefit from having two cards with lounge benefits

For families regularly travelling together, consider getting a second lounge access card for your partner. This strategy allows each cardholder to bring one child as a complimentary guest, ensuring your entire family can enjoy lounge amenities together.

Are Airport Lounges Worth It?

Airport lounges can provide excellent value for travellers seeking comfort during their journey. When you consider the cost of food and beverages at airport restaurants, complimentary offerings in lounges quickly become attractive. A simple meal with a drink at an airport eatery might cost $25-30, while lounges provide these amenities at no additional charge once you’re inside.

The comfortable seating and private space are significant benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked. You can relax in a quieter environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal. This privacy also offers better security for your belongings when you need to step away momentarily.

Many credit cards now offer lounge access as a perk, which can offset their annual fees. Consider these key benefits:

• Complimentary food and drinks
• Comfortable seating and workspaces
• Quieter environment
• Wi-Fi access
• Charging stations

For travellers with long layovers, lounges become even more valuable. Having a comfortable place to rest, work, or freshen up can make a significant difference in your travel experience.

Be aware that credit card access has limitations. During peak travel periods, lounges may reach capacity and prioritize certain membership tiers over credit card holders. You might face restrictions or even be denied entry during particularly busy times, so it’s wise to have a backup plan.

How to Use Your Airport Lounge Credit Card

Getting into airport lounges with your credit card is straightforward when you know the steps. First, activate your eligible credit card and download the appropriate app for your card—whether it’s the Visa Airport Companion, Mastercard Airport Experiences, or Priority Pass app.

Register your card details in the app to access your digital lounge passes. Before travelling, check the app to find available lounges at your departure or connecting airports.

When you arrive at the lounge, you’ll need to present:

• Your boarding pass
• Your lounge pass (digital or physical)
• Your credit card (for American Express cardholders)

Remember these important points:

• Any guests travelling with you must have their own boarding passes
• Some premium card benefits include complimentary guest access
• Certain lounge amenities like showers may require reservations upon arrival

Take full advantage of the available features, including complimentary food, beverages, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating. Most lounges also offer business facilities and reading materials to enhance your pre-flight experience.

How to Make the Most of Your Credit Cards with Lounge Access

Add an Additional Cardholder

Adding an additional cardholder to your premium travel credit card can be a clever way to extend lounge benefits. Most premium cards allow supplementary cardholders to enjoy the same lounge privileges, even when travelling separately. If your card offers unlimited lounge visits, your additional cardholder typically receives the same benefit. However, with cards that provide limited visits (such as six per year), you’ll need to share these visits between all cardholders.

Carry Multiple Credit Cards

For frequent travellers, having multiple cards with different lounge access programs makes perfect sense. For instance, pairing a TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card (offering Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America) with an American Express Platinum Card (providing access to the Global Lounge Collection) creates a comprehensive lounge network. This combination ensures you’ll find comfortable spaces to relax at most major airports worldwide.

Popular Card Combinations:

• Amex Platinum + TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
• CIBC Aventura + Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
• BMO World Elite + RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

Apply for Separate Cards for Your Partner

Rather than adding your partner as a supplementary cardholder, consider having them apply for their own premium travel card. This strategy effectively doubles your lounge visits and guest privileges. For families with children, this approach is particularly valuable—turning six lounge passes into twelve, or allowing each parent to bring one child as a guest when you both have unlimited access cards.

Try Multiple Lounges During Layovers

If you have extended connection times and unlimited lounge access, don’t hesitate to visit multiple lounges at the same airport. While this may seem excessive, each lounge is different. One lounge may have better food than the other, while the other one may have a better area to rest. Some lounges may also have showers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which premium credit cards provide complimentary airport lounge access?

Several premium credit cards in Canada offer airport lounge access as a key benefit. The American Express Platinum Card provides extensive lounge access through Priority Pass, Centurion Lounges, and Plaza Premium locations. The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege both include six annual Priority Pass visits. BMO World Elite Mastercard provides complimentary Mastercard Airport Experiences access.

How do I check if my credit card includes Priority Pass lounge privileges?

Review your cardholder benefits on your issuer’s website or mobile app to verify if your credit card includes Priority Pass access. Many premium cards require you to separately enrol in Priority Pass after receiving your card. Keep in mind that activation isn’t automatic, and you’ll typically need to request your Priority Pass membership card or digital membership through your credit card provider.

Do any credit cards offer lounge access without yearly fees?

Currently, there are no Canadian credit cards that offer comprehensive airport lounge access without charging an annual fee. Lounge access is typically bundled with premium cards that have annual fees ranging from $120 to $699. However, some financial institutions occasionally waive the first year’s fee during promotional periods. 

Which banks issue credit cards with airport lounge benefits?

In Canada, several financial institutions offer credit cards with lounge access:

• TD Canada Trust: Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
• CIBC: Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege
• RBC: Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
• Scotiabank: Passport Visa Infinite
• BMO: World Elite Mastercard
• American Express: Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, Aeroplan Reserve

Each institution typically reserves these benefits for their top-tier cards with correspondingly higher annual fees and income requirements.

Is Priority Pass membership commonly included with lounge access credit cards?

Yes, Priority Pass membership is the most commonly included lounge access benefit with premium Canadian credit cards. However, the level of membership varies significantly between cards. Some provide unlimited visits with complimentary guest privileges, while others offer a limited number of free visits annually (typically 4-6). After exhausting your included visits, you’ll generally pay $32-50 per additional visit. Always check if your card includes the basic membership only (requiring payment per visit) or if it provides complimentary visits as part of the package.

As far as TD Rewards is concerned, I think it’s one of the most underrated loyalty programs. For casual travellers, it’ll be appealing since it uses Expedia for all travel bookings. Basically, you can book just about anything you want via Expedia for TD and you’ll get a strong rate of return if you use one of the co-branded credit cards. That said, each redemption has a different value which is why you need to know how to maximize your TD Rewards points.

TD Rewards points value

Most people will use their TD Rewards points on bookings through Expedia for TD. Since it’ll cost you 200 TD Rewards points to redeem $1 in travel, one TD Rewards point is woth .50 cents. TD Rewards gives you a solid number of options to use your points, but not all of them will give you a decent value.

As you can see, the best value for your points is to book travel through the Expedia for TD portal. If you were to book travel on your own and then redeem points later, you’d be getting less value. Gift cards, statement credits, and merchandise aren’t worth it at all so don’t waste your TD Rewards points on them. Redeeming for education is a decent value, but there are some conditions that I’ve highlighted below. For any redemption, you need to go through the TD Rewards website.

How to redeem TD Rewards on Expedia for TD

TD Rewards has a partnership with Expedia which acts as their travel portal. It’s important to note that you have to use Expedia for TD, not the regular Expedia site. Since almost everyone is already familiar with Expedia.ca, the booking experience is relatively simple which makes TD Rewards arguably the easiest travel booking portal to navigate from all the major banks in Canada.

Similar to all other bank travel portals, you can book flights, hotels and car rentals, but TD Rewards shines by having access to Expedia’s inventory which is larger than most other bank programs. For example, Expedia for TD also offers vacation packages, cruises, vacation rentals, rail trips and attractions.

There is no minimum amount of TD Rewards points required to make a redemption on Expedia for TD, but you do need 200 TD Rewards points to get $1 off your Expedia for TD booking. Expedia for TD will automatically suggest you redeem points at check-out so there are no extra steps required if you want to use your points. Your points are essentially worth 0.5 cents each.

Make sure to opt-in for the TD Rewards e-mails since they often have good promotions. For example, they recently had $100 off a $400+ hotel booking made on Expedia for TD which gives you even more value for your points.

How to redeem TD Rewards for any type of travel

TD Rewards also allows you to redeem travel expenses charged on your credit card even if these expenses aren’t booked through Expedia for TD. While the redemption value for Book Any Way Travel can be 20% lower than Expedia for TD, I like having this option. Hotel chains usually only give points and elite status perks when you book directly with them. If you have status, it’s often worth booking directly to take advantage of your benefits even though you’re not getting as much value had you booked through Expedia for TD. Book Any Way travel also allows you to use points to offset travel expenses you can’t find on Expedia for TD, like AirBnB bookings or RV rentals.

The exact redemption ratio is 250 points will allow you to redeem $1 in travel purchases, so your points are worth 0.4 cents each. This ratio applies to the first $1,200 of a single travel purchase. Any travel purchases over $1,200 will only cost you 200 TD points to claim $1. To be clear, the first $1,200 would cost you 250 TD points for $1. From $120+, it would be 200 TD Rewards points to redeem $1 in travel.

What’s interesting is that TD Book Any Way Travel is pretty generous when it comes to valid travel expenses. In addition to usual travel expenses like flights and hotels, TD accepts out-of-province restaurants, gas, attractions and even parking expenses. These redemption options can be useful since many other programs already cover flights and hotel expenses.

There are no blackout dates when you redeem your TD points via Expedia for TD and Book Any Way Travel. Your TD Rewards points can also be used for fees and taxes.

How to redeem TD points for higher education

A few different bank rewards programs allow you to use points on investments, but TD gives you the option to use your points on higher education. It can be a bit complicated since you have to buy HigherEdPoints Education Credits with your points first. HigherEdPoints is an organization that has agreements with loyalty programs and education institutions and manages to convert loyalty points into education credits. You can see the list of all participating institutions on their website.

The redemption value of these credits is decent since 250 points get you $1. That works out to the same rate as Any Way Travel, but you need to take into consideration that you can only redeem by $250 increments which work to be 62,500 points. This option is also available for outstanding student loans too, so you could get more value out of your points if you factor in the interest you’ll save by paying off your loan earlier.

How to redeem TD Rewards for gift cards

The TD Rewards site has a tab dedicated to gift cards. The number of points required to make a redemption differs depending on the merchant, but in most cases, it’s a rate of 400 points for $1. That’s half the value of what you get when redeeming on Expedia for TD or .25 cents per point.

Clearly using your points for gift cards is not a good value, but TD Rewards does occasionally have promos where gift cards cost 25% less in points to make a redemption. Even then, it would still cost you 300 points for $1, so that’s .33 cents per point. It’s a better value than the regular rate, but it’s still lower than travel redemptions.

How to redeem TD Rewards for merchandise

Similar to almost all other loyalty programs, TD Rewards has a merchandise catalogue with hundreds of items that you can purchase with your points. Some things that have been available in the past include:

• Hair clippers
• Car seats
• iPads
• Laptops
• Beds
• Small and major appliances
• Gaming consoles
• Bikes
• iPhones

Admittedly, TD Rewards has one of the better merchandise that’s available from some of your favourite retailers. They seem to have more categories and products available compared to other programs. That said, the redemption rate is still not the best since the dollar value of your points would fall between .15 – .30 cents each. That said, TD Rewards does run quite a few promos where it takes fewer points to make a redemption, so your point value could get as high as .40 cents, which is not bad.

How to redeem TD Rewards for cash

When logged into TD Rewards, you’ll see a tab to redeem your points for cash. While it’s always appealing to have your bill reduced by simply redeeming your points, this is arguably the lowest value possible. It’ll cost you 200 points for $ 1 off, which is a value of .25 cents per point. Although this is the same rate as gift cards, there are never any promos for cash redemptions. You’re basically stuck at .25 cents per point which is terrible. Unless you’re experiencing financial distress, avoid cash redemptions.

Do TD Rewards points expire?

No, TD Rewards points do not expire as long as you have an active account in good standing. If you choose to close or switch your account, you’ll lose your points immediately, so use up your points before making any changes. In the past, when you switched from the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite to the TD Aeroplan Aeroplan Visa Infinite, you could transfer your points, but that’s no longer allowed.

How TD Rewards compare to others

TD Rewards is a solid loyalty travel program that will appeal to people who want something simple. Since you can book on Expedia for TD or book on your own, there are no blackout dates or award redemption charts to worry about. The only real “negative” aspect of TD Rewards is a lack of fixed point flight redemption chart like American Express Membership Rewards has. That means the value of TD Rewards points is limited to 0.5 cents per point. In addition, with American Express Membership Rewards, there’s no devaluation to your points when you book any type of travel.

Although the TD credit cards that are offered are decent, many of the best travel credit cards in Canada have better sign up bonuses. That said, TD Rewards is near the bottom end of my rankings of Canada’s bank travel programs. Those who don’t want to think about maximizing value will rank TD Rewards higher, but I think the program is lacking.

It’s also worth mentioning that Aeroplan points are arguably better than TD Rewards since they can have a higher value, and there are multiple TD Aeroplan credit cards. For example, if you opted for the top-tier TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, not only would you earn TD Aeroplan points, but you would also get benefits such as a Priority Pass membership, extended warranty protection, discounts at Avis rent-a-car, trip cancellation coverage, purchase security, and trip interruption insurance.

How to earn TD Rewards points

You can earn TD Rewards points via TD credit cards. The quickest way to earn TD Rewards points is from the various sign up bonuses, but you’ll obviously also earn points on all of your eligible purchases. TD has 3 personal credit cards that earn you TD Rewards points: TD Rewards Visa, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card, and the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card. There’s also a TD Business Travel Visa that earns you TD Rewards I’ve highlighted their TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card below as it’s easily the most popular one.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

Apply now

• $139 annual fee – First year free
• Earn 20,000 TD Rewards points after your first purchase
• 65,000 additional points when you spend $5,000 in the first 180 days
• Annual $100 travel credit (accommodations & vacation packages)
• Birthday bonus of up to 10,000 points
• Earn 8 points per $1 spent when you book on Expedia for TD
• Earn 6 points per $1 spent on groceries, dining and public transit
• Earn 4 points per $1 spent on recurring bills, streaming, digital gaming & media
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite is TD’s flagship credit card. It doesn’t earn you as many TD Rewards points as the TD Platinum Travel Visa card, but it’s arguably more popular. I suspect the reason it’s such a popular card is that you can get the annual fee waived every year if you have a TD All-inclusive plan. Even if you don’t have that plan, the annual fee for the first year is usually free.

The standard welcome bonus for cardholders is typically worth 20,000 points, but TD often runs promotions where you can earn an additional 40,000 – 80,000 TD Rewards points as long as you meet their minimum spend requirement. Since one TD Reward point is worth 0.5 cents each, that’s $500 in value you’re getting if the welcome bonus is worth up to 100,000 points. It’s definitely worth monitoring the current TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite offer as they can sometimes be incredibly valuable.

It’s worth mentioning that the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is one of the eligible TD credit cards that can earn you Starbucks Rewards partnership. All you need to do is login to your TD app, tap My TD Rewards, the select Starbucks from the partners list.

If you prefer a card with no annual fee, there’s the TD Rewards Visa Card. It earns you 2 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in grocery purchases, restaurant & fast food purchases.

Final thoughts 

Despite the lack of redemption options with your points, TD Rewards is still a decent travel loyalty program. Points are easy to accumulate and are easy to use with no blackout dates. Without any transfer partners, TD will always be one of the less popular bank loyalty programs. Many consumers want options. Being partnered with Expedia is great, but giving consumers less value when they book their own travel is a bit ridiculous. Oddly enough, the TD mobile app doesn’t connect you right to Expedia for TD.

How Aeroplan family sharing works

Aeroplan Family Sharing allows you to create groups with up to eight members in total. Even though it’s called family sharing, you can add whoever you want. It can be a spouse, sibling, in-laws, friends, or caregiver. It doesn’t matter.

Each group has one lead person who would add the other members. All you need to enter is your relationship with the member and their Aeroplan number. The relationship status doesn’t matter. They give you different options so you can see how everyone ties together. It’s not like one relationship status would give you additional benefits.

When someone is added, an email will be sent to that member. They’ll need to accept the invitation to join the group. Once you join, any Aeroplan points that you have will be combined into an Aeroplan family sharing pool and can be used right away.

Why create an Aeroplan family sharing group?

If it isn’t obvious, joining an Aeroplan Family Sharing group is advantageous since you can pool your points. Simply put, Aeroplan is one of the world’s best loyalty programs for flight rewards. Every person who flies on Air Canada can get an Aeroplan number. Ticket purchases for Air Canada flights or any of their partners earn you points on the base fare.

Let’s say you’re a family of four flying from Toronto to Vancouver, and each ticket costs $450 (minus taxes and fees). Depending on the fare class, you would each earn points. Individually, the points aren’t worth much. However, with family sharing, you now have access to all of the points earned under a single account. This is ideal as you can now use the points from people who may not fly as much, such as children and grandparents.

Now let’s think big picture. Most people joining a group aren’t coming in with zero points, so you could easily have a group of six coming in with 120,000, 70,000, 55,000, 30,000, 20,000, and 15,000 points, respectively. That adds up to 310,000 bonus points under the family account, which is a fair amount and instantly allows you to get a sweet redemption. 

Additionally, earning points as a family is essential if you want to travel hack.

Preferred pricing as a family

One unique benefit of Aeroplan family sharing account is that all members get preferred pricing on Aeroplan rewards as long as one member has an Aeroplan credit card (such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card). Generally speaking, you’ll get about a 3% – 5% discount compared to those without an Aeroplan credit card.

I hold the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. When I search for flights, I get preferred flights. Since my brother is in my family plan, he also gets preferred pricing when searching for an Aeroplan redemption flight.

It’s important to note that benefits that come with credit cards, such as free checked bags, lounge access, priority boarding, etc., only apply to the primary cardholder and any authorized users. No other benefits are shared, including any status benefits. If a member has Aeroplan Elite status, none of those benefits get carried over.

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

If you’re going to collect Aeroplan points and set up a family plan, having a member with the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card can be highly beneficial. Not only do you get a generous welcome bonus, but all members of the family plan can take advantage of the preferred Aeroplan pricing that this card grants.

How are points redeemed in an Aeroplan family sharing plan?

Once you join an Aeroplan Family Sharing group, your points are split evenly based on the percentage of points you have within the group. To better understand how points are used, I’ll use the above group of six example from above. This is how their points would break down.

Group Member	Points in	Percentage
Grandfather	120,000	39%
Grandmother	70,000	22%
Father	55,000	18%
Mother	30,000	10%
Son	20,000	6%
Daughter	15,000	5%
Total	310,000	100%

Now say the group’s father wants to make a redemption of 100,000 Aeroplan points. The points withdrawn from each member would be as follows:

• Grandfather – 39,000
• Grandmother – 22,000
• Father – 18,000
• Mother – 10,000
• Son – 6,000
• Daughter – 5,000

To be clear, the percentage of points taken from individuals isn’t set on the amount they come in with. You can still technically earn more points individually, so your actual percentage would constantly change.

The ratio of points for withdrawal can’t be changed. That means you can’t tell Aeroplan to withdraw, say 80% of the points from one member and then 20% from someone else.

The group leader would set access levels for each person. This is a good thing, so your kids don’t use up your points for random things such as gift cards or merchandise.

When points are being used, all members of the group will be alerted by email. This includes redeemers and non-redeemers.

It’s also worth noting that your family sharing balance can be used on any flight available with Aeroplan. That includes business class flights, partner airlines, Air Canada Vacations. The destination doesn’t matter; you can also book a stopover with your redemption if you desire. The mileage of your flight, carrier, calendar year, round-trip or one-way also doesn’t matter.

How does the expiration date for Aeroplan points work?

As a quick refresher, Aeroplan points will expire after 18 months of account inactivity. This worries some people who don’t travel often, but earning and using some points is easy. You could shop through the Aeroplan e-store, get an Aeroplan credit card, shop at an Aeroplan partner, or donate some points.

Now let’s say you’re in an Aeroplan Family Sharing plan. Points are taken from every member’s account when one person makes a redemption. That counts as account activity for everyone, so your expiration date would instantly reset.

However, earning points is still made on an individual basis. Even though the points earned are shared within the group, it doesn’t count toward the expiration calendar.

What happens if I leave an Aeroplan family sharing group?

Due to the potential for fraud, there are a few rules in place if you’re going to join an Aeroplan Family Sharing Group.

• When joining a group, you must be in for at least 3 months
• When leaving a group, you can’t join a new one for at least 6 months

What many people wonder is, what happens to your points when you leave? Any points that you brought in and earned leave with you (minus any points that we’re used for redemptions).

For example, let’s say you brought in 100,000 points. While in the group, 15,000 of your points were used for redemptions, and you earned 30,000 points thanks to your spending on your Aeroplan credit card. If you were to leave, you’d exit with 115,000 points (100,000 + 30,000 – 15,000).

Final thoughts

You would think the ability to pool your points would be a standard option for loyalty plans, but for whatever reason, it’s not. It’s good to see that Aeroplan has introduced this feature as a standard benefit, as everyone can take advantage of it.

While frequent flyers are familiar with basic redemption strategies, there are lesser-known tricks that can significantly boost the value of your rewards. From clever routing techniques to unique ways of earning and redeeming points, these insights can transform your travel experience.

Aeroplan has sales

Aeroplan occasionally offers sales, giving you the chance to book trips for fewer points. These sales can provide significant savings on your travel plans.

For example, right now, you can save up to 25% on flight redemptions. You must book between Feb. 19 and 23, 2025, with travel from Feb. 20 to September 30, 2025. That means you can potentially save big on your spring break or summer travels.

These deals happen a few times a year, so keep an eye out for promotional emails and check the Aeroplan website regularly to catch these limited-time offers. Sales may target specific routes, destinations, or travel periods.

Remember that it’s not just flights that go on sale with Aeroplan. Sometimes, you can get deals on hotel bookings and even greater offers when buying points.

Availability during sales is usually limited, so act quickly if you have something or mind or find a great price.

Flexible dates are essential

Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing model – where prices change based on supply and demand – means flight costs can vary significantly depending on when you travel. Being flexible with your dates can unlock substantial savings on your bookings. This flexibility is further enhanced by Aeroplan’s increased seat availability, allowing members to book any available flight seat using their points, providing greater convenience and value in travel planning.

When searching for flights, try adjusting your travel dates by a few days in either direction. Just by shifting your departure or return slightly, you may find lower-priced options.

Midweek flights often offer better value than weekend travel. For example, flying out on Tuesday or Wednesday could be cheaper than Friday through Monday.

As you can imagine, holiday periods and peak seasons typically require more points. Last year, when planning a trip to Orlando, I quickly realized it was much cheaper to fly the first week of December instead of waiting until the second week or when the holidays started.

Remember that flexibility extends beyond dates. Being open to different flight times or destinations can also lead to better redemptions. For example, this summer, I’m headed to London and Amsterdam. Although I originally planned to fly to Amsterdam, heading to London first will save me 40,000 points per person since I plan on flying business class.

Master stopovers and layovers

Aeroplan’s stopover rules offer a fantastic opportunity to explore an additional destination on your journey. For just 5,000 points, you can add a stopover of more than 24 hours to your itinerary, allowing you to experience a new city or country.

Layovers, on the other hand, can be strategically used to reduce the number of points required for your redemption.

For example, flying directly from Vancouver to Toronto might cost you 20,000 points. However, you might be able to take a flight with a short layover in Calgary for 15,000 points. The journey would be longer, but sometimes, the difference in points is significant enough to consider.

To make the most of these rules, consider planning your trips with stopovers or layovers in mind. You can explore a new destination without significantly increasing your point expenditure, effectively getting two trips for the price of one.

Have an Aeroplan credit card

Getting an Aeroplan credit card can significantly boost your points earning potential. These cards allow you to earn points on your everyday purchases. Additionally, depending on the card, you get some great perks, such as free checked bags on Air Canada flights, Zone 2 boarding, and access to Maple Leaf lounges.

One lesser-discussed benefit of having an Aeroplan credit card is the preferred pricing on flight redemptions. This means you may need fewer points for the same flights compared to non-cardholders.

Multiple Aeroplan credit card options are available, ranging from entry-level to premium tiers. Choose one that aligns with your spending habits and travel goals.

HotelSavers can be valuable

Aeroplan’s HotelSavers program offers a way to maximize your points when booking accommodations. You can save up to 30% in points compared to standard hotel bookings on select properties, such as Fairmont, Sofitel, Novotel, and Banyan Tree.

The program uses a category system, with redemptions ranging from 10,000 to 105,000 points per night. This tiered approach allows you to find options that suit your points balance and travel needs.

While HotelSavers is available to all Aeroplan members, there’s an extra incentive if you’re an Aeroplan credit card holder. When Aeroplan cardholders book four consecutive nights at a hotel on points, they only pay for three. This deal stacks, so if you book eight nights on points, you only pay for six nights.

While flight redemptions typically offer more value with Aeroplan, don’t overlook the potential value in hotel bookings. HotelSavers gives you access to various properties, including some that aren’t part of major hotel chain reward programs.

Keep in mind that point values can vary. Always compare the cash price to the points required to ensure you’re getting a good deal.

Take Advantage of eStore Offers

The Aeroplan eStore is a valuable tool for earning bonus points on your online purchases. By shopping through the eStore portal, you can accumulate points faster without spending extra money.

Keep an eye out for special promotions, especially during major shopping events like Black Friday. These offers can provide multipliers of up to 10x the regular points on your purchases.

Remember to check the eStore before making any online purchases. Popular retailers like Amazon and Dyson often participate in these promotions, allowing you to earn significant points on items you’d buy anyway.

To maximize your earnings, time your larger purchases with these promotions. For example, this past Black Friday, I bought a new laptop at BestBuy, which is an eStore partner.

Using the Aeroplan eStore won’t save you money on travel directly, but it does help you earn more points. With all those extra points, you’ll be able to redeem them for travel in no time.

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

Welcome bonus and earn rate

Potential cardholders expect a generous welcome bonus whenever a card has a high annual fee. Fortunately, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card does not disappoint. The welcome bonus is typically worth between 60,000 to 120,000 Aeroplan points. When you use a friend’s referral link, you may get some additional points.

I personally value one Aeroplan point at roughly 2 cents. That means the welcome bonus could be worth at least $1,800. That’s clearly more than the annual fee of $599. That’s great for a metal credit card.

Now let’s look at the earn rate. You get 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on eligible dining and food delivery. All other purchases earn you 1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar spent. The earn rate for dining and food delivery is the highest of any Aeroplan card, but all other purchases earn you the same points as the Visa Infinite Privilege cards from TD and CIBC.

Benefits and perks

If you’re still reading my American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card Review, you’ll want to know about the benefits and perks. For a card with an annual fee of $599, it’s natural to expect it to come with a ton of benefits. Fortunately, the card does not disappoint.

Air Canada benefits

• Free first checked bag – You and up to eight travelling companions on the same itinerary get your first checked bag free.
• Priority airport check-in, boarding and baggage handling on Air Canada flights – This is good for you and up to eight companions travelling on the same itinerary.
• Priority treatment – You get priority when on standby and upgrade lists.
• Reach Aeroplan status more easily – For every $5,000 you charge to your card, you’ll earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment. Plus, you can roll over up to 200,000 unused Status Qualifying Miles for the following year.

Airport/Maple Leaf Lounge access

When flying on Air Canada or one of its partners, you and a guest get access to all Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in North America. It doesn’t matter what class you’re flying to or where you’re flying to; you’ll get access to the lounge.

In addition, with this card, you get a free Priority Pass membership. This gives you access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world. However, you don’t get any free passes, so you need to pay for each visit.

Roll over eUpgrade credits

As long as you have this card, you can roll over up to 50 unused eUpgrade Credits to the next status year. This feature can be incredibly valuable for those that have earned Aeroplan status.

$100 NEXUS rebate

When applying or renewing your NEXUS membership, you’ll get up to $100 back in a statement credit as long as you pay the fee with your American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. This credit can be applied once every four years.

Annual worldwide companion pass

An annual worldwide companion pass is awarded when you spend $25,000 on this card in a year. This perk allows the primary cardholder to purchase another ticket with a fixed base fare. This can be highly lucrative since it can save you a fair amount. 

Pearson International Airport benefits

• Priority security lane – You can generate single-use QR codes that allow you and your guests to access the priority lines at both terminals in Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Just go to go.amex/yyz.
• Complimentary valet – Valet car service is free at Terminal 1, but note that the regular parking fees still apply.
• Discounts on parking – You’ll get 15% off parking rates at Express Park and Daily Park lots at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Just pay with your credit card and a statement credit will be applied a few days later.

Travel insurance 

• Travel medical – $5,000,000 for 15 days if you’re under 65
• Trip cancellation/trip interruption – Up to $1,500 per person / $3,000 total for trip cancellation. Up to $1,500 per person / $6,000 total for trip interruption.
• Flight delay – up to $1,000 / 4 hours
• Delayed baggage insurance – up to $1,000 / 6 hours
• Lost or stolen bags – $1,000
• Auto rental collision / loss damage – 48 consecutive days / $85,000 total
• Hotel/motel burglary – $1,000
• Travel accident – $500,000

While the travel insurance package is impressive, there are a few things worth noting. You’re only covered for 15 days, and anyone aged 65 or older gets no coverage at all. The delayed baggage allowance kicks in at 6 hours, and the $1,000 maximum is an aggregate with your flight delay insurance.

Purchase insurance 

• Buyer’s assurance – Double, up to one additional year
• Purchase protection – 90 days / Up to $1,000 per occurrence

In case you’re not familiar with buyer’s assurance, it’s what American Express calls extended warranty. Purchase protection covers you from theft and damage for up to $1,000 within 90 days of your purchase. As long as you charge the full amount of the purchase to your American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, you’ll get double the manufacturer’s warranty, up to one extra year.

American Express Experiences

As an American Express cardholder, you get access to American Express Experiences, which include:

• Front of the line presales – Get access to tickets to concerts, theatre productions, restaurants and more before the general public.
• Front of the line reserved tickets – American Express has exclusive agreements where cardholders get access to reserved tickets.
• Entertainment experiences – You can purchase special entertainment experiences such as screenings of movies to theatre packages.
• Dining experiences – Get special access to food festivals, prepared meals, and chefs tables.

How to redeem your points

Aeroplan is one of the best travel rewards programs and I have an entire post dedicated to it. For the purpose of this American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card review, I’ll quickly outline how Aeroplan works.

With Aeroplan, you can use your points on any available seat on Air Canada. In addition, you can redeem flights with Aeroplan’s 40+ partners. This is highly appealing since Air Canada and it’s partners services most of the world.

The number of points required for a redemption depends on where you’re flying from, where you’re flying to and the miles you’re flown. These distance bands are all outlined in its Flight Reward Chart. That said, Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing, so the number of points required can fluctuate quite a bit. On a positive note, Aeroplan does have partners that have a fixed price. The only issue is that there’s limited seat availability. For both Air Canada and partner flights, surcharges, fees, and taxes are charged.

Another feature of Aeroplan worth mentioning is family sharing. That’s where up to eight family members can pool their Aeroplan points. This allows the group to make redemptions quicker.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card eligibility

You can only apply for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card if you’re a Canadian resident and are at least the age of majority in your province or territory.

Although American Express does not disclose what credit score is required for this card, you can assume you’ll need a good credit score since this is a premium credit card. Think 680+

Even though this is a higher tier credit card, American Express doesn’t have a formal income requirement for you to be approved.

Finally, you can link your existing Aeroplan number to your card by inputting your membership number during the application process. If you leave it blank, a new Aeroplan number will be generated for you.

How the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card compares to others

Usually, I would compare the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card to other similar Aeroplan cards such as the CIBC and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, but they’re too similar. They only have minor differences in the earn rate and insurance, so just choose what’s better for you.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve vs. American Express Platinum

A better comparison might be the American Express Platinum Card since they’re similar but different. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card earns you Aeroplan points, whereas you get Membership Rewards (MR) points with the Platinum Card. Since you can transfer your MR points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio and other loyalty programs, the Platinum Card is much more flexible. Also, the welcome bonus is typically higher with the Platinum Card. The Platinum Card does have an annual fee of $699, but you get an annual travel credit of $200. That effectively makes your annual fee $499, which is lower than the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.

What makes the Aeroplan card stand out are the Aeroplan benefits. Not only do you get free checked bags and access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America, but you also get preferred pricing for Aeroplan redemptions. The Platinum Card does give you unlimited access to Priority Pass and American Express Centurion lounges worldwide and the American Express Fixed Points Travel Program. Although Maple Leaf Lounges are better, you get access to more lounges overall with the Platinum Card.

When it comes to the earn rate, they’re a touch different. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card gives you 3 points per dollar spent on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. 2 points on dining & food delivery, and 1.25 points per $1 spent on everything else. The platinum card gives you 3 points on dining, 2 points on travel, and 1 point per $1 spent on everything else. If you spend a lot on the categories with multipliers, you may favour the Platinum Card.

Overall, I would choose the card that best suits your travel style. If you fly Air Canada and their partners regularly, then go for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card since the benefits are built for frequent Air Canada flyers. If you’re the type that prefers flexibility, the American Express Platinum Card is likely better for you.

Final thoughts

My American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card Review is positive. The card is a great choice for the following situations:

• You frequently fly with Air Canada – With this card, you get your first checked bag free, priority check-in, priority boarding on Air Canada flights and Maple Leaf Lounge Access in North America.
• You have Aeroplan status – Cardholders that have Aeroplan status can roll over up to 50 eUpgrade credits each year.
• You want to earn Aeroplan points fast – This card typically comes with a welcome bonus of 90,000 to 100,000 Aeroplan points. You might get more when using a referral link.

This card is designed for people who fly Air Canada frequently within North America. The benefits are easily worth more than the annual fee. Even if you don’t fly Air Canada often, signing up for the first year can often be worth it since it comes with a generous welcome bonus. Message me for a referral link.

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.