The best travel rewards credit cards let you earn points with your everyday credit card spending and enjoy free flights, airport lounge access, upgrades and other perks.
With a powerful travel rewards credit card, you can be rewarded for your spending and earn points so you can travel for free sooner. As well as points, some travel credit cards offer other travel perks, including free travel insurance, free airport lounge access and flight vouchers for your traveling companion.
But which travel rewards credit card are popular? Find out how credit cards with travel rewards work in this comprehensive guide and compare travel credit cards in Canada.
Popular travel rewards credit cards in Canada by category
The best travel credit cards allow you to quickly earn rewards so you can take your next trip sooner. They’ll also come with low (or no) annual fees and little or no foreign exchange fee. Here are some popular travel rewards credit cards by category.
Travel credit card
Travel points
Apply and learn more
American Express Cobalt Card
Earn 5x the points on eligible groceries, dining, drinks and food delivery in Canada (spend cap applies), 3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions, 2x points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas, 1 extra point per dollar spent on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via Amex Travel Online and 1 point for every other dollar spent.
Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more, 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, entertainment, other eligible grocery stores, gas and transit, streaming services, and food delivery services and subscriptions. Plus, earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on everything else. Use your Card and book travel through the full-service travel agency, Scotia Rewards Travel Service. Plus, get special travel offers through Scotia Rewards Travel Advantage.
Earn 6x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 5x Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases, earn up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia, 3x Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transportation and select streaming services, and 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere.
Get 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases, 3 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Earn 3x the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2x the points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada, and 1.25x the points on everything else.
Travel rewards credit cards give you a way to earn points on your everyday spending by offering a set number of points for every dollar spent (such as 1 point for $1 spent or 1 point for $2 spent) on eligible purchases. This means the more you spend, the more points you can rack up. There are different ways to earn and redeem reward points depending on the type of credit card you choose and the rewards offered by the provider.
Some travel points credit cards send points directly to your account and other rewards credit cards allow you to transfer points to a variety of other eligible travel reward accounts. Your card may also have tiered earn rates – different earn rates depending on the type of purchase – and points caps that reduce or limit points earnings after you spend a certain amount each statement period. As your points are debited to your account, you can redeem them for a variety of rewards including flights, upgrades, accommodation and plenty of other perks.
When you’re searching for the best travel rewards credit cards, there are two different options to consider:
1. Direct earn cards. These credit cards partner with a single airline rewards program and earn points that are credited directly to your linked travel rewards account. Direct earn cards generally have a better earn rate than other options, so you could potentially get more rewards for your spending if you’re loyal to one travel rewards program.
2. Indirect earn cards. These reward credit cards earn points that can be transferred to a wide range of travel rewards programs. Unlike direct earn travel rewards credit cards, the value of the points you earn on these types of cards may differ when transferred to a travel rewards account.
How to compare the best credit cards for travel rewards
With a large variety of travel points credit cards in Canada, you have plenty of options to discover a card that suits your travel goals and financial circumstances. You should compare the following key factors when choosing the best travel rewards credit card for you:
The travel credit card rewards program. Choosing a credit card that earns points for a specific travel program you already use will help you maximize your rewards. For example, if you exclusively fly with WestJet, you wouldn’t get as much value from a card that offered British Airways points. If you don’t belong to a program yet, think about which airline(s) you travel with the most and look at their loyalty program options.
Points earning rate. Check the standard rate of points you’ll earn for each dollar spent on the card. Be aware that a different earn rate could apply for certain types of spending, such as overseas purchases. There are usually some transactions that won’t earn points – such as cash advances and gambling transactions – and there may be a limit to the points you can earn each month or year, so make sure you check restrictions for the cards you’re comparing.
Reward values. Consider the types of rewards you want to claim, the number of points you’ll need and how much you’d have to spend to redeem your preferred reward. Check how these values measure up between programs, so you can apply for the card that offers the greatest value based on your spending and reward goals.
Annual fee. Ideally, the card’s annual fee should cost less than the rewards and any complimentary extras that you intend to use. If you don’t reap these rewards, it may not be worth paying a high annual fee for the card.
Promotional rates and features. Travel rewards credit cards sometimes have promotions for new customers, such as bonus points, 0% purchase rates or no annual fee for the first year. These benefits can add value to the card that you choose, but make sure you read the terms and conditions and confirm the length of the introductory period so that these offers work for you.
Complimentary extras. Travel rewards credit cards often come with a selection of complimentary extras such as international travel insurance, extended warranties, concierge services and airline lounge access. The value of these perks can be used to offset the cost of the annual fee of the credit card, as long as you know you will actually use them.
Foreign transaction fee. The best travel credit cards may come with no foreign transaction fees. Skipping this fee means saving around 2.5% on every purchase made abroad and with foreign online merchants.
Secured vs. unsecured. You’ll need to put down a security deposit to open a secured card, but you might have more products to choose from. Meanwhile, you don’t need a security deposit for an unsecured card, but you might have fewer options.
Why get a travel credit card?
If you’re interested in getting a travel rewards credit card, weigh up these pros and cons to decide if it will be worth it for you:
Pros
Redeem flights and travel upgrades faster. If you’re earning points every time you spend with your credit card, you can maximize the number of points you’re earning and reach your reward goals faster. Points can likely be used toward both domestic and international flights, as well as perks like business class upgrades, seat upgrades, dining upgrades and airport lounge access.
Sign-up bonus points. Some credit cards offer introductory bonus points as an incentive for new customers to sign up. Depending on the card, you could earn up to 100,000 bonus points (or more) when you meet the spend requirement. Not only will this give your points balance a boost, but it’s also another way you can redeem rewards more quickly.
Large range of rewards. The best travel rewards credit cards let you redeem the points you earn for rewards including flights with your preferred airline and its partners, hotels, online shopping and more.
Travel perks. Designed to suit frequent flyers and travellers, these cards often come with extra features such as flight vouchers, airport lounge passes and 24/7 concierge services.
Complimentary insurance. Many travel rewards credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance, which can help you save on stand-alone insurance costs when you’re travelling.
Cons
High interest rates. Travel rewards credit cards often come with less competitive interest rates than other cards and are suited to cardholders who consistently pay off their balance each month and can avoid the high interest charges.
Expensive annual fees. Travel rewards credit cards typically come with higher annual fees than standard credit card options. Make sure that the value of the points you can earn and the extra features of the card outweigh the annual fee.
Temptation to spend. If you struggle to repay your credit card on time each month or you need to consolidate debt, a travel rewards credit card might tempt you to spend for the sake of receiving points. If you are struggling to pay off existing debt, you might want to consider a card designed for balance transfers instead.
Airline and flight restrictions. If you want to use points for flights or upgrades, you will likely be limited to a specific airline or alliance of airlines. There may also be blackout dates or limited availability for reward flights and upgrades.
Offer requirements. Travel rewards credit cards that come with introductory offers or complimentary insurance may have specific spending requirements you need to meet to enjoy these benefits. Make sure that the spend requirement is realistic with your budget and monthly spending.
Compare more travel rewards credit cards
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The 3 types of travel points programs offering credit cards in Canada
There are three main types of travel rewards programs in Canada that offer credit cards. The one that’s the right fit for you will depend on how many miles you want to earn and what you’re looking to get out of the program.
1. Standalone travel rewards programs
Standalone programs require a membership to participate and let you earn miles when you shop with partners and online retailers. You can also use your program-affiliated credit card to earn travel rewards.
Air Miles.Air Miles is one of the biggest travel points programs in Canada and offers the chance for members to earn miles on everyday purchases like gas, groceries and pharmacy purchases. It works primarily with banking partners BMO and Amex to offer basic and premium credit cards to fit any budget.
Bank-affiliated programs are linked to a specific bank and don’t require a membership to participate. These programs don’t tend to have partners, so you’ll only be able to earn travel rewards when you shop with your bank-affiliated credit card.
Aventura. Aventura is tied exclusively to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). It doesn’t have any partners, so it can take more time to earn points for purchases. The selling point of this program is that your points will be more flexible and you may get better customer service if you run into issues with your account.
Avion.Avion is operated by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and doesn’t require a membership to participate. Instead, you have to sign up for an Avion credit card to earn points for making everyday purchases. One of the best features of this program is that the rewards are fairly flexible and RBC offers a decent level of customer service.
3. Airline-affiliated travel rewards programs
Airline-specific cards are affiliated directly with certain airlines and don’t require a membership to participate. However, you will need to have a program-affiliated credit card to earn points.
Aeroplan.The Aeroplan travel rewards program is owned by Air Canada, and is one of the most popular travel points programs in Canada. It offers the chance for members to earn more miles on travel-related purchases or for merchandise in Aeroplan’s eStore. It currently works with banking partners CIBC, TD and Amex to offer a wide range of Aeroplan credit cards.
Other airline-specific programs. There are a number of other frequent flyer programs that work with specific airlines such as WestJet and Alaska Airlines. You’ll need a program-specific credit card to earn points with these programs. You’ll typically only be able to cash your points in for flights and other travel-related rewards, but you’ll often get a nice suite of travel perks to use with the airline itself.
Compare travel points credit cards from popular rewards programs
Companion vouchers, gas discounts, travel insurance, welcome bonus
Higher annual fee, high minimum income requirements
How to decide which travel rewards program to join
Before you decide which travel points program to join, it makes sense to think about the following features to make sure you pick the best fit for you:
Earn rate. Find out how many miles you’ll earn for spending money on your card, and try to track down a program that offers double the miles for shopping with partners.
More chances to earn. Aim to choose a program that offers special promotions and a wider network of partners to help you earn miles.
Types of rewards. Look at each program’s “rewards store” to find out what you can use your miles to purchase.
Available credit cards. Take time to compare the credit cards affiliated with each program to make sure you pick the best fit for you.
Customer service. Consider customer reviews for each program to figure out which one offers the highest level of customer service.
How to compare credit cards with travel points
If you’ve settled on a travel points program and you’re ready to pick a card, be sure to ask the following questions before making your choice.
How many miles will I earn? Think about how many miles you’ll get for each purchase and pick the card that will give you the highest return for the most affordable fee.
How big is the welcome bonus? Sign up for the card that gives you the best welcome bonus, with an annual fee that matches your budget.
Will I get the benefits I want? Think about what kind of perks and benefits you think you’ll use most frequently and get the card that offers the most practical options.
What will my interest rates be? Calculate what you’ll have to pay in interest on outstanding balances and avoid paying more than 19.99%.
Will I have to pay an annual fee? Find out how much you’ll have to pay for your card and read the fine print to see if there are any other fees you should be aware of. Make sure you use your card enough to earn enough points or miles to justify the annual fee.
How to redeem travel rewards points
Once you’ve earned enough points, you can redeem them for a variety of rewards, depending on the provider. Popular rewards you could redeem with your travel rewards program include flights, gift vouchers and hotels. The number of points you need for a reward varies depending on the travel rewards program and the type of reward you choose.
While credit card and airline reward programs all have their own specific steps for redeeming or transferring points, you can use the following steps as a guide for most online reward point redemptions:
Log in to your rewards account
Check your point balance to see how many points you have to use
Select the “Redeem” option
Choose the type of redemption you want to make (e.g. “flights”)
Select the specific option you want (e.g. single flight from Toronto to Montreal)
Follow the prompts to book or secure the reward
Confirm the redemption
Some travel rewards credit cards also give you a “points plus pay” option, which means you can use a combination of points and cash to redeem your reward.
How to recover travel miles or points with frequent flyer programs
There are four main frequent flyer programs in Canada and each one has a different policy when dealing with the recovery of points or frequent flyer programs.
Aeroplan
Air Miles
Avion
Aventura
Most airlines will not allow you to recover your miles or points directly, but most loyalty programs allow you to change your booking or receive a flight credit for future travel.
Getting a refund on hotel stays booked with points is not common and, in most cases, there are explicit policies that deny loyalty point holders this option. However, most loyalty programs and hotels will try and accommodate cancellations and rebookings, within reason. For more information, content your loyalty point program or the hotel where the booking was made.
What credit card transactions don’t earn points?
The list of transactions that do and don’t earn points when you use a travel rewards credit card varies between providers and products. The following are some of the most common exclusions:
Cash advance transactions
Balance transfers
Gambling charges
Purchasing foreign currency
Account fees
Reversed transactions
Government payments
Some monthly bills
Keep in mind that not all cards have the same exclusions, so it’s important to check the terms and conditions or product disclosure statement for full details of what individual travel rewards credit cards do and don’t count as an “eligible transaction”.
How can I get a companion certificate or travel credit?
This depends on the card, and they usually have these perks listed in the terms and conditions. You can also call to find out how your card distributes companion certificates or travel credits. Possible ways include:
An annual benefit. Many credit cards give you up until 12 months or the end of the calendar year to redeem travel credits. That means these benefits can’t be rolled over to be used the next year.
An earned perk. In some cases, you have to meet a spending requirement, usually thousands of dollars a year, before you can use your flight or travel credit.
By request. You may have to request a companion certificate before you can use it. This could take time, so make sure you make your request before the certificate expires.
To use with an eligible travel partner. Read the fine print to see if your travel credit or companion certificate is limited to a specific airline.
What else should I consider when using a travel credit card?
Beware of currency conversion fees. Currency conversion fees, also known as a Dynamic currency conversion (or DCC), can easily be avoided by always paying in the local currency instead of having the merchant charge you in Canadian dollars. Paying in the local currency could mean you’ll face a poor exchange rate and additional fees.
Avoid ATM withdrawals with your credit card. Carrying cash while travelling comes with its own risks, so storing your funds on a card can be handy. However, using a regular card can come at a cost of up to $5 per ATM withdrawal – not to mention the excruciatingly high interest rate you’ll be charged from the day you withdraw the money. Using your debit card means you can avoid paying interest. To avoid the withdrawal fee, search for a debit card that waives this charge or look for a card that is a member of an international ATM alliance such as Scotiabank.
Protect yourself. Currency fluctuations can have either a positive or negative impact on your balance. If you’re worried about losing money due to fluctuating exchange rates, you can withdraw cash and exchange your funds to the local currency when it’s at a beneficial rate.
Know the relevant fees and charges. Carefully consider the fees and charges associated with a credit card before applying like foreign transaction, annual fees and overlimit fees. You should also consider any terms and conditions or exclusions and limits associated with complimentary insurances before travelling.
Notify your bank. In case your bank misjudges your overseas transactions as fraudulent activity, you should always call and inform your provider of your travel plans before leaving. Otherwise, you may find that your card is blocked and you no longer have access to your funds while overseas. Some banks allow you to notify them of your travel plans via online banking.
Beware of geographical sanctions. Some providers place financial sanctions on certain regions due to political instability or illegal activity. If you’re unsure, contact your provider or read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement to confirm whether you can use your card on your next trip.
What is trip delay insurance?
Trip insurance offers reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred during delays on eligible forms of transportation. For example, if your flight is unexpectedly delayed until the following day, you could be reimbursed for hotel costs, meals and whatever personal items you might need to wait out the delay up to a maximum amount.
What’s the difference between trip delays, trip cancellations and trip interruptions?
Trip delays, cancellations and interruptions are not treated the same way by insurance providers. Most credit card providers split up the details of these types of coverage under 3 separate sections of its policies.
Trip delay. Covers expenses incurred from flight delays that last longer than a certain number of hours, assuming no reasonable alternative form of transportation exists.
Trip cancellation. Covers expenses incurred when you have to cancel a trip due to an emergency. Eligible emergencies could include severe illness or death of the insured or his/her travel companion, missed flight connections, business meeting cancellations or travel warnings issued by the Government of Canada.
Trip interruption. Covers expenses incurred from having to return home from a trip unexpectedly due to an emergency such as the insured or his/her travel companion getting sick or passing away.
Exact coverage and eligible expenses will vary depending on the card issuer, the specific credit card and other factors. Check with a provider to find out this information before registering for any card.
What expenses does trip delay insurance cover?
Here are common items that trip delay insurance might reimburse you for. Eligible expenses vary by provider. Check your card’s benefits guide to confirm.
What may be covered
What may not be covered
Meals
Lodging
Toiletries
Medication
Ground transportation
Prepaid expenses
Airline vouchers for vacating
overbooked flights
What you should know about trip delay insurance
Pay for your fare with your credit card. With most providers, you’ll qualify if you pay for at least a portion of your fare with your card. Some providers require you to pay for your entire fare with your card.
It’s valid for common-carrier travel. Typically this term refers to major public transportation that requires a purchased ticket. It might not include taxis, rental vehicles or limousines. And your provider might bar other forms of transportation such as commuter buses.
There will be a maximum amount of coverage per purchased ticket. This is often $500, but could be as high as several thousand dollars depending on the card.
Your travel must be delayed for a covered reason. Reasons might include poor weather, equipment failure or labor strikes. But it doesn’t include mishaps such as oversleeping or getting stuck in traffic.
Your travel must be delayed by a significant amount of time. This usually means it’s delayed by more than 4-12 hours or you’re grounded overnight.
Your travel companion(s) may be covered as well. Some policies allow you to insure the people you’re travelling with, so that coverage extends to them as well. However, not all cards offer this option or it may cost extra.
Many travel rewards credit cards will offer introductory bonus points in order to get you to sign-up for the card. Some cards will offer 50,000 or even 100,000 bonus points as an introductory bonus, which can sometimes be enough to get you to another continent by only using your points. While this may sound like a great offer, you typically have to spend a certain amount of money within a given time period in order to qualify for the full set of points.
For example, if you read the fine print of the offer, you may discover that you must spend $5,000 in one month in order to qualify for the points. Although you may manage to spend this in one month, you may also discover that only “eligible purchases” qualify for the points. So while everyday purchases like groceries, gas and clothes may count towards the $5,000 total, other purchases like cash advances or payments for certain bills via your credit card may not count. Always be aware of the terms and conditions of a credit card before you commit to a new card.
The details of bonus points offers available on travel rewards credit cards vary, depending on the specific promotion. However, some of the most common requirements include the following:
New customers. Most offers of bonus points apply to people who don’t have existing credit cards with the provider. Some providers also specify that you must not have had an active account with them in the past 12 months to be classified as a “new customer” who is eligible for a bonus points offer.
Promotional period. You usually have to apply for the card by an offer end date in order to be eligible for bonus points.
Spending requirement. If you’re approved for a card with a bonus point offer, you may be required to spend a certain amount on the card within a given period of time. For example, $5,000 of purchases within three months of card approval.
4 tips to maximize travel rewards credit card perks for vacation
1. Redeem your travel card rewards points
If you have a travel points credit card, you can redeem your points for things like flights, accommodation, car rentals and even vacation packages. Just make sure you check the rewards program’s terms and conditions for point expiry and blackout periods. If don’t have enough points to redeem for a flight, consider using your miles to upgrade your airfare instead. Even if your rewards credit card doesn’t directly earn airline miles, you may have the option of transferring rewards points to your frequent flyer account and then using them for an upgrade.
Some credit cards offer a companion voucher as an annual account benefit or as a reward you can earn, giving your companion a way to fly without paying for the airfare (usually except for fees and taxes) or for a very reduced price. A card that provide this complimentary extra is TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card. Note that most of these cards are premium credit cards and they have specific eligibility requirements for claiming your companion voucher.
4. Get insider info from a concierge
A popular feature of premium credit cards, concierge services can provide you with ideas for everything from holiday bookings to restaurant reservations, entertainment tickets and shopping recommendations. These services can usually be accessed at any time, anywhere in the world. So even if you’re planning a staycation, taking advantage of concierge services could help plan your fun and provide exclusive invitations to events you might have otherwise missed out on.
What else should I consider when using a travel credit card?
Beware of currency conversion fees. Currency conversion fees, also known as a Dynamic currency conversion (or DCC), can easily be avoided by always paying in the local currency instead of having the merchant charge you in Canadian dollars. Paying in the local currency could mean you’ll face a poor exchange rate and additional fees.
Avoid ATM withdrawals with your credit card. Carrying cash while travelling comes with its own risks, so storing your funds on a card can be handy. However, using a regular card can come at a cost of up to $5 per ATM withdrawal – not to mention the excruciatingly high interest rate you’ll be charged from the day you withdraw the money. Using your debit card means you can avoid paying interest. To avoid the withdrawal fee, search for a debit card that waives this charge or look for a card that is a member of an international ATM alliance such as Scotiabank.
Protect yourself. Currency fluctuations can have either a positive or negative impact on your balance. If you’re worried about losing money due to fluctuating exchange rates, you can withdraw cash and exchange your funds to the local currency when it’s at a beneficial rate.
Know the relevant fees and charges. Carefully consider the fees and charges associated with a credit card before applying like foreign transaction, annual fees and overlimit fees. You should also consider any terms and conditions or exclusions and limits associated with complimentary insurances before travelling.
Notify your bank. In case your bank misjudges your overseas transactions as fraudulent activity, you should always call and inform your provider of your travel plans before leaving. Otherwise, you may find that your card is blocked and you no longer have access to your funds while overseas. Some banks allow you to notify them of your travel plans via online banking.
Beware of geographical sanctions. Some providers place financial sanctions on certain regions due to political instability or illegal activity. If you’re unsure, contact your provider or read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement to confirm whether you can use your card on your next trip.
Bottom line
There’s a wide range of basic and premium travel credit cards offering travel rewards for you to choose from. These cards are designed to help you save money on flights and other travel-related rewards. One way to earn more miles is to pay a higher annual fee on your credit card. Another is to shop around for a credit card that offers the best combination of features to suit your unique set of needs and lifestyle.
Best travel credit cards FAQs
It depends on how you use your card. If you only use your card for occasional purchases, or if you don't pay off your balance in full each month, you may not earn enough travel points to justify the card's annual fee and high interest rate. But if you find a card with a high rewards earn rate and use it for a wide range of regular purchases, and also make sure to pay your full balance each month, travel rewards cards can definitely be worth it.
Some cards come with spend caps, meaning you might be able to only earn a certain number of points per statement period. For example, you may only be able to earn up to 7,500 points per statement period. After you have reached this cap, you'll either continue to earn points at a reduced earn rate or will be unable to earn points until the next statement period.
Check your credit card's terms and conditions for details of points caps and consider whether it could impact your points earning potential. For example, if you have a card that earns 1 point per $1 up to 7,500 points per month, you would only be affected by the cap if you spend over $7,500 each month.
In most cases, you can cancel the credit card with no additional fees or charges after receiving your bonus points so long as you have paid off your balance in full. However, you may be charged the annual fee or a percentage of that fee based on how long the account has been active. If your credit card has $0 annual fee for the first year and you cancel within the first 12 months, you may be able to avoid this. Check with your provider to find out if fees will apply.
This is possible with a credit card reward program that allows you to transfer reward points into travel rewards points. Make sure you check the transfer rate for these cards though as you may "lose" points when exchanging them to different travel rewards programs. Alternatively, if you have a direct earn travel rewards card, the associated airline partners and alliances let you use your points to travel with other airline partners. [/fin_accordion]
As a general rule, most travel reward points cannot be redeemed after they have expired. Some will expire after a certain amount of time, whereas others will expire if your rewards account has remained inactive (meaning you haven't earned or redeemed any points) over a particular period of time. Check with the travel rewards program to confirm when and how your points expire so you can use them while they're still valid.
A selection of premium credit cards offer access to airport lounges, including most travel rewards credit cards.
There's no best credit card to earn points for travel for every person. This is because everyone has a unique set of needs and lifestyle that will demand different features in a credit card. The best card for you will be one that fits your budget, offers practical benefits and gives you a decent return on points.
Start by looking for the travel rewards credit card with the highest earn rate and check the value of the points you earn. Then it's a matter of using your card for your regular purchases as well as any other eligible purchases that let you earn points at an accelerated rate. At the same time, you need to be careful not to fall into the trap of overspending with your card.
Prepaid travel cards are well worth considering if you're planning an overseas vacation, but they have a mix of pros and cons. On the plus side, they're an easy and safe alternative to carrying a large amount of cash, you can load them with multiple currencies, and they can help you secure a better exchange rate before your trip. However, you'll need to watch out for card fees and transaction fees, and make sure you have enough funds loaded to your card to cover all your travel expenses.
Only you can know which frequent flyer program best suits your needs. As a starting point, you could try to think about what you want to get out of the program.
For example, do you want to earn double the miles on your purchases? Then it could make sense to go with Aeroplan or AIR MILES. Do you want more flexible rewards? Then a bank-affiliated program like Avion or Aventura might be a better fit. Are you looking to earn miles with a specific airline? Perhaps an airline-affiliated card is the right choice for you.
Think about what's most important to you to help determine which program is the best fit.
Yes. You can apply online for one of the credit cards in the table above by clicking "Go to Site" next to the card you're interested in. These cards don't represent all of the credit cards with airline miles on the market, but they are popular options.
There are actually few high-perk travel cards for consumers with fair credit, so you might have a hard time finding the right product. In that case, there's no shame in waiting until your credit score improves. Once you have a good to excellent score, you'll have access to many stronger cards. Ultimately, the decision rests with you, and it depends on what you're looking for right now.
There's no hard-and-fast answer to this. Trip delay insurance is probably most useful if you're a frequent traveler, as there will be more instances in which your trips might be delayed. At the same time, you might find insurance valuable just for peace of mind on an occasional trip.
If you're willing to shop around, there are travel credit cards with annual fees under $100/year that come with trip delay insurance. However, keep in mind that the most comprehensive insurance policies usually come with premium cards that charge higher annual fees.
No. You'll only earn rewards points or miles for eligible purchases.
No. You'll find a few no annual fee travel cards, but for the best rewards and benefits, however, you'll need to pay an annual fee — typically $99 and up. Some of these travel cards do come with perks such as travel and baggage insurance, trip delay and car rental insurance and free checked bags.
It depends on the rewards program. Rewards are more likely to expire for hotel and airline cards. Check your cards terms and conditions to learn about your specific rewards program.
Sally McMullen is a Co-Host of the Two Broke Chicks podcast and former credit card and frequent flyer editor at Finder. Her byline can be spotted on Yahoo Finance, Dynamic Business, Financy and Mamamia as well as Music Feeds and Rolling Stone. Sally has a first-class Honours degree in Communications and Media Studies (majoring in Journalism and Professional Writing) from the University of Wollongong. See full bio
Emma Balmforth is a producer at Finder. She is passionate about helping people make financial decisions that will benefit them now and in the future. She has written for a variety of publications including World Nomads, Trek Effect and Uncharted. Emma has a degree in Business and Psychology from the University of Waterloo. She enjoys backpacking, reading and taking long hikes and road trips with her adventurous dog. See full bio
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American Express Cobalt Card
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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card