Credit Card Rewards, Points and Loyalty Programs in Canada

Each Canadian rewards program sets its own rules for earning and spending points, and the value of a point depends on how it is redeemed. Some programs publish a fixed rate for a redemption type, such as a set number of points per dollar of travel or statement credit; airline programs like Aeroplan price rewards by a chart, so a point’s value changes from one booking to the next. The guides below take each program from its own terms.

Published redemption rates

The rates each program states on its own pages, with the value per point worked out from them. A program can offer other redemptions at different rates; each guide covers them.

Value per point is the cash value divided by the points used, times 100. Scene+ is covered in the Scene+ guide.

Program guides

Airline programs

• Aeroplan guide: earning, the reward chart, status and family sharing
• What an Aeroplan point is worth: working out cents per point for a booking
• WestJet Rewards guide: WestJet points, status and the RBC WestJet cards

Bank and card programs

• Amex Membership Rewards: transfer partners, Fixed Points Travel and redemptions
• RBC Avion: membership levels, the flight schedule and airline conversions
• TD Rewards: Expedia For TD, Pay Off Purchases and the TD cards
• BMO Rewards: Pay with Points and the BMO eclipse and Ascend cards

Retail and coalition programs

• PC Optimum: earning at Loblaw stores and with PC Financial cards
• Blue Rewards (formerly Air Miles): how the program changed and how points are redeemed
• Scene+: earning with Scotiabank cards and at partners such as Sobeys and Cineplex, and redeeming the points

Deciding whether rewards are worth it

• Are credit card rewards worth it?: fees against what a card returns
• Cash back calculator: what a cash back card returns on your spending
• Credit card churning: how it works, the issuers’ limits and the credit score effects

Choosing a card

The credit card reviews compare cards by category:

• Rewards credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Hotel credit cards
• Dining credit cards
• Grocery credit cards
• Gas credit cards
• Aeroplan credit cards
• American Express cards
• Premium credit cards
• No foreign transaction fee cards
• Credit card sign-up bonuses
• Points vs cash back cards
• Is a premium credit card worth it?