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Best Canadian Credit Cards for Miles and Points

Feb. 08, 2012
3 min read
Best Canadian Credit Cards for Miles and Points
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

I love Canada. I used to make near weekly business trips to Montreal and Toronto in my old job and nowadays there are many Canadian TPG readers - many of whom sit idly on the side as we gorge ourselves on mega credit card bonuses here in the US. While we are accustomed to 50,000 and up bonuses here, our friendly northern neighbors rarely get to see much action. However, there are a couple decent deals on the market right now that can help boost your balances if you do happen to live in Canada:

40,000 points after $3,000 in spend within 3 months on the Aeroplan Platinum American Express. $499 annual fee. Aeroplan has short haul rewards that start at 15,000 miles roundtrip and business class to Western Europe is only 90,000 miles, so this card could easily pay for itself many times over. Note: Aeroplan now imposes hefty fuel surcharges on many Star Alliance awards.
40,000 points after $1,000 in spend within the first 3 months on the Capital One Aspire Travel World Mastercard. 2 points per dollar spent. $150 annual fee. These points can't be transferred to any mileage programs, but they are worth about a cent each towards travel and the flights booked earn miles and elite miles.
25,000 points after $3,000 in spend within 3 months on the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card. $180 annual fee, waived the first year. American Express Membership Rewards Canada points transfer to Aeroplan, Alitalia, British Airways, Delta, Priority Club, Hilton and Starwood (2:1 ratio).
25,000 miles after first purchase on the Capital One Delta Skymiles World Mastercard. 2,500 anniversary points every year. $120 annual fee.
15,000 points after $500 in spend within 3 months on the American Express Gold Rewards Card. $150 annual fee, waived for the first year.
10,000 points for the Personal Starwood American Express after you charge $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of cardmembership. Gold status after $30,000 in spend and a free weekend night at $40,000 in spend. $120 annual fee.
15,000 points for the Business Starwood American Express. Gold status after $30,000 in spend and a free weekend night at $40,000 in spend. $150 annual fee.
15,000 points after first purchase for the RBC Avion Infinite. Points can be transferred to British Airways (at frequent 50% bonuses), American Airlines and Cathay Pacific. $120 annual fee.

You can get rebates on applying to many of these cards through GreatCanadianRebates.ca.

Please feel free to comment on your favorite Canadian credit card or add a top deal of your own.

By the way, if you want to check out a clip of me being interviewed on the Canadian news channel BNN while in Toronto this past September, check out this video link: BNN_ca
[card card-name='Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express ' card-id='22035076' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']

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TPG featured card

Best for businesses with high spending
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
4.5 / 5
Go to review

Rewards

2 - 10X miles
2X miles2 miles per dollar on every purchase
5X miles5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
10X miles10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel

Intro offer

Earn 150,000 bonus miles
Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$395

Recommended Credit

740-850
Excellent
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Why We Chose It

The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit.

Pros

  • The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
  • In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
  • Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.

Cons

  • The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
  • Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
  • Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Apply for Capital One Venture X Business
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for businesses with high spending
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
4.5 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

2X miles2 miles per dollar on every purchase
5X miles5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
10X miles10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • Intro Offer
    Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening

    Earn 150,000 bonus miles
  • Annual Fee

    $395
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    740-850
    Excellent

Why We Chose It

The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit.

Pros

  • The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
  • In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
  • Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.

Cons

  • The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
  • Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
  • Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month