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Want to travel more in Canada while spending less? With simple planning and smart card choices, we maximize credit card points and put them toward flights and hotels.
Follow along to do the same and pay a fraction of the cost without overspending.
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Choose the Right Credit Cards
Your credit card is the most powerful tool for earning travel points in Canada, but not all points are equal.
When we started, we collected many kinds of points and some were not useful for travel. The lesson is simple: focus on the most valuable points.
Cards that provide the best redemption value directly with travel partners should be your priority. Choose cards with large welcome bonus, and those that earn the most on what you already buy.
Most Valuable Travel Points
These are the two types of points worth collecting:
Earn the Welcome Bonus
The fastest way to grow your points balance is with welcome bonuses. A single new card can add tens of thousands of points if you meet the minimum spend in the first few months.
We time new card applications around planned expenses.
Hitting the minimum spend is simple when you use a new card for tuition fees or annual insurance premiums.
Why It Works
Welcome bonuses have been the biggest driver of our redemptions. Just a couple of well-timed offers have covered flights, hotels, and even entire trips.
Check the best card offers often, since they change frequently and limited-time deals can make a big difference.
Use Credit Cards Strategically
We collect credit card points strategically. A few habit changes made it very rewarding for us.
You can do it too by putting almost all of your existing spending on rewards cards, and prioritizing the highest-earning card for each purchase.
Start with the card that has a new welcome offer.
Then use the card with the highest multiplier for that category.
Strategic Spending
Maximize points with strategy, not more spend.
Best Everyday Cards for Your Wallet
You cannot always chase a welcome offer. The key is having the right cards in your wallet for everyday spending. To maximize your daily earnings and travel benefits, we recommend these best everyday cards duo to have in your wallet: the Amex Cobalt® and an Aeroplan® Visa.
Check for Limited Time Offers
Special offers can supercharge your points even faster. Amex® often runs promotions with elevated rewards rates on select purchases for a limited time.
These require you to opt in, and quantities are limited, so it’s best to activate them as soon as possible.
Take Advantage of Upgrade Offers
Keep an eye out for upgrade offers from American Express®. These can be targeted or public and often appear by email, on the website, or in the app.
To qualify for the elevated bonus points, you must go through the specific offer and then meet the minimum spend on your new card within the first few months.
For example, we upgraded our Amex Green® Card to the Amex Gold® Card, a card we’d held before, and received bonus points.
If you’ve never had a certain Amex® card, apply for it directly first.
Upgrading may disqualify you from earning the full welcome bonus later.
Add Authorized Users
American Express® often runs promotions that award bonus points when you add an authorized user and they meet a minimum spend in the first few months.
It’s a great way to boost your points balance while creating another source of ongoing earnings.
An authorized user gets their own card linked to your account, with you earning the points. The best part is they can still apply later and earn the full welcome bonus on their own card.
Authorized users get their own card benefits like lounge access on premium cards such as Amex Platinum® or Premium Aeroplan® Cards.
I added my spouse as an authorized user on the Amex Platinum® during a promotion and earned 25,000 points.
He also got unlimited lounge access for himself and a guest for $199.
Refer Friends and Family
Credit Card Referrals are one of the most lucrative ways to earn points with Amex®, as they don’t require any extra spending.
When someone is approved through your link, you earn bonus points instantly.
It’s a win–win, as they start collecting points, often with a higher welcome offer than publicly advertised. That way, families who travel together can reach free flights and hotels even faster.
Use Retail Partners
An easy way to boost your balance is by using retail partners. Simply link your loyalty account or provide your number at checkout to collect points.
If you also pay with your co-branded card, such as an Aeroplan Credit Card, you earn points twice.
Aeroplan® partners such as LCBO, Uber, Starbucks, Journie Rewards and Chexy make it easy to double dip on points. Be sure to link your accounts and maximize every purchase.earnings.
I linked my Aeroplan® account to Uber and now earn points on every family ride and meal we order, on top of the points from my credit card.
For example, choose grocery stores that take Amex® and pay with the Cobalt® to earn more points.
Go Through Shopping Portals
One of the easiest ways to earn extra points is by using online shopping portals like Air Canada Aeroplan® eStore and Rakuten.
Instead of going directly to a retailer’s site, log in to the portal first, select the store you want, and then shop as usual. By doing this, you earn bonus points from the portal on top of the points from your rewards credit card. This makes shopping portals one of the simplest ways to double dip on everyday purchases.
Make sure your cart is empty before clicking through a shopping portal, as the full purchase must be completed in the same session.
We keep favorite items in our Amazon shopping list so we can add them easily when shopping via the Aeroplan® eStore.
Bottom Line
Maximizing credit card points in Canada does not require a big budget. With a little homework and a few well chosen cards, you can collect points faster without overspending.
Start today: target the best welcome offer, use the cards that provide the most value for daily spending, and follow the tips on this page to maximize your earnings.
