Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada: Aeroplan vs Avion vs Scene+ vs Membership Rewards

Canadian travel cards live inside four loyalty ecosystems, and choosing the ecosystem matters more than choosing the card. Aeroplan rewards people who fly Air Canada; Avion and Scene+ reward people who want simplicity; American Express Membership Rewards sits on top because its points move into Aeroplan. Here is how the programmes compare and which card fits each kind of traveller.

The four ecosystems

Best for Air Canada flyers: TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Both earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar on groceries, gas and Air Canada purchases and 1 point elsewhere for a C$139 fee (frequently waived in year one), with a free first checked bag on Air Canada and preferred pricing on awards. Choose by your bank and by which welcome bonus is larger when you apply. Combine with an Amex Cobalt and you cover every spending category at a high rate.

Best everyday earner: American Express Cobalt

The Cobalt's 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on groceries and restaurants (capped annually), 3 on streaming and 2 on travel and transit is the highest everyday earn rate in Canada. Because points transfer to Aeroplan 1:1, a family spending C$1,200 a month on food earns about 72,000 Aeroplan points a year — enough for two domestic return flights. The C$155 fee is charged monthly and Amex acceptance is the usual caveat.

Best for simplicity: RBC Avion or Scotiabank Gold Amex

RBC Avion Visa Infinite earns 1 point per dollar (1.25 on travel) and lets you book any airline through RBC at a fixed chart — no award-seat hunting. Scotiabank Gold Amex earns 5 Scene+ points per dollar on groceries and dining, 3 on gas and transit, with no foreign transaction fee — the best combination of rewards and fee-free overseas spending on a Canadian card.

Best for spending abroad: no foreign transaction fee

Almost every Canadian card adds 2.5% to foreign purchases. The exceptions worth knowing: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite (also six lounge passes), Scotiabank Gold Amex, Home Trust Preferred Visa (no fee, 1% cash back, no annual fee) and Brim Financial cards. For a family spending C$4,000 abroad in a year, the saving is C$100.

Choosing: a quick decision tree

1. Fly Air Canada two or more times a year? → TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, plus an Amex Cobalt for groceries and dining.
2. Fly whoever is cheapest, want no award charts? → RBC Avion Visa Infinite or Scotiabank Gold Amex.
3. Travel outside Canada often? → Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite or Gold Amex for no FX fees.
4. Fly often enough to use lounges? → Amex Platinum Canada (unlimited lounge access) or Aeroplan Reserve.

Compare all Canadian travel cards and rewards cards side by side.