Best Credit Cards for Flight Rewards in Canada (2026)

Travel credit cards in Canada are genuinely valuable — if you know which ones to use and for what. The market has gotten more competitive over the past few years, with higher welcome bonuses, better earn rates, and more redemption options. Here is a practical breakdown of the leading options for 2026.

This post does not tell you what to apply for. Cards have income requirements, credit score requirements, and personal circumstances vary. What it does is explain how they work and which types of travellers benefit most from each.

The Two Types of Travel Cards

Airline cards (co-branded): Earn points tied to one airline’s loyalty program. Air Canada Aeroplan cards earn Aeroplan points. You have less flexibility but often get elite-qualifying benefits.

Bank travel cards (flexible points): Earn a bank’s own points currency (Amex Membership Rewards, TD Rewards, Scotiabank Scene+ etc.) that can be transferred to multiple airlines, redeemed against travel charges, or used for other purchases. More flexibility, fewer airline-specific perks.

Aeroplan-Linked Cards (Air Canada)

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

The premium tier. High annual fee (~$599 CAD). In return, you get:

• Complimentary Air Canada Lounge access (unlimited, for cardholder)
• Complimentary Priority Check-in and boarding
• Annual companion pass option
• Annual fee partly offset by a $500 Air Canada travel credit
• Earn rates: 3× Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases, 2× on groceries and dining, 1× elsewhere
• Welcome bonus has historically been 75,000–85,000 Aeroplan points with qualifying spend

Best for: Frequent Air Canada flyers who want lounge access and elite-like benefits.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Mid-tier. Annual fee ~$139 CAD. Most widely held Aeroplan card in Canada.

• No complimentary lounge access (can purchase passes)
• Earn: 1.5× on Air Canada, 1× on gas/grocery/drugstore, 1× elsewhere
• Includes travel insurance: medical, trip cancellation, delayed baggage
• Welcome bonus: typically 20,000–40,000 Aeroplan points

Best for: Regular Air Canada travellers who want Aeroplan accumulation with travel insurance and a manageable fee.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Very similar feature set to the TD Visa Infinite. Annual fee ~$139.

• Same earn structure roughly
• CIBC specifically offers an eUpgrade credit with qualifying spend (useful for Air Canada seat upgrades)
• Welcome bonus: similar range

Best for: CIBC customers who want Aeroplan + the eUpgrade credit.

Flexible Points Cards

American Express Cobalt Card

Currently one of the best earn-rate cards in Canada. Annual fee: ~$156 (paid as ~$13/month).

Earn rates:

• 5× points on groceries and food delivery
• 3× points on streaming subscriptions
• 2× points on travel and transit
• 1× on everything else

Amex Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan. The 5× on groceries is unusually high. A household spending $1,500/month on groceries earns 90,000 Amex points/year from that category alone — transferable to 90,000 Aeroplan points.

Welcome bonus: typically 30,000–50,000 Membership Rewards points with minimum spend.

No airport lounge access, no travel insurance except basic. Best used as an earn card alongside a card with travel insurance coverage.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Annual fee: ~$120 CAD.

Earn rates:

• 6× Scene+ points on groceries (Sobeys, IGA banners)
• 5× on dining and entertainment
• 3× on gas and transit
• 1× elsewhere

Scene+ points: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 toward travel booked through Scotia or applied as statement credit against any travel purchase. No transfer to airlines. Pure cash-equivalent against travel charges.

Includes no foreign transaction fee — the only card on this list with that feature, saving 2.5% on all purchases in other currencies.

Best for: Frequent grocery shoppers who travel internationally and want simple cash-back-style travel redemption without points complexity.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

Annual fee: ~$120 CAD.

Avion points transfer to British Airways Avios, WestJet Dollars, and a few Caribbean partners. Also redeemable through RBC’s own Air Travel redemption chart at set rates.

Earn: 1 Avion point per dollar, 1.25× on travel.

Not the highest earn rate but a solid mid-tier all-rounder. RBC’s network is large and the Avion program is straightforward.

Key Concepts to Understand Before Applying

Welcome bonus spend thresholds: Most bonuses require $3,000–$6,000 in minimum spend within 90 days. This is achievable if you plan large purchases (insurance renewals, utilities, online subscriptions) through the card in the first quarter.

Income requirements: Most Infinite-tier cards require $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income. Confirm before applying.

Point value varies by redemption: Aeroplan points are worth roughly $0.01–$0.02 each depending on how you redeem. Economy redemptions on partner airlines in high-demand windows approach $0.02. Merchandise or statement credit redemptions are often $0.007 or less. Always fly to maximize point value.

Transfer timing: Amex Membership Rewards transfer to Aeroplan in about 1 business day. Other bank transfers may take 2–5 business days. Do not transfer points the day you need them.

Annual fee vs. benefit math: A $139 card that earns 30,000 welcome bonus points (worth ~$450 in flights) pays for itself in year one. Calculate ongoing value from earn rate and benefits in subsequent years.

Once you have the points, find the flights worth spending them on. Browse deals from Canada →