Choose reward cards that are best for you

Credit card companies disagree on which is the best rewards card for Canadians who like to travel, but they all agree on one thing: you need to do your research and pick the card that’s best for you.

Rewardscanada.ca ranked American Express Gold Rewards card as top card overall for 2016, while Greedyrates.ca named TD Aeroplan Infinite Visa card as the best in Canada for 2016 in the Best Airline Travel Credit Card category.

“I’ve said for years that it’s all about what’s best for you,” said Patrick Sojka, founder of Rewardscanada.ca. “You have to do your research — and think about how you earn your miles and how you want to redeem them.”

Folks who want free flights might want a card that gets them on a plane faster, such as an Aeroplan card or a WestJet card, he said. Other cards, such as the RBC Avion card, allow you to pick and choose what airline you fly on.

Sojka said people who are interested in free hotel rooms might consider a Starwood branded credit card, where you can redeem points at Sheraton, Westin and other Starwood hotels.

Sojka said he likes the American Express Gold Rewards card because it can be redeemed for travel, but also converted to Aeroplan points. You also get two points for every dollar spent, instead of the typical one point per dollar, at gas stations, grocery and drug stores and on travel purchases. It costs a bit more than some cards and American Express isn’t accepted everywhere, but it’s a very good card for travellers, he said.

“Canadians should choose one or two reward programs to focus on to maximize their earning potential,” said John Boynton, chief marketing officer at Aeroplan. He said Aeroplan flight rewards “are among the best value in the industry, with rewards starting as low as 7,500 miles for a short-haul, oneway Fixed Mileage Flight Reward in economy class.

“The fact is, last year Aeroplan members needed fewer miles to travel than they would have with other credit card travel reward programs in Canada,” Boynton added.

Andrea Metrick, senior director of retail credit cards for Royal Bank of Canada, suggested her company offers a better option.

“With the Avion card, our clients have a choice of any airline, any flight, any time. And there are no blackout periods. There are no seating restrictions and no points expiry. You can fly at March Break or peak summer periods and it doesn’t matter.”

Credit cards often offer bonuses for specific purchases, so that’s a good way to bump up your account.