Picking your first travel credit card is the most important decision in the points game. Get it right and you're on your way to a business class flight within a year. Get it wrong and you'll spend months earning points that are worth less than cash. Here's exactly how to think about it as a Canadian.
Step 1: Analyze Your Spending
Before you look at a single card, spend 10 minutes reviewing your last 3 months of credit card or bank statements. Identify your top 3 spending categories. Common ones for Canadians:
- Groceries (most common #1)
- Dining & restaurants
- Gas & transit
- Recurring bills (streaming, phone, utilities)
The goal is to find a card whose multipliers line up with where your money actually goes — not where you wish it went.
Step 2: Understand What the Card Earns
Not all points are equal. A card earning 5x "proprietary points" worth 0.5¢ each is worse than a card earning 2x points worth 2¢ each. Always multiply the earn rate by the point value to get your real return per dollar spent.
Example: Amex Cobalt vs. a Basic Points Card
- Amex Cobalt: 5x on groceries × 1.5¢ per MR point = 7.5% return on grocery spend
- Generic "2% cash back" card: 2% return on all spend
- On $1,200/month groceries, Cobalt earns ~$1,080/year in points vs. ~$288 cash back
Step 3: Don't Ignore the Welcome Bonus
In year one, your welcome bonus will almost always dwarf your regular spending earnings. A card offering 60,000 Aeroplan points as a welcome bonus is worth ~$1,200 in business class flights — before you've even used the card day-to-day.
Step 4: Evaluate the Annual Fee Honestly
A $150 annual fee feels like a lot until you realize the card's perks can easily offset it. Calculate your net annual fee:
- Annual fee: $150
- Minus: 6 free airport lounge passes ($30 value each = $180)
- Minus: Travel insurance you'd otherwise pay for ($100+ value)
- Net cost: negative — the card is paying you
The Best First Cards for Canadians
| Card | Best For | Annual Fee | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Cobalt | Groceries & dining spenders | $192/yr | 5x on food = unbeatable. MR points transfer to Aeroplan 1:1 |
| RBC Avion Infinite | Balanced everyday spenders | $120/yr | Avion transfers to BA Avios — great for premium cabins |
| TD Aeroplan Infinite | Air Canada flyers | $139/yr | Direct Aeroplan earn + free checked bags + solid welcome bonus |
| Scotia Passport Visa Infinite | International travellers | $150/yr (1st yr free) | No foreign fees + 6 lounge passes = exceptional travel companion |
| RBC Ion+ | First card / lower spenders | $48/yr | 3x groceries, low fee, entry into the Avion ecosystem |
The Card Stack Approach
Most experienced points collectors use 2–3 cards together, not just one. The logic is simple: no single card is best at everything. A typical starter stack might be:
- Amex Cobalt — for all groceries and dining (5x)
- Scotia Passport — for international purchases (no FX fees) and everything Amex doesn't accept
- TD Aeroplan — for Air Canada purchases and gas (1.5x Aeroplan)
Start with one card, get comfortable with how it works, then add a second card after 6–12 months once you've identified the gaps in your earning.