hsbc mastercard travel notification canada

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Using your card abroad

Access your money worldwide, including local currency withdrawals and payments

Discover easier worldwide spending and payments when you open an Expat Bank Account.

Use your card worldwide

Enjoy the convenience of using your card wherever you see your card's logo. Fees apply.

• Use in any outlet that displays the Visa or Mastercard logo on your card
• ATM locator to help you find where you're able to use your visa debit or credit card abroad
• Fees apply and non-HSBC cash machines may also charge a fee[@cashwithdrawals]

Security while travelling

If you let us know you're away, we can manage your transactions more effectively while you're on holiday. 

• We automatically monitor accounts for unusual foreign transactions
• We look out for possible fraud and declined transactions
• If you have a joint account you both need to notify us. For credit cards, only the primary cardholders needs to give us travel notifications

How to use your card abroad

Overseas usage fees .

Any non sterling transactions (including cash withdrawals) are converted to sterling by using the relevant payment scheme exchange rate applying on the day the conversion is made. We will deduct the payment and related transaction fees from your account once we receive details of the payment from the card scheme, at the latest the next working day.

Cost illustration (Visa) 

Cost illustration of making a transaction abroad of EUR 100.00 using the Visa exchange rate on 6 June 2017 of 0.876855 = GBP 87.69 to which will be added the fees appropriate to your card and transaction.

See more information on the  rate of exchange Visa  used when converting your transaction.

Cost illustration (Mastercard) 

Cost illustration of making a non-sterling transaction of EUR 100.00 using the Mastercard exchange rate on 5 June 2017 of 0.875944 = GBP 87.59 to which will be added the fees appropriate to your card and transaction.

See more information on the  rate of exchange Mastercard  used when converting your transaction.

You receive up to 56 days interest-free credit on credit card purchases if you pay your whole balance in full and on time. Please be aware that interest is charged from the date transactions are applied to your account until payment is received. There is no interest-free period on cash advances. Some cash machine operators may apply a direct charge for withdrawals from their cash machines and this will be advised on-screen at the time of withdrawal. ATM withdrawal limits are applicable.

You can use your card to make non-sterling cash withdrawals from self service machines operated by a third party and agree that the third party will perform the currency conversion for you. The applicable exchange rate, the amount of cash you will receive and the amount in sterling will be shown on the screen. The amount in sterling will be deducted from your account balance when we receive details of the payment from the self service machine operator, at the latest the next working day.

Travelling in the EEA 

If you're travelling in the EEA[@eea], see how paying in local currency on your HSBC credit or debit card compares to the European Central Bank (ECB)'s latest foreign exchange rates .

Let us know when you're travelling 

Tell us when you're away so we can manage your transactions more effectively.

• Tell us online using our online Live Chat service
• HSBC Premier customers call: +44 1534 616 313
• HSBC Advance customers call: +44 1534 616 212

Just so you know, we may monitor and record your communications with us. This is in the interest of security and to help us continually improve our service.

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Home » News » Details of the HSBC to RBC transition (Last updated April 1)

Details of the HSBC to RBC transition (Last updated April 1)

RBC has laid out a timeline for the transition of banking products from HSBC to RBC and they aren’t wasting any time with the migration!

April 1: The points conversion ratio and value is starting to emerge and RBC has clarified some of the details for us.

HSBC clients will be receiving letters from RBC that will explain the points conversion ratio and increased redemption rate for their points to show how they will get more value for the points in regards to the flexible travel redemption value.

For example, many clients have seen their points are converting at 1 HSBC Rewards Point to 0.36 Avion Points. At first glance, this does not look like it is an equal or better value for flexible travel however RBC will be giving those clients a flexible travel redemption rate of 100 points to $1.50 (instead of the standard 100 points to $1) This means those who receive the 0.36 points conversion will end up getting a value of 0.54 cents per point which is .04 cents higher than the flexible travel redemption rate HSBC Rewards previously provided.

Continuing with the 0.36 ratio this means HSBC clients who receive this specific conversion rate will receive up to .84 cents per point (0.36 x 2.33 cpp) when redeeming for flights via the Avion Air Travel Redemption schedule. This works out to 0.34 cents per point higher than the old HSBC Rewards flexible travel redemption rate.

In terms of converting to airlines, those clients who get 0.36 Avion points per 1 HSBC Reward point will be a little worse off for conversions to British Airways as they used to get 0.4 Avios per HSBC Reward point and now the Avios equivalent is 0.36. However they will be better off for Asia Miles as they used to get 0.32 Asia Miles per HSBC Reward Point and now their equivalent is 0.36 Asia Miles per point.

February 27: If you have HSBC International Premier Status you will retain that status for 5 years. Thanks to Mauro for sending this our way!

• If you’re an HSBC Premier customer in other international HSBC locations based on your HSBC Premier status at HSBC Bank Canada, you will keep your Premier status in those HSBC locations for  5 years *   after  March 28, 2024 .
• After this period, you’ll need to meet the qualification criteria in each HSBC location where you’re a Premier customer to avoid monthly fees or an automatic downgrade, as applicable.
• You can expect further communication directly from each HSBC location regarding the continuation of your international Premier status.

February 27: New article from RWRDS Canada – read this if you have upcoming travel and the related coverage from your HSBC card: Important detail on HSBC Mastercard Emergency Travel Medical Coverage for those with existing travel bookings

February 27: If you are an HSBC client who is unhappy with migration and want to voice your concerns here is the process to undertake! (Thanks to JB for these details as he did file a complaint with the FCAC)

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has replied to my concerns. What it basically boils down to is: they say they acknowledge the receipt of my information and will use this in engaging with RBC (FWIW). They advise me to first raise my concerns directly through RBC’s complaint-handling process. If this doesn’t resolve it, appeal to an External Complaints Body (ECB). All the steps of the process must be followed in sequential order

February 22: Emails have been sent out to HSBC clients advising them of the timeline to use their points via HSBC Rewards. Thanks to Mauro for sending this our way!

• Redeem your points for miles swap with one of our airline partners by February 29 , 2024 .
• Redeem your points by March 14 , 2024 , for a mortgage credit, savings credit, book travel, merchandise, donations or a physical gift card.
• Redeem your points by March 25 , 2024 , for a travel reward credit, a digital gift card, a credit card statement credit or a travel enhancement credit (if applicable).
• If you don’t redeem your HSBC points before the specific dates outlined, don’t worry – your unused points will be converted to Avion ® points at a comparative value with your new RBC Credit Card. You will receive your new points and can start redeeming at avionrewards.com or on the Avion Rewards app one week after the migration date.

February 20: RWRDS Canada has the exclusive details on HSBC Rewards to Avion Rewards points conversions. Learn more here

February 19: In my discussions with RBC about the conversion rate from HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion Rewards we do have one piece of news that we can share with you right now. I asked them if they will be inheriting the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer points to miles conversion option that is offered in HSBC Rewards and they have confirmed they will not be. Thus with February 29, 2024 being the last day you can convert points to miles in the HSBC Rewards program, you will want to do so by then if you have had plans to convert to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

February 18: As first pointed out on RFD and then on Milesopedia , HSBC has published February 29 as the last day to be able to convert HSBC Rewards points to their airline partners British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. The big question remains is to what the HSBC Rewards to Avion Rewards points conversion ratio will be and whether you should wait or not to let your points convert to Avion and then transfer to BA or Cathay (or for any other redemption). I can tell you that Rewards Canada has had great progress with RBC since we let you know that we reached out to them and if everything works out, we should have the details on the conversion for our readers later this week.

February 12: As mentioned in our This Week in RWRDS newscast we have reached out to RBC to find out why they are not revealing the HSBC Rewards to Avion Rewards points conversion ratio and that they should make it public. This is something that HSBC customers should be made aware of as soon as possible so they can make an informed decision on what to do with their points rather than it being dictated by RBC by keeping cardholders in the dark. We’ll keep you in the loop as soon as we find something out!

February 7: We have published a new article: The best Mastercard options to replace HSBC Mastercards

February 2: We now have confirmation that the HSBC Rewards+ Mastercard is being migrated to the RBC Ion Visa. There are no extras/benefits being offered to those cardholders being transitioned. It has also been confirmed the HSBC Premier Mastercard is migrating to the RBC Rewards Visa Preferred. Thank you to Oznej and Maxwell!

February 1: We now have confirmation that the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is being transferred to RBC ION Visa Card There are no extras/benefits being offered to those cardholders being transitioned. Thank you to Lei Ann!

January 30: We now have confirmation that the HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard (nee Jade World Elite) is being migrated to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card.   I saw someone post their letter on Reddit while I was on my phone the other day but now can’t find that post to properly reference it. If I recall correctly from that post, these clients will benefit from no annual fee, 0% FX Fees (aka No FX fees) and a one time travel credit of up to $400 (If one of our readers can confirm these benefits that would be greatly appreciated)

January 23: We now have confirmation that the HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard is being migrated to the RBC Cash Back Mastercard. No additional extras for HSBC clients being moved over as the RBC card has the potential to offer better cash back rewards.  Thank you to Kiraly on RFD !

January 22: We now have confirmation that the HSBC World Elite Mastercard are being transferred to RBC Avion Visa Infinite cards and these clients will receive 0% FX Fees (aka No FX fees) and a one time travel credit of up to $200 . As well, additional/supplementary cards will be $0. See below for all the details. Thank you to Ilia NC!

January 19: One more update listed below of unconfirmed details that select HSBC credit card holders will receive Avion credit cards with extra benefits and/or no annual fees. See details below.

January 17: The post has been updated with some more details below.

Here’s the timeline graphic from RBC’s website:

Based on this timeline HSBC clients will be receiving details of the transition very soon and can expect to be fully transitioned by the end of March! That’s quick!

I really thought that the transition would take longer and that the credit card portfolios wouldn’t be some of the earliest targeted products for transition to RBC. Granted, the details don’t actually specify what the transition will be, will it simply be the card numbers, accounts etc. being migrated to RBC and those cards remain the same in terms of earn rates, benefits etc. for sometime into the future or will these be actual product switches?  It appears it will be the latter based on the timeline above stating “You will receive your RBC Royal Bank credit card(s), if applicable” and it makes a lot of sense for RBC to do this now.

Cards like the HSBC World Elite Mastercard earn 2, 4 and 6 points per dollar spent with an actual respective minimum return of 1%, 2%, and 3%. Compare this to the card I would assume most if not all HSBC World Elite Mastercard holders will be transitioned to, which is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card that earns 1 and 1.25 points per dollar spent. Those RBC points have an actual respective minimum return of 1% and 1.25%.

As you can see by transitioning cardholders to actual RBC products sooner than later, the bank would stand to save up to 1.75% on accelerated earn rate purchases that HSBC cardholders would be making. So, for them it makes sense to transition cardholders as soon as possible.  (This is based on minimum redemption values for travel. The savings to RBC will vary for other redemption options.)

Not only is it the points but it is also the foreign transaction fees and other benefits. The sooner those HSBC World Elite’s are transferred over the sooner RBC starts earning revenue from those cardholders for purchases made in other currencies as RBC does not feature No Foreign Transaction fee benefits. HSBC clients appear to be receiving an exclusive 0% FX fee option with the Avion Infinite cards they will be migrated to.

RBC also does not offer lounge access on the Avion Visa Infinite (They do on the Infinite Privilege) so the bank will be able to stop paying the fee to Mastercard & DragonPass. Not to mention, RBC will no longer have to worry about the annual $100 travel enhancement credit.

Just writing those last paragraph makes me sad that we stand to lose the HSBC World Elite Mastercard! And, unfortunately I don’t foresee RBC coming out with a comparable product or updating the Avion Visa Infinite Card as there is no need for them to do so with such a large existing cardmember base already in place.

January 17 update:

Product migration.

RBC has now added a new Product Migration Guide to their website that also has a very long PDF document detailing lots of product changes but actually not much detail at all about credit cards or the loyalty programs. The credit card info is Section 5 (Page 105 of the PDF not the document) and the loyalty program info is Section 6 (Page 127 of the PDF not the document)

Here’s what we do know from the guide

• No Foreign Transaction fees will not carry over to RBC  (this was anticipated as it’s too big of money maker for the bank with their existing cardmembers) HSBC clients appear to be receiving an exclusive 0% FX fee option with the Avion Infinite cards they will be migrated to.
• HSBC Rewards credit cards will transition to Avion Rewards cards
• HSBC Cash Back credit card will transition to an RBC cash back card
• HSBC Rewards points will be transferred to Avion Rewards points maintaining a comparative value.

What they don’t disclose is what that “comparative value” will be. Will it be based on the most recent earn rates on the HSBC cards? If so, the transfer will most likely be 2 HSBC Rewards Points to 1 RBC Avion Rewards points. But there is also the question of outstanding points balances that were earned on the HSBC cards when they had higher base earn rates of 3 points per dollar. That could push the conversion rate to 2.5 or even 3 HSBC Rewards Points to 1 RBC Avion Rewards point. I hope that’s not the case but I’m just putting it out there that it is a possibility. But again it could be a wash since the newer accelerated earn rates on the card offer 4 points to potentially balance out the 2 base points. I guess we just have to wait and see.

These are the credit card migrations that RWRDS Canada anticipates will happen. This has not been published nor confirmed by RBC. This list is our best guess and will be updated once we begin to receive concrete details from our readers and/or RBC:

• CONFIRMED! HSBC World Elite Metal Mastercard –> RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card (with no annual fee, 0% FX Fee + up to a one time $400 travel credit)
• CONFIRMED! HSBC World Elite Mastercard –> RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card (with 0% FX fee + up to a $200 travel credit + $0 additional cards)
• CONFIRMED! HSBC +Rewards Mastercard —> RBC ION Visa Card    RBC ION+ Visa Card
• CONFIRMED! HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard —> RBC ION Visa Card
• CONFIRMED! HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard —> RBC Cash Back MasterCard
• CONFIRMED! HSBC Premier Mastercard —> RBC Rewards Visa Preferred

January 17 Update #2:

Thanks to long time RWRDS Canada reader Mauro for reminding me what the government set out as conditions for the credit card part of this transition:

• RBC will offer them credit cards that have substantially similar benefits to those that they held with HSBC, including fee structures; and,
• RBC will convert any HSBC clients’ unused rewards points on the acquisition closing date into RBC rewards points of a substantially similar value.
• Not to interfere with the continued use of credit cards issued by HSBC, including the collection, redemption, or transfer of any rewards points associated with those cards, up until the closing of the acquisition.

This puts an interesting twist on the transition and migration if the HSBC World Elite Mastercard is transitioned to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card. It potentially does not meet the first sub-point of “RBC will offer them credit cards that have substantially similar benefits to those that they held with HSBC, including fee structures”

I would personally argue that if we compare the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, they do not have substantially similar benefits. The Avion card has no lounge access membership, it has no annual travel enhancement credit, its insurance coverage isn’t as good (Especially for 65+), it has less flexible travel redemptions in that you can’t book travel on your own without losing value, its minimum earn to burn ratio provides less value than HSBC and it charges foreign transaction fees. Those were (and still are) major benefits of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard.

So unless RBC updates the Avion card or comes out with a totally new card this could be just cause for a challenge from HSBC cardholders. I’m not sure how the regulators would see this and I’m not an expert in this sort of matter so perhaps we can get some of our more legally inclined readers to chime in about RBC potentially not meeting that condition?

January 19 update:

According to what could be considered an anonymous account post on Red Flag deals, some HSBC card clients will receive RBC Avion cards with extras and/or free of charge:

P CS clients who had an “RBC” [sic] WE Metal card will be getting the Avion Privilege card free of charge. There will be clients who will get RBC Avion cards with a no fx feature. Every client will be receiving a personal package in February detailing their specific offer. This is highly personalized and if the card is thereafter cancelled it cannot be obtained again. Posting from a throwaway for obvious reasons, won’t be responding to questions. Don’t cancel your cards!

It is possible this was posted by an RBC or HSBC employee and we have not confirmed the validity of it. However it would make sense for RBC to do so as it may be enough to meet the condition of “substantially similar benefits”. I’m not sure if the alluding of RBC Avion Card with a no FX fee only applies to the Visa Infinite Privilege migrations from HSBC Metal World Elite or if this will include the standard HSBC World Elite Mastercard to RBC Avion Visa Infinite cards.

January 22 update:

Ilia NC posted details in the comments below that they received a big envelope today. Their HSBC World Elite Mastercard will be converted to an RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card that will feature No FX Fees and one time travel credit as follows:

For any eligible hotel stay or car rental booking of $200 or more you make with Avion Rewards Travel using your RBC Avion Visa Infinite credit card until one year after the card migration date, you will receive a statement credit of an amount equivalent to any unused balance of your HSBC Travel Enhancement credit, plus an additional $100 (together, “Travel Credit”).

So HSBC cardholders will get the 0% FX Fee option (That’s going to make existing RBC Avion cardholders furious), and only a one time credit for use in the first year (albeit up to 2x the value) and not every year like the HSBC card offers. There is also no airport lounge membership and as Ilia points out – you can’t use the card at Costco.

HSBC clients migrated to the RBC Avion will also get additional/supplementary cards at $0. Regular RBC Avion Visa Infinite cardholders have to pay $50. Another item that HSBC clients get that can make existing RBC Avion cardholders furious!

That begs the question are these benefits substantially similar?

• FX fee? Yes.
• Travel Credit? No, since it’s only one time
• Annual airport lounge membership? No
• Minimum redemption value of 1 to 3%? No, only 1 to 1.25%
• $0 additional/supplementary cards: Yes.
• Use card at Costco? No
• Free global Wi-Fi? No

Hard to say if these are substantially similar. I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this! Personally, I’d  be concerned that within a couple of years, once the transition is no longer front and centre,  RBC will do away with offering 0% fees for the clients that are transferred over.

Wrapping it up

RBC has laid out the details of the migration and transition of HSBC products and it is happening quickly! The bank hopes to have all transitions done by the end of March. And on April 1st, everything should be running under RBC, even the physical HSBC Bank locations will be opening as RBC locations on April 1 (and that’s not an April Fool’s joke)

We still don’t have a lot of details in the actual product transitions but those should start emerging fairly quickly as RBC is sending out letters to HSBC customers this month.

Help the RWRDS Canada community

If you are a current HSBC credit cardholder (any one of their cards) we would love to hear from you when you receive your letter from RBC about the transition. Our goal is to create a reference showing what each HSBC card will be migrated to in RBC’s credit card portfolio.

Click here to learn more about the HSBC-RBC transition process

Credit cards.

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HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard Review for 2024

Last Updated on December 16, 2023

Written by Enoch Omololu

Snappy Rates is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the objectivity of our evaluations. Read our disclosure .

Are you looking for a no-fee travel rewards credit card in Canada that offers value and flexibility?

Look no further than the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard.

In this review, learn about the features, benefits, downsides, application process, and alternative options of this credit card.

Whether you travel a lot or just want to maximize your everyday spending, the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard could be the perfect solution for you.

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard – Summary

**This card is no longer accepting new applications**

Let’s summarize the key features and benefits that make this card a standout choice:

• There is no annual fee for both primary and supplementary cardholders
• 20.99% interest rate on purchases
• 22.99% interest rate on cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents)
• 2.5% foreign transaction fee
• No income requirements

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard

Annual fee : $0

Welcome offer : Earn 25,000 points ($125 travel value) if you spend $1,000 in the first 180 days.

Rewards : Earn HSBC Travel Rewards Points on every purchase.

Interest rates: 20.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances and balance transfers to non-Quebec residents, and 21.99% for Quebec residents.

Minimum income requirement: N/A

On HSBC’s website

• Earn 3 HSBC Travel Rewards Points for every $1.00 spent on eligible travel purchases.
• Earn 2 HSBC Travel Rewards Points for every $1.00 spent on eligible gas and daily transportation purchases.
• Earn 1 HSBC Travel Rewards Point for every $1.00 on any other purchases.
• Baggage delay, hotel burglary, and trip interruption insurance are offered.
• Redeem your HSBC Travel Rewards Points for travel purchases, gift cards, merchandise, or HSBC financial rewards.
• Extended Warranty Insurance for an additional year on new purchases.
• Purchase assurance for 90 days from purchase.
• Emergency travel insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and baggage loss insurance are offered for an additional $69.00 per year.

Excellent rewards perks

No annual fees

Flexible HSBC Rewards Points system

Some travel insurances are an extra fee

High-interest rates

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is a great entry-level travel card for Canadians. It comes with travel benefits, although actual travel insurance is an extra annual fee.

Benefits of the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard:

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard comes with a range of benefits to enhance your travel experiences and provide financial value. Let’s explore the key benefits:

Travel Rewards Program

• Earn 1.5% Travel Rewards (3 points per $1) on travel purchases
• 1% Travel Rewards (2 points per $1) on gas and transportation purchases
• 0.5% Travel Rewards on other eligible everyday purchases (1 point per $1)

Built-in Travel Insurance

Baggage Delay – pays up to $100 per day for up to 3 days for essential items if your checked bag is delayed for 6 hours or more.

Hotel/Motel Burglary – protects most personal items from theft in your hotel/motel room with signs of forced entry anywhere.

Trip Interruption – pays up to $1,500 per insured person and $5,000 per trip if travel is interrupted by covered cause.

Extended Warranty – the original manufacturer warranty is automatically doubled and extended by up to one year.

Purchase Assurance – 90 days protection against loss, damage or theft on eligible purchases made with the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard.

Flexible Rewards Redemption Options

Use your points to pay off your HSBC Bank Canada mortgage faster, top up your HSBC Bank Canada personal savings account or reduce your HSBC credit card balance.

Convenience and Security

Tap your card into the reader and you’re ready to go. Plus, enjoy Zero Liability Protection for each purchase made.

Downsides of the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard

While the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard offers many advantages, it’s important to consider the following downsides:

Low Rewards for Non-Travel Expenses

Expenses such as gas and daily transportation earn 1% rewards points and you earn 0.5% on everything else. Not as attractive as some other no-fee credit cards which offer a higher standard rate for all purchases.

Cap on Travel Rewards Earnings

Earn 3 points per $1 spent on your first $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per $1 spent thereafter. All good if you’re not going to spend more. If not, you will miss out on rewards.

How to Apply for the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard:

Applying for the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is a simple process. Here’s what you need to know:

Visit the official HSBC website or the nearest branch to access the application form.

To be eligible, you must:

• Have Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residency
• Be at the age of majority in the province where you live.

Make sure you have the following valid IDs on hand before applying:

• Driver’s Licence or
• Provincial government-issued I.D.

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard Alternatives

While the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard offers attractive features, it’s essential to check out other options. Here are a few alternatives:

This is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada, and it is available without an annual fee.

Neo Financial Mastercard

Rewards : Earn up to 15% cash back at Neo partners and never fall below 0.5% average cash back.

Welcome offer : Get an extra 15% cash back on your first purchases at many Neo partners.

Interest rates: 19.99% to 26.99% for purchases, 22.99% to 28.99% for cash advances.

Annual fee: $0

Recommended credit score:

Fair to Excellent

On Neo’s website

• Earn up to 15% cash back on your first purchases at many Neo partners.
• Get an average of 5% instant cash back at over 8,000 Neo partners.
• Never fall below 0.5% average cash back – if you do, Neo will top it up.
• Cash back is instantly rewarded.
• Use the Neo app to view cash back offers near you and view insights on your spending.
• Instantly use the digital Neo card after signing up.
• Optionally subscribe to Bundles for more cash back on certain spending categories.
• No annual fees or income requirements.

No annual fee or income requirements

Earn up to 15% cash back

Neo mobile app shows you cash back offers near you

Only earn 15% cash back once at each Neo partner

You need to subscribe to Neo Bundles for more cash back

No insurance coverage

The Neo Card is an all-in-one cash back credit card and mobile app that earns you cash back on all purchases. Shop at Neo partners and earn up to 15% cash back, rewarded instantly.

American Express Green Card

This card allows you to earn 1 rewards point per $1 spent on eligible purchases. It also has zero annual fee, exclusive offers and free access to American Express Experiences.

Rewards : Earn 1 point for every $1 spent, plus 1 additional point on Amex Travel Online.

Welcome offer : Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months.

Interest rates: 20.99% for purchases, 21.99% for cash advances.

Good to Excellent

On American Express’s website

• Earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every $1 spent with no limits.
• Earn 1 additional point on travel bookings through Amex Travel Online.
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer or loyalty programs.
• Redeem points for travel, Amazon.ca purchases, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
• Access American Express Experiences, like Front of the Line presales and reserved tickets.
• Buyer’s assurance and purchase protection plans are included.
• Book travel with Amex Travel Online to get exclusive deals.
• No minimum income is required to apply.

No limits on how many points you can earn

Flexible points redemption and transfer options

No annual fee

You can only earn 1 point for every $1 spent

No travel benefits or insurance

The American Express Green Card is a great no-annual-fee credit card that earns you a flat rate of 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases with no limits. You can flexibly redeem your points for travel, merchandise, statement credits, and more.

RBC ION Visa

This is a rewards card that earns you 1.5 Avion points per $1 in eligible purchases. Plus, enjoy no annual fees, the convenience of Mobile Pay, and purchase security and extended warranty coverage.

Welcome offer : Get 3,500 bonus Avion points following approval.

Rewards : Earn 1.5x Avion points per $1 spent on groceries, rides, gas, streaming, subscriptions, digital gaming, and EV charging; 1 Avion point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.

Minimum income requirement: None

On RBC’s website

• Earn 1.5 Avion points for every dollar you spend on groceries, rideshare, daily public transit, gas, streaming, subscriptions, and digital gaming.
• Earn 1 Avion point for every dollar you spend on all other qualifying purchases.
• Save 3¢/L on fuel purchased at Petro-Canada when you link your credit card to your Petro-Canada Card.
• Redeem your points for air travel, gift cards, merchandise, statement credits, dining, etc. The minimum redemption is only $10.
• Get a 3-month complimentary DashPass subscription, valued at almost $30.
• Includes Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Insurance.

Competitive purchase APR at 19.99%

Attractive point redemption options

No minimum income threshold

Limited insurance benefits

The conversion rate for points is not as enticing

The RBC ION Visa is an excellent choice if you are a student or newcomer looking to get approved for a credit card with little to no credit history. It has no annual fees, and the Avion points you earn are easy to redeem.

BMO Air Miles Mastercard

With this card, you can earn 3 miles at partner locations, 2 miles at eligible grocery stores and 1 mile elsewhere for every $25 spent. It has zero annual fee and offers an automatic Air Miles Gold status.

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard

Rewards : Earn up to 3 Air Miles for every $1 spent on everyday purchases.

Welcome offer : Get 2,000 bonus Air Miles and the first year annual fee waived.

Interest rates: 20.99% for purchases, 23.99% for cash advances.

Annual fee: $120

On BMO’s website

• Earn 3 Air Miles for every $12 spent at participating Air Miles partners.
• Earn 2 Air Miles for every $12 spent on groceries (up to $500 per month).
• Earn 1 Air Mile for every $12 spent on all other purchases with no limits.
• Collect Air Miles twice at participating partners when you show your Air Miles card along with this credit card.
• Get one 25% discount to use on one worldwide Air Miles flight each year.
• BMO AIR MILES World Elite Travel and Medical Protection are included.
• Get a complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass.
• Access over 1 million wifi hotspots with Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard.
• Enjoy free, 24/7 access to concierge services.
• Access a variety of on-demand and subscription services.
• Extended warranty and purchase protection are included.
• Save up to 25% at participating Alamo and National car rental locations.
• To be eligible, you must make a minimum of $80,000 individual or $150,000 household income.

Earn Air Miles at a high rate for all purchases

25% off one Air Miles flight each year

Mastercard Travel Pass membership and Boingo Wi-Fi perks

High annual income requirement

2x Air Miles earn category is capped at $500 monthly

A lot of Air Miles are required for redemption

The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard packs a ton of benefits into a card with just a $120 annual fee. You earn Air Miles on everyday purchases, which can be redeemed for flights, vacations, and more. Key travel benefits include comprehensive insurance coverage, a Mastercard Travel Pass membership, and Boingo Wi-Fi.

Is the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard Worth It?

If you’re someone who spends a lot on travel, this card might be the right fit for you. It has no annual fee, flexible rewards redemption options, and built-in travel insurance coverage which is uncommon for a no-fee card.

The cap on the reward amount may be a turn-off for some. But the added value provided by this card outweighs this aspect.

All in all, if you’re looking for an easy way to maximize your earnings while travelling, the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is a solid choice.

• HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard Review
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Enoch Omololu

Enoch Omololu is a personal finance expert. He has a master’s degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School (Scotland) and has completed several courses and certificates in finance, including the Canadian Securities Course. Enoch is passionate about helping others win with their finances and has written about money matters for over a decade. He has been featured or quoted in The Globe and Mail, CBC News, Yahoo Finance, GO Banking Rates, Financial Post, Bankrate, Forbes, Toronto Star, CTV News, and other personal finance publications. He founded Savvy New Canadians, one of Canada’s top financial education platforms.

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HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® review

• Rates & Fees

$149 Annual Fee

20.99% Purchase APR

22.99% Cash Advance APR

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate

Good Recommended Credit Score

$80,000 Required Annual Personal Income

By Sarah Pritzker

Updated: May 01, 2024

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Compare other HSBC credit cards

• HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® review
• HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard®

Compare other travel credit cards

• Best travel credit cards in Canada
• TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
• BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
• Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard®

Compare other Mastercard credit cards

• Best Mastercard credit cards in Canada
• WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
• PC® Mastercard®

RBC now owns HSBC and discontinued the HSBC credit cards.

You can read all about it on our HSBC to RBC transition page. Or, feel free to check out the best RBC credit cards , or if you're looking to change check out our best credit cards page .

The HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is an elite travel rewards credit card for avid travelers with high monthly spending. The card earns up to six points per $1 spent*, with strong earning power on travel purchases. With significant travel insurance offerings and an annual $100 travel enhancement credit*, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is great for globetrotters.

Primary cardholders will pay $149 in annual fees. The card carries a 20.99% purchase interest rate, 22.99% annual interest on balance transfers, and 22.99% on cash advances.

Frequent fliers seeking a premium rewards program from their credit card will find a lot to like about the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® . With no foreign transaction fees, comprehensive travel insurance protection and high points earnings on travel-related purchases, there is a lot to like about this card.

Eligibility requirements

The HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® has a number of eligibility requirements, so it is worth checking before applying. To be considered for the card, you must have the following:

• Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• Be the age of majority in your province of residence
• Annual individual income of $80,000 OR household income of $150,000 OR assets under management amounting to at least $400,000

Pros and cons

Up to 6 points per $1 on travel purchases

$100 annual travel enhancement credit

• Comprehensive travel insurance

No foreign transaction fees

10% hotel booking discount on Expedia or Agoda

Free Boingo Wi-Fi access worldwide

High $149 annual fee

• $50 cost for authorized card users

High income requirement

Interest rates are slightly higher

Limited redemption options for non-travel rewards

Key features

• Lucrative Welcome Bonus
• Up to 6 points earned per $1 spent*
• Zero foreign transaction fees (Only the exchange rate will apply)
• $100 travel enhancement credit*
• Purchase Protection
• Extended Warranty
• $149/annual fee* for primary cardholder (first-year annual fee rebate*)

Welcome bonus

Special offer: Earn up to 50,000 points* ($250 travel value) PLUS a full annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder for the first year* ($149 value) and receive a $100 annual travel enhancement credit*. Conditions apply.

• Welcome bonus of 20,000 points* ($100 travel value)
• Earn 30,000 points* when you spend at least $1,000 in the first 60 days of account opening (up to $150 travel value)
• First year annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder* ($149)
• Receive a $100 annual travel enhancement credit*

An HSBC Rewards point is worth $0.005 when redeemed for travel, so that adds up to $499 in total value* in the first year. This offer is only available to residents of Canada other than the province of Quebec (Quebec residents eligible for separate offer).

How to earn points

Earn six Points on every $1 of eligible travel purchases*, up to a maximum of $50,000 in eligible travel purchases charged to your HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® in a calendar year. After reaching $50,000 in eligible travel purchases, you will earn two Points on every $1 of eligible travel purchases. Refer to the HSBC World Elite Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for complete details. Points earned on eligible travel purchases can be redeemed for rewards valued at up to 3% of the amount spent to earn them. For example, $5,000 in eligible travel purchases earns you 30,000  HSBC Rewards points , which can be redeemed for travel rewards valued at $150. Other rewards that require 30,000 Points for redemption may be valued at less than $150. Redemption offers may change from time to time. Earn 2% in travel rewards on all eligible gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases* (4 points per $1); and 1% in travel rewards on all other eligible purchases* (2 points per $1).

How to redeem points

As a premier travel rewards credit card, HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® offers superior value towards travel-related redemption. However, the card also boasts flexible cash-in for other categories. Customers can use points towards gift cards, HSBC financial products, merchandise, travel rewards, and cash back rebates or even trade them in for frequent flyer miles.

To redeem points for travel, customers enjoy great flexibility with the ability to book travel with any provider and use HSBC points towards these purchases. This applies to flights, hotel bookings, car rentals, and more. Users can also convert HSBC reward points for frequent flyer rewards with a number of airlines, including British Airways and Cathay Pacific Asia.

It is easy and simple to cash in points against purchases; just apply reward points towards credit card charges at the specified value, either by calling an HSBC customer care representative or  online . A final benefit offered by the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® when redeeming points is the ability to earn points and apply them to a charge made up to 60 days earlier.

Insurance features

Cardholders benefit from comprehensive travel insurance coverage and other protections. Primary cardholders, spouses and dependents are covered for up to 31 days for a maximum of $1 million per person for emergency medical insurance coverage on each trip.

Aside from medical insurance, cardholders will also benefit from baggage delay or baggage loss insurance amounting to $750 per insured person. This insurance covers loss, damage, theft, or other hazards. In addition, if you experience a delay in receiving your checked luggage of 12 hours or more, you will be eligible for $200 towards essentials until your bags are recovered.

In addition to emergency medical insurance and baggage insurance, cardholders who charge at least 75% of trip expenses to their card will enjoy trip cancellation and delay coverage. In case of cancellation or delay, cardholders can expect to be reimbursed up to $2,000 per insured person with a $5,000 maximum per trip.

Continuing with their comprehensive insurance offerings, HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® also offers car rental insurance when you charge a car rental to your card. Just decline the agency’s waiver and use your card for at least 75% of the cost, and you will be automatically covered for the full value of the vehicle in case of theft or damage. Insurance on car rentals includes personal effects and accidental death or injury.

Apart from their robust travel insurance coverage, HSBC also gives customers peace of mind with Purchase Protection on purchases for 90 days. Purchase Protection covers damage, loss, and theft.

Finally, cardholders benefit from an Extended Warranty on most purchases that doubles the manufacturer’s warranty for up to one additional year.

Another fantastic benefit of this card is the $100 annual travel enhancement credit that customers can redeem towards seat upgrades on flights, towards airline fees or lounges, and other travel-associated costs.

Rates and fees

There’s a $149 primary card annual fee. Additional cards will cost $50 per year.

In terms of rates, this card carries an annual purchase interest rate of 20.99%. For cash advances or balance transfers, the interest rate is slightly higher at 22.99% for the former and 22.99% for the latter. These rates are competitive, and with a 21-day interest-free period following every purchase, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is highly attractive.

Benefits and drawbacks

If you travel often then this card’s travel perks and no foreign transaction fees is the perfect companion for any of your trips. If you can get past the high annual fee and strict income requirements, this is the perfect card for you.

• No foreign currency transaction fees (Only the exchange rate will apply)
• 10% discount when booking hotels on Expedia or Agoda discount
• Free access to Boingo Wi-Fi on up to four devices anywhere in the world where Boingo has hotspots
• 31-day comprehensive travel insurance
• High annual fee for non-Premier cardholders
• High income required

How to apply

To apply for the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® , first, make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements.

Once you’ve determined that you’ve met the eligibility requirements, you can apply for this card either in person or online. Just fill in your personal information, including social insurance number, address, date of birth, email and phone number.

It should just take several minutes to apply for the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® online. Once you have reviewed and submitted, you should receive approval within a short amount of time.

How it compares

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit  here  for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

* Terms and conditions apply

The HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ®  is a premier travel credit card for people who enjoy frequent trips and meet certain income requirements. It offers a high points earning rate and, compared to the others, a hefty welcome bonus. The Scotiabank Gold American Express ® Card might have a lower annual fee, but its welcome bonus isn’t nearly as rewarding. The BMO Ascend™ World Elite ® * Mastercard ® * has a similar annual fee, however, it boasts a lower earning potential. Each credit card has its strengths and weaknesses for you to consider.

The bottom line

The HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® offers good perks for travel, with comprehensive insurance coverage and other benefits.

Though there are cards on the market with a more competitive APR, lower (or even zero) annual fees and no minimum income requirement, this card’s accelerated points earned on travel purchases and generous sign-up bonus make it an attractive option for spenders with very good financial standing who travel frequently.

*Terms and Conditions apply.

® / TM Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used pursuant to license.

HSBC Bank Canada is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

Sarah Pritzker has been writing for Money.ca since 2017, and loves learning about the latest trends in Canadian personal finance.

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• Credit cards

Here’s why the HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard ® is one of the best cards in Canada!

HSBC is one of the largest banks on the planet with an extensive global footprint: who hasn’t already seen the HSBC brand when getting off the plane?

In Canada, HSBC offers a particularly interesting credit card: the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® . It’s a card I’ve held for several years , so it’s particularly easy for me to introduce it to you!

As of September 29, 2023, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is no longer available to new members.

Summary of the card's benefits

Here are the benefits of this credit card:

• 6 points per dollar for travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.)
• 4 points per dollar for grocery, gas or drugstore purchases
• 2 points per dollar for all other purchases (including Costco)
• You can use your points on any travel expense charged to your Card

$100 Annual Travel enhancement credit

• Three airline partners to transfer your points

No foreign currency conversion fees

• Mastercard Airport Experiences Provided by LoungeKey

Unlimited Wi-Fi access through Boingo

10% discount with expedia and agoda.

• 31-day Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical insurance

Baggage Delay or Loss insurance

Flight delay insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption/delay insurance, car rental insurance, purchase assurance and extended warranty insurance, mobile device insurance.

• Price Protection
• Accepted everywhere, including Costco

A straightforward loyalty program

The Mastercard MD HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is part of the HSBC Travel Rewards points program. Let’s see how to earn HSBC Rewards points with this card and especially how to redeem them to save on travel!

Earning points

With the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® , you can get:

• 6 points per dollar for travel purchases (or 3%)
• 4 points per dollar for grocery, gas or drugstore purchases (i.e., 2%)
• 2 points per dollar on all other purchases, including Costco (i.e. 1%)

This makes the HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD one of the best credit cards for travel purchases, but also for everyday purchases. Few cards offer 3% on travel and 2% on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas stations or pharmacies.

I use it for all my travel purchases, as well as most everyday purchases. And of course abroad!

Using points

It is possible to use the HSBC Rewards points accumulated by the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® in a variety of ways:

For converting points into miles

For gift cards and products, for financial rewards.

The first two solutions are my favourite . However, if you don’t travel, the other two options may be interesting for you!

Using HSBC Rewards points for travel rewards will be one of the best possible uses of your points earned by the Mastercard MD HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® .

110,000 HSBC Rewards points have a value of $550 in travel rewards .

To redeem your HSBC Rewards points, simply charge any travel purchase to your Mastercard MD HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® (and earn 6 points per dollar on that purchase).

Then you can go to the HSBC Rewards portal to apply your points on your travel purchases and get a statement credit. This is what we do in our family to rent apartments on Airbnb or reduce our flights’ cost to visit our family in France!

Here, for example, is the purchase of an Air Transat ticket between Montreal and Nice on my HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® :

Or for Airbnb or Hotels.com purchases like in New Zealand during our round the world family trip:

To redeem HSBC Rewards points, it works with a chart starting at 25,000 points ($125) :

Therefore, you will need to have a minimum of 25,000 points to get a statement credit. With 110,000 points, you will have $550 available in statement credit !

And when it comes to “travel,” you don’t have to leave Canada to take advantage of it!

This could be for example:

• An apartment or cottage rental on Airbnb
• Airline or train tickets to travel in the country
• A car rental
• And much more!

Here are some examples of recent purchases that have been categorized as travel on my Card:

In Canada, few institutions offer the ability to convert travel points into airline loyalty programs.

HSBC Rewards is a partner with three airline loyalty programs :

• Asia Miles – Cathay Pacific
• Krisflyer – Singapore Airlines
• Executive Club – British Airways

Here is the HSBC Reward Points to miles conversion ratio:

If you want to convert 130,000 points into miles, here’s what you could get:

And that’s not taking into account conversion promotions between HSBC Rewards and airline loyalty programs (up to 35% bonus) !

So if you wait for a 35% promotion to convert your 130,000 points earned as a Welcome Bonus, you could get 70,200 Avios miles !

Never seen before! For example, you could get a luxury experience like me in a British Airways First Class flight:

And you could also use the British Airways Executive Club program to book flights with American Airlines .

From Montreal, you could go to Miami with not that many points.

Here is an example of a direct flight between Montreal and Miami for 11,000 Avios miles and $64:

Or you could book a Reward Flight with the Krisflyer program for travel on Singapore Airlines in Economy, Business or even First Class !

Like all the loyalty programs, you can use your HSBC Rewards points for gift cards.

Many retailers are available such as Costco, Esso, Amazon , Best Buy, Disney, Transat, Via Rail , IGA. Here are some examples and costs in points:

Finally, the last option to use HSBC Rewards points is for financial products offered by HSBC.

Here are the different possible redemptions:

A card accepted all over around the world, including in your convenience store!

A mastercard credit card.

The HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD is a Mastercard: you won’t have any acceptance problems, anywhere in the world, including your local small shopkeepers!

It will also be accepted for purchases made at Costco and will earn 2 points per dollar at Costco .

Another advantage of the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® : no conversion fees for foreign currency transactions .

It’s not only convenient for people like me who are often abroad (I use the HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD for all everyday purchases and avoid the 2.5% conversion fee charged by other credit cards).

But it’s handy for purchases made in foreign currency on the Internet, in the United States, for example!

It’s quite simple, if you spend $5,000 a year in foreign currency, you’ll save around $125 in conversion fees thanks to the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® !

A card with great benefits

The HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD comes with a host of benefits, including one that virtually cuts the annual fee from $149 to $49: by using the $100 annual Travel Privilege credit each year !

Great benefit of the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® : an annual $100 travel privilege credit. This credit is available upon subscription to the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® and is then renewed on the account’s anniversary date .

Taking this annual credit into account, the fee for your HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is virtually reduced from $149 to $49 . Unbelievable for a World Elite Card! So you can keep it year after year.

To use this credit, just:

• Book a flight
• Buy extras for seats, luggage
• buy airport lounge passes
• Make a booking on Expedia

After that, you will have 60 days to use your Annual Travel enhancement credit on it. You can apply it on several small transactions like this:

HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® holders enjoy 12 free 90-minute annual accesses to Wi-Fi offered by Boingo (over one million access points worldwide). There is no data limit for these accesses.

To take advantage of this free benefit , simply register at this address , providing your HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD number.

Then, you will have a Boingo account you can use worldwide. Boingo usually charges US$14.99 per month for this!

Swiss, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines are among the few airlines that offer Boingo on board their aircraft. I have already been able to use it on board and in many airports and public places. Here again, saving money by just holding this card.

HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® holders receive a 10% discount on prepaid hotel bookings on Expedia or Agoda .

To benefit from this, you will need to register:

• On Expedia’s website
• On the Agoda website

Paid access to VIP airport lounges with DragonPass

Last but not least, HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® holders enjoy a complimentary DragonPass membership for airport lounges.

However, there will be a charge of US$32 per person for each visit. You can, of course, use your annual $100 Travel enhancement credit to cover it.

A card with solid insurance

At the “World Elite Mastercard” level, the HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD offers a large number of insurances, particularly for travel.

Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical insurance

In terms of travel medical emergency insurance, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® provides coverage of up to $2,000,000 per insured person :

• the primary cardholder
• dependent children

Coverage extends to 31 days per trip for people under age 65. And 21 days per trip for people over 65 years old.

For baggage delay or loss insurance, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® provides coverage of up to $1,000 per insured person .

• Loss or damage
• fire or transport hazards

There is also coverage of up to $200 per trip to purchase necessary items if your luggage is delayed at your destination for more than 6 hours .

Reimbursement of up to $250 per day to a maximum of $500 total (2 days) per trip for all insured persons travelling on the same trip for certain necessary and reasonable expenses if the confirmed scheduled flight is delayed by 6 hours or more

In terms of trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® Mastercard ® provides cover for up to $2,000 per insured person ($5,000 per trip) provided that 75% of your eligible expenses of your trip have been entered on the map.

This includes all non-refundable expenses (prepaid trips) in the event of cancellation, as well as costs incurred for the change of ticket or the cost of a ticket to return home early.

In terms of vehicle rental insurance, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® provides coverage for up to 31 days , provided that 75% of the rental cost has been charged to the card.

This includes collisions or damage up to the full value of the damaged or stolen rental vehicle, as well as towing or loss of use charges. Car Rental insurance also includes Personal Effects and Car Rental Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance coverage.

This saves about twenty dollars per day of rental, which is far from negligible!

Be careful, like all the other credit cards providing car rental insurance , liability insurance is not included.

Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance

With Hotel/Motel Theft Insurance, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® protects you against theft of most personal items from a hotel or motel room, up to $1,000 per occurrence.

When it comes to mobile device insurance, the HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD offers coverage of up to $1,000 if your mobile device is lost or stolen, or suffers accidental damage or mechanical breakdown.

Price Protection Service

When you purchase a new personal item with the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® and find the same item offered at a lower price within 60 days of your purchase, the difference in price will be refunded to you up to a maximum of $500, subject to a maximum amount of $1,000 per Account per calendar year.

Finally, in terms of purchase insurance and extended warranty, the HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® provides 90 days’ coverage from the date of purchase in the event of loss, damage or theft.

Extended Warranty coverage automatically doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty for up to one additional year when you use your HSBC World Elite Mastercard to purchase most items.

Bottom Line

The HSBC World Elite MD Mastercard MD is a card I like for several reasons:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Points redemptions flexibility (either used in travel credit or transferred to airline partners)
• The fact that it is a Mastercard, it is accepted everywhere (including at Costco)
• Its ability to earn points for travel purchases( 6 points per dollar or 3% )
• Its earning rate for all everyday purchases such as at gas stations, grocery stores or pharmacies( 4 points per dollar or 2%)

In addition, there is a 10% discount for hotel reservations on Expedia and Agoda as well as free access to Wi-Fi via Boingo.

It’s a card I keep because its annual $100 Travel enhancement credit largely offsets the annual fee.

During our family trip around the world, we used it a lot to save on our foreign currency transaction fees and to redeem points for Airbnb rentals !

All posts by Jean-Maximilien

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HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard® Review 2023

Victor Irungu

Why you can trust us

The team at WealthRocket only recommends products and services that we would use ourselves and that we believe will provide value to our readers. However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions.

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard®

Rated 1.8/5 stars.

• 3 pts Earn 3 points per $1 spent on eligible travel-related purchases.
• 2 pts Earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas and transportation.
• 1 pt Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
• Welcome Bonus None
• Annual Rewards $142 Learn how we calculate this.
• Annual Fee $0
• Minimum Income Required None
• No annual fee
• $0 supplementary card fee

Travel insurance

• Extensive list of partners for rewards
• 2.5% foreign transaction fee
• Capped travel rewards amount of $6,000
• Low rewards for non-travel-related purchases

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is designed for the frequent traveller. This travel rewards credit card allows you to earn points on every purchase. You can use your points in one of three ways: for travel, for a statement or loan credit, convert into cash and save, or redeem for gift cards and merchandise at select partners.

In This Article

Hsbc travel rewards mastercard: an overview, hsbc travel rewards mastercard rewards, hsbc travel rewards eligibility, hsbc travel rewards interest rates and fees, hsbc travel rewards mastercard perks, compare hsbc travel rewards mastercard alternatives, our final thoughts.

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will be purchasing HSBC Canada. As a result, HSBC products will be discontinued shortly. Please refer to the best credit cards in Canada for alternatives.

Are you looking for a credit card that rewards you for travelling? With generous discounts on travel bookings, valuable travel insurance, and a variety of rewards points, the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard ® is an all-in-one travel card that can help you save on your next trip.

This HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard review discusses the features and benefits of this card. It outlines the rewards you can earn, explains how to redeem your points, and provides an overview of any additional perks or discounts associated with the card. Read on to learn more about this travel rewards credit card and if it’s right for you.

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is an excellent choice for travel junkies who want to maximize travel rewards. This card offers points on every purchase, additional points for travel-related purchases, and no annual fee. To redeem points for the best value, cardholders can apply their points to travel related purchases. This includes purchases made from airlines, hotels, campgrounds cottages, cruise lines, and more.

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard offers points on almost all purchases made.

Eligible travel:  3 points per dollar spent with a cap amount of $6,000 per calendar year (after you reach the cap amount, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar)

Eligible gasoline and daily transit:  2 points per dollar spent

All other eligible purchases: 1 point per dollar spent

Redeeming rewards with the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is simple. Your earned points will appear on your account, and you can redeem them either online or over the phone.

For travel-related purchases, your online account will have a tab titled “Redeem Now.” From there you can select “Travel” to find travel purchases or to book directly using your HSBC credit card. For a statement credit, cardholders can find all travel-related transactions made in the last 60 days to apply points directly to their purchase. This is useful because cardholders are not restricted to specific companies for travel expenses. All purchases of goods and services from airlines, car rental agencies, hotels, cottages, campgrounds, and more will show up as a travel-related purchase that users can apply points to.

Cardholders can use their points in three different ways:

• Travel: HSBC points can be used for all things travel related. Book transportation, hotels, cruises, rail tickets, and more directly on the rewards site. You can also redeem points for a statement credit toward travel purchases made online or through travel agents and charged to the card.
• Financial:  Use your points to achieve your financial goals. Convert your points for a credit toward your HSBC Bank Canada residential mortgage, credit card balance, or add the points to your HSBC personal savings account in the form of cash.
• Gift cards and merchandise: With an extensive list of exclusive partners, HSBC points can be used for Apple products, other electronics, accessories, home and beauty essentials, and hundreds of other items. Don’t see an item you like? HSBC has more than 50 gift card options and 3 charities to put points toward.

To apply for the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard, you must be of legal age and have a good  credit score of around 670 to 739. There is no minimum income requirement to qualify for the card or annual fee.

• Annual fee:  $0
• Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%
• Extra card fe e: $0
• Cash advance fee:  $5 (doesn’t apply to Quebec)

Interest rates

• Purchases: 20.99%
• Cash advances: 22.99%
• Cash advances (Quebec): 21.99%
• Balance transfers: 22.99%
• Balance transfers (Quebec): 21.99%
• Penalty APR: 25.99%

In addition to its rewards, this card offers a few extra benefits for travellers.

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard comes with baggage delay, trip interruption, and hotel/motel burglary travel insurance. For a low annual premium of $69, you can tack on emergency medical coverage, too.

Extended warranty coverage

Extended warranty coverage, and purchase assurance offers extra security when making purchases with your card.

• Annual Rewards $142

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

• Welcome Offer Up to $800 value, including up to 100,000 Aeroplan points.
• Annual Fee $139
• Interest Rates Purchases: 20.99%, Cash Advances: 22.99%
• Recommended Credit Score 760 - 900

American Express Cobalt Credit Card

• Welcome Offer Up to 30,000 Membership Points
• Annual Rewards $1029
• Annual Fee $155.88

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is a good choice for those looking for an easy way to earn rewards points on travel-related purchases. The capped rewards amount may be an issue for some. However, the card provides a lot of value that can outweigh this factor. All in all, it’s a great option if you’re looking for an easy way to maximize your rewards while travelling.

Victor is a freelance content/SEO writer based in Kenya. He has 10 years’ experience covering financial topics such as cryptocurrency, forex trading, insurance, mortgages, and investing.

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The best travel credit cards in Canada for 2024

From points to perks, a good travel credit card can make your trip more affordable, more comfortable and even more secure.

Why trust us

MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our  advertising and trusted partners .

The best travel credit cards in Canada by category

By Keph Senett on May 1, 2024 Estimated reading time: 22 minutes

There are numerous travel credit cards in Canada to choose from, but you can get the best value by selecting one that pairs a strong earn rate for rewards along with perks like lounge access, travel credits or rebates, superior insurance coverage and the flexibility to transfer points between cards. Ultimately, choose your card based how you like to travel, your spending and credit card habits and travel perks that fit your lifestyle. To help you pick the perfect card, we’ve come up with a list of Canada’s best travel credit cards.

MoneySense insight

Brim credit cards are getting a serious downgrade. Starting May 18, the Brim Mastercard, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard will no longer offer no foreign exchange fees. Cardholders will be charged 1.5% on all foreign currency purchases (which is less than the 2.5% typically charged, but a full 1.5% more than existing cardholders are used to). If you’re searching for an alternative no-forex card, the Scotiabank Gold Amex —our runner up for the overall best travel rewards card—is a good option. Or you can check out our list of the best no-forex cards in Canada .

—Justin Dallaire, senior editor

Best overall travel rewards credit card

At a glance: With outstanding earn rates in broadly-defined, popular spending categories, the American Express Cobalt card is a travel rewards beast. Points are easy to redeem and flexible, and you can increase their value by transferring them to other travel loyalty programs. It comes with a comprehensive insurance package, so you travel carefree.

American Express Cobalt

• Annual fee: $156
• Earn rate: 5 points per $1 spent on dining and groceries; 2 points per $1 spent on transit and gas; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: You can earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
• Annual income requirement: None
• Point value: 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers
• Recommended credit score for approval: 725 or higher
• Interest rates: 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• At 5 points per dollar spent on eats and drinks, 3 points per dollar on streaming services, and 2 points per dollar on travel and transit, this card has some of the highest earn rates around. Plus, the high earn rate on food and groceries is capped at $2,500 per month, and no limits are applied to other categories.
• The boosted spend categories are very broadly defined so you’ll earn more points for more of your purchases. For example, “eats and drinks”  includes everything from grocery stores to coffee shops to food delivery, and everything from gas to rideshares to flights falls under “travel and transit”.
• Amex points are flexible and lucrative. Redeem points the simple way at a flat rate of 10,000 points for $10 towards any travel expense—or, if you’re a savvy points collector—boost your point values by using Amex’s Fixed Point chart or transferring points to another program like Aeroplan.
• Although American Express is accepted at tens of thousands of businesses across the country, it’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
• The annual fee is charged monthly which slightly obscures the fact that the total is $155.88 per year, a bit more than the $120 charged by some comparable cards.
• The travel insurance package lacks Trip Cancellation protection which covers you in case of a sudden illness.

Honourable mention

At a glance: With a lower annual fee and no foreign exchange fees, the Scotiabank Gold American Express gives the Amex Cobalt a run for its money. You’ll enjoy strong earn rates, easy and flexible redemptions, and one of the best travel insurance packages on the market. Frequent customers of Sobeys-affiliated stores like Safeway, FreshCo and Thriftys will especially appreciate the extra points boost on grocery purchases there.

Scotiabank Gold American Express

• Annual fee: $120
• Earn rates: 6 points per $1 spent at Sobeys-affiliated stores; 5 points per $1 on dining, entertainment and groceries; 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and streaming; 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn up to $650 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points. Must apply by July 1, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: $12,000
• Point value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners
• Recommended credit score   for approval : 700 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• With 5 points per dollar on entertainment, restaurants, food delivery and groceries (plus an extra point at Sobeys stores).
• Redemptions are simple and super flexible–especially for travel where 10,000 points is equal to $10 in value on any airline. In fact, you can apply points for travel purchases retroactively for up to one year by applying them in your app or online. 
• There are no foreign exchange fees when you use this card to pay in a foreign currency (most cards charge 2.5% on all foreign currency purchases).
• The card’s travel insurance package is excellent and includes up to 25 days of travel emergency medical for those under the age of 65.
• Like all American Express cards, this one won’t be accepted at some retailers such as Loblaws banner stores. 
• Supplementary cards are $29 each, unlike with our winning card, the Amex Cobalt, where they’re free.
• As a fixed-rate program, Scene+ points are always valued at 1 cent per point as opposed to some dynamic programs where you can get better value during certain time periods. 
• You’ll only earn the base rate of 1 point per dollar on foreign currency transactions regardless of whether they are in a bonus category or not.

Best airline travel credit cards

For aeroplan.

At a glance: Although you could use our number one travel card, the Amex Cobalt, to transfer Amex points to Aeroplan, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite tops our list of best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for its easy redemptions and extras like the $100 Nexus fee rebate. Plus, if you frequently spend on Ubers or are a regular at Starbucks, you could stretch your rewards even further with this card.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• Annual fee: $139
• Earn rates: 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and purchases made directly through Air Canada (including vacation packages), and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Welcome bonus: You can earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card; earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.  
• Anniversary bonus: Earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of opening the account. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
• Point value: Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average
• Recommended credit score for approval : 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99 % on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• You can earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases so you advance in Aeroplan status faster. The higher you go, the better the perks, like priority boarding, discounts on flights and priority seat selection.   
• Card holders and up to eight travel companions travelling on the same reservation get their first checked bag free when your trip starts on an Air Canada flight. 
• In addition to being able to redeem for Air Canada flights, you can redeem your points on a dozen Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa and United. 
• This card has valuable extras like a $100 Nexus fee rebate every two years. 
• The included insurance package is competitive, and includes emergency medical travel coverage for longer than some competitors (21 days, or 4 days for those 65 and older).
• If you’re looking for the absolute best way to get as many Aeroplan points as you can, using the Amex Cobalt and transferring your points at a 1:1 ratio is a better option, but this is our choice for a simple, Aeroplan-specific card.
• Aeroplan is a dynamic chart-based program which means point values can fluctuate based on where and when you’re flying, so it may not be the right program for cardholders looking for simplicity. 
• This card has a slightly higher annual fee ($139) than some other cards in its category.

Best Aeroplan alternative

If you’re currently a CIBC customer, you might find the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite card to be quite comparable. It shares almost identical earn rates and many similar perks (excluding the Nexus rebate). The insurance offerings are quite similar, though the CIBC card provides $5 million in emergency medical coverage, compared to the $2 million offered by the TD card. However, it’s important to note that CIBC’s coverage is limited to 15 days (or 3 days for those 65 and older). CIBC offers a supplementary card for $50, which is $25 less than the TD card.

For WestJet 

At a glance :   With a 1.5% base rate and 2% back on WestJet flights or vacation packages, this card gives travellers a solid tool to take the sting out of the cost of airfare. Add to that competitive perks like an annual round-trip companion voucher and a free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions, and you’ve got a card WestJet flyers will want to consider.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $119
• Earn rate : 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacations packages and 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to $450 in WestJet dollars with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
• Annual income requirements : Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Point value: 1 WestJet Dollar = $1 CAD when redeemed for eligible flights or vacation packages
• Recommended credit score: None specified
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances
• Get one round-trip companion voucher to anywhere WestJet flies annually, which lets you book a companion fare at a reduced rate when you also book a full fare. Or, you can exchange the companion voucher for four airport lounge passes.
• Receive up to three $500 Status Lifts annually, which get you to the next rewards tier faster. The higher your tier, the more benefits you’ll get, like lounge access.
• The WestJet rewards program is simple, without confusing charts or blackout periods. One point equals 1 cent in savings on Westjet flights. 
• You get rewarded for your loyalty—earn 2% on WestJet flights or vacations, which is a higher earn rate for travel bookings than other cards on this list.
• When you use a round-trip companion voucher, the discount only applies to the base rate of the fare. Taxes, airport fees, and air transportation charges remain the same—and these can be quite hefty. 
• WestJet dollars are not transferable to any other airlines or airline programs.

Best no-fee travel credit card

At a glance: One of our best no-fee cards in Canada , the American Express Green Card earns you points on your everyday spending that you can redeem for statement credits, gifts, cards, merchandise or travel, and like the Cobalt, they’re transferable at a 1:1 ratio to other frequent flyer or rewards programs. This is notable because by transferring to a program like Aeroplan, you can boost the value of your points significantly. 

American Express Green Card

• Annual fee: $0
• Earn rate: 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases and 1 additional point for every $1 spent on hotel or car bookings made on americanexpress.ca.
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your card in the first three months of cardmembership.
• Points values: 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers.
• Recommended credit score for approval: 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• You’ll earn a flat rate of 1 point per dollar on all of your everyday spending with no spending limits, and this will be doubled for hotel or car rental bookings made through Amex Travel Online. 
• When you transfer your points to another program, like Aeroplan, you can double their value to 2 cents apiece. A 1.5% to 2% return on your spending is rare for a no-fee card.
• Amex Membership rewards like Experiences allows you to take advantage of curated dining, shopping, and entertainment events, while Front of the Line gets you advance access to tickets.
• There is no included travel insurance nor travel-related perks like lounge or Wi-Fi access with this card, but that’s not unusual for a no-fee card.
• American Express cards are accepted at tens of thousands of locations across Canada and abroad, but there are limitations–mostly in the grocery sector. In Canada, you cannot use an Amex at Costco or Loblaws banner stores.

At a glance: This no-fee travel card offers accelerated earn rates on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases, giving you lots of ways to earn points through your everyday spending. Plus, the birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your annual earnings in points. Points are worth $0.01 each when you redeem for travel, and they never expire.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

• Earn rates: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible groceries, restaurants, digital media, membership and household utility purchases ($10,000 max annual spend) and 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 bonus points ($50 in cash back value). Plus, get 4 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days.. (Not available for residents of Quebec.)
• Points values: 1 MBNA Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 24.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• This card comes with an impressive five bonus categories, giving you many opportunities to rack up points. 
• Unique birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your yearly earnings in points so you’ll get an annual boost.
• Includes $1,000 in new mobile device protection.
• The point redemption process isn’t super intuitive or flexible. You have to redeem points on MBNA’s travel portal and can’t transfer points.
• The annual cap on the bonus categories, such as groceries, is $10,000 per category. Any purchases beyond that amount will earn at the base rate of 1 point per $1 spent.
• Unlike a lot of other travel credit cards, this card doesn’t include travel insurance but that’s to be expected in a no-annual-fee card.

Best hotel credit card

At a glance : You’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy points on every purchase you make at the world’s largest hotel conglomerate, redeemable at more than 30 hotel chains (from Marriott and St. Regis to The Ritz-Carlton) in 130 countries. Get service upgrades like free Wi-Fi, spa treatments, dining experiences, or free hotel stays. Points are also transferable to around 40 other airline programs like Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

• A nnual fee:  $120
• Earn rates:  5 points per $1 at Marriott properties, 2 points per $1 everywhere else
• Welcome offer:  earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
• Point value: 1 Marriott Bonvoy point = $0.0117 on average when redeemed for eligible flights or hotel stays.
• Recommended credit score for approval : 725 or higher
• Interest rates:  20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• You can treat yourself to hotel-related upgrades, services and free nights at hotels, including St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and Westin, or for other travel-related expenses like flights or car rentals. Bonvoy points are flexible—you can also use them for merchandise and experiences.
• The base rate of 2 points per dollar is quite good, but your points will really rack up when you earn 5 points per dollar spent on your Marriott hotel stays. 
• This card comes with some valuable perks like one free night’s stay at a Marriott property every year and 15 Elite Night Credits to help you achieve the next level of status.
• If you reach $30,000 in total annual spending on the card, you’ll be upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and unlock perks like room upgrades, savings on points redemptions for hotel stays and more.
• As an Amex card, this package gets you Amex benefits like Front of the Line and dining, retail and wellness experiences.
• The value of Marriott Bonvoy points can fluctuate based on a mix of factors—from the hotel you’re staying at to the time of the year—meaning maximizing points and transfer options isn’t always straightforward to newer point collectors. 
• Points are worth less for airline transfers at a 3:1 ratio, meaning you’re missing out on maximizing value for anything other than hotel bookings.
• American Express is less widely accepted than Mastercard or Visa.

Best credit card for premium perks

At a glance: The Amex Platinum gives new meaning to the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” In this case, the $799 annual fee pays for itself through a smorgasbord of incredible perks. Your travel experience will be transformed with unlimited airport lounge access, partnerships at Fine Hotel + Resorts properties, and priority treatment at Toronto Pearson Airport. The many perks—like several hundred dollars worth of annual travel and dining credits and a Nexus fee rebate—go a long way toward offsetting the price tag.

American Express Platinum

• Annual fee: $799
• Rewards: 2 points per $1 on dining and food delivery; 2 points per $1 on travel, plus 1 additional point on purchases booked through Amex Travel Online; 1 point per $1 on everything else.
• Welcome bonus: You can earn up to 100,000 rewards points ($1,000 value). Conditions apply.
• Recommended credit score: 760 or higher
• Interest rates: N/A (as a charge card, you’re required to pay off your balance in full every month)
• You’ll get a $200 travel credit each year that can be redeemed towards a travel purchase made through American Express Travel Online. Spend your additional annual $200 dining credit at select restaurants around the world, including 100 in Canada.  
• Get access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection composed of more than 1,300 lounges in over 140 countries, including American Express Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium and Delta Sky lounges. Cardholders may have unlimited free visits and companion passes at no additional cost, depending on the lounge.
• Automatically achieve the higher tier in the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel programs.
• Obtain personalized assistance through Platinum Concierge service. The concierge can make restaurant reservations, obtain tickets to special events, book services for you, and more—at no additional cost to you. 
• Because the Platinum is a charge card, high-volume spenders are not restricted by a conventional credit limit.
• Additional cards cost $250 each annually. 
• Given the annual fee, the travel medical insurance is lackluster. Whereas some cards offer 20 days or more, this card only covers you for up to 15 consecutive days and doesn’t offer any insurance to those who are 65 or older.
• Charge whatever you want to the card (there’s no credit limit), but because it’s a charge card, you’re required to pay off the balance in full every month.

Best travel credit card for students

At a glance: The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students bundles the ability to earn Aeroplan rewards with a few travel benefits and student-friendly perks to deliver a competitive package for no annual fee.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

• Earn rates: 1 point per $1 spent on gas and EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases, and 1 point per $1.50 on everything else
• Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase ($200 value).
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances
• You can use your points on any available Air Canada seat and there are no blackout dates. Plus, you can use your points with any of Aeroplan’s many partners such as United and Aer Lingus.
• Aeroplan points are worth a lot compared to those of other programs, and they can be redeemed for flights with multiple airlines, not just Air Canada. 
• You can often get preferred pricing so you can often book flights using fewer points and you can pay for flight rewards with a combination of points and cash.
• A free SPC membership is included, giving you access to discounts and giveaways, and you’ll save up to 10 cents off per litre when you buy gas at participating stations with Journie Rewards.
• You’ll have common carrier accident coverage, car rental collision and loss damage protection and purchase protection.
• Unlike other Aeroplan cards, you won’t earn Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases. 
• The Aeroplan points program isn’t the most intuitive to understand, especially for first-time card holders, because point values fluctuate based on a regional chart.

At a glance: The no-fee TD Rewards Visa combines the ability to earn flexible travel rewards points with other student-friendly perks like bundled banking services. Although TD Rewards points are worth less than some other loyalty programs, the earn rate is fairly generous across everyday spending categories giving you lots of opportunities to earn.

TD Rewards Visa Card

• Earn rates: 4 TD Rewards points per $1 spent on travel purchases made through Expedia for TD , 3 points per $1 on groceries and at restaurants, 2 points per $1 on recurring bill payments, and 1 point on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: You can earn a value of $50 in TD Rewards Points to use on eligible Amazon.ca purchases, plus no annual fee. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Point value: 1 TD Rewards point = $0.005 when redeemed for travel via Expedia For TD or $0.004 when redeemed through other providers and websites
• Recommended credit score: 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and 22.99% on balance transfers
• You can quadruple your points by simply booking travel through Expedia for TD, but bookings made elsewhere still earn at a rate of 1 point per dollar and there’s no limit to how many points you can earn on travel.
• In addition to travel rewards like flights or hotels, you can redeem your points for Amazon purchases, or put them towards statement credits to cover your balance. 
• You’ll enjoy student-friendly perks and discounts at partners including Amazon, Starbucks, and Uber.
• Point values are easy-to-understand: 200 points always equals $1 in travel rewards booked on Expedia. 
• The boosted spending categories for grocery and restaurants, and recurring bill payments are capped at a $5,000 annual spend so after that, you’ll earn at the 1 point per dollar base rate.
• Travel insurance isn’t included with this card, so you’d have to pay extra to cover yourself.

How we determine the best travel credit cards

Our editors apply their credit card expertise and knowledge of Canadians’ financial goals to come up with selection criteria that matches the needs of the intended cardholder. For travel credit cards, your return on spending is a key consideration, because it represents the value of the points you are earning with every purchase. We consider annual fees and eligibility criteria (for student cards), perks and insurance (for premium cards) and other factors, specific to the category. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about our selection process and about how MoneySense makes money .

Frequently asked questions

The best travel credit card will depend on your needs, travel habits and how you intend to use the card. The American Express Cobalt , for example, is our pick for the best overall travel rewards credit card because you have the ability to earn rewards at a high rate across everyday purchases. The Scotia Gold Amex is a close second, because of its high earn rates and strong insurance package.

The most common types of travel points programs are consistent or chart-based. With consistent rewards programs, the value of the points is always the same. For example, BMO Ascend World Elite users earn BMO Rewards points, for which 150 points equals $1 in travel rewards. Point values in chart-based programs depend on variables like the destination, ticket price and time of travel. Points redemption for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite are based on Aeroplan’s dynamic redemption chart. Consistent points programs are ideal if you want a simple redemption process. Chart-based programs are more complex, but potentially more valuable.

Different types of travel credit cards 

Generic travel rewards credit cards.

Some credit cards offer you the ability to earn rewards on everyday purchases and other purchase categories, which can be redeemed towards a wide variety of things, including travel. This means you are not necessarily limited to booking through certain airlines when redeeming your points on flights. You may also be able to transfer your credit card points to an airline rewards program, such as with the American Express Cobalt .

Airline rewards credit cards

Some travel credit cards offer rewards with specific airlines where your points’ redemption values may vary, such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card. When you accumulate enough points, you can book a flight or vacation package with affiliated airlines like WestJet or Air Canada. Keep in mind though that the value of your points can depend on the date of your flight and your destination. 

Hotel rewards credit cards

Hotel rewards credit cards offer you the ability to redeem your points towards a hotel stay, and to earn points when you book at affiliated hotels like Marriott or Delta, or earn perks such as room upgrades or free breakfasts when you book eligible hotel stays. If you frequently book hotels for work or travel, consider a hotel rewards credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy American Express .

Travel credit card features 

Some important features to look out for in travel credit cards, besides points value and your booking redemption options (flights, hotels, cars), include: 

• Travel insurance coverage for medical issues or trip delays. Most credit card travel insurance programs cover you up to 15 days and tend to be more limited for those over the age of 65, but there are exceptions. (Read about how to know if your credit card comes with enough travel insurance coverage .)
• Airport lounge access for free or discounted lounge passes through Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion Program, Dragon Pass and others. 
• Hotel discounts, like discounts at Marriott hotels. 

Whether the card charges you foreign transaction fees while you are abroad, on top of regular exchange rates. These fees can be as high as an added 2.5% on every purchase.

What travel points program is best?

Not all travel reward programs are created equal. So how do you choose the right one for you? 

First, it’s important to understand that travel rewards programs can be broken down into two basic types: Consistent and chart-based.

It’s worth noting that in rare cases, like the American Express Membership Rewards Program, you might get to choose to redeem points for travel based on either a consistent system or as a chart-based system.

Many of the big banks offer consistent points travel reward programs. They’re aimed at people who want to operate within a simple program that has an easy-to-understand redemption process; people who dislike complicated programs will appreciate these. Chart-based programs can be considerably more complicated—but also potentially more valuable. Since the number of points needed to redeem for a flight isn’t consistent, using the rewards chart strategically can help you stretch the value of your points and net a higher return when flying on certain routes, or even when booking premium seats or business class. These programs are more popular with personal finance enthusiasts and left-brain thinkers.

Compare travel credit cards rewards points values 

How many travel rewards points do you need for a flight , how many avion points you need for a flight.

Premium Avion cardholders need at least 15,000 points for a flight within or near your province or territory, at least 35,000 points for a flight within North America, 65,000 points for a flight to Europe and 100,000 points for other destinations around the globe. 

How many Amex points you need for a flight 

Using the American Express Fixed Points Program, you’d need at least 15,000 points for a short flight within North America, 20,000 points for a flight from a Canadian province or territory to a nearby U.S. State, 40,000 points for a longer North American route, 50,000 points for a vacation destination and at least 60,000 points for Europe or 100,000 points for other continents. 

How many Aeroplan points you need for a flight

Aeroplan’s chart system uses Miles to measure the minimum point redemptions. For shorter flights within North America, you’d need at least 6,000-22,500 points for an Economy flight, 35,000-70,000 points for North America and Atlantic zones, and so on. 

How many Scene points you need for a flight

1 point is worth 1 cent. For a $300 airline ticket, you’d need 300,000 Scene points. 

How many BMO Rewards points you need for a flight

You can redeem your points for a statement credit towards flights. 1 BMO Rewards point is worth 0.7 of a cent in travel rewards.

How many TD points you need for a flight

You need a minimum of 200 points for a redemption through Expedia for TD. 1 TD Rewards point is worth 0.5 cents in travel rewards. 

How many MBNA rewards points you need for a flight

You can redeem a minimum of 10,000 points for a $100 statement credit on travel. 

Do travel credit card points expire? 

Some travel rewards points expire after a certain period of inactivity, while others do not. For example, Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity, and Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months, while WestJet dollars generally do not expire, unless they were earned during certain promotions or other circumstances. To avoid having your points expire, you can book hotels with your points, buy products through the loyalty program’s store, transfer points from another program or to a family member, in some cases, and more.

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RBC Finalizes Acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada

RBC has finalized its acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada , and the transition of HSBC Canada customers into RBC products and services is now also complete. You can now begin using your new RBC credit cards, and you’ll soon be able to redeem RBC Avion Rewards.

Importantly, we now have more insight into the conversion rates RBC has used to transition customers from HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion Rewards , which was not previously disclosed. 

RBC’s Conversion of HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion Rewards

As part of RBC’s acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada , balances of HSBC Rewards are being converted into RBC Avion Rewards . 

RBC did not disclose the rates at which it would convert HSBC Rewards into RBC Avion Rewards prior to the conversion taking place, and only indicated that the converted points would have “equal or higher value in the flexible travel redemption category in the same way they book their travel today.”

On April 1, 2024, previous HSBC Bank Canada clients began receiving emails about the conversion rate RBC used. While the conversion is slated to be complete by April 5, 2024, we now have insight into the actual conversion rates being applied.

It’s worth noting that RBC has made personalized conversion rates for every customer, and the observations below may not apply to every case. Therefore, be sure to reference the communication sent directly to you for information as it pertains to your unique situation.

Many previous cardholders of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard who were transitioned to the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† are having their HSBC Rewards points converted into Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.36 ratio. In other words, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, you’d get 36,000 RBC Avion (Elite) points.

While this conversion rate is lower than the 2:1 ratio we had originally predicted , RBC’s statement of converted points having equal or higher value in the flexible redemption category holds true, since you can redeem these RBC Avion (Elite) points at a rate of 100 RBC Avion (Elite) points = $1.50 (all figures in CAD).

Importantly, this redemption rate is higher than what’s available for cardholders of the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† who weren’t transitioned from an HSBC World Elite Mastercard, who have a redemption rate of 100 RBC Avion (Elite) points = $1 for flexible travel bookings.

(We’ll do an analysis of who stands to gain and who stands to lose from this transfer ratio in the following section of this article).

In the Prince of Travel Elites Facebook Group and in our membership community , we’ve also seen reports of a 1:0.34 ratio, which appears to be for previous cardholders of the HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard who have been transferred to the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege† . 

For those being transitioned to an RBC® ION Visa , which earns RBC Avion (Premium) points, we’ve seen reports of a 1:0.88 ratio. In other words, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, you’d get 88,000 RBC Avion (Premium) points. This opens up some unique possibilities, which we’ll discuss in detail below.

As a reminder, you can no longer use your HSBC Canada credit card products as of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 1, 2024. You’ll now need to activate and use your RBC credit card, which will earn RBC Avion points.

If you held an HSBC credit card with a travel credit, you’ll soon be able to view and redeem your credit.

You’ll first need to activate the credit on or after April 4, 2024, by logging into your Avion Rewards account, locating your travel credit on the Offers page, and then clicking “Load Offer”. 

Once that’s done, you’ll need to make an eligible car rental or hotel booking through the Avion Rewards Travel platform between April 4, 2024 and April 5, 2025 to receive your one-time statement credit.

Analyzing RBC’s Conversion of HSBC Rewards Points

Depending on how you choose to redeem your points, you may wind up getting more or less overall value from your new RBC Avion points at the Elite or Premium tiers.

Previous HSBC World Elite Mastercard Cardholders

If you were a previous cardholder of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard and had your HSBC Rewards points converted into RBC Avion (Elite) points, you should get slightly better value from RBC Avion Rewards if you choose to redeem points for travel purchases.

For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points prior to the acquisition, you could have redeemed them for $500  worth of travel. 

With a 1:0.36 ratio, you’d wind up with 36,000 RBC Avion (Elite) points, which you can now redeem for $540, since you have a higher-than-usual redemption rate of 100 RBC Avion (Elite) points = $1.50. 

However, you’ll only get this elevated rate if you book flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises through the Avion Rewards Travel platform. In this sense, your points aren’t as flexible as they were with HSBC Rewards, since you could book travel directly with any vendor and simply redeem points for a statement credit.

Plus, your booking on Avion Rewards Travel may not be eligible for earning status with hotels or airlines, since it won’t be made directly with the vendor.

If you planned on converting your points into British Airways Executive Club , you’ll wind up with fewer Avios with points converted at a 1:0.36 transfer ratio than at the 25:10 ratio through HSBC Rewards.

For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, you could previously have converted them into 40,000 British Airways Avios at a 25:10 ratio.

Since RBC Avion points transfer to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 ratio, a converted balance of 36,000 RBC Avion points would equal 36,000 Avios, or 4,000 fewer (10% less) than what you’d have gotten through HSBC Rewards.

If you planned on transferring your points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles , you’ll get slightly more Asia Miles with a 1:0.36 transfer ratio from HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion than  through HSBC Rewards. 

For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards, you could previously have converted them into 32,000 Asia Miles with the 25:8 transfer ratio. Since RBC Avion (Elite) points convert to Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio, you’d now wind up with 36,000 Asia Miles, assuming you received a 1:0.36 conversion.

It’s worth noting that RBC Avion typically offers transfer bonuses to both programs throughout the year, which would theoretically boost your Executive Club or Asia Miles balance beyond what was possible through HSBC Rewards (assuming no transfer bonus was available.)

While you’re no longer able to transfer points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer with the loss of HSBC Rewards, you can now transfer RBC Avion (Elite) points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 1:0.7 ratio. RBC Avion (Elite) points also transfer to WestJet Rewards at a 100:1 ratio, though you’ll likely get better value from the other airline partners.

Plus, if you redeem points for flights using the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule , you can squeeze more value out of your points, since you can get up to 2.33 cents per point for a redemption.

If you redeem points this way, you’d wind up with a higher value than what you’d have received for travel bookings with HSBC Rewards.

Previous HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard Cardholders

If you had HSBC Rewards points transferred to RBC Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.34 ratio, you’d still wind up with greater value if redeemed at 1.5 cents per point for flexible travel bookings. However, the overall possible value is less than what members who had a 1:0.36 transfer ratio would receive.

For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, those would be converted into 34,000 Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.34 ratio. With HSBC, you could redeem them for $500, whereas with RBC, you’ll be able to redeem them for $510 for travel booked through Avion Rewards Travel at 1.5 cents per point.

However, as an RBC® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege† cardholder, you can redeem RBC Avion (Elite) points at a rate of 2 cents per point for business class and First Class fares . If you redeem them this way, you’ll wind up with more value ($680) than what you could get through flexible redemptions with HSBC Rewards ($500).

You’ll wind up with even fewer British Airways Avios than you would through conversions from HSBC Rewards, unless you hold out for a transfer bonus event.

For example, if you converted 100,000 HSBC Rewards to British Airways Executive Club at a 25:10 ratio, you’d have wound up with 40,000 Avios. With a 1:0.34 conversion ratio, you’d now wind up with just 34,000 Avios, assuming there’s no transfer bonus at stake.

You’ll still wind up coming out ahead with Asia Miles (34,000 vs 32,000) with your points converted to RBC Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.34 ratio.

Previous HSBC Rewards+ & HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard Cardholders

If your HSBC Rewards points were converted to RBC Avion (Premium) points at a 1:0.88 ratio, an intriguing opportunity presents itself.

With HSBC Rewards, you could redeem 100,000 points for a $500 statement credit for travel purchases. With 88,000 RBC Avion (Premium) points, you can redeem them for $511   worth of travel (172 RBC Avion (Premium) points = $100).  

However, recall that RBC Avion (Premium) points can be converted into RBC Avion (Elite) points at at a 1:1 ratio if you have an eligible RBC Avion credit card. 

Therefore, if you’ve been transitioned to an RBC® ION Visa or an RBC ION+ Visa , consider adding an RBC Avion credit card to your portfolio in the near future, since you’d then be able to move your RBC Avion points at the Premium tier into points at the Elite tier.

Then, you could then transfer to British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, or American Airlines AAdvantage , or redeem them using the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule, for much greater value.

It’s worth noting that you can transfer RBC Avion (Premium) points to WestJet Rewards , too.

RBC’s acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada is now complete, and you can no longer use HSBC Bank Canada products. 

If you had a balance of HSBC Rewards points, it is in the process of being converted into RBC Avion points at various membership tiers. Depending on how you choose to redeem your points, you could wind up with greater or lesser value than you did before.

Your new batch of RBC Avion points will be available to use as of April 5, 2024, so be sure to get your online accounts set up before then so you can begin to redeem points at your leisure.

• Earn 35,000 RBC Avion points † upon approval†
• Plus, earn 1x 1.25x RBC Avion points †  on qualifying travel purchases
• Transfer RBC Avion points to British Airways Executive Club and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights †
• Redeem Avion points for flights with the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule †
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $120 †
• Supplementary card fee: $50

20 Comments

The problem with the conversion calculation that RBC did is that they compared arguably the worst use of HSBC points (flexible travel or statement credit at 0.5c) rather than looking at airline points, or the earn ratio.

Buying travel through Avion is — and tbh I’m guessing here — not going to be equivalent since — again guessing — they likely will not have the cheapest airline tickets, car rentals, etc. And I believe there is something about not using points for “fees/taxes”. So if the points only cover (say) 75% of the ticket, and the ticket price is 25% higher than open market, then the actual value is about 67% of nominal (.75 * 1/1.25).

Again, the fact that RBC did not disclose this ahead of time to let people choose is the big problem here, for me.

I have a written statement from an rbc rep that suggested hsbc customers would get the bonus points when being transitioned over to rbc. I’ll give it a few weeks and then are it (when I’m sure the bonus points aren’t added).

Would you be able to share that written statement? Thanks.

I’m not sure if this will work….

l’m currently with HSBC and received notification that l’Il be migrating to this credit card with RBC as part of the takeover. Will L receive this points bonus since ‘l be a new RBC client? l’ve never had an RBC avion card before. 3h Like Reply 1 RBC Hi Dave As mentioned, your package will be arriving shortly outlining your current products with HSBC, and the ones you will be migrated to here at RBC. So it would be similar to the Apple Watch promotion, if you don’t currently have a credit card with RBC, then you would be eligible.- Sara-Lynn

Hey David, who did you email at RBC to get this reply? I’m new to the RBC as well

Thank you David for sharing this.

I am in the same boat, never have any product with RBC. I will follow up with RBC credit card regarding the welcome bonus

All along I have been getting conflicting information. I had also a chat with RBC csr saying that there’s no welcome bonus points. The only thing I was assured was that the first year fee will be waived off. Don’t know what’s true and what’s not

So we don’t get welcome bonus points 35000k for new card holder’s transition from HSBC and another 20000k when spending 5k during the first three months?

That is correct. No new sign up bonus

I vaguely remember a politician using a wording along the lines of ‘customers would get the same deal or better – no negative impact.’

Yet my conversion is worse – and I no longer get six points per dollar spent on travel (or the equivalent).

I’ve talked to a few people with long relationships with HSBC that feel the same way. I guess it’s par for the course in this country that anything goes, but it’s still disappointing.

Well, HSBC’s points have always be valued at 0.5¢ per point (vs RBC Avion at 1¢ minimum), and to convert it out to another airlines, i.e. British Airways (BA) avios, the conversion ratio is 25,000 to 10,000. While RBC Avions can be transferred out to BA Avios at the ratio of 1:1 and sometimes 1:1.3. So this is not apple to orange comparison; earning 6 points with HSBC is not the same as 6 points with RBC. The conversion ratio isn’t too bad

RBC should let former HSBC card holder making their own decision if they would like to spend their HSBC Rewards or convert to Avion, if RBC disclosed the conversion rate two months ago, then we could make our own decision. The way they treated to HSBC Card holder is unfair.

Absolutely correct, the suspense screwed me over. I thought the conversion would be at 0.5 at least. The travel points alone is 6x with HSBC it’s worth more than RBC. The only reason I had to opt in for RBC bcuz I have travel arrangements booked via HSBC WE MC to cover the insurance coverage and the zero forex fee otherwise I would have redemption for cash or converted to asia miles instead.

With respect- $5000 travel spend got me 30,000 HSBC points, which converted to 12,000 Avios points….. That $5000 travel spend with my new RBC card (correct me if I’m wrong) gets me 1 point per dollar spend or 5000 Avion. Even with a boost on converting to Avios, I’m still way behind. That was not the deal they promised the gov’t or their customers. They’ve taken a terrific HSBC travel card, and made it a slightly above average travel card.

And as somebody who only used the HSBC card to get Avion points – a .36 conversion makes me worse off. Not much – fine – but again, that wasn’t the deal.

I understand that HSBC World elite mastercard gave 6 points per $1 spend in travel, but not all forms of spending though. It was only 2 points per $1 spend in non categories spending. Good multiplier is a great feature of this HSBC card. As different cards have different advantageous multipliers, it may not be a fair apple-to-apple comparison. Travel Earning rate, 100% it is better with HSBC World Elite Mastercard. But when comes to purely on points comparison after conversion, it is not too terrible.

And their communication has been garbage – I believe there was an article on here (again I could be wrong), as well as another prominent travel points website that talked about a minimum of .5 on the conversion of HSBC point. I’m presuming somebody at RBC had passed along that info, and/or certainly could have corrected that info if it was bad. But they didn’t. So to wake up this morning with a .36, was a bit of a shock.

I concur with you somebody did mentioned that per RBC avion ponies will be in 0.5 ratio or better

It is unclear to me why HSBC metal customers got a lower conversion ratio.

Because they (apparently) do not want those customers. Personally I’m ticked off. It is a worse conversion rate than expected, and I certainly would have made different choices had I known what the rate would have been. I knew there was some risk, and took the chance (transferred out half my points before but kept half). Still it is not a good start. I plan to transfer significant deposits away from RBC because of this, and the credit card will no longer be my “main” card.

Really shocked at the conversion rate difference considering that HSBC WE and Metal were functionally equivalent from an earning perspective so the points should be equivalent when converting.

I’ll note for reference that I was holding the HSBC Metal Mastercard with the annual fee waived. I’ve been transitioned to the RBC Avion VIP with the full annual fee waived (no end date specified) even though typically they only waive up to $120 of the annual fee. Earn rate is 1.25 points on every dollar, no FX fees, they carried over my unused $200 travel credit and added another $200 but this is only for the first year. Oddly, the card includes a dedicated Travel Concierge (separate from the VIP Concierge) but travel booked through the TC is not eligible for the travel credit – only travel made through Avion Reward Travel online portal.

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