Understand How Points Actually Work
Before you pick a card, let's clear up the biggest misconception: you don't need to spend more money. You just need to redirect the money you're already spending.
"Travel points are for people who fly constantly and spend thousands on travel."
"A Canadian family spending $2,000/month on groceries, gas, and dining can earn enough points for a free return flight within 6–12 months — just by switching which card they pay with."
The two types of points you'll use
Airline points (Aeroplan, Avios)
Earned on specific airline credit cards or transferred from flexible points. Best for booking flights — often the highest-value redemption available to Canadians.
Example: 35,000 Aeroplan points = a return economy flight anywhere in Canada.
Flexible points (Amex MR, TD Points)
Earned on general travel cards. Can be transferred to airlines, used for hotels, or redeemed on travel portals. More flexible but sometimes lower value.
Example: 60,000 Amex MR points can become 60,000 Aeroplan points via a 1:1 transfer.
Start with flexible points (like Amex MR or TD Points). They give you options while you learn the system. Once you know exactly what you want to book, you can transfer to the best airline program for that route.
Pick the Right Card for Your Family
The "best" card is the one that earns the most points on what you already buy. For most Canadian families, that means groceries, gas, and dining.
Answer these three questions first
Where do you spend the most each month?
Groceries and dining → look at Amex Cobalt (5x points). Gas and transit → look at TD Aeroplan Infinite. Online shopping → look at Scotiabank Gold Amex.
Do you travel internationally?
If yes, a card with no foreign transaction fees is essential. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite waives the standard 2.5% foreign fee — that's $25 saved on every $1,000 spent abroad.
Can you hit a welcome bonus spend requirement?
Most premium cards require $3,000–$6,000 in spending within the first 3–6 months to unlock the full bonus. If that's more than your normal spending, choose a card with a lower threshold.
Not sure which card fits your situation?
Use the Ms Miles Card Finder to compare all cards side by side — filtered by issuer, perks, and annual fee, with my honest family take on every one.
Earn Points on Everything — Without Changing Your Life
The goal is to run as much of your monthly spending through your points card as possible. Here's how Canadian families maximise their earn rate.
Your monthly points checklist
- Groceries
Pay for every grocery run with your points card. A family spending $1,200/month on groceries earns 6,000 points/month on a 5x card — that's 72,000 points per year from groceries alone.
- Utilities and recurring bills
Internet, phone, streaming services, gym memberships. These are set-and-forget. Switch the payment method once and earn points every month automatically.
- Kids' activities and school fees
Hockey registration, swimming lessons, school trips. Many of these now accept credit cards. Always ask — and always pay with your points card when they do.
- Online shopping
Amazon, Indigo, Walmart.ca — always pay with your points card. Some cards earn bonus points on online purchases specifically.
- Rent (yes, really)
Services like Chexy let you pay rent with a credit card and earn points. On a $2,000/month rent, that could mean 24,000+ extra points per year.
Always — always — pay your balance in full every month. Points are only worth it if you're not paying interest. Set up autopay for the full statement balance and treat your credit card exactly like a debit card.
Book Your Free Trip
This is the fun part. But timing and knowing which redemptions offer the best value makes the difference between a good redemption and a great one.
Best redemptions for Canadian families
- Aeroplan: flights within Canada and to the US
- Avios: the Dublin sweet spot for transatlantic flights
- Marriott Bonvoy: hotel stays with 35K free night certificates
- TD Points: Expedia for TD for maximum flexibility
Book early for best availability
- Aeroplan opens reward seats 355 days in advance
- Book the moment the calendar opens for March Break and summer
- Off-peak travel (January, February, November) has far more availability
- Shoulder season means better seat selection and fewer points needed
Our family of four flew from Toronto to Dublin — return — using 240,000 Avios. We earned those points in under 18 months using the Amex Cobalt and a TD Aeroplan card for our grocery and gas spending. The seats would have cost over $6,000 in cash.
Read how we did it →