Credit card recommendations?

[Frequitude]

I'm sick of my Aerogold Visa and trying to use Aeroplan points. Looking for a change.

What are the best options out there?

Things to consider are rewards, flexibility to use them, signup bonuses, etc. Personally, I'd be using the points mostly for flights.

[JohnnyFlame]

I use my no fee American Express for airmiles. Some places won't take it but then I use my "Superstore" Mastercard. So I'm racking up airmiles or groceries and paying no fee.

[HotHotHeat]

Avion Visa Card from RBC has to be the best for getting points that can be used towards flight costs.

http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/cards/re...-platinum.html

[photon]

I also use the airmiles Amex, as well as airmiles through BMO, Safeway, etc.. they rack up pretty fast, we usually use them only for flights.

[Fobulous]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I'm sick of my Aerogold Visa and trying to use Aeroplan points. Looking for a change.

What are the best options out there?

Things to consider are rewards, flexibility to use them, signup bonuses, etc. Personally, I'd be using the points mostly for flights.

I had the same problem.. hated the restrictions that only come with aeroplan.

I switched to the CIBC aventura card... essentially the same card but you accumulate points that can be used towards any airline...

[mykalberta]

Amex Gold

No Fee, 2.5% cash back - floating depends on how much you spend.

Combine it with a Costco exec membership and you do get a fair amount back at the end of the year.

[Frequitude]

Oh ya, yearly fees would be another consideration. This stupid Aerogold Visa costs me @130 a year or something...

[Frequitude]

Some good suggestions so far. I've heard good things about the RBC Avion card.

[Ford Prefect]

I have a regular Visa Gold and don't mind it. There's lots of options for redeeming points, including some pretty good travel packages, lots of electronics, and the usual run of consumer product goodies. Mrs. Prefect and I are going to head to Puerto Vallharta next winter for a week using our Visa Gold points, unless we decide to save them for another year and someplace in Europe with them instead.

[Gravitykillr]

you should PM Prototype see if he can get you a deal on an ATB Mastercard.

[Eric Vail]

Aeroplan gives you the best bang for the buck as long as you plan ahead. They are the most inflexible, granted, but if you can book early, 25000 points can get you to Florida or Newfoundland. Other cards don't get you as far.

[Incinerator]

I use a RBC Gold Preferred, $110 a year includes 31 days travel medical, car rental insurance, and every other kind of insurance imaginable. Plus 1 point per dollar, I haven't used the points yet, the main thing for me was the travel medical since I travel quite a bit, take 2 or 3 trips a year and it pays for itself. IMO it's the only card to go with if you travel more than twice a year.

http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/cards/re...preferred.html

[loob job]

I too use Amex Airmiles card, i love it.

[Frequitude]

For the Amex Airmiles card users....I was under the impression that airmiles are useless and accumulate terribly slow. Is this incorrect?

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

For the Amex Airmiles card users....I was under the impression that airmiles are useless and accumulate terribly slow. Is this incorrect?

racks up really fast if you use the AMEX or BMO Mosaik Gold regularly AND shop at Safeway, also helps if you pump gas at Shell. Then just watch for sales on Airmiles' deals of the week for discounted WestJet flights. Giftcards to various retailers are decent value too.

[Frequitude]

I always shop at safeway and don't care where I get my gas. Sounds like a decent fit. Why safeway specifically? Do you get double points or something?

How is it for purchasing insurance, travel insurance, etc?

[Madman]

I have 2 credit cards:

- Amex Platinum Costco Cash back card - no fee and gives you roughly 2% back each year to spend at Costco. Combine that with any rebate from the Executive card and you have a good amount at the end of the year to play with at Costco.

- PC Mastercard - no fee. We use this for all grocery and gas purchases and get a ton of PC points which transfer to money to spend on anything at Superstore. Also, when purchasing gas at No Frills you get 10c per litre back as Superbucks to spend in store.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I always shop at safeway and don't care where I get my gas. Sounds like a decent fit. Why safeway specifically? Do you get double points or something?

How is it for purchasing insurance, travel insurance, etc?

When you're in Safeway look for the stuff that have blue tags on the shelve that says "buy 5 get 40 miles" or something like that, say if you wanted granola bars and that week they have the buy 5 get 40 miles deal then BAM you got 40 airmiles by buying 5 boxes of granola bars.

and what fotze said just do groceries on the first Tuesday of the month and say you want 10x airmiles when they ask you if you want that or 10% off. (Yes, their stuff is 20% more expensive than Superstore but there's no 30 minute lineups and the shelves are always neatly stocked, plus they bag it for you, I think it's worth it )

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

When you're in Safeway look for the stuff that have blue tags on the shelve that says "buy 5 get 40 miles" or something like that, say if you wanted granola bars and that week they have the buy 5 get 40 miles deal then BAM you got 40 airmiles by buying 5 boxes of granola bars.

and what fotze said just do groceries on the first Tuesday of the month and say you want 10x airmiles when they ask you if you want that or 10% off. (Yes, their stuff is 20% more expensive than Superstore but there's no 30 minute lineups and the shelves are always neatly stocked, plus they bag it for you, I think it's worth it )

So do I. And there's something comforting about knowing my way around Safeway like the back of my hand.

For the credit card, is it 1 airmile earned per dollar spent? How many airmiles does it take to fly to, say, Toronto, New York and Vegas?

[MJM]

TD Infinite Visa Card. I don't ever pay interest so I couldn't tell you about the rate, but it's reward system is awesome. Essentially, you get 3 points for every dollar spent. For ever 10,000 points you get a 50 dollar credit which can be applied against travel purchases on your visa card (hotel, flight, car rentals, etc.). You also get 20,000 points for signing up for it. They also have the regular rewards which you can redeem points for like aerogold if having money taken off your visa doesn't suit your fancy. I just booked a trip to Vegas, called them and told them to credit my Visa for $250 bucks (the cost of the flight - 25000 points). Westjet charge has been removed. Simply and easy and I got to pick when, where, and how I flew.