Summary

• TD Rewards does not charge a fee for travel redemption through its call center.
• The program allows members to pay bills such as credit card balance using points. However, cardholders cannot pay their recurring bills using their reward points.
• TD Rewards cards do not have annual fees.
• The program does not have a fixed redemption chart that outlines points required for each type of flight.
• Cardholders start earning points after making payments following a missed schedule.
• TD Rewards program allows cardholders to earn points when traveling outside Canada because TD Bank cards are an acceptable payment method anywhere in the world.
• TD Bank's cards have no foreign transaction fees.

Summary of Findings

• Scotia Rewards Travel Service charges a booking fee if a customer redeems points for travel through the company's call center and the same is charged to the Program Card Account of the customer.
• The booking fee is subject to change and is only disclosed at the time of booking. Alternatively, customers can also get to know about the booking fee by logging into their accounts at scotiarewards.com.
• Scotia Rewards allows customers to redeem their accumulated reward points to receive a statement credit. However, the credit can only be applied towards the total outstanding balance of the Program Card Account and not towards any particular transaction like paying bills or annual card fees.
• Scotia Rewards provides exclusive offers on air, car, hotel, and travel packages along with the best price guarantee on airfare for the travel bookings made through Scotia Rewards Travel Service.
• As per the T&C of the Scotia Rewards reward program, all credit card accounts need to be in 'Good Standing' to earn and redeem the reward points.
• Also, as per the program's T&C, an account is in 'Good Standing' if the same is "not delinquent (past due) or over-limit and the cardmember is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Program Card Account." Also, an account is not in 'Good Standing' if it has been in continuous overdraft for a period of three consecutive months.

• RBC Avion cards do not charge a fee for travel redemption through its call center.
• The RBC rewards program allows members to pay bills using points. However, cardholders cannot pay their recurring bills using their reward points.
• It is possible to pay annual credit card fees using RBC Avion reward points.
• The RBC Avion reward program has a travel redemption chart that outlines points required for each type of flight.
• RBC Avion does not disclose any information on disallowing credit card holders from collecting their reward points if they miss card payments. The only consequences of missing a credit card payment are losing the benefit of any introductory/promotional interest rate offer and an increase in the card holders annual interest rates.
• RBC Avion card holders can earn points anywhere in the world where the card is accepted.
• A foreign transaction fee of 2.5% — 3.0% is charged for purchases made outside Canada.

Summary of Findings

• Cardholders are charged a fee of $29.95 plus applicable taxes for phone booking only if they redeem for travel through the call center.
• BMO Rewards' members cannot collect points if they miss a credit card payment.
• Cardholders will be immediately disqualified from earning points on purchases until payment is made as the "account must be in good standing."
• The definition of an account being in good standing within the program's terms and conditions is that the account has "not canceled, past due, or otherwise in default."
• Cardholders are allowed to earn points when traveling out of the country of their residency, eligible to earn points on those purchases made in their local currency, and there is no fee for these purchases.

Air Miles in Canada

• There is a booking fee to redeem travel reservation flights that can range from $10-$50 per person plus applicable taxes.
•  No type of bill payment is allowed. The redeeming of points is geared towards everyday purchases, such as gas and grocery purchases, through participating partners, online vouchers, travels, merchandise, events, and attractions.
• Cardholders are not able to pay their annual credit card fee with their reward points because the American Express is responsible for collecting the payment.
• The site provides an extensive chart for points required to redeem economy class flights.
• The Air Miles reward program only offers economy class cabin seats. There is no maximum ticket value, as the company does not use dollars for pricing their flight redemptions.
• However, it is possible to book tickets outside of the rewards travel redemption chart. Therefore, the points equivalent to one US dollar could be determined. A flight for one person from Whitehorse - Yukon to Sydney - Australia for the same date is equivalent to 18,500 travel points or US$ 1,922.25. Following the rule of three, $1.00 equals to 9.62 travel points.
• Considering the American Express regulations for their credit card rewards, if a member misses a credit card payment and fulfills the payment later, the points earned can be reinstated with an additional payment fee of $35. The points must be recovered within 12 months of forfeiting, or they will be lost.
• Air Miles' members can earn points when traveling out of Canada with the American Express credit card. Foreign conversion fees apply in such cases.

Research Strategy

American Express in Canada

• There is no booking fee for redeeming points through a call center.
• Members may request a points redemption credit to use towards monthly bills, including qualified purchases and subscriptions. 1,000 points must be redeemed at minimum, equaling a $7 credit for consumer card purchases, and $10 credit for small business credit card purchases.
• Members may use 1,000 points to receive a $5.50 credit to use towards annual membership fees.
• The site provides an extensive chart for points required and maximum ticket values for both economy and business class flights.
• If a member misses a credit card payment, all points earned during that billing cycle are lost. However, members can reclaim lost points by paying the missed amount, in addition to the reinstatement fee. Points restart every month, even if a payment has been missed; however if the payment is not made, those new points are also removed at the end of the billing cycle.
• Cardholders may use their card and earn points for purchases made outside of Canada. Foreign conversion fees apply.

Aeroplan Credit Card Rewards Program Details

• Aeroplan charges customers C$30 plus taxes to redeem flight rewards through its Contact Centre.
• Aeroplan does not allow rewards program members to pay bills or their annual credit card fees using their rewards points.
• While the Aeroplan rewards program does provide a comprehensive mile conversion chart for flights, they do not provide a static points conversion per dollar of the cost of each flight. The number of miles flights cost is determined by their flight zones in the chart. The only exception to this is when using miles to purchase an infant ticket.
• Aeroplan only allows cardholders to earn miles if they are "in good standing", a condition which is defined and regulated by the cardholder agreements of the specific credit cards offering membership to Aeroplan's rewards program.
• Additionally, members of Aeroplan's rewards program can earn miles for purchases from any of their partners worldwide, but whether members are charged fees for international purchases requiring currency exchanges into CAD depends on the terms of their specific credit cards' cardholder agreements.

Summary of Findings

• CIBC Aventura does not impose a fee for redeeming travel points through its call center.
• Cardholders can use reward points to pay their Aventura credit card bill and mortgage, as well as pay down a loan or line of credit.
• For bill payments, $1 equals 160 points. For travel redemption, $1 equals 100 travel points.
• Cardholders can only earn reward points if their accounts are in good standing.
• Transactions in foreign currencies are not eligible for the reward program. However, one credit card, the CIBC US Dollar Aventura Gold Visa card, can be used and earn points in the United States. All other Aventura credit cards are only eligible for transactions in Canadian dollars.