Toronto Travel Hacks: Maximize Your Points and Save on Flights

Best Cards: Look for travel rewards credit cards offering high points per dollar spent on travel-related purchases. Top options in Canada include the American Express Cobalt Card, Scotiabank Gold American Express, and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite.
Sign-Up Bonuses: Many cards offer lucrative welcome bonuses after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. Plan major purchases around the time you apply to maximize these sign-up bonuses.

Earn with Aeroplan: Since Toronto is a major hub for Air Canada, Aeroplan is a strong choice for flights within Canada and internationally. Earn points by booking through Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners like United, Lufthansa, and Swiss Airlines.
Aeroplan eStore: The eStore has hundreds of retailers (including Apple, Sephora, and Best Buy) where you can earn extra points when shopping online.

Maximizing Points: When booking flights, use Star Alliance airlines to earn Aeroplan points or transfer points to other rewards programs. By booking through United, for example, you can often find great flights on Air Canada but earn more points in other rewards programs.

Cobalt Rewards for Dining: The American Express Cobalt Card offers 5 points per dollar spent on dining, which includes Toronto’s restaurants and bars. Use this card for dining out to quickly accumulate points.
Reward Programs with Dining Partners: Some restaurants and chains partner with loyalty programs like Aeroplan or Aventura for added points when you dine.

Marriott Bonvoy & Aeroplan Partnership: Use Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays and transfer them to Aeroplan when you’re ready to book flights, or earn Aeroplan points directly on stays.
Car Rentals: Book rental cars through companies that partner with rewards programs, such as Hertz or Avis, to earn points on your rentals.

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Grocery and Transit Purchases: Look for cards offering extra points in categories like groceries and transit—key areas of spending in Toronto. The Cobalt Card also provides bonus points for groceries and transit, which can help you earn points for daily purchases.
Bonus Categories Promotions: Occasionally, credit card issuers run promotions where you can earn extra points on specific categories, like online shopping or entertainment. Track these offers in your card account and adjust spending accordingly.

Redeem Fixed Points for Flights: For American Express cardholders, the Fixed Points Travel Program is an option to redeem points for flights, giving you better value. Toronto is a popular departure city, making it easier to find flights on this program with competitive points pricing.

Earn Double Miles on Bookings: Book flights directly with airlines and use a rewards credit card to pay. This way, you earn miles through the airline’s frequent flyer program and points from your credit card’s rewards program simultaneously.

Transfer Opportunities: Programs like Aeroplan and American Express often offer bonus point promotions when transferring points to travel partners. Keep an eye out for these bonuses to stretch your points further.
Optimizing Transfer Value: If you’re booking a big trip, wait until a transfer bonus appears before converting your points. Some transfers can yield up to a 30% bonus.

Redeem at Optimal Times: Peak travel periods like summer and December holidays often require more points for flights. Travel during off-peak times for more affordable point redemption rates.
Last-Minute Reward Tickets: If you’re flexible with travel dates, check Aeroplan or your card's rewards portal for last-minute flights, which can sometimes have reduced point requirements closer to the travel date.

Check out these flight deals from Toronto Airport