Moving to Canada – best miles/points earning credit cards?

[ExpatInBerlin]

A friend of mine is moving to Ottawa soon for a new job and is keen to get in the points game with a Canadian credit card that earns air miles/points for a carrier that she can use as her go to airline for flights to and from the UK. A healthy sign up bonus would be ideal. Not sure if Canadian sign up bonuses are as generous as the US ones. Any knowledge/suggestions on the topic much appreciated thanks!

[BJ]

Hopefully @Boi will be around, she moved a few years ago and I imagine has a lot of useful experience to share.

[Lyn]

Yes hopefully Boi will be able to help from her personal experience since moving there.

From my limited knowledge, the Canadian travel credit card market seems to be very different to the US market. Air Canada is probably the most obvious airline credit card for Star Alliance miles. Alaska Airlines is another option, especially now they have joined OneWorld, and there may also be a British Airways card. I think Amex offer a Marriott card as well as the usual transferable Amex points options. Amex may also be a good starting point for a first Canadian credit card if your friend already has a UK Amex card.

[mark2]

Here is one https://www.pointsnerd.ca/

Our Canadian friends have collected many Aeroplan points over the years through credit cards,

[ExpatInBerlin]

Thanks @BJ @Lyn @mark2 much appreciated! Unfortunately it looks like https://www.pointsnerd.ca/ stopped being updated in 2020 (probably Covid related)

[QFFlyer]

Prince of Travel is basically the HfP equivalent for Canada, Ricky Zhang is the guy who primarily runs it.

[Lyn]

I wasn’t aware of Prince of Travel. Thanks, could be useful for family members.

Unfortunately it looks as if the Canadian Alaska Airlines credit card is now closed to new applicants.

[George K]

I’ve got relatives in Canada and while they aren’t the biggest points collectors, they feel they get good value from RBC’s (non-Amex) Westjet cards. They always rated Westjet higher than Air Canada so this is very on-brand for them.

Amex has quite a few decent cards, of course… !