My Travel Points Strategy for 2024: The Ultimate Guide for Canadians!

Hey there, fellow jetsetters! Graeme here—your go-to Canadian guru for turning points into paradise. If you’re anything like me, the travel bug has bitten you hard, but guess what? I’m not out here spending thousands on fancy business class seats. Nope! I’m using miles and points, baby, and today I’m going to break down my travel points strategy for 2024 so you can fly high without breaking the bank. Ready to dive into the world of miles, points, and sipping first-class champagne? Let’s go!

Why Should You Care About Miles and Points?

Good question! Let me put it this way: How much would you pay for a $5,000 business class flight? If your answer is “Uh, Graeme, $5,000,” then my friend, you’re doing it wrong. What if I told you that instead of forking over all that cash, you could use points worth about $600 to book that exact same flight? Boom! That’s the magic of points.

Points are like money, but better (for booking travel at least)—they unlock luxurious travel experiences you’d never want to pay for out of pocket. You don’t have to be a frequent flyer or a millionaire to start collecting points. You just need to know which points to collect and how to get the most out of them. Let’s dig into it!

How to Earn Points: The Basics

1. Credit Cards: Your Points Powerhouse

First things first, credit cards are the bread and butter of points collecting. The fastest way to build up points is through welcome bonuses. Banks are practically throwing points at you to sign up for their cards, but there’s a catch: You’ll need to hit a minimum spend requirement within a set time frame. I have breakdowns of most Canadian travel credit cards and their offers here. It’s like a mini-game—spend wisely, hit the target, and boom! You’ve unlocked the welcome bonus.

•  Pro tip: Don’t go on a wild shopping spree (no, seriously), but if you’ve got big purchases coming up, timing them with a new card can be a game-changer!

2. Everyday Spending: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Every time you tap that card, you’re earning points. But not all cards are created equal. Some give you cash back (cool, but not for us travel lovers), while others give you points. Points might accumulate slower through daily spending compared to those juicy welcome bonuses, but over time, they’ll add up—especially if you’re using the right card (which I’ll get to in a sec).

3. e-Shopping: The Sneaky Points Hack

Did you know you can earn extra points just by shopping online? Aeroplan’s eStore is a gold mine for this. You don’t even need an Aeroplan credit card—just a free Aeroplan account. Trust me, these points pile up fast, especially during big promotions which you can usually expect during big shopping periods like Black Friday, Boxing Day, and Prime Day.

•  Pro tip: Look out for 5x or even 10x points events! I recently scored 7,000 Aeroplan points just by buying furniture from Wayfair and some new duds from Harry Rosen. It’s like getting paid to shop.

Oh, and one little heads up—sometimes the points don’t track properly, so keep an eye on your purchases. I’m still waiting on my points from Wayfair… I screen-record my checkout process to have proof just in case. Nobody wants to lose out on free points, am I right?

4. Flying: Old School But Still Cool

Yes, you can still earn points by flying, but unless you’re flying long-haul in premium cabins, it’s not the fastest way to rack up points. Even I, the guy who named his handle The Canadian Jetsetter, earn most of my points through credit cards and e-shopping. But hey, if you’re flying anyway, you might as well collect those points!

Which Points Should You Collect?

In Canada, there are three main loyalty programs I focus on:

1.   Amex Membership Rewards

2.   RBC Avion

3.   Aeroplan (Air Canada)

These are great because they’re either transferable or have variable value, which means you can squeeze more out of them compared to fixed-value points programs.

Transferable Points

Transferable points, like Amex Membership Rewards, can convert into several different airline programs, including my favorites for Canadians: Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways Avios. This gives you access to their partner airlines, and you can transfer at a 1:1 or 1:0.75 rate, depending on the program.

Variable Value Points

Variable value points, like Aeroplan and Avios, let you unlock insane value. Imagine booking a $4,000 flight for just 60,000 points. That’s like winning the travel lottery—except you can keep winning, trip after trip!

The Best Credit Cards for Canadians in 2024

Here are my top picks for maximizing your points in 2024. I personally use these cards, and I’ll include the best offers in the links below:

1.   Amex Cobalt Card

Hands down my most recommended card. You get 5x points on groceries, restaurants, and food delivery. No other card in Canada offers this, and since Amex Membership Rewards points are so valuable, it’s a no-brainer.

2.   Amex Platinum Card

This one’s for the luxury lovers. With perks like airport lounge access and travel credits, plus a massive welcome bonus, it’s worth the high annual fee if you’re serious about travel.

3.   RBC Avion Visa Platinum

I love this card for its transfer bonuses to British Airways Avios. Right now, you can earn 55,000 Avion points, and with a 30% transfer bonus, that’s 71,500 Avios—enough to book a Qatar Airways business class flight from North America to Doha!

My 2024 Travel Plans (All on Points, of Course!)

Now, the fun part! Here’s how I’m using my points to live it up in 2024:

•  Qatar Qsuites from New York to Doha, then on to Dubai for 75,000 Avios. Oh, and the Doha-to-Dubai leg is in first class, meaning I get access to the exclusive first-class lounge in Doha!

•  Finnair’s business class from Helsinki to Dallas for 62,000 Avios. This seat is controversial because it doesn’t recline—it’s either a bed or a couch, but I’m curious to try it out.

•  Iberia’s A350 from Mexico City to Madrid for just 42,000 Avios. A steal for a 10-hour flight in business class!

And that’s just the start. If you want more of these tips and tricks, don’t forget to sign up for my Jetsetter Premium Membership. I also offer one-on-one consultations to help you plan your own points-powered trips. Just a fair warning—this hobby can get super addictive, but hey, if you’re going to have an addiction, it might as well be one that takes you around the world, right?

Got questions or want to share your own points strategy? Drop a comment below, and let’s chat!