My Canadian Travel Points Strategy for 2025

As we settle into 2025, the travel rewards landscape continues evolving rapidly. While premium travel costs soar, strategic point optimization remains the most effective way to access business class flights and luxury accommodations without paying full retail prices. My approach has undergone significant refinement since 2024, incorporating new programs and adapting to industry changes.

This guide outlines my comprehensive travel points strategy for 2025, including a fourth program that has transformed my redemption capabilities. I’ll share specific bookings I’ve secured for this year and provide crucial warnings about the changing points ecosystem.

Disclosure: This post contains referral links that support content creation at no additional cost to you.

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The Critical Shift: Why 2025 Requires a New Approach

The fundamental value proposition remains unchanged: Why pay $8,000 for business class to Africa when you can book the identical flight using points worth approximately $850 in earning costs? However, the execution has become significantly more challenging.

Award availability is declining as mainstream adoption of points strategies increases. Redemption rates are rising across all programs. Most importantly, the traditional “hoard and wait” approach is now counterproductive.

Consider the JW Maasai Mara safari lodge: Previously bookable for 450,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, the same experience now requires over 700,000 points. This 55% devaluation exemplifies industry-wide trends that make immediate utilization essential.

The solution is “earn and burn” – treating points as depreciating assets requiring prompt deployment rather than long-term storage.

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Point Earning Strategies: Maximizing Efficiency in 2025

Credit Card Welcome Bonuses: Highest Return Strategy

Welcome bonuses remain the most efficient point accumulation method. Canadian banks are offering substantial sign-up incentives, but success requires meeting minimum spending requirements within specified timeframes.

My approach involves one to two new card applications annually while strategically canceling underutilized cards to manage fees. Timing major purchases with new acquisitions maximizes bonus potential without unnecessary spending.

Everyday Spending: Optimized Card Selection

Different cards excel in specific categories. For travel-focused strategies, points consistently outperform cashback when leveraged for premium redemptions. The key lies in matching spending patterns with optimal earning structures.

E-Shopping Portals: Supplementary Earning Opportunities

Aeroplan’s e-shopping portal offers substantial bonus earning potential, particularly during promotional periods. Recent purchases through 5x and 10x events have yielded thousands of additional points from routine spending.

Pro tip: Portal tracking issues persist. Document your purchases with screenshots as backup for any missing credits.

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Strategic Program Selection: My 2025 Core Portfolio

After extensive analysis, I’ve optimized around four programs for 2025:

• Amex Membership Rewards
• RBC Avion
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Marriott Bonvoy (New addition)

Why These Programs Excel

These systems offer either transferable flexibility or variable value pricing that can deliver exceptional returns. Amex Membership Rewards transfer to six airline programs at favorable ratios, while RBC Avion’s frequent 30% transfer bonuses to British Airways Avios can amplify values significantly.

Variable value programs like Aeroplan operate independent award charts where 85,000 points can secure flights costing $6,000 in cash – the type of arbitrage that makes this strategy worthwhile.

Marriott Bonvoy: The 2025 Game-Changer

Adding Marriott Bonvoy has unlocked new redemption categories, particularly for luxury hotel stays. The Canadian Amex Marriott Bonvoy card provides substantial welcome bonuses and 5x earning on stays, while elite status benefits create additional value through upgrades and bonus earning.

My current accumulation targets ultra-premium properties: safari lodges or Maldives overwater bungalows that typically cost $1,000+ per night but become accessible through strategic redemptions.

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Optimal Card Selection for Maximum Returns

Amex Membership Rewards Portfolio

Amex Gold – Currently offers the strongest welcome bonus in this category, surpassing traditional recommendations. Provides excellent earning rates with reasonable annual fees.

Amex Cobalt – Unmatched for everyday spending with 5x points on food and grocery categories. No Canadian competitor offers comparable earning rates.

Amex Platinum – Premium travel benefits including lounge access and automatic Marriott Gold status justify the higher annual fee for frequent travelers.

Strategic Recommendations

RBC Avion Visa Platinum – Frequent transfer bonuses to British Airways Avios create exceptional value opportunities. I recently refreshed my position by opening a new card while canceling the previous version.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite – Essential for Air Canada loyalists, providing free checked bags and priority boarding alongside solid earning rates.

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Real-World Application: 2025 Booking Case Study

My Africa itinerary demonstrates multi-program optimization in practice:

Return Flight: Qatar Airways Kilimanjaro to Montreal – 85,000 Avios
Utilized RBC Avion 30% transfer bonus, requiring only ~65,000 RBC points. Cash value: $6,000+.

Outbound Journey: 95,000 Aeroplan points total

• Toronto to Cairo: 70,000 points
• Cairo stopover: +5,000 points
• Business class Cairo to Nairobi: +20,000 points

Hotels: Cairo Marriott Mena House using free night award + 7,000 points (retail: $400+/night)
Safari lodge: 5-night redemption leveraging Marriott’s “stay 5, pay 4” benefit

This complex booking showcases why program diversification creates opportunities impossible with single-program approaches.

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Critical Warning: The Urgency of Action

Do not hoard points in 2025.

Award availability continues declining while costs increase. Dynamic pricing is becoming standard, and premium redemptions are increasingly scarce. The “sweet spots” that made this optimization profitable are systematically disappearing.

When attractive redemptions appear, book immediately. When you have sufficient points for desired trips, use them. Waiting for “perfect” opportunities often means paying significantly more later.

This represents a fundamental strategy shift from accumulation to active deployment.

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Advanced Optimization Techniques

Multi-Program Integration – Combine different point types for single journeys to maximize flexibility and value.

Elite Status Strategy – Status benefits often provide value exceeding the earning requirements through upgrades and bonuses.

Transfer Bonus Timing – Monitor promotional transfer rates that can significantly amplify point values.

Flexible Booking – Secure attractive awards immediately, then optimize if better options emerge.

Important Limitations and Considerations

This strategy requires significant time investment and research. Exceptional redemptions demand effort and strategic timing.

Financial Prerequisites: Only pursue this approach with stable finances. If you carry balances or struggle with spending discipline, establish financial stability first. Points optimization enhances solid financial foundations but cannot replace them.

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2025 Outlook and Adaptation Strategy

Expect continued pressure on award availability and potential program devaluations. The “earn and burn” philosophy becomes more critical as competition increases.

I’m monitoring emerging opportunities while maintaining focus on these four core programs. Flexibility and decisive action will determine success as the landscape evolves.

Implementation Strategy

Current elevated offers and transfer bonuses can change without notice. If specific programs appeal to you, act promptly rather than waiting for optimal timing.

For complex redemption planning or personalized strategy development, consultation services are available to help navigate the increasingly sophisticated requirements of premium award bookings.

The Bottom Line

Points serve as tools for accessing premium travel experiences that would otherwise remain financially impractical. The real value lies not in accumulation but in strategic deployment for meaningful travel experiences.

However, deploy them promptly and strategically – their purchasing power continues declining while sitting unused.

The opportunities remain substantial for those willing to adapt their approach to 2025’s realities.