Join Coast Hotels Coast Rewards for a chance to win 1 of 3 stay + play packages Click here to join

Advertisement



The Ultimate Travel Credit Card Portfolio for those 65 and over

Last Updated on February 1, 2024



In this feature of Rewards Canada's Ultimate Credit Card Portfolios we look at the ultimate one for those who are 65 and over. The portfolio focuses on rewards, insurance and benefits that would appeal to a wide range of older travellers from Canada.

As we typically recommend, you should carry a Visa, a Mastercard and an American Express card in your wallet. This is standard with all of our Ultimate Wallets. The reason why is that there are benefits, promotions and earning potential unique to each brand of credit card. We don't go into detail here but we do outline one card from each brand that we feel are ideal for those who are older and still travelling the world. There are various card options that could be utilized for such a portfolio but we look at one card from each issuing family that we feel are the best fit for this mission.

What is Rewards Canada's The Ultimate Travel Credit Card Portfolio for those 65 and over? It's the following three cards:

Mastercard: National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard

American Express: The Platinum Card from American Express

Visa: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card


Why these three?

A quick overview as to why these three cards make up this portfolio:

  • National World Elite Mastercard: Your card for travel insurance benefits as it has some of the best out of province emergency medical coverage between the ages of 65 and 75. It also provides accelerated earn rates for purchases in certain categories.
  • The Platinum Card from American Express: Your lounge access and luxury benefits card. You'll travel better with this card in your wallet thanks to the best airport lounge access program of any Canadian card.
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card: Your card to save on baggage fees with Air Canada and to provide discounts on Aeroplan award tickets

Not only is this the Ultimate Travel Credit Card Portfolio for those 65 and over but in general this is a relatively strong portfolio for travellers of any age. You have some of the best cards in Canada including the Platinum Card which is the best Ultra Premium Card in Canada and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card which is the best airline card in Canada. Combine these with the National Bank card and you have a very versatile and powerful card portfolio. All three cards also provide excellent insurance benefits with the stand out being the NBC World Elite Card for having 15 day out of province emergency medical coverage for those between the ages of 65 and 75.

Five Key Benefits of this portfolio

  • Excellent insurance coverage for those 65 and over
  • Very good points earning
  • Airport lounge access and other luxury travel benefits
  • Up to $150 annual credit towards travel expenses
  • Wide range of reward redemption options

Why you want to get these cards

The first card in the portfolio used to be the HSBC World Elite Mastercard as it was the best card in Canada for those over the age 65, especially for travel insurance. Unfortunately with the RBC takeover of HSBC the card is no longer available.

The HSBC card has been replaced in this portfolio with the National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard. The primary reason you are getting this card is that is now has some of the best out of province emergency medical insurance coverage (the HSBC had the best). The card provides 15 days of coverage for those 65 to 75. Unfortuntaley, for those 76 and over there is no coverage on this card however there are several others that do provide between 3 and 10 days for those in the highest age category. You can find those card listed in our Guide to Credit Card Emergency Medical Insurance Coverage.

Going back to the National Bank Card, the 15 days coverage ties for the longest duration of coverage in cards for the 65-75 age category plus the card has other excellent insurnace coverage including some of the best trip cancellation and trip interuption benefits.

The card also has really good earn rates on select purchase categories but you do have to be aware of a quirk with its highest points earning. The card earns 5 points per dollar spent on Grocery & Restaurant purchases which equates to a 5% return when redeemed for travel via National Bank's À la carte Travel™ Agency. Here's the quirk however, the 5x points is capped at $2,500 in monthly spending - not just in those categories but on all spending on the card. So if you go spend $1,000 on flights on the card at the start of the month you'll only have $1,500 of eligible spending left for that month to earn the 5x points. After you reach the $2,500 in gross spending the Grocery & Restauran purchases drop down to 2 points per dollar - which is still a respectable earn rate.

The card also earns 2 points per dollar on Gas, EV Charging, Recurring Bills plus travel booked via National Bank's À la carte Travel. For all other purchases the card earns 1 point per dollar (1% return when redeemed for travel)

Finally the NBC World Elite card also provides an annual credit of up to $150 for travel expenses such as airport parking, seat selection, baggage fees, airline ticket upgrades and access to airport lounges worldwide. It also provides membership in Mastercard TravelPass by DragonPass which is a business class lounge access program along with free and unlimited access for the primary cardholder along with one guest to the National Bank Lounge® at Montréal-Trudeau airport. However, the next card in the portfolio will be your primary lounge access card!

National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard Quick Facts:

Platinum Card from American ExpressThe second card in the portfolio is The Platinum Card from American Express. This is your go to card for business class lounge access on your travels around the world. With complimentary access for the primary cardholder and a guest to over 1,300 lounge worldwide it is a rarity for Platinum cardmembers to not be able to escape from the hustle and bustle in an airport. Travel with friends, children or grandchildren? You can add a supplementary Platinum card for $175 and get similar lounge access benefits for even more people!

On top of this it is also a hybrid card. Want to redeem points against a travel charge on the card? You can do that. Want to convert to Aeroplan, Air France KLM or British Airways? You can do that. Want to pay with points for a purchase on the card? You can do that. The card earns 2 points per dollar spent on dining (including food delivery), 2 points per dollar on travel and 1 point on everything else.

That's the points side of things however this card is more than that - it is your luxury travel companion. We've already discussed lounge access and there is even more to this card! You get an annual $200 travel credit that you can use via American Express travel. You get automatic elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Hotels and Radisson Rewards. You get access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, a collection of over 950 luxury hotels where the Platinum Card gets you hotel/spa credits, breakfasts, upgrades, early check in, late check out and more.

It has the International Airline Program that provides discounts on Premium Economy, Business and First Class flights on many of the world's best airlines (plus it provides discounts on WestJet economy class!)

And finally the card also has a really strong insurance benefits package. In fact when renting a car you'll want to put it on this card as it has the best coverage out of the three cards.

Recommended reading: Ultimate Guide to the American Express International Airline Program

The Platinum Card Quick Facts:

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite CardRounding out this portfolio is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. You are adding this card into the portfolio primarily for when you fly with Air Canada (which is a lot of us!). The two main reasons for having this card are to get your first checked bag free on Air Canada flights (perfect for those longer trips where a carry-on on its own won't do) and for receiving discounts when you redeem Aeroplan points for flights on Air Canada.

The first checked bag free benefit is good for the cardholder and up to eight travelling companions on the same reservation. With checked baggage fees now running $30 and up per flight this benefit alone can pay for the card each year. The card also provides a NEXUS credit once every 48 months (as does the Platinum Card, so really you are covering 2 or more people's fees with this card portfolio).

Many Canadians are Aeroplan members, and that includes a lot of the 65+ travel crowd, so this card is ideal to have in the portfolio thanks to providing preferred pricing on Aeroplan Award tickets. This preferred pricing discounts the amount of points you need to redeem for an award flight on Air Canada and that discount can range from a few percentage points to over twenty percent depending on the routing and dates of travel. Of course by having this card you'll earn Aeroplan points to use for those award flights and you can also convert points on a 1 to 1 basis to Aeroplan from the Platinum Card from American Express.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Quick Facts:

Insurance Overview

  National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard The Platinum Card from American Express TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Out of Province Emergency Medical Coverage (age 65+)
15 days to age 75

None

4 days
Out of Province Emergency Medical Coverage (up to 64)
31 days for 55-64
60 days to age 54

15 days

21 days
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
None

$500,000

$500,000
Flight Delay Insurance
5hours, up to $500 per person

4 hours, up to $1,000 total

4 hours, up to $500 per person
Delayed Baggage Insurance
6 hours, up to $500 per person

6 hours, up to $1,000 total

6 hours, up to $1,000 per person
Lost / Stolen Baggage Insurance
Up to $1,000 per person

Up to $1,000 total

Up to $1,000 per person
Damaged Baggage Insurance
Up to $1,000 per person

Up to $1,000 total

None
Trip Cancellation Insurance
$2,500 per person

$2,500 per person up to $5,000 maximum combined

$1,500 per person up to $5,000 maximum combined
Trip Interruption Insurance
$5,000 per person up

$2,500 per person up to $6,000 maximum combined

$2,500 per person up to $25,000 maximum combined
Auto Rental/Loss Damage Insurance
48 Days, Up to $65,000 MSRP

48 Days, Up to $85,000 MSRP

48 Days, Up to $65,000 MSRP
Hotel / Motel Burglary Insurance
None

Up to $1,000 per occurrence

Up to $2,500 per occurrence
Purchase Protection
180 Days
Max $60,000 in a lifetime

120 days
Up to $1,000 per occurrence, no lifetime max

90 Days
Max $60,000 in a lifetime
Price Protection
None

None

None
Extended Warranty Plan
Up to 2 years

Up to 1 year
Max $10,000 per item / $25,000 per year

Up to 1 year
Max $60,000 in a lifetime
Mobile Device Insurance
Up to $1,000 less deductible and depreciation

None

Up to $1,000 less deductible and depreciation

 

Spending with this portfolio

The card that you pull out of your wallet for a purchase will depend on each individual and their primary reward goals. Below are some suggestions as to the best card for each specified category. You will want to take into consideration your overall total expenditures (credit card spending) as you don't want to spread yourself too thin across three reward programs and not have enough points for meaningful travel redemptions in any one of them.

  • Drug Store purchases: The Platinum Card from American Express unless Amex is not accepted, then use either of the other cards
  • Dining and Food delivery purchases (if Aeroplan is not your primary program): National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard
  • Dining and Food delivery purchases (if Aeroplan is your primary program):: The Platinum Card from American Express (unless the merchant doesn't accept Amex - then use either one of the other cards)
  • Costco Purchases: National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard
  • Grocery and Gas Purchases (if Aeroplan is not your primary rewards program): National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard
  • Grocery and Gas Purchases (if Aeroplan is your primary program): TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
  • Travel purchases: The Platinum Card from American Express
  • All other purchases (if Aeroplan is not your primary rewards program): The Platinum Card from American Express unless Amex is not accepted then use National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard.
  • All other purchases (if Aeroplan is your primary program): TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

There you go. With these three cards you are pretty much ensuring that you, as someone who is 65 or older have a great travel rewards credit card portfolio covering all three major card issuers and the flexibility of multiple reward programs!

Learn more about the cards here:


National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard

National Bank of Canada World Elite® Mastercard®

No welcome bonus offer at this time.

Annual Fee: $150 Primary Card (Waived in first year) | $50 Secondary Card | Interest Rate: Purchases 20.99% Cash Advances 22.49% | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household annual income



Terms & Conditions apply





    • Earn up to 5 points per dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases*
    • 2 points per dollar in eligible gas and electric vehicle charging purchases, recurring bill payments and À la carte travel purchases*
    • 1 point per 1 dollar in other purchases

    • Up to $150 each year in refund for travel expenses on airport parking, seat selection, check-in fees, airline ticket upgrades and access to airport lounges worldwide
    • Free and unlimited access along with one (1) guest to the National Bank Bank World MasterCard™ Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau airport.
    • Reassuring protection. Travel with peace of mind thanks to our comprehensive insurance coverage up to 60 days
    • Out-of-province-of-residence medical/hospital insurance, Departure flight delay insurance, Baggage insurance in case of delay, Baggages insurance in case of theft or loss, Vehicule rental insurance
    • Mobile devices insurance against theft or damages for a period of up to 2 years
    • Purchase protection in case of theft or damage* and extended warranty
    • National Bank ranks #1 among credit card issuers for Customer Experience according to the Forrester CX Index.

  • Click here to apply for National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard


Disclaimer

Credit terms

Grace period: No interest will be charged on purchases made during the month, provided the client pays the balance in full within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances or balance transfers. Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment will correspond to 5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue payment or $10, whichever amount is higher. If you reside outside of Quebec, your minimum payment represents 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue payment or $10, whichever amount is higher. Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate 

Average balance 

 

$500 

$3,000 

22.49% 

$9.24 

$55.45 

20.99% 

$8.63 

$51.76 

12.90% 

$5.30 

$31.81 

8.9% 

$3.66 

$21.95 

Details of eligible rewards points

Certain restrictions apply.

For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points. The amount of points earned on grocery and restaurant purchases depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, regardless of the purchase category. You will earn 5 points for every dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases until a total of $2,500 in gross monthly purchases is charged to the account. After that, you will earn 2 points per dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The total gross monthly amount is calculated based on your monthly billing period. Grocery purchases include any purchase made at a store that primarily sells food, i.e., grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, greengrocer or specialty food store. Ready-to-eat meal services and meal delivery services are eligible. This definition excludes purchases made at retail stores and big box stores whose core business is the sale of non-food items. Certain merchants may sell products and services that appear identical or similar to those sold by eligible merchants, or may be separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified in different categories by Mastercard. For purchases at other merchants, you will only earn regular rewards points. Restaurant purchases include purchases at a restaurant, fast food restaurant, bar, nightclub or pub. For a full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the terms and conditions of the À la carte Rewards Plan®.

To earn 2 points per dollar in purchases, you will need to purchase gas or an electrical vehicle charge from a service station or from certain big-box stores. Certain merchants may sell products and services that appear identical or similar to those sold by eligible merchants, or may be separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified in different categories by Mastercard. For purchases at other merchants, you will only earn regular rewards points. For a full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the terms and conditions of the À la carte Rewards Plan®.

Recurring bill payments are defined as monthly or regular payments automatically charged by a merchant to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card. Not all merchants offer recurring bill payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Certain payments therefore may not entitle you to earn more points.

To earn 2 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte TravelTM Agency section of our À la carte RewardsTM site.

For example, if each month you charge $400 in groceries, $200 in gas, $100 in recurring bill payments and $150 in other purchases to your card, your $850 in purchases will earn you 2,750 points, as follows: 2,000 points for grocery purchases (since the total gross monthly amount is $850, i.e., under $2,500), 400 points for gas purchases, 200 points for recurring bill payments and 150 points for other purchases.

National Bank Lounge conditions

Exclusively available to World Elite Mastercard cardholders. Visitors must present their physical credit card and boarding pass to access the National Bank Lounge. The National Bank Lounge is only available to clients travelling to international destinations (excluding Canada and U.S. flights). Guests cannot spend more than three (3) hours in the Lounge. For National Bank clients who do not have free Lounge access and for additional guests, admission is around $37 for adults and $26 for children, plus tax. Admission is free for children under three years old. The entry price may change at any time without notice and at the discretion of the Lounge operator.

Travel and health insurance conditions

Clients must submit required documents within the given deadline. Certain conditions may apply. Only the primary cardholder (“Cardholder”) of National Bank World Elite Mastercard whose account is in good standing can request a refund of travel expenses. An account in good standing refers to an account linked to a credit card which complies with the Agreement governing the use of the credit card and which is not subject to any restrictions. For example, the annual fees related to the credit card must have been paid in full. The maximum amount that can be submitted for reimbursement between January 1 and December 31 of each year is $150.

Eligible expenses include:

  • airport parking fees
  • baggage fees
  • seat selection fees
  • access to airport lounges worldwide
  • airline ticket upgrades

The claim must be submitted within 60 days of the purchase date and accompanied by proof of purchase. The travel fees must be charged to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card. The maximum reimbursement amount is $150 per account. The refund will be issued within 7 business days following the request approval date and after receiving all required information. An amount not claimed in a year cannot be carried over to the following year. For more information or to obtain the refund form, sign in to rewards.nbc.ca, click the Refund of travel expenses tab and complete the form, you can also contact us at 1-888-296-8881 (toll-free).

This coverage applies to purchases and rentals charged in part to the card, except out-of-province medical/hospital insurance for which the travel arrangements need not be charged to the card and lost or delayed luggage insurance where all transportation costs must be charged to the card. This coverage applies to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or dependent children when they (spouse and/or dependent children) travel with the primary cardholder. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer's warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.

Mobile devices protection:

Up to $1,000 in the event of breakage, loss or theft for a maximum of 2 years after the purchase date. The device must have been purchased using your National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card, or your phone plan must be paid via recurring payments charged to your National Bank World Elite credit card starting September 1, 2022. For complete terms and conditions, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.


The Platinum Card from American Express

Top Ultra Premium Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Platinum Card®

2024 Top Ultra Premium Credit Card
Earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points - that’s up to $1,000 towards a weekend away

Annual Fee: $799 | Additional Card Fee: $250 for Platinum, $0 for Gold (First 2 Cards) then $50 each



Terms & Conditions apply




  • New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 70,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership

  • Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
  • Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit through American Express Travel Online or Platinum® Card Travel Service
  • Enjoy a $200 Annual Dining Credit at some of Canada’s best restaurants
  • Unlock $200 or more in additional value with Member extras. You can earn statement credits for qualifying purchases with participating brands

  • Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge CollectionTM  which unlocks access to over 1300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
  • Enjoy flexible ways to use your points such as statement credits for any eligible purchase charged to your Card, new travel purchases booked on American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, and eligible flights through the Fixed Points Travel Program
  • Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
  • Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $750 CAD at over 1,300 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts
  • Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
  • Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport
  • You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Hertz and Avis

  • Interest applies in accordance with your Cardmember Agreement, Information Box, and Disclosure statement if the total New Balance is not paid by the Payment Due Date each month. All payments must be received by the Payment Due Date shown on the monthly statement
  • American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment
  • Click here to apply for The Platinum Card from American Express


TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Top Airline Credit Card

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

2024 Top Airline Credit Card
Earn up to $1,200 in value† including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points†
Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

Annual Fee $139 | Additional Cards: $75 † | Annual interest rate 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on funds advances | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income



Terms & Conditions apply




Earn up to $1,200 in value†, including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† (enough for a round trip to New York City†), and additional travel benefits. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

  • Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†
  • Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening†
  • Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of Account opening†
  • Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†
  • Plus, share free first checked bags with up to 8 travel companions†

Earning Aeroplan Points

  • Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card
  • Earn 1 point† for every $1 spent on all other Purchases made with your Card
  • Earn points twice when you pay with your Card and provide your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and at 170+ online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore (www.aeroplan.com/estore).
  • Your Aeroplan Points do not expire as long as you are a TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Cardholder in good standing
  • Earn big rewards on the little things: Earn 50% more Aeroplan Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® stores. Simply link your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card to your Starbucks® Rewards account. Conditions apply. Learn more.
Card Benefits
  • Travel lightly through the airport and save on baggage fees† : Primary Cardholders, Additional Cardholders, and travel companions (up to eight) travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lbs) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight.
  • Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge† : On-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Visa Infinite Concierge can help with any Cardholder request — big or small, to help you get the most out of life whenever you travel, shop and use your Card.
  • Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection†: Receive seven exclusive benefits when you book your stay through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 of the world’s most intriguing properties.
  • Click here to apply for TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

† Terms and Conditions apply.

Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.



Other card options you could consider:

You do have several other card options you could look at in this portfolio. On the Mastercard side you could look at the Desjardin Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard® as it also provides 15 days of out of province emergency medical coverage to age 75.

If you don't travel enough to justify all the extras that the Platinum Card provides, you could get the American Express Cobalt Card as your main points earning card (even for Aeroplan) and then get the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card as your lounge access card since it has six annual lounge visits included with it.

In general there are a lot of options for the Visa side of things. While we recommended the Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, if you don't fly Air Canada or collect Aeroplan points you can look at cards like the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card and TD First Class Visa Infinite Card.

This article was first posted on February 22, 2023 and is updated on a regular basis

 

Talk to us!

Tell us what you think of this feature in the comments section below or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

 


Advertisement