MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?


MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

4.7

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

3.3

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$587.52

MBNA Rewards


Welcome Bonus

$300

MBNA Rewards


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$767.52

$467.52 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$506.17

Air Canada Aeroplan


Welcome Bonus

$630

Air Canada Aeroplan


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$1,016.17

$386.17 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    Up to 90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $1,000,000
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $1000/person

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M for 21 days
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000/person

Insurance Included*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    Up to 90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $1,000,000
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $1000/person

  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500

Extra Benefits

  • birthday cake

    Annual Birthday Bonus

    10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • price protection

    Price Protection

    $500/item, $1000/account per year

Extra Benefits*

  • baggage

    Free first checked bag

    You and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands

Interest Rates

Purchase:

19.99%

Cash Advance:

24.99%

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

30% Annual2

Cash Advance:

30% Annual2

Annual Fee

$120

Annual Fee*

$120

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$80,000

Min Household Income:

$150,000

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Welcome Bonus

10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening

Welcome Bonus*

Earn 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 on your Card within the first 3 months. Additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in month 13.

Rewards Rate

  • 5 points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (maximum $50,000 spend annually per category)
  • 1 point for everything else

Rewards Rate*

  • 2 points on Aircanada and AirCanada Vacations
  • 1.5 points on Dining
  • 1 Point on everything else

Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program*

Point Redemption Options

  • Most Optimal

    baggage on roller

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.85¢ / point

  • cash coins

    Statement Credits - World Elite

    0.83¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.8¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits - Platinum

    0.5¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

  • baggage on roller

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.85¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point

Is this card worth it?

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.

Is this card worth it?

This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.

Pros

  • Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
  • Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
  • A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
  • Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
  • Good value for many of the card's redemption options.

Pros

  • Free checked bag benefit: Every checked bag might cost you $60 - $100 per person on a round trip. The amount you can save in a year if you travel a few times or travel with a few companions can easily be much higher than the annual fee of the card.
    If you are interested in a higher Aeroplan Status, the card helps you get there faster.

Cons

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
  • Not the best card for gas purchases.

Cons

  • The main reward category is only for Air Canada purchases. Unless you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, this reward category is not useful to most people.
  • The only other rewards category offered is for food, and it doesn't offer that high of a reward rate either.
  • In terms of insurance benefits, the types and coverage amounts provided are lower compared to other cards with a similar annual fee.

Legal


*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. 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. Check for full details and current product information.
2 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.

We may earn a commission for some of the products featured on this site. The content and reviews on FinlyWealth are independent and not influenced by advertisers. For the latest details on any product, please visit the advertiser's official website. The content provided on this website, including any credit card recommendations, is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The owner and author(s) of this website are not financial, legal, or tax professionals. All views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and may not reflect the best choice for your unique situation. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. The owner and author(s) of this website shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions in the content or any resulting actions taken by readers.Copyright © FinlyWealth 2024 All Rights Reserved.