Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?
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Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
3.1
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
3.4
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$315.05
First Year Bonus
$0
Annual Fee
$39
First Year Value
$276.05
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$517
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus
$630
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$1,027
$397 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrence
Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 days
Travel Accident
$500,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Extra Benefits
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Extra Benefits*
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account
Free first checked bag
Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Amex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™: From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
Interest Rates
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
2.99% introductory for 6 months, then 22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
30% Annual2
Cash Advance:
30% Annual2
Annual Fee
$39
Annual Fee*
$120
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus
Get a 2.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39)
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 30,000 Aeroplan® points after spending $3,000 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13.
Rewards Rate
- 2% cashback on gas, groceries, drug store and recurring payments (maximum $500 annually)
- 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases.
Rewards Rate*
- 2x Aeroplan® points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- 1.5x Aeroplan® points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- 1x Aeroplan® point on everything else
Loyalty Program
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options
Not Applicable
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa is a low annual fee cash back card that offers impressive earn rates on a variety of everyday spending categories, making it an excellent choice for those who want to maximize rewards without the higher cost of its Visa Infinite counterpart.
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
- Cash Back Rewards: Earn up to 2% cash back on purchases.
- Low Balance Transfer Rate: Benefit from a 2.99% rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months.
- No Welcome Bonus: No initial sign-up bonus, keeping things straightforward.
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
- Limited Insurance Coverage: Only basic insurance is included.
- Annual Rewards Payout: Cash back rewards are paid out once a year as a statement credit.
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.
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