Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?


Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.3

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RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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

Finly Rebate

Now $150 until Oct 31, 2024

Finly Rebate

N/A

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$333.58

Scene+


Welcome Bonus

$250

Scene+


Annual Fee

$150


First Year Value

$433.58

$183.58 in years after

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

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.

Insurance Included

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M/insured up to 25 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $1000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000/insured, $1M combined
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $2M/insured up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • travel - plane

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000

Insurance Included

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M/insured up to 25 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $1000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000/insured, $1M combined
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000

Extra Benefits

  • concierge

    Concierge Services


  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    6 Free complimentary visits
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Avis® Preferred Plus membership
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Extra Benefits

  • concierge

    Concierge Services


  • 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

  • price protection

    Price Protection

    $500/item, $1000/account per year

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Interest Rates

Purchase:

19.99%

Cash Advance:

24.99%

Annual Fee

$150

Annual Fee

$120

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$80,000

Min Household Income:

$150,000

Welcome Bonus

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, another 10,000 bonus Scene+ points after making $40,000 of purchases annually.

Welcome Bonus

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

Rewards Rate

  • 3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores,entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare,buses,taxis, subways and more
  • 1 Point on everything else

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

Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program

Point Redemption Options

  • baggage on roller

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.76¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point

  • entertainment popcorn

    Entertainment

    1¢ / point
  • groceries

    Groceries (Sobeys)

    1¢ / point
  • food location

    Restaurants

    1¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits

    0.7¢ / point

Point Redemption Options

  • Most Optimal

    baggage on roller

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.76¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point

  • cash coins

    Statement Credits - World Elite

    0.83¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits - Platinum

    0.5¢ / point

Is this card worth it?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

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.

Pros

  • High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
  • Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

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.

Cons

  • High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
  • Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
  • High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
  • Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
  • Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Cons

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

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements


The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card has a higher annual fee compared to the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, though both have relatively similar minimum income requirements. While the MBNA card has a slightly lower fee, those with higher income might not find this a major concern. It's worth noting that both cards target individuals with good to excellent credit.

Rewards Comparison


The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard generally offers higher yearly rewards compared to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, especially for spending in popular categories like groceries and restaurants. Additionally, the MBNA card’s sign-up bonus is slightly more generous. However, Scotiabank's Scene+ program still provides solid value, especially for those who shop at affiliated stores and prefer more flexibility in rewards categories such as travel and dining.

Reward Redemption Options


Both cards offer a range of redemption options, though the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite tends to shine more in travel-related redemptions, offering good value per point when used for travel bookings. However, the MBNA card stands out with more flexibility, allowing points to be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or as statement credits. The Scotiabank card lacks cashback options, which may make the MBNA card a more versatile choice for users preferring straightforward cash returns.

Benefits and Insurance


The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers a unique benefit: no foreign transaction fees, which can be highly valuable for international travelers. It also includes airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance, making it ideal for frequent flyers. On the other hand, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard features price protection, a rare perk, and an annual birthday bonus, adding extra value to regular spending. Its insurance coverage is solid but not as extensive as the Scotiabank card's.

Network Acceptance


The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is part of the Visa network, while the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is a Mastercard. Both Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted worldwide, but there are a few key differences. Mastercard is accepted at Costco, where Visa is not. Additionally, Mastercard considers Walmart as a grocery store for rewards purposes, allowing cardholders to earn grocery rewards there, while Visa typically categorizes Walmart as a department store, which may not offer the same rewards. These differences could impact where cardholders can maximize their rewards.

Conclusion


Frequent international travelers who prioritize travel perks, such as airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees, would likely find the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card more appealing. On the other hand, those seeking higher rewards on everyday purchases, greater flexibility in redemption, and unique benefits like price protection may prefer the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether the user values travel benefits or everyday rewards flexibility.

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