BMO AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®* vs BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*: Which one is better?
BMO AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
3.7
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
3.1
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$425.73
Air Miles
First Year Bonus Value
$1,260
Air Miles
Annual Fee
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Finly Rebate
$75Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$1,760.73
$305.73 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$307.13
BMO Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$301.5
BMO Rewards
Annual Fee
$150
$0
First Year Waived
Finly Rebate
$75Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$683.63
$157.13 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1K/trip
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1K/trip.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 days
Travel Accident
$500,000/person
Extended Warranty
double up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up 15 days/person
Trip Cancellation
$1.5K/person, $5K/trip
Trip Interruption
$1.5K/person, $10K/tripFlight Delay
$500
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1K/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1K/tripCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500,000/personExtended Warranty
Double up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 21 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $5K/tripTrip Interruption
$2K/person, $10K/tripFlight Delay
$500 after 4 hours
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
20% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - complimentary visits not included
Discount
Up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel if you are an AirMiles collectorDiscount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookingsDiscount
Annual 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption.svg)
Status lift
Automatic Air Miles Onyx status
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
20% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-CarAirport Lounge - Dragon Pass
4 complimentary visitsDiscount
Up to 7% discount on Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookingsDiscount
20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las VegasDiscount
FlexiRoam: Stay connected around the world without a SIM card and get up to 15% off a Global Data Roaming plan plus up to 3GB of data, free.
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Balance Transfer:
23.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Balance Transfer:
23.99%
Annual Fee*
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$150
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Welcome Bonus*
3,000 bonus Air Miles after spending at least $4,500 in net eligible purchases within the first 110 days after account open. 2,000 bonus Air Miles after spending at least $10,000 in net eligible purchases within the first 180 days after account open. 2,000 bonus Air Miles after spending at least $20,000 in net eligible purchases within the first 360 days after account open
Welcome Bonus*
Get up to 90,000 points and the annual fee waived in your first anniversary for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.*
Rewards Rate*
- 3x Miles points per $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners
- 2x Miles points per $12 spent on eligible grocery, liquor and wholesale store purchases
- 1x Mile point per $12 spent on all other eligible purchases
Rewards Rate*
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (up to $15,000 spent)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible dining, recurring bill payment and entertainment purchases (up to $10,000 spent per category)
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
18¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
10¢ / point
Merchandise
9¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
0.67¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
0.5¢ / pointMerchandise
0.45¢ / point
Financial Products
0.67¢ / point
Entertainment
0.64¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.48¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is ideal for frequent Air Miles collectors looking for premium travel benefits and a strong rewards rate. With up to 2,000 bonus miles, a 25% annual flight discount, and automatic Onyx status, this card offers substantial value for those who frequently shop at Air Miles partners and travel often. Its comprehensive insurance coverage and first-year fee waiver also add to its appeal, though the high income requirement may limit its accessibility.
Is this card worth it?
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is perfect for frequent travelers who want a premium card offering high earning rates on travel, dining, and entertainment, plus valuable travel perks like lounge access and comprehensive insurance coverage. If you travel often and can meet the income requirement, this card offers flexibility and peace of mind with both rewards and protection while you're on the go.
Pros
- Increased rewards: Earn 1 mile per $12 spent, tripled when shopping at participating Air Miles partners and doubled at eligible grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores.
- Travel perks: Includes a 25% discount on one Air Miles reward flight booking per year.
- Air Miles Onyx status: Automatic Air Miles Onyx status with exclusive benefits.
- Comprehensive insurance: 14 types of insurance coverage, including travel, trip cancellation, and rental car insurance.
- First-year fee waived: Try the card for free in the first year.
Pros
- Generous rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on travel, 3 points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills, and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Lounge access: Includes 4 free annual lounge passes through Mastercard Travel Pass.
- Comprehensive insurance: 14 types of insurance, including emergency medical and trip cancellation coverage.
- First year fee waived: Try the card for a year without paying the $150 annual fee.
Cons
- High income requirements: Requires $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income, making it inaccessible for many.
- Lower rewards compared to other premium cards: While it offers good Air Miles rewards, other cards may provide more flexible or higher rewards.
Cons
- Low point value: Points are worth only 0.67 cents each, which is lower than other cards.
- High income requirements: Requires $80,000 personal income or $150,000 household income, making it inaccessible for many.
- Limited lounge availability: Users have reported issues with lounge access.
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