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

PC World Elite Mastercard
2.3
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
3.4
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$266
PC Financial
First Year Bonus Value
$20
PC Financial
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$286
$266 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$517
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
$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
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 daysExtended Warranty
Doubled up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 daysEmergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 days
Insurance Included*
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 daysExtended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrenceBaggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)Travel Accident
$500,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Extra Benefits
Concierge Services
Identity Theft Assistance
Extra Benefits*
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your accountFree 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®* flightsExtra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brandsFree Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan pointsAmex 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:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
22.97%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
30% Annual2
Cash Advance:
30% Annual2
Annual Fee
$0
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
Earn 20,000 points when you get approved.
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
- 45 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- 30 points per $1 dollar spent at Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & cie, no frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, SaveEasy, SuperValu, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs
- 20 points per $1 spent in PC travel
- 19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
- 10 points per $1 dollar spent for everything else
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
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options
Groceries
0.1¢ / pointGas (Esso)
0.1¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This is a great card to have in your arsenal if you frequently shop at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations, as you will earn significant rewards in these categories. The additional benefits, such as out-of-province medical insurance, car rental damage insurance, and concierge service, are impressive and typically only come with cards that have annual fees; however, you can access these benefits for free with this card. We do not recommend using this as your primary credit card but as a supplement to another primary card, especially because there are no fees. This is because the rewards on purchases outside the mentioned shops are very average, and many other cards offer much more substantial rewards for general use.
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
- Out-of-province medical insurance, concierge service, and car rental damage insurance—benefits that are usually included with cards that have fees—are included with this card.
- Decent rewards on purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations.
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
- Many other high-spend categories don't earn as many rewards. Shopping at any other grocery chains, gas stations, or pharmacies will only give the base reward rate, and restaurant purchases and purchases in other categories don't earn much either.
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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