MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.
Welcome bonus
Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.
The offer
The offer
- 20,000 bonus points†† (approximately $165 in cash back value) after you make $2,000 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 10,000 bonus points††(approximately $80 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening
- This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.
New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points:
- Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 6 months.
- Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13
- You could earn up to $1,550 in value within your first 13 months. When you combine the Welcome Bonus offer of up to $900 in value, your earn potential in accelerated and everyday spend earn rate categories with approximately $515 in value, and the $140 in value you get from exceptional benefits, you can earn up to $1,550 or more in value within your first 13 months. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
What each card is worth
Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.
Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.
$772
First-year value
$1,010
$472
Every year after
$345
Amex Aeroplan® is worth $238 more to you in year one.
From year two, MBNA Rewards World Elite pulls ahead by $127 a year.
How the first year adds up
Annual rewards
$592.44
59,244 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $300
first year only
Annual fee
− $120
First-year value
$772.44
Annual rewards
$465.12
24,480 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $665
first year only
Annual fee
− $120
First-year value
$1,010.12
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
5xAll categories with 5x multipliers
44,076 pts
$440.76
1xAll other purchases
15,168 pts
$151.68
1.5xFood and drinks
6,300 pts
$119.7
2xAir Canada
480 pts
$9.12
1xAll other purchases
17,700 pts
$336.3
Fees, rates and eligibility
What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.
Annual fee
⁕ Notice: As of Jan 12, 2027, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card annual fee will increase to $150. Annual fees charged on or after this date will reflect the new fee. The Additional Aeroplan®* Card annual fee will increase to $59. The Additional Aeroplan®* No Fee Card will be renamed to the Additional Aeroplan®* Companion Card and the annual fee will increase to $25. Learn more about new benefits.
Additional cards
Interest rates
Interest rates
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Purchase:
30% Annual2
Cash Advance:
30% Annual2
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.
Recommended credit score
Recommended credit score
Income required
Income required
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
How each card earns
The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of the primary cardholder's birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.
- Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- Earn 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- Earn 1X the points on everything else
Points and how we value them
Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.
Loyalty program
Loyalty program
We count each point at 1¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Travel, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Flights, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
Point redemption options
Point redemption options
Most Optimal
Travel
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.98¢ / point
Merchandise
0.8¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash) - World Elite
0.82¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - Platinum
0.5¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMost Optimal
Flights
1.9¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Baggage Delay
$1,000/person.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$1,000,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000/person
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Price Protection
$500/item, $1,000/account per year
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$2M for 21 days
Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 daysCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrenceFlight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Perks
Perks
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
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).svg)
Concierge Services
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Status lift
Get 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) for every $20,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card, up to 25,000 SQC.svg)
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™
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
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like 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.
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
Pros
- High grocery optimization
- High dining optimization
- Annual birthday bonus
- Solid travel insurance
- Rare price protection
- Good redemption values
- Expedited status upgrades
- Free first checked bags
- Free extra hotel night
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Missing key insurance categories
- Low gas optimization
- Annual fee
- High income requirements
- Limited rewards
- Weaker insurance coverage
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.
vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard
vs Amex Aeroplan Reserve
vs Amex Cobalt
vs Amex Gold
vs Amex Green
vs Amex Platinum
vs Amex SimplyCash
vs BMO CashBack World Elite
vs MBNA True Line
vs MBNA True Line Gold
vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard – Gas & Grocery
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs RBC ION+ Visa
vs Rogers Red World Elite
vs Scotia Amex Gold
vs Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +
vs Scotiabank Passport
vs Simplii Financial Visa Card
vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
vs TD First Class Travel
vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard
vs Amex Aeroplan Reserve
vs Amex Cobalt
vs Amex Gold
vs Amex Green
vs Amex Marriott Bonvoy
vs Amex Platinum
vs Amex SimplyCash
vs Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred
vs CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
vs Rogers Red World Elite
vs Scotia Amex Gold
vs Scotia Momentum Visa
vs Scotiabank Passport
vs Tangerine Money-Back
vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
Legal
*, ††, ‡, ✪, ***, ††††, Terms and Conditions apply.
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.
Standard Annual Interest Rates of 21.99% on eligible purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers✪, and 22.99% on cash advances
Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
*Terms and conditions apply.
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.
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.
