The Best Credit Cards for Airline or Hotel Perks

Image Credit: Marriott.com

Unless you travel frequently for work, it is highly unlikely for most people to get status with airlines and hotels. Generally, airline status with Air Canada or WestJet give perks such as priority check-in, priority boarding, lounge access, checked baggage, and so on. With hotel chains such as Marriott or Hilton, status will get you exclusive access to room upgrades, hotel club lounges, free breakfast, additional points, late checkout among other benefits.

To get status or equivalent perks without work travel, you just have to sign up for the right credit cards. Here are the best credit cards in Canada that provide airline and/or hotel status!

Last Updated: April 19, 2022

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are referral links, which means I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This post is not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own.

American Express Platinum Card
Best for: Hotel and car rental status

Annual Fee: $699
Minimum Welcome Bonus: 25,000 Membership Rewards points via referral, after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, $200 travel credit
Minimum Income Required: None
Application Link(s): American Express

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? This is the only card in Canada that provides both hotel elite status and car rental status. You will need to do this manually, but by having this card you get status in the following programs:

• Avis Preferred
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star
• Marriott Gold Elite Status
• Hilton Gold Status
• Radisson Rewards Gold Status 
• Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership

Once you receive status in the programs directly offered by American Express, you can status match to other programs:

• Match Marriott or Hilton Gold Status to Wyndham Diamond Status, which can then be matched to Caesars Diamond Status (great for Las Vegas redemptions)
• Match Marriott or Hilton Gold Status to Choice Privileges Platinum Status
• Match Marriott Gold Elite Status to Best Western Diamond Select Status
• Match Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Silver Elite status and Taj Hotels Inner Circle Gold Status
• Match Hilton Gold Status to National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Elite Status, which can then be matched to Hertz President's Circle.

CIBC Aerogold or TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

Best for: Air Canada benefits

Annual Fee: $599 ($120 rebate on CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege with CIBC SmartPlus chequing account)
Minimum Welcome Bonus: 45,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 4 monthly statements (CIBC); 105,000 Aeroplan miles after spending $1,000 per month in the first 10 months (TD)
Minimum Income Required: $200,000 household income
Application Link(s): CIBC, TD

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? While you don't necessarily receive Altitude status with this card, you do get a lot of the same benefits such as:

• Priority Check-In at Air Canada counters
• Zone 2 boarding for you and your companions
• Complimentary first checked bag on all Air Canada flights
• Four (4) annual one-time guest access benefits to an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
• One 50% discount on a companion ticket on an Air Canada Business Class (Flexible) flight

RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard
Best for: WestJet benefits

Annual Fee: $119

Minimum Welcome Bonus: up to 450 WestJet dollars = 250 WestJet dollars upon first purchase + 200 after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months via the RBC website

If you have access to Perkopolis through work or professional affiliations, you can get 300 WestJet dollars upon first purchase + 200 after $5,000 in the first 3 months
Minimum Income Required: $80,000 personal income or $150,000 household income
Application Link(s): RBC, Perkopolis (up to 500 WestJet dollars)

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? While you don't directly receive any of WestJet's tiered member statuses (Silver, Gold, Platinum) with the current offer, you do receive some of the benefits with the credit card:

• Annual round trip companion voucher starting at $119 + taxes
• Complimentary first checked bag up for you and up to eight (8) additional guests traveling on the same reservation

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
Best for: Air Canada and Toronto Pearson Airport benefits

Annual Fee: $599

Minimum Welcome Bonus: 50,000 Aeroplan miles = 20,000 Aeroplan miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months + 5,000 Aeroplan miles each month you spend at least $1,000 up to 6 months

Minimum Income Required: None

Application Link(s): American Express

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? As with the Visa Infinite Privileges, you get some benefits with Air Canada. This could be a good option if you want Air Canada benefits but you don't meet the income requirements of the cards above.

• Priority Check-In at Air Canada counters
• Zone 2 Priority Boarding
• First free checked bag on Air Canada flights for you and up to eight (8) companions
• Unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
• Rollover of unused eUpgrade credits

Some other perks include an annual round trip companion flight reward after spending $25,000 by the card anniversary date, and the following benefits at Toronto Pearson Airport:

• Complimentary valet service
• Pearson Priority Security Lane

Marriott Bonvoy Card by American Express
Best for: Marriott Bonvoy benefits

Annual Fee: $120

Minimum Welcome Bonus: 68,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months

Application Link(s): American Express, Great Canadian Rebates ($60 cash back)

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? This is the best card in Canada for earning Marriott Bonvoy points, which is probably the most flexible loyalty program out there. In addition, you get Marriott Silver Elite status with the card, which automatically credits you 15 nights every year. This means you only need 10 nights to reach Marriott Gold Elite Status.

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Alaska Airlines World Elite MasterCard
Best for: Alaska Airlines benefits

Annual Fee: $99, reduced to $49 for the first year with $50 cash back via Great Canadian Rebates

Minimum Welcome Bonus: 31,000 Alaska miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days

Other Perks: $121 USD companion fare with Alaska Airlines

Application Link(s): Great Canadian Rebates ($50 cash back)

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? You get the following benefits with Alaska Airlines:

• Complimentary first checked bag on all Alaska Airlines flights for all passengers traveling on the same reservation, up to six (6) passengers
• Annual round trip companion fare voucher of $121 USD

RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum
Best for: Cathay Pacific benefits

Annual Fee: $120

Minimum Welcome Bonus: 47,000 Asia Miles after spending $7,000 in the first 3 months if you apply before October 31, 2022

Minimum Income Required: None

Application Link(s): RBC

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? The only credit card in Canada that earns Asia Miles, you also receive complimentary Green Tier membership to Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club for the first year, worth $100 USD.