Points Strategy
Canadian Points Transfer Guides
Understand how to move points between programs, which partners offer the best value, and how to get the most out of every point you earn.
Transfer Partner Quick Reference
Bank point currencies (Amex MR, RBC Avion) can be moved to airline and hotel programs. Once transferred, points can be used to book flights and stays. Transfers are almost always one-way — plan before you move.
Transfers to:
Transfers to:
Transfers to:
Points Value Comparison
| Program | Type | Avg Value | Best Value | Flexibility | Partners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex MR American Express | Bank Currency | ~1.5¢ | 3¢ | 9 partners | Full guide → | |
| Aeroplan Air Canada | Airline Program | ~2¢ | 3.5¢ | 4 partners | Full guide → | |
| RBC Avion RBC | Bank Currency | ~1¢ | 2¢ | 5 partners | Full guide → | |
| Scene+ Scotiabank / Cineplex / Empire Group | Coalition Program | ~1¢ | 1¢ | None | Full guide → | |
| BMO Rewards BMO | Bank Currency | ~0.71¢ | 1¢ | None | Full guide → | |
| WestJet $ WestJet | Airline Program | ~1¢ | 1¢ | 1 partner | Full guide → | |
| Bonvoy Marriott International | Hotel Program | ~0.8¢ | 1.5¢ | 3 partners | Full guide → |
Values are estimates based on average real-world redemptions. Actual value varies by redemption. Updated July 2024.
Bank Currencies
Earn with credit cards and transfer to airlines or hotels.
Amex MR
American Express
Canada's most flexible points currency
~1.5¢
Avg value
3¢
Best value
9
Partners
RBC Avion
RBC
Flexible bank points with strong airline transfer options
~1¢
Avg value
2¢
Best value
5
Partners
BMO Rewards
BMO
BMO's bank points — best used through the travel portal
~0.71¢
Avg value
1¢
Best value
0
Partners
Airline Programs
Redeem for flights on specific airlines and their partners.
Hotel Programs
Earn and redeem at hotel brands worldwide.
Coalition Programs
Earn across multiple retail, grocery, and bank partners.
How Points Transfers Work
The basics
Bank point currencies (like Amex Membership Rewards and RBC Avion) act as a hub — you accumulate them with a credit card, then transfer to an airline or hotel program when you have a specific redemption in mind. Once transferred, points typically cannot come back, so only transfer when you're ready to use them.
Transfer ratios explained
A 1:1 ratio means you receive 1 airline mile for every 1 bank point you send. A 1:1.2 ratio (like Amex MR → Marriott Bonvoy) means you receive more points than you send. A 3:1 ratio (like Bonvoy → airlines) means you receive fewer — and is generally poor value.
When to transfer
The best time to transfer is when you have a confirmed flight or hotel redemption ready to book and you've confirmed award availability. Transferring "just in case" risks points sitting in a less flexible program.
Transfer bonuses
Periodically, programs offer transfer bonuses — e.g., a 20% or 30% bonus when you transfer Amex MR to Aeroplan. These are excellent opportunities to boost your balance. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when bonuses go live.
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