List of Cards that offer high bonus categories
This is a companion list to my list of Cards that offer base earn on 'everything else' spend of more than 1%.
Some people like the simplicity of getting a fair flat rate return on everything they buy. The above mentioned thread is for you.
This thread here lists some of the high bonus categories offered by some cards. Only bonus categories that pay more than 2% are listed here. The reason is to keep this simple. A lot of cards give base earn of 1% or less, then throw in a couple of bonus categories that earn 2%. If one wanted to earn 2%, there are cards that give you 2% on everything - why waste your time getting 2% on this or that category when you can get 2% on all your shopping? So 2% bonus categories are 'meh'.
Cards that offer 5% bonus categories
Amex Cobalt 5% on groceries
5% on restaurants
5% on bars & taverns
Cards that offer 4.0 to 4.5% bonus categories
TD First Class Visa Infinite: 4.5% on travel (only if travel is purchased on Expedia for TD)
Brim W.E MC: 4.5% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 2% points on top of that = 4.5%; $25k cap)
Brim World MC: 4.0% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 1.5 points on top = 4.0%; $25k cap)
HSBC W.E. Jade MC: 4.0% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 1.5% profit on top = 4.0%
HSBC W.E. MC: 4.0% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 1.5% profit on top = 4.0%
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
Scotia Gold Amex: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
4.0% on restaurants
4.0% on entertainment
Scotia Platinum Amex: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
4.0% on restaurants
4.0% on entertainment
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
CIBC Dividend Visa Platinum: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
Cards that offer 2.1% to 3.9% bonus categories
Scotia Passport Visa Infinite: 3.5% on Foreign Spend (No FX saves 2.5% + 1% points earn on top = 3.5%)
Home Trust Visa: 3.5% on Foreign Spend (No FX saves 2.5% + 1% points earn on top = 3.5%)
HSBC W.E. Jade MC: 3% on travel
HSBC W.E. MC: 3% on travel
PCF W.E. MC: 3% on Loblaws groceries
Capital One Costco MC: 3% on restaurants
Rogers MC: 3.0% on foreign spend (3% earned - 2.5% charged as FX fee = 3.0-2.5= 0.5% profit)
Fido MC: 3.0% on foreign spend (3% earned - 2.5% FX charged as FX fee = 3.0-2.5=0.5% profit)
BMO W.E. MC: 2.14% on Restaurants
2.14% on Travel
2.14% on Entertainment
Airline and Hotel Points Cards
People who know how to best use airline miles to maximum advantage (not most people) can and do get a lot of value out of airline miles. In my earlier 'base earn' thread I valued airline miles at 1 cent each because the average Joe using them knowing nothing about how to maximize value gets about that - some awards less than 1 cent each ($0.0070), some a bit more than one cent ($0.018) and I averaged them for simplicity to 1 cent each. I know a lot of people who use Aeroplan miles 'the wrong way' and get less than 1 cent each value for them - I hear them complaining about Aeroplan redemption values at work, at the dentist, at the car dealership, at the barbershop, at bars, etc. That said, some skillful travelers can get from 3 to 12 cents each mile in value. I once got 3.1 cents per mile in value (my best value Aeroplan award ever - I average less than 2 cents per miles in value) but I have been told 4 to 6 cents per mile is often attainable without difficulty, and sometimes more. Likewise with SPG points - I valued them at base earn of 1.25% but people tell me they get 3.5% or more return with them. If one is skilled at the ins and outs of airline and hotel points programs, these cards that give them for all spending will get you the highest returns. Even though the number of points/miles given seems like a low base earn rate of 1% to 1.25%, when using those miles one CAN clean up with what translates into Card earn rates over 5%. I don't use credit cards to get miles. I do have Aeroplan miles, Delta miles, and BA Avios miles - but I only earn them by flying and sometimes at hotels and rental cars companies. My greatest value from flying a lot is the airline status (Altitude 50k) that gets me free checked bags and free lounge access, as well as priority check in and priority boarding. My credit card spend is with travel point cards, though some of these do allow transfers to airline miles as an option if one wants. Options are always nice to have.
Airline & Hotel linked Cards that CAN for some result in earn rates of 3% to 10% on all spending.
Amex Platinum Card
Amex Gold Card
Amex SPG
Amex AeroplanPlus Gold
Amex AeroplanPlus Platinum
CIBC Aerogold Infinite Privilege
CIBC Aerogold Infinite
RBC Avion Infinite Privilege
RBC Avion Infinite
RBC Avion Platinum
RBC British Airways Infinite
RBC Cathay Pacific Platinum
TD Aeroplan Infinite Privilege
TD Aeroplan Infinite
TD Aeroplan
If I am missing any cards, post and let me know.
As regards bonus category cards, they give the bonus categories usually because their base earn rate on everything else is low at 1%. They thus are not great if most of your spend is in 'everything else' non-bonus base rate. However, cards that give 4% or 5% in groceries and restaurants can overtake in total earn flat rate cards that give 2% on everything, depending on one's spend. Anyone spending heavily on groceries should really have a card for that bonus category (even if one only uses that card for groceries). The reason Amex Cobalt usually wins in comparisons using average spending numbers is simply 5% on groceries and restaurants is such a huge bonus that it lifts up the average awards per year even though the base earn is 1% (+ 2% on travel). If one's SO buys all the groceries and you rarely eat out, a flat rate 2% card probably will serve you better.
I also find that to get the highest awards, it involves using more than one card. One card for some bonus categories, one card for others, or one for a higher flat rate on everything else, or one just for no FX for foreign spend. One just has to keep in mind the AF of each card and make sure the savings in having multiple premium cards and juggling spending between them exceeds the additional AF you are paying to do it.
Some people like the simplicity of getting a fair flat rate return on everything they buy. The above mentioned thread is for you.
This thread here lists some of the high bonus categories offered by some cards. Only bonus categories that pay more than 2% are listed here. The reason is to keep this simple. A lot of cards give base earn of 1% or less, then throw in a couple of bonus categories that earn 2%. If one wanted to earn 2%, there are cards that give you 2% on everything - why waste your time getting 2% on this or that category when you can get 2% on all your shopping? So 2% bonus categories are 'meh'.
Cards that offer 5% bonus categories
Amex Cobalt 5% on groceries
5% on restaurants
5% on bars & taverns
Cards that offer 4.0 to 4.5% bonus categories
TD First Class Visa Infinite: 4.5% on travel (only if travel is purchased on Expedia for TD)
Brim W.E MC: 4.5% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 2% points on top of that = 4.5%; $25k cap)
Brim World MC: 4.0% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 1.5 points on top = 4.0%; $25k cap)
HSBC W.E. Jade MC: 4.0% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 1.5% profit on top = 4.0%
HSBC W.E. MC: 4.0% on foreign spend (No FX gives savings of 2.5% + 1.5% profit on top = 4.0%
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
Scotia Gold Amex: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
4.0% on restaurants
4.0% on entertainment
Scotia Platinum Amex: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
4.0% on restaurants
4.0% on entertainment
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
CIBC Dividend Visa Platinum: 4.0% on groceries
4.0% on gas
Cards that offer 2.1% to 3.9% bonus categories
Scotia Passport Visa Infinite: 3.5% on Foreign Spend (No FX saves 2.5% + 1% points earn on top = 3.5%)
Home Trust Visa: 3.5% on Foreign Spend (No FX saves 2.5% + 1% points earn on top = 3.5%)
HSBC W.E. Jade MC: 3% on travel
HSBC W.E. MC: 3% on travel
PCF W.E. MC: 3% on Loblaws groceries
Capital One Costco MC: 3% on restaurants
Rogers MC: 3.0% on foreign spend (3% earned - 2.5% charged as FX fee = 3.0-2.5= 0.5% profit)
Fido MC: 3.0% on foreign spend (3% earned - 2.5% FX charged as FX fee = 3.0-2.5=0.5% profit)
BMO W.E. MC: 2.14% on Restaurants
2.14% on Travel
2.14% on Entertainment
Airline and Hotel Points Cards
People who know how to best use airline miles to maximum advantage (not most people) can and do get a lot of value out of airline miles. In my earlier 'base earn' thread I valued airline miles at 1 cent each because the average Joe using them knowing nothing about how to maximize value gets about that - some awards less than 1 cent each ($0.0070), some a bit more than one cent ($0.018) and I averaged them for simplicity to 1 cent each. I know a lot of people who use Aeroplan miles 'the wrong way' and get less than 1 cent each value for them - I hear them complaining about Aeroplan redemption values at work, at the dentist, at the car dealership, at the barbershop, at bars, etc. That said, some skillful travelers can get from 3 to 12 cents each mile in value. I once got 3.1 cents per mile in value (my best value Aeroplan award ever - I average less than 2 cents per miles in value) but I have been told 4 to 6 cents per mile is often attainable without difficulty, and sometimes more. Likewise with SPG points - I valued them at base earn of 1.25% but people tell me they get 3.5% or more return with them. If one is skilled at the ins and outs of airline and hotel points programs, these cards that give them for all spending will get you the highest returns. Even though the number of points/miles given seems like a low base earn rate of 1% to 1.25%, when using those miles one CAN clean up with what translates into Card earn rates over 5%. I don't use credit cards to get miles. I do have Aeroplan miles, Delta miles, and BA Avios miles - but I only earn them by flying and sometimes at hotels and rental cars companies. My greatest value from flying a lot is the airline status (Altitude 50k) that gets me free checked bags and free lounge access, as well as priority check in and priority boarding. My credit card spend is with travel point cards, though some of these do allow transfers to airline miles as an option if one wants. Options are always nice to have.
Airline & Hotel linked Cards that CAN for some result in earn rates of 3% to 10% on all spending.
Amex Platinum Card
Amex Gold Card
Amex SPG
Amex AeroplanPlus Gold
Amex AeroplanPlus Platinum
CIBC Aerogold Infinite Privilege
CIBC Aerogold Infinite
RBC Avion Infinite Privilege
RBC Avion Infinite
RBC Avion Platinum
RBC British Airways Infinite
RBC Cathay Pacific Platinum
TD Aeroplan Infinite Privilege
TD Aeroplan Infinite
TD Aeroplan
If I am missing any cards, post and let me know.
As regards bonus category cards, they give the bonus categories usually because their base earn rate on everything else is low at 1%. They thus are not great if most of your spend is in 'everything else' non-bonus base rate. However, cards that give 4% or 5% in groceries and restaurants can overtake in total earn flat rate cards that give 2% on everything, depending on one's spend. Anyone spending heavily on groceries should really have a card for that bonus category (even if one only uses that card for groceries). The reason Amex Cobalt usually wins in comparisons using average spending numbers is simply 5% on groceries and restaurants is such a huge bonus that it lifts up the average awards per year even though the base earn is 1% (+ 2% on travel). If one's SO buys all the groceries and you rarely eat out, a flat rate 2% card probably will serve you better.
I also find that to get the highest awards, it involves using more than one card. One card for some bonus categories, one card for others, or one for a higher flat rate on everything else, or one just for no FX for foreign spend. One just has to keep in mind the AF of each card and make sure the savings in having multiple premium cards and juggling spending between them exceeds the additional AF you are paying to do it.
Last edited by HermanH on Mar 12th, 2018 12:04 am, edited 3 times in total.
