Best Travel Business Credit Card In Canada For 2025
Business credit cards that earn travel rewards on your spending.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business is the best travel business card in Canada, followed closely by a few other excellent choices like the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card and The Business Platinum Card from American Express.
For those who frequently make work trips, a business credit card that specifically rewards business travel can be a significant help. Most of these cards have big insurance packages, provide airport lounge access, and participate in valuable rewards programs.
The following reviews examine the features, benefits, downsides, and many other details of the top travel business cards available in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- The best travel business credit card in Canada is the RBC Avion Business Visa Infinite, followed by the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card.
- Travel business credit cards earn points on work expenses that you can redeem on travel but they tend to have low earning power and high annual fees.
- The best travel business card for you, your business, and your employees is one that rewards your biggest work expenditures.
The best travel business credit cards in Canada for 2025
Travel business credit cards are another type of rewards credit card. They usually earn points on work-related purchases (such as travel or utilities), which you can exchange for travel-related prizes such as airline tickets, car rentals, and hotel stays.
To simplify the comparison, we calculated the return rate (a.k.a. earning power) of every credit card on this list:
Rewards earned (in $CAD) / money spent (in $CAD) x 100 = return rate (in %)
For every 1% in returns, you get $1 in rewards per $100 spent. The best travel business credit cards in Canada return less than 3% of your spending to your pocket – and they’re packed with useful benefits, insurance, and business tools.
| Credit Card | Annual fee | Average return | Types of insurance | Airport lounge access | Elite hotel status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business | $175 | 2.91% | 12 | ✓ | ✕ |
| American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card | $599 | 2.68% | 11 | ✓ | ✕ |
| The Business Platinum Card from American Express | $799 | 2.50% | 12 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card | $150 | 2.38% | 9 | ✕ | ✓ |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card | $199 | 1.50% | 11 | ✓ | ✕ |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard | $149 | 1.26% | 13 | ✓ | ✕ |
You might think that Business credit cards have prohibitively large income requirements, but they’re generally more reasonable than the requirements for premium credit cards.
Here’s a comparison of income requirements for our top travel business cards:
1. Best travel business credit card in Canada
Rewards:
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on the first $75,000 in annual purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent afterwards
Best for: Air travel, car rentals
Most valuable travel reward: Air travel through the Air Travel Redemption Chart (2.33 CPP)
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business’s low return rate is tempered by the fact that each Avion Rewards point is worth up to 2.33 cents per point (CPP). You can spend them on tickets using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule (for an average value of 2.33 CPP), transfer your points to four airline partners (1.75 CPP), or book travel through the RBC Rewards website (1 CPP).
Cost of reward (in $CAD) / cost of reward (in points) x 100 = value of reward in cents per point (CPP)
Visa Infinite credit cards make excellent travelling companions thanks to their robust benefits. You can access exclusive events through the Dining Series, enjoy complimentary upgrades at properties in the Luxury Hotel Collection, and access 1,300+ airport lounges in the DragonPass network for $32 USD per visit.
You can also take advantage of exclusive offers from ADP, Apple, Geek Squad, Moneris, Telus, and more (plus included tools like Visa Spend Clarity For Business) to wring the maximum value out of your card!
Pros:
- 50 Be Well Points per $1 spent at Rexall
- 30% off, 3x the points, and automatic Five Star status at Hertz
- 12-month complimentary DoorDash subscription
- 12 types of insurance included
- 3 cents off per litre and 20% more points at Petro-Canada
- Two-for-one Friday ski lift passes
- Automatic Avion Elite membership
- Complimentary DragonPass membership
- No blackout dates or seat restrictions on travel rewards
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- $60,000 personal, $100,000 household, or $500,000 business income required (or at least $250,000 of assets under management)
- $75 additional card fee
- Low points value for non-travel rewards
2. Best travel business credit card for Air Canada
Rewards:
- 3 points per $1 spent on Air Canada
- 2 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Best for: Air travel
Most valuable travel reward: Air travel through Air Canada (2 CPP)
The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card offers three valuable selling points to Canucks who often fly domestically. First, you’ll earn Aeroplan Rewards points on every purchase to redeem on future travel through Air Canada.
Second, you’ll be treated like a VIP when you fly. Premium Aeroplan credit cardholders and their guests enjoy unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés, plus discounts and priority services at Toronto Pearson Airport. You can also use your complimentary Priority Pass membership to enter 1,500+ airport lounges around the world for $35 USD per visit.
Third, the package includes a suite of business expense management and tracking tools, car rental benefits, and employee card misuse insurance coverage. There’s a reason the Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve comes in a premium metal package – like you, it knows its worth!
Pros:
- 1,000 miles and 1 flight per $5,000 spent toward Aeroplan Elite membership status
- $100 annual NEXUS credit
- 15% off parking, complimentary valets, and priority security lanes at Toronto Pearson
- 11 types of insurance included
- One annual $99 companion voucher after spending $25,000
- No fees for employee cards
- American Express Experiences, Offers, and Front of the Line benefits
- Automatic President’s Club status in the AVIS loyalty program
- Complimentary Priority Pass
- First free checked bag and priority baggage, boarding, and check-ins on Air Canada flights for the cardholder and up to eight travelling companions
- No income requirements
- Premium metal credit card
Cons:
- $199 additional Reserve card fee
- Lower acceptance for American Express
3. Best premium travel business credit card
Rewards:
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases
Best for: Air travel, hotels
Most valuable travel reward: Convert Amex points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio (2 CPP)
The The Business Platinum Card from American Express is an aspirational product for many. Like its non-business counterpart, its best feature isn’t the Amex Membership Rewards program – it’s the perks.
Besides annual dining, travel, and NEXUS credits, cardholders can claim up to $620 in discounts from Dell and Indeed. It carries $100,000 of insurance coverage for employee card misuse, $500,000 for travel accidents, and $1,500 for damaged, lost, or stolen mobile devices.
As you travel, you’ll also enjoy VIP treatment at Toronto Pearson Airport and unlimited access to Centurion, Plaza Premium, and Priority Pass airport lounges through the incomparable Amex Global Lounge Collection. The Business Platinum’s $799 annual fee isn’t for everybody, but if you can afford it, you can hardly do better.
Pros:
- $200 annual dining credit
- $200 annual travel credit
- $100 NEXUS credit every four years
- 55-day interest-free grace period
- 24/7 Platinum Concierge services
- 15% off parking, complimentary valets, and priority security lanes at Toronto Pearson
- 12 types of insurance included, plus access to emergency travel assistance
- American Express Experiences, Offers, Fine Hotels + Resorts, Front of the Line, Global Dining Collection, and Hotel Collection benefits
- Automatic Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs
- Automatic Five Star status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program
- Preferential pricing and promotions on American Express Travel Online
- Premium metal credit card
Cons:
- $250 employee Platinum Card fee
- Lower acceptance for American Express
4. Best travel business credit card for hotels
Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent at Marriott properties
- 3 points per $1 spent on gas, dining, and travel
- 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Best for: Hotels
Most valuable travel reward: Hotel stays through Marriott Bonvoy (0.97 CPP)
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card makes up for its $150 annual fee with a single complimentary night’s stay per year and automatic Silver Elite Status in the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program. As long as you stay at one of the 30+ hotel chains in the MB portfolio, you can look forward to complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, room upgrades, and a late 2:00 PM checkout.
Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed on flights (for a value of 0.47 CPP) or transferred to 40+ airline loyalty programs, including Aeroplan, Cathay Pacific, and Delta. The best option, however, is to spend them on more hotel stays – you can usually get a value of 1 CPP if you do your homework.
Pros:
- 15 complimentary Elite Night Credits per year
- 9 types of insurance included
- One complimentary night stay per year
- American Express Offers, Experiences, and Front of the Line benefits
- Automatic Silver Elite Status Membership
- Automatic Gold Elite Status membership after spending $30,000 CAD OR earning 10+ Elite Night Credits in one year
- No blackout dates on hotel points redemptions
- No income requirements
Cons:
- $50 additional card fee
- Lower acceptance for American Express
5. Best travel business credit card with no foreign transaction fees
Rewards:
- 1.5 points per $1 spent
Best for: General travel
Most valuable travel reward: Statement credits towards any travel expense (1 CPP)
With no foreign transaction fees, you can save about 2.5% on purchases all over the world by using the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card. It also has a leg up on our #1 card because it provides six free airport lounge passes per year through DragonPass.
Unfortunately, Scene+ points aren’t worth as much as Avion points – but you can trade them for groceries, travel, movie tickets, restaurants, and discounts at Home Hardware for 1 CPP. Alternatively, you can save $1 per 100 points on any purchase by redeeming them a week later.
Pros:
- 11 types of insurance included
- Six complimentary airport lounge passes per year
- 5 – 25% off car rentals and membership in the Avis Preferred Plus program
- 0.00% foreign transaction fee
- No secondary card fee
- Complimentary Dragonpass membership
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Visa Spend Clarity for Business and discounts through Visa SavingsEdge
Cons:
- $60,000 personal, $100,000 household, or $500,000 business income required (or at least $250,000 of assets under management)
- $50 fee per additional card
6. Best travel business credit card for insurance
Rewards:
- 4 points per $1 on gas, office supplies, and cell phone/internet bills
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Best for: Car rentals
Most valuable travel reward: Statement credits towards any travel expense (0.67 CPP)
The BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard is one of the best travel insurance credit cards in Canada, providing 13 of the 17 types of coverage available. You won’t have to worry about buying rental car insurance or losing new purchases to loss, theft, or damage ever again.
You can redeem BMO Rewards points at a rate of 15,000 points per $100 off any travel purchase. Its insurance coverage, Shell discount, and high earning rate on gas make it the ideal card for frequent drivers, but if you decide to fly, you can enter two DragonPass lounges for free each year using Mastercard Travel Pass. Other World Elite Mastercard benefits include 20% off Cirque du Soleil, concierge services, and access to exclusive dining events.
Pros:
- 13 types of insurance included
- Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Five complimentary virtual doctor visits through Maple
- Complimentary DragonPass membership with two free passes
- Worldwide acceptance for Mastercard
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
Cons:
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required
- $50 additional card fee
Compare all travel business credit cards in Canada by Genius Rating
Before ranking the best travel business credit cards in Canada, we examined 126 credit card features in seven major categories:
- Rewards (54%)
- Fees (13%)
- Insurance (11%)
- Perks (11%)
- Interest (5%)
- Acceptance (3%)
- Approval (3%)
We gave rewards the most weight because travel credit cards live and die by them. We based our return rate calculations on a monthly spend of $2,000 by the average Canadian, but your mileage may vary depending on your business expenses.
Here’s how the top travel business credit cards compare when arranged by Genius Rating:
Learn more about the Genius Rating methodology
Pros and cons of travel business credit cards
A travel business credit card can be a valuable investment for a small business – but like any tool, it has its strengths and weaknesses.
A travel business credit card can help you:
- Access business expense management software and tools
- Access preferential travel pricing
- Build your business’s credit score and credit history
- Collect returns ranging from 0.5% to 3%
- Enjoy luxury travel perks and benefits such as airport lounge access
- Get discounts on car rentals, flights, and accommodations
- Make use of flexible payment options
Best of all, as long as they’re collected and redeemed by the business owner, credit card rewards aren’t taxable.
If you decide to use a business travel credit card, you’ll have to contend with:
- Complicated reward redemption systems
- High annual fees
- High income requirements
- Lower points earning power than non-business credit cards
Pro Tip: Browse the best rewards programs in Canada for a program with valuable redemption options worth at least 1 CPP.
Business vs. corporate credit cards
While they might seem interchangeable, business and corporate credit cards have significant differences:
| Business credit cards | Corporate credit cards | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they’re for | Small and medium-sized businesses | Large companies with many employees |
| What they’re for | * Separating business expenses from personal ones * Building business credit * Earning rewards on spending | * Centralizing expense management * Accessing detailed expense reporting features |
| Managed by | Business owner (usually) | Finance team |
| Spending limits | Varies | Typically higher to accommodate large expenses |
| Eligibility | Depends on the owner’s credit history | Minimum annual revenue and number of employees |
How to choose a travel credit card for your business
With so many great travel business cards, how do you choose one? Since everyone’s business needs are different, think about these factors when selecting a card:
- Your business travel habits: Are you the only one travelling, or will your business need supplementary cards for all employees who travel? If your company frequently uses the same airlines or hotel chains, consider getting a co-branded card for the most benefits.
- The fees and interest rates: It doesn’t make sense to get a card that costs you more in annual fees than you’re getting in rewards. Read through the fine print, paying attention to interest rates if you know the business will carry a balance and foreign transaction fees if your company makes international purchases.
- Reward programs: Ensure the card participates in a valuable rewards program. How many points do you earn across different categories? Do you have flexible redemption options, and what kind of returns do you get for business spending?
- Additional perks: A card’s welcome bonus can be a deciding factor in choosing a card, but pay attention to the spending requirements you have to meet. You should also consider other valuable perks, such as a card’s insurance package or travel benefits like lounge access or priority boarding.
How to apply for a business credit card
To apply for a business credit card, follow the same four steps as applying for a regular credit card:
- Check the eligibility requirements. There’s no point in sinking your credit score by applying for a bunch of cards you don’t qualify for. For a business credit card, you’ll need a good credit score and a minimum amount of personal, household, or business income – or a minimum amount of spending per year.
- Gather your information. You’ll need the basics (such as name, address, and phone number), plus details like your business name, address, annual revenue, registration number, articles of incorporation, etc.
- Submit your application. Nowadays, you can apply for most credit cards from the comfort of your chair online, over the phone, or in person at a bank.
- Wait for approval. If approved, your new business travel credit card should arrive in the mail within a few weeks.
We suggest jotting a few notes about your benefits and rewards and sticking them in your wallet. If you know what to do, you can reap hundreds of dollars’ worth from your credit card’s perks and benefits alone!
Are business travel credit cards worth it?
Business travel credit cards can be worth it if you travel often for work and take advantage of the card's perks. These cards typically provide:
- Rewards for travel spending
- Expense tracking
- Extra employee cards
- Airport lounge access
- Travel insurance
- Waived foreign transaction fees
- Generous welcome bonuses
Still, the true value depends on your usage – if the rewards and perks outweigh the annual fees and interest charges, a business travel card can be a smart investment. If not, the costs may outweigh the benefits.
FAQ
What is the best business credit card for travel?
We love the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business for its impressive rate of return on travel – nearly 3%. The card also comes with a dozen types of valuable insurance coverage and access to airport lounges.
Which is the best business credit card in Canada?
It’s probably no surprise that the top card on our best business credit card list is also the best business credit card for travel. Check out the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business for the best of both worlds.
Which airline has the best travel card?
Air Canada fans will appreciate The Business Platinum Card from American Express, the top premium travel card for business. It provides a high rate of return for Air Canada flights, plus access to Maple Leaf Lounges and business management tools.
Why is a business credit card important for travel expenses?
Using a business credit card not only gives you valuable rewards but also makes it easier to track business expenses while travelling. It also reduces the need to reimburse people for using their personal cards.
Which team members should get a credit card for business travel expenses?
Generally, managers and employees who travel often for work should have access to a business travel card. For instance, sales members who fly to meet with clients should have access to the business travel card.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 227 Canadian credit cards.
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