If you collect VIPorter points, you’ll be happy to learn that Porter issues a pair of credit cards in conjunction with BMO. The entry-level card is the BMO VIPorter Mastercard, which offers flight discounts, Passport frequent flyer status, and VIPorter points on all purchases.

Earning VIPorter points

Every purchase you make on this card earns you VIPorter points, including bonus rewards on Porter purchases and other basics:

• 2 points per $1 spent on Porter
• 1 point per $1 spent on gas, transit, groceries, restaurants, and hotels
• 0.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Based on a typical $2,000 monthly spend, it works out to roughly 18,600 VIPorter points per year.

Using your VIPorter points

Your point redemption options are limited to flights – you can’t use them towards merchandise or gift cards. That said, airline points are typically best used for flying, so we don’t consider this a downside.

You're not just limited to flights on Porter; VIPorter points are also redeemable for reward flights on select itineraries on Alaska Airlines and Air Transat. To do so, you must book the flights through the Porter website or contact centre.

We give a VIPorter point an average value of 0.015 cents, but they can vary greatly in value.

BMO VIPorter Mastercard pros

There's plenty more this card offers beyond just earning points on purchases.

1. Automatic VIPorter Passport status

Porter offers the only credit cards in Canada that automatically give you advanced travel status. This card gives you VIPorter Passport status, which includes perks like:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority security at select airports
• Increased earn rate from 5 to 6 points per $1 spent on Porter

2. Annual travel discount

Every year you have the card, you can save 35% on the base airfare of 1 Porter-operated flight per year. The discount applies to you and up to 3 others travelling on the same reservation. There is a catch to this perk – you must spend $25,000 per year on the card to earn the discount, but if you do, there are big savings here.

We looked at a flight from Toronto to Halifax for 1 person. The base airfare was $352. Saving 35% of that is $123 – and if you book 4 people on the reservation, you’ll save a total of $492.

3. Travel insurance included

Even though it's a basic Mastercard, this card includes a good amount of insurance for a card with a $89 annual fee. You’ll enjoy 9 types of coverage, which you can view the details for in the insurance tab above.

4. World Mastercard version available

If you meet World Mastercard income requirements ($50K personal or $80K household), you'll get the World version instead. It's the same card but also includes standard World Mastercard benefits.

5. Big welcome bonus

BMO and Porter aren't messing around with the sign-up bonus. You can earn up to 40,000 bonus points (worth up to 600) as follows:

• 10,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 110 days
• 15,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months
• 15,000 points when you spend $10,000 in the first year

You'll earn the 35% flight voucher discount in your first year when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, the annual fee is waived for the first year.

BMO VIPorter Mastercard cons

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. Limited use rewards

These rewards are designed for free flights on Porter, Air Transat, or Alaska Airlines – that's it. If you ever decide to move on from VIPorter, there’s no easy way out (like merchandise or gift cards) to get something from your points before closing your account.

2. Low base earn rate

Outside of the bonus categories, you'll only earn 0.5 points per $1 spent on purchases. With points worth 1.5 cents each, this means you’ll get a return of just 0.75 – a little lower than we'd like to see on a card with a $89 annual fee.

Comparison to the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard

BMO and Porter offer a premium version of this card, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard. In exchange for a much larger annual fee, you'll get an even better Avid Traveller status and earn more rewards.

	BMO VIPorter Mastercard	BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus	$100 GeniusCash + Up to 40,000 bonus points, 35% flight discount, first year free (terms)	$150 GeniusCash + Up to 70,000 bonus points, companion pass, first year free (terms)
Earn rates	* 2 points per $1 spent on Porter * 1 point per $1 spent on gas, transit, groceries, restaurants, and hotels * 0.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases	* 3 points per $1 spent on Porter * 2 point per $1 spent on gas, transit, groceries, restaurants, and hotels * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Insurance included	9 types	11 types
Automatic VIPorter status	Passport	Venture
Flight discount	* 35% base airfare savings on one flight booking for up to 4 * Earned after spending $25,000 per year	* Companion pass for another traveller, just pay the taxes and fees * Earned after spending $50,000 per year
Annual fee	$89	$199
Income requirements	None	$80,000 personal or $150,000 household

Is the World Elite worth the extra annual fee? Let's see.

Here are our estimated annual rewards (in dollars) based on a $2,000 monthly spend:

• BMO VIPorter Mastercard: $279
• BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard: $540

That's almost double the rewards – but it's the flight savings that can make that up. While the companion pass is great, spending $50,000 per year will be a stretch for many. The flight savings with the BMO VIPorter Mastercard are for more attainable, so if you can spend $25,000 on your card, the BMO VIPorter Mastercard can more than make up for it in savings. As noted in our example above, we would save $492 on a flight for 4 people.

You’ll also want to consider VIPorter status. The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard offers more frequent flyer perks, but only 2 of them directly save you more money – a free checked bag and seat selection.

For our theoretical trip, those cost $95 per person, or $380 for a group of 4. And you don't need to spend a huge amount to earn this since it's awarded right away.

The bottom line: it comes down to what you prefer and what you’d rather save on.

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If you have (or had) the BMO VIPorter Mastercard, leave a user review and let others know what you think of the card.

FAQ

What can VIPorter points be used for?

VIPorter points can only be used for flights on Porter, Air Transat, and Alaska Airlines.

What are the reward earn rates of the BMO VIPorter Mastercard?

The BMO VIPorter Mastercard earns rewards at the following rates.

• 2 points per $1 spent on Porter
• 1 point per $1 spent on gas, transit, groceries, restaurants, and hotels
• 0.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases

What benefits does the BMO VIPorter Mastercard include?

The BMO VIPorter Mastercard contains a host of benefits with Porter.

• Automatic Passport status
• 35% annual flight discount voucher
• Basic travel insurance