Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for March - These cards provide the best value out of their welcome bonuses

 
Here are the Rewards Canada Top 5 Travel Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of March 2021! This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings but instead a look at cards that have very good acquisition (welcome/sign up) offers. As always when choosing a card you should always take other factors into account other than the just sign up bonus, but when some of these cards are first year free, they can and do pay off even when you grab them strictly for the sign up rewards. This month we see three first year free cards on the list

One change this month as the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard shoots up to first place with its new companion voucher offer on top of the 450 WestJet dollars you can earn as its welcome bonus. This drops the MBNA Alaska Airlines World Elite Mastercard off the list.

Editor's Note:
As travel is curtailed right now these offers are more forward looking and can and should be used towards your long term travel plans - whether that's later this year, next year or even beyond. Getting the cards now allows you to achieve the sign up bonuses as you wish and then continue to spend to build up those points and miles balances to make those future vacations that much better. - Or in the case of all the cards except the Alaska Airlines Mastercard you can also look at cash back or cash back equivalents like gift cards from each program if you are looking at short term financial help. If you are going for the latter focus on the cards that have no fee in the first year so that you can maximize your value.

Remember as well that you will find this list smack dab in the middle of the Rewards Canada homepage for easy reference!

Here are our top 5 credit card sign up offers for March (in order of welcome bonus value, calculated as minimum mile/points value minus annual fee)

 

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard - 450 WestJet dollars + $0 Companion Voucher (Apply here) Minimum value: $631
WestJet took notice of Aeroplan's Buddy Pass and has matched them by offering a $0 companion voucher (you just pay taxes & fees) for new card approvals. On top of this you'll 250 WestJet dollars on your first purchase and 200 more if you spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months.  To get in on this both the 450 WJD & $0 Companion Voucher you have to apply by Mar 31, 2021.
Minimum Income: $80,000 Personal or $150,000 Household

 

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card - 20,000 points + Buddy Pass (Apply here)

Minimum value: $540

The new Aeroplan cards are here and the bonus offer on the mainstay cards provide 20,000 Aeroplan points, a Buddy Pass and an annual fee rebate for the primary and first additional cardholder. All told the points and buddy pass are worth no less than $540 in our minds and in reality should be worth much more than that. To get in on this bonus you have to apply by May 30 2021. Learn more about the Buddy Pass here and the New Aeroplan program here.
Minimum Income: $60,000 Personal or $100,000 Household

 

 

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card - 10,000 points + Buddy Pass (Apply here)

Minimum value: $540

The offer on this card is virtually the same as the TD version but offers fee rebates on more additional cards than the TD version. The welcome bonus provides 20,000 Aeroplan points, a Buddy Pass and an annual fee rebate for the primary and three additional cardholders. All told the points and buddy pass are worth no less than $540 in our minds and in reality should be worth much more than that. Learn more about the Buddy Pass here and the New Aeroplan program here.
Minimum Income: $60,000 Personal or $100,000 Household

 

 

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card - 50,000 Points (Apply here)
Minimum value: $380

The 50,000 points, awarded after spending $1,500 on the card in three months are worth at least $500 in our minds which means after subtracting the annual fee you are coming out ahead by $380. In reality you can pull even more value out of the card (into four figures) as we outlined in our post A look at how The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card provides huge value!  Don't forget you get an annual free night with the card as well on the card anniversary date, automatic Silver Elite status, 15 night credit towards the next elite status and more.
Minimum Income: N/A

 

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card - 15,000 points + Buddy Pass (Apply here)

Minimum value: $360

Amex's new mainstay Aeroplan card provides a bigger 15,000 Aeroplan points welcome and a Buddy Pass but you do have to pay the annual fee hence the slightly lower value here than its TD and CIBC compatriots. All told the points and buddy pass less the annual fee are worth no less than $360 in our minds and in reality should be worth much more than that.  Learn more about the Buddy Pass here and the New Aeroplan program here.
Minimum Income: N/A

 

If you went for all these cards you ultimately could end up with over $2,400 in travel value to well beyond that!. However even if you only take on one or two you are helping your travel budget significantly at no cost other than regular credit card spend. We don't really recommend getting all five in one month unless you know you can meet the minimum spend for them all at once, rather you'd want to pick one or two right now, perhaps another next month and so on.

Disclaimers:
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link.

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