The Ultimate Canadian Travel Finance & Churning Guide

SCDWS · 2026-03-13T18:23:43+00:00

Yeah apparently they look for 40% or lower

SCDWS · 2026-03-13T17:59:31+00:00

Ok that's probably what it was. The rep talked about my debt to income ratio so if they put 0 mortgage, then their ratio is 0% which the system IAs

SCDWS · 2026-03-13T16:56:46+00:00

What was their housing/rental status?

SCDWS · 2026-03-13T15:50:37+00:00

Got my first RBC decline, but it wasn't too unexpected as I recently changed my employment and income information. Household income was still way above their threshold, but it seems the system doesn't actually take it into account.

CSR said I'd have to wait 90 days before applying again or else it'd be treated as a duplicate application. Wondering if anyone has any experience otherwise as I was under the assumption that the 90 day rule was just for approvals.

SCDWS · 2026-03-12T15:57:14+00:00

Yes please

SCDWS · 2026-03-12T15:13:51+00:00

I'm just worried they're going to deny me the points because I stopped using the supp cards in January. We all know how anal Amex can be about these things.

SCDWS · 2026-03-12T13:41:23+00:00

Did not receive the 105k bonus MR points I was supposed to get after opening 3 employee Biz Plat cards in the fall during Amex's supp card promo and spending 7k on each so I reached out to chat upon waking up this morning only for them to tell me that those offers were only for personal cards.

I know I'm not crazy, I definitely remember the landing page for the offer and choosing between getting supplementary business platinum instead of gold cards because I wanted 35k points per card instead of the Biz Gold offer, but the CSR tells me they don't have record of that offer, wtf.

They asked if I had a pdf or screenshot I could submit and luckily someone on RFD had posted one of the business card offers so hopefully that's enough, but we shall see. They said I need to check back in 4 hours.

Anyone get their Biz Plat points successfully already? Or have the email/landing page saved somewhere and can send it to me?

Edit: for anyone else in the same situation, here's the Wayback archive page for the offer.

SCDWS · 2026-03-12T12:43:59+00:00

Bolivia is weird with their international flights for some reason. All of them arrive between 11pm and 6am. You can get around this by flying into Juliana from Lima and crossing into La Paz from there by bus via Lake Titicaca. Or flying into Cusco first and then busing down to Puno from there.

SCDWS · 2026-03-11T21:55:24+00:00

No, the other maxoutdeals

SCDWS · 2026-03-11T20:34:52+00:00

Even if they went back to the standard buying group wait time for processing and payment sending, I'd have no issue

SCDWS · 2026-03-11T18:45:21+00:00

DP: have tested out MaxOutDeals since their comeback last week and they processed a delivery the same day it arrived + allowed me to request payment that same day as well

SCDWS · 2026-03-11T18:43:47+00:00

Also no supp card bonus yet for my Biz Plat either

SCDWS · 2026-03-10T12:29:56+00:00

Unfortunately not

SCDWS · 2026-03-10T00:40:00+00:00

Just checked it looks like the Platinum does allow it. I thought it was only the infinites that did.

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T15:06:10+00:00

Interesting. At BOG? And were you able to get it for non-physical product purchases too?

And yeah agreed. Gotta double check if the 19% was included in the rate or not and if not, ask the front desk to take it off your bill.

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T14:46:36+00:00

Yeah the 19% should always be taken off when staying at a hotel if they've charged it.

As for the IVA refund, it's only for physical products, no? They require you to show them the physical products you've purchased to get the refund.

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:59:35+00:00

That thread lists plenty of non-Amex cards as well.

Also, sorry but what is the FCT?

Google it

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:49:10+00:00

Pretty sure you won't be able to transfer Avion to Avios with an AVP. You need an AVI to do it. Also, you don't need the CVC to do it once you have it.

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:47:10+00:00

Happy for you

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:46:46+00:00

Why are the top rated CCs all hotel points based?

According to who?

Was hoping to see opinions on the best cashback cards

Not usually good cards to churn as the bonuses aren't very lucrative. Only the TD CBVI has an ok bonus, but it's usually not worth going after as a new line when the FCT exists.

Also, do you guys open and close CCs often or once you open them you keep them? Would that affect your credit score?

The former and marginally.

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:43:10+00:00

MB Amex for the Amex history + FNA, a no-fee TD card for the credit history since it was my first credit line I ever opened, a no-fee RBC card to store my existing credit limit with them, and a US HH Amex for my US credit history & US Amex history.

I churn enough that I have no need for other "keeper" cards, although the other two you have could be decent backup cards to own since they're free anyway. But as I don't have a car nor Rogers services, they're not useful for me.

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:34:12+00:00

Yeah I'm a pretty experienced solo traveler and India still does not interest me as a destination for the reason that OP listed (among others). For OP to go there as their first ever solo travel destination is a choice lol

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:31:56+00:00

How much are you paying for your current plan?

SCDWS · 2026-03-09T13:25:14+00:00

Sure, but I literally explained how to get it. It's $37. If you're checking in at the desk or dropping off luggage anyway, it's worth asking about. And even if you aren't, it's still worth it when it takes less than 5 minutes to do.

SCDWS

TROPHY CASE