Best companion ticket credit cards in Canada

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard stands out as one of Canada's most valuable travel cards, offering an exceptional annual companion voucher that can save you hundreds on flights. With an annual fee of just $119, this card delivers remarkable value for frequent WestJet flyers.

How does the companion voucher work with WestJet?

The signature benefit of this card is its annual companion voucher, which offers two affordable pricing options:

• $119 CDN for a companion to fly with you anywhere within Canada and the Continental U.S.
• $399 CDN for a companion to fly with you to any international WestJet destination (including Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe)

These prices cover the base fare only—taxes, fees and charges are extra. But even with those additional costs, the savings are substantial compared to purchasing two full-price tickets.

Key features

• Annual fee: $119
• Companion voucher cost: $119-$399 CAD³
• Welcome offer: Get up to $700 in WestJet points†.
• Regular rewards earn rates: 1.5% WestJet dollars per $1 on everyday purchases⁸ and 2% WestJet dollars per $1 on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages⁸
• Other travel benefits: Comprehensive insurance; free checked bag⁴

Disclosures:

• Refer to the RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard has quickly emerged as one of Canada's most compelling travel credit cards, especially for frequent Porter Airlines flyers. The standout feature is the annual round-trip Porter companion pass that gives your travel partner 100% off the base fare of any Porter flight.

How does the companion pass work with VIPorter?

Primary cardholders will receive one companion pass after spending a minimum of $9,000 (less refunds and excluding cash advances, cash-like transactions, interest charges, fees, credit or debit adjustments) within the first 180 days after the account open date. The companion pass will be available 4-6 weeks after the spend requirement has been met.

Cardholders can also earn another companion pass by meeting further spending requirements:

• Spend at least $50,000 annually to earn another companion pass
• Valid for any round-trip Porter flight in the airline's networkwww.flyporter.com
• The primary cardholder must be traveling on the same booking
• Can be used on any Porter fare type
• Companion passenger must be booked on the same itinerary as the primary cardholder

Disclosures:

• *Terms and conditions apply

• *Terms and conditions apply

  BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite delivers exceptional value, but only for a specific type of Canadian traveller: those who travel to the UK, Ireland or the European Union.

How does the companion voucher work with British Airways?

The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card offers a Companion Award eVoucher after spending $30,000 CAD within a calendar year. Unlike other companion vouchers in Canada, this one has some unique characteristics:

• Only usable when redeeming Avios points (not for cash tickets)
• Must be for British Airways flights originating from and returning to Canada
• Second passenger flies for zero additional Avios (you pay only one passenger's points)
• Solo travelers can use it for a 50% Avios discount on their own booking

All that said, if you do see yourself meeting the aforementioned requirements you can save quite a bundle: The base fare of an Economy class, Vancouver-London return flight with British Airways can easily reach $800+ during peak travel periods like Christmas/New Year’s, and savings are of course even more substantial for Business or First Class fares.

Key features

• Annual fee: $165
• Companion voucher cost: $0 base fare˜ (must pay taxes, fees, and surcharges)
• Welcome offer:  Get up to 60,000 Avios† with the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite card (with minimum spend, conditions apply).
• Regular rewards earn rates: Earn 3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways and BA Holidays*; 2 Avios on dining* and 1 Avios on all other purchases
• Other travel benefits: 10% off British Airways flights you pay for with your card^∞; link with a Petro-Points membership to save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada; comprehensive insurances including 31-day out of country/province emergency medical insurance¹
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Disclosures:

The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card has established itself as one of Canada's premier travel credit cards for several compelling reasons - not the least of which is its impressive annual companion pass. 

How does the Air Canada worldwide companion pass work?

The American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card’s annual companion fare feature allows you to choose from a variety of base fares for an economy ticket on an Air Canada flight, making it the most flexible companion fare on this list. Air Canada has a far greater number of global flight itineraries than, say, WestJet or Alaska Airlines, and the Aeroplan Reserve Card’s companion fare can be redeemed for a round-trip itinerary within Canada and the continental U.S. ($99 CDN); to/from Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean ($299 CDN); to/from South America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa ($499 CDN); or to/from Asia, Australia, and New Zealand ($599 CDN).

Key features

• Annual fee: $599
• Companion fare cost: $99-$599 CDN
• Welcome bonus: Earn up to 130,000 Aeroplan®* points. (conditions apply)
• Earn rate: Highest Air Canada earn rate on an Aeroplan payment card in Canada: Earn 3x Aeroplan points on eligible Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®* purchases; Standard Earn Rate 2X the points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada and earn 1.25X the points on everything else.
• Additional perks: Unlimited access to Priority Pass airport lounges; special Air Canada travel benefits including your first bag checked for free; and comprehensive travel insurance.†
• New Offer: Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 consecutive hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points. Offer ends December 31, 2025
  

Disclosures:

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  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. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

The TD Aeroplan VIP Card offers the same annual companion pass benefit as the Aeroplan Reserve Card from American Express, but it's the welcome bonus that really makes this card stand out:

• Earn up to $3,000 in value† including up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.

Key features

• Annual fee: $599
• Companion fare cost: $99-$599 CDN
• Welcome bonus: Earn up to 130,000 Aeroplan®* points. (conditions apply)
• Earn rate: Earn 2 points† for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®), 1.5 points† for every $1 on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel & transit and dining purchases and 1.25 points† on all other purchases.
• Additional perks: Unlimited access to Priority Pass airport lounges; special Air Canada travel benefits including your first bag checked for free; and comprehensive travel insurance.†

Disclosures:

• †Terms and conditions apply.

• †Terms and conditions apply.
  
  This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
  
  The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

Frequent fliers are always on the hunt for travel credit cards with welcome bonuses generous enough to let you soar the skies for free. But one step up from that is an even rarer beast: Cards that come with a low-cost companion fare ticket, allowing you to fly a friend, family member, or significant other alongside you–on top of a regular welcome bonus!

While these companion fares usually do come with some kind of a price tag (albeit low), if you’re smart you can use a cheap companion fare for a flight that has a significantly higher cost on the regular market, saving you quite a bit of dough. Imagine flying your companion from Vancouver to Hawaii or from Toronto to Orlando, round trip, for only $121 USD! The savings are massive. But what makes some of these offers truly delectable is the fact that they give you a round-trip companion ticket each and every year you keep the card open and in good standing, and there is no minimum spend required.

There are usually no blackout dates for a companion seat and you can use it for any flight associated with the card’s partner airline. That said, there are subtle variations between each companion fare program, variations that you’ll want to pay attention to before you finalize which card you go with. 

When selecting a credit card that offers a companion pass for flights, Canadians should consider several key factors to ensure they're getting maximum value. Here's what to look for:

1. Airlines and route networks

The most important consideration is whether the airline offering the companion pass serves your preferred destinations:

• WestJet's companion voucher is excellent for domestic Canadian travel and trips to the US, Mexico and the Caribbean
• Air Canada's companion pass provides the broadest global coverage with tiered pricing based on destination
• Porter's companion pass is valuable for travelers in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern US
• British Airways' companion voucher is primarily beneficial for transatlantic travel to/from the UK

Choose a card affiliated with an airline whose route network aligns with your typical travel patterns.

2. Spending requirements to get the pass

Different cards have varying thresholds to earn the companion pass:

• WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard: No minimum spend required; comes automatically with card renewal
• Premium Aeroplan Cards: $25,000 annual spend requirement
• BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard: $50,000 annual spend requirement
• RBC British Airways Visa Infinite: $30,000 annual spend requirement

Be realistic about whether you can meet these spending thresholds to actually earn the benefit.

3. Companion fare pricing

Each program has a different pricing model for the companion fare:

• Fixed reduced fares: WestJet ($119-$399) and Air Canada ($99-$599) charge set amounts based on destination
• $0 base fares: British Airways and Porter offer companion flights with $0 base fare (taxes and fees still apply)

Consider which structure provides better value based on your travel patterns and typical fare costs.

4. Annual fee vs. potential savings

Compare the card's annual fee against the potential savings from the companion pass:

• WestJet RBC World Elite: $119 annual fee with potential savings of $500+ on transcontinental flights
• Premium Aeroplan cards: $599 annual fee with potential savings of $1,000+ on international flights
• RBC British Airways Visa Infinite: $165 annual fee with potentially massive savings on premium cabin redemptions

The companion pass should deliver savings that significantly exceed the annual fee.

5. Additional restrictions and limitations

Pay close attention to important restrictions:

• Eligible fare classes: Some passes exclude basic economy or premium cabin fares
• Blackout dates: Check if there are seasonal restrictions or peak travel exclusions
• Booking channels: Some passes must be booked directly through the airline
• Expiration policies: Most passes have a 12-month validity period
• Combinability: Whether the pass can be used with points redemptions or other promotions

7. Travel frequency and patterns

Honestly assess your travel habits:

• Solo vs. couple/family travel: Companion passes only provide value when traveling with others
• Travel frequency: The benefit is wasted if you don't fly at least once annually with a companion
• Domestic vs. international travel: Different passes excel for different travel patterns
• Loyalty to specific airlines: Consider whether you prefer flexibility or are committed to one carrier