Home
Credit Cards
Credit Card Reviews
Capital One Aspire Travel Platinum Mastercard

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard® Review

Apply Now
Apply now

3.0

1x Earn 1 Reward Mile for every $1 spent.

$0 Annual Fee Add an authorized user for $0.

21.90% Purchase APR

21.90% Cash Advance APR

21.90% Balance Transfer Rate

Fair Recommended Credit Score

3.0

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard® Review

Apply now

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard® rewards Structure

Rewards miles come at a steady and unrestricted rate of 1 for every $1 spent. With no ambiguous purchase eligibility, cardholders can be confident that they’re earning rewards miles every time they use their card. The miles themselves are some of the most flexible travel rewards we’ve seen, and can be used retroactively to cover travel-related purchases that show up on a monthly statement. Travel can therefore be booked everywhere, and cardholders won’t be limited by in-house booking sites, seating restrictions, or blackout dates.

Miles can also be redeemed in other ways, like gift cards and cash back against the card’s statement. For more information on the nuances of Capital One miles, check out our Loyalty Rewards Bible.

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • Earn 1 mile per $1 with no purchase ambiguity

  • Flexible miles for retroactive travel purchases

  • $0 annual fee

  • Price protection for marked-down items

  • Basic travel insurance coverage

  • Redeem miles for gift cards and cash back

Cons

Cons

  • Basic travel insurance compared to some competitors

  • $100/item limit on price protection

  • Limited features for high-end travel benefits

  • No specific travel perks or elite status

  • May not suit high-spenders seeking premium rewards

Feature breakdown

  • Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on purchases
  • $0 annual fee
  • Book your own travel, pay with rewards miles
  • Price protection services
  • Solid array of insurance benefits

The peripheral benefits of the Aspire Travel Platinum card include Price Protection and insurance perks, both of which help cardholders save money. Price Protection is rather unusual among travel credit cards, and it allows cardholders to get reimbursed if they discover that something they purchased is later marked down. With Capital One® cards there’s a $100 limit per item and collective $500 limit per year, and cardholders can only use the feature on items that were marked down within 60 days of their initial purchase. For example, if a cardholder were to buy a $500 item and then find the same item listed for $400 a month later, they could claim the difference (and still have $400 left to claim against other purchases for the remainder of the year).

The Aspire Travel card comes with basic travel insurance as well, though the key word here is ‘basic’: it’s missing some of the more valuable travel coverage that is provided by some competing travel cards. Capital One® provides coverage for common carrier travel accidents, car rental collisions and damage, baggage delay, and travel assistance. While it’s logical that a no-fee card would only have the most basic insurance options, some other no-fee travel cards have managed to raise the bar a bit. The Rogers World Elite Mastercard, for instance, offers a different travel insurance package that some travellers might prefer, including out-of-province/out-of-country medical coverage.

Who’s the card for?

Travellers who want the simplicity of earning a flat rate of travel rewards on all their purchases, want to book their arrangements wherever they like, and dislike annual fees are well-suited to the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard®. Those who appreciate flexibility will also enjoy the opportunity to spend their miles on cash back and gift cards as well.

Read: Best Capital One credit cards in Canada

Money.ca Money.ca Editorial Team

The Money.ca Editorial Team is a group of passionate financial experts, seasoned journalists, and content creators who are deeply committed to providing unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial information. With years of combined industry experience, our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest journalistic standards and delivering informative and engaging content. From personal finance and investing to retirement planning and business finance, we cover a broad range of topics to suit the financial needs of our diverse readership. You can trust the Money.ca Editorial Team to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make wise financial decisions.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.