Earlier this year, BMO launched two brand-new co-branded credit cards in conjunction with Porter Airlines.
As a reminder, the introductory offers on the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* and the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* bring competitive welcome bonuses of up to 70,000 VIPorter points and valuable Porter-specific benefits to cardholders.
If you’re a frequent Porter flyer or looking to broaden your travel rewards into the Porter Airlines ecosystem, these offers deserve serious consideration for boosting your VIPorter balance and elevating your travel experience ahead of your next trip.
BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*: Up to 70,000 VIPorter Points!
BMO’s flagship Porter Airlines co-branded card is the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*, which commands an annual fee of $199 that’s rebated in the first year as part of the current offer.†
New cardholders are eligible for a welcome bonus that delivers up to 70,000 VIPorter points† through a three-tiered structure, outlined as follows:
- Earn 20,000 VIPorter points upon spending $5,000 in the first 110 days†
- Earn an additional 20,000 VIPorter points upon spending $9,000 in the first 180 days†
- Earn an additional 30,000 VIPorter points upon spending $18,000 in the first 365 days†
We value VIPorter points conservatively at 1.5 cents apiece, which means that the total welcome bonus alone is worth roughly $1,050.
With Porter’s dynamic pricing model, you can expect to pay as little as 5,000–9,000 points for domestic one-way flights, which makes this bonus sufficient for multiple trips.
The card’s earning rates follow a 3-2-1 format across the following spending categories, with annual spending caps noted:
- Earn 3 VIPorter points per dollar spent on up to $20,000 in Porter purchases annually†
- Earn 2 VIPorter points per dollar spent on up to $5,000 in gas & transportation purchases annually†
- Earn 2 VIPorter points per dollar spent on up to $10,000 in dining and grocery purchases annually†
- Earn 2 VIPorter points per dollar spent on up to $5,000 in hotel purchases annually†
- Earn 1 VIPorter point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
Once again, using our valuation of VIPorter points at 1.5 cents per point, you’re looking at an effective return of 1.5–4.5% on your purchases.
However, there are plenty of opportunities to boost that even further if you’re able to redeem your VIPorter points for more. It’s not uncommon to get upwards of 3 cents per point on redemptions, which would boost your effective returns accordingly.
Beyond the accrual of points through the welcome offer and daily spending, cardholders automatically receive VIPorter Venture Avid Traveller status, which includes the following valuable perks:
- Earn 6 VIPorter points per dollar spent on all Porter Airlines purchases (except for government-imposed taxes and fees)
- Complimentary PorterClassic seat selection (rows 8 and above) for up to two passengers
- Dedicated check-in, priority security, and early boarding
- Priority reaccommodation in the event of flight delays
- One complimentary carry-on bag and one complimentary checked bag for yourself and up to eight passengers travelling on the same booking
Another standout feature on the card is the VIPorter companion pass. Spend $9,000 in your first year to earn a round-trip companion pass, which offers 100% off the base fare for a second passenger.†
In subsequent years, you can earn another companion pass by spending $50,000, which is admittedly a rather high spending threshold for a companion pass in the Canadian market.
An interesting feature is the ability to earn all tiers of VIPorter Avid Traveller status through credit card spending rather than flying. You’ll earn $1 in qualifying spend for every $25 spent on the card,† allowing you to reach higher status tiers than the Venture status that comes as a cardholder benefit:
- Spending $50,000 would qualify you for VIPorter Passport status, as you’d have earned $2,000 in Qualifying Spend (though as a cardholder, you’ll already enjoy VIPorter Venture Avid Traveller status)
- Spending $75,000 would qualify you for VIPorter Venture status, as you’d have earned $3,000 in Qualifying Spend (though as a cardholder, you’ll already enjoy this tier of status)
- Spending $150,000 would qualify you for VIPorter Ascent status, as you’d have earned $6,000 in Qualifying Spend
- Spending $250,000 would qualify you for VIPorter First status, as you’d have earned $10,000 in Qualifying Spend
Lastly, the card comes with a strong suite of insurance coverage, which is outlined in detail on our dedicated credit card page.
As a World Elite®* Mastercard®* product, this credit card has a minimum personal annual income requirement of $80,000 or a minimum household income of $150,000. You’ll also need to be a Canadian resident and of the age of majority in your province/territory of residence to be eligible.
BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*
- Earn 20,000 VIPorter points upon spending $5,000 in the first 110 days
- Plus, earn an additional 20,000 VIPorter points upon spending $9,000 in the first 180 days
- Plus, earn an additional 30,000 VIPorter points upon spending $18,000 in the first 365 days
- Then, earn 3x VIPorter points per dollar spent on Porter purchases
- And, earn 2x VIPorter points per dollar spent on gas, transportation, dining, groceries, and hotels
- Get one free checked bag and one free carry-on bag for yourself and up to eight guests on the same booking
- Priority airport services & priority rebooking in the event of delays
- Earn Qualifying Spend towards Avid Traveller status
- Annual fee: $199 (rebated in the first year)
BMO VIPorter Mastercard®*: Up to 40,000 VIPorter Points
If you don’t meet the minimum income requirement for the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* or if you’re looking for a more accessible option, the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* offers solid value with an $89 annual fee (also rebated in the first year with the current offer)† and no minimum income requirement.†
Plus, the current welcome bonus provides up to 40,000 VIPorter points for new cardholders,† outlined as follows:
- Earn 10,000 VIPorter points upon spending $3,000 in the first 110 days†
- Earn an additional 15,000 VIPorter points upon spending $6,000 in the first 180 days†
- Earn an additional 15,000 VIPorter points upon spending $10,000 in the first 365 days†
Using our valuation of VIPorter points at 1.5 cents per point, you’re looking at a value of about $600 from the welcome bonus alone, which is excellent for a card with no minimum income requirement.
The earning rates are more modest than its World Elite counterpart, and also follow a three-tiered structure:
- Earn 2 VIPorter points per dollar spent on up to $10,000 in Porter purchases annually†
- Earn 1 VIPorter point per dollar spent on up to $3,000 in gas & transportation purchases annually†
- Earn 1 VIPorter point per dollar spent on up to $5,000 in dining and grocery purchases annually†
- Earn 1 VIPorter point per dollar spent on up to $3,000 in hotel purchases annually†
- Earn 0.5 VIPorter points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
Once again, using our valuation of VIPorter points at 1.5 cents per point, you’re looking at an effective return of 0.75–3% on your daily spending, though the return could be higher if you’re able to redeem your points for outsized value.
As a cardholder, you’ll automatically enjoy VIPorter Passport Avid Traveller status, which comes with the following privileges (amongst others):
- Earn 6 VIPorter points per dollar spent on all Porter Airlines purchases (except for government-imposed taxes and fees)
- Dedicated check-in, priority security, and early boarding
- Priority reaccommodation in the event of flight delays
In lieu of a VIPorter companion pass, you can earn a 35% discount voucher for up to four passengers after spending $6,000 in the first year.†
Like the World Elite®* version, this card also allows you to build Porter status through credit card spending:
- Spending $50,000 would qualify you for VIPorter Passport status, as you’d have earned $2,000 in Qualifying Spend (though as a cardholder, you’ll already enjoy VIPorter Passport Avid Traveller status)
- Spending $75,000 would qualify you for VIPorter Venture status, as you’d have earned $3,000 in Qualifying Spend
- Spending $150,000 would qualify you for VIPorter Ascent status, as you’d have earned $6,000 in Qualifying Spend
- Spending $250,000 would qualify you for VIPorter First status, as you’d have earned $10,000 in Qualifying Spend
Lastly, the insurance coverage on this card is more basic, with 8 days of emergency medical coverage compared to 21 days on the World Elite version. Full details of the insurance coverage can be found on the card’s landing page on our website.
This credit card has no minimum personal annual income requirement to be eligible.
BMO VIPorter Mastercard®*
- Earn 10,000 VIPorter points upon spending $3,000 in the first 110 days
- Plus, earn an additional 15,000 VIPorter points upon spending $6,000 in the first 180 days
- Plus, earn an additional 15,000 VIPorter points upon spending $10,000 in the first 365 days
- Then, earn 2x VIPorter points per dollar spent on Porter purchases
- And, earn 1x VIPorter point per dollar spent on gas, transportation, dining, groceries, and hotels
- Priority airport services & priority rebooking in the event of delays
- Earn Qualifying Spend towards Avid Traveller status
- Annual fee: $89 (rebated in the first year)
Conclusion
BMO’s duo of Porter Airlines co-branded credit cards offer excellent access to the VIPorter loyalty program.
With strong welcome bonuses, competitive earning rates in key categories, and valuable Porter-specific benefits, these cards represent solid options for frequent Porter flyers.
Both cards include first-year annual fee rebates, making them essentially risk-free ways to test drive the Porter ecosystem and boost your points balance for upcoming travel plans.
† Terms and conditions apply. BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please refer to the BMO website for the most up-to-date information.