BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
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Best for Travel perks
Travel
Welcome bonus – Earn up to $767 in first-year bonuses.
Card highlights
Welcome bonus
Ratehub’s review
Natasha Macmillan
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is a top choice among seasoned travellers, particularly those who prefer a Mastercard, and who like to frequently fly and dine out. This card offers a suite of perks that cater to travel enthusiasts.
Pros
- Earn points: Earn three points per $1 spent on restaurant, entertainment purchases, and recurring bills, and one point per $1 spent on everything else
- Comprehensive insurance package: Recognized for one of the best insurance packages in the market, including $5 million in out-of-country insurance, exceeding the standard $1 million in coverage offered by most other cards
- 24/7 concierge services: Enjoy around-the-clock concierge services for your travel needs
- Airport lounge access: Receive complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass, including four annual complimentary passes
- Redemption flexibility: Enhanced flexibility to redeem points for flights on virtually any airline with no blackout dates (points can be used to cover taxes and fees as well)
Cons
- Income requirements: The card’s minimum personal income of $80,000 may limit accessibility for some users
- Lower point value: While BMO points are flexible, they are worth less than other travel rewards programs (usually around 1 cent per point) at 0.67 cents per point
Rewards & bonuses
See what you could earn based on how you spend.
Welcome bonus
Earn up to $767.
Limited Time Offer: Get up to $1,900 in value including up to 115,000 points, Mastercard Travel Pass & 4 Complimentary Lounge Passes, NEXUS Statement Credit and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.*
Earn rates
5 points/$1
On eligible travel purchases* for every $1 spent*Up to $1,250 / month, then 1 point/$1
3 points/$1
On eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments* for every $1 spent*Up to $833 / month, then 1 point/$1
1 point/$1
On everywhere else* for every $1 spent*
Caps apply where shown. Rewards are earned on eligible purchases only, see the card’s terms for full details. 150 points = $1.
Your earning potential
First year reward
Based on spending $2,200/mo after $150 annual fee
Second year reward
Based on spending $2,200/mo after $150 annual fee
These numbers are based on estimations and the calculation breakdown below.
Adjust your spending
First year reward†
- If you spend $2,200/month, you’ll earn
- Welcome bonus
- Annual feefirst year waived
- First year reward
Second year reward†
- If you spend $2,200/month, you’ll earn
- Annual fee
- Second year reward
† Estimate calculated by Ratehub.ca and is based on current offers and a monthly spend of $2,200. It is for illustrative purposes only.
Perks & insurance
Perks and insurance coverage included with the card.
| Perks | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | DragonPass membership, includes 4 passes per year | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
| No foreign exchange fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
| Extended warranty | Up to 1 year | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
| Price protection | Not included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
| Insurance | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel accident insurance | Up to $500,000 per person | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
| Travel emergency medical | $5,000,000 for 21 days (under 65) | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
| Car rental insurance | MSRP of up to $65,000, for 48 days | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
| Trip cancellation | Up to $1,500 per person, $5,000 per trip | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
| Trip interruption | Up to $2,000 per person, $10,000 per trip | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $500 coverage per trip; delays over 4 hours | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
| Baggage loss insurance | Up to $500 per person to a maximum of $1,000 per trip | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
| Baggage delay insurance | Up to $500 per person to a maximum $1,000 per trip; delays over 6 hours | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
| Hotel/motel burglary | Up to $1,000 | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
| Mobile insurance | Not included | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
| Purchase assurance | Up to 90 days | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Details & eligibility
Fees
- Annual fee
- $0 for the first year, then $150 per year after
Rates
- Purchase interest
- 21.99%
- Balance transfer rate
- 23.99%
- Cash advance rate
- 23.99%
Type
- Provider
- Bank of Montreal
- Card type
- Travel
- Payment network
- Mastercard
Eligibility
- Minimum personal income
- $80,000
- Minimum household income
- $150,000
- Minimum credit score
- 725+