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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard Review

Prepare to elevate your entire travel experience with the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, a premium card crafted for discerning Canadians.

Source: BMO Ascend World Elite MasterCard Credit Card
Source: BMO Ascend World Elite MasterCard Credit Card

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is your key to a more comfortable, convenient, and rewarding journey. With a generous welcome offer that often includes up to 90,000 bonus points and a first-year annual fee waiver, the value begins from day one. 

This card seamlessly blends a powerful points-earning structure with the practical benefits that matter most to travellers, making every trip, from planning to execution, a truly first-class experience. It’s time to let your spending fuel your wanderlust!

Benefits: Your Ticket to Premium Perks

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is packed with high-value features designed to provide an exceptional return on your spending and enhance your travel lifestyle.

  1. Massive Welcome Bonus: Start your BMO Rewards journey with a phenomenal boost! New cardholders are often greeted with a welcome offer of up to 90,000 bonus BMO Rewards points, plus the first year’s annual fee waived ($150 value). This bonus, worth up to $600 in travel, provides incredible upfront value to fund your next adventure.
  2. Highest Points on Travel Purchases (5X): Your travel spending has never been more rewarding! You’ll earn a massive 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises booked through any provider. This is a top-tier earn rate for travel enthusiasts.
  3. Accelerated Points on Lifestyle Spending (3X): Your everyday life also earns you more. Earn an excellent 3 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, entertainment purchases, and recurring bill payments, helping you accumulate points rapidly.
  4. Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: This is a signature premium perk! You receive a complimentary membership in the Mastercard® Travel Pass program provided by DragonPass, which includes four free airport lounge visits per year. This allows you to relax in comfort at over 1,300 lounges worldwide before your flight.
  5. Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Travel with exceptional peace of mind. The card includes a full suite of insurance.
  6. Flexible “Pay with Points” for Travel: Enjoy ultimate freedom in booking travel. You can book a flight or hotel on any website you choose, pay with your BMO card, and then log into your BMO Rewards account to apply your points as a statement credit against that travel purchase.
  7. Annual Fee Rebate with BMO Premium Chequing Account: If you are a BMO banking client with a Premium Plan chequing account, you can receive a full annual fee rebate on this card every single year, making this premium card essentially free to hold.
  8. World Elite Mastercard Concierge Service: Enjoy the convenience of a 24/7 personal assistant. The complimentary concierge service can help with travel planning, securing dinner reservations, finding event tickets, and much more.
  9. Partner Perks and Discounts: As a BMO cardholder, you can access exclusive offers, such as discounts of up to 25% at National® Car Rental and Alamo® Rent A Car, and up to 15% off Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada.
Source: BMO Ascend World Elite MasterCard Credit Card
Source: BMO Ascend World Elite MasterCard Credit Card

Who Can Apply: Eligibility for World Elite Status

To be eligible for the premium BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, applicants must meet higher qualification criteria:

  • Age of Majority: You must have reached the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
  • Canadian Resident: You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • Minimum Annual Income: You must meet one of the following minimum annual income requirements:
    • A personal gross annual income of $80,000, OR
    • A household gross annual income of $150,000.
  • Good to Excellent Credit Score: A strong credit history and a good to excellent credit score (typically suggested to be 725 or higher) are essential for approval.

How to Apply: Your Steps to an Ascended Travel Experience

Applying for the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is a straightforward online process.

  1. Visit the BMO Website: Go to the official BMO Bank of Montreal website.
  2. Select the Card: Find the “BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard” under the travel rewards card section.
  3. Review Card Details: Thoroughly read through the card’s benefits, the current welcome offer, rewards structure, insurance, the $150 annual fee, and other terms.
  4. Click “Apply Now”: Begin the secure online application form.
  5. Provide Your Information: Fill out the application with your personal details and financial information.
  6. Consent to a Credit Check: As part of the application, you must agree to allow BMO to perform a credit check.
  7. Review and Submit: Carefully double-check all your information for accuracy before submitting the application.
  8. Await a Decision: You may receive an instant decision online. If not, BMO will notify you of their decision within several business days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. What is the annual fee for this card?
    The annual fee is $150 for the primary cardholder and $50 for each supplementary card. The welcome offer often includes a rebate on these fees for the first year.
  2. How much are BMO Rewards points worth?
    The best value is approximately 0.67 cents per point (150 points = $1) when redeemed for travel using “Pay with Points” or for contributions to a BMO investment account.
  3. What travel insurance is included?
    It includes Emergency Travel Medical (up to $5M for 21 days), Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Flight Delay, Baggage Delay/Loss, and Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver insurance.
  4. What happens after I use my four free lounge passes?
    After your four complimentary visits are used, you can still access participating lounges for a fee of $32 USD per person, per visit.

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