At $25,000 a month, the setup that earns the most business class travel is usually one card with a flat earn rate on everything plus one card for your biggest bonus categories. Both should earn transferable points you can move to airline programs. In the US that often means Capital One Venture X Business or Chase Ink, with Amex Business Platinum when your purchases fit its strengths. In Canada, Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve or RBC Avion leads for most owners.
Every earn rate below was checked as of early 2025. Card terms change often, so confirm each one on the issuer's own page before you apply. Welcome bonuses are left out on purpose because they change every few months.
What is the difference between transferable points and cobrand cards?
Transferable points sit with the bank, and you can move them to many airline and hotel programs. Cobrand points go straight into one airline's program.
- Transferable points: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles and RBC Avion points. You can send them to programs like Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club or Air France KLM Flying Blue, usually at a 1 to 1 rate. This lets you pick the program with the best seat for each trip. It also lets you jump on transfer bonuses, like the one in our post Capital One Miles to JAL: A 30% Bonus, Ending Soon.
- Cobrand points: Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business earn Aeroplan points directly. You lose choice, but you often get perks tied to that airline. Our post Aeroplan Cards Get 15% Off Air Canada Rewards covers one of them.
If you are not sure which airline you will fly, transferable points are the safer choice.
How many points does $25,000 a month earn on US cards?
Over 12 months, $25,000 a month is $300,000. Here is what that earns on each card, using earn rates as of early 2025.
- Capital One Venture X Business: 2 miles per dollar on everything. That is 600,000 miles. (capitalone.com)
- Chase Ink: Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar on travel, shipping, internet, phone and some online ads, up to $150,000 a year in those categories combined. Ink Business Unlimited earns 1.5 points on everything. If $150,000 fits the bonus categories and the other $150,000 goes on the Unlimited, you get 450,000 plus 225,000, or 675,000 points. You need the Ink Business Preferred to move points to airlines. (chase.com)
- Amex Business Platinum: 1 point per dollar on most purchases, with an extra half point on large purchases and some categories up to a yearly cap. That is 300,000 to 450,000 points, based on how much qualifies. (americanexpress.com)
Now turn points into seats. Award prices change, so this example uses a round number. Say a one way business class seat to Europe costs 70,000 points through Aeroplan. A round trip is 140,000 points.
- 600,000 Capital One miles buys about 4 round trips.
- 675,000 Chase points buys about 4 round trips, with points left over.
- 450,000 Amex points buys about 3 round trips.
Check the real price for your route on the airline program's own award search before you transfer. Transfers usually cannot be undone.
How many points does $25,000 a month earn on Canadian cards?
At C$25,000 a month, you spend C$300,000 a year. Earn rates below are as of early 2025.
- Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve: 1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar on most purchases, more on Air Canada. That is about 375,000 Aeroplan points. (americanexpress.com/ca)
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business: about 1 Aeroplan point per dollar on general spend, with more on Air Canada and some categories. That is about 300,000 points. (cibc.com)
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business: about 1.25 Avion points per dollar. That is about 375,000 points you can move to programs like British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. (rbcroyalbank.com)
Using the same 140,000 point round trip example, 375,000 points buys about 2 round trips to Europe in business class, plus a good start on a third. If you fly Air Canada most, the Aeroplan cards win on perks. If you want choice, RBC Avion gives you more of it.
What if my suppliers do not take cards?
You can still use a card by paying through a bill pay service. You pay the service by card, and it sends your supplier a bank transfer or cheque. These services charge a fee, so do the math first.
Here is how to work it out. Multiply your earn rate by what you think a point is worth. At 2 points per dollar and 1.5 cents a point, you get 3 cents back for each dollar. If the fee is less than 3 percent, you come out ahead. If it is more, pay the supplier by bank transfer and keep the card for everything else.
Also ask your largest suppliers directly. Many will take a card if you ask, especially for steady monthly bills.
Do annual fees pay for themselves at this spend?
Yes, in almost every case. At this spend, the points are worth far more than the fee.
Work it out like this. Take the points you earn in a year and multiply by what a point is worth to you. 600,000 points at 1.5 cents is $9,000 of value. Subtract the annual fee from the issuer's page. Then add perks you would really use, like lounge access or travel credits. Leave out any perk you would never use.
The risk is not the fee. The risk is splitting your spend across too many cards so no single balance grows big enough to book a trip. Two cards is usually enough.
You can see how many business class trips your business spending already buys: see what your spending buys.