Amex Cobalt vs Scotia Passport (2026): Which Travel Card?

Depends on your priority. If you spend a lot on groceries and dining domestically and don't travel internationally often, get the Cobalt. If you travel abroad regularly and want to eliminate FX fees plus get lounge access, get the Scotia Passport. For most Canadians who travel internationally even once a year, the Passport's first-year fee waiver makes it the easier first apply (~$400 in year-one value at zero net cost).

They serve completely different purposes. Cobalt earns 5x MR at Canadian groceries and restaurants — best earn rate domestically. Scotia Passport eliminates the 2.5% FX fee on overseas spending — saves ~$125 per $5,000 in foreign purchases. The combined annual fee of $306 is easily justified by combining everyday earning + zero-FX international + lounge access. This is the most common Canadian travel-card stack.

Yes. Current welcome bonus: 40,000 Scene+ points (~$400 in travel value) plus the $150 annual fee waived for the first year. The 40K bonus is earned with $1,000 in spend in the first 3 months. After year one, the $150 fee kicks in, which most cardholders find easily covered by FX savings + lounge access.

Scene+ points are worth ~1 cent each redeemed for travel through Scotia's portal, Cineplex movies, or Scene+ partner retailers (Empire/Sobeys grocery). MR points are worth 1-2 cents depending on transfer destination (Aeroplan typically ~1.5-2 cents for travel). MR is more flexible (transferable to airlines); Scene+ is locked to Scotia/Scene+ ecosystem. Both have value; pick based on which ecosystem you use more.

Both have comprehensive travel insurance, but Scotia Passport has slightly longer coverage periods. Cobalt: 15-day medical, $5M. Passport: 25-day medical (10 days for 65+), $5M. For trip lengths over 15 days, Passport wins. For under 15 days, both are equivalent.

Costco Canada accepts only Mastercard at warehouse checkouts. Both Cobalt (Amex) and Scotia Passport (Visa) are NOT accepted there. For Costco purchases, you need a separate Mastercard like the Capital One Costco Mastercard. The Cobalt + Passport stack works for ~95% of Canadian merchants except Costco.

Cardholders register for Priority Pass via Scotia's portal. Once registered, the cardholder gets 6 complimentary lounge visits per year at any Priority Pass partner lounge (1,400+ globally). After 6 visits, additional visits are $35 each. To use, present the digital Priority Pass card or app at participating lounges.