Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard Review: Is It Worth It?

My experience using Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard 

If you’re in Canada and on the hunt for a no-fee credit card that offers generous cash back rewards, travel insurance, and exclusive lounge access, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard might have caught your eye. But is it truly as elite as the name suggests? In this detailed review, we break down everything you need to know — from how the card works, to the perks, drawbacks, eligibility criteria, and a personal experience to help you decide if it’s the right card for your wallet.

Introduction: What Is the Rogers World Elite Mastercard?

The Rogers World Elite Mastercard, issued by Rogers Bank, is a premium-tier cash back credit card tailored to high-income Canadian households. Despite being a World Elite card, it carries no annual fee — a rare find in this category — and offers excellent cash back rates, foreign currency spending benefits, and comprehensive travel coverage.

This card is ideal for individuals who:

• Spend frequently in USD

• Want access to travel perks

• Prefer no annual fee credit cards

• Have a high household income and spending level

How the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard Works

Let’s break it down:

• Annual Fee: $0 — completely free to own

• Welcome Bonus: $25 cash back upon first card purchase

• Cash Back Rates:

  • 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases made in Canadian dollars

  • 3% cash back on purchases made in U.S. dollars

• Redemption Boost: If you redeem your cash back towards a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw bill, your rewards are worth 1.5x more, effectively increasing the value of your cash back up to 3% or 4.5%

Example:

Let’s say you earned $100 in cashback. If you redeem it toward your Rogers bill, that becomes $150 in credit — a clever way to maximize value.

Travel Benefits and Insurance Coverage

One of the standout features of this card is its World Elite benefits, typically reserved for cards with hefty annual fees.

• Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass: Discounted access ($32 per visit) to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

• Travel Insurance Coverage:

  • Out-of-province/country emergency medical insurance

  • Trip cancellation/interruption coverage

  • Car rental collision/loss damage waiver

  • Flight delay insurance

  • Baggage delay/loss insurance

✅ These benefits are surprisingly robust for a card with no annual fee.

Foreign Exchange: Does It Really Beat the 2.5% Fee?

Most credit cards in Canada charge a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in non-CAD currencies.

Here’s how the Rogers card offsets that:

• You get 3% cash back on USD purchases

• The foreign fee is 2.5%

• That leaves you with a net cash back of 0.5%

🧠 While it doesn’t eliminate the foreign transaction fee like some travel cards do, it cancels most of it out, which is a win considering the card is free.

Eligibility Requirements

Here’s where things get tricky.

To qualify for the Rogers World Elite Mastercard, you must:

• Have a minimum household income of $150,000

• Previously, you also had to spend $15,000 annually to maintain your World Elite status, but as of recent updates, this requirement has been removed

For many average Canadians, that $150K income threshold can be a barrier. According to Statistics Canada, the average individual income is well below $60,000.

Personal Experience: What It’s Like Using the Rogers World Elite Mastercard

“I recently upgraded to the World Elite version and so far, so good. They surprised me with $37.50 in cash back rewards toward my Shaw bill, which wasn’t even advertised. It’s now my go-to card for most purchases. I still keep my Amex for groceries and entertainment, but the Rogers card gives me solid value on everything else.”

However, not all experiences were smooth:

“I had an issue where the card was declined at a second store. Called customer service — got transferred multiple times. Eventually, it turned out to be a security block due to a suspicious transaction that was actually mine. The back-and-forth was frustrating, but eventually resolved.”

The cashback structure, insurance, and lounge access make it a great option for occasional travelers, but some hiccups in customer support may frustrate users when things go wrong.

Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

• No annual fee

• Strong cashback rates, especially for USD purchases

• Boosted redemption for Rogers/Fido/Shaw customers

• Travel benefits usually found on premium cards

• Lounge access via Mastercard Travel Pass

• Cash back downloadable as CSV for tracking

❌ Cons

• High income requirement ($150,000 household)

• Customer support can be hit-or-miss

• Foreign transaction fee not waived, only offset

• Other Rogers cards offer better cashback without travel perks

How It Compares: Rogers World Elite vs Rogers Mastercard

If you don’t travel much and don’t need the insurance or lounge access, the regular Rogers Mastercard might actually offer better value and fewer barriers.

Final Verdict: Who Should Get the Rogers World Elite Mastercard?

The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a powerful no-fee card that punches far above its weight — but only if you meet the income eligibility. It’s ideal for:

• Frequent online shoppers who buy in USD

• Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customers who want to maximize cashback redemption

• Travelers who want basic insurance and lounge access without paying annual fees

• High-income earners looking for a solid all-rounder cashback card

However, if your income falls below $150K or you prefer simpler cashback structures, consider the regular Rogers Platinum Mastercard instead.

FAQs

Q: Can I export my transactions to Excel?
Yes, you can download them as a CSV file for easy budgeting and analysis.

Q: Is the $15,000 annual spend still required to keep the card?
As of the latest update, this requirement has been removed, making it easier to maintain your World Elite status once approved.

Q: Is there a foreign transaction fee?
Yes — 2.5% — but it’s largely offset by the 3% cash back on USD purchases.