How Supplementary Credit Cards Actually Work

Often, I receive questions about supplementary cardholders on credit cards, including whether the authorized user has access to the same benefits as the primary cardholder and how authorized user cards affect either person’s credit report. The answer is actually more nuanced than you might expect.

All About Authorized Users

Authorized users are people you add to your existing credit card account. They have their own card number and can use the card normally. However, supplementary cards are not linked to the authorized user’s credit file, and so the primary cardholder is liable for all purchases. That’s really the most important fact: only give supplementary cards to those you trust. Things like utilization percentage will only affect the primary user’s credit score.

Earn rates are the same as the main card, and all rewards are credited to the primary cardholder. If you trust the person you’re giving a supplementary card to, this could be a great way to rack up extra reward points or help you hit minimum spend.

Usually, adding a supplementary card doesn’t come with a welcome bonus, although we sometimes see Amex offer a small amount of Membership Rewards (MR) for adding an authorized user and reaching a certain spend.

Amex offers additional points for opening a supplementary card

Do note that supplementary cardholders often incur an annual fee, though it is frequently accompanied by benefits.

Benefits for Supplementary Cardholders

A lot of the time, supplementary cardholders do get many of the same benefits as the primary cardholder, but it varies by card and isn’t a universal rule.

Amex Platinum

For example, Amex Platinum supplementary cardholders get the same lounge benefits as the primary cardholder. If your partner just wants lounge access and you don’t need two Amex Platinums in your household, you can pay $250 for a supplementary card, which is substantially lower than the $799 annual fee.

Along the same lines, say your partner will be renting a car and would like credit card rental insurance coverage: Amex is generous in covering cars up to $85,000 MSRP, and paying with their supplementary Amex Platinum card would extend that same insurance coverage.

Amex also lets you get Gold supplementary cards, which will have Platinum earn rates, but none of the Platinum perks.

Scotia Passport

Sometimes, the supplementary cardholder receives unadvertised benefits, as with Scotiabank Passport cards. Only primary cardholders are eligible for complimentary lounge passes, but supplementary cardholders can register for an account with their card number on the Visa Airport Companion Pass to receive their own set of lounge passes.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ offers one free supplementary card a year, so use that however you will. 🙂

$0 for the first supplementary card

Aeroplan Co-Branded Cards

With Aeroplan’s co-branded cards, supplementary cardholders receive their own set of benefits, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, and access to the Maple Leaf Lounge (depending on your tier of Aeroplan card).

To unlock the benefits listed above, the supplementary cardholder must link the card to their own Aeroplan account. However, all points earned on supplementary cards still accrue to the primary cardholder’s Aeroplan account.

This is a great way to share card benefits for less than the annual fee of a second primary card, and one perk of TD All-Inclusive Banking is waiving one $139 annual fee and one $75 supplementary fee — exactly covering one TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and one supplementary card.

Supplementary cardholders of the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege ($199 supplementary card fee) get all the Air Canada perks and their own six complimentary lounge passes (on top of the unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Cafe visits).

Share your Aeroplan benefits with supplementary cardholders

The primary cardholder is on the hook for the $599 annual fee, but keep in mind this card is a must if you plan to spend at least part of the way to Aeroplan Elite status — it earns 1,000 SQC per $5,000 spent compared to 1,000 SQC per $20,000 spent on core Aeroplan cards.

Takeaway

Supplementary cards are one of the easiest ways to share credit card perks with a partner or family member without paying for a second primary card. Depending on the card, that can mean lounge access, travel insurance, free checked bags, priority boarding, and more.

Just remember that while the benefits may be shared, the responsibility isn’t. Authorized users don’t build credit from the account and the primary cardholder remains liable for all purchases, making trust the most important requirement of all.