Rack up tons of Aeroplan miles for Best Western stays this summer

Despite a possible looming strike by some of their front end workers, Air Canada states they will continue on with a full schedule but should the airline slow down operations you can still get a good Aeroplan mileage fix with Best Western this summer. Due to the possible strike these offers are great for those who may be planning a 'stay-cation' here in Canada as many small towns don't have the higher end Sheratons, Hyatts and Marriotts but do have BW's.

What are the offers? There are two currently running for Air Canada's Aeroplan members. The first (which should be your first step in racking up the miles this summer) is for buying Best Western gift cards or as they call them Travel Cards. You can earn 1,500 bonus Aeroplan miles for every $100 spent on a Best Western travel card. This offer runs until August 31, 2011.

The second offer is part of Best Western's summer system wide promotion whereby members will earn 750 bonus Aeroplan miles for every stay completed at a Best Western. This bonus is above the 250 base Aeroplan miles earned for each stay. The offer is valid for stays between June 19 and August 14, 2011. The offer requires membership in the Best Western Rewards Program (free to join) with your earning preference set to Aeroplan and registering for the offer itself.

Here a couple of examples of how many miles you could get with this promotion (assuming a nightly rate of $125).
$500 of Travel Cards = 7,500 Aeroplan Miles
Cards purchased on an Aeroplan earning card = 500 Aeroplan Miles (minimum, can be higher with the American Express AeroplanPlus or Gold Rewards cards)
4 Stays at $125 = 1,000 Aeroplan Miles
Stay bonuses = 3,000 Aeroplan Miles
Total for four stays: 12,000 Aeroplan Miles

$1,000 of Travel Cards = 15,000 Aeroplan Miles
Cards purchased on an Aeroplan earning card = 1,000 Aeroplan Miles (minimum, can be higher with the American Express AeroplanPlus or Gold Rewards cards)
8 Stays at $125 = 2,000 Aeroplan Miles
Stay bonuses = 6,000 Aeroplan Miles
Total for four stays: 24,000 Aeroplan Miles
This is enough mileage with lots to spare for a short haul flight with Air Canada (15,000 miles)

As you see both options can earn you a lot more Aeroplan miles then you normally would (4 stays at $125 would normally net 1,500 Aeroplan miles including credit card earning, 8 stays would net 3,000 miles)

Not a bad deal if you are planning some BW stays this summer and of course the stays don't have to be in Canada. In fact a lot of Best Western's in the U.S. can be had for under $100 per night which means you could stretch a $1000 in travel cards to 10 stays which would get you Gold Elite status in Best Western's Rewards program and put you over the 25,000 mile mark good enough for an Aeroplan reward flight within North America.

For more details on these offers please visit our Aeroplan Bonus Mile Opportunities page