Monday, March 31, 2014

Canadian North launches their own Frequent Flyer Program: Aurora Rewards


Canadian North announced today the launch of their own Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) called Aurora Rewards. Right off the bat one key piece of information sticks out, Aeroplan members will still earn Aeroplan Miles on Canadian North flights in addition to Aurora Rewards points! This is the only airline in Canada that will reward you miles/points in two FFPs on one single flight.

Here are the highlights of the new Aurora Rewards program

Earning Points
You will earn anywhere between 25% and 125% of the actual flights miles when you fly on Canadian North. Points earned are dependent on the fare class:
On flights under 500 actual flight miles your points will be based upon a 500 mile flight (just like the example above).

And as we mentioned above Aeroplan members will earn miles/points in both programs. In order to collect your Aeroplan Miles, you must be enrolled in the Aurora Rewards Program and include your Aeroplan® number on your profile.

Elite Status
The program even includes Elite Status levels called Aurora Concierge. The three elite levels are Silver, Gold and Diamond. To achieve Aurora Concierge status you must meet the following requirements:

and the benefits associated with each level

Using your Aurora Rewards points
Pretty simple redemption structure:
12,000 pointgs for a return Short Haul and 20,000 points for a return Long Haul. A Short Haul is a flight up to 625 miles, or:
  • Within the Kitikmeot and to/from Yellowknife
  • Within the Qikiqtani and to/from Iqaluit
  • Rankin Inlet – Iqaluit/Yellowknife
Points can also be used for merchandise rewards:

Finally to celebrate the launch of the program you'll 200 points just for signing up and be entered for a chance to win 100,000 points (plus get additional entries for every Canadian North flight)

There are also some flight bonuses that we will detail on Rewards Canada tomorrow as we officially launch an Aurora Rewards bonus offers page on the main site!

For complete details on Canada's newest Frequent Flyer Program visit aurorarewards.com

Let us know what you think of the new program! Are you going to join? Do you think you'll be able to benefit from it? Just comment below!

Mar 31 Update: Promos for US Airways & TAM joining oneworld, Delta & Alaska remove elite benefits on each others flights and more!

You take a few days off and what happens? Tons of news, lots of bonuses surrounding the entry of US Airways and TAM into oneworld and more!

News, Tips & Tricks
Today is the last day to register for Marriott's MegaBonus promotion and Hyatt's Endless Possibilities promotion.

Aeroplan partner Bearskin Airlines will be nixing their Ottawa - Kitchener/Waterloo service as of tomorrow. (Source: Airlineroute.net)

Delta Airlines is removing several benefits for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Elite members namely free checked bags are being removed for all levels plus priority check in and baggage handling along with several other benefits. See it all on Delta's site. Meanwhile Lucky over at One Mile Time also notes that Alaska Airlines has removed priority check in and free checked bags for Delta Medallion members. It looks like the fight for Seattle isn't close to ending just yet.

A few months ago we mentioned that Air Canada was going to be using the 787 between Toronto and London, well it looks like that planned service has be canned while the service to Zurich has been delayed. (Source: Airlineroute.net)

A bunch of Air Canada's routes to the U.S. are being transferred over to Air Canada Rouge service which means no more Executive Class on those flights, only economy and premium economy. (Source: Airlineroute.net)
eff 29MAR14 Toronto – San Diego 1 daily
eff 28APR14 Calgary – Las Vegas 1 daily
eff 28APR14 Vancouver – Las Vegas 1 daily
eff 01MAY14 Calgary – Los Angeles 2 daily (A319 replaces E190)
eff 01MAY14 Vancouver – Los Angeles 4 daily (A319 replaces E190/A320)
eff 04MAY14 Toronto – Phoenix 1 daily (A319 replaces A320)
eff 16MAY14 Vancouver – Anchorage 1 daily (Seasonal)
eff 01JUL14 Vancouver – San Francisco 4 daily (A319 replaces E190)
eff 17DEC14 Calgary – Phoenix 1 daily
eff 17 DEC14 Vancouver – Phoenix NEW 1 daily service

A few weeks ago we let you know about some issues one reader of ours was having with his new TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card and we are happy to report he is reasonably pleased with the outcome:


In the bonus offers section check out the Discounted Saver Award offer from United to fly to Japan from Canada. This is a really good deal if you can take advantage of it and go to Japan in April. You will however incur some booking fees if you are traveling soon because of their 21 day window rule. In reality only travel in the last week of April or being a United Elite member will help you avoid those fees.



Bonus Offers

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Double Asia Miles on all US Airways flights Worldwide flown in eligible fare classes. More... Until Jun 30, 14

Delta SkyMiles
- Double SkyMiles for SkyMiles Medallion members registered for Crossover Rewards for all eligible stays at any Sheraton hotel or resort in the United States or Canada. More... Apr 1 - 30, 14

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- Double Mileage Bank Miles on all TAM flights Worldwide when flown in an eligible booking class. More... May 1 - 31, 14
- Up to a 33% Mileage Bank Miles Discount for Mileage Bank Economy Class Award Tickets for travel on TAM. More... Apr 4 - Oct 3, 14
- Double Mileage Bank Miles on all US Airways flights Worldwide including American Airlines codeshares flown by US Airways. More... Until Jun 30, 14

United MileagePlus
- 25% MileagePlus Miles Discount on MileagePlus Economy Saver Awards for flights from the U.S. or Canada to Japan. More... Book by Apr 17 for travel Apr 1 - 30, 14

US Airways Dividend Miles

- Earn up to 25,000 Bonus Dividend Miles when you fly with oneworld partner airlines. Each partner airline will only count once, so the more partner airlines you fly, the more miles you earn. More... Until Jun 30, 14


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Mar 26 Update: Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Card revealed, PointsHound bonus of stays of 3+ nights plus 8 other promos

Wednesday the 26th is the day for the release of our Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings!

News, Tips & Tricks
Big day here at Rewards Canada as we released our 2014 Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings! Earlier than usual we did this because of all the changes in the card industry in the last 8 months and to help Canadian's filter through the millions of dollars being spent on advertising by the card issuers! See the rankings here.


PointsHound has a new promotion where you can earn 1,000 bonus miles/points in the PointsHound partner of your choice for stays of 3+ nights when you utilize their new free concierge service. You can always find this offer and others from PointsHound on our newly launched PointsHound Bonus page on main RC site.

 


Bonus Offers

Aegean Miles&Bonus
- Double Miles&Bonus Miles for stays at select Aegean Miles&Bonus partner hotels in Greece. More... Apr 11 - 27, 2014

Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Save up to 50% with Promo Awards. Save 25% to 50% on the Award Miles usually required for an award ticket. Destinations vary by each promotional period. More... Book Apr1 - 30 for travel between Jun 1 & Jul 31, 14

airBaltic PINS (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 1,000 PINS for stays at Radisson Blu hotels in Paris and Rome. More... Until Apr 30, 14

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 300 Bonus Mileage Bank Miles for JAL Family Club members on JAL international flights to and from Japan (includes code-share flights with JAL flight numbers) More... Apr 1 - Mar 15, 15 Restrictions JAL Family Club members living overseas who have already registered for this promotion [Members who registered for JAL Family Club in Japan prior to moving overseas]

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Loyalty Club
- Double M&C Loyalty Points for stays at participating Millennium & Copthore Hotels in New Zealand. More... Apr 1 - May 31, 14
- Double M&C Loyalty Points when you stay at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago plus receive Two (2) Complimentary Welcome Drinks. More... Until May 10, 14

Miles & More
- 1,000 Bonus Miles & More Miles on any eligible shopping at Heinemann Tax Free Shops in Copenhagen. More... Until Dec 31, 14

PointsHound
- 1,000 Bonus Miles/Points in the PointsHound partner program of your choice for stays of 3+ nights when you try out PointsHound.com's FREE premium concierge service. More... Book by Apr 1, 14

United MileagePlus
- Quadruple MileagePlus Miles for Hertz rentals at participating locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico. More... Until Jun 30, 14

Rewards Canada's 6th Annual Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings

Today on RewardsCanada.ca we posted our sixth annual picks for Canada's top travel rewards credit cards. We have combed over 80 different credit cards offering travel rewards for Canadians and of those there are a few that really stand out. While it is practically impossible to give this question a perfect one card answer, we can breakdown the market of Canadian Travel Rewards credit cards into five major categories that these cards fall into.


Visit rewardscanada.ca/topcc2014 for the complete details!

For the complete article, details on each card plus runners up in each category please visit the full Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Card for 2014 page on the Rewards Canada website.

Care to comment on our choices? Want to voice your opinion on the good and the bad of all the Travel Rewards Credit Cards in Canada. Share you views and experiences by leaving a comment below.

Gold Rewards Card




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Mar 25 Update: Aeroplan & Air Miles Bonuses for Best Western stays, Safeway Air Miles Bonus, Radisson B&B Package Bonus

Tuesday is all about the bonuses! Air Canada & Air Miles bonuses for Best Western stays, Radisson Bed & Breakfast Bonus and more

News, Tips & Tricks
Short Term Bonus Alert:
You can earn up to 300 Bonus Air Miles Reward Miles for shopping at Safeway this week. Here is a link to the coupons. Valid until Mar 27, 14




 


Bonus Offers

Air Canada Aeroplan
- 1,750 Bonus Aeroplan Miles for each qualified stay at any Best Western® branded hotel in Canada, the United States, or the Caribbean Islands. More... Apr 1 - Aug 31, 14

Air Miles (Canada)
- 60 Bonus Air Miles for each qualified stay at any Best Western® branded hotel in Canada, the U.S., or the Caribbean Islands. More...  Apr 1 - Aug 31, 14 Valid for residents of Canada only

airberlin topbonus
- Double topbonus Miles for stays at the Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich. More... Until Jul 31, 14

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Double Mileage Plan Miles when you fly British Airways nonstop service between Seattle and London. More... Until Jun 15, 14

American AAdvantage
- 1,000 Bonus AAdvantage Miles every time you fly a round-trip between New York LaGuardia and Charlottesville, VA (CHO), Dayton, OH (DAY), Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, NC (GSO), Knoxville, TN (TYS), Little Rock, AR (LIT), Louisville, KY (SDF), Norfolk, VA (ORF), Richmond, VA (RIC), Roanoke, VA (ROA) or Wilmington, NC (ILM) More..  Apr 1 - Jun 30, 14

Carlson Hotels Club Carlson
- 2,000 Bonus Gold Points for stays on the Bed and Breakfast package at participating Radisson Hotels in North and South America. More... Until Dec 31, 14

Olympic Air Travelair Club (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double Travelair Miles for stays at select Olympic Air Travelair Club partner hotels in Greece & Cyprus. More... Apr 11 - 27, 2014

Southwest Rapid Rewards (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 600 Bonus Rapid Rewards points for each qualified stay booked on bestwestern.com at any Best Western branded hotel in Canada, the United States, or the Caribbean Islands. More... Until May 27, 14

TAP Portugal Victoria
- Earn up to Triple Victoria Miles for stays at Altis Hotels in Portugal. More... Book by Dec 31, 14

Hyatt Regency Calgary goes above and beyond for a birthday stay!

What has become routine for the Rewards Canada kids is to celebrate their birthdays without large birthday parties where everyone in their class needs to be invited but rather spend time with family either on vacation or as a staycation. The staycation part started last year when both my girls got to stay at the Hyatt Regency Calgary
 for their birthdays. It was one stay for the both of them whose birthdays are one month apart. At that time we told the employee working at check in that we were their celebrating their birthdays and not too long after checking in, milk and cookies were delivered to our room for their birthday.

Not going on vacation this year during either one of our girl’s birthdays meant a staycation celebration and this time we did two visits to the Hyatt Calgary to celebrate each birthday separately. For the first stay in early February I put in the reservation notes that we were staying at the hotel once again to celebrate our older daughter’s birthday. Those notes apparently didn’t do anything to our reservation but when I mentioned it to the polite young man working the check in desk he made sure that milk and cookies were sent up to the room. For this first stay both the hot tub and steam Room were closed for renovations (apparently an emergency repair turned into them renovating them). A little disappointing since we didn’t get advance notice, the man at check in asked if I got the email announcing this but we had not. We were offered access to the Marriott’s Pool and Hot Tub if we liked but after we checked it out with the walk and all we decided to just hit the pool at the Hyatt and forego my wife’s favorite part of the hot tub and steam room. It was these repairs that stemmed a tweet from me to the Hyatt Calgary prior to our second birthday stay asking if the hot tub and steam room were open again and the response was that the hot tub was but the steam room wouldn’t be ready. That was good enough, so I booked our stay and tweeted Hyatt Calgary back stating we booked the stay for our daughter’s birthday. The conversation then continued and the Hyatt Calgary stated they wanted to do something for her birthday.

We were thinking milk and cookies were on tap again!


We checked in a little after 3pm on the Saturday of our stay, check in was painless and easy which was the opposite of the parking situation (they were cleaning the parkade, so no complaints about that). We were handed our keys with Regency Club access for our stay in room 2011. We were above the Regency Club floor and I had asked for a room on the Club floor but was told there was no availability and we soon found out why.

We tapped the key on our door and my wife and youngest daughter entered the room first and all I heard were happy squeals! Why? Well there weren’t milk and cookies but balloons, flowers and gift basket waiting for our Birthday girl! To say the team at the Hyatt Regency Calgary went above and beyond is an understatement!
What a surprise!

Not only that we got one of the best rooms yet for all our stays (outside of a Suite upgrade once), a corner room with a view of the Calgary Tower and more.


Room 2011 decorated for the birthday girl!

The special treatment didn’t end there, later in the evening, Jeff in the Regency Club also went out of his way and had chocolate covered strawberries sent up for us!
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Regency Club Lounge


Here’s our thanks to the Hyatt Calgary for making a little girl's birthday weekend an astounding one!

Hotel Details:
Hyatt Regency Calgary

Hyatt Gold Passport Category: 3

Points required for a free night:
12,000 Gold Passport Points (Standard Room)
17,000 Gold Passport Points (Regency / Club Room)
20,000 Gold Passport Points (Suite)

Monday, March 24, 2014

Mar 24 Update: IHG PointBreaks now live, Aeroplan Mile Matching Days, Alitalia Business Class sale (Canada-Italy $2498 all in)

Welcome to another week here on RC! Today sees IHG's PointBreak go live and more!

News, Tips & Tricks
IHG Rewards Club
PointBreaks are now live and bookable. Nine Canadian properties are participating this time as well as four high end InterContinental Hotel locations. Book sooner than later (ie right now for the ICs! as availability goes quick) See our post here for the complete list of hotels



Aeroplan Mile Matching days are back! Aeroplan announced that it will match all miles donated by members to each of its ten Beyond Miles charitable partners as part of the 2014 Aeroplan Match Days. Miles will be matched on a 1 for 1 basis up to 500,000 Aeroplan Miles for each partner organization. This year, each organization has chosen its own match day, week or entire month and in turn, Aeroplan will match miles during the specified period.

Aeroplan’s Mile Matching Days will be held during the following timeslots:
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) – Miles will be matched during the week of March 24-28th.  Aeroplan Miles make it possible for EWB to join African partners in small business, agriculture, water and governance sectors.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – Miles will be matched during a 24-hour period on April 16th.  Last year, MSF used millions of donated miles to fly across Canada and to dozens of countries to support its medical humanitarian mission, to recruit field staff to work overseas, and to raise awareness of the needs of people in crisis.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) – Miles will be matched during a 48-hour period on May 27th and May 28th.  In 2013, SLF used the miles to host a people’s tribunal – the African Grandmothers Tribunal – to shine a public light on the denial of African grandmothers’ human rights: six grandmothers from across sub-Saharan Africa presented their personal testimonies before four Tribunal judges in Vancouver, British Columbia.

War Child Canada (WCC) – Miles will be matched during the week of June 2 – 8th.  Last year, WCC used the miles to provide access to training opportunities for international staff working in some of the world’s most dangerous regions, and to connect with funders and supporters across the North America.

Free The Children – Miles will be matched during the entire month of July.  In 2013, Free The Children used the miles for partnership meetings across the country and around the world. The donated miles helped Free The Children make connections with like-minded individuals, companies and groups, which helps them grow.

MusiCounts – Miles will be matched during the entire month of August.  Last year, MusiCounts used the miles to offset travel costs, allowing them to visit more of the communities their grants impact and enabled artists to participate in fundraising events for MusiCounts.  Miles have helped MusiCounts to put even more instruments into the hands of children who need them.

Schools Without Borders (SWB) – Miles will be matched during the entire month of September.  Last year, SWB used miles to help launch a number of new learning partnerships including bringing African indigenous educators to Toronto to share ancestral wisdom with the academic community as well as building a partnership with a film called Shadeism, which explores racism, specifically amongst women in communities of colour.

Earth Day Canada (EDC) – Miles will be matched for the entire month of October.  In 2013, EDC used the miles for transportation of their Hometown Heroes Award winners, general travel (plane, car rentals), accommodations (hotels) and office infrastructure (computers, servers etc.).

Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) – Miles will be matched during the entire month of November.  Last year, VWB used the miles to send a team of volunteer veterinarians to Guatemala to provide critical animal health services and to train local vets; they also used miles to send its staff to South Sudan to help protect the livestock of refugees in Upper Nile State.

The Air Canada Foundation (ACF) – Miles will be matched during the entire month of December.  Aeroplan Miles are used to sustain the Air Canada Foundation Hospital Transportation Program helping children reach medical care not available in their communities.  In 2013, more than 10 million Aeroplan Miles were used by fifteen pediatric hospitals across Canada to help sick children.


You'll notice in the bonus offer section a Delta SkyMiles offer of 1,000 bonus miles for joining the program. This offer is a Hertz offer floating around from the Seattle area but it seems that anyone can sign up for it. As always YMMV.



Travel Deals
Alitalia is following in their partner's footsteps (Air France & KLM) by also offering up a business class sale on flights from Canada. You can fly in style to Italy for under $2500!! Like the others book by Mar 28 for travel May 1 - Aug 31. Book online Alitalia.com


Bonus Offers

Air India Flying Returns
- Double Flying Returns Miles when you fly on Air India between select cities in India. More... Until Apr 30, 14
- 500 Bonus Flying Returns Miles when you book your Air India flight online at airindia.in. More... Ongoing

airBaltic PINS (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 1,000 PINS and a 10% discount when you stay at least 3 nights at The Palace Hotel in Malta. More... Until Apr 30, 14
- Triple PINS on eligible Sixt rentals in the Baltic countries. More... Until Apr 2, 14

American AAdvantage
- Quadruple AAdvantage Miles when you rent any vehicle for one of more days in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. More... Until Jun 30, 14

Delta SkyMiles
- 1,000 Bonus SkyMiles when you join the SkyMiles program. More... Until ?

Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings
- Up to a 40% Fortune Wings Miles Discount when upgrading to Business Class with mileage on select American, European, Russian and Asian international flights. More... Until Jun 30, 14

Petro Canada Petro Points
Double Petro Points on the Monthly Points Top-Up bonus from Petro Points. More... Until May 31, 14


Starwood Preferred Guest
- Double Starpoints for stays on the Super Hot Opening Offer at the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel. More... Booking Apr 1 - Sep 30, 14
- Double Starpoints for stays on the Super Hot Opening Offer at the Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane. More... Until Sep 3, 14
- Double Starpoints for stays on the Super Hot Opening Offer at the Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island Fiji. More... Book by Sep 30 for stays until Dec 18, 14

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 50% Bonus Miles&Smiles Miles or 25% Miles&Smiles Discount on select Turkish Airlines International Routes. More... Apr 1 - 30, 14

Now live - Latest IHG Rewards Club PointBreaks Offers (Valid for stays Mar 24 - May 31)


One of the best redemptions in the hotel loyalty program world is IHG Rewards Club PointBreaks offers and the latest set for stays March 24 - May 31st are now available for booking via the primary PointsBreaks page or via the individual hotel links below. There are more Canadian properties included this time and four high end InterContinental Hotel locations worldwide!

Why are IHG Rewards Club Point Breaks such a great deal? Because they offer reward nights at participating IHG hotels Worldwide for only 5,000 Rewards Club points. For those of you not to familiar with Priority Club, normal redemption rates for Rewards Club reward nights run from as low as 10,000 points for some Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express locations to 50,000 points for ultra-luxurious InterContinental locations and even these locations can participate in Point Breaks. So as you can see you can receive a discount of 50 to 88% off the regular redemption rates. You may be thinking that the high end hotels won't participate but they do depending on the time of year! Please note that like most loyalty promotions these offers are capacity controlled so I advise to book sooner than later to ensure you get the Point Breaks rate. These offers will be bookable on Monday via the primary PointsBreaks page or via the individual hotel links below.

Here is the list of hotels participating this time (taken from the  IHG Rewards Community)
Canada
Holiday Inn Express Red Deer                             Holiday Inn Express Sherwood Park-Edmonton Area
Holiday Inn Express Whitecourt Sourtheast               Holiday Inn Surrey East-Cloverdale
Holiday Inn West Kelowna                                            Holiday Inn Winnipeg-South
Holiday Inn Halifax Harbourview                                  Holiday Inn Express Chatham South
Holiday Inn Express Toronto-Mississauga

Asia & the Pacific
The People's Republic of China
Holiday Inn Zhuhai                                                          Holiday Inn Zhengzhou
Crowne Plaza Zhengzhou                                             InterContinental Hangzhou
Crowne Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun                        Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou

India
InterContinental Marine Drive-Mumbai                    

Republic of Korea
Holiday Inn Gwangju

Phillipines
Holiday Inn Clark

Taiwan
Holiday Inn Express Taoyuan


Africa & the Middle East
Kenya
Crowne Plaza Nairobi

Saudi Arabia
Crowne Plaza Al Khobar


United Arab Emirates
Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi-Yas Island

Europe
Austria
Holiday Inn Villach

Bulgaria
Holiday Inn Sofia

Czech Republic
Holiday Inn Brno

France
Holiday Inn Clermont-Ferrand Centre                           Holiday Inn Express Marseille-Provence Airport                          

Germany
Holiday Inn Berlin-Mitte                                                    Holiday Inn Express Dortmund                  
Holiday Inn Express Baden-Baden                               Holiday Inn Express Guetersloh

Holiday Inn Minden

Italy
Holiday Inn Cagliari                                                           Holiday Inn Milan-Linate Airport

Lithuania
Holiday Inn Vilnius

Netherlands (Holland)
Holiday Inn Eindhoven

Russia
Holiday Inn Moscow-Vinogradovo

Spain
Holiday Inn Express Alicante                                          Holiday Inn Express Pamplona
                       
Holiday Inn Express Madrid-Alcorcon                           Holiday Inn Express Madrid-Leganes
                       
United Kingdom
Holiday Inn Express Antrim-M2, JCT. 1                         Holiday Inn Bolton Centre                                 
Holiday Inn Doncaster A1 (M), JCT .36                    Holiday Inn Express Liverpool-Knowsley M57, JCT .4
                         
Holiday Inn Reading-West                                              Holiday Inn Express Swansea-West M4, JCT .43
                         
Holiday Inn Stevenage                                                     Holiday Inn Leeds-Wakefield M1, JCT .40

Americas
Brazil
Holiday Inn Fortaleza                                                     Holiday Inn Express Sumare Ave. Sao Paulo

Colombia
Intercontinental Medellin

Costa Rica
Holiday Inn San Jose-Aurola
Ecuador
Holiday Inn Express Quito

El Salvador
Crowne Plaza San Salvador

Honduras
InterContinental Real Tegucigalpa

Peru
Crowne Plaza Lima

Mexico
Holiday Inn Express Manzanillo                                 Holiday Inn Express Tuxtla Gutierrez La Marimba
                     
Holiday Inn Durango                                                    Holiday Inn Express Guadalajara Iteso
                     
Holiday Inn Matamoros                                               Staybridge Suites Queretaro
                     
United States
Alabama
Holiday Inn Express Dothan North                            Holiday Inn Express Greenville
                     
Holiday Inn Montgomery Airport South

Arkansas
Holiday Inn Express Batesville                                  Holiday Inn Epress Pine Bluff/Pines Mall
                     
Arizona
Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly (Chinle)

California
Holiday Inn Express Calexico                                    Candlewood Suites Orange County/Irvine Spectrum
                   
Holiday Inn Express Lathrop-South Stockton         Holiday Inn San Diego North Miramar
                   
Holiday Inn Selma-Swancourt                                   Holiday Inn Express Tracy
                   
Colorado
Candlewood Suites Craig-Northwest                  

Connecticut
Holiday Inn Express Hartford-Downtown               Holiday Inn Express Southington 
                   
Delaware
Holiday Inn Dover-Downtown                                  Holiday Inn Express Seaford-Route 13

Florida
Holiday Inn Express Perry                                        Holiday Inn Express Arcadia
                 

Georgia
Holiday Inn Express Atlanta-Johns Creek            Holiday Inn Express Blairsville
                 
Candlewood Suites Columbus Fort Benning      Candlewood Suites Warner Robins/Robins AFB
                 
Iowa
Holiday Inn Express Newton                                   Holiday Inn Express Sioux Center

Idaho
Candlewood Suites Idaho Falls

Illinois
Holiday Inn Express Le Roy-Bloomington Area    Candlewood Suites Aurora-Naperville
                   
Holiday Inn Express Lincoln

Indiana
Candlewood Suites Elkhart                                      Holiday Inn Express Goshen
                   
Holiday Inn Express Warsaw

Kansas
Holiday Inn Express El Dorado

Kentucky
Candlewood Suites Bowling Green                      Candlewood Suites Radcliff-Fort Knox

Louisiana
Holiday Inn Morgan City                                            Holiday Inn Express Eunice

Massachusetts
Candlewood Suites West Springfield

Michigan
Holiday Inn Warren                                                   Candlewood Suites St. Joseph/Benton Harbor

Minnesota
Holiday Inn St. Cloud

Missouri
Holiday Inn Express Sedalia                                 Holiday Inn Express Warrensburg
               
Mississippi
Holiday Inn Express Forest                                    Holiday Inn Express Laurel
               
Montana
Holiday Inn Helena

North Carolina
Holiday Inn Epress Forest City                               Holiday Inn Express Williamston
                 
Holiday Inn Express Murphy                                

North Dakota
Holiday Inn Express Jamestown                           Holiday Inn Express Minot South

Nebraska
Holiday Inn Express Omaha-Southwest

New Jersey
Holiday Inn Philadelphia South-Swedesboro    Holiday Inn Somerset-Bridgewater
               
New Mexico
Candlewood Suites Roswell New Mexico

Nevada
Holiday Inn Express Elko

New York
Candlewood Suites Elmira Horseheads             Candlewood Suites Nanuet-Rockland County

Ohio
Holiday Inn Express Greenville                              Holiday Inn Wilmington
                 
Holiday Inn Express Mt. Vernon                              InterContinental Cleveland
                 
Oklahoma
Holiday Inn Express Altus                                        Holiday Inn Express Owasso
                 
Holiday Inn Express Weatherford                           Holiday Inn Express Mcalester      

Pennsylvania
Holiday Inn Express Frazer-Malvern                      Candlewood Suites Harrisburg
                 
Rhode Island
Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick (Airport)

South Carolina
Holiday Inn Express Newberry

South Dakota
Holiday Inn Express Winner

Tennessee
Holiday Inn Express White House                         Holiday Inn Express Dyersburg 
                 
Texas
Holiday Inn Express Brady                                     Holiday Inn Express Brownfield
                
Holiday Inn Express Duncanville
                          Candlewood Suites Baytown
               
Candlewood Suites Deer Park                              Holiday Inn Express Orange
               
Utah
Stayridge Suites Salt Lake-West Valley City

Virginia
Holiday Inn Express Kilmarnock                         Holiday Inn Express Orange
               
Candlewood Suites Richmond North-Gen Allen


Washington
Candlewood Suites Lakewood

Wisconsin
Holiday Inn Wausau-Rothschild                        Candlewood Suites Milwaukee Airport-Oak Creek
             
West Virginia
Holiday Inn Express Charleston-Southridge

Wyoming
Candlewood Suites Sheridan

Friday, March 21, 2014

Mar 21 Update: IHG Point Breaks revealed, Air France Business Class sale, United to offer free streaming IFE to Apple users

The last few days of this week have really picked up in the travel rewards world!

News, Tips & Tricks
If you missed our post from only a few minutes ago, we have a sneak peek at the latest IHG PointBreaks properties that will be up for booking on Monday. Four InterContinental Hotel locations are included (this is a huge discount for them) and 9 locations in Canada are also up for grabs this time (versus only 5 last time).  See our PointBreaks post for details

United Airlines is set to Offer Free Streaming In-Flight Movies and TV To Apple Users.  (Source: United)

Starting this spring, we’re rolling out our new personal device entertainment system onboard select aircraft. With this new service, sponsored by the MileagePlus® Explorer Card, you can choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of charge on your personal device.
   
Most planes will be equipped with the new system very soon, and we’ll have it installed on most domestic aircraft by the end of 2014. We’ll begin on Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400 and select 777-200 aircraft, followed by additional fleets. In the end, all United-operated flights will have some form of entertainment.
Remember that 48 hours before your flight you can check the amenities you’ll have onboard at united.com or on the United app. (Please note that the amenities are subject to change up until the time of departure.) 

How it works

Here’s all you need to do before you board to make your inflight viewing as seamless as possible:
1.   Download the latest United app from the iTunes® App Store if you’ll be using an Apple iOS device (iPad, iPhone or iPod). Laptops do not require an app. Android™ support is under development and is planned to be fully supported later this year.
2.    Charge your device fully. All aircraft that will offer personal device entertainment will offer power outlets, with select fleets beginning installation of power outlets this year. 
Once you’re onboard, you’ll see two types of media. Some programs require a browser plug-in on your laptop or the latest United app on your Apple® iOS. Other programs can be watched through the United Portal on your browser with no plug-in or app required.
Just click on what you’d like to watch. You can start, stop, rewind, pause and switch your movie or TV show anytime. It’s that simple.

Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/watch-united-inflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx#VRrYDQTF5u8XIrBg.99
Starting this spring, we’re rolling out our new personal device entertainment system onboard select aircraft. With this new service, sponsored by the MileagePlus® Explorer Card, you can choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of charge on your personal device.
   
Most planes will be equipped with the new system very soon, and we’ll have it installed on most domestic aircraft by the end of 2014. We’ll begin on Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400 and select 777-200 aircraft, followed by additional fleets. In the end, all United-operated flights will have some form of entertainment.
Remember that 48 hours before your flight you can check the amenities you’ll have onboard at united.com or on the United app. (Please note that the amenities are subject to change up until the time of departure.) 

How it works

Here’s all you need to do before you board to make your inflight viewing as seamless as possible:
1.   Download the latest United app from the iTunes® App Store if you’ll be using an Apple iOS device (iPad, iPhone or iPod). Laptops do not require an app. Android™ support is under development and is planned to be fully supported later this year.
2.    Charge your device fully. All aircraft that will offer personal device entertainment will offer power outlets, with select fleets beginning installation of power outlets this year. 
Once you’re onboard, you’ll see two types of media. Some programs require a browser plug-in on your laptop or the latest United app on your Apple® iOS. Other programs can be watched through the United Portal on your browser with no plug-in or app required.
Just click on what you’d like to watch. You can start, stop, rewind, pause and switch your movie or TV show anytime. It’s that simple.

Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/watch-united-inflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx#VRrYDQTF5u8XIrBg.99
Starting this spring, we’re rolling out our new personal device entertainment system onboard select aircraft. With this new service, sponsored by the MileagePlus® Explorer Card, you can choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of charge on your personal device.
   
Most planes will be equipped with the new system very soon, and we’ll have it installed on most domestic aircraft by the end of 2014. We’ll begin on Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400 and select 777-200 aircraft, followed by additional fleets. In the end, all United-operated flights will have some form of entertainment.
Remember that 48 hours before your flight you can check the amenities you’ll have onboard at united.com or on the United app. (Please note that the amenities are subject to change up until the time of departure.) 

Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/watch-united-inflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx#VRrYDQTF5u8XIrBg.99

oard select aircraft. With this new service, sponsored by the MileagePlus® Explorer Card, you can choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of charge on your personal device
Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/watch-united-inflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx#VRrYDQTF5u8XIrBg.99
Starting this spring, we’re rolling out our new personal device entertainment system onboard select aircraft. With this new service, sponsored by the MileagePlus® Explorer Card, you can choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of charge on your personal device.
   
Most planes will be equipped with the new system very soon, and we’ll have it installed on most domestic aircraft by the end of 2014. We’ll begin on Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400 and select 777-200 aircraft, followed by additional fleets. In the end, all United-operated flights will have some form of entertainment.
Remember that 48 hours before your flight you can check the amenities you’ll have onboard at united.com or on the United app. (Please note that the amenities are subject to change up until the time of departure.) 

Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/watch-united-inflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx#VRrYDQTF5u8XIrBg.99
oard select aircraft. With this new service, sponsored by the MileagePlus® Explorer Card, you can choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of charge on your personal device
Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/watch-united-inflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx#VRrYDQTF5u8XIrBg.99
The UK has announced some changes to their Air Passenger Duty that is charged on flights departing the UK.  The duties currently are as follows:
0 – 2,000 miles:   Economy £13, Other £26
2,000 – 4,000 miles:  Economy £67, Other £134
4,000 – 6,000 miles:  Economy £83, Other £166
6,001 miles:  Economy £94, Other £188
 
The bottom two amounts are being eliminated which means flight to Canada will fall into what will be called Band B which are the same as the rates for 2,000 to 4,000 miles.These changes are set to take place in April of 2015 so we should see our UK flights drop in price, slightly! (Source: Head for points)


Travel Deals
Like their partner, Air France has now also launched their Business Class sale for flights out of Canada (Air France and KLM will always run their sales together). Same deal as yesterday, book by Mar 28 for travel May 1 - Aug 31, 2014. Book online at airfrance.ca


Bonus Offers

AeroMexico Club Premier
- Earn up to Quadruple Club Premier Kilometers for stays at La Quinta Inns and Suites in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. More... Until Jun 30, 14
- 1,000 Bonus Club Premier Kilometers for each ticket purchased for concerts in any city in the United States. More... Until Jun 30, 14

China Eastern Eastern Miles
- Double Eastern Miles Points for stays at any participating Shangri-La hotel, Traders hotel or Kerry hotel in China. More... Apr 1 - May 31, 14

Hainan Airlines / Hong Kong Airlines Fortune Wings
- Double Fortune Wings Miles on Hong Kong Airlines flights between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City, Tianjin or Kagoshima. More... Until Jun 30, 14

IHG Rewards Club
- Earn up to 100% Bonus IHG Rewards Club Points when you buy points online. Mystery bonus will be either 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%. More... Until Apr 21, 14

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- Double Mileage Bank Miles on all All Jetstar Japan (GK) flights. More... Apr 1 - May 31, 14
- Double Mileage Bank Miles and 15% off Best Available Rate for your stay in a Fairmont Gold Room at any participating Fairmont properties in Asia. More... Apr 1 - May 31, 14
- Double Mileage Bank Miles for stays of 2 or more nights at the Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila. More... May 10 - Aug 31, 14

Royal Brunei Airlines Royal Skies (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Royal Plaza on Scotts Double Royal Skies Miles for stays at the Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore. More... Until Dec 31, 14

United MileagePlus
- Earn up to 15,000 Bonus MileagePlus Miles on all paid nonstop flights marketed and operated by United between San Francisco and Chengdu. More... Jun 9 - Aug 31, 14