June 30 Update: Alaska Airlines & JAL Mileage Bank partnership, Save 25% on KLM Business Class awards & Alaska cuts many AA earning rates

News, Tips & Tricks
To coincide with American AAdvantage moving to their revenue based mileage earning model, Alaska Airlines will be adjusted the earn rate for Mileage Plan members who fly on American as of August 1st. Full fare business and first class will go up to 200% miles flown while discounted economy which used to earn 100% of miles flown will vary from 25% for the cheapest tickets to 75% for the pricier discounted tickets. Full fare economy and discounted premium classes remain the same. Find out more here.

Also on the Alaska Airlines newsfront is the approval of their partnership with Japan Airlines that we mentioned sometime ago. You can now earn and redeem miles with each other airline's programs Mileage Plan and Mileage Bank. The redemption chart for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank members looks really good for travel within North America and competes well with Aeroplan and British Airways Executive Club! Now JAL Mileage Bank miles are relatively hard to come by for us Canadians unless of course you credit all your flights and hotel stays to JMB but the easiest way to earn them for those who may not travel JAL often but want an awesome option for redeeming on Alaska Airlines is the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. Starpoints transfer to JMB at a 1:1 basis and like Aeroplan, JMB short haul flights on Alaska are only 15,000 miles, medium haul are 20,000 to 21,000 compared to Aeroplan's and most other FFP's 25,000 mile requirement. For those of us out West this may now to be program to really look at for flying up and down the West Coast! Find out more here.

Don't forget to enter our Marriott Rewards contest!! You can enter to win up to 30,000 Marriott Rewards points! Find out all about here.

Posts since our last update:

• Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards - Save 25% between Calgary or Toronto & Europe in Business Class
  The newest set of Air France KLM's Promo Awards were released today but won't be bookable until 6pm EST…

Travel Deals
Book WestJet's Canada Day sale today! Lock in some great fares for this fall and winter if you book by the end of today. Find out more here. 

Bonus Offers
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- July Promo Awards - Save 20% to 50% on the Award Miles usually required for an award ticket. Destinations vary by each promotional period. More... Book by Jul 31 for travel between Sep 1 - Oct 31, 16

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- Earn up to Triple Mileage Bank Miles for stays at participating Hilton hotels Worldwide. More... Jul 1 - Sep 30, 16

Le Club accorhotels
- Triple Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at participating Accor Hotels in Africa. More... Until Aug 31, 16
- 1,000 Bonus Le Club Accorhotels Points when you join Le Club AccorHotels Meeting Planner program. More... Until Dec 31, 16

Ritz-Carlton Rewards
- Double Rewards Points for stays at the Ritz-Carlton, Chicago. More... Until Sep 10, 16



Follow Rewards Canada:

Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards - Save 25% between Calgary or Toronto & Europe in Business Class

The newest set of Air France KLM's Promo Awards were released today but won't be bookable until 6pm EST today The discount ranges from 25 to 50% off the regular amount of miles required. As you can see just by the discount this can be a very good offer if you get 50% off for Business Class! However this month's bookings are all at 25%, still decent if your planning to redeem anyways.

Two  Canadian cities are up for a discount in this latest offering. Calgary and Toronto are all available at 25% off for business class redemptions on KLM.

Offer Details:
Save up to 50% with Promo Awards Save 25% to 50% on the Award Miles usually required for award ticket. Destinations vary by each promotional period. Full Details Book by Jul 31 for travel between Sep 1 - Oct 31, 16

Here are the Canadian offers available for booking during July for travel in October:

June 29 Update: Win up to 30,000 Marriott Rewards points and Starwood's SPG Keyless is improved in latest release

News, Tips & Tricks
The best news today is the launch of our contest with Marriott! You can enter to win up to 30,000 Marriott Rewards points! Find out all about here.

Starwood is releasing an update to SPG Keyless, the program where you can use your phone to act as your room key. In the next generation release more hotels are being added. You 'll be able to use SPG Keyless at select Le Méridien, Westin, Sheraton, and Four Points properties worldwide, including Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt, Le Méridien Hamburg, Le Méridien Columbus, The Westin Westminster, Westin Palo Alto, Westin Camino Real Guatemala, Sheraton Bloomington, Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, and Four Points Cupertino. It is also being expanded to enable multiple guests sharing the same room to take advantage of keyless entry. All they need is an SPG account and the SPG app. (Source: Starwood)

Posts since our last update:

• Enter to win up to 30,000 Marriott Rewards Points with Rewards Canada & Marriott!
  It has been a little while since we've run a contest on Rewards Canada and that dry spell came to…

Bonus Offers
Aeroflot Bonus
- 1,000 Bonus Miles per night for stays at the Novotel Sheremetyevo Airport. More... Until Aug 31, 16

ANA Mileage Club
- Earn up to Triple Mileage Club Miles for stays at participating Hilton hotels Worldwide. More... Jul 1 - Sep 30, 16

Delta SkyMiles
- Double SkyMiles for stays at IHG Hotel stays Worldwide. More... Jun 1 - Aug 31, 16

Hilton HHonors
- 1,000 Bonus HHonors Points for stays of 2 or more nights at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre. More... Jul 1 - Aug 29, 16
- Double HHonors Points for weekend stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. More... Until ?

Iberia Plus
- 50% Bonus Avios when you buy Avios online. More... Until Jul 6, 16



Follow Rewards Canada:

Enter to win up to 30,000 Marriott Rewards Points with Rewards Canada & Marriott!

It has been a little while since we've run a contest on Rewards Canada and that dry spell came to an end today when we launched this great contest with Marriott today!

To enter the contest visit rewardscanada.ca/marriottcontest and comment on the page with what Marriott Rewards benefit appeals to you the most! One lucky reader will walk away with 30,000 Marriott Rewards points and a runner up will take home 15,000 points! The contest is open to Canadians over the age of 18 excluding Quebec and you have until July 18th to enter!

June 28 Update: Rocketmiles 1st time booking bonus, New Centurion Lounge in Houston, Hilton Triple Aeroplan Miles offer

News, Tips & Tricks

There is another new short term first time booking bonus with Rocketmiles. If you have never booked with them do so by July 1st and you'll earn 3,000 bonus miles or points in the program of your choice that they partner with. Aeroplan is included! Find out more here.

WestJet announced two new routes that will launch later this summer, Edmonton to Hamilton and Winnipeg to Kelowna. These almost look like a direct response to newleaf as the new airline is flying those routes as well. (Source WestJet)

More great lounge news for The Platinum Card from American Express cardholders. Another Centurion lounge has opened in the U.S.. This time in Houston at IAH. Platinum cardholders get free entrance to any American Express Centurion lounges but don't fret if you have a card like the American Express Gold Rewards Card you can still get in but you have to pay an entry fee. Find out more about Centurion Lounges here.

Air Canada is bringing back a direct flight between Montreal and San Juan Puerto Rico. The once weekly flight will run during the Winter 2016/17 season. (Source Airlineroute.net)

American Airlines will be discontinuing service between Kitchener and Chicago as of October 2016. (Source Airlineroute.net)

Posts since our last update:

• Earn Triple Aeroplan Miles for Hilton stays in Canada, Caribbean & Latin America
  This is the summer for Aeroplan hotel promotions! If you don't need to credit summer hotel stays to a hotel…
• Aeroplan and TD support Pride 2016 Celebrations in Toronto, Vancouver & Montreal
  If you hold a TD Aeroplan co-branded credit card be sure to pull it out and use it this…

Travel Deals
Starwood Preferred Guest has launched their annual Canada Day sale. You can save 15% or more for Starwood Hotel stays across Canada until September 6th. Simply book by July 1st. Find out more here.

Emirates has launched a great sale for their flights to Dubai from Toronto. Perhaps feeling the affect of Air Canada's flights you can fly Emirates for only $899 all in for travel Sep 16 to Apr 21 if you book by Jun 30. Find out more here.

Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Triple Aeroplan Miles when you stay at participating Hilton hotels in Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America. More... Jul 18 - Nov 18, 16

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Earn up to Triple Asia Miles for stays at Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City worldwide. More... Until Aug 31, 16

Le Club accorhotels
- Earn up to Triple Le Club accorhotels points for stays at Mercure Hotels in Vienna. More... Jul 15 - Sep 15, 16

Marriott Rewards
- Earn up to 1,000 Bonus Airline Miles when you stay at participating Marriott Hotels in Europe. More... Until Sep 11, 16

RBC
- 20,000 Point Sign up bonus when you apply for and receive the RBC Platinum Business Avion. More... Until ?

Saudia Alfursan
- Double Alfursan Miles for Budget rentals in Saudi Arabia. More... Until Aug 20, 16

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 3,000 Bonus Miles&Smiles Miles on your first booking with PointsHound for stays of 2 or more nights Worldwide. More... Until Jul 31, 16

United MileagePlus
- Up to 100% Bonus MileagePlus Miles when you buy or gift miles online. More... Until Aug 15, 16


Follow Rewards Canada:

Today's Bonus Offer Highlight is brought to you by:

Earn Triple Aeroplan Miles for Hilton stays in Canada, Caribbean & Latin America

This is the summer for Aeroplan hotel promotions! If you don't need to credit summer hotel stays to a hotel program than Aeroplan should be your choice! The good thing with this offer from Hilton is that you can earn both points and miles so you get the best of both worlds. Starting on July 18th Aeroplan members can earn triple miles for stays in Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Offer details:
Triple Aeroplan Miles when you stay at at participating Hilton hotels in Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Full details, online registration and booking (Registration is required) Jul 18 - Nov 18, 16

Can't make use of this offer? Find the most complete list of Aeroplan bonuses here!

Aeroplan and TD support Pride 2016 Celebrations in Toronto, Vancouver & Montreal

If you hold a TD Aeroplan co-branded credit card be sure to pull it out and use it this week in Toronto, late July in Vancouver and early August in Montreal! Why? For every dollar spend on the cards during the weeks listed below in the three cities Aeroplan and TD will donate one Aeroplan Miles to support organizations that fight for LGBT rights.

To celebrate Pride 2016 celebrations across Canada, together Aeroplan and TD will donate one Aeroplan Mile for every dollar that TD Aeroplan Credit Cardholders spend in Toronto (June 24 – July 3), in Vancouver (July 24 - July 31), and in Montreal (August 8 – 14) 

Organizations Aeroplan and TD are supporting:

• Egale
• Foundation of Hope
• Fondation Jasmin Roy
• Rainbow Railroad
• Stephen Lewis Foundation

Learn more here: www.td.com/foreverproud


If you aren't a TD Aeroplan card holder yet, you probably won't be able to help out in Toronto if you apply right now but you definitely can have the card in your hands before the Vancouver and Montreal dates. Remember too that Rewards Canada has an exclusive offer running right now with TD Canada Trust for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card where you'll earn double miles on select spending over and above the card sign up bonus. This offer is the richest in the market if you can max out your spending at $5,000! Find out more about our exclusive offer here.

June 24 Update: newleaf marks its return, SPG Amex supplementary cards free in first year, Best Western promo update

News, Tips & Tricks
If you watched any Canadian news broadcasts last night you'll have seen one of the big new stories as being the return of newleaf. The ultra low cost carrier was originally slated to start service on February 12th but the CTA did not grant them their license since the flights were not operated by them but by Flair Air out of Kelowna. Flair Air is a division of Kelowna Flightcraft, best known for their cargo services and also the being the airline that was Greyhound Air back in the 90s! Now, it looks like everything has been cleared up with the CTA and newleaf is ready to launch on July 25th with the following schedule:

Edmonton – Abbotsford 2 weekly (Day 47)
Edmonton – Fort St. John 2 weekly (Day 47)
Edmonton – Kamloops 2 weekly (Day 36)
Hamilton – Edmonton 2 weekly (Day 15)
Hamilton – Halifax 2 weekly (Day 47)
Hamilton – Moncton 2 weekly (Day 15)
Hamilton – Saskatoon 2 weekly (Day 36)
Hamilton – Winnipeg 3 weekly (Day 157)
Kamloops – Victoria 2 weekly (Day 36)
Kelowna – Regina 2 weekly (Day 47)
Kelowna – Saskatoon 2 weekly (Day 36)
Kelowna – Winnipeg 3 weekly (Day 157)
Winnipeg – Abbotsford 2 weekly (Day 47)
Winnipeg – Victoria 2 weekly (Day 47)

The airline is going to be run much like Ireland's Ryanair and the U.S.'s Spirit Airlines by charging for just about everything. If you can fly with just a purse or laptop bag and check-in online and don't print a paper boarding pass you'll get their lowest fares. Outside of that you'll have to pay more. You can find all the details on this new airline at flynewleaf.ca.

Plane details:

Seat Map - Courtesy Flair Air

Now are they actually cheaper? Here is a comparison of WestJet versus newleaf for Edmonton to Hamilton Aug 8-15:

Nope. WestJet is cheaper, granted not direct but you'll earn WestJet Rewards dollars and not have to pay for carry on luggage.

But checking Winnipeg to Victoria in September and they are significantly cheaper with direct flights:

Like always, it is best to shop around to see who has the best deal for your flights. Remember if newleaf codes as a travel provider on your credit card you will be able to redeem proprietary credit card points for their flights. Find out more about Proprietary Credit Card Reward programs here.

One final note, lets hope they make it as the other airline like newleaf that partnered with Flair Airlines, GoSarvaq didn't even make it off the ground.

If you don't have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express we do explain in this post why you should still consider getting it and now it got even better for those who need supplementary cards. As of yesterday any new applications that include a supplementary card will have that card's fee waived in the first year for a $50 savings. Find out more and apply for the card here.

Yesterday we let you know about a potentially good Best Western Rewards offer. Well BW got back to us and the bad news this promotion is only open for Best Western Rewards members in Ireland, Russia, Spain & Portugal, Africa, and Middle East. So unless you have a residence or address there where you can change your BW Rewards profile to this offer won't work for us Canadians.


Posts since our last update:

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Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Double Aeroplan Miles for stays on the Linger Longer offer at participating Langham Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Sep 30, 16

Le Club accorhotels
- 300 Bonus Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at Accor Hotels in Moscow. More... Jun 29 - Aug 31, 16
- Triple Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays of 2 or more nights at Accor Hotels in South Korea. More... Book by Aug 28 for stays until Sep 4, 16