August 21 Update: Aeroplan now lets you book award tickets on Cathay Pacific and GOL online, even more Cobalt multipliers & Virgin Atlantic becomes first airline to provide elite tier earn on award tickets

 

Aeroplan came out with news yesterday that you can now book flight rewards with Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and GOL online at Aeroplan.com. Prior to this you had to call in to Aeroplan to book on these airlines. For Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon you can only redeem for flights between Hong Kong and the following

• Chiang Mai, Thailand
  
• Phuket, Thailand
  
• Bangkok, Thailand
  
• Cebu, Philippines
  
• Manila, Philippines
  
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  
• Hanoi, Vietnam

While you can't redeem for other Cathay flights you can always combine the above routes to other airlines like Air Canada, Etihad, ANA etc. via Aeroplan. For GOL, all of their flights systemwide are available on aeroplan.com now. (Source Aeroplan)

For the next week when you buy $150 in Sobeys / Safeway gift cards you'll get 100 AIR MILES Bonus Miles. There is a limit of 5 offers per collector number so ultimately you can buy $750 in gift cards (use a card like Amex Cobalt or Scotia Gold Amex to earn 5x points) and earn 500 AIR MILES worth just over $50 in Cash Miles or ~$65 towards travel. This offer is valid until Aug 26, 2020

 

Even more American Express Cobalt multipliers to pass along. First I'm pretty sure this merchant is relatively new to American Express as I swear I couldn't use my card Cobalt card there not too long ago but one of Calgary's best butchers, Bon Ton Meat Market now accepts American Express and it codes properly with the Cobalt card as a 5x multiplier! I'm pretty sure it should also qualify as a Shop Small merchant so I should expect to get a $5 credit for the purchase. Then we send along a thanks to FM who commented on our multiplier page with eight new locations in B.C. that are 5x and 1x multipliers. Find them all on our American Express Cobalt Multipliers page.

Even though they stopped flying to Canada several years ago there are a few of you who may still be utilizing Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program who would find the latest news from them quite exciting. The airlines has become the first in the world to award elite tier points earning on award flights! They are taking a page out of the hotel loyalty program playbook where several hotel chains do award elite qualifying on award nights. You can learn about this exciting development here.

Hotel occupancy in Canada broke through the 40% level for the first time in months! For the week of August 9-15 the occupancy rate for hotels in Canada was 41.8%. This is nearly 48% less than the same period last year. (Source HNN)

 

Airline Schedule Updates
A summary Canadian operations based on data from RoutesOnline and other sources. Remember that many of these route plans are subject to change and right now they are changing frequently!

Air Canada Aeroplan partner airline Air Creebec will resume some flights next week. As of August 24 the Quebec based airline will launch several weekly flights out of Montreal-Dorval to Chibougamau, Chisasibi and Val d’Or – Chisasibi. (Source RoutesOnline)

Air France will not be flying their Vancouver-Paris route for the upcoming winter season and plan to reduce Toronto-Paris flights from daily service to 5x weekly service. (Source RoutesOnline)

Posts since our last update:

• Reminder - Only two weeks left to earn those American Express Shop Small statement credits
    Back in June American Express Canada launched the best ever version yet of their Shop Small campaign and…
• August 20 Update: Radisson Rewards extends pause on points expiration and adds elite night rollover, Cobalt multiplier at iconic Calgary Drive-In & WestJet's international flight schedule for September
  Radisson Rewards have further updated their policy in regards to points expiration and elite status. Previously they extended points…

Deals:

Air Transat Here Comes the Sun Promotion. Early bird perks and extra flexibility for travel between August 5, 2020, and April 30, 2021 Book by September 11, 2020. Find out more here.
Book a South package and benefit from Option Flex* which allows you to: Change your travel dates Transfer your vacation package Cancel your trip Our Price Drop Guarantee† A reduced deposit of only $100​ Final payment 25 days before departure

If you aren't using the Ampli Cash Back app yet you can get $5 when you download the app and join today with promo code AMPLI5 Find out more here

Fairmont Hotels Stay Close - Buy Night 1 Get 1 Night free at select hotels in Canada, U.S. and Mexico. Find out more here

SkipTheDishes - Sign up with this link to get $5 off your first order over $15. Find out more here

WealthSimple Trade:  Receive $5 when you deposit and trade at least $100 worth of stock with WealthSimple Trade. Find out more here (We will also receive $5 when you receive $5)

Rewards Canada receives a small commission when you use any of the above offers. You don't have to chose to use our links but we thank you in advance if you do.

Canadian Bonus Offers

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Other Bonus Offers

Best Western Rewards
- Double Rewards Points or Airline Miles for stays at the Best Western Ft. Lauderdale I-95 Inn. More... Until Sep 7, 20
- Double Rewards Points or Airline Miles for stays at the Best Western Richland Inn-Mansfield. More... Until Sep 30, 20

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Double KrisFlyer Miles when you book a minimum of 2 consecutive nights at Casa del Rio Melaka. More... Until Dec 31, 20

World of Hyatt
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night for stays at the Hyatt Regency Sofia More... Aug 30 - Nov 29, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night for stays at the Hyatt Centric San Salvador More... Aug 29 - Nov 29, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night for stays at the Mar Monte Santa Barbara More... Until Nov 29, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night for stays at the Hyatt Place Titusville / Kennedy Space Center More... Until Oct 30, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night for stays at the Hyatt Place Tulsa / Downtown More... Aug 26 - Nov 29, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night for stays at the Hyatt Place Sioux Falls – South More... Aug 18 - Nov 29, 20


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