Friday, July 29, 2022

Earn 15% cash back for the first 2 months with the Tangerine Money-Back or World Mastercard


Tangerine has brought back what could be considered the bigger cash back bonus ever - percent wise that is!  Both the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card and the Tangerine World Mastercard see the return of their 15% cash back offers that we first saw in fall of 2021! Until September 30th when you apply for and are approved for either of these Tangerine cards you'll be able to earn 15% cash back on all purchases in the first 2 months. The 15% is capped on $1,000 of purchases for a total cash back reward of $150. After that 15% cap is hit or after 2 months the regular earn rate of up to 2% cash back kicks in. 

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Another AIR MILES partner bites the dust - Hudson's Bay Rewards conversions end on September 30


 

Another long term AIR MILES partner is bidding adieu to the program. Rewards Canada's reader Tony L. let us know the partnership between AIR MILES and Hudson's Bay Rewards is coming to an end as of September 30. This marks the third major partner that AIR MILES has lost in the past two months. First it was Empire Company (IGA, Safeway, Sobeys etc.) then Staples and now Hudson's Bay Rewards.

Aeroplan flight reward chart changes coming September 1

Aeroplan just advised us on changes coming to their flight reward chart that will be effective on September 1. There are some increases and decreases with some of the latter coming from the introduction of new shorter mileage distance bands.  We will follow up with more details in the coming days but in the meantime here are the changes so you can start evaluating them!

A sleeping giant: The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card


There is one Ultra Premium credit card that just can't seem to stay in the spotlight, even with it having some significant changes at start of July, the card just seems to quickly fall into the shadows. That card is the Scotiabank Platinum American Express card. A sleeping giant in our market, the card perfectly fills a spot between other Ultra Premium cards that charge higher annual fees and premium cards that offer less benefits.

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Aeroplan further extends pause on points expiry to May 2023 and save 30 AIR MILES when you redeem for entertainment rewards

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


Air Canada Aeroplan has announced one more extension on the pause of the expiry of Aeroplan points. The last extension had the points expiry rule being reinstated as of September 30, 2022 but that has now be moved significantly later to May 31, 2023.

New 100,000 PC Optimum points offer on PC Financial Credit Cards

 
We have yet another 100K offer for PC Financial Mastercards. You can receive this bonus when you apply by August 14, 2022 and it is good for any one of the three cards in their portfolio:

  • PC Financial Mastercard
  • PC Financial World Mastercard
  • PC Financial World Elite Mastercard

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Earn Double Miles with AIR MILES Card Linked offers until July 31

 
When AIR MILES went through their revamp in late 2021 one of the new features they added was Card Linked Offers. This is where you can link any Canadian Mastercard to your AIR MILES account and when you use that card at the merchants featured in Card Linked Offers you earn AIR MILES Reward Miles for that purchase. Some of the participating merchants include Subway, Boston Pizza and The Shoe Company

Air Canada and WestJet are offering an additional 15% off flights in Canada & less than 48 hours left to enter our DragonPass contest!

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

Air Canada and WestJet are both offering an additional 15% off flights within Canada that are booked today:


 

Air Canada is offering 15% off all Economy Basic, Standard, Flex, and Comfort fares for travel in Canada. Must book today (July 26) for travel August 4, 2022 – August 31, 2022 Click here to learn more.


WestJet
is offering 15% off all Basic and Econo fares for travel in Canada. Must book today (July 26) for travel August 4, 2022 – August 31, 2022 Click here to learn more.

Big changes coming to the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card and other TD cards

Big changes to TD Rewards Credit Cards

Big news from TD today as they are making changes to several cards in the credit card portfolio. The changes range from minor to major and I won't bore you with a long introduction as there is lots to cover in the post so I'll just get down it:

Monday, July 25, 2022

Earn up to 80,000 bonus points + receive a first year annual fee rebate with the no foreign transaction fee HSBC World Elite Mastercard

 
The current welcome bonus offer for the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®  provides up to 80,000 bonus HSBC Rewards points for new cardholders.  On top of the new 80,000 point bonus is also a first year annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder. Once you have those 80,000 points they are worth $400 towards any travel! Since Quebec doesn't allow the first year free waiver the offer there is a whopping 110,000 points worth $550 towards travel but you do have to pay the annual fee so you end up with $401 in travel value.

Four confirmed Cobalt Card multiplier locations in Halifax & Condor to launch Edmonton to Frankfurt flights in 2023

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


An update to our American Express Cobalt Card Confirmed Multiplier Locations with some new places from Halifax. Thanks to CedricT for providing details on the following locations:

  • 5x: Cows, Beavertails, King of Donairs
  • 2x: Bob’s Taxi

Air Canada Aeroplan Family Pool Flight Bonuses for travel to Casablanca or Seoul


Air Canada launched two new flight promotions  this month to earn bonus Aeroplan points on travel to Casablanca or Seoul. What is unique about these promotions is that they are targeted to Aeroplan Family Pool members and at least two members of the pool must complete the requirements of the offer although they do not have to travel on the same flights.

Friday, July 22, 2022

RBC Rewards to become Avion Rewards

 

RBC has just announced they will rebranding their RBC Rewards program. As of August 25 (or later) the program will be known as Avion Rewards. From a marketing standpoint this makes sense as there has always been some confusion around their Avion products and RBC Rewards. If I recall correctly Avion launched well before they started using RBC Rewards but as the bank evolved with various credit card products and an expanded rewards catalog beyond travel they named the program RBC Rewards. Of which the Avion products were a integrated part yet also were a somewhat separate program. 

The Dorian, Autograph Collection Calgary is now open & earn 200 bonus AIR MILES on flights to Las Vegas

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


Marriott had another luxury hotel opening yesterday that was somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of the W Toronto official opening. This other luxury hotel that officially opened on July 21 is the Dorian, Autograph Collection Calgary. The building the Dorian is in also houses the new Courtyard Calgary Downtown which also opened on the same day. 

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Earn up to 105,000 bonus Aeroplan Points with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card


TD's Ultra Premium Aeroplan co-brand card, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card  is currently available with  a record high welcome bonus offer of up to 105,000 bonus Aeroplan points!  On top of the huge points bonus, being an ultra premium card it has many benefits associated that make travelling with Air Canada even better like lounge access, first checked bag free and priority boarding! You have to apply online to get this bonus and with the extension is now scheduled to end on September 5, 2022. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

The highly anticipated W Toronto is finally here!


The W Toronto, one of the most anticipated new Marriott Hotels in Canada is officially opening its doors. This is a a hotel that we have had on our list new Marriott Hotel openings in Canada for several years now and after numerous delays primarily owing to the pandemic we are happy to pass along the news of its opening. Marriott sent out an official press release today and while the website shows today as the opening date it appears the hotel will begin welcoming guests as of August 1.

New MBNA Rewards Mastercard Confirmed Multiplier Locations list & our DragonPass contest is open to Quebec residents!

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


One of our readers, Bernard, asked us if we had a list of confirmed multipliers for the MBNA Rewards Mastercard in the same fashion as our extremely popular American Express Cobalt Card Confirmed Multiplier Locations. At the time he asked we did not have such a lit but after further conversation with him we determined it would be a good idea to create and have one on our site as well! 

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Amex Offers spend $500 with Amex Travel receive a $150 statement credit & Sandman Hotels offering up to 50% off with a $25 gas credit + 2x points!

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


There is one additional Amex Offers for booking travel via Amex Travel. Yesterday we let you know about the spend $175 get a $50 credit offer. Some cardmembers are also receiving an offer for a $150 statement credit for spending $500 with Amex Travel.

Enter to win one of two DragonPass Classic Memberships with four free lounge visits. A Rewards Canada Exclusive!

 

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

Rewards Canada has teamed up with the new leader for business class lounge access in Canada, DragonPass, to giveaway some annual memberships with lounge visits to two of our lucky readers! Over the past year DragonPass has made big in-roads in the Canadian market thanks to a global partnership with Plaza Premium and then by becoming the main lounge access membership provider for both Mastercard Canada and Visa Canada! 

Update: The contest is open to residents of Quebec!

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Canada Jetlines launching with Toronto to Moncton & Winnipeg flights, earn 30 bonus miles via AIR MILES Shops & today only save 20% on WestJet flights in Canada

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


Canada Jetlines
officially started to sell tickets today for their first flights. The newest airline in Canada will initially fly from Toronto to Winnipeg and Moncton. Both of these routes are set to launch on August 15. The leisure carrier eventually plans on serving vacation destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Caribbean. Click here to learn more.

Amex Offers: Spend $175 with Amex Travel for hotel or car rentals and receive a $50 statement credit


A new Amex Offers for booking with Amex Travel came out today This offer provides a $50 statement credit when you spend $175 or more on prepaid hotel or car rental bookings online with Amex Travel. The offer is good for one single qualifying purchase or cumulative qualifying purchases so you could have two or more smaller bookings qualify as long as they total up to $175. Personally I received the offer on my Platinum Card

The best flight, hotel, and car rental bonus offers for July

 
Here are our Top Travel Bonus Mile/Point Offers for this month. This post covers the best travel related bonuses for Canadian travellers. Whether it is for flying, hotel stays or car rentals you'll find our top picks here to earn more miles more points and more rewards. Many of these offers go beyond this month so don’t count them out if you need to book and/or travel beyond this month. 

Monday, July 18, 2022

Receive up to a 60% bonus when you buy Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan buy miles bonus is back and once again we see it up at the 60% level which continues to be new normal for the airline.  The bonus is tiered in that if you buy 3,000 to 19,000 miles you’ll get a 40% bonus, 20,000 to 39,000 you’ll get a 50% bonus and the 60% kicks in at the 40,000 mile level.

Earn up to 50,000 Bonus Aeroplan Points and pay no annual fee in the 1st year with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card



In March, TD's Aeroplan co-brand cards moved to a points only bonus instead of points + bonus buddy pass which made a lot of individual travellers happy as for the better part of 18 months the welcome offer on this card offered less points but also a Buddy Pass. Well if you don't travel with a companion that Buddy Pass didn't provide any value for a solo traveller.  That being said, this new offer isn't just for solo travellers - this offer is just as great for couples, families or whomever, it's just that the old Buddy Pass offer was more conducive for non-solo travellers. 

Shoppers Drug Mart PC Optimum Bonus Redemption Event - up to an extra $100 in value for your points until July 20

Shoppers PC Optimum Redemption Event

PC Optimum's bonus redemption event for shopping at Shoppers Drug Mart has returned. PC Optimum members will receive up to an extra $100 in value for their points when they redeem them for online or in-store Shoppers Drug Mart purchases.

New RBC Offers include statement credits and discounts for Boston Pizza, Mary Brown's Chicken & Balzac's Coffee Roasters

 
The latest batch of new RBC Offers sees ten new and extended statement credit or discount promotions for using your RBC card at select retailers! In total there are over 30 offers in place with this program.

Be sure to login to your RBC account right away to load these offers (if required) or get the promo codes if required. Personally I received these offers on the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard but most if not all should also available for RBC's most popular card the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and most other RBC cards.

We review the Business Platinum Card from American Express, a new Amex offer for Amazon Business & the return of US Travel Association's Daily Getaways

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

The next card to receive the Rewards Canada review treatment is the Business Platinum Card® from American Express. This card is targeted towards Canadian small business owners who love to travel and want to avail of benefits that can make that travel better. From providing the best airport lounge access benefit out of any business cards in Canada, hotel elite status, discounts on premium class flights and so much more this card was developed with travel in mind! Not to mention it has an amazing new welcome bonus offer in place right now! Click here to read the entire review

BMO will cap the AIR MILES Mastercard's new 2x grocery earn rate


 

Last week it was announced the BMO AIR MILES Mastercards will be receiving a full time grocery store purchase accelerator in light of AIR MILES losing the Empire group of stores as a partner. The news revealed the co-brand cards will earn 2x AIR MILES Reward Miles on purchases at all grocery stores but as we have learned now the press release from BMO omitted one key detail about the new accelerator.

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Best ever welcome bonus on the TD First Class Visa Infinite Card - earn up to 100,000 welcome points + first year free


The TD® First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 points along with an annual fee rebate for the primary and additional cardholders for the first year. Not only does this continue to be the best ever bonus seen on the card it is also one of the highest flexible point card bonuses in market right now with a nice low spend requirement! This offer runs until October 29, 2022.

Friday, July 15, 2022

Resumption of mandatory random COVID-19 testing for international travellers & earn 2x points for stays at Sonesta Hotels locations in Toronto

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.



The Canadian Government announced the resumption of COVID-19 mandatory random testing for those entering Canada by air. As of July 19 the random tests will return for fully vaccinated travellers arriving into Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Click here to learn more.

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Earn 2x Elite Status Miles on TAP Air Portugal flights out of Montreal and Toronto

Earning double elite status miles on TAP Air Portugal flights now seems to be a recurring promotion from the airline! Last seen early in the spring the offer has returned for the latter half of the summer! This offer is available for TAP's flights out of Montreal and Toronto - and the rest of their worldwide network.

In depth review of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and a new Amex Offer for Esso Speedpass app purchases

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

We updated our review of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card today. This card which we first reviewed in 2011 has been a mainstay in the travel credit card market for 14 years now and is by far one of the most popular in Canada. Over the years we had some band-aid updates to that review so we thought it's time to do a complete refresh for 2022! Click here to read the entire review

Today only: Earn 5,000 bonus points PER NIGHT on Radisson bookings made via their app


You can earn 5,000 bonus Radisson Rewards points per night with this week’s Treat Yourself Thursday promotion when you book stays via their app!

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Scene+ Grocery points earning will emulate the PC Optimum program

Our resident Scene+ stalwart Josh C. passed along the latest Scene+ terms and conditions which details how points will be earned at Empire Company Limited stores likes IGA, Foodland, Safeway, Sobeys and others as of August 11th. What is detailed here is the points earning for Scene+ members, that is those who just show their Scene+ card when shopping at these stores or for those who show it over and above their credit card on that purchase.

New winery benefits for Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders, Alaska Airlines changes lounge access day passes & earn 100k Be Well points tomorrow

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

Visa Infinite Privilege Winery Benefits

Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders have had new benefits added for Winerys in British Columbia and Ontario.Those benefits include complimentary tastings, tours and discounts on wine purchases. The benefit varies by winery. Click here to learn more

Massive new welcome bonuses on 11 American Express cards

American Express has revealed their summer acquisition campaign with massive bonuses and accelerated earn rates on eleven cards from their portfolio. Reminiscent of last year's summer campaign which heralded the best ever bonuses on seven cards, this year's offers are some of the top offers we have seen to date in 2022!

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Earn 4,000 bonus points per stay at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre


Offer details:

Earn 4,000 bonus Bonvoy points per stay at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre. Valid for stays until Sep 5, 22  Click here to learn more and to book this offer.

Make sure you pay for your stay with the Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express®* Card or the Marriott Bonvoy™ Business American Express® Card as those cards earn 5 points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases!

50% bonus qualifying spend on bookings with Air Canada for Business & posting issues with the BMO AIR MILES 3x partner multiplier

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.


If your business participates in the Air Canada for Business program now is the time to book flights with Air Canada. From today through to September 30th all companies that participate in the program will earn 1.5x the qualifying spend on bookings made during this period. For example if you purchase a $1,000 fare you will be credited with $1,500 in spend for your company. The only fares not eligible are flight pass purhcases and basic economy - all other fares qualify. Click here to learn more.

Clash of the Credit Cards! BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card vs. MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard


Welcome to another Rewards Canada Clash! This time in our Clash of the Credit Cards we have two more 5x points cards go against each other! Those cards are the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card and the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

Air Canada and Emirates Form Strategic Partnership

 
Coming through the wire this morning was this surprising news from Air Canada! The airline will be forming a strategic partnership with UAE based Emirates. These are the same two airlines who have in the past, fought over how many flights Emirates could operate to Canada! It looks like those differences have been repaired.... or forgotten as the two will start working together later this year.

Monday, July 11, 2022

Amtrak resumes service between Toronto and New York & a new Amex Offer for Lordco Auto Parts

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

Amtrak has resumed service to Toronto from New York after a two year hiatus. The Maple Leaf service operates daily with six stops on the Canadian portion of the route. This is a welcome return for those who used this service before the pandemic and are itching to ride the rails to New York again. Click here to learn more. (HT The Points Guy

BMO AIR MILES Mastercards to receive a new accelerated grocery store earn rate


Good news today for holders of BMO AIR MILES credit cards as they'll soon be earning more miles for grocery purchases made anywhere. This comes not too long after the news that the Empire group of grocery stores (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo etc.) were leaving the AIR MILES and thus effectively removing a big chunk of the partners the BMO AIR MILES cards had as their accelerated earn rate locations.

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Top 5 Small Business Credit Card Sign Up offers for July - These cards provide the best value out of their welcome bonuses


 

Here are the Rewards Canada Top 5 Small Business Credit Card Sign Up offers for this month! This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings but instead a look at cards for small businesses that have very good acquisition (welcome/sign up) offers. As always when choosing a card you should always take other factors into account other than the just sign up bonus, but when some of these cards are first year free, they can and do pay off even when you grab them strictly for the sign up rewards. This month we see three first year free cards on the list! And remember this list is based on minimum value towards travel which we calculate as the minimum value of the welcome bonus less the annual fee. It is entirely possible to receive more value out of the welcome bonuses on all of these cards since they earn Aeroplan points -  which can provide some huge outsized value rewards!

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Friday, July 8, 2022

Small changes to the Laurentian Bank Visa Infinite Card & receive 25 bonus AIR MILES when you redeem Cash Miles at Safeway & Sobeys

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

 
Sometime over the past month or so there were some changes to the Laurentian Bank Visa Infinite Card. It no longer has a welcome bonus offer (the 8x points) or first year annual fee waiver. They have also reduced the pre-authorized debit earn rate from 3 points per dollar to 2. I'm not entirely sure when the earn rate change happened as I don't check on this card as often as others but thought I would pass it along nonetheless. Learn more about this card here.

Buy or gift Aeroplan Points with up to a 100% bonus


Aeroplan has come out with another buy or gift points promotion where you can earn up to a 100% bonus. This tiered offer sees bonuses ranging up to 100% depending on how many points you buy. This offer runs until July 20 2022 and allows members to buy up to 500,000 points per transaction up to the annual limit of 1 million points. 

Thursday, July 7, 2022

National Bank's new 5x points multiplier may not be as good as we originally thought


Earlier this week we reported changes coming to some of National Bank's credit cards including a new 5x points earn rate on the World Elite Mastercard. There was a lot of excitement surrounding this announcement, even from us but that may have been a little premature! I'll be honest with you I should have paid closer attention to wording around the new 5x points earning rate. As noted by the always astute Josh C. the 5x points on grocery and dining isn't actually capped at $2,500 per month for those categories but rather $2,500 of all your spending. So if you happen to spend $2,500 on some nice new furniture on your card your 5x points earn rate for groceries is gone for that month!

Top Cash Back Credit Card Sign Up offers for July - These cards provide the best value out of their welcome bonuses

Top 5 Cash Back card offers
 
Here are Rewards Canada's Top 5 Cash Back Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of July 2022. This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Cash Back Credit Card rankings but instead a look at cards that have very good acquisition (welcome/sign up) offers. As always when choosing a card you should always take other factors into account other than the just sign up bonus, but when some of these cards are first year free, they can and do pay off even when you grab them strictly for the sign up rewards. 

12 new American Express Cobalt confirmed multipliers and it was a short tenure for Red Roof Inns in Canada

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

Another hefty update to our American Express Cobalt™ Card Confirmed Multiplier Locations. FM once again providing a nice list of 5x locations in Vancouver, confirming Fairmont Hotels for 2x and a couple of 1x locations including a winery. From his previous submissions it seems most wineries do only end up provided 1x points. Here are the additions: