Scene+ is not just for movies anymore - it's become a versatile powerhouse for all types of rewards

 
With Scene+ replacing AIR MILES at Sobeys, Safeway and other store across Canada you may be asking yourself why should I bother with a movie rewards program. Well you should, as Scene+ is not just about movies or even dining anymore. The actual revamped Scene+ program launched late in 2021 and was the joining of Cineplex and Scotia's separate reward programs into one. 

New increased welcome bonus offer of 7,500 points for the Scotia SCENE+ Visa Card

 

Just as Scene+ is expanding its presence in Canada with the addition of grocery partners we see the original Scotia SCENE+ Visa Card get a limited time increased welcome bonus! The no annual fee card sees its offer for new customers jump from 5,000 to 7,500 Scene+ Points.

Scene+ officially launches at Sobeys and other grocery stores in Atlantic Canada today

 

Today is the day Scene+ officially launches with Sobeys and other Empire Company Limited stores in Atlantic Canada. The news which broke only a few short months ago came as a surprise to many and was a move that solidified Scene+ as a major nationwide loyalty program that isn't just a movie going program.

Scene+ changes redemption method for movies at Cineplex & three new Amex Offers out this week

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

Scene+ sent out an email yesterday notifying members of a change in the redemption option for movies at Cineplex starting August 11. They are getting rid of the flat rate redemptions (1,250 to 2,500 points) and moving it inline with most other Scene+ redemptions of 100 points to $1. This will allow members to complete partial redemptions for movies in effect providing a discount or if you have enough points you can redeem for the full amount of the movie ticket.

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.

Scene+ redemption rate for groceries will be a great 1,000 points for $10

Today sees Scene+ revealing a few more details on the upcoming partnership with their new co-owner Empire Company Limited. The Atlantic Canada based corporation that operates grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor and convenience stores announced last month they were leaving the AIR MILES program to become part of Scene+

The first step in the Scene+ Sobeys partnership is here - awesome new earn rates for Scotiabank credit cards

The newly minted partnership between Scotiabank, Scene+ and Empire Company Limited who operates Sobeys, Safeway and other stores took its first step today in revealing what we could expect from it. Scotiabank announced new earn rates on their credit cards that earn Scene+ points when using them Empire's group of stores plus a few other changes to the card. This comes only a day before we see the revamped Scotiabank Platinum and Red American Express cards launch. 

Your free movie with Scene+ isn't free anymore if you buy it online

The foundation of the Scene+ program (nee Cineplex Scene) ever since its inception in 2007 was to be able to earn points that you could redeem for free movies. That fundamental premise of the program abruptly came to an end this week after what appears to be an unannounced change from Cineplex. In the last few days or so Cineplex has started charging an online booking fee for ordering tickets on their website or via their app. This fee is also being charged on tickets that you redeem Scene+ points for!

Scene+ scores big at the expense of AIR MILES - watch for grocery earning and redeeming to come soon to the program!

In a very unexpected move, news came out today that Empire Company Limited, the parent corporation of Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, IGA and numerous other grocery and drug stores has become a co-owner in the Scene+ program. This will mark the end of the grocery empire's involvement with the AIR MILES program. AIR MILES has counted Safeway and Eastern Canadian Sobeys stores as decades long partners and gained western Canadian stores which were aligned with Aeroplan after the Safeway takeover. Empire has now counted three major Canadian loyalty programs as partners! Over the coming months these stores that have currently been part of the AIR MILES program will move over to Scene+ starting no less than in the company's own backyard, Atlantic Canada.

Three months in and Scene+ doesn't seem any closer to having a fix for their ongoing issues - time to start asking for compensation?

 
Over the last few days I have been posting about some of the new (and old) Scotiabank credit card offers which in their own right are pretty good offers. I've also received general emails from the Scene+ program heralding the benefits of these cards but I feel I need to address the elephant in the room. This is a topic many of you are still writing to me about and that topic is Scene+ still being a complete disaster nearly three months after the new combined program launched and of course that disaster is primarily for the credit card holders.

Clash of the Credit Cards! BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* (Student) vs. Scotiabank SCENE®* Visa* Card

 
It's time for another Rewards Canada Clash! This time in our Clash of the Credit Cards we have two popular student cards go head to head! Those cards are the BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* (Student) and the Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card

December 16 Update: Points not posting properly in the new Scene+ program and a new Amex Offer for Lululemon

Here's your Rewards Canada Daily update! Your daily dose (or near daily dose) of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more. This update is brought to you by the HSBC World Elite Mastercard which is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 bonus points worth $500, has no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee in the first year! 

 
We continue to hear from numerous readers via email and blog comments that Scotia credit card multipliers are not coding correctly in the new Scene+ program. Many grocery and other purchases that should be 5x or 3x points with the Scotia Gold Amex Card are only posting as 1 point per dollar. We've also heard that the total points balance in some members Scene+ accounts are lower than they were in their Scotia Rewards accounts. 

The new Scene+ program is now live, find all the details here!

Cineplex SCENE and Scotia Rewards members rejoice! Your revamped and combined Scene+ program is now here! After some technical issues causing the originally planned launch in November the program went live today.. well some of it was actually operable over the weekend but for the most part all of it went up today. 

December 8 Update: SCENE unavailable at select restaurants until December 13, stay 2 nights in Mississauga and get a $100 prepaid card, Finnair launching Seattle to Helsinki flights

Here's your Rewards Canada Daily update! Your daily dose (or near daily dose) of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more. This update is brought to you by the HSBC World Elite Mastercard which is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 bonus points worth $500, has no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee in the first year! 

 
One further Scene+ update made its way through our email. As a follow up to last week's news about Scene being unavailable the program let members know as well that as they prepare the upgrade members will not be able to earn or redeem points from today to December 12 at the following restaurants:

Swiss Chalet®, Harveys®, Montana’s BBQ & Bar®, East Side Mario’s®, Kelseys Original Roadhouse®, Bier Markt®, The Prime Pubs®.

Scene+ now set to launch on December 13

 

Scene+, the new combined program of Scotia Rewards and Cineplex SCENE was initially supposed to launch in November but technical difficulties behind the scenes 😁 meant it had to be delayed. At that time all the program told us was that is should happen by December 31. Overnight an email came from SCENE notifying members that they will be 'under construction' from December 4 to 12 in anticipation of launching Scene+ on December 13. 

November 25 Update: 5,000 bonus points for stays at Delta Mont Sainte-Anne, awesome Preferred Hotels Cyber Monday offer & half price SCENE movie tickets

Here's your Rewards Canada Daily update! Your daily dose (or near daily dose) of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more. This update is brought to you by the HSBC World Elite Mastercard which is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 bonus points worth $500, has no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee in the first year! 

 
There is a bonus offer available for stays at the Delta Hotels, Mont Sainte-Anne, Resort & Convention Center. This bonus awards 5,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points for stays of 2 or more nights until Feb 2, 22 when you book by Nov 30. If the Marriott Cyber Week sale wasn't happening right now this would be a really good offer! Well, technically it is a good offer - the Cyber Sale is only good for stays until January 17 and prices out cheaper than this offer. However if you may be heading here between January 17 and February 2 check out the bonus points offer as it prices out the same as the best flexible rate. Click here for more details and to book this offer

The launch of Cineplex's and Scotia's Scene+ delayed up to December 31

 

Due to launch today, the new Scene+ program which is the combined entity of Cineplex's SCENE and Scotiabank's Scotia Rewards is now delayed. Thanks to @joshnet on Twitter for alerting us to the change in plans and now the program will launch on or before December 31, 2021.

Get ready for Scene+ the merged program of Scotia Rewards and Cineplex SCENE

 
Nine months after it was first announced, we are now getting our first glimpse of Scene+, which is the offspring of Scotiabank's Scotia Rewards and Cineplex's SCENE program. As of November 22, 2021 the two programs will merge to become Scene+.  Overall this can be 'scene' as a win for both programs, more so for SCENE members but it does provide some extra earning and redemption opportunities for Scotia Rewards members as well.

February 26 Update: One bright spot in the Cineplex SCENE changes and earn 1,000 bonus points per night at the new Hilton Vancouver Downtown (old Westin Grand)

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

 
A quick update to our SCENE devaluation post from yesterday - As Phil M on Twitter noted to us the change in earn rates at physical theatres is both a devaluation but also a potential enhancement. The reason being currently Cineplex awards 125 points only on the first ticket and 65 points for up to two children. However if you have any further adult or child tickets no points would be awarded on them. In the update as of April 30 it will be 5 points per dollar on all tickets so if you are buying for two adults you'll come out even or ahead if you are buying for more adults and children than that.

Images via SCENE

Major devaluation coming to the SCENE program for Cineplex & Playdium purchases

We have another devaluation on our hands people. After bringing devaluation news from BMO and Scotia earlier this year we hate to bring you this news from Canada's beloved SCENE program. Over the next few weeks and months the amount of SCENE points you earn with Cineplex will be changing and it's not for the better. Points earning at Cineplex theatres, the online Cineplex store and at Playdium are all changing. I would have to think the current economic situation caused by the pandemic is the reason behind this change. At least for the time being they haven't changed to redemption process so points you have already earned will retain their value.