We review the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard and earn 20x PC Optimum points on beauty products at Shoppers Drug Mart

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

We have updated our review of the BMO Ascend^TM World Elite®* Mastercard®* formerly known as the BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard. The card and the rewards program have undergone a slew of changes over the years so this review catches up on all that has happened from the name change, to earn rates, redemption and more. Click here to see what we think of BMO's flagship travel rewards card

Credit Card Review: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

One of the most popular travel rewards credit cards in Canada, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card was first reviewed by Rewards Canada in 2014 when it was introduced. For the better part of six years the card didn't change very much but then we saw the entire Air Canada Aeroplan saga transpire for numerous years which culminated in Air Canada buying Aeroplan back from Aimia and launching a whole new Aeroplan in November of 2020 along with refreshed credit card offerings. This mainstay Aeroplan card from TD underwent many changes for the new program and thus the need for this updated review.

Credit Card Review: HSBC World Elite Mastercard

 

The HSBC World Elite Mastercard is a relatively new card in the Canadian market. This is not their 'Premier World Elite' which is meant for people who bank at HSBC but rather this card is for any Canadian and it is essentially the same as the Premier version. When HSBC launched this card in late 2018 it became obvious they didn't want to only market their credit cards to those who bank with them, rather they wanted to get into the entire lucrative Canadian credit card market. It was about time they did as Canadians, slow as they may have been to adapt, are learning they don't have to get credit cards from the bank they bank with, rather they can get whatever card they like and HSBC wants part of that pie.

New RBC Offers include statement credits and discounts for Landmark Cinemas, Wayfair & Etnies

The latest batch of new RBC Offers sees 13 new and extended statement credit or discount promotions for using your RBC card at select retailers! In total there are nearly 40 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.

REMINDER The credit card to consider getting right now - August 2022

We continue our monthly feature where we recommend a card to consider applying for right away during the course of the current month.  How do we pick which card should be highlighted? We'll look at numerous factors however in most cases it will primarily be due to the limited time offer on the highlighted card ending this month or shortly thereafter.  In some cases, it may be different factors or a combination of factors. This month it's the former however, where it is simply an offer that is set to end shortly after the end of this month.

We review the American Express Gold Rewards Card and Neo drops their cashback guarantee to 0.5% for new applicants

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 American Express® Gold Rewards Card today. This card which we first reviewed in 2010 is one of the best travel cards in Canada, in fact it was the best from 2011 to 2017 until the Cobalt Card came out. Over the years we had some piece meal updates to that review so we thought it's time to do a complete refresh for 2022 especially seeing that it was revamped in 2021. See what we think of the card now! Click here to read the entire review (link has been corrected)

Best Ever Bonus for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card: Earn up to 55,000 RBC Rewards Points!

RBC has brought their flagship card into the game of bigger and better bonuses. So many other issuers have been steadily increasing the offers on their cards - many with their best ever bonuses - and even RBC has done so on their British Airways, Cathay Pacific and WestJet cards. And for this summer it's the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card's turn. For the past few months this card has had a new welcome bonus of up to 55,000 RBC Rewards points which just happens to be the best ever bonus ever provided for this card. The offer is only set to be place for just over one more month so be sure to check it out.

The Ultimate WestJet Credit Card portfolio, new AIR MILES contest has 6 million miles up for grabs & Hyatt Place Toronto / Brampton opens this month

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

Another Ultimate Portfolio update to let you know about - this time we updated The Ultimate WestJet Credit Card portfolio! This wallet is for those Canadians looking to maximize their experience with WestJet. Not only does it provide the highest potential WestJet dollar earning it also provides a slew of benefits for when you fly with WestJet and it also provides numerous ways to save money when flying with the airline. 

This update wasn't as substantial as some of the last few Ultimate portfolios as we only changed one card in it from when we originally made this portfolio in 2017! The recommended American Express Card is now the Platinum Card from American Express instead of the American Express Cobalt Card. The feature has also been updated to the new Rewards Canada template as well. Check out the updated portfolio here!

Meridian Credit Union no longer accepting new credit card applications and a new Guide to Amex's International Airline Program

 

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

According to a thread on RFD, Meridian Credit Union has stopped accepting new applications for their cards as they will be changing providers in the fall. There are no details of the planned switch or what the cards will offer when they are released. We have updated our Top Cash Back Card rankings since we had the Meridian Visa Infinite* Cash Back Card ranked as the third best card in the market but now the list shifts up and sees the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card move back into the rankings into 5th spot. These rankings will be changing again in October when the new earn rates for the SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express kick in and possibly seeing the Meridian card back in the mix of things should their new card remain competitive. Check out our top cash back rankings here.

SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express moves to a monthly fee model and sees increased earn of 4% cash back on gas and groceries

One of Canada's top 5 cash back credit cards is going to see a fee increase this fall. News came out over the past few days that the SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express will move from an annual fee to a monthly fee like the American Express Cobalt® Card as of October 12. This move to a monthly fee also marks an increase in the overall cost of the card over a 12 month period but they are adding in increased category earn rates with this change!

An unsung benefit that provides big savings on premium travel with major airlines as well as WestJet economy class

The Platinum Card® and Business Platinum Card® from American Express are famous for the benefits they provide to their cardmembers. From having the best airline lounge access to hotel elite status to annual travel credits, the cards are a traveller's dream. However, one of the benefits that can be found on these cards that doesn't seem to get much attention is the International Airline Program. Also known as IAP, this benefit provides discounts for flying on some of the world's best airlines in premium cabins but it also provides discounts for economy class tickets on WestJet!

We review the Rogers World Elite Mastercard & WestJet will extend expiring Travel Bank credits by 90 days

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 Rogers World Elite®* Mastercard®* last week. The card is in a small subclass of premium World Elite Cards that are offered with no annual fee and is quite a rewarding and easy to use cash back card. Click here to read the entire review

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. 

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
  

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

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

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. 

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.

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!