Frontier Airlines: Elite Status Match from 15 airlines including Air Canada & WestJet plus 15 hotel programs

 
Frontier Airlines has brought back their very wide open status match opportunity that we saw in 2020. The airline has partnered with statusmatch.com to run the match again this year and it’s quite an easy one. The airline will match your status from 15 different airline or 15 different hotel programs. Both Air Canada and WestJet elite status is included. It’s pretty rare for an airline to match a hotel status, I believe WestJet Rewards was one of the first to do so back in 2016 (read about that here) however that required one flight. With Frontier’s offer there is no flight requirement. You simply have to pay a $49 processing fee for your status match and apply by December 21, 2021

July 20 Update: Frontier to return to Calgary, new enhanced screening measures on flights to the U.S., great VHR bonus!

News, Tips & Tricks
Frontier Airlines announced their plan to return to Calgary after about a decade after leaving the city. Flights should commence in Spring of 2018 between Calgary and Denver with connections to many cities across the U.S. and to Mexico. Frontier does have their own frequent flyer program called Early Returns and their return to Calgary will see us resurrect the Early Returns bonus offer page on our site. Right now we do cover the program however only on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com. (Source Frontier Airlines)

Similar to what Air Canada is offering, Cathay Pacific has announced the ability to bid for upgrades on select flights. Here is an excerpt from the email I received today:

Customers who have purchased Premium Economy or Economy Class tickets1 on selected routes2 have the opportunity to upgrade to the next cabin class via Upgrade Bid.

How it works
If your flight and fare class are eligible to make an Upgrade Bid, and you have opted in to receive offers from Cathay Pacific, you will receive an email invitation seven days before the first sector of your booking. You can also check your flight’s eligibility by entering your booking reference number and family name on the Upgrade Bid welcome page.

To enter the auction, simply visit our Upgrade Bid page to place your starting bid. If your offer is accepted as the winning bid, you’ll receive an email notification confirming your upgrade 48 hours before the departure.

Unfortunately Toronto and Vancouver are not on the initial list of cities where this is being offered however they may come at a future date.

Just as Canada is about to allow merchants to charge an extra fee for credit card transactions, the U.K. has gone in the other direction by banning the extra fees as of January 2018. I have yet to encounter a merchant that charges an extra fee when you use a credit card. (Source Head for Points) Here is what the Government of Canada says:

According to Visa, MasterCard and American Express merchant rules, merchants generally cannot charge you a service fee when consumers use their credit card. However, Visa, MasterCard and American Express permit eligible merchants to charge a service fee (also known as a convenience fee) for certain types of transactions.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express all require that the fee be clearly disclosed to cardholders before the transaction is completed and that cardholders are able to cancel the transaction without penalty.

Note that under the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada, merchants may choose to offer discounts for different payment methods, but they are not required to do so.

Apparently its only certain types of transactions which we believe are premium card transactions. I have a feeling merchants who choose to do this (it's still over a year away) will lose business to those merchants who choose not to add any surcharges.

Finally a reminder to everyone travelling to the U.S., new enhanced security measures have been enacted. It is suggested that you arrive at least 2 hours before your transborder flight if not sooner as security lines are expected to be longer due to the extra measures (Source CATSA)

Posts since our last update:

• TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card - 6% Cash Back on select categories for the first 3 months + first year free
   In the middle of June TD Canada Trust released a new set of cash back credit cards to our market.…

Canadian Bonus Offers
N/A

Other Bonus Offers
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Triple Asia Miles for stays of 2 or more nights at all Accor Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Oct 31, 17

La Quinta Returns
- Up to a 25% Discount when you buy La Quinta Returns points. More... Until Aug 18, 17

Le Club AccorHotels
- 4X Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at new Accor Hotels Worldwide. More... Book by Sep 3 for stays until Sep 30, 17

SAS EuroBonus
- Double EuroBonus Points for stays at all First Hotels in Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Spain. More... Until Aug 20, 17

Voila Hotel Rewards
- Triple VHR Bonus Points and Double Elite Status Credit for stays at participating VOILÀ network hotels Worldwide. More... Until Nov 30, 17

Follow Rewards Canada:

May 2 Update: Frontier to charge for carry-on bags, a few Aeroplan promos (and my thoughts on one of them!)

Another quiet day here at RC (well at least on what I can present to you!) Big things happening here behind the scenes. If everything goes as planned you'll see the results tomorrow!

News, Tips & Tricks

Following in the footsteps of Spirit Airlines and Ryanair, Frontier Airlines has announced they will start charging for carry on bags (only to those people who don't buy tickets via Frontiers website) and will charge a $1.99 for coffee, tea, soda, and juice for those who buy tickets in the two lowest economy fare classes. Now its been a few years since Frontier pulled out of Vancouver and Calgary but thought this was still worth mentioning for those of you who may fly F9 on US domestic routes. (HT One Mile at a Time)

Following last weeks announcement from Air France KLM Flying Bue about changes to their InterContinental award tickets comes the news that they will be opening up First Class award seat space on Air France to non-elite Flying Blue members. (HT The Points Guy)

In the bonus offers section you'll notice the Air Canada bonus for the new Istanbul route that I mentioned yesterday. The more I think about it I think it is a really weak route launch bonus! AC feels it is enough to offer a small bonus and I guess it is better than nothing as AC usually doesn't have route launch bonuses like we see from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and so on but come on 1,500 bonus miles for Economy Class? On an Intercontinental route? Not worth it if others airlines are pricing cheaper (consider Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance partner no less). You have to ask the question: What is the point of a route launch bonus? There are a few reasons airlines have route launch bonuses some of which are as follows (but not limited to) ...

1. Drive awareness of the new route


2. Fill the plane. New routes tend not to be full so a route bonus is put in place to move traffic from another airline (an enticement for switching) or encourage changes to travel plans (ie in this case connect to other flights via Istanbul instead of Frankfurt, London, etc.

Well this promotion will drive awareness of the route as Aeroplan members will see the promotion  on the website and in their emails but will it fill the plane with such a small bonus? I'm not that sure. When American Airlines launches a new Intercontinental route they either offer Double Miles or a tiered bonus depending on the fare class which usually range from 5,000 miles in economy to 50,000 in Business or First depending on the promotion or route. Those are the numbers that will drive point #2 to success. Granted, perhaps Air Canada has already sold a decent amount of seats but those bookings have tapered off now and they want to fill a few more with this small enticement.  The people who will make the most of this promo are the elites who will choose flying AC for the benefits instead of another airline regardless of price. Ultimately without seeing actual numbers its a guessing game on my part but when you see the bonuses most airlines place on new routes, Air Canada's is just piddly.

Bonus Offers

Air Canada Aeroplan

• Earn up to 3,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles for each round trip (or 2 one way segments) you fly on Air Canada between Toronto and Istanbul. More... Book by May 31 for travel Jun 4 - Sep 2, 13


• 5,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles when you book an all-inclusive package to Cuba with Air Canada Vacations and travel between August 1 and September 30. More... Book by May 31, 13


• 150 Bonus Aeroplan Miles on every bouquet purchased from Teleflora. More... Until Jun 30, 13


• Earn up to Triple Aeroplan Miles. when parking at Vancouver International Airport. More... Until Jun 30, 13

Delta SkyMiles

• Earn up to 500 SkyMiles when you pay your rent online with Williampaid. More... Ongoing

Jumeirah Sirius

• Triple Sirius Points for stays of 3+ nights at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Abu Dhabi. More... Jun 1 - Sep 30, 13


• Double Sirius Points for stays at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Dubai. More... Jun 1 - Sep 30, 13 

TAP Portugal Victoria

• Double Victoria Miles for stays at Altis Hotels in Portugal. More... Until Jun 30, 13


• Double Victoria Miles for stays of 2 or more nights at the Solares de Portugal. More... Until Jun 30, 13

Nov 30 Update: Best Western bonus in CA, HI & NV, Frontier Double EQMs Systemwide & CardSwap Winner

This will be the last Daily Update until December 6th as my family and I are off for a small vacation to relax and do some shopping. We're going to do our best to help bolster the U.S. economy: three ladies and a guy who is known to enjoy shopping on ocassion equals hefty spending!

News, Tips & Tricks
Melia International Mas rewards now offers an option to buy or gift Mas Points. To celebrate the launch they are offering a 20% bonus on all points purchased. The program allows you to buy up to 100,000 points before the bonus in a calendar year. I'm still looking at their redemption options to see if this can be worthwhile promo to take advantage of and will report back if there is anything that stands out.

The winner of Rewards Canada's Cardswap.ca giveaway was @BremerVan Congratulations!

Bonus Offers
Best Western Rewards
- 1,000 Bonus Rewards Points PER NIGHT for every qualified night you stay for up to 4 nights at participating Best Western Hotels in California, Nevada or Hawaii. More... Until Jan 31, 13
- 500 Bonus Rewards Points for stays at th Best Western Hotel Restaurant Stadskanaal. More... Until Dec 31, 12

Carlson Hotels Club Carlson
- 3,000 Bonus Gold Points for each eligible stay at Carlson Rezidor hotels worldwide booked through Carlson Wagonlit Travel. More... Until Dec 31, 12

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Double Asia Miles when booking the special rate ""Double Miles for Early Birds" 20 days in advance at participating World Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1, 12 - Feb 28, 13

Delta SkyMiles
- Double SkyMiles on weekend rentals of 2 or more days, or rentals of 5 or more days, at a participating Hertz airport or off airport location in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada. More... Until Jul 31, 13

Frontier Airlines Early Returns (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
Double Elite Qualifying Miles on all Frontier Airlines flights systemwide. More... Dec 1 - 31, 12

Melia International Mas Rewards
- 20% Bonus Mas Points when you buy or gift Mas Points online. More... Until Jan 9, 13

Bonus Page Updates May 6 and 7, 09

May 7, 09
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Miles & More | Priority Club | United Mileage Plus

May6, 09
AeroMexico Club Premier | Delta SkyMiles | Frontier Early Returns

Overview:
- 20% bonus Mileage Plan miles when you purchase instant miles or gift miles
- Double Club Premier Kilometers for stays at the Zoëtry, Paraíso de la Bonita Riviera Maya
- Double Asia Miles for stays at over 20 Radisson location in the Asia Pacific Region
- Earn double SkyMiles when your converting Choice Privileges points to Delta's program
- Earn double Early Returns Miles on flights to/from Jackson Hole or Anchorage
- Earn double Miles and More miles on Adria Airways flights between Ljubljana and Madrid
- Earn 2,000 bonus Priority Club points for stays of 2 nights or more in Belgium or the Netherlands
- Earn up to 10,000 bonus Mileage Plus miles on United flights to Australia