Nice plug for Rewards Canada in the Toronto Star

Freelance writer Paul Brent interviewed me a little while back for an article in the Toronto Star which was published on April 9. Rather then me rehashing the article, you can read it here, it is not long and offers some tips on making the most of your travel rewards programs.

I have to say thanks to Paul and to The Star as the newspaper has always been good for Rewards Canada with nice write ups once or twice a year going back to 2006.

Hyatt enhances the Gold Passport Program

As we stated last week when we launched our free night giveaway to help Hyatt promote the changes to their Gold Passport program, this is the post that covers those changes to the program. Oh and for once, the word enhance does actually mean enhanced. Many programs have used that term in the past to describe changes to them that were primarily changes for the worse. So thanks to Hyatt for making proper use of the term 'Enhance'

The majority of the enhancements are in Hyatt's elite levels with only one enhancement affecting basic Gold members. With everything else remaining the same, here are the new enhancements to the Hyatt Gold Passport program:

Gold Membership
Redeem points for free nights on any available standard room without blackout dates at any Hyatt worldwide

Platinum Membership
Enjoy the best room available within the category booked
Stay connected with complimentary Internet access
Expedited check-in at a dedicated area for elite members

Diamond Membership
Enjoy the best room available including Regency Club™ or Grand Club™ rooms
Treat yourself to a suite upgrade four times annually on paid room nights
Stay connected with complimentary Internet access
Expedite check-in at a dedicated area for elite members

For complete details and and terms and conditions for these changes see this page on Hyatt's website

And of course Hyatt is promoting this with the "The Big Welcome" sweepstakes and giveaway. See the details and enter the contests here.

Bonus Page Updates Apr 7, 09

Apr 7, 09 Pages with new and/or updated bonus offers:
Accor A|Club | American AAdvantage | Best Western Rewards | Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Delta SkyMiles | Finnair Plus | Mexicana Go | Miles & More


Overview:
- Earn double A|Club points for stays in Latin America
- Complete update of the AAdvantage page with new car, hotel and other offers.
- Earn 1,000 BW Rewards points when you purchase a $100 Travel Card
- Earn double Asia Miles when you fly on Mexicana and Mexicana Click
- Targetted SkyMiles offer of 2,500 bonus SkyMiles for your next flight
- Earn 5,000 bonus Finnair Plus points when you fly on two OneWorld carriers
- Earn double Miles and More miles on Lufthansa's new flights from Dusseldorf to Venice and St. Petersburg

Air Canada suspends Edmonton - Las Vegas route

According to Airline Route Updates, Air Canada will not fly its Edmonton to Las Vegas route for the summer season (Jun 15 - Oct 31). Air Canada customers will have to route through Calgary or Vancouver.

Bonus Page Updates Apr 3, 09

Apr 3, 09 Pages with new and/or updated bonus offers:
bmi Diamond Club | Miles & More | Priority Club | QANTAS Frequent Flyer | Starwood Preferred Guest | United Mileage Plus

Overview:
- Earn triple Diamond Club miles for stays at Hilton hotels Worldwide
- Earn triple Miles and More miles for stays at Hilton hotels Worldwide
- Earn 2,000 Priority Club Points for stays in Germany
- Earn triple QANTAS Frequent Flyer miles for stays at Hilton hotels Worldwide
- Complete update of the Starwood Preferred Guest page with tons of new offers
- Earn up to 50,000 bonus Mileage Plus miles on flights to London.

Earn bonus Aeroplan miles for buying I-Tunes gift cards at Sobeys

This week Club Sobeys if offering bonus points for buying I-Tunes Gift Cards of for 50 points for $15, 100 for 25 and 250 for $50 which translates to 25, 50 and 125 Aeroplan Miles respectively.

So if you spend money on I-Tunes or know someone who does why not earn some Aeroplan miles while your at it.

Bonus Page Updates Apr 1, 09

Apr 1, 09 Pages with new and/or updated bonus offers:
Air Canada Aeroplan | GoldpointsPlus | Northwest WorldPerks | Priority Club | Scandinavian EuroBonus | US Airways Dividend Miles

Overview
- Earn double Goldpoints and free breakfast or dinner for two at dozens of Carlson family of hotels in North America, South America and Asia
- Earn up to 15,000 bonus WorldPerks miles on the new Delta/Northwest flights to Sydney, Sao Paulo and Nairobi
- Earn 25,000 bonus Priority Club points for two night weekend stays at the InterContinental Park Lane London or the InterContinental Paris LeGrand.
- Earn up to triple EuroBonus miles on Blue1 flights Biarritz, Dubrovnik or Split
- Earn up to 5,000 bonus Dividend Miles on flights between Philadelphia and Birmingham UK

The Big Welcome: We're giving away 2 free nights at Hyatt to help celebrate the enhanced Hyatt Gold Passport program!

On April 2, 2009 Hyatt announced a global initiative that celebrates the introduction of an enhanced, more generously welcoming Hyatt Gold Passport guest loyalty program (we'll blog about the changes a little later). With "The Big Welcome" Hyatt will also launch a 10,000 Free Nights sweepstakes and a larger-than-life 365 night giveaway in three regions Worldwide for a total of 31,095 free Hyatt nights

On top of those sweepstakes, RewardsCanada.ca has teamed up with Hyatt to giveaway a free nights stay to two lucky subscribers of the "Rewards Canada News" Newsletter.

To be eligible to win a free night from RewardsCanada.ca and Hyatt you must be a confirmed subscriber of the 'Rewards Canada News' newsletter.
Subscribe Here.
(Be sure to activate your subscription from the confirmation email)

For full details and contest rules for the RewardsCanada.ca portion of this contest plesae visit here.

To win the 365 nights from Hyatt you have to submit a 250 word essay on how you would spend the points, so why not practice here and comment below to let our readers know how you would spend 365 nights at Hyatt to create an unforgettable experience!

Bonus Pages Updates Mar 31, 09

Mar 31, 09 Pages with new and/or updated bonus offers:
Air France KLM Flying Blue | Asiana Club | Best Western Rewards | JAL Mileage Bank | Marriott Rewards | Priority Club

Overview
- Complete update of the Air France KLM Flying Blue page with new flight, hotel and other offers
- Triple Asiana Club miles and a free upgrade for stays at the Kempinksi Hotel Dalian
- Many new Best Western Rewards offers in Asia including double points and double miles
- JAL has extended their 1,000 mile booking bonus for flights out of North America for another year
- Get a third night free at participating Marriott's outside of North America when you pay with a Visa Card
- Receive up to 275 Euros in benefits when you book the Spring Package at InterContinental Hotels in Europe

Finnair to launch Halifax to Helsinki service

Once again from Airline Route Updates, Finnair is slated to launch Helsinki - Halifax - Miami service on Nov 9, 09. The airline does not have local traffic rights on the Halifax-Miami leg which means they cannot sell tickets for that leg alone.

Schedule as follows:
AY2987 HEL0655 - 0905YHZ1005 - 1320MIA 757 1
AY2988 MIA1450 - 1930YHZ2030 - 0930+1HEL 757 1

Halifax will be Finnair's second Canadian destination after Toronto