Rewards Canada on Newstalk 1010 tonight

If you live in the Toronto area or anywhere where you can listen online I am scheduled to be on Ryan Doyle's show tonight on Newstalk 1010 around 8:35EST. Be sure to listen if you can. No specific topic of yet just a general overview of Rewards Canada and what we do.

Air Canada 10% off flights to the U.S. when using a Visa card

Travel from January 6 to March 31, 2010! To get your exclusive discount, simply enter this promotion code when booking and pay with your VISA card: 4N6JQRV1

Offer ends December 31, 2009. Valid on published Tango Plus, Latitude, Executive Class fares

View the complete offer on Aircanada.com

Cathay Pacific increase Toronto flights for summer 2010

Beginning March 28, 2010, Cathay Pacific will increase service between Toronto and Hong Kong to 10 flights a week from the current 7.

Source: Airline Route Updates

Air France to reduce Canada flights for Summer 2010

According to Airline Route Updates, Air France will only operate 3 flights per day between Montreal and Paris as compared to the 4 per day this past summer. As well Toronto will not see the seasonal up gauge to a 747-400 as the route will continue to be flown with an A340-300.

First details of WestJet RBC MasterCard revealed

The first few details of the new WestJet RBC MasterCards have been revealed on the RBC website. Without knowing all the details yet it is hard to give a full judgement on the cards but from the earning standpoint on the cards they seem to be about average.

There are two offerings from RBC, the first is the WestJet RBC World MasterCard which offers 1.5% in WestJet dollars on everyday spending and assuming that WestJet dollars are 1 for 1 in redemption means this card offes a 1.5% return. This 1.5% falls below cards like the Capital One Miles Plus and Diners Club MasterCards but is equal to cards like the TD Travel Visas. Chances are this card will have an annual fee as it will have enhanced travel insurances and the higher earning rate of the 1.5%

The second offering is called the WestJet RBC MasterCard and it offers 1% back in WestJet dollars. We can assume this card will either have no annual fee or a low one like the CIBC AeroClassic Visa. Once again assuming a 1:1 redemption ratio this card falls in line with such cards at the ScotiaGold Passport Visa, Capital One Miles MasterCard and the majority of the credit union/small bank reward cards.

Since this card will be part of a significant rewards program in Canada you will soon see it on our comparison charts to see how it stacks up against other Canadian Travel Rewards credit cards.

As always you can find our main comparison chart here

To see the WestJet cards on RBC click here

US Airways to cut Toronto - Phoenix service

Per Airline Route Updates, US Airways will be canceling their one time daily flight between Toronto and Phoenix as of Feb 28, 10

Bonus Page Updates Dec 1-4

Dec 4 - Hilton HHonors | Hyatt Gold Passport | Scandic Frequent Guest | Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Dec 3 - Air Canada Aeroplan | Jet Airways JetPrivilege | Marriott Rewards | Scandinavian EuroBonus | TAP Portugal Victoria
Dec 2 - Accor A|Club | Continental OnePass | Delta SkyMiles | EVA Air Evergreen Club | US Airways Dividend Miles
Dec 1 - Air Berlin Top Bonus | bmi Diamond Club | Priority Club

Priority Club Quarter 1 2010 Promo, you saw it here first! Earn up 20,000 bonus points or 4,000 miles

Earn 1,000 Bonus Priority Club points or 200 Bonus Airlines Miles will be awarded on every qualifying night at InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express®, Express by Holiday Inn™, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® hotels worldwide. Earn up to a maximum of 20,000 points or 4,000 miles.
Full Details, Online Registration and Booking (Registration is required)

Valid Feb 1 - Apr 30, 10

Be one of the first the find out about SPG's new Canadian Credit Card

We have got many emails and people asking if there will be a replacement for the MBNA Starwood Preferred Guest MasterCard. The simply answer is Yes. However no details are out yet but Starwood has made a sign up page that will notify everyone when the new card is out. We posted this as a comment in one of our other posts but it does get missed so here it is again:

SPG Canada Credit Card Notification

Air Canada adds second bag fee on U.S. and European flights

Wow I am little surprised by this move, I understand the need nowadays for ancillary revenue but one thing that has kept me and I am sure others on Air Canada and WestJet was the lack of baggage fees. Now Air Canada says they are matching U.S. and International Carriers with a second bag fee on flights to the U.S., Europe and Israel. Most U.S. airlines have first and second bag fees for U.S./Canada travel and along with most European carriers a second bag fee for transatlantic flights but this is were Air Canada had a chance to stay ahead of the game and not be a follower. Chances are WestJet will not add a second bag fee and will feed off this in their marketing campaigns as they did nearly two years ago when Air Canada added baggage fees for a short time period. Luckily when I travel alone I don't usually have checked luggage and with my family we keep to one bag a piece, so at this time we should be OK when we fly Air Canada, I'm sure though many travelers will be caught off guard at the airport on their trips to the U.S. or Europe.

The fees for second checked bags are
- For flights to/from the United States (including Hawaii, excluding Puerto Rico): CAD/USD $30.
- For flights to/from Europe and Israel: CAD/USD $50.

The only good thing is that Air Canada flights within Canada, to Sun Destinations outside the U.S., Asia and Australia will remain with no baggage fees. As well the fee for a second checked bag to/from the United States, Europe and Israel will not apply to Air Canada Prestige, Elite, Super Elite members or Star Alliance Silver and Gold members.

Source: Air Canada Press Release