May 31 Update: Air Canada Gift Cards now available, AF KLM Sign up bonus, Club Carlson transfer rules changing?

The last day of each is usually quieter than the rest but that is not the case today!

News, Tips & Tricks
Air Canada has launched their own Gift Cards that can be issued as either a physical plastic card (great for birthdays, Christmas etc) or as an eGift Card. You can choose any amount starting at $25 and can view the balance online. More details can be found here. There is a good FAQ via that link but I thought I would post the most important one:

When redeemed online at aircanada.com, at the airport, with your travel agent or by calling Air Canada Reservations*, Air Canada Gift Cards can be used to purchase a flight, and to pay for a variety of travel options, fees and services, including:

• seat selection,
• change fees,
• upgrades,
• additional checked baggage fees,
• pet handling fees,
• unaccompanied minor fees

At this time, the Air Canada Gift card cannot be used toward the payment of:

• onboard purchases (e.g. headsets, beverages, duty-free items)
• merchandise purchased at the Air Canada eBoutique
• Aeroplan or other reward travel tickets
• Air Canada Vacations packages
• tickets purchased as part of a group booking.
• hotel reservations, car rentals or RBC travel insurance
• another gift card
• a Flight Pass purchase

According to Gary over at View from the Wing, Club Carlson is changing their rules on transferring points between accounts. Previously there were no set rules and you could transfer points freely between accounts but potentially, as of June 1st:

non-elite members will have to have had their accounts open for a year to transfer points, will only be able to transfer points to accounts at the same address, and will have had to had their address in place for at least 3 days

There is a short term bonus for purchases made via the Aeroplan eStore. Right now you can earn 5x the Aeroplan miles on all purchases until June 2. Full details (HT Canadian KMs)


Travel Deals
Diners Club cardholders who the book the "Save Time and Money" offer at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts worldwide will receive the following.

• 10% off Best Available Rate
• Early check-in, based on availability
• Late check- out, based on availability

Book between March 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013 for stays until March 31, 2014.  Book online at Fairmont

Bonus Offers
Air Baltic BalticMiles (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double BalticMiles Points when you spend 100 EUR or more at ATU Duty Free shops at Riga International Airport. More... Until Jul 31, 13 

Air France KLM Flying Blue
- 3000 Bonus Flying Blue Miles when you join the Flying Blue program and complete your first Air France, KLM or any SkyTeam partner flight by August 31. More... Until Aug 31, 13 Residents of Canada only

American AAdvantage
- 1,000 AAdvantage Miles with a three-day minimum rental on any size vehicle at participating Alamo locations in the United States and Canada. More... Until Dec 31, 13
- Earn 4X AAdvantage Miles plus, save up to 35% on Hertz Rentals in the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and United Kingdom More... Until Oct 31, 13

Best Western Rewards
- Double Rewards Points or Miles for stays of 2+ nights at BEST WESTERN Star Hotel, Semarang. More... Until Dec 31, 13
- Double Rewards Points or Miles for stays of 2+ nights at BEST WESTERN PLUS Lex Cebu More... Until Dec 31, 13

IHG Rewards Club
- 1,500 Bonus Priority Club Points for your next stay Worldwide. Stay must be made within 90 days of registering. More... Until ?
- 3,000 Bonus Priority Club Points for your next stay Worldwide (Elite members only). Stay must be made within 90 days of registering. More... Until ?
- 3,000 Bonus Priority Club Points for your next stay Worldwide (Elite members only). Stay must be made within 90 days of registering. More... Until ?

Marriott Rewards
- 2,000 Bonus Points PER NIGHT for Thursday-Sunday night stays (Friday or Saturday required) at any one of 7 participating Marriott locations in Washington, DC. More... Jul 17 - Oct 13, 13

Shangri-La Hotels Golden Circle
- Triple GC Award Points for stays at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mumbai. More... Jun 1 - Aug 31, 13

Air France KLM: Earn 3,000 Bonus Flying Miles when joining and completing your 1st SkyTeam flight

Today see the return of the Canadian Air France KLM first flight bonus when you join their Flying Blue program. Unlike most other AF KLM sign up bonuses this one is not limited to AF KLM flights but is open to any SkyTeam flight! So you can fly Delta, Korean, Czech Airlines, or any other  SkyTeam airline to earn this bonus.  The one thing you will notice is that this time the bonus is not as lucrative as the one we had before, 3,000 Miles this time versus 5,000 previously.

Here is the offer as it will be posted on the Rewards Canada Flying Blue page later today:

Earn 3000 Bonus Flying Blue Miles when you join the Flying Blue program and complete your first Air France, KLM or any SkyTeam partner flight by August 31. Use promo code CA13 when you join the Flying Blue program online at KLM.com (CA). Until Aug 31, 13
Restrictions:
Residents of Canada only

LAST DAY: Up to 100% Bonus US Airways Dividend Miles when you buy/gift miles

Today is the last day to take advantage of this iteration of the famous US Airways Buy Miles bonus:

As I mentioned last month the 100% Bonus on buying US Airways Dividend Miles is back. The offer runs from until May 31st. This time the bonus is for both buying and/or gifting Dividend Miles but has varying bonus levels. Of course buying at the highest level provides you with the biggest bonus.

• Buy/gift 5,000 – 9,999 miles, get a 25% bonus
• Buy/gift 10,000 – 19,999 miles, get a 50% bonus
• Buy/gift 20,000 – 29,999 miles, get a 75% bonus
• Buy/gift 30,000 – 50,000 miles, get a 100% bonus

The promo allows you to buy up to 50,000 miles (so 100,000 in total with the bonus) at 3.5 cents per mile (effective rate is 1.75 cents per mile) plus taxes of $131.25 for total of $1881.25. Considering that can get you a business class ticket between North America and Europe or Asia that can cost a lot more than that, this is a good deal! Since US Airways allows 3 day holds on award tickets you can always find the award flights you want before you buy the miles and therefore you don't have dole out a hefty chunk of change just in case you cannot find availability for your preferred award flights.

Earn 100% Bonus US Airways Dividend Miles when you buy miles by May 31, 2013!

May 30 Update: CIBC and Aeroplan break up rumours, up to 3x QMiles for Hotel/Car Rentals and 2x Points/Miles for IHG Stays

Big news on the credit card front from an article in today's Globe & Mail while in the bonus offers section be sure to check out the Qatar Airways' partner bonus.

News, Tips & Tricks
In today's Globe & Mail there are hints that CIBC may not renew their agreement with Aeroplan! Could the 20 year partnership come to an end soon? We'll have to see what this new card CIBC is planning will have in store. A lot of cards come with a lot of hype before they launch and then when they do they aren't earth shattering. A good example are the Scotiabank Amex cards, while very good in their own right I don't believe they live up to the hype doled out by Scotiabank. The article from today's Globe & Mail as graciously supplied by long time Rewards Canada reader Andrew S is below. Andrew's thoughts are that it would be a bad move for CIBC and I partially agree, although there is a trend for more and more Canadian who are not part of the frequent flyer minority to move away from airline cards and go to travel points or hybrid cards instead for much greater flexibilty and ease of redemption. I am really curious to see who Aeroplan would team up with if this does come to fruition as the partnership with American Express can't provide enough coverage across Canada. They will need to team up an issuer of Visa and/or MasterCard branded cards. Who knows, maybe we will see the return of the Diners Club Aeroplan card (nee enRoute)!

Today is the last day to enter the FFB8 Contest! For more details and how to enter please visit www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/FFB8



Bonus Offers
Etihad Guest
- Double Guest Miles for stays at any Constance Hotels & Resorts. More... Book by Jun 30 for stays Jul 30 - Sep 30, 13
- Earn up to Quadruple Guest Miles for stays at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort. More... Book by Jun 30 for stays until Dec 30, 13
- Earn up to Quadruple Guest Miles for stays at One&Only resorts in Dubai, Cape Town, Maldives or Mauritius. More... Book by Jun 30 for stays until Dec 30, 13
- 250,000 Bonus Guest Miles for Etihad Guest Gold and Gold Elite members when they choose to invest in a hotel with The First Group. More... Until Jul 31, 13

Icelandair Saga Club
- 1,000 Saga Club Award Points on all Sixt car rentals Worldwide. More... Jun 1 - Jul 31, 13

IHG Rewards Club
- Earn Double Points or Double Miles on every qualifying stay, starting on your second stay at all IHG locations Worldwide. Stay at Staybridge Suites® hotels or Candlewood Suites® hotels and you’ll start earning double on your first qualifying stay. More... Jun 1 - Jul 31, 13

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- Double Mileage Bank Miles for staying a Club Room or above room category at any participating Langham Hotels Worldwide. More..Jun 1 - Aug 31, 13

Qantas Frequent Flyer
- 30,000 Bonus Frequent Flyer Points with the David Jones American Express Platinum Card when you spend three times outside of David Jones within the first month of receiving your Card. More... Until Jul 14, 13 Australia Residents Only

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Earn up to Triple QMiles when you use Qatar Airway Privilege Club Hotel and Car Rental partners.More... Jun 15 - Aug 15, 13

SAS Scandinavian EuroBonus
- Double EuroBonus points on your 1st round-trip on all eligible domestic flights in Norway with SAS and selected flights with Wideroe in Norway. More... Register by Jun 2 for travel Jun 3 - Aug 31, 13

Last day to enter FFB8: The FrequentFlyerBonuses.com 8th Anniversary Contest

That's right folks, this month is coming to an end very quickly which also means the end of the FFB8 contest at 11:59PM EST tonight. This week has been the 4th and final installment of the FFB8 contest with weeks 1-3 already complete. So be sure to enter at http://www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/FFB8 today to ensure your chance at winning the following amazing prize package:

• US$250 Delta Airlines e-certificate courtesy of FrequentFlyerBonuses.com

• 8,000 Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints courtesy of the Starwood Preferred Guest and the U.K. Version of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express

• Two Avis Reward Day Coupons courtesy of Avis

• One Standard Priority Pass Annual Membership + 1 free lounge visit courtesy of Priority Pass

• One Level 3 Upgrade on PointsHound.com courtesy of PointsHound.com

• One £5 Prepaid Sim Card courtesy of Aether Mobile

   

   

   

  
  

   

May 29 Update: Scotiabank Infographic, tons of Flying Blue bonuses, 2x IHG Rewards Club points in Europe

I can't believe it is already Wednesday! This week has gone by quickly despite the lack of loyatly program news! Today brings you a little more on that front and as usual a lot of new bonus offers!

News, Tips & Tricks
In an effort to promote their Cash Back credit cards like the Scotia Momentum VISA Infinite card, Scotiabank ran a survey on what Canadian's would do with 'found' money and the corresponding infographic is pretty interesting. Obviously here the play on 'found' money is that getting cash back on your purchases is almost like 'found' money. A good marketing tactic made even better by the fact the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card is one of the best cash back cards out there.

Today is the second last day to enter the 4th and final week of the FFB8 Contest! For more details and how to enter please visit www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/FFB8

Travel Deals
There is another sale from Porter Airlines called the "More Legroom Celebration Sale" Book by Jun 3 for travel until October 6. More...

Bonus Offers
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Triple Flying Blue Miles for stays at participating Best Western locations in France. More... Jul 1 - Aug 31, 13
- Double Flying Blue Miles for stays at participating Best Western locations in Italy. More... Jul 1 - Aug 31, 13
- Triple Flying Blue Miles for stays at the Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht hotel. More... Until Aug 31, 13
- Triple Flying Blue Miles for stays at the Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai. More... Jul 1 - Aug 31, 13
- Double Flying Blue Miles for stays at participating Radisson Blue or Park Inn hotels in Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. More... Jul 1 - Aug 31, 13
- 1,000 Bonus Flying Blue Miles when you spend €500 or more during a visit to any of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Village in Europe. More... Jul 1 - Aug 15, 13
- Double Flying Blue Miles for every trip booked with Voyageurs du Monde. More... Jul 1 - Sep 15, 13

airberlin topbonus
- Earn Triple topbonus Miles on all flights operated by airberlin or NIKI to or from Vienna. More... Register and book by Jun 10 for travel Jun 1 - Nov 30, 13

Best Western Rewards
- Triple Rewards Points for stays at the BEST WESTERN Colonial Motor Inn Bairnsdale More... Until ?
- 500 Bonus Rewards Points on all qualifying stays at participating hotels in Portugal and Spain when you make your reservation online. More... Until ?

Iberia Plus
- Earn up to 30% Bonus Avios when you buy, gift or transfer Avios via the Iberia Plus program. More... Jun 1 - Sep 30 , 13

IHG Rewards Club
- Double Priority Club points on your first qualifying mid-week stay between 17 June and 31 August 2013 at a participating IHG hotel in Europe. More... Book by Jul 31 for stays between Jun 17 - Aug 31, 13

Marriott Rewards
- 1,000 Bonus Rewards Points for stays at any one of eight Marriott Resort locations in the Caribbean and Mexico. More... Until Jul 16, 13

SAS Scandinavian EuroBonus
- Double EuroBonus points for stays at the at Park Plaza Histria, Verudela and Medulin in Croatia. More... Jun 22 - Aug 31, 13
- Double EuroBonus points when booking a stay at any Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotels in the UK and all Radisson Blu Hotels in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the USA (Chicago).More... Jun 15 - Aug 15, 13

IHG Rewards Club: Double Points/Miles on all stays June 1 - July 31 (starting with your 2nd stay)

It's been awhile since a true systemwide bonus has come out IHG Rewards Club (nee Priority Club). In fact we haven't seen one yet in 2013. The first systemwide bonus of the year was only for new Priority Club members so that one didn't really count. Well now the wait is over the next offer is out. Here is the offer as it will appear on RC's Priority Club page tomorrow:

Earn Double Points or Double Miles on every qualifying stay, starting on your second stay at all IHG locations Worldwide. Stay at Staybridge Suites^® hotels or Candlewood Suites^® hotels and you’ll start earning double on your first qualifying stay. Full details,  registration and online booking Jun 1 - Jul 31, 13

May 28 Update: 2x AQMs on select AC routes (if you missed it yesterday, AF KLM Buy Flying Blue miles bonus, up to 3x Etihad Guest miles

Tuesday proves to be relatively quiet!

News, Tips & Tricks
Just a reminder that as of June 1 you will no longer need a Visa to enter the United Arab Emirates if you are travelling there. I was reminded by this email from Emirates:

Q1:         Do I need a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates?

A1:         Regular Canadian passport holders do not need a visa to enter the UAE beginning from June 1^st, 2013.

 

Q3:         Where can I get a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates?

A2:         Starting June 1^st, 2013 Canadian citizens will be granted a free of charge entry visit stamp upon arrival in the UAE.

 

Q3:         How much will an entry visa to the UAE cost?

A3:         There will be no cost for Canadian passport holders to enter the UAE from 01June, 2013.

 

Q4:        How long will I be able to stay in the UAE under their new visa regime?

A4:       (Regular) Canadian passport holders will be granted free of charge entry to the UAE with 
             their visit arrival stamp, again, issued upon arrival in the UAE. No application in advance of
             travel is necessary. Please know that the Canadian passport will be stamped for 30 days
             upon arrival. If further stay is required, an application for an extension should be made to
             the local General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs three days prior to the
             expiry date (chargeable services).

A $250 Delta Gift Card, 8,000 Starpoints and more are part of week 4 of the FFB8 Contest! For more details and how to enter please visit www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/FFB8



Bonus Offers
Air Canada Aeroplan
- Double Altitude Qualifying Miles with a Flex, Latitude or Executive Class fare on select Air Canada routes. More... Until Jul 31, 13

Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Double Flying Blue Miles for stays at participating Golden Tulip locations Worldwide. More... Jul 1 - Aug 31, 13
- Double Flying Blue Miles when you book a stay of two nights or more at prepaid rates at least 20 days in advance at participating World Hotels locations Worldwide. More... Jul 1 - Aug 31, 13
- Earn up to 50% Bonus Flying Blue Miles when you buy Flying Blue miles online. More...Until Jul 9, 13

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Double Asia Miles for stays at participating Marco Polo hotels in Asia for two consecutive nights or more on the “Marco Polo Stay & More” package. More... Until Aug 31, 13
- Double Asia Miles for stays on the Best Available Rate at participating Swissotel Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Sep 1, 13

Cyprus Airways Sunmiles (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double Sunmiles points on Sixt rentals in Cyprus. Also receive an upgrade to the next available car category by presenting your Cyprus Airways boarding pass .More... Jun 1 - Jul 31, 13

Etihad Guest
- Earn up to Triple Guest Miles on all Etihad flights Worldwide for Etihad Guest members who are connected to a BusinessConnect account. More... Full details Until Jul 21, 13

United MileagePlus (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Earn 1,000 Bonus MileagePlus Miles on your first purchase with Scorebig. More... Until ?

Air Canada: 2x Altitude Qualifying Miles on select Air Canada flights

Never fails that a new offer comes out just after I finish the daily updates. The new offer from Air Canada is for double AQM's on select Air Canada flights. Like all of Air Canada/Aeroplan's promos of late any bookings made prior to today do not count for this promotion! Not being very nice to your loyal members are we Air Canada? But then again they already have your money for existing bookings so why reward you more right? Anyways here is the promo as it will appear on RC's Aeroplan page tomorrow:

Earn 2X the Altitude Qualifying Miles with a Flex, Latitude or Executive Class fare on select Air Canada routes. Register Online (Registration is required) May 27 - Jul 31, 13
Restrictions:
Only valid for bookings made on or after May 27, 2013

Here are the routes this promotion is valid on:

May 27 Update: Priority Club 60 day bonus, Triple Iberia Plus Avios for Marriott Stays & buy United miles discount

I hope that you all had a great weekend! Here in YYC it was nice to have the heavy rains come to an end!

News, Tips & Tricks
Today is the half way point of week 4 of the FFB8 Contest! For more details and how to enter please visit www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/FFB8


Bonus Offers
China Airlines Dynasty Flyer
- Double Dynasty Flyer Miles when you stay at any of the Regent hotels in Bali, Beijing, Berlin, Phuket, Singapore, Taipei, or Turks & Caicos with the Summer to Remember package. More... Jun 1 - Aug 31, 13

Emirates Skywards
- Double Skywards Miles and up to 20% off Budget rentals in Germany. More... Until Jun 30, 13
- Double Skywards Miles and up to 15% off Budget rentals in the United Kingdom. More... Until Jun 30, 13
- Double Skywards Miles and up to 20% off Budget rentals in Jordan, Malta and Saudi Arabia. More... Until Jun 30, 13
- Double Skywards Miles and up to 15% off Budget rentals of 2 or more days in Singapore. More... Until Jun 30, 13

Iberia Plus
- Triple Avios for stays at participating Marriott hotels Worldwide. Maximum of 30,000 Bonus Avios awarded .More... Jun 1 - Sep 30 , 13

IHG Rewards Club
- 1,000 Bonus Priority Club Points per stay at any IHG hotel Worldwide. Stays must be made within 60 days of registering. More...

SAS Scandinavian EuroBonus
- Double EuroBonus points for stays at the at Park Plaza Histria, Verudela and Medulin in Croatia. More... Jun 22 - Aug 31, 13

United Mileage Plus
- 50% Bonus Mileage Plus Miles when you fly nonstop between Denver and Tokyo Narita. More... Jun 10 - Sep 15, 13
- Receive up to 40% off when you purchase MileagePlus award miles. More... Until Jun 30, 13