Rewards Canada: Your premier points, miles & credit cards resource

Monday, July 28, 2014

IHG PointBreaks now live - Award nights for only 5,000 points for stays until Sep 30

Rewards Canada Offer: 1,000 Bonus Miles/Points on all PointsHound bookings made in CAD

Similar to last weeks offer on our global site, FrequentFlyerBonuses.com, we are excited to announce that Rewards Canada has teamed up with PointsHound.com for a 5 day Bonus Offer. Keep on reading for the details!

For over two years we have been providing coverage of PointsHound right here on Rewards Canada so our seasoned followers should know this site well. However for those of you who have not heard of or perhaps have forgotten about them, PointsHound.com is a third party hotel booking site that awards loyalty program miles and points for booking hotels via their site. The U.S. based site was recently acquired by Points (the Canadian company based in Toronto responsible for most program's buy/share/gift miles offers) and since that time they have added more partners with Cathay Pacific's Asia Miles being the latest and heftily increased the amount of miles/points you can earn on hotel bookings.

One of those changes has been the addition of their 'Big Earn Rate' hotels which earn you the most possible miles/points on your booking. These hotels can be identified on the PointsHound site with a tag "Big Earn Rate" on the hotel's picture. A quick search of hotels in Toronto showed these Hot Deals hotels offering between 8 and 14 times the regular amount of miles that PointsHound would award for a stay. These 'Big Earn Rates" are only available for bookings made in USD or CAD. This is great news for those of us here in Canada, by choosing CAD you get to avoid foreign transaction fees on your credit card and get a very competitive exchange rate that matches the actual markets (see the XE.com screenshot below)

PointsHound.com had the Sheraton Toronto Airport at US$150 or C$161

Overall the site is a great way to earn more miles and points than you could regularly within an airline program for stays at many hotels or even from hotels that don't partner with an airline or hotel loyalty program. By booking a stay via PointsHound.com you are looking at a good way to boost the balance(s) in your favourite program that is a participating partner.

The RewardsCanada.ca Offer!
Now with this Bonus Offer with PointsHound.com when you purchase any hotel reservation on PointsHound in Canadian currency you’ll get a bonus of 1,000 points or miles — on top of your regular reservation earning! This offer is good not only for new members but also existing members who have already booked via PointsHound! Simply make your booking via our link by August 1st for any stay completed in 2014.

Friday, July 25, 2014

July 25 Update: Germanwings becomes Aeroplan's latest airline partner, 100 Bonus Air Miles at Safeway and more!

Our first and last daily update for this week since we were on vacation and always try to disconnect as much as possible while our family travels!

News, Tips & Tricks
Germanwings, the low cost German carrier owned by Lufthansa has become an Aeroplan earning partner. Aeroplan Miles earned on all eligible Germanwings flights are also Air Canada Altitude™ Qualifying Miles, and each eligible Germanwings flight will also earn one Altitude Qualifying Segment. Altitude Qualifying Miles and Altitude Qualifying Segments count towards Air Canada Altitude status. Full details

Hainan Airlines must be doing well with their Toronto flights as they usually cut back over the winter but that is not the case this year as they will maintain their 787flights between YYZ and Beijing on a daily basis. (Souce Airlineroute.net)

Air Miles members can earn 100 Bonus Reward Miles for purchases of $100 or more at Safeway until July 31st. Get the coupon here.

And a further round up of news we already posted to the blog today:

Bonus Offers
Air Canada Aeroplan
- Earn 100 Aeroplan Miles when you subscribe to Aeroplan Text Messages. More... Until Sep 15, 14

British Airways Executive Club
- Triple Avios for stays at any participating Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotel Worldwide. More... Until Sep 30, 14

Iberia Plus
- Double Avios on participating Iberia or Iberia Regional Air Nostrum flights Worldwide when you book your tickets online at Iberia. More... Book by Aug 31 for travel until Dec 31, 14

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Double QMiles for stays at any participating Anantara Hotels in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. More... Book by Jul 31 for stays until Aug 31, 14
- Double QMiles for stays of 2 or more nights at any participating PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. More... Until Sep 30, 14

Southwest Rapid Rewards
- 40% Bonus Rapid Rewards Points when you buy Rapid Rewards points. More... Until Aug 1, 14

United MileagePlus
- 1,000 Bonus MileagePlus Miles when you stay at select JW Marriott, Autograph Collection Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Gaylord Hotels and Marriott Hotels in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. More... Book by Sep 5 for stays until Oct 31, 14

WestJet Rewards
- Earn double WestJet Dollars each time you fly round-trip to select destinations within Canada. More... Book by August 29 for travel until Oct 31, 14

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Air Miles opens up membership to 16 and 17 year olds

For years we here at Rewards Canada have always stated that there are two age categories under served by most loyalty programs, the young and the old. While we have seen some bonus offers and such being provided to young people and not much for those who are considered 'senior' it is always nice to see programs take note of the potential business these two groups can provide a loyalty program and that program's partners.

Air Miles seems to have seen the light and as of today the requirement of being 18 years old to join the program gets dropped to 16. Not a huge change considering one of their largest competitors, Aeroplan has its lower age level set at 2 (my kids pump up their balances with the Aeroplan Star Challenge), but definitely a good marketing move on Air Miles behalf as they acknowledge the spending power of older teens/young adults. The timing is perfect as the Air Miles cash option expands to place like Cineplex, Starbucks and Kernels and considering most 16 and 17 year old teens won't spend enough to earn a free flight, the option of saving money at these places should not be ignored. Even if you choose not to go with the Cash option the merchandise reward selection for those in this age group should also be appealing. So if you have a 16 or 17 year old in your household who wants loyalty independence you should get them to look at the Air Miles program as a cost saving measure. If you don't think your teen will do much shopping at Air Miles sponsors you will probably be better off getting an additional card for you own account and having them pad it for you!

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One of the easiest ways to earn Air Miles is with an co-branded credit card like :

The American Express® AIR MILES®* Platinum Credit Card
• Earn a bonus of 1,000 AIR MILES reward miles when you charge a total of $500 in purchases to your Card within your first three months of Cardmembership
• Enjoy your first year free
• Earn 1 reward mile for every $10 in Card purchases at AIR MILES®* Sponsors
• Earn 1 reward mile for every $10 in Card purchases at other eligible grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores in Canada
• Plus, earn 1 reward mile for every $15 in Card purchases everywhere else
• Shop at participating AIR MILES Sponsors across Canada with your Card and show your AIR MILES®* Collector Card, and you can earn reward miles twice
• More than 1000 rewards to choose from! Redeem for a wide range of rewards - everything from movie tickets to electronics, travel and more
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link.
Apply now
Conditions apply

IHG PointBreaks Preview: 167 Hotels (6 in Canada) bookable at the 5,000 Point level starting on Jul 28 for stays until Sep 30

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Monday, July 28, 2014

IHG PointBreaks now live - Award nights for only 5,000 points for stays until Sep 30

Rewards Canada Offer: 1,000 Bonus Miles/Points on all PointsHound bookings made in CAD

Friday, July 25, 2014

July 25 Update: Germanwings becomes Aeroplan's latest airline partner, 100 Bonus Air Miles at Safeway and more!

Air Miles opens up membership to 16 and 17 year olds

IHG PointBreaks Preview: 167 Hotels (6 in Canada) bookable at the 5,000 Point level starting on Jul 28 for stays until Sep 30

Top 5 Travel Cards in Canada

TRENDINGScene+ is not just for movies anymore - it's become a versatile powerhouse for all types of rewards

Monday, July 28, 2014

IHG PointBreaks now live - Award nights for only 5,000 points for stays until Sep 30

Rewards Canada Offer: 1,000 Bonus Miles/Points on all PointsHound bookings made in CAD

Friday, July 25, 2014

July 25 Update: Germanwings becomes Aeroplan's latest airline partner, 100 Bonus Air Miles at Safeway and more!

Air Miles opens up membership to 16 and 17 year olds

IHG PointBreaks Preview: 167 Hotels (6 in Canada) bookable at the 5,000 Point level starting on Jul 28 for stays until Sep 30

TRENDING
Scene+ is not just for movies anymore - it's become a versatile powerhouse for all types of rewards