Dec 15 Update: Air Canada Giftmassive Giveaway, Earn Delta SkyMiles on WestJet flights, AeroMexico returns to Toronto

Welcome to the last full week of news, bonuses and more for 2014 here on Rewards Canada

News, Tips & Tricks

Air Canada has launched a new contest called "Giftmassive". The promotion will instantly award you with a discount for future travel on Air Canada but also enters you for the chance to win two business class tickets to anywhere Air Canada flies. You can enter the contest here and here are the prize details

The Grand prize: There is one (1) grand prize (the “Grand Prize”) to be won consisting of two (2) Business Class air transportation round-trip tickets to any destination that Air Canada serves worldwide (over 180 destinations) in Business Class/International Business Class, where such class is available. For a list of current Air Canada destinations, visit http://ac.fltmaps.com/en. The approximate total value of the Grand Prize is CDN $23,432. Exact value of the Grand Prize depends on point of departure and destination as well as time of travel.

Secondary Prizes: There are 1,000,065 instant secondary prizes (the “Secondary Prizes”) to be won during the Contest Period consisting of:

• 500,000 promotional codes that allow for a 10% discount off any Air Canada Tango base published fare booked exclusively through aircanada.com.
• 350,000 promotional codes that allow for a 15% discount any Air Canada Tango base published fare booked exclusively through aircanada.com.
• 150,000 promotional codes that allow for a 20% discount off any Air Canada Tango base published fare booked exclusively through aircanada.com.
• 65 pairs of Economy Class round-trip tickets for the winner and his/her travelling companion valid for travel within Canada and to the U.S. (including Hawaii) booked exclusively through aircanada.com. For a list of current Canadian and U.S. Air Canada destinations, visit http://ac.fltmaps.com/en.

I personally got 15% off with the gift I chose. You can enter every day until December 24th.


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Last week we let you know how you can now earn WestJet Dollars on Delta flights and of course we forgot to mention the reciprocal offer. As of January 1st 2015 you'll be able to earn Delta SkyMiles on WestJet flights. We also didn't mention that techincally you can redeem your WestJet Reward dollars on certain Delta flights. Those flights are the ones where WestJet codeshares on and your ticket is actually issued as a WestJet ticket (not Delta). Here is the SkyMiles earning chart for flying on WestJet:

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AeroMexico will be returning to Toronto when the resume flights between Mexico City and Toronto on May 5 2015. The flights will operate daily and a great redemption option for anyone collecting miles in a SkyTeam Alliance program (Source Airlineroute.net) There are no direct AeroMexico co-branded credit cards in Canada but you can use the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Card or the Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express as both those hotel programs points can be converted to AeroMexico. You can also check out AeroMexico Club Premier bonuses right on Rewards Canada.

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Bonus Offers
Air China Phoenix Miles
- Earn up to 30% Bonus Phoenix M\iles when you fly on Air China between Yanji and Beijing. More... Until Apr 30, 15
- 20% Phoenix M\iles Discount for award tickets between Yanji and Beijing. More... Until Apr 30, 15
- Earn Triple Phoenix M\iles when booking any hotel in Switzerland on Lychee.com, and earn 30,000 miles when booking any travel package in Switzerland. More... Until Mar 1, 15
- Double Phoenix Miles when you stay for at least two consecutive nights at participating Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. More... Until Feb 24, 15

ANA Mileage Club
- Double Mileage Club Miles when you stay for at least two consecutive nights at participating Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. More... Until Feb 24, 15

IHG Rewards Club
- Earn at least 50,000 Bonus IHG Rewards Club Points when you stay at IHG Hotel stays Worldwide. Bonus points vary per member and are awarded for various stay and other activities. More... Register & book between Dec 15 and Apr 30 for stays Jan 1 - Apr 30, 15

Miles & More
- 500 Bonus Miles&More miles when you join Heathrow Rewards and spend £30 or more in a single day. More... Until Dec 31, 14
- Double Miles&More miles when you convert Heathrow Rewards Points to Miles & More. More... Until Dec 31, 14

Saudia Alfursan
- Double AlfursanMiles for stays at participating Golden Tulip Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15

TAM Fidelidade
- Double Multiplus Points for stays at participating Golden Tulip Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

IHG Rewards Club: Earn at least 50,000 Bonus Points with Set Your Sights systemwide promotion

IHG Rewards Club is one of the first out of the gate for 2015 promotions with the launch of Set Your Sights. The systemwide promotion open to all IHG Rewards Club members follows in the footsteps of the Big Win and Into the Night promotions by awarding bonus point for completing various stay and other activities. Once you register for the promotion you will be presented with the tasks you have to complete to receive the bonuses. I received the following which seems to be the base offer given to new members or members who have not completed many IHG stays:

For me this offer can be reached with two stays at Holiday Inn branded hotels. One would have to be a two night weekend stay and the third just a single night at a Holiday Inn. Both stays would have to be booked directly with IHG which is simple and easy! I haven't jumped on the last two IHG promos but am thinking based on what my travel plans maybe for the first four months of 2015 this maybe the time to go after it.

What offer did you receive? Feel free to share it with us and our readers by commenting below?

Offer Details
Earn at least 50,000 Bonus IHG Rewards Club Points when you stay at IHG Hotel stays Worldwide. Bonus points vary per member and are awarded for various stay and other activities. Full details, online registration and booking (Registration is required) Register & book between Dec 15 and Apr 30 for stays Jan 1 - Apr 30, 15

As always be sure to check our IHG Rewards Club Bonus Points page for many more bonuses that can be earned alongside this promotion!

Dec 12 Update: You can now earn WestJet $ on Delta flights, 17 bonuses for the Global Traveller

A pretty quiet end to the week here on Rewards Canada

News, Tips & Tricks
The only news today is that which we posted already: Now earn WestJet Rewards Dollars on Delta Airlines flights Worldwide

Travel Deals
Air France is offering a sale on their Premium Economy product for flight out of Canada. This is a long running sale. You have until April 15 to book these fares that start from as low $1249 all in. Book online at airfrance.ca

Bonus Offers
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Triple Flying Blue Miles for stays at participating Sofitel Hotels Worldwide. More... Book Dec 15 - Feb 28 for stays Jan 1 - Feb 28, 15
- Double Flying Blue Miles for stays at any participating Best Western Hotel in Germany or Luxembourg . More... Jan 1 - Feb 28, 15
- Triple Flying Blue Miles on every stay at select Mandarin Oriental properties in Paris, Prague, Barcelona, London, Munich, Geneva and Bodrum More... Jan 1 - Feb 28, 15
- 1,000 Bonus Flying Blue Miles for stays at the ME London, Gran Meliá Rome, Meliá Vienna, Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora and the new Meliá La Défense (Paris). More... Book Jan 1 - Feb 28 for stays until May 1, 15
- Earn up to Quadruple Flying Blue Miles for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15
- Earn up to 10x Flying Blue Miles on Avis rentals in Europe, the Middle East, Africa or Asia. More... Book by Jan 25 for rentals Mar 1 - Sep 30, 15

Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double GarudaMiles on flights between Denpasar and Labuan Bajo. More... Until ?
- 25% GarudaMiles Discount on Garuda Indonesia award tickets between Denpasar and Labuan Bajo. More... Until ?

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Double QMiles for stays at participating Golden Tulip Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Double KrisFlyer Miles when you stay on a qualifying rate at a participating Okura hotels & Resorts in China, Japan, Bangkok and the Netherlands. More...Until Feb 28, 15
- Double KrisFlyer Miles when you stay for at least two consecutive nights at a participating Park Regis hotel anywhere in the world. More... Until Jan 31, 15
- Double KrisFlyer Miles when you stay on the Best Flexible Rate at a participating Per AQUUM property in the Maldives, and the United Arab Emirates. More... Until Jan 31, 15
- Double KrisFlyer Miles for stays of 2 or more consecutive nights at participating Preferred Hotel Group properties Worldwide. More... Until Jan 31, 15
- Earn up to Quadruple KrisFlyer Miles for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15
- Double KrisFlyer Miles wehn stay for at least two consecutive nights on the Swissôtel Seasonal Saver Offer at participating Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. More... Until Feb 24, 15
- 1,000 Bonus KrisFlyer Miles ith every new line sign-up or re-contract on a 2-year Data Bundled plan with M1. More... Until Jan 31,15

Turkish Miles&Smiles
- Earn 150 Bonus Miles&Smiles Miles per day or 4,000 bonus miles for rentals of 10 or more days with Enterprise in Turkey. More... Until Mar 10, 15

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Now earn WestJet Rewards Dollars on Delta Airlines flights Worldwide

Apparently this launched on November 20th but we didn't find out about it until we got an email yesterday from WestJet. WestJet continues to grow the WestJet Rewards program as they slowly add more partners. Delta Airlines is now the second airline partner of the program after American Airlines that you can earn WestJet Rewards dollars on. At this time there is still no news about being able to redeem WestJet Dollars for flights on their partner airlines.

The Dollar earning for flights on Delta is the same as American Airlines and is based upon distance flown and the fare class your ticket is booked into. As you can see by the chart you will earn anywhere from 3 to 15 WestJet dollars per Delta flight.

It is nice to see more airline partners being added to the WestJet Rewards programs. The only thing we are waiting for is the ability to redeem WestJet Dollars on these partner airlines! If that becomes a reality then the almighty WestJet Dollar will becoming way more valuable since you'd have access to flights around the globe to redeem for. This new earning option is also a potentially good choice for disgruntled Delta SkyMiles members here in Canada because of all the negative changes happening to that program in 2015.

You can read more about earning WestJet Dollars on Delta flights here.

What are your thoughts on this latest addition to the WestJet Rewards program? Are you going to credit you Delta flights to WestJet or will you continue with crediting them to SkyMiles, other SkyTeam partners or even Alaska Airlines?

Small Business Advice - Three Smart Ways to Use Year-End Reward Points

When news broke recently that the Vatican discovered hundreds of millions of euros tucked away in various accounts previously unaccounted for, it left many scratching their heads.

Yet on a much smaller scale, many small business owners will confess to not always having their finger on the pulse when it comes to the ebb and flow of their day-to-day finances.

One area of the balance sheet that can produce a positive year-end surprise is the annual credit card statement and specifically the total number of reward points earned by the small business. For those businesses that put the majority of their expenses through a reward-based credit card, the annual point total can be significant. 

While spending the sudden windfall should always come down to needs and priorities, here are three ways cashing in points can benefit your business.

1. Save on travel expenses - The highest redemption value on virtually all of business rewards cards is to redeem for travel. Whether it’s the American Express Business Gold Rewards card, the RBC Visa Business Avion, TD Aeroplan Business Visa or countless others you can expect returns of 1.25% to well over 5% depending on the travel your redeem for. If your company requires staff to travel for business, using these types of rewards can have a seriously positive impact on your bottom line.

2. Pay down your bill - Another way to save your company money is to redeem points for a credit against your monthly statement. Although the value may not be as high as travel reward redemptions, saving a percentage point on your total credit card spend could definitely add up for those companies that don't require travel.

3. Reward your employees - The majority of the small business reward credit cards also let you redeem points for gift cards or merchandise. Have the RBC Visa Business Avion? Redeem those points directly at Best Buy or Future Shop or simply peruse the redemption catalogs of your favorite credit card to find the perfect employee gift.  Even better, surprise your top performers with travel – nothing says ‘thank-you’ like warm winter getaway!

Dec 11 Update: Reader Questions and Tips, 20% off MileagePlus Awards between Canada and Hawaii or Mexico and more!

A great mix of news, tips and more for you today!

News, Tips & Tricks
Reader Tip:
Long time Rewards Canada readed Steve passed along this tip in our Today Only: Earn 100 Bonus Air Miles for every $100 spent on gift cards at Safeway post:

"Thanks for highlighting this... I bought $500 of Canadian Tire cards and used them on new winter tires... and got Canadian Tire money for redeeming them! Triple dip with the credit card points too. :)"

We never considered the Canadian Tire triple dip! That is awesome work Steve and thanks for passing it along to us. Hopefully you don't mind us passing it along to our readers! This is a good way to get around the whole you don't earn Canadian Tire money on purchases made on non Canadian Tire credit cards.

Reader Question:
Brendan asked the following question on our 50% Bonus when transferring RBC Rewards Points to British Airways post:

In my latest credit card churn I received 15,000 RBC Rewards. Living in Edmonton I'm not sure if this transfer is for me. I have no Avios balance to speak of. Any advice?

Here is our response:
Hi Brendan, it could be of use. That 15,000 will get you 22,500 Avios. You can fly from Edmonton to Seattle on Alaska Airlines round trip for only 9,000 Avios. Which means two tickets there and back as well as one more one way (since one way is 4,500) or you can get 1 round trip flight to Phoenix or Dallas with 20,000 Avios. See this post for even more details: http://blog.frequentflyerbonuses.com/2014/02/how-to-get-select-canada-to-us-award.html

Reader Question:
Another long time Rewards Canada reader, Bill P. asked the following:

I have a question regarding to the RBC Avion program I am wondering when I redeem RBC Avion points for flights, would that flight still earn airline miles? I called the RBC credit card department but they seem to be not sure about it. I have the same question to the BMO Reward system. Do I earn airline miles on a reward flight?

Here is our response:
You will earn Frequent Flyer Miles/Points on your RBC Avion tickets as they are revenue tickets. That being said however, the amount of miles you earn depends on the frequent flyer program you credit them to and are also based on what fare class they are booked into. For example if it is an Air Canada ticket and RBC books you a Tango fare you'll earn less miles (25% of flight mileage) but if they book you into Flex or higher you'll earn 100% or more. Same goes for the BMO Rewards system.

It appears Delta is rescinding their cap on points transfers into the SkyMiles program. According to Gary Leff at View from the Wing they have removed the 250,000 cap on the number of miles that can be transferred in a calendar.

In the bonus offers section check out the United MileagePlus discount award ticket offer, it is valid redemptions from Canada to Hawaii or Mexico.

Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Triple Aeroplan Miles for stays at select Fairmont Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Dec 31, 14

Alitalia MilleMiglia
- Earn up to 1,000 Bonus MilleMiglia Miles when you fly round trip on Alitalia between Milan Linate, Venice or Rome Fiumicino and Dusseldorf or Berlin. More... Jan 7 - Mar 7, 15

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- 500 Bonus Asia Miles per night, up to 5,000 per stay at select Fairmont Hotels in Asia. More... Until Mar 31, 15
- Double Asia Miles Miles when you stay at participating Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15

Gulf Air FalconFlyer (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double FalconFlyer Miles when you fly on Gulf Air between Manama and Hyderabad or Shiraz. More... Dec 15 - Feb 15, 15

Hyatt Gold Passport
- 2,500 Bonus Gold Passport Points per stay at anyone of 21 Hyatt locations in India. More... Until Mar 31, 15
- 2,000 Bonus Gold Passport Points for stays in a suite at the Grand Hyatt Beijing. More... Until Feb 28, 15

Oman Air Sindbad (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Earn up to Quadruple Sindbad Miles for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide.More... Dec 1 - Jan 31, 15

SAS EuroBonus
- 1,000 EuroBonus Points when you take your picture in a Budget rent a car and submit it online. More... Until Jan 15, 15

Starwood Preferred Guest
- Earn 500 Bonus Starpoints on stays at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide that are booked via the SPG App and paid for with an American Express card. More... Until Mar 31, 15

United MileagePlus
- Save 20% on MileagePlus Saver Awards to Hawaii, Mexico and other select destinations. More... Book by Dec 30 for travel Jan 12 - Feb 12, 15

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Aeroplan: Triple Miles at select Fairmont Hotels until the end of the year

A few months ago we brought you the details of the Winter Fairmont airline mileage bonuses that included a bonus for Aeroplan members. The bonus is Double Miles but now it appears that Aeroplan members can earn Triple Miles for stays at select locations until the end of the year. Yes it isn't much notice but if you just happen to be planning a stay at one of these locations by December 31st you might as well go for Triple Miles!

Offer Details
Triple Aeroplan Miles for stays at select Fairmont Hotels Worldwide. Full details Until Dec 31, 14

• Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu
• Fairmont Le Château Montebello
• Fairmont Mayakoba
• The Fairmont Southampton
• The Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
• Fairmont Newport Beach

Starwood: Earn 500 Bonus Starpoints for bookings via the SPG App that are paid for with an American Express Card

Starwood Preferred Guest has a new bonus out for bookings made via the SPG App and paid for with an American Express card. You must register first then you can earn the bonus of 500 Starpoints for up to three stays booked via the app (1,500 bonus points total). The offer is good for stays until March 31, 15. Once again this is the type of offer that has made us stress for nearly 14 years that you should carry at least one brand of each major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) so that you can take advantage of these offers that require the use of one specific card.

Offer Details
Earn 500 Bonus Starpoints on stays at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide that are booked via the SPG App and paid for with an American Express card. Maximum of 1,500 bonus Starpoints (3 Stays) awarded. Full details, online registration and booking. (Registration is required) Until Mar 31, 15

Dec 10 Update: Hyatt Gold Passport Hotel Award Night changes, Aeroplan Hertz Bonus returns, Air France Premium Class sale

Playing catch up here as we missed the daily update yesterday!

News, Tips & Tricks
Hyatt Gold Passport has announced their hotel award night category changes for 2015. Most of it is good news! Of the 70 hotels changing in category, only 22 are increasing while 48 are going down. So what do you do? Try to book those that are going up now while waiting to book hotels that are going down to after January 22nd if you can! Here in Canada, two properties are changing. The Hyatt Regency Toronto is going from Category 2 to Category 3 while the Hyatt Regency Montreal is moving down to 2 from 3. Find all the details here.

Preferred Hotel Group is offering their iPrefer members Double Points on all bookings made by December 11th for stays until March 31st. Find out more here.

A couple of days ago we mentioned that Airlineroute.net had announced that Air Canada was changing their Vancouver-New York flight from Newark to JFK but that looks like it was either a mistake or they changed their mind. The Vancouver-Newark route will remain in 2015. (Source Airlineroute.net)

Travel Deals
Air France is offering a sale on their Premium Economy product for flight out of Canada to Europe. This is a long running sale. You have until April 15 to book these fares that start from as low $1249 all in. Book online at airfrance.ca

Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Earn up to 5,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles and up to 35% on qualifying Hertz rentals in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S.. More... Until Feb 28, 15

Air China Phoenix Miles
- Triple Phoenix Miles Kilometers for stays on the Warm Winter Package at participating Regent Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 15 - Feb 28, 15

airBaltic PINS (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 500 Bonus PINS on all stays at the Grand Palace Hotel Riga. More... Until Dec 31, 14
- Triple PINS on weekend rentals with Sixt in Finland or Germany. More... Until Dec 31, 14
- Double PINS when you travel between Riga and Vilnius on Lux Express. More... Book by Dec 17 for travel until Feb 28, 15

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- 750 Bonus Mileage Plan Miles when you spend $50 or more shopping through Mileage Plan Shopping. More... Until Dec 22, 14

China Airlines Dynasty Flyer
- Triple Dynasty Miles for stays on the Warm Winter Package at participating Regent Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 15 - Feb 28, 15

Czech Airlines OK Plus
- Double OK Plus Miles when you fly Czech Airlines between Prague and Brussels. More... Until Mar 31, 15
- Double OK Plus Miles when you fly Czech Airlines between Prague and Billund, Bologna or Oslo. More... Register and book by May 31 for travel Mar 29 - Jun 30, 15
- Double OK Plus Miles for stays at participating Golden Tulip Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 1 - Feb 28, 15
- Triple OK Plus Miles on all Wyndham Rewards Hotels stays Worldwide starting with your 1st stay. More... Until Jan 16, 15

Orbitz Rewards (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- $15 Bonus Orbucks when you book any prepaid, standalone hotel in select cities in Mexico. More... Book by Dec 21, 14

Rocketmiles
- OFFER EXTENDED 3,000 Bonus Miles/Points in the Rocketmiles partner program of your choice when you make your first booking. More... Book by Feb 6, 15 for stays until ?

SAS EuroBonus
- Double EuroBonus Points for weekend (Fri-Su) stays at Park Inn Hotels in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. More... Book by Dec 31 for stays Jan 1 - Apr 6, 15
- Receive a 20% Discount when you buy or transfer EuroBonus Points. More... Until Dec 20, 14
- 10,000 Bonus EuroBonus Points when you subscribe to the Economist. More... Until Jan 31, 15

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Triple KrisFlyer Miles s for stays on the Warm Winter Package at participating Regent Hotels Worldwide. More... Dec 15 - Feb 28, 15

Starwood Preferred Guest
- Double Starpoints for stays of 2 or more nights at participating Starwood Hotels in Latin America. More... You must be a member of AeroMexico's Club Premier program (free to join) Until Jan 31, 15

Turkish Miles&Smiles
- Double Miles&Smiles Miles for Budget Car Rentals in Turkey. More... Until Dec 31, 14
- Double Miles&Smiles Miles for Thrifty VIP Van Rentals in Turkey. More... Until Jan 31, 15

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Air Canada plans Dubai service in 2015

Air Canada has finally chosen to take on Emirates directly. Starting November 3rd of 2015 there will be direct non-stop service between Toronto and Dubai flown with their 787 Dreamliner. The flights will operate 3x weekly with the following schedule

AC056 YYZ2055 – 1840+1DXB 788 2
AC056 YYZ2055 – 1840+1DXB 789 46
AC057 DXB2355 – 0500+1YYZ 788 3
AC057 DXB2355 – 0500+1YYZ 789 57

The flights will be available for booking on December 16th. (Source Airlineroute.net)

This is exciting news for you dedicated Air Canada and Aeroplan fans who have chosen to fly via  Frankfurt to get to Dubai via Air Canada and Lufthansa as now you can now fly direct!