Dec 23 Update: Bonuses and discounts from IHG Rewards Club, SPG, Via Rail Preference and more

Just bonuses for you today!

News, Tips & Tricks
No news!

Bonus Offers
Garuda GarudaMiles (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double GarudaMiles on flights between Surabaya and Manado. More...  Until Jan 31, 15

IHG Rewards Club
- Double Airline Miles for stays at IHG Hotel stays Worldwide. More...  Register by Apr 30 for stays Jan 7 - Apr 30, 15

Le Club accorhotels
- Triple Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays of 3 or 4 nights at Sofitel, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis hotels in Budapest. More... Until Apr 5, 15

Starwood Preferred Guest
- 500 Bonus Starpoints and save 20% for stays of 2 or more nights at Four Points by Sheraton hotels in Australia. More...  Book by Jan 31 for stays until Feb 28, 15
- Double Starpoints for stays at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Resort. Includes Complimentary Buffet Breakfast for two More...  Jan 15 - Jul 15, 15

Thai Airways Royal Orchid
- Earn up to Quadruple Royal Orchid Plus Miles for Avis rentals of 3 or more days in Asia, Canada, Europe, the U.S. Middle East , Africa, Australia or New Zealand. More...  Jan 1 - Mar 31, 15
- Earn up to Quadruple Royal Orchid Plus Miles for Avis rentals of 3 or more days in Thailand. More...  Jan 1 - Mar 31, 15

VIA Rail Preference
- 20% Preference Points Discount for youth reward travel. Youth aged 12-25 receive a 20% discount on Preference Reward tickets. More...  Ongoing


Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

IHG Rewards Club: Double Airline Miles on all IHG stays Worldwide (Jan 7 - Apr 30)

Last week we brought you the details of IHG Rewards Club latest systemwide promotion called Set Your Sights. That promotion offers members the chance to earn 50,000 or more IHG Rewards Club points. What happens though if you don't stay at IHG hotels very often and prefer to credit those stays to your favourite airline program? Double Up Miles happens! This is IHG's promotion for members who prefer to credit stays to airline programs rather than IHG Rewards Club and the bonus kicks in right with the first stay. You can earn Double Miles on all IHG stays up to a maximum of 10,000 miles (or 1,250 miles in the case of Canada's Air Miles coalition program) from January 7 to April 30.

Offer details:
Double Airline Miles for stays at IHG Hotel stays Worldwide. Maximum of 10,000 bonus miles awarded during the promotional period. Full details, online registration and booking (Registration is required) Register by Apr 30 for stays Jan 7 - Apr 30, 15

Participating airlines:

Hyatt to offer free Wi-Fi to all guests starting in February 2015

Hyatt becomes the fourth major hotel to announce free Wi-Fi for stays at their hotels. The big difference with Hyatt's announcement today is their lack of limitations on the free Internet that will become available in February.

"Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced plans to offer free Wi-Fi at all Hyatt hotels worldwide, providing connectivity and convenience regardless of booking method or loyalty program participation."

As you can see in the excerpt from their press release, unlike Marriott or SPG who will require you to be a member of their loyalty programs and also book only via their proprietary booking channels, Hyatt is making their Internet access free to everyone and where available, Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond and Platinum tier members will receive a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service.

Dec 22 Update: TAM to start Toronto service in 2015, 2,000 Bonus Points from Marriott for stays in Victoria

Good Morning Rewards Canada readers!

News, Tips & Tricks
Brazil based TAM Airlines plans to offer Toronto service by the middle of 2015. The flight will route Toronto-New York-Sao Paulo. TAM is part of the oneworld alliance which mean members of British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles etc. may find this route useful as an earn and burn option. Find out more here.

Virgin Atlantic is going to serve Saskatoon! Well not directly that is but they are now going to codeshare on Delta flights between Minneapolis and Saskatoon. (Source Airlineroute.net)

Earlier this year Marriott bought South African based Protea Hotels and now 26 of their hotels in South Africa will become part of Marriott Rewards in February while the remainder of their hotels in Africa are set to join later in the year. (Source: Loyalty Traveler)


Bonus Offers
Air China Phoenix Miles
- Earn up to 50% Bonus Phoenix M\iles when you fly on Air China between Chengdu, Mianyang, Xichang or Dazhou and various cities in China. More...  Until Jan 31, 15

airberlin topbonus
- 1,000 topbonus miles for car rentals made via Rentalscars.com. More...  Book by Feb 28 for rentals until Apr 6, 15

Asiana Club
- Earn up to Triple Club Miles on all stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worlwide. More...  Until Feb 28, 15

Avianca LifeMiles
- OFFER EXTENDED Earn up to 6x LifeMiles on Hertz rentals in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico and Puerto Rico. More...  Until Mar 31, 15

Le Club accorhotels
- Double Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at participating Accor Hotels Worldwide. More...  Until Nov 30, 15

Marriott Rewards
- 2,000 Bonus Rewards Points per night - up to 6,000 points, when you stay at anyone of 35 locations in San Francisco, Colorado, Utah, or the Pacific Northwest. More...  Jan 2 - Mar 28, 15
- 2,000 Bonus Rewards Points per stay of two nights Thursday to Sunday at one of 11 Marriott Hotel & Country Clubs in the UK. More...  Jan 1 - Mar 24, 15
- 2,000 Bonus Points when you stay two or more nights at the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour. More...  Jan 1 - Mar 15, 15
- 3,000 Bonus Rewards Points per stay including any night Friday through Sunday at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Saratoga Malta. More...  Jan 18 - Mar 17, 15
- 2,500 Bonus Rewards Points when staying two consecutive nights or more. at the Courtyard by Marriott Amsterdam Airport. More...  Until Mar 11, 15

Philippine Airlines Mabuhay
- Earn up to Quadruple Mabuhay Miles for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide. More...  Until Feb 28, 15

United MileagePlus
- Double MileagePlus Miles on all United flights Worldwide. More...  Targeted Offer - May not work for everyone Until Jan 31, 15


Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Earn up to 400 Bonus Air Miles on Safeway purchases until December 24

The much anticipated 'large' Air Miles bonus offer for Christmas shopping at Safeway is here! Once again it is a great offer although it is not as big as the one they offered last year. Last year you could get 500 Bonus Air Miles for a $200 spend while this year it is 400 Bonus Air Miles for spending that same amount. Still not a bonus that should be ignored. If you haven't done your Christmas grocery shopping yet now is the time to do so! If you won't be spending $200 you can still earn a healthy sized bonus of 200 Air Miles for spending $100.  You can get the Safeway Air Miles coupons here.  (Thanks again to Michael M for sending these over)

Dec 19 Update: American AAdvantage Premium Class bonuses for 2015, Delta Medallions get Hertz Elite Status, Up to 2,000 Bonus Starpoints at Le Meridien

Elite Status reigns supreme in the news with new benefits from American and Delta

News, Tips & Tricks
American AAdvantage has set out a year long premium class flight bonus for 2015. Depending on your AAdvantage/Dividend Miles status and/or the premium fare class you book you can earn anywhere from to 250 to 12,000 bonus AAdvantage miles on each and every flight you take in 2015. Find out more here.

Delta SkyMiles Medallion members will now get elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Find out more here.

Hilton HHonors will be rolling out Lifetime Diamond status in 2015. No real details are out yet however. (Source LoyaltyLobby)

In the bonus offers section their is a new bonus point offer from Starwood Preferred Guest for stays at Le Meridien hotels and the Le Meridien Versailles Montreal is included. Good news is that the T&Cs don't state anything about earning other bonuses as well so you could easily tie in the current SPG App booking bonus or other bonuses on top of this one.




Bonus Offers
Best Western Rewards
- 1,000 Bonus Rewards Points and 25% off for stays of 2 nights at Best Western Hotels in France when you book online. More... Book by Feb 1 for stays until Mar 1, 15

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Double Asia Miles when you fly round-trip in Economy Class from Vancouver or Toronto to Hong Kong. More... Valid for residents of Canada only Jan 11 - Feb 19 & Mar 2 - 31, 15

China Southern SkyPearl
- Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Sky Pearl Kilometers when you fly on China Southern between Guangzhou and Sydney. More... Until Mar 1, 15

Icelandair Saga Club
- 3,000 Bonus Saga Club Points on your first Rocketmiles booking. More... Book by Jun 30 for stays until Dec 31, 15

Malaysia Airlines Enrich (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Earn up to Triple Enrich Miles for stays at participating Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City Worldwide. More... Until Feb 28, 15

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Earn up to 6,000 Bonus QMiles for Qatar Airways flights between Doha and Asmara. More... Until Feb 28, 15
- Up to 50% QMiles Discount on Qatar Airways Privilege Club Award ticket redemptions for various routes via their "Easy Deals" offer. More... Ongoing
- Double QMiles for stays on the Winter Breaks rate at participating Kempinksi Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Jan 15, 15
- Double QMiles for stays of 2 or more nights at participating Langham Hotels Worldwide on the Linger Longer package rate. More... Until Feb 28, 15
- Triple QMiles for stays at the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana. More... Until Mar 10, 15
- Earn up to Quadruple QMiles for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Feb 28, 15

Starwood Preferred Guest
- Earn up to 2,000 Bonus Starpoints for stasy at Le Méridien hotels and resorts in North America, Latin America and French Polynesia. More... Jan 25 - Mar 1, 15

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Cathay Pacific: Double Asia Miles when you fly in Economy Class between Canada and Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles last bonus offer for their flights out of Canada just ended on November 30th but that offer was for premium class travel. Now they are bonusing flights in Economy Class out of Toronto and Vancouver. As always it is great to take advantage of these types of bonuses even if at this time you don't think or know if you'll fly CX in Economy Class. No matter what, register for it and do it right now because I can guarantee you won't remember in a month and then when your employer plops you on one of these routes in Economy Class you'll miss out on those miles (sorry for rehashing the same wording from the last CX post!)

Offer Details:
Double Asia Miles when you fly round-trip in Economy Class from Vancouver or Toronto to Hong Kong. Register Online (Registration is required)  Jan 11 - Feb 19 & Mar 2 - 31, 15

Can't make use of this offer? Be sure to visit our Asia Miles Bonus Miles page for many other options!

Guest Commentary on Air Canada's new boarding by zone process

A quick guest commentary about Air Canada implementing Zone boarding.
By Sol Zia - SE100K Million Miler and occasional contributor to Rewards Canada

And so it continues…

Those of you who have flown on AC this week, or saw the post on Air Canada, AC is implementing Zone seating like WestJet, United and many other carriers already do. I’ve been lamenting on Rewards Canada about how the new Altitude program is a very convenient way to erode the value proposition to what used to be AC Elite (35K to  99.9K on AC/Star Alliance). The Zones push the separation further. It used be all Biz Class, Elite (35, 50 and 75) and SE100K could board at the same time. With the new Zones Biz Class and SE100k board first (Zone 1) followed by Elites (no mention of Prestige 25K), Star Alliance Gold, Premium Economy, Latitude, TD and CIBC Aeroplan card holders (Zone 2). Zones 3, 4, 5 board next. Why 3, 4 and 5? I predict it won’t be long before lower distance Elites are moved to Zone 3 or worse. “Want Zone 2? Well you better put fly another 15K on AC if you want that…”

Screen shots from AirCanada.com about the new boarding process:

Have you flown Air Canada this week and experienced the new boarding by zone process? What are you thoughts about it? Let our readers and us know by commenting below!

Dec 18 Update: IHG Rewards Club targeted buy points bonus, Hyatt's next promo launching Jan 15, Aeroplan Shangri-La bonus

A nice mix of news and bonuses for you today!

News, Tips & Tricks
IHG Rewards Club is running a bonus for buying points online, the bonus varies but can be as high as 100%. This is a targeted offer so if you didn't get the email you can see if your eligible by logging in via this link.  (Thanks to Rewards Canada reader Fred for letting us know about this offer)

If you look closely at the latest email from Hyatt Gold Passport you'll see that they are teasing members with their next systemwide promotion. Stay More Play More will launch on January 15 and we are guessing it will be similar to Endless Possibilities which ran last winter. Stayed tuned right here on Rewards Canada in January as we bring you the details of this new promotion!

Yesterday we let you know that Starwood Hotels will begin offering free high speed Internet access for stays that are booked via their booking channels. To celebrate the launch of this, the Canadian division of Starwood will have Breakfast Television Toronto broadcasting live from the Sheraton Centre Toronto lobby tomorrow (December 19)

And more as posted to the blog earlier:

• Double Golden Circle Points, 3rd Night Free and a Free Upgrade for stays at Shangri-La Hotels in Toronto or Vancouver
  Today we added three new offers to our Shangri-La Golden Circle Bonus Points page and two of those are actually…
• Marriott Rewards MegaBonus - Earn up to 55,000 Bonus Points for stays Feb 1 - Apr 30, 15
  Marriott is giving ample notice for the latest MegaBonus promotion. You have well over a month to plan out…

Bonus Offers
Air Canada Aeroplan
- Earn up to Quadruple Aeroplan Miles for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Feb 28, 15

IHG Rewards Club
- Triple IHG Rewards Club Points on qualifying rentals of 2 days or more, at participating Avis locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. More... Until Jun 30, 15

JetBlue TrueBlue (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 5x TrueBlue Points on a rentals of 3 days or more at participating Budget airport locations in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More... Until Feb 28, 15

Marriott Rewards
- Marriott MegaBonus: Earn up to 55,000 Bonus Rewards Points for stays at any participating Marriott Hotel Worldwide. More... Register by Mar 31 for stays Feb 1 - Apr 30, 15

Shangri-La Hotels Golden Circle
- Double GC Award Points for stays in a Horizon Club Room at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney. More... Until Mar 15, 15
- Double GC Award Points, third night free and an upgrade to the next room category for stays of 3 or more nights at the Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver. More... Dec 22 - Feb 28, 15
- Double GC Award Points, third night free and an upgrade to the next room category for stays of 3 or more nights at the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto. More... Dec 22 - Feb 28, 15

US Airways Dividend Miles
- Triple Dividend Miles on a rentals of 3 days or more at participating Budget airport locations in the in the U.S. and Canada (excluding Alaska). More... Until Jun 30, 15

Virgin America Elevate (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double Elevate Pointsfor stays at the Virgin Hotel Chicago. More... Jan 15 - Mar 31, 15
- Earn up to 3,500 Bonus Elevate Points on Silvercar rentals. More... Until Dec 31, 15

Virgin Australia Velocity (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Earn up to Quadruple Velocity Points for stays at Shangri-La Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Feb 28, 15

Today's Daily Update has been brought to you by

Double Golden Circle Points, 3rd Night Free and a Free Upgrade for stays at Shangri-La Hotels in Toronto or Vancouver

Today we added three new offers to our Shangri-La Golden Circle Bonus Points page and two of those are actually for the two Shangri-La locations in Canada. If you are planning a short trip to Toronto or Vancouver over the next 2 or so months where you can stay for three nights then this is an offer you should check out. You'll get Double GC Award Points, your 3rd Night free and a free upgrade (subject to availability of course). The complimentary upgrade is to the next room category and is applicable up to a One Bedroom Deluxe Suite!

Offer details
Double GC Award Points, third night free and an upgrade to the next room category for stays of 3 or more nights at the Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver. Full Details Dec 22 - Feb 28, 15

Double GC Award Points, third night free and an upgrade to the next room category for stays of 3 or more nights at the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto. Full Details Dec 22 - Feb 28, 15

Of course if you are staying at one of these two hotels and can't make it for three nights or are but don't want this offer you can always jump on one of the airline offers of up to Quadruple Miles including Aeroplan. You can find all those airline offers here.