Redemption Stories: Using WestJet Rewards Dollars and Diners Club Reward Points for WestJet flights

Highlights from our SFO trip
(www.instagram.com/rewardscanada)

Back in July the Rewards Canada family took a vacation to San Francisco. This was quite a last minute decision on our part, it was late July and we really wanted to get away before our busy August. It was Sunday night and could travel later that week. Without going into all the search details on places we haven't been and within a few hours of home seeing we only had 3 full days we decided on San Francisco. The Rewards Canada family had never set foot in San Francisco unless you include the airport for connecting! This was an ideal location seeing that we had done Los Angeles (three times) Palm Springs and San Diego in the previous 14 months or so. Yes this is the power of miles and points, many of those trips were funded in part with loyalty programs!

Seeing that we only had three full days we wanted to ensure that we got to SFO in a short amount of time so it was decided that we would fly on WestJet's direct flights so we could use up some our WestJet dollars. As we were redeeming WestJet Dollars from multiple accounts I actually had to call in to WestJet to book the flights as you cannot redeem from multiple accounts online at the same time. The process was really simple as I just had to supply our WestJet Rewards numbers and told the agent we wanted to use our dollars for the flights. The cash portion was put on my Diners Club Club Rewards MasterCard so we could also utilize Club Rewards points for a portion of the costs to make what would be an expensive flight purchase more reasonable.

WestJet Rewards redemption

Diners Club Club Rewards redemption

What initially began with flights costing $3,014.36  ended up only costing us $1,824.36. A great example of 'flexible' reward programs like WestJet Rewards and Diners Club Club Rewards. You don't have to wait until you have the full amount of points or miles. WestJet does require a balance of $25 to redeem if you don't hold one of their RBC MasterCards and that is why you only see three WestJet redemptions for the four of us travelling as my older daughter only had $24 in her account at the time of booking. You can also see however that we earned WestJet Dollars on the cash portion of the tickets which explains why my youngest daughter actually earned more on her flights than my wife or I as she redeemed less dollars. Also you may see that our Diners Club redemption was actually done nearly two months after the trip. Again another bonus of flexible credit card programs, you can continue to earn points on purchases and use them towards a past purchase. Depending on the card you carry you have anywhere from 90 days to 12 months after the charge is posted to use your points or miles!

Could we have utilized another reward program? Well I looked at using Aeroplan miles and all options required a connection with a lot longer travel time than the direct WestJet flights. With only 3 full days in San Francisco and this being a vacation, not business, we wanted to ensure we had the most time possible in SFO so the decision was made to go with the direct flights and enjoy more time in the Golden Gate city on the actual travel days.

Unfortunately the Diners Club Club Rewards MasterCard is not available for new applications but you could use some of the following cards to do the same type of partial (or full) redemption towards the travel charge:

• American Express Gold Rewards Card
• Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard®
• mbna Rewards World Elite MasterCard
• Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
• TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
• and more. Simply look for "Any Travel Provider" in the Redemption Centre row of this chart: Travel Points comparison chart

Rewards Canada to be on CBC Maritime Noon on October 22 - Get your reward program questions answered

If you live in the Maritimes and are able to listen to CBC Radio's Maritime Noon tomorrow (Oct 22) I will be on there discussing rewards programs (travel, gas and retail) and answering questions for those who want to call in during the hour between 12pm and 1pm AT. I am excited to be on the show again as it has been a few years since I was last on this particular show. Get ready to talk miles, points, credit cards, benefits and more!

American Express Front Of The Line gets even better with a new multi-year agreement signed with Live Nation

You may recall our post from nearly a month ago where we discussed what we think is one of the unsung benefits of American Express Cards: Front Of The Line which is part of the overarching Amex Invites program. Further to that post, we have great news to pass along to our readers and American Express Cardmembers (present and any future).

As part of the Live Nation partnership, the guaranteed number of concerts that American Express will be able to provide advanced ticket access to will increase, along with great, quality seats through a reserved allotment of tickets once the public sale begins. Amex will also continue to be the lead sponsor at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, providing early entrance to the venue, and access to the exclusive lounge and promotional activities. 

As big time users and fans of the Front Of The Line program, we here at Rewards Canada couldn't be happier. Our first Front Of The Line experience was just over four years ago when our family was on vacation in Toronto and we got Front Of The Line tickets to see Selena Gomez at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. The experience was great as we also got to use the exclusive entrance reserved for Amex Cardmembers and use the exclusive lounge. It’s only fitting that at the time of this new announcement of the expanded partnership, that we once again used Front Of The Line on October 14th to buy Selena Gomez tickets for her latest world tour and her stop in Calgary in May! Since our first Front Of The Line Experience in 2011, we have used the service no less than a dozen times and expect that to grow faster now that the number of concerts are being increased!

Here are some interesting stats about Front of the Line as provided by Amex:

• Amex has seen a 132% increase in events they provide early access to between 2012 and 2014
• Hundreds of events forecasted for this year
• Hundreds of thousands of tickets forecasted for this year – biggest year ever!
• For 26 years, American Express has been a key player in bringing Canadians access to events across the country, partnering with over 20 entertainment organizations to deliver an unmatched breadth of access to Cardmembers
• Other partners include Mirvish Productions, Roy Thomson Hall/Massey Hall, Broadway Across Canada, eOne Entertainment, Taste of Toronto and more

Have you used Front of the Line? If so what were some of your favourite concerts or moments that came as a result of the service?

You can learn more about American Express' Front of the Line service at amexinvites.ca/

Related: Front of the Line - The unsung benefit of American Express Cards

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American Express Gold Rewards Card
• New American Express® Gold Rewards* Cardmembers can earn a Welcome Bonus of 25,000 Membership Rewards® points - our HIGHEST Gold Rewards Card offer - just by making $500 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership
• No Annual Fee for the first year; $150 Annual Fee thereafter*
• That's enough for a round trip flight to almost anywhere in North America
• Transfer your points to frequent flyer programs, or 1:1 to Aeroplan®* and Avios
• Earn double points on eligible travel and everyday purchases
• Charge any travel to your Card theøaern pay for it with points
• 1 Free Supplementary Gold Rewards Card (a $50 value*) to help you earn points faster
• 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.
• *As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full.
Conditions apply
Apply Now
* Canadian Residents Only

Learn more about this or other American Express cards at rewardscanada.ca/amex.html

October 21 Update: 5x Aeroplan Miles for eStore purchases, using Avis to earn an AirAsia award flight, KLM Wild on Wednesday offer

Somewhat quiet day in the world of travel rewards!

News, Tips & Tricks
Aeroplan is once again offering 5x Miles on purchases made via the Aeroplan eStore online shopping portal. This is a short term bonus that ends on Ocotber 26. Find out more here.

Over on the blog for our global site we outline how you can earn an short haul AirAsia award flight in Asia with only 2 Avis rentals. Find out more here.

Vote for your favourite travel rewards credit card! Nearly 6,000 poeple have voted and would love to hear from you if you haven't voted yet. Vote here!


Posts since our last update:

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Travel Deals
Its Wednesday so that means we bring you KLM's Wild on Wednesday offer. This week the destination is Beirut and you can get there for $899 all in from the East or $1,049 from the West. Find out more here.

Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Earn up to 1,500 Bonus Aeroplan Miles for Hertz rentals in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. More... Until Dec 31, 15

AirAsia BIG (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 2,500 Bonus BIG Points on all qualifying Avis rentals in select Asian countries. More... Until Dec 31, 15

American AAdvantage
- 1,000 Bonus AAdvantage Miles on National Car rentals of 2 or more days in the United States and Canada. More... Until Dec 31, 15

Amtrak Guest Rewards
- 1,000 Bonus Guest Rewards Points for weekend stays at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts in North and Latin America. More... Until Jan 31, 16

ANA Mileage Club
- Earn up to Triple Mileage Club Miles for stays at participating Hilton hotels Worldwide. More... Until Jan 31, 16

IHG Rewards Club
- Earn up to 60% Bonus IHG Rewards Club Points when you buy points online. More... Until Nov 6, 15

Royal Brunei Royal Skies (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Triple Royal Skies Miles for car rentals booked via rentalcars.com More... Until Nov 30, 15

SAS EuroBonus
- 1,000 Bonus EuroBonus points per night for stays at Elite Hotels. More... Until Nov 30, 15
- Triple EuroBonus points on Sixt rentals of 3 or more days Worldwide. More... Nov 1 - 30, 15

Today's Bonus Offer Highlight is brought to you by:

October 20 Update: Transfer Aeroplan Miles for 1.5 cents, Save up to 30% on Fairmont stays, lots of global bonuses!

News, Tips & Tricks
Aeroplan has lowered the price for transferring miles until November 1st. The usual price is 2 cents per mile but right now you can transfer for 1.5 cents per mile. Not a great deal either way but if someone you know may be shy 5,000 or 10,000 miles of a very valuable award it can be worth it to transfer miles over. Just do you math before hand if you are thinking about transferring miles. Find out more here.

In case voting yesterday in the election wasn't enough for you, you can vote for your favourite travel rewards credit card! Over 5,000 people have voted and we would love to hear from you if you haven't voted yet. Vote here!


Posts since our last update:

• Introducing the new updates to the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard®
  Way back in February we had detailed the launch of the  Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard® which replaced…
  
  

Travel Deals
Fairmont Hotel's Moments offer has been updated again. You can enjoy up to 30% off stays and if your are a Fairmont President's Club member you'll get a room upgrade (based on availability of course!) Find out more here.

Bonus Offers
Bangkok Airways FlyerBonus (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Earn up to 8x FlyerBonus Points for stays at Anantara Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. More... Until Dec 20, 15
- 5x FlyerBonus Points for stays at the Kiridara Hotel, Luang Prabang. More... Until Dec 23, 15

Emirates Skywards
- Triple Skywards Miles on rentals of five days or more in any Sixt location Worldwide. More... Book by Oct 31 for rentals until Dec 31, 15

Etihad Guest
- Triple Guest Miles for stays at over 2,800 Accor Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Triple Guest Miles for Europcar rentals Worldwide except in the USA and Canada. More... Book by Nov 17 for rentals until Dec 31, 15

Saudia Alfursan
- Double Alfursan Miles for stays at any participating Shangri-La Resorts Worldwide. More... Until Nov 30, 15

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
- 500 Bonus ROP Miles for stays at any Accor Hotel Worldwide (ibis, ibis Styles and All seasons excluded. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Double Royal Orchid Plus Miles for stays at participating Anantara Hotels in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Maldives, Thailand, UAE, or Vietnam. More...Until Dec 31, 15
- Double Royal Orchid Plus Miles for stays at participating Avani Hotels in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Seychelles or Vietnam. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Double Royal Orchid Miles for stays at any participating Shangri-La Resorts Worldwide. More... Until Nov 30, 15
- Earn up to Triple Royal Orchid Plus Miles for stays at participating Mandarin Oriental Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Double Royal Orchid Plus Miles for stays at participating Per Aquum Hotels in Maldives or UAE. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Earn up to Quaruple Royal Orchid Plus Miles for Avis rentals of 3 or more days in Asia, Canada, Europe, the U.S. Middle East , Africa. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Earn up to Quadruple Royal Orchid Plus Miles for Avis rentals of 3 or more days in Thailand. More... Until Dec 31, 15
- Earn Up to Quadruple Royal Orchid Plus Miles when you rent from Hertz for 3 or more days in Asia, Canada, Europe, the U.S. Middle East, Africa, Australia or New Zealand.More... s Until Dec 31, 15
- Earn up to Triple Royal Orchid Plus Miles when you rent from Hertz in Thailand for 3 or more days. More... Until Dec 31, 15

October 19 Update: Scotia buys Sears Card portfolio from Chase, Sonesta Hotels added to Rewards Canada

Election day here in Canada and lots of things going on behind the scenes mean our daily update is being posted later than usual today!


News, Tips & Tricks
Last Thursday news broke the Scotiabank had bought JP Morgan Chase's credit card portfolio here in Canada. There was mixed news as to whether it was just the Sears card portfolio being bought seeing as that agreement ends in November or if it was all of Chase's cards including Amazon and Marriott. We have spoken with both Chase and Scotiabank representatives and have confirmed it is strictly the Sears Card portfolio that Scotia has bought. This is good news as I know some of you were worried about what might happen to your Marriott Premier Visa in particular. We don't have the details yet as to what the Sears cards from Scotia will be like but hopefully they keep the Voyage MasterCard as it was a decent card.


We added yet another new loyalty program to Rewards Canada today. Sonesta Hotels Travel Pass. This hotel chain has over 30 hotels in the U.S.,  4 in the Caribbean, over 15 in South America and several Egyptian properties. They have an elite status match so if you hold status in another hotel program be sure to get it matched before you stay with Sonesta! See our Travel Pass bonus points page here.


Vote for your favourite travel rewards credit card! We are closing in on 5,000 votes already and would love to hear from you if you haven't voted yet. Vote here!


Posts since our last update:

• WestJet's Disney Frozen themed plane - Disney magic inside and out!
  We mentioned in our October 16th update that there was to be news about a new initiative coming from…
  
  

Bonus Offers
Aegean Miles&Bonus
- Double Miles&Bonus Miles for stays at the Domotel Anemolia. More... Until Nov 30, 15
- Double Miles&Bonus Miles for Hertz rentals of 3 or more days in Greece. More... Until Nov 30, 15

airBaltic PINS (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Double PINS for Avis rentals of 2+ days in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More... Until Dec 31, 15

Air Canada / Aeroplan
- 1,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles and a $50 SHOP.CA voucher for Thursday - Sunday night stays at 70 participating hotels across Canada. More... Until Jan 31, 16

Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 50% Bonus GarudaMiles on Garuda Indonesia flights between Surabaya or Denpasar and Banyuwangi. More... Until Nov 30, 15

Le Club accorhotels
- Double Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at participating Accor Hotels in Czech Republic and Slovakia. More... Nov 1 - Dec 31, 15

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Double QMiles for stays at any participating Shangri-La Resorts Worldwide. More... Until Nov 30, 15

Sonesta Hotels Travel Pass
- Elite Status Match to preferred and elite status levels in other hotel programs. More... Ongoing
- Double Travel Pass Points for stays at the Sonesta Coconut Grove Miami. More... Until Jan 31, 16
- Double Travel Pass Points for stays at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore. More... Until Mar 31, 16
- Double Travel Pass Points for stays at the Sonesta Philadelphia Downtown. More... Until Mar 31, 16

WestJet's Disney Frozen themed plane - Disney magic inside and out!

We mentioned in our October 16th update that there was to be news about a new initiative coming from WestJet and Disney on Sunday October 18th. If you've  watched the news or been online in the past 24 hours you'll more than likely know that the new initiative is the WestJet Disney Frozen themed plane. This is the second plane is WestJet's fleet to be painted in a Disney theme, the first being the Magic plane featuring Sorcerer Mickey. This newest themed plane goes even further than just painting the outside of the plane as the interior also is Frozen themed with head rest decor, the overhead bins being painted, bulkhead walls and lavatory mirror treatments. When you move along the plane if goes from frozen in the front to warm Olaf beach scene in the back.

Fun facts about the #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane:

• The aircraft was painted in Fort Worth, Texas.
• The paint team included team members from Canada, the United States and Germany. They watched Frozen to get them into the spirit before work began.
• The job took 21 days of 12-hour rotations involving a constant crew of six painters working 24/7.
• The crew used 643.5 litres of paint consisting of 23 colours -- five for the umbrella alone.
• Sparkles were added to the paint in sections to add shimmer and shine as the aircraft moves.
• An airbrush artist was brought in to work on details around the sun, water and castle.
• The inside of the aircraft has decals and headrest covers that mimic the cold-to-warm (back-to-front) theme on the outside of the aircraft.
• There are 54 separate overhead bin doors on the aircraft and each has a unique Frozen decal.
• Several dozen bagels were consumed during the painting of this aircraft (there weren't any doughnut stores nearby). The crew drank more than 100 litres of sweet tea. 

The plane will be utilized all over WestJet's route network so there is great likelihood that many WestJet travellers will get to experience this new themed plane.

Video of the making of the Frozen Themed Plane:

Here are some photos courtesy of WestJet:

 More photos and videos of this amazing new theme can be found here.