Thursday, March 3, 2016

March 3 Update: 2,500 Bonus TD Rewards Points for WestJet Flight+Hotel bookings, 60 Bonus AIR MILES for BW stays and more

News, Tips & Tricks
With the new TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Offer out we have updated our Travel Hacking 101 Post as now you can earn up to 125,000+ Aeroplan miles for free. Find out more here.

TD First Class and Platinum Visa cardholders can 2,500 bonus points when they book a qualifying WestJet flight + hotel vacation package online through ExpediaForTD.com with their TD Travel Credit Card. Must be booked by Mar 7 for travel until the end of the year. Remember you'll also earn 9 TD Rewards Points per eligible dollar spent with ExpediaforTD. So if your package is $1,000 you'll earn 11,500 points in total.  Find out more here.


Posts since our last update:


Travel Deals

Carlson Hotels are offering 3 nights for the price of 2 for stays
in Europe, the Middle East and Africa until the end of this month Find out more here.



Bonus Offers
Air France KLM Flying Bue
- Double Flying Blue Miles when you fly Air France between Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and Paris. More... Until Jun 30, 16
- Double Flying Blue Miles when you fly KLM between Bangkok and Amsterdam. More... Until Jun 30, 16

AIR MILES (Canada)
- 60 Bonus AIR MILES Reward Miles for each qualified stay at any Best Western® branded hotel in Canada, the United States, or the Caribbean Islands. More... Until May 31, 16

Kuwait Airways Oasis Club (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 3,000 Bonus Oasis Club Miles on your first Rocketmiles booking More... Book by May 31, 16

Orbitz Rewards
(on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 2x Orbucks on all flights booked via Orbitz. More... Book by Mar 13, 16

Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Earn up to Triple Frequent Flyer Points on all stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Jun 30, 16

Malaysia Airlines Enrich
(on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- 25% Bonus Enrich Miles when you fly on MH4500 – MH4999 codeshare flights operated by Emirates. More... Until Apr 19, 16
- Double Enrich Miles for stays at Federal Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. More... Until May 31, 16
- 5,000 Bonus Enrich Miles when you spend MYR 3,000 (or equivalent) on hotel bookings via Kaligo. More... Book by Apr 30 for stays until Dec 31, 16
- 3,000 Bonus Enrich Miles on your first Rocketmiles booking More... Book by Jun 30, 16

United MileagePlus
- Quadruple MileagePlus Miles for stays at participating Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Garden or Wingate by Wyndham hotel. More... Until May 31, 16


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Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for March

Here are the Rewards Canada Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of March! This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings but instead a look at cards that have very good acquisition offers. As always when choosing a card you should always take other factors into account other than the sign up bonus, but when most or all of these cards are first year free, they can and do pay off even when not taking into account insurance packages and other non-reward benefits. In fact all 5 cards on this list for February are first year free so you can try them out at no cost, get over $1,000 in rewards and decide later on if the card is right for you. All the while earning the sign up bonus which can be used to subsidize your travels!
   
Slight changes this month! The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card sees its sign up bonus upped to 25,000 from 15,000 and we see the return of First Year Free for the TD First Class Visa Infinite Card so it makes it back into this list, especially so as the Scotia Gold American Express card is no longer FYF.

So here are our top 5 credit card sign up offers for March (in alphabetical order)


American Express Gold Rewards Card - 25,000 Points (Apply here)
A mainstay offer here on Rewards Canada, the American Express Gold Rewards card has its first year fee of $150 waived and will award you 25,000 Membership Rewards points when you complete $500 in spending in the first three months. That 25,000 points is worth a $250 travel credit via Amex's TripFlex feature or can be converted to 25,000 Aeroplan Miles (1 Round trip Economy Award ticket within North America) or 25,000 British Airways Executive Club Avios (as much a 3 one way Economy Award tickets in North America, see this post for details.)


American Express Air Miles Platinum Credit Card - 2,000 Reward Miles (Apply here)
A newcomer to our monthly Top 5 sign up offers, the American Express Air Miles Platinum card comes first year free and comes with a 2,000 Reward Miles sign up bonus when you complete $500 in spending in the first three months. That 2,000 Miles is worth anywhere from $220 to $300 in flight value when you get around to redeeming them.


Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa - 30,000 Points  (Apply here)
The best no foreign transaction fee card in Canada makes it to this list due to a very strong acquisition offer. I mean who can complain with 30,000 points awarded on approval and a certificate for a free night stay at a Category 1-4 hotel for a potential of 5 free nights, all at no cost as the card has the annual fee waived in the first year! They also give you a 15 night credit into the mix which automatically provides you with Marriott Rewards Silver Elite status. There is also a 50,000 Point offer meant only for Marriott Elite members which many non-elites have had success with when they apply for it. (You may or may not get the full 50k and if they find out you are not Elite you may only receive the 30k)


TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card - 15,000 Miles (Apply here)
Back to its standard sign up bonus of 15,000 miles the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card remains here since it still has the first year fee waived. That means those 15,000 are free and worth well over $200 and you'll save the $120 fee in the first year.


http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=rePwQEjA0OI&offerid=373814.23&type=3&subid=0TD First Class Visa Infinite Card - 40,000 Points (Apply here)
Still with an increased sign up bonus but now with  the first year fee waived, the TD First Class Visa Infinite Card has also been a good card. The regular sign up of offer 20,000 TD Rewards Points has now been boosted to 40,000 (20,000 upon 1st purchase, 20,000 after 90 days) and the first year $120  fee waived which means you essentially get $200 of travel for free when you redeem those points via ExpediaForTD.

If you went for all these cards you ultimately could end up with over  $1000 in travel credits and hotel free nights but even if you only take on one or two you are helping your travel budget significantly at no cost other than regular credit card spend

AIR MILES: 60 Bonus Reward Miles for Best Western stays in Canada, the U.S. and Caribbean

The bonus AIR MILES offer for Best Western stays got better for Spring! Over winter it was only 40 miles but that has been boosted to 60 for the next three months! Simply register via the link below and you'll earn the bonus on all your stays! Happy earning!

Offer details:
60 Bonus AIR MILES Reward Miles for each qualified stay at any Best Western® branded hotel in Canada, the United States, or the Caribbean Islands. Full details, Online Registration and Booking (Registration is required) Until May 31, 16

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

March 2 Update: Petro-Points to drop Asia Miles conversion option, Hyatt introduces The Unbound Collection, KLM to Geneva for $799

We can take a bit of a breather today compared to yesterday!

News, Tips & Tricks
Rewards Canada reader David alerted us to this disappointing change in the Petro-Points program. As of April 1st you'll no longer be able to redeem Petro-Points for Cathay Pacific Asia Miles! This comes just as we were working on an Ultimate Asia Miles Credit Card portfolio as the CIBC Petro-Points card is a decent Asia Miles earner. We haven't talked very much about this partnership on the site (we do list it on our Airlines you can earn miles with Canadian Credit Cards chart) but we are sad to see this option go. Also leaving the program on that day are the Canadian Cancer Society donations and Digital Media Rewards. Find out more here.

Hyatt announced the launch of new brand of hotels for their portfolio. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will be a group of independently owned hotels that will benefit from Hyatt brand management and the Gold Passport program while providing Hyatt a chance to grow their presence without building, owning and operating additional hotels. Here is an excerpt from the press release:
...a global collection of unique and independent stay experiences. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will include a portfolio of new and existing upper-upscale and luxury properties that will maintain a distinct character while providing guests and owners Hyatt’s award-winning customer loyalty program, robust operational and marketing resources and trusted, quality brand.
The first Unbound Hotels will be  The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, France; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii, which is expected to undergo a revitalization and re-open in spring 2018. Find out more here

Posts since our last update:


Travel Deals
KLM Wild on Wednesday is back! This week its Geneva for $799 all in from the East or $949 from the West. Book by Mar 3 for travel until May 6 or Oct 16 - Dec 10! Find out more here.
 



Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles and a 100% rebate off your first year annual fee when you apply for and receive the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. More... Apply by May 27, 16 Residents of Canada only

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

Avianca LifeMiles
- Double LifeMiles for Sixt rentals of 2+ days in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Britain, Monaco and selected locations in the USA. More... Until Mar 31, 16

Choice Privileges

- 500 Bonus Privileges Points or 100 Bonus Airline Miles when you stay on a point earning eligible rate at any Choice Hotel when your stay includes at least one Sunday through Thursday night. More... Ongoing

Copa ConnectMiles
- Earn up to 5,000 Bonus ConnectMiles when you join the ConnectMiles program and complete your first flight. More... Until ?

EVA AIr Infinity MileageLands
- Earn up to Quadruple Infinity MileageLands Miles when you rent with Hertz for 3 days or more in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand or Asia. More... Until Apr 30, 16

IHG Rewards Club
- Double IHG Rewards Club Points for IHG Business Rewards members who book accommodations and meetings. More... Book by Apr 30 for stays until Jul 31, 16

JetBlue TrueBlue (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)
- Triple TrueBlue Points on qualifying rentals of 2 or more days at participating Budget locations in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. More... Until Mar 31, 16

Hilton HHonors
- 1,000 Bonus HHonors Points for all eligible stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. Valid for Ernst & Young Employees only. More... Until Apr 30, 16
- 1,000 Bonus HHonors Points for all eligible stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. Valid for Barclays Employees only. More... Until Apr 30, 16
- 1,000 Bonus HHonors Points for all eligible stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. Valid for UBS Employees only. More... Until Apr 30, 16
- 1,000 Bonus HHonors Points PER NIGHT for all eligible stays at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. Valid for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Employees only. More... Until Mar 31, 16

Le Club accorhotels
- 400 Bonus Le Club Accorhotels Points + 30% off for stays at all Novotel hotels in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg when you book 21 days in advance. More... Book by Apr 9 for stays untl Apr 30, 16
- Double Le Club Accorhotels Points when you stay at participating Accor hotels in Portugal. More... Book Mar 7 - Apr 22 for stays May 7 - Jul 7, 16
- Double Le Club Accorhotels Points when you stay at participating ibis or Novotel hotels in Madrid. More... Book Mar 7 - May 8 for stays Mar 18 - May 18, 16
- Earn up to Triple Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays of 6 nights at the Pullman Danang Beach Resort More... Book by Aug 25 for stays Sep 4-10, 16


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

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

New TD First Class Visa Infinite offer: 40,000 Bonus Points and First Year Free


The TD First Class Visa Infinite has a new sign up offer as of this month which sees it get better than what we've seen for a while. The great 40,000 point bonus remains but this time your first year annual fee is fully rebated instead of only 50% of it like we saw in the last offer. As you may or may not be aware this card was devalued on the redemption side when it was announced that travel bookings made outside of Expedia for TD would cost more points as of August 16th however that was further extended to November 15th. The 40,000 bonus points are worth $200 in travel which you get to enjoy fully since you have the first year free!

TD First Class Visa Infinite Card
• Receive a Welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Points after your first Purchase
• You could receive another 20,000 bonus TD Points if you keep your Account open, active and in good standing for 90 days after your Account is opened                 
• 100% Annual Fee Rebate (Primary Cardholder only) for the first year – that’s $120 in savings
• Offer Valid until May 27, 2016
Apply online for the  TD First Class Visa Infinite Card

March 1 Update: Save 25% on Flying Blue Biz Class Awards from YEG, WestJet MasterCard changes, use Aeroplan miles for taxes/fees

Huge day of news and updates!

News, Tips & Tricks
We stated their would be lots of updates and changes to loyalty programs and credit cards today! We've brought you most of them so far but there it at least one more new offer to come later. The biggest news we would peg as the new Companion Voucher Offers for the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard followed by the Aeroplan news of being able to use miles for taxes and fees. All of the news so far have had their own posts here on the blog so you'll find them in the list below!

As we mentioned yesterday, the Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards for March came out but then were pulled. Well they are back up and the only Canadian city included is Edmonton. You can save 25% of the normal miles required to fly in KLM World Business Class between Edmonton and Europe. Not like the 50% we saw before Christmas but still if you were planning to redeem soon at least now you can save 25%. Find out more here.
 

Posts since our last update:



Bonus Offers
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Up to a 50% Bonus Miles when you buy Flying Blue Miles online. More... Until Mar 18, 16

Alitalia MilleMiglia
- Double MilleMiglia Miles for stays at any Best Western Hotel in Italy. More... Until Mar 31, 16

Carlson Hotels Club Carlson
- Up to 25% Bonus Gold  Points when you buy Gold points online. More... Until Mar 15, 16

Iberia Plus
- Earn up to Double Avios when you fly Iberia on select routes Worldwide. More... Register by Mar 11 for travel Mar 1 - Apr 30, 16
- 50% Bonus Avios when you fly Iberia Express on select routes within Europe. More... Register by Mar 11 for travel Mar 1 - May 31, 16
- Double Avios when you fly Iberia Regional Air Nostrum on select routes.More... Register by Mar 11 for travel Mar 1 - Apr 30, 16

Le Club accorhotels
- 4X Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at new Accor Hotels Worldwide. More... Booking Book by Mar 31 for stays until Apr 30, 16
- 4X Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at Accor Hotels in South America except Brazil. More... Book by Mar 24 for stays Mar 25 -27, 16

Starwood Preferred Guest
- Triple Starpoints for valid stays of 2 or more nights at any Luxury Collection hotels and resorts in Thailand. More... Until Jun 30, 16
- Triple Starpoints for stays at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok. More... Until Sep 30, 16
- Save up to 25% when you buy or gift Starpoints online. More... Until Apr 15, 16


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Scotia Momentum VISA Infinite Card - First Year Free when you apply for the card by May 31

Yesterday the Scotia Momentum VISA Infinite - $100 Statement Credit when you spend $500 in the first three months (Essentially 1st year free) offer ended to be replaced by almost the same type of offer. This time when you apply for and receive the card you'll have the first year's annual fee of $99 waived. Even though it is technically $1 less than the previous offer there is no minimum spend requirement to receive the first year free so you don't have to go out and rush your spending on this card to get a statement credit.

The new sign up offer for the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite* Card runs until May 31 and can be accessed here.

Card details

  • 4% on eligible gas station and grocery store purchases
  • 2% on drug store purchases and recurring bills
  • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
  • VISA Infinite Complimentary Concierge Service – available 24/7
  • Access to VISA Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
  • VISA Infinite Dining Series – Unique dining experiences in some of Canada’s top restaurants
  • Special access to unique offers and experiences
  • Rental car collision insurance
  • Purchase security and extended warranty protection

Coming Soon: Use your Aeroplan Miles to pay for taxes and fees on award flights


About a year ago we posted about a targeted offer from Aeroplan whereby select members could use their Aeroplan miles to pay for the taxes and fees on award flights. The good news from Aeroplan today is that this test run obviously provided good results as the option to use miles for taxes and fees on Aeroplan award tickets will become a regular thing coming this April.

Here is the news from Aeroplan:

Aeroplan Members will soon have the option to fly cash-free!

Aeroplan Members will soon have the flexibility to use their Aeroplan Miles to cover the cost of taxes, fees, charges and carrier surcharges when making a flight reward booking via aeroplan.com, the Aeroplan Mobile app or through Aeroplan’s Contact Centre.  

Here is how it works on aeroplan.com:
1.    Find your flight reward via aeroplan.com
2.    Select ‘Pay it all with miles’ when given the choice online about taxes, fees, charges and carrier surcharges
3.    Enjoy your cash-free flight!

This option will be available to members in early April for both of Aeroplan’s Flight Reward products.  In Fixed Mileage Flight Rewards, which offer the best value in the industry with a fixed number of seats exclusively offered to members on Air Canada and Star Alliance and in Market Fare Flight Rewards which provide access to any available seat on Air Canada at competitive mileage levels that vary based on market fares at time of booking.
What we don't know yet is what the redemption rate will be. Back in March of 2015 it was 1,200 miles for every $10 of taxes and fees. I have a phone call with Aeroplan later today so I will see if they will reveal this to me at that time and update this post accordingly!

UPDATE:
Alright, just finished an interview with John Boyton of Aeroplan and have a few more details:
- The launch of this feature is just one more of the many changes we have seen from Aeroplan to make the user experience better (ie one way flights at 50% etc.) and was based upon the many tests they ran last year just like the one we had mentioned.
- An exact launch date in April has not been set but they will pass along the date to us to pass along to you as soon as it is set
- and the one item everyone is curious about, what about the redemption rate? Aeroplan wouldn't let me know exactly what the rate will be because it will actually be dependent on the location you are flying to. For example the redemption rate for an award ticket to the U.S. will be different than Europe, Australia and Asia. My guess at this time is that higher priced locations (think International) with large carrier surcharges will see a better ratio than flights within Canada or to the U.S. where charges are lower. This should hopefully alleviate some of the sting of those dreaded surcharges for those who choose to redeem miles for them but to what amount it will alleviate we'll have to wait and see. John did say it will only be a slight variation for all destinations.  

Say hello to the updated WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard - travelling with a companion just got way better!

Back in January when we released our 2016 Top Travel Reward Credit Card rankings we alluded to changes coming to the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard. We couldn't reveal the details at that time but did take them into account for the rankings and while it pushed the card closer to first these changes just weren't enough to put it into first place. THAT BEING SAID, the changes are pretty amazing for anyone who flies WestJet, has this card or is planning on getting the card.

All features of the card remain the same such as the $250 WestJet dollars sign up bonus, the insurance benefits and the first bag free feature for the cardholder and up to 8 guests travelling with the cardholder! The changes come on the ever popular Companion Voucher. Before today the card came with an annual $99 Companion Voucher (+taxes and fees) for WestJet flights within Canada or transborder flights to the continental U.S. Many WestJet members have taken advantage of the companion voucher but also felt it was restrictive seeing that WestJet flies to so many sun destinations, Hawaii and Europe. Well, WestJet has listened and has expanded the companion voucher program to essentially cover all WestJet flights!!

The $99 voucher offer for travel within Canada and the continental U.S. remains but now you can also choose to convert it to a Sun Destination Voucher (Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean) and pay $299 for the companion (+taxes & fees) or to a Europe voucher and pay $399 for the companion (+taxes and fees)

The beauty of the voucher is that it works on any fare class at anytime with no blackouts. So you could book a more expensive Plus Fare to London and get your companion in Plus as well for only $399!

For example take middle of July busy season flights to London Gatwick from Calgary:
the Plus Fare is $2,074 before taxes and fees. That means the companion fare at $399 will save you $1,675!! Not a bad deal for an annual fee of $99. Don't forget that you can also use any and all of your WestJet dollars towards the first person's fare to save even more money!


This is a great move by WestJet and RBC! I have a feeling a lot more people will be going out and grabbing this card just for this reason. Combine this with lots more exciting news coming from WestJet Rewards later this year and early into next year (sorry we can't divulge these either) this program is really one to keep on the radar for growth and opportunity!

----

WestJet

WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard
$250 WestJet dollars Bonus + Annual $99/$299/$399 Companion Flight when you sign up for and receive the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard.
- Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on every purchase you make with your card
- Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars when you purchase WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages with your card
- Companion flight vouchers are an annual benefit.
Full details


New TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card offer - Up to 30,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles and First Year Free

TD Bank Canada Credit Cards


Yesterday the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Offer of 15,000 miles and 1st year free ended and has been replaced by this new exciting offer. It has a higher sign up bonus of 25,000 miles (15,000 + 10,000) plus the first year free!! That's means you can get the 25,000 miles at no cost at all to you other than making your first purchase and holding on to the card for three months. You can earn an additional 5,000 miles when you add in a supplementary card to the account but that card will cost you $50 in annual fees as it isn't part of the first year free offering.

Offer Details
Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles and a 100% rebate off your first year annual fee when you apply for and receive the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.  15,000 Bonus miles awarded on first purchase, 10,000 after 90 days and 5,000 for adding an authorized user. Full details Apply by May 27, 16

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
• Receive a Welcome Bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan Miles with  your first Purchase 
• You could receive another 10,000 Aeroplan Miles when you keep your Account open and active for 90 days after Account approval                                             
• In addition, you could receive 5,000 Aeroplan Miles when you add an Authorized User to your Account by May 27 (Authorized User must call and activate their Card by July 15, 2016)                                                       
• Annual Fee Rebate for the first year(Primary Cardholder only) – that’s $120 in savings!
• Offer Valid until May 27, 2016
• Earn 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, drugstore and aircanada.com Purchases made with your Card.
• Earn 1 mile for every $1 you spend on all other Purchases on your Card.
• Earn miles twice when you pay with your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and present your Aeroplan Membership Card at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and with 100 online retailers
• Your Aeroplan miles will not expire as long as you are a TD Aeroplan Credit Cardholder                                                                                                
• Enjoy an extensive suite of travel insurances8 for peace of mind on your next getaway.

Air Canada Benefits:
• Your 1st checked bag is complimentary when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada (for Primary Cardholder)
• You get Priority Check-in when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada (for Primary Cardholder)
•  You’ll enjoy Priority Boarding when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada (for Primary Cardholder)