October 4 Update: New Amex Centurion Lounge in Hong Kong along with new entry rules, The Bisha - a new Toronto Hotel & more

It's a lounge kind of day! We brought you the review of the Plaza Premium Lounge in Winnipeg and the following news as well:

American Express' new Centurion Lounge in Hong Kong is now open and with that news also comes further restrictions on access to Centurion Lounges. No longer will they be available to any American Express cardholders. Gone is the option for those holding non-Platinum or Centurion Cards to access the lounges for a fee. Entry is strictly restricted now to Centurion and Platinum Cardholders. Now more than ever does it make sense to grab yourself The Platinum Card from American Express if your travels take you to any of the cities that have Centurion Lounges or even anywhere else because of the other lounge access options the card provides.

One of Toronto's newest boutique hotels opened up recently, The Bisha is part of the Loews Hotel famly and looks like a super cool place to stay! The hotel has 96 rooms that were designed by Studio Munge and have some exclusive guestrooms and suites envisioned by Lenny Kravitz.We'd love to hear if any of our readers have tried out this new hotel yet! Find out more about this new hotel here.

The CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege has an increased sign up bonus of up to 50,000 Aeroplan Miles. You'll receive 25,000 miles with your first purchase and 25,000 more if you spend $1,000 in the first three months of having the cards. Find our more here.

Korean Air has been added as our latest travel provider on our book travel page. If you need to book or are planning on booking Korean Air flights you can do it via our book travel page. Booking travel via this page helps support Rewards Canada in all our endeavors to bring you the services we do!

Posts since our last update:

• Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg
  Bill W returns as a contributor to Rewards Canada today with his review of the Plaza Premium Lounge in…

Travel Deals
Jet Airways has a great seat sale in Economy from Toronto to select destinations in Europe* for flights operated by Jet Airways and interline partners Travel must be via Amsterdam Tickets must be purchased on or before Oct 4, 2017 Travel must commence between Oct 16, 2017 and Dec 10, 2017 or between Jan 8, 2018 and May 6, 2018 *Europe includes - Barcelona,Birmingham, Dublin, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Munich, Oslo, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Warsaw, Zagreb, Zurich. Find out more here

 

Canadian Bonus Offers
N/A

Other Bonus Offers

Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Earn up to 2,000 Bonus Flying Blue Miles when you book hotels via myboutiquehotel.com. More... Until Dec 31, 17

American AAdvantage
- 1,000 Bonus AAdvantage Miles for stays of 2 or more nights at Starwood Hotels Worldwide. More... Until Dec 31, 17

IHG Rewards Club
- 50% extra IHG Rewards Club points (for IHG Business Rewards members) with the Booker Bonus. More... Book by Nov 30, 17

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Earn up to 30,000 Bonus QMiles when you fly between Canberra and Doha. More... Feb 12 - May 15, 18

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Up to Triple KrisFlyer Miles for stays at Alila Hotels. More... Until Dec 31, 17

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Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg

Bill W returns as a contributor to Rewards Canada today with his review of the Plaza Premium Lounge in Winnipeg! Bill is a true road warrior, his work has him driving and flying across Western and Central Canada every week while staying in a variety hotels from a variety of chains.  Bill has been reading, following and even giving Rewards Canada tips and updates for a very long time so let's welcome him back with this contribution!

The Plaza Premium Lounge at Winnipeg International Airport (YWG) is very pleasant with a seating capacity of 110 persons. It is open air, meaning not totally secluded from the rest of the airport. You are able to hear the sounds from the Departures area, but it is quite muted and not at all disturbing to the relaxing atmosphere. Soft music plays in the background, and the level is just right, it does not interfere with conversations.

Related: Rewards Canada's Guide to Business Class Lounge Access

Operating hours are 4:00 am – 10:00 pm Monday to Friday and 4:00 am -8:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. The charge to enter the lounge varies with the length of time you will be staying. Cost per person is: 2 hours for $40.00, 3 hours for $50.00 and 6 hours for $70.00. You can also join Priority Pass for discounted Lounge access. They have 3 levels of membership that allow for different access privileges. Full information can be found on their website (link includes an exclusive Rewards Canada discount). In addition, various AMEX cards come with complimentary Priority Pass membership, though these can carry a substantial annual fee. The AMEX Aeroplan Reserve Card includes a complimentary Priority Plus membership (as well as worldwide Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge membership), with an annual fee of $899.00. The Platinum Card from American Express is another option which includes Priority Pass membership, the annual fee is $699. The Platinum Card has the Canadian Platinum Lounge benefit which grants complimentary access for the cardholder, spouse and two children under the age of 21, or one travel companion.

The food selection is respectable, this visit included butter chicken along with steamed vegetables and rice. They have also had meatballs in a mushroom sauce that is quite delicious. A good salad variety is available; coleslaw, potato salad, and Caesar salad along with beets and small buns. Soup is offered; the current selections were Clam Chowder and Chicken Noodle. In addition, they have an assortment of dessert items including Chococcino Mousse, Mangoccino Mousse and cookies. The self-serve fridge has a good choice of soft drinks, along with yogurt and sandwiches.

There are three TV’s above the bar showing News, Sports & Weather.  The bar area is very well-stocked and the Bartender will be able to make virtually any drink that you may desire. There is also an Espresso machine where you can request your favorite coffee beverage.

While all food and drink is complimentary, there is a limit on alcoholic beverages. The allocation is 4 for a 2-hour stay and 6 for a 3-hour stay. If you wish to extend your stay, there is a $10.00 charge for a 1-hour extension.

The Business Centre is small (there are 2 computers available), but they also have five 4-seat tables (complete with electrical outlets) along the outside perimeter that are well-suited for use of personal laptops. In addition, there are 6 small cubicles (also with electrical outlets) if you would like some privacy while using your electronic devices. The majority of the seating area has access to electrical outlets so that you can be well-charged for your flight.

A selection of reading material is available, including The Winnipeg Free Press and the Globe & Mail along with half a dozen assorted magazines.

There is a Departures screen so that you can check the status of your flight, but no announcements are made in the lounge.

Washroom facilities are not provided, it is necessary to exit the lounge and use the public washrooms in the airport. These are located reasonably close by.

Overall, this is a very comfortable lounge. There did seem to be a bit of a wait to have used dishes cleared from the tables, but they also have an area where people can deposit the used dishes if they wish to clear the table themselves. It was about 50%-60% full on this visit, but it didn’t seem at all crowded. The lounge itself overlooks the arrivals area. I would recommend the Plaza Premium Lounge for anyone travelling through the Winnipeg airport. Unfortunately, it is not available for Transborder flights.

It is nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the airport and relax before taking to the skies once again. Bon Voyage!

October 3 Update: Podcast Episode 33 is available for download, WestJet adds flights to Mexico City, Amex Cobalt Multipliers

The Rewards Canada Round Up Podcast has returned! Episode 33 is out now for download on Apple iTunes, Google Play, our website and Soundcloud. In this episode we discuss the launch of the American Express Cobalt card, one of the best cards to come out in a long time in the Canadian market and we include interviews with Chef Gordon Ramsay who was the guest of honour at the Cobalt launch event, an interview with David Barnes, American Express Canada's VP of Advertising & Communications.

As an update, last week I let you know that I decided to convert some Diners Club Club Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club to take advantage of a 50% bonus they were running. The transfer was initiated online on the Diners Club website on September 27th and the Avios including the bonus posted on September 30th. Not a bad lag at all for those of you who still have this card and may consider converting in the future.

WestJet announced more new routes today with the introduction of flights from Calgary and Vancouver to Mexico City starting in 2018. The service will be 4x weekly from Calgary and 3x weekly from Vancouver for March and April and then both routes will be bumped to daily service starting on April 29th. (Source WestJet)

Posts since our last update:

• Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards - Save 25% on Business Class award tickets between Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver & Europe
  The newest set of Air France KLM's Promo Awards went live over the weekend and once again we see…
• Are the American Express Cobalt Card category multipliers available globally?
  A question that has been posed to me about the new American Express Cobalt Card repeatedly via email, social…

Canadian Bonus Offers
Air Canada / Aeroplan
- Double Aeroplan Miles when you make your first Rocketmiles booking. More... Until Dec 31, 17
- 1,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles on your next Rocketmiles hotel stay More... Until Dec 31,17

Air France KLM Flying Blue
- October Promo Awards - Save 20% to 50% on the Award Miles usually required for an award ticket including flights out of Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto or Vancouver. More... Book by Oct 31 for travel Dec 1 - Jan 31, 18

Other Bonus Offers
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Earn up to 4x Flying Blue Miles when you rent with Hertz Worldwide. More... Book by Oct 30 for rentals until Dec 15, 17

Marriott Rewards
- 2,000 Bonus Rewards Points for stays on Thursday-Sunday nights (Friday or Saturday required) at the Renaissance Istanbul Polat Bosphorus Hotel. More... Until Nov 24, 17
- 1,000 Bonus Rewards Points per night for stays at the Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport. More... Until Nov 24, 17
- 3,000 Bonus Rewards Points per stay at the Courtyard and Residence Inn San Antonio Six Flags® at The RIM. More... Until Nov 28, 17

Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Earn up to 6,000 Bonus QMiles when you fly between Adana and Doha. More... Dec 12 - Mar 15, 17

Shangri-La Golden Circle
- Double GC Award Points for stays in a Deluxe Sea View room at the Shangri-La Hotel, Xiamen. More... Until Dec 31, 17
- Double GC Award Points for stays in an Executive Room or higher at the Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. More... Until Nov 30, 17

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Earn 4x KrisFlyer Miles when you rent with Avis in the USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. More... Book by Nov 30 for rentals until Dec 31, 17
- Earn up to 8,000 Bonus KrisFlyer Miles when you stay 3 or more nights at any participating Marriott Hotels and Resorts in Thailand or Vietnam More... Until Nov 30, 17
- Earn up to 8,000 Bonus KrisFlyer Miles when you stay at any participating SPG Hotels and Resorts in Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam. More... Until Nov 30, 17

Starwood Preferred Guest
- Triple Starpoints for stays on the Grand Opening Package at the Le Meridien Seoul. More... Until ?

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Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards - Save 25% on Business Class award tickets between Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver & Europe

The newest set of Air France KLM's Promo Awards went live over the weekend and once again we see four Canadian cities in the promotion! With promo awards the discount ranges from 25 to 50% off the regular amount of miles required to redeem for these flights. As you can see just by the discount this can be a very good offer if you get 50% off for Business Class! However for us here in Canada we don't get any 50% offers once again but we do get 25% off which can definitely be utilized by some! While 25% isn't as good as 50% of course, it still is something to look at if you were planning travel to Europe for December or January.

The offers are:
Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver to Europe: 25% off Business Class


Offer Details:
October Promo Awards - Save 20% to 50% on the Award Miles usually required for an award ticket. Destinations vary by each promotional period. Full Details Book by Oct 31 for travel Dec 1 - Jan 31, 18

Here are all the details on the  Canadian offers available for booking this month:

Don't have all the miles? Hopefully you took advantage of the Flying Blue 100% bonus on buying miles last month so that you could use them for this months offer. You could always consider transferring Starpoints earned via the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express to Flying Blue. The card has a 25,000 Starpoint bonus right now which translates to 30,000 Flying Blue miles and a nice way to top off your account for one of these awards.

Are the American Express Cobalt Card category multipliers available globally?

A question that has been posed to me about the new American Express Cobalt Card repeatedly via email, social media and in comments is about the category multiplier bonuses being available on purchases outside of Canada as we are the only ones reporting that they actually are.


The multipliers in question are:
• Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on Card purchases at eligible restaurants, bars, grocery stores and food delivery in Canada
• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible transit & gas purchases in Canada and eligible travel purchases

I posed this question numerous times to American Express in the months leading up to the launch of the card. On every occasion I was told it will be global so long as the merchant you shop has a proper merchant code for that multiplier. I was assured that even during Amex's own pre-launch testing of the card at properly coded merchants outside of Canada showed up with the correct multiplier bonus.

So when the card launched last week and they added the in Canada terminology to the multipliers I reached out immediately to American Express to ask them once again about this as up until the 25th we were going on the basis of it being global.

I was told they added the in Canada terminology on the Cobalt pages because American Express can only control what category Canadian merchants fall into. Think about, Amex Canada can set the merchant code for a pizza joint in Ottawa but they can't for a pizza joint in Cincinnati, that's up to Amex US and there could be some reason the latter place doesn't code as dining. So if you have the Cobalt Card and travel to Cincinnati, buy pizza from the place you can't call Amex Canada about it not coding properly. If it happened at the Ottawa joint you could ask Amex about it, and they could change the merchant code of the place. In fact I asked them about a similar situation where Canalta Hotels, yes a hotel chain here in Canada, was not earning 2x points on my Gold Rewards card and we are now hoping their merchant code is changed.

That leads us into the Gold Rewards Card and some have used this an example because it has the in Canada terminology for its multipliers other than travel. And yes this is the case with the Gold Rewards Card in that those certain multipliers are only available in Canada. I brought this up in our discussions and was assured it's not the case the Cobalt Card.

To make a long story short, as long as a merchant codes into a multiplier category it's doesn't matter where in the world you use your Cobalt Card, you'll get those extra points. However if one of those locations outside of Canada doesn't, you don't have any recourse and that is why the Cobalt Card has emphasis on eligible spend in Canada.

You can find more details about the new Cobalt Card on the following Rewards Canada pages:

• Introducing the American Express Cobalt Card - this card is simply amazing
• Rewards Canada's review of the American Express Cobalt Card
• Credit Card Comparison - All Canadian Travel Rewards Cards
• Credit Card Comparison - Hybrid Travel Rewards Cards
• American Express Bonus Offers Page
• All Credit Card Sign Up offers page