March 11 Update: Summary of all major Canadian airline flight change waivers - Air Canada & WestJet extend offers to existing bookings

With Italy being effectively shut down, Air Canada has cancelled all their flights to/from Italy until April 30. The last flight from Rome to Montreal is operating today. WestJet has made no mention yet of what is planned for their new Calgary to Rome route that is slated to launch on May 2. There also hasn't been official word on what's happening with Air Transat's Italy flights however they have instituted change policies for travel that was booked until June 30. And that brings us to more travel updates. This time we cover the major Canadian airlines and give shouts out to Air Canada and WestJet for expanding their policies for existing bookings for travel in March and April while we find it (not) surprising that Flair Airlines has been totally silent on the matter.....

AIR CANADA
Air Canada has extended a better waiver policy now - this one is good for those who booked prior to the current 'book now for travel and we'll waive the change fee if you change your plans' offer that most airlines have been offering. Here are the details if you have booked travel prior to March 4 and want to push it back to later this year:

For tickets purchased before March 4, 2020 with an original travel date on or before April 30, 2020, a one-time change fee waiver will apply for travel completed before December 31, 2020, provided changes are made at least 24 hours before your departing flight. Kindly note that any fare difference will apply.

 This new waiver came into effect today and you can read more about it here.

And the 'if you want to book now and then change' waiver has been further updated today allowing you to change your flights up to 24 hours prior to departure:

A one-time change fee waiver will apply to tickets purchased between March 4 and March 31, 2020 provided all travel is completed before December 31, 2020, provided changes are made at least 24 hours before your departing flight. Kindly note that any fare difference will apply and any residual value resulting from a lower fare will be lost. 

Read about the new booking policy here

AIR NORTH
Here is AIR NORTH's policy that was last updated on March 10. They are only waiving fees on new bookings at this time.

Given the concerns around the novel COVID-19, Air North, Yukon’s Airline is allowing passengers to shift their travel plans without incurring a change fee. This goodwill policy will provide a one-time waive of change fees for travel on all routes, for bookings made between 10 March and 5 April 2020, for travel between 20 March and 15 December 2020. Modifications to itineraries must be made at least 10 days before scheduled travel date. 

Find out more here.

AIR TRANSAT
At this time Transat is only allowing waivers on new flights booked between March 4 and 31. No word yet if they will provide some sort of waiver on existing travel booked prior to March 4.

Book a flight to any destination or a South package between March 4 and 31, and if your travel plans change, no worries, we will waive the change fees. | You can change your travel dates, hotel or destination—or all three!—at no charge up to 24 hours before departure.| You can reschedule your travel for any time within 12 months of your original travel dates.

Find out more here

Although they now have the following for Italy:

Following this notice, Air Transat has decided to implement a flexibility policy for its flights to Italy, based on the following parameters:

• All customers who have booked a flight to Venice on or before March 2, 2020 for travel between now and June 30, 2020 are entitled to change their reservation date or destination without penalty for travel between now and October 31, 2020. Customers will, however, have to pay any difference in price.
• All customers who have booked a flight to Rome or Lamezia on or before March 9, 2020 for travel between now and June 30, 2020 are entitled to change their reservation date or destination without penalty for travel between now and October 31, 2020. Customers will, however, have to pay any difference in price.
  Cancellation requests are subject to the terms and conditions.

Find out more here

CANADIAN NORTH
Has only enacted a change fee waiver for travellers connecting to/from other airlines to/from International destinations

In order to ensure that our customers are able to book and travel with confidence, Canadian North will temporarily waive change fees upon request, for customers travelling to or from international destinations via connections with other airlines. We will also permit cancellation of the same reservations upon request for customers traveling internationally, with the refund to be issued as a travel credit voucher that will be valid for one year from the date of issue.

This is valid for travel on Canadian North until March 31. Find out more here.

FLAIR AIRLINES
To the best of our knowledge Flair hasn't stated anything about waivers.

PORTER AIRLINES
At this time Porter is only allowing waivers on new flights booked between March 6 and 31. No word yet if they will provide some sort of waiver on existing travel booked prior to March 6.

Buy a ticket between March 6 and March 31, 2020 | Change your flight once without a change fee | Change your flight at least 14 days before departure | Travel on your new flight

Find out more here.

SUNWING
At this time Sunwing is only allowing waivers on new bookings made between March 4 and 19. No word yet if they will provide some sort of waiver on existing travel booked prior to March 4.

For new bookings made between March 4th and March 19th, 2020 Sunwing will waive any administration fees associated with the first change. This applies to all new bookings with a departure date from now up to and including June 24th, 2020. Any change must be requested at least 14 days prior to travel or normal conditions will apply.

Find out more here.

WESTJET
WestJet has followed Air Canada's lead and not only do they have their new bookings waiver policy in place they are now providing no fee changes for March and April flights that were booked prior to March 3. Find out more here.

New Flight policy:

• All new flight bookings made between March 3, 2020 and March 31, 2020 will be allowed a one-time change fee waiver.
• The one-time change fee waiver is available for any itinerary change made more than 24 hours from departure.
  To change or cancel a flight booked between the dates above, please contact us. If you booked through a travel agent, please contact them directly.

Existing Flight policy:
For flights booked before March 3, 2020 for travel in March or April 2020:

• $0 one-time fee waiver for changes or cancellations
• Change or cancellation must be requested at least 24 hours prior to departure
• Value of cancelled flights will be returned as a credit to your Travel Bank
• If you change your flight, the difference in fare applies

 Title image via Air Canada

Posts since our last update:

• Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for March - These cards provide some of the best value out of their welcome bonuses
  Here are the Rewards Canada Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of March 2020! This is…
• Redemption Stories: Using Scotia Rewards points for an All Inclusive Vacation and utilizing free lounge passes from the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
  Today we welcome back Jeff W. who has contributed several articles in the past to Rewards Canada. Jeff has…
• March 9 Update: What you actually have to spend to get some of the best credit card welcome bonus offers, Targeted Air Canada Flight Bonus, Most Popular Posts from Last Week
  Since we have seen a few new card updates this month we have updated our "What you actually have…
  
   

Travel Deals

Aer Lingus has summer flights on sale from Toronto to Dublin and beyond. You can enjoy Summer in Ireland from $749*when you fly between July 1, 2020 and August 22, 2020. Find out more here.

Remember to visit Rewards Canada's Travel Booking site to book travel directly with many of your favourite airlines, hotels and more!

Canadian Bonus Offers

N/A

Other Bonus Offers

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- 50% Bonus Elite Qualifying Mileage Plan miles when you fly on Alaska Airlines or Horizon Airlines. More... Until Apr 11, 20
- 500 Bonus Mileage Plan Miles on Hertz rentals of 1 or more days in U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. More... Until Dec 31, 20

British Airways Executive Club
- 50% Bonus Avios when you buy or gift Avios. More... Until Mar 22, 20

Marriott Bonvoy
- 10,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points when you stay 2 nights or longer at the Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini. More... Apr 9 - Jul 2, 20
- 2,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points per night for stays at the Four Points by Sheraton Charlotte - Lake Norman. More... Until Mar 31, 20

SATA Azore Airlines Imagine
- Triple Imagine Miles when you rent with Sixt Worldwide. Rentals must be made online. More... Until May 31, 20




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Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for March - These cards provide some of the best value out of their welcome bonuses

Here are the Rewards Canada Top 5 Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of March 2020! 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 (welcome/sign up) offers. As always when choosing a card you should always take other factors into account other than the just sign up bonus, but when some of these cards are first year free, they can and do pay off even when you grab them strictly for the sign up rewards. This month we see three first year free cards on the list!

The National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard limited time offer has ended so it leaves our list. That means the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard jumps up to fourth spot and fifth is now taken by the TD First Class Visa Infinite Card. The first three cards have not changed this month.

Remember as well that you will find this list smack dab in the middle of the Rewards Canada homepage for easy reference!

Here are our top 5 credit card sign up offers for March (in order of welcome bonus value, calculated as minimum mile/points value minus annual fee)

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card - 50,000 Points (Apply here)

No changes to this card means it stays put on the list The 50,000 points, awarded after spending $1,500 on the card in three months are worth at least $500 in our minds which means after subtracting the annual fee you are coming out ahead by $380. In reality you can pull even more value out of the card (into four figures) as we outlined in our post A look at how The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card provides huge value!  Don't forget you get an annual free night with the card as well on the card anniversary date!
Minimum Income: N/A

OFFER EXPIRED TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card - 30,000 Miles 

This is the only first year free card on the list this month and if you are just starting out I would recommend getting this card first thanks to that annual fee waiver! The bonus is awarded as follows: 15,000 Aeroplan Miles when you make your first Purchase with your Card + 5,000 Aeroplan Miles when you spend $1,000 per month in the first three months (up to 15,000 miles) Depending on how you redeem those Aeroplan miles should be worth no less than $360 but more likely closer to $800 or more! In fact if you take the per mile value from our post from late July 2019 this welcome bonus would be worth $1,800 or more.
Minimum Income: $60,000 Personal or $100,000 Household

Alaska Airlines World Elite Mastercard - 30,000 Miles (Apply here)

This card offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 miles when you spend $1,000 on the card in the first three months of having it. This is one of the easiest bonuses to achieve and this card is one of the most churnable in Canada. There are really no problems in getting it 2-4 times in one year alone! Those 30,000 miles are worth no less than $330 when redeeming for economy class flights and just go up from there like the TD Aeroplan card.
Minimum Income: $80,000 Personal or $150,000 Household

BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard - 3,000 Miles (Apply here)
This card offers a welcome bonus of 3,000 AIR MILES Reward Miles, split between 1,000 on first purchase and 2,000 more when you spend $3,000 within 3 months of getting the card. The annual fee of $120 is waived in the first year as well meaning these miles come to you at no cost other than card spend. Those 3,000 miles are worth $330 at a minimum when redeeming towards travel.
Minimum Income: $80,000 Personal or $150,000 Household

OFFER EXPIRED TD® First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card - 65,000 Points 
The First Class Visa Infinite Card makes it back onto the list this month with its latest offer. You receive 20,000 points on your first purchase and 15,000 points per month in each of the first three months when you spend at least $1,000 per month. The card also has rebates on the primary and first additional card for the first year. At a minimum the points are worth $260 towards any travel but are worth $325 if you choose to redeem via ExpediaForTD
Minimum Income: $60,000 Personal or $100,000 Household

If you went for all these cards you ultimately could end up with anywhere from $1,600 to over $3,000 in travel value. However 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. We don't really recommend getting all five in one month unless you know you can meet the minimum spend for them all at once, rather you'd want to pick one or two right now, perhaps another next month and so on.

Disclaimers:
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.

Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please visit the TD site. 

Redemption Stories: Using Scotia Rewards points for an All Inclusive Vacation and utilizing free lounge passes from the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Today we welcome back Jeff W. who has contributed several articles in the past to Rewards Canada. Jeff has been a long time reader of Rewards Canada and we've had lots of discussions with him via email and Twitter as he is always looking to maximize his credit card, travel and other loyalty program rewards! He is heavily invested in Scotia Rewards and his next post details his most recent redemption with Scotia:
 
Hey fellow Rewards Canada Readers!  In the past I wrote how our family loves the Scotibank Gold American Express Card for the earning power it has.  Since the last time I wrote, the card has undergone some changes.  Rewards Canada has gone into detail about the changes, but for simplicity sake, you can earn 5%, 3% or 1% on various purchases.  We have also added the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite to our portfolio.  This gives us two cards now that earn Scotia Rewards points.  The Visa gives you 2% back towards travel on Grocery, dining, entertainment, and transit purchases, and 1% on everything else.  This card also has no FX fees, making it our ‘go to’ card when travelling outside of Canada. (Editors note: The Scotia Gold Amex also has no FX fees but will earn less points than the Visa on non C$ spending) The Visa has one last great advantage, as it comes with six Priority Pass lounge passes per year, perfect for our family of four.

Recommended Reading: A closer look at how a Winnipegger maximizes his Scotiabank Gold American Express Card purchases & Using the Scotiabank Gold American Express card to redeem for any travel - whale watches included!

The great thing about Scotia Rewards, is it doesn’t matter which card you earn the points on, you can transfer the points to whichever card you placed your travel purchase on.  You can also interchange SCENE points with Scotia Rewards points, thus whenever we have a stockpile of SCENE points, we always transfer them over to our Scotia Rewards points account.  This is the rewards program that we use for our winter vacations every other year.

You can convert in both directions between Scotia Rewards and SCENE

There are a couple of ways you can redeem your Scotia Rewards points.  The first, is pay for your travel on your card, once you see the charge applied, redeem your points towards this charge, either the full charge, or some of it, it's your choice.  The minimum you can redeem for is 5,000 (equal to $50) points.  The second way is to book through the Scotiabank Rewards website.  One advantage of booking through Scotiabank’s Rewards website is being able to book a flight on WestJet with a 5% discount (on the base fare) over their regular rates.  Scotia Rewards also offers a Best Price Guarantee on airfare (within 24 hours of booking).  So if you book, and then find a better price, Scotia rewards will match the price.  When it comes to redeeming, it’s really your own preference.

Also, if you don’t have enough points at the time of booking your vacation, you have up to 12 months to still accumulate the points to pay for your travel!

Scotia Rewards makes it easy to choose your redemption option

Any travel any time redemption steps

Steps to redeem for travel booked via Scotia Rewards

Summary page to Apply Points to Travel

So, to get into our winter vacation.  We booked as part of a group of family and friends to an all-inclusive resort in Mazatlan, Mexico.  Vacationing as a group is so much fun, and it gives you the leverage to get a discount on your booking as you are traveling in such a large number, this year we had 34 people (including kids).  As with most group bookings, we owed a deposit in August (5 months prior to traveling) of $600.  Because we use Scotia Rewards points for our major trips every other year, we had more than enough rewards points come August to pay off the full $600 deposit that we owed.  Keep in mind, when redeeming points for travel you have already charged, you are earning 1% in rewards points for that charge, rather than booking it through the rewards website.  In our case of the deposit, that earned us another $6 in travel points.  Step 1 - deposit, done and paid for.

Recommend Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Credit Card & Loyalty Programs for the All Inclusive Vacationer

Step 2, is paying the remaining balance of our all-inclusive vacation in October.  In our case, this was $6,100.  Paid for it on our Visa, earned another $61 in travel dollars.  Naturally we didn’t have enough points for this charge, so we decided to wait until we got home from our vacation in January to redeem our points.

Step 3, is our transportation to/from the airport in our home city of Winnipeg.  In our case, we are traveling with our 4 and 7 year old boys, both requiring car seats.  Now, we don’t need our car seats in Mexico so we can’t take a taxi.  We also didn’t want family to drive us at 3am, so we chose the Valet & Away option at the YWG airport.  This, in my opinion, is the only way to go when you have kids.  Pull up at the front of the airport, unload your kids, bags, and leave your jackets in the car and head on in.  They track your flight, and have your car ready and running upon your return (nice and warm).  This feature also gives you priority screening through security, so you don’t need to wait in a long lineup when you have kids with you.  It’s a fantastic service, and when you know your departure/return dates in advance, you can book the Black Friday sale in November and save more money.  Lastly, I paid this travel charge on our Visa, earned $2.64 in travel rewards then paid it off with our points.

Next thing to do before hopping on the plane is to feed the family.  Do we want to pay over inflated airport prices for breakfast for the four of us?  That could easily cost at least $60 if not more.  Well, we’re in luck...with our Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card, we have six lounge passes to use.  At the Winnipeg airport, kids are free into the lounge, so we simply use 2 of our six lounge passes and in we go.  Unfortunately at 4am, alcohol is not being served, but a full breakfast buffet is on the menu.  Eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, cream puffs, cookies, fruit, and beverages.  We also grabbed a few extra items for the plane, as well all know, the kids will be hungry again.

Recommend Reading:  Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg &  Rewards Canada's Guide to Business Class Lounge Access

As an added note, the Lounge in the Mazatlan hotel is before security, and only provides beverages and light snacks, so we were forced to stop at a restaurant for breakfast.

Now that we’re into February, our trip is over, expenses calculated;  We spent $8,639 all tolled on our two week vacation.  $6,700 on the all-inclusive vacation, $264 for Valey & Away, $870 on Pesos, and $805 on Visa transactions.  Using our Visa while we were there, saved us $20 on not having to pay the 2.5% FX fee, and earned us up to $16 in additional travel points.  We have now redeemed $3,197 for our 2 week vacation in paradise, which equates to 37% of our bill, and makes our vacation expenses only $5,442.

Keep in mind, if you are doing excursions or sightseeing tours while you’re on vacation, these could also be categorized as “travel” expenses and could be valid for you to redeem your points towards.
Redeeming points on the Scotiabank Gold Amex or Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite cards is so easy to do online with no need to call anyone.  Charge my travel to my card, and then simply log in to Scotia Rewards to redeem my points.  Cards like these, that allow you to book your travel how you want are in my mind the best possible cards out there, as it allows you to maximize your savings.

Recommended Reading: Why proprietary credit card reward programs are the best option for most Canadians

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March 9 Update: What you actually have to spend to get some of the best credit card welcome bonus offers, Targeted Air Canada Flight Bonus, Most Popular Posts from Last Week

Since we have seen a few new card updates this month we have updated our "What you actually have to spend to get some of the best credit card welcome bonus offers" feature. We now list some of the cards like the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card and Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card twice - once to show what the initial sign up bonus is worth and then again to show the value if you hold it for the 12 month bonus. Check out the updated feature here. (It will be updated again in a day or two as HSBC should have their new offer out on their World Elite card)

Check your email for targeted Air Canada Aeroplan flight offer for flights within Canada. I received it this morning and it offers up to 200% bonus Aeroplan Miles.

Air France has issued details of their Coronavirus flight waivers - they state ANY flights booked before March 31 can be re-booked at no charge. Based on this wording even if you booked something months ago you are able to re-book. Most other airlines are only offering this on new bookings made this month. (Source Air France)

This is similar to Qatar Airways who emailed the following:

Qatar Airways has updated its travel policy so you can travel with confidence, offering you more flexibility and peace of mind. If you have booked or will book flights for travel up to 30 June 2020 you will be offered the flexibility to change your travel plans free of charge by altering the dates of your booking or exchanging your ticket for a travel voucher valid for one year. This includes award flights since we value every Qmile you’ve earned with us as a Burgundy member. So, if your plans change, rest assured that we are ready to support you.

Here are Rewards Canada's most popular posts from last week - Surprises me that everyone is so interested in the least rewarding cards in Canada! Might be on to something here....

1. The least rewarding travel rewards credit cards in Canada
2. A look at the business class redemption feature for the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card - it offers up to a 7.5% return!
3. New welcome offer for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card - Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles with first year annual fee rebate on Primary Card & 1st Additional card
4. New Hyatt Hotel Openings in Canada for 2020 - 6 hotels confirmed + the reopening of the Park Hyatt Toronto
5. Happy 10th Birthday to WestJet Rewards! We look at where the program is now and reveal some great birthday offers!
   
   

Posts since our last update:

• New World of Hyatt and American AAdvantage Elite Tier Status Challenge
  Over the past few years we have seen expanded partnerships between hotel loyalty programs and airline frequent flyer programs…
• March 6 Update: 100 Bonus AIR MILES when you redeem for concert tickets, WestJet Coronavirus Waivers & affected flight, Aer Lingus summer seat sale to Dublin
  AIR MILES members can earn 100 bonus miles when they redeem miles for concert tickets via AIR MILES Stage…
  

Travel Deals

Remember to visit Rewards Canada's Travel Booking site to book travel directly with many of your favourite airlines, hotels and more!

Canadian Bonus Offers

Air Canada Aeroplan
- Earn up to 3,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles when you rent a full-size four door (group E) car and up with Avis Worldwide. More... Until May 31, 20

Other Bonus Offers

British Airways Executive Club
- 500 Bonus Avios per night stay at selected Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts around the world when booked via BA Holidays. More... Until Jul 31, 20

Emirates Skywards
- Earn up to 10,000 Bonus Skywards Miles when you rent with Avis or Budget for 3+ days Worldwide. More... Book by Apr 30 for rentals until Jun 30, 20

Marriott Bonvoy
- 7,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points + $50 daily hotel credit when you stay on the Discover the Ben package at The Ben, Autograph Collection West Palm Beach. More... Until May 7, 20
- 2,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points per stay including any night Friday-Sunday at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. More... Until Apr 12, 20
- 2,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points per night on Sunday-Thursday nights at the AC Hotel Bloomington Mall of America. More... Until Mar 31, 20

Miles & More
- Earn up to 7,000 Bonus Miles & More Miles when you rent with Avis for 2 or more days Worldwide. More... Book by Mar 31 for rentals until Dec 15, 20

TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
- Elite Status Match Challenge - If you hold elite status with a SkyTeam airline, oneworld airline, Azul, Emirates or Gol you can join TAP Air Portugal and receive TAP elite status for six months if you join a Club TAP Miles&Go or purchase miles to be eligible for Silver or Gold status. More... Until Mar 31, 20
- Earn up to 5x Miles&Go miles when you buy miles online. More... Until Mar 31, 20




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New World of Hyatt and American AAdvantage Elite Tier Status Challenge

Over the past few years we have seen expanded partnerships between hotel loyalty programs and airline frequent flyer programs emerge and one of those was a partnership between World or Hyatt and American AAdvantage. This partnership is coming up on being a year old (See our post from last year) and essentially the partnership allows elite members in either program to earn additional points or miles in the other program once they linked their accounts. Today the programs announced a limited time offer that is provides an opportunity to fast track to elite tier status in the partner’s program based on qualifying activity:

• Eligible World of Hyatt Explorists and Globalists can register by September 30, 2020 and complete qualifying AAdvantage® activity within three months to achieve AAdvantage® Gold, Platinum or Platinum Pro status through January 2022. Once earned, they can enjoy elite benefits like priority boarding, free checked bags, elite mileage bonus, preferred seats and complimentary upgrades.
  
  • This activity is earned when a member flies on eligible tickets for flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle.
• Eligible AAdvantage® Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members can register by October 2, 2020 and complete qualifying World of Hyatt activity within 90 days to achieve World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist status through February 2022. Once earned, they can enjoy elite benefits like a dedicated check-in area, late check-out upon request, room upgrades and club lounge access or complimentary breakfast.
  
  • This activity is earned when a member books an eligible rate or award night through Hyatt channels.

• Eligible World of Hyatt and AAdvantage® members must successfully link their accounts and register in order for qualifying activity to count toward earning elite tier status during the offer period.
• Members can choose when to register for this offer based on the timing that works best for their travel plans. Once registered, they will be notified of the offer details, including the qualifying activities and specific offer period.
• World of Hyatt and AAdvantage® elite members can continue earning more points and miles through this strategic relationship once they link their accounts, including:
  
  • AAdvantage® Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members can earn one AAdvantage®bonus mile for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.
  • World of Hyatt Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist members can earn one World of Hyatt Bonus Point for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying American Airlines flights.This is in addition to the AAdvantage® miles elite members already earn on flights and the World of Hyatt® points elite members already earn for hotels stays. 
  • AAdvantage® miles earned on eligible Hyatt hotel spend are bonus miles and do not count toward elite qualifying miles.
  • World of Hyatt Bonus Points earned for qualifying American Airlines flights do not count toward elite tier status in World of Hyatt.

When this partnership launched the programs did state that there will be limited promotions for fast tracking to elite status and that promise is holding true with this promotion. As is stated in the details for the offer above you may want to time your registration right as you have 90 days or three months to complete the promotion activities to earn status in whichever program you required. So contrary to our normal mantra of registering for a promotion right when it comes out this time it is the opposite. For example if you are a World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist but don't have any American Airlines flights planned until the fall (which could entirely be the case with the current Coronavirus situation) you'll want to wait to register until sometime in September. Of course if your plans change and you have a flight sooner come back to this offer and register for it before you book that flight. Same goes the other direction in that if you have AAdvantage Platinum, Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum status don't register for this offer until you know can complete your Hyatt activity within 90 days of registering.

Learn more about and register for this offer here.

March 6 Update: 100 Bonus AIR MILES when you redeem for concert tickets, WestJet Coronavirus Waivers & affected flight, Aer Lingus summer seat sale to Dublin

AIR MILES members can earn 100 bonus miles when they redeem miles for concert tickets via AIR MILES Stage Pass. Simply redeem by March 31. Find out more here!

Image via AIR MILES

More Coronavirus waivers and updates to let you know about. In general we are seeing very similar waivers and.or cancellation policies from most airlines and hotels now.

WestJet
WestJet wants you to book with confidence and has implemented the following flexible change policy;

• All new flight bookings made between March 5, 2020 and March 31, 2020 will be allowed a one-time change fee waiver.
• The one-time change fee waiver is available for any itinerary change made more than 14 days from departure.
• Click here for WestJet's Coronavirus update page 

Note as well that details were revealed yesterday that two people on WestJet flight 1199 from Phoenix to Toronto on February 28 has had two guests that are now confirmed to have COVID-19. If you were on that flight here is what you need to do:

Peel Public Health’s investigation has determined that the two cases may have been able to pass the virus to others during their return. Guests who were seated in rows 18-22 of WestJet flight 1199, returning to Toronto Pearson Airport from the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix on February 28, are directed to self-isolate and call Peel Public Health immediately at 905-799-7700 (or at 905-584-2216 if in Caledon). Guests on flight 1199 are also being advised to self-monitor for signs of cough, fever or respiratory issues and call Peel Public Health if symptoms arise within the next 14 days.

 Image via WestJet

IHG
Guests travelling to or from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, or the Taiwan region between January 23 and March 31, 2020; and to or from South Korea and Italy between February 28 and March 31, 2020, will be able to change or cancel a valid booking reservation made via the hotel directly, IHG.com, the IHG App, or the IHG Central Reservations Centre, without financial penalty. For bookings made by a travel agent or online booking platform, we are advising guests to contact their agent. (Source IHG)

Marriott Hotels:
The wellbeing of our guests and associates is of paramount importance. We are waiving cancellation fees for hotel stays through March 31, 2020 for guests traveling to or from the following locations: Asia Pacific: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, French Polynesia Europe: Italy (Source Marriott)

Avianca
Penalty for change of itinerary: $0. Applies for all fares and for groups, on tickets issued between March 4 and 15, 2020 with travel through December 31, 2020. New travel must be completed by December 31, 2020. Only 1 change without penalty per ticket is allowed with 15 days notice at the departure of the original flight. Refunds may apply subject to the conditions of the purchased fare. If you have purchased your ticket at a travel agency, other charges may apply if you make the change at the agency.

COPA Airlines
Keep your options open when buying your ticket through March 5 and March 31, 2020. Changes to the date, flight and/or travel route can be made under the following terms and conditions: Fare differences may apply Tickets purchased between March 5 and March 31, 2020 Original travel dates between March 5 and June 15, 2020 Changes can be made until June 15, 2020 New trip must be completed before or on June 15, 2020 (inclusive) Applies to award tickets Refunds and cancellations apply according to fare rules conditions Applies only to Copa Airlines ticket (Source COPA)

TAP Air Portugal
We would like to count with your help to communicate that with TAP Air Portugal they can book the flights and change the flying date until 21 days before the original purchased airfare without penalty, this applies for every date and destiny for bookings done between the March 8th and 31st.
Here follows the detailed information:

• No penalty fee for flight changes at least 21 days before departure
• Applicable to bookings where non of the flights have been used 
• Ticket validity cannot be extended
• Offered for all routes operated by TAP, all travel dates
• For bookings made March 8-31
• All fares included except Discount
• Loyalty and Corporate program included

 

Posts since our last update:

• American Express Centurion Lounge in Los Angeles set to open on Monday
  The next American Express Centurion Lounge is set to open in Los Angeles on Monday. This is the 12th…
• March 5 Update: Air Canada & Aeroplan offer change fee waivers, Hyatt Place Toronto/Mississauga Centre set to have opening bonus points plus earn bonus Marriott points in Ottawa and Vaughan
  Air Canada and Aeroplan have now officially released details on flight change fee waivers that follow in the footsteps…

Travel Deals

Aer Lingus has summer flights on sale from Toronto to Dublin and beyond. You can enjoy Summer in Ireland from $749*when you fly between July 1, 2020 and August 22, 2020. Find out more here.

Remember to visit Rewards Canada's Travel Booking site to book travel directly with many of your favourite airlines, hotels and more!

Canadian Bonus Offers

AIR MILES (Canada)
- 100 Bonus AIR MILES Reward Miles when you use Dream Miles to redeem for concert tickets via AIR MILES Stage Pass. More... Until Mar 31, 20

Hyatt World of Hyatt
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night at the Hyatt Place Toronto/Mississauga Centre More... Until Jun 29, 20

Other Bonus Offers

Alitalia MilleMiglia
- 3,000 Bonus MilleMiglia Miles on all Budget rentals Worldwide. More... Book by Mar 22 for rentals until Jun 30, 20

Hyatt World of Hyatt
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico More... Until May 30, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night at the Ambassador Chicago More... Until May 30, 20
- 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night at the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center or the Hyatt Centric Downtown Portland More... Until May 30, 20

Marriott Bonvoy
- 10,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points for stays of 2 or more nights in a Suite at the Metropol Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Belgrade More... Mar 29 - Apr 26, 20

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Earn up to 5x KrisFlyer Miles when you rent a car for 3 or more days with Avis in North America (excluding Alaska), Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. More... Book by Apr 30 for rentals until May 31, 20

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- Earn up to 2,000 Miles&Smiles Miles when you rent with Europcar for 3+ days Worldwide. More... Book by Mar 14 for rentals until May 30, 20



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American Express Centurion Lounge in Los Angeles set to open on Monday

The next American Express Centurion Lounge is set to open in Los Angeles on Monday. This is the 12th Centurion Lounge and third to open up this year after Phoenix and Charlotte. Los Angeles is a popular destination for Canadians and the airport itself plays an important connection point for many of us so this it is only fitting that this lounge should be on your radar if you are travelling from or via Los Angeles.

The lounge is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal but is "accessible post-security from Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8." This means if you are flying Air Canada you will have access to the lounge since AC flies from Terminal 6. Sorry WestJet flyers, you can't access the lounge from Terminal 2 which is where WestJet flies from. However if you are connecting from an arriving WestJet flight to a flight that does depart from TBIT or any of the other terminals listed above you can utilize the lounge. This is a good option for those flying Air Canada (albeit it is a big of a trek) who can't access AC's Maple Leaf Lounge in T6 or if Priority Pass access is being limited at Alaska's lounge in T6 (plus you have to pay for alcohol in the Alaska lounge...)

Billed as the largest Centurion lounge yet, LAX's is nearly14,000 square feet which is good news as the Centurion Lounges have definitely been a victim of their own success as they do get crowded during peak times. Personally we've walked in and out of San Francisco's lounge and chose to use Phoenix's Escape lounge instead of the Centurion Lounge.

Recommended Reading: Lounge Review: Phoenix Sky Harbor American Express Centurion Lounge & Escape Lounge

The lounge will feature first of their kind tranquility rooms which work at the opposite ends of the spectrum to help travellers beat jet leg or relax or recharge. The Moonrise room is a nighttime themed room that is darker while Sunrise will be bright and set to help wake you up!

Moonrise

Sunrise

There will also be spa services featured from Exhale Spa:

"Guests can indulge in Light Therapy designed to hydrate skin, Reiki treatments to restore the body’s equilibrium, and Ear Reflexology to relax the mind and ease the body. Hand and nail therapies, as well as chair massages, will also be available"

And finally the food and drink - the main two items that Centurion Lounges are known for. Southern Calfornia's Nancy Silverton is the executive chef for the lounge and Amex describes what you can expect from Nancy:

"Leveraging her relationships with local farmers and purveyors, Silverton’s menu will incorporate a variety of local and artisanal ingredients, ensuring guests enjoy a meal or snack that is both seasonal and fresh. Some of these locally inspired dishes include: Asparagus Egg Pie, Panettone French Toast, Farro Salad with Fresh Herbs and Feta, Mozza Meatballs, Roasted Beets with Horseradish Vinaigrette, Butterscotch Budino and more."

Main Bar

 
Drinks wise you can expect the following:

"The new lounge will also offer premium wine selections by Wine Director Anthony Giglio, as well as specialty cocktails by renowned Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan. Meehan drew cocktail inspiration for this lounge from Los Angeles’ cocktail culture, commercial aviation and Silverton’s menu.* Meehan’s menu of unique cocktails features locally sourced ingredients such as California brandy, Miracle Mile Bitters and Dirty Sue cocktail cherries. Some of the specialty cocktails include the Maliblue Lagoon, a color-coded ode to Malibu’s own blue lagoon and the Private Plane, a playful twist on New York bartender Sam Ross’ classic Paper Plane cocktail."

The "Hollywood Hills"

As a traveller you can access the lounge if you have The Platinum Card from American Express or Centurion Card. Platinum cardmembers can get themselves + 2 guests in when you have a valid boarding pass for same day travel.

Learn more about the new LAX lounge here.

Recommended Reading: Rewards Canada's Guide to Business Class Lounge Access

All images courtesy of American Express