January 5 update: The new RWRDS logo, AIR MILES Shop adds new partners & offers 5x miles and an update to Airline & Hotel programs that you can earn miles/points in with Canada

 Here's your Rewards Canada Daily update! Your daily dose (or near daily dose) of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more. 

 

This is the first update post of 2021 and the main thing you may have noticed since the onset of the New Year is a transformation that is happening at Rewards Canada. It all started with our new logo (With many variations) that has been on the back burner for several years now and has been finally brought to fruition. Watch our social media and other channels in the future for more details on the development of our logo. This will all be followed by a complete revamp of the website in the coming months as it hasn't had a major update since 2012! Just patchwork additions and updates here and there. I know we are excited about the changes and we hope you like them as well! As always, feedback is appreciated on everything happening here so please fell free to pass along comments, suggestions and more.

There is one very popular travel rewards credit card in Canada that is due for a major overhaul

 
The credit card market in Canada is ever changing - it doesn't seem like a month goes by without a new card being released or an existing card being revamped. And it is the latter that is the subject of this post. We have seen a lot of the major cards in our market go through an overhaul over the past few years, whether it was an enhancement, a devaluation or both. From the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card to CIBC's suite of Aventura cards to the BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard and the new Aeroplan cards, issuers have been making sure they do their best to be competitive. There are however some cards that have not been touched in ages by their issuers and in our opinion there is one that is in serious need of an overhaul to remain relevant and competitive in our market.

Today only - save an extra 15% when booking WestJet flights within Canada

 
WestJet released a promo code today that will provide an additional 15% off base fares (Basic and Econo) during their first sale of 2021. This code is valid for any travel within Canada on WestJet for travel between January 14 and April 24. While their first seat sale does run until January 7 the code for the additional discount is only valid for today. That code to use is Y6ZP41O (it is also on the page we link to below)

Learn more about and book this offer here.

Looking to rack up more WestJet dollars in 2021? Why not start by getting the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard which is offering its highest ever welcome bonus of 450 WestJet dollars! Apply by January 31 to get this offer.

Image via WestJet

Marriott Bonvoy sending out targeted stay bonus offers - check your account to see if you received one

Marriott Bonvoy members check your inbox to see if you have been targeted for some stay bonuses as their next batch of targeted offers are being sent out. Several times per year Marriott does provide these bonuses to select members, and don't ask me how they select them as it seems all over the place but it does seem like a greater amount of members are receiving offers right now as the program does not have any systemwide bonuses open to all members. 

Last chance for buy miles & points bonuses from Air France KLM Flying Blue, American AAdvantage, Hilton Honors & World of Hyatt

 

In just over a day there will be four buy miles and points bonus offers coming to an end. All four of these offers have end dates of December 31 however the Air France KLM Flying Blue offer will end sooner on December 31 since it is based on Central European Time which means you only have until 5:59pm ET to buy those miles if your like. The two that definitely stand out in this list are Hilton's and Hyatt's offers. The Hilton 100% bonus matches a frequent offer from them and is the best offer that comes from them while Hyatt's is close the being their best offer but not quite as good as the 40% bonus we do see from them on occasion. 

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Review

 

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is part of a duo of cards released by BMO in late 2020 which represent their first foray into issuing Visa branded cards. Up until this point BMO has been strictly an issuer of Mastercard cards under their own proprietary program BMO Rewards and co-brand Mastercards for the AIR MILES reward program. The new eclipse Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege cards expand on BMO's portfolio of card offerings as they do not replace any cards but complement their existing BMO Rewards Mastercards.

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card was released into a market that has seen card issuers trying to target lifestyle on top of rewards or at least that's how all the issuers are marketing the cards as such. This card falls into that category, it is being marketed as a lifestyle card with accelerated earn for select 'lifestyle' categories and an annual lifestyle statement credit. The card has accelerated earn rates that are comparable to several of their competitors and the annual $50 lifestyle credit is the first such offering for cards in Canada at this card level, that is premium cards like Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard. It's base earn rate is something else however and took us by surprise at being so weak for this level of card. Read on to find out more about that! In terms of benefits and insurance the card is mediocre but they do add in Mobile Device Insurance.

Continue reading the entire review here.

OFFER EXTENDED 15% bonus when you convert HSBC Rewards (Canada) points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

 

This offer has been extended to January 16, 2021!

Between now and January 16, 2021 when you transfer points from HSBC Rewards to your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer account you'll receive 15% bonus KrisFlyer Miles.

Up to a 15% bonus when you convert points from American Express, HSBC or RBC to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Back on December 17th we gave you a heads up about the annual Cathay Pacific Asia Miles conversion bonus from their financial partners. That offer is now live and you can register for it right away. The bonus ranges from 10% to 15% depending on the member and is for conversion from credit card partners that allow you to transfer points to Asia Miles. It is not for cards that actually earn Asia Miles like the RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum Card.

Hilton Honors first promo for 2021 is here – 2,000 bonus points per stay + 5,000 more points after every 5 nights

Hilton Honors revealed their first Points Unlimited promotion for 2021. Points Unlimited is Hilton’s set terminology for their global systemwide bonus points promotions. The current version of which ends on December 31, 2020 has offered double points and double elite night credits for the better part of this year.

AIR MILES Shops Boxing Week deal - Earn 10x miles site wide for your online shopping

If you haven't had enough of online shopping just yet then this week is another good one to get some done and rack up some bonus miles. AIR MILES is offering 10x miles site wide on AIR MILES Shops purchases made by December 31.