AIR MILES to lose LCBO as a partner as of March 31st

 

A tip of the hat to Anshul at Points, Miles & Bling for alerting us on Twitter to this latest development for the AIR MILES program. One of their longest standing partnerships is coming to an end on March 31 as LCBO will be leaving the program. For 23 years members in Ontario have been able to rack up miles and sometimes tons of miles for the liquor purchases at LCBO locations. 

February 26 Update: One bright spot in the Cineplex SCENE changes and earn 1,000 bonus points per night at the new Hilton Vancouver Downtown (old Westin Grand)

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.

 
A quick update to our SCENE devaluation post from yesterday - As Phil M on Twitter noted to us the change in earn rates at physical theatres is both a devaluation but also a potential enhancement. The reason being currently Cineplex awards 125 points only on the first ticket and 65 points for up to two children. However if you have any further adult or child tickets no points would be awarded on them. In the update as of April 30 it will be 5 points per dollar on all tickets so if you are buying for two adults you'll come out even or ahead if you are buying for more adults and children than that.

Images via SCENE

Clash of the Credit Cards! American Express Cobalt Card vs. BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card

 

Welcome to another Rewards Canada Clash!

If you listened to our podcast from June 2020 entitled Clash of the Credit Cards - you'll know that we've changed our Showdown features to Clashes. The reason why is that lots of sites and blogs are using Showdown now, some are using battle so we wanted to continue to be unique so our comparisons are now Clashes! 

This time we have another Clash of the Credit Cards that pits two 5x points cards against each other! Those cards are the American Express Cobalt™ Card and the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card

Continue on to the main Rewards Canada site to read the Clash in its entirety!

Major devaluation coming to the SCENE program for Cineplex & Playdium purchases

We have another devaluation on our hands people. After bringing devaluation news from BMO and Scotia earlier this year we hate to bring you this news from Canada's beloved SCENE program. Over the next few weeks and months the amount of SCENE points you earn with Cineplex will be changing and it's not for the better. Points earning at Cineplex theatres, the online Cineplex store and at Playdium are all changing. I would have to think the current economic situation caused by the pandemic is the reason behind this change. At least for the time being they haven't changed to redemption process so points you have already earned will retain their value.

February 25 Update: AIR MILES Shops refer a friend bonus offer, Alaska Airlines status match offer & 50,000 PC Optimum points for online shopping

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. 

 
AIR MILES now has a limited time Refer a Friend offer available for their online shopping portal AIR MILES Shops. Simply register your AIR MILES numbers to receive a referral link and when your friend(s) or family make their first purchase via the portal you'll receive 200 bonus miles and they'll receive 50 bonus miles. The offer does seem to be targeted based on the terms & conditions as it says it is only open to those members who have been invited. I received the invite in my email and submitted my collector number to receive the referral link. If you didn't get the email you can try to submit your number here and see if it works for you. If you are not targeted and have not shopped via AIR MILES shops and want to earn those 50 bonus miles feel free to use our referral link (Thank you in advance if you do choose to do so!) and/or any posted in our comments. If you are targeted, feel free to post your referral link in the comments below to start a chain of referrals.

Flash Sale! 50% off stays at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Alberta residents only)

 

Here's a post for readers in Rewards Canada's home province of Alberta! The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has launched a flash sale that offers 50% off the best flexible rate (aka daily rate) for residents of Alberta. Typically the ongoing Alberta resident's rate offer provides 20 to 30% off at the three Canadian Rockies locations (Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise) This offer is available on all room types including the Luxury Signature Cabins. Simply book by March 7 for stays until April 30, 2021. 

New enhanced offer for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard - up to 450 WestJet dollars and a $0 companion voucher

WestJet just sweetened the pot on their WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard by taking a direct line of attack on Air Canada. Now WestJet is offering a limited time promotional voucher that is just like the Buddy Pass that is being offered on several Air Canada Aeroplan co-brand credit cards. And to make things even better their keeping the current welcome bonus of 450 WestJet Dollars as part of the deal!

Marriott Bonvoy Escapes – Save up to 25% for last minute stays at 60 Marriott Hotels in Canada

 
This week’s Marriott Bonvoy Escapes features the over 1,800 locations in the Americas but more importantly as most of us aren't leaving our borders, 60 locations in Canada! With Marriott Bonvoy Escapes members can save up to 25% on last minute stays until March 28, 2021.

Less than a week left to get the increased welcome bonuses on the BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard and BMO Rewards Mastercard

 

Yesterday we let you know that the increased welcome offer for the  BMO Rewards^® Business Mastercard^® is coming to a close in just under a week. Well we also received notice from BMO that two of their other BMO Rewards cards will also be seeing decreased welcome offers. Both are the consumer Mastercards - the BMO World Elite™* MasterCard®* and the BMO Rewards® MasterCard will be seeing their current offers of 40,000 points and 15,000 points being decreased as of March 2nd. 

IHG Hotels & Resorts' New Hotel Openings in Canada for 2021 - 5 hotels in the works including the Holiday Inn Gatineau - Ottawa

We continue our new hotel openings in Canada series with this latest post where we take a look at what IHG Hotels & Resorts has planned for 2021.

 IHG Hotels & Resorts (nee InterContinental Hotels Group) is one of the largest hotel chains in the world best known for their Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. IHG however comprises of 16 brands in total and well over 5,900 hotels Worldwide. They have a significant presence here in Canada with nearly 200 hotels from coast to coast.