March 8 Update: PC Financial downgrading World Elite Mastercard cardholders who didn't hit the $15,000 annual spend requirement & 8 new bonus offers

 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.

 
Long time Rewards Canada reader Harry B. reached out to us last week to let us know he received a letter from PC Financial that he didn't meet the required spend of $15,000 per year to keep his PC Financial World Elite Mastercard and that they would downgrade him to the World Version. A quick search sees this also popping up on Twitter and Redflagdeals as more PC Optimum cardholders received the letter as well. What we have happening hear is that Mastercard Canada put in place this $15,000 minimum spend threshold on World Elite cards that have no annual fee about a year or so ago. By having people spend at least $15,000 per year Mastercard can cover some of the costs associated with a World Elite card's benefits through the interchange fee rather than an annual fee on a card. This is why you don't actually see a minimum spend requirement on any World Elite Cards that do charge an annual fee as they can't downgrade you for a product you are paying for. Our biggest gripe that we have here at Rewards Canada from our readers and seeing what people have said on Twitter and RFD is that they received no notice from PC Financial that this requirement was instituted and some would have shifted their spending. I know even here at Rewards Canada we may have touched upon it once quite awhile ago but for the most part it is buried in the T&C's so it out of sight out of mind. Let us know in the comments section below if you also got the letter from PC Financial or even one of the other issuers!

Awesome new partnership! Air Canada Aeroplan & Starbucks Rewards join forces - earn Aeroplan Points and Starbucks Stars at the same time

Air Canada Aeroplan's first non-travel partnership since the launch of the new program in November is here!. Starting today you will be able to Aeroplan points on any Starbucks purchases you make utilizing the Starbucks app. And the good news? This is in addition to your regular Starbucks Rewards earning so you'll automatically be double dipping - well let's be honest in all likelihood it will be at least a triple dip as you should be funding your Starbucks app with a points earning credit card!

March 5 Update: 50% off award flights on SATA Airlines out of Toronto and 500 bonus points per night at the new Hyatt Place Ottawa West

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.

 
There is an interesting flight reward promotion that we came across in our daily bonus offer updates. This one is for Portugal's SATA Azores Airlines. Yes I know this may not interest many of you outside of a  couple of our readers in the Toronto area who may have flown SATA regularly enough to be a member of their Imagine program. The offer is kind of confusing as it is publicly promoted right on their website however the terms states it is personal and non-transferable. So we'll see if we can get more details on that.

March 4 Update: Two more Hyatt Hotels opening in Canada in 2021, no new Radisson Hotels coming to Canada this year & up to 40,000 bonus Be Well points

 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.

 
Hyatt released news yesterday about a major expansion to their independent colletion brands and in that news we learned that not only will we be getting one Joie de Vivre hotel in Canada but actually two and both are slated to join JdV by Hyatt Hotels this year! Those hotels are the Anndore Hotel in Toronto and the Walper Hotel in Kitchener. We have updated our New Hyatt Hotel Openings in Canada for 2021 post to reflect theis latest update. We are now expecting Hyatt to open six hotels in Canada this year.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review

 

Ranked as the number one travel points credit card with an annual fee  in Canada, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card  was last reviewed by Rewards Canada in 2015, some three years after it was introduced in 2012. It was the first American Express card issued by a bank other than Amex Bank of Canada since CIBC tried the partnership in 2002. The card underwent some massive changes in 2019 so it is really due for a new updated review here on Rewards Canada!

Marriott Bonvoy Escapes – Save up to 25% for last minute stays at 208 Marriott Hotels in Canada

 

This week’s Marriott Bonvoy Escapes features overs two thirds of the Marriott Hotels in Canada! With Marriott Bonvoy Escapes members can save up to 25% on last minute stays until April 4, 2021.

Summary of global hotel systemwide bonus points promotions – March Edition

Here is your monthly update of all the global hotel bonus points promotions that are available. One of the easiest ways to rack up lots of hotel points is to take advantage of these systemwide bonuses that come from many of the big chain programs and also from the lesser known programs. In fact, right now it should be rare for you NOT to earn a bonus. Unless you are staying at a boutique hotel or perhaps an independent hotel most other hotels out there have a bonus. So take advantage of it! These systemwide bonuses simply require you to register beforehand and they do not affect hotel pricing as long as you book a point eligible rate which are most rates out there. Of course booking through a third party site like Expedia or Rocketmiles does not count as most chains only award points on bookings that are made directly with them.  Here are all the current promotions that are available to everyone this month:

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

Here are Rewards Canada's Top 5 Cash Back Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of March 2021. This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Cash Back 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.

You can now donate United MileagePlus Miles to Give A Mile to help facilitate flights of compassion

 Long time followers of Rewards Canada will know our charity partner very well! That partner is Give A Mile who have recently added United MileagePlus as a donation partner. The addition of United as a partner was key as Give A Mile recently received charity status in the U.S. and can operate south of the border with the same mission that have done here in Canada for many years now!

March 2 Update: Last day to grab the 3,000 mile offer on the American Express Platinum AIR MILES Credit Card & a new Amex Offer for mobile service providers

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.

 
If you have had your eye on the American Express Platinum AIR MILES Credit Card you should grab it today as we just learned it is the last day for the 3,000 Reward Miles welcome bonus. As of tomorrow it will revert to its standard bonus. You can apply for the card here.