MBNA Best Western Mastercard® Review

 

There is only one no annual fee hotel credit card in Canada and that is the MBNA Best Western Mastercard®. This card has been around for quite sometime now and has survived the turmoil seen in our market for hotel loyalty program co-brand credit cards. Just a few years ago we had no less than half a dozen hotel card to choose from but that has now dwindled down to two - well actually three if you include the business version of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. Both the Best Western and Marriott cards have definitely fit a niche in the Canadian market which have helped them outlast all the other hotel cards we seen come and go and the Best Western fills that no annual fee, road warrior, not looking for luxury travel niche perfectly. In fact this card has ranked in the top three in our annual rankings in the no annual fee travel rewards card segment so there is something to attest to here.

Major News: Priority Pass and LoungeKey losing access to most Plaza Premium lounges worldwide

 

Australia based Executive Traveller broke the news today that airport business class lounge provider Plaza Premium will be cutting ties with two of the biggest lounge access programs. As of July 1, 2021 members of Priority Pass and LoungeKey will no longer be able to access most Plaza Premium lounges worldwide. This change affects numerous lounges here at home as Plaza Premium operates 13 lounges with two in Edmonton, six in Toronto, four in Vancouver, and one in Winnipeg. There is word that some Plaza Premium lounges will remain part of those programs but they haven't been revealed yet. We'll have to keep our fingers crossed that some of the Canadian locations are part of that list.

April 14 Update: Aeroplan's generous refund policy extended, What you actually have to spend to get a credit card bonus & Maximizing elite status benefits from The Platinum Card

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 Canada's generous refund policy for Aeroplan flight rewards tickets has been extended by one month to May 31 from April 30. This means all flights booked by that date can be changed or cancelled free of charge. Learn more here.

Here are the latest RBC Offers including statement credits from Boston Pizza & Indigo

 

It's been a couple of months since we last updated the RBC offers on our site as there were issues with RBC's system that wouldn't show them to me when I logged in That seems to be fixed now so here is the update with all the latest offers. Most of these are available on all RBC cards. You can view RBC's card offerings here. 

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

 

Here are the Rewards Canada Top 5 Small Business Credit Card Sign Up offers for this month! This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings but instead a look at cards for small businesses 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 four first year free cards on the list! And remember this list is based on minimum value towards travel which we calculate as the minimum value of the welcome bonus less the annual fee. It is entirely possible to receive more value out of the welcome bonuses on some the cards below namely those like Aeroplan and Marriott. 

Air Canada will provide refunds for all flights affected by COVID-19

 

Yesterday Air Canada concluded an agreement with the federal government to receive a financial support package of up to $5.89 billion. To receive the financing from the government Air Canada had to agree to refund tickets to consumers who had flights cancelled by Air Canada or had themselves proactively cancel flights due to the pandemic. 

Coast Hotels Coast Rewards - Double points on all stays until May 6

 

Coast Hotels has brought out another double points promotion for stays at all their locations. Right now members can earn double Coast Rewards points until May 6. Those points can be used for free night award with Coast Hotels or be converted to programs like Air Canada Aeroplan or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Coast Rewards does not have their own co-brand credit card so you are best using a card that has a travel category multiplier like the American Express Gold Rewards Card or the HSBC World Elite Mastercard to maximize your earning on these stays. There is also a separate promotion offering Double Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles until April 30 if that is more appealing to you!

Offer details:
Double Coast Rewards Points on all stays at Coast Hotels in Canada & the U.S.. Full details & online booking. Until May 6, 21

April 12 Update: The upcoming Hampton Inn & Suites Bradford destroyed by fire, 50% bonus when you convert points to Etihad Guest & Alaska Airlines increasing lounge access pricing

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.

 
Over the weekend the number of new Hilton Hotels opening in Canada changed from nine to eight. This is due to the unfortunate news that the under construction Hampton Inn & Suites in Bradford was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning. This hotel was set to open in August of this year. It is too early to stay right now what the future will hold for this hotel and whether ir will be rebuilt. (Source Orillia Matters)

Receive up to a 60% bonus when you buy Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles

Some of the best frequent flyer miles out there are Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan miles so when they are offered with a bonus when buying them people take notice. For the longest time the biggest bonus on buying Mileage Plan miles was 50% but in the latter half of 2020 we saw that boosted to 60% and even 70% for select members. Well we’re happy to tell you that that  the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan buy miles bonus is back and once again we see it up at the 60% level!

The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card sees its base earn rate boosted to 1.25 points per dollar spent

 
Great news for those of you who have the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card or having been eyeing on getting it! There is a positive change to card that took on April 7 that sees it become more valuable. We were first alerted to it on Twitter by our follower Joshua: