New limited time offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card - Up to 40,000 bonus points, no annual fee in the first year & 5x points on travel!

Earlier we detailed the awesome new bonus offer for the Scotia Gold American Express Card and as mentioned in that post there is also a new offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card.

The new offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card sees it retain the up to 40,000 points we've now seen since late 2020 but now Scotia has sweetened the detail by making the card free in the first year for primary and secondary cardholders and adding an limited time accelerated earn rate on travel purchases. When you are approved for and receive the card you can will earn 5x Scotia Rewards points on travel purchases made in the first three months of having the card up to $2,500 in total. That could equate to an additional 12,500 points (or a 5% return on those purchases when you redeem them for travel)

Best ever offer for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card - Up to 50,000 bonus points + first year free

 

The credit card market in Canada is heating up just like the heat wave we've had for the past week here in Western Canada! The latest issuer to jump into to mix is Scotia with two new offers revealed today on their two primary Scotia Rewards cards - the Scotia Gold American Express Card and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card. In this post we'll look at the Gold Amex offer and follow up with a separate post on the Passport Visa offer.

Great news! Select Canadian Visa cards receive limited time Plaza Premium business class lounge access

 
That didn't take too long at all! Over the past few months we here at Rewards Canada have been providing you with coverage of how Priority Pass and LoungeKey would be losing access to all Plaza Premium lounges in Canada and how that affects some of our credit cards. And then only a few days ago we posed the question as to who would be the first Canadian card issuer to drop Priority Pass/LoungeKey and move to a different program like Dragon Pass. The great news is we have a partial answer to that question and it is not just one issuer but a select few that offer Visa cards. Before we give you the details let's give a big thanks to our reader Raffaele F. for alerting us to this news!

June 30 Update: Amex's Eats & Drinks bonus points posting fast, Alaska Airlines extends their EQM bonus on flights & which Canadian credit card issuer will be the first to drop Priority Pass?

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 update is brought to you by the HSBC World Elite Mastercard which is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 bonus points and no annual fee in the first year! 

The accelerated earn rates from American Express that launched last week for existing cardmembers are posting super fast! And contrary to what we were told the bonus points are over and above the regular earn rates! For example the screenshots below from some purchases made on my Platinum Card are working out as 11 points per dollar for purchases that only earn 1 point per dollar normally (SkipTheDishes & Sobeys) and 13 points per dollar for dining purchases that normally earn 3 points per dollar (Flores & Pine in this case). Previous communication with Amex stated these would simply be 10 points per dollar. I'm not going to complain however as earning 11 to 13 points per dollar spent is simply amazing.

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Saskatoon Centre

 
Another Bill W review for you! Bill is a true road warrior, his work has him driving and flying across Western and Central Canada every week while staying in a variety hotels from a variety of chains.  Bill is a regular contributor to Rewards Canada and has been reading, following giving tips and providing updates for a very long time so let's welcome him back with this latest review!  

This Holiday Inn Express Hotel underwent extensive renovations that were completed in late 2019. The renovations transformed the hotel into a very modern and upscale place to lay your head. 

Reminder that all Canadian Plaza Premium lounges leave Priority Pass and LoungeKey tomorrow

 
A follow up here to the several posts we've already had on this topic as we wanted to remind our readers that as of tomorrow you will no longer be able to access the 13 Plaza Premium lounges in Canada with your Priority Pass or LoungeKey memberships. The lounges remain accessible by paying for access online withe Plaza Premium, at the lounge entrance, or by using another lounge access program such as Dragon Pass or American Express.

The Top 5 Mastercard Cards to use at Costco Canada (updated again)

 
We had to update our feature on the Top Mastercard cards to use at Costco again due to the recent changes to the MBNA World Elite Mastercard. Overall that card got better for lots of spending on it except at Costco. The MBNA card saw its earn rate at Costco drop from 2 points per dollar to 1 point which meant it dropped off this list of the best five cards to use at Costco Canada stores. That card used to hold top spot but that now goes to the Brim World Elite Mastercard and the entire list shifts up meaning that the RBC Preferred Cash Back World Elite Mastercard now cracks the list in fifth position.

Ends tomorrow! The best ever bonus when you convert Amex Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy points

A friendly reminder that American Express' bonus for transferring Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy ends tomorrow (June 30)! For this past month you have been able convert Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy and receive 30% more Marriott points. The regular conversion ratio is 1 Membership Rewards Point = 1.2 Marriott Bonvoy points but with the bonus it is 1.56 Marriott Bonvoy points. This has been the best ever bonus seen for converting Membership Rewards points to Marriott points!

Book a Fairmont Hotels Golf Package and earn 1,000 bonus ALL Rewards points

 

ALL Accor Live Limitless members can earn 1,000 bonus points when they book and stay on a Fairmont Golf Package at participating Fairmont Hotels in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. This offer is available for stays right through to December 31 – obviously not going to work at the Canadian locations that late in the year but still good for this summer and fall!

IHG Rewards Buy Points Flash Sale – 100% bonus for 48 hours

 

Another IHG Rewards Club’s buy points bonus Flash Sale is upon us. Once again the promotion is a 100% bonus when you purchase 11,000 or more points at a time. You can buy a maximum of 150,000 points with the promotion which runs until June 30. Then on July 1 and 2 the bonus will be 90% followed by 75% from July 3 to August 13.