July 12 Update: The end of an era - Amex to discontinue the Gold Rewards Card and earn up to 8,000 bonus points at Sonesta Hotels in Toronto

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.

 
GREAT NEWS! American Express has reached out to us to let us know the Gold Rewards Card IS NOT being discontinued. We'll provide more details as soon as we can about this news.

We have received word that the American Express Gold Rewards Card will be coming to an end. The iconic card that really seemed to get things restarted for American Express over a decade ago and was crowned the best card in Canada for many years will no longer be available for new applicants. It does appear it will be grandfathered for those who choose to keep it - an Amex customer service rep said my card isn't going anywhere so I can only assume that means it will be grandfathered. 

A new or revamped RBC Avion Card is in the works

 

Thanks to one of our regular contributors of breaking news: @joshnet on Twitter, we have be alerted to what appears to be a new or revamped RBC Avion credit card being released soon. Josh directed us to a post on Red Flag Deals that provides some details of this card that will be in the suite of RBC Avion cards. Price and benefits wise this card falls in between the premium veteran RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and the Ultra Premium RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege card. Part of me actually thinks this is the anticipated revamping of the current RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card. 

Aeroplan Elite Status offer for new and existing premium Aeroplan co-brand cardholders

 
Starting today there is a new exciting offer for premium Aeroplan cardholders to earn Aeroplan Elite Status without even setting foot on a plane! New and existing cardholders will be able to earn Aeroplan Elite Status or increase their current Elite Status level by simply spending on their eligible credit cards.

The offer is broken into two parts - one for existing cardholders (those who have the card on or before July 11, 2021) and the one for new cardholders who apply for and receive an eligible card between today and October 1, 2021. Existing cardholders have to register for the offer while new cardholders do not.

July 8 Update: Flair Airlines announces flights to six U.S. cities, update on new Marriott Hotels in Canada & Neo Financial now has a page on Rewards 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.

Flair Airlines announced that starting this October the airline will fly between 8 Canadian cities and 6 U.S destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando-Sanford, Phoenix-Mesa, Hollywood-Burbank, Palm Springs and Las Vegas (Source Flair Airlines)

Halifax, Montreal, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Vancouver,Calgary, Ottawa and Abbotsford will receive service to a variety of the U.S cities tarting this October.The ultra-low fares will start between $79 to $109CAD one-way

Earn 2,500 bonus points per night for stays at any of three Toronto Airport Marriott Hotels

 

Here's another Marriott Bonvoy stay bonus we came across for stays here in Canada. This one covers three hotels around the airport in Toronto. You can earn 2,500 bonus points per night for up to two nights at the Element Toronto Airport, Four Points by Sheraton Toronto Airport or The Westin Toronto Airport. This offer is good for stays until September 11, 2021.

Limited time offer: Get 50 Aeroplan points every time you spend $15+ at Starbucks

 

Earlier this year launched Aeroplan launched their partnership with Starbucks Canada where you can link your Aeroplan account to your Starbucks Rewards account. Once your account is linked you can double dip and earn rewards from both programs. There are base earn rates with Aeroplan when you load your Starbucks card (75 points for $50-$74.99, 150 points for $75+) and then they have run bonuses on top of that which brings us to this new bonus offer. 

New Amex Offers for Marriott hotel stays in Canada - $50 to $100 statement credits that you can combine with other offers

 

Another day another Amex Offer and we love it! American Express is going full tilt this summer with exciting offers and promotions for existing cardmembers and new cardmembers alike. From this summer's Shop Small promotion to the best ever sign up offers on 7 cards and accelerated earn rates to Discover Canada Hotel credits and now this offer specific to Marriott hotel stays in Canada. 

National Bank mycredit Mastercard - Welcome bonus of 8% cash back on restaurant and recurring pre-authorized payments

 

National Bank of Canada is offering a limited time increased welcome bonus offer on their no fee cash back mycredit Mastercard. In fact, this welcome bonus is the highest percentage wise of any no fee card in the market right now. That bonus is 8% cash back on restaurant and delivery purchases as well as 8% back on recurring pre-authorized payments.

Registration now open for World of Hyatt’s Bonus Journeys – Earn 3x points from July 20 to September 15

Back in the middle of June we revealed the details of World of Hyatt’s next global systemwide promotion that would be starting up this month. This edition of Bonus Journeys awards triple points on every stay of two or more nights at over 1,000 hotels worldwide made from July 20 to September 15. As of today you can now register for the promotion and we recommend that you do so right away so that you don’t forget to do so later on.

Top 5 Cash Back Credit Card Sign Up offers for July - 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 July 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.