Meridian Credit Union no longer accepting new credit card applications and a new Guide to Amex's International Airline Program

 

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

According to a thread on RFD, Meridian Credit Union has stopped accepting new applications for their cards as they will be changing providers in the fall. There are no details of the planned switch or what the cards will offer when they are released. We have updated our Top Cash Back Card rankings since we had the Meridian Visa Infinite* Cash Back Card ranked as the third best card in the market but now the list shifts up and sees the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card move back into the rankings into 5th spot. These rankings will be changing again in October when the new earn rates for the SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express kick in and possibly seeing the Meridian card back in the mix of things should their new card remain competitive. Check out our top cash back rankings here.

The best flight, hotel, and car rental bonus offers for August

 
Here are our Top Travel Bonus Mile/Point Offers for this month. This post covers the best travel related bonuses for Canadian travellers. Whether it is for flying, hotel stays or car rentals you'll find our top picks here to earn more miles more points and more rewards. Many of these offers go beyond this month so don’t count them out if you need to book and/or travel beyond this month. 

Flair Airlines moving to LAX from Hollywood-Burbank, congratulations to our DragonPass contest winners & Air France's Montreal-Pointe-à-Pitre flight returns

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

Flair Airlines will be switching their Los Angeles area flights from Hollywood Burbank to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX The airline's flights from Vanouver and Edmonton will switch on October 31. The airline will also be adding a new 2 times per week flight between Toronto and Cancun for the upcoming winter season. (Source Flair Airlines)

The no fee SimplyCash Card from American Express will see increased earn rates of 2% cash back on gas and groceries

Not only is the  SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express seeing changes but its no annual fee sibling the SimplyCash™ Card from American Express is also being changed for the better The card retains its base earn rate with no annual fee but will now see accelerated earn rates for gas and groceries as well.

SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express moves to a monthly fee model and sees increased earn of 4% cash back on gas and groceries

One of Canada's top 5 cash back credit cards is going to see a fee increase this fall. News came out over the past few days that the SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express will move from an annual fee to a monthly fee like the American Express Cobalt® Card as of October 12. This move to a monthly fee also marks an increase in the overall cost of the card over a 12 month period but they are adding in increased category earn rates with this change!

Receive up to a 100% bonus when you buy Air France KLM Flying Blue Miles

 

Flying Blue's buy miles bonus has returned not too long after we last saw it. The offer provides up to a 100% bonus when you buy Flying Blue miles and this time that 100% level starts at 20,000 miles instead of 30,000 miles. If you are short some miles for a redemption or want to speculatively buy for if and when we see a 50% off business class promo reward you'll want to check out this offer. This offer is available until August 18, 2022

Receive a 100% bonus when you buy Hilton Honors points and how it can be used to save on your stays

Hilton has once again brought out a bonus for buying their Honors points. This time the bonus is a flat 100% when you buy 5,000 or more points in one tranasction. Also the promotion this time does see the doubling of the annual cap on buying points so you can buy up to 160,000 points. That 160,000 cap does not include the bonus points so if you max out this offer and buy 160,000 points you’ll receive 320,000 into your account.

Canada Jetlines delays inaugural flights, new Amex Offer for Reigning Champ & 30 bonus PC Optimum points per litre with Esso Mobil

Here's your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.

Canada Jetlines, the newest Canadian leisure airline has had to delay their launch from August 15th to August 29th. The inaugural flights from Toronto to Winnipeg and Moncton have been pushed back as the airline will not have complete regulatory approval in time for the originally planned launch. (Source Canada Jetlines)

Top 5 Small Business Credit Card Sign Up offers for August - 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. 

An unsung benefit that provides big savings on premium travel with major airlines as well as WestJet economy class

The Platinum Card® and Business Platinum Card® from American Express are famous for the benefits they provide to their cardmembers. From having the best airline lounge access to hotel elite status to annual travel credits, the cards are a traveller's dream. However, one of the benefits that can be found on these cards that doesn't seem to get much attention is the International Airline Program. Also known as IAP, this benefit provides discounts for flying on some of the world's best airlines in premium cabins but it also provides discounts for economy class tickets on WestJet!