Podcast Episode 94: A closer look at the new Scene+ Grocery program

In this episode we talk earning and redeeming points for groceries with the Scene+ program. On August 11 Sobeys and affiliated stores made the switch from AIR MILES to Scene+ and now we know Western Canada and Western Ontario will be doing so on September 22. So we thought it would only be fitting to discuss the new Scene+ Grocery program as it becomes a dominant player in the quest for rewards on your grocery shopping..

Aeroplan Availability Alert: Business Class awards from San Francisco to Tahiti on United (with connections from Canada)

As posted earlier this week by The Points Guy  there is quite a bit of availability this fall for award flights on United Airlines between San Francisco and Papeete. Since United is a Star Alliance member you can use your Aeroplan points to redeem for these flights. There is amazing availability in economy class between September and November and there is also some decent business class availability as well. For the SFO-PPT flights Aeroplan charges only 35,000 each way in economy class and 55,000 points each ways in business class. Since it is a partner flight it will be subject to the $39 partner award booking fee.

2x points for VIA Rail economy class travel, today only earn 37,500 bonus Be Well points & save 20% on Air Canada flights to/from Alberta and B.C.

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

VIA Rail is offering double Preference points for all trips booked in Economy Class. This is valid for bookings made between August 25 and September 15 for travel between September 5 and October 30, 22. Click here for more details & to register for the offer (Registration is required)

Earn 2,500 bonus Avios + save up to 25% on Qatar Airways flights out of Canada

 

Qatar Airways is celebrating their 25th Anniversary by offering 2,500 bonus Avios and up to 25% off their flights from around the world including those out of Canada

A closer look at the newly revamped London Drugs LDExtras Program

 

The newly revamped London Drugs LDExtras program is here! As first noted to us by our reader Tony L. early in July, the new program launched on August 11, 2022. This is the first big update to the London Drugs' LDExtras program since it launched in 2016 and for the most people the revamped program should end up being more rewarding for them!

Scene+ will launch at Sobeys, Safeway and other stores in Western Canada & Western Ontario on September 22

 

UPDATE: Looks like it will be September 22 for all of Western Canada and Western Ontario!

Scene+ Grocery launched earlier this month in Atlantic Canada and today we learned it will be available in Manitoba Western Canada and Western Ontario as of September 22. Thanks to Rewards Canada contributor Jeff W. who forwarded the details to us from an email he received from Sobeys. Empire Company Limited stores such as Sobeys and Safeway will make the switch from AIR MILES to Scene+ on that day.

Starbucks Rewards Double Star Days now require activation & save 20% on WestJet flights to/from Alberta and B.C.

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

If you are a Starbucks Rewards member they have made a slight change to their Double Stars Day. Previously members would earn double stars for simply making purchases on a Double Stars Day however now they require members to activate the offer beforehand. This is basically the same process we see with so many loyalty promotions in that you have to register for them beforehand. Loyalty programs put these registrations in place as it saves them from awarding extra points (and thus extra costs) to any members who don't activate or register don't earn the bonus.

New RBC Offers include statement credits and discounts for Landmark Cinemas, Wayfair & Etnies

The latest batch of new RBC Offers sees 13 new and extended statement credit or discount promotions for using your RBC card at select retailers! In total there are nearly 40 offers in place with this program.

Be sure to login to your RBC account right away to load these offers (if required) or get the promo codes if required. Personally I received these offers on the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard but most if not all should also available for RBC's most popular card the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and most other RBC cards.

REMINDER The credit card to consider getting right now - August 2022

We continue our monthly feature where we recommend a card to consider applying for right away during the course of the current month.  How do we pick which card should be highlighted? We'll look at numerous factors however in most cases it will primarily be due to the limited time offer on the highlighted card ending this month or shortly thereafter.  In some cases, it may be different factors or a combination of factors. This month it's the former however, where it is simply an offer that is set to end shortly after the end of this month.

We review the American Express Gold Rewards Card and Neo drops their cashback guarantee to 0.5% for new applicants

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

We updated our review of the American Express® Gold Rewards Card today. This card which we first reviewed in 2010 is one of the best travel cards in Canada, in fact it was the best from 2011 to 2017 until the Cobalt Card came out. Over the years we had some piece meal updates to that review so we thought it's time to do a complete refresh for 2022 especially seeing that it was revamped in 2021. See what we think of the card now! Click here to read the entire review (link has been corrected)