Award Availability Alert: Canada to Europe round trip economy class for 30,000 to 40,000 Flying Blue miles (even for summer 2023!)

Right now you can book reward tickets between Canada and Europe with Air France KLM's Flying Blue for as little as 30,000 miles round trip! As first pointed out south of the border by TPG and later by Frequent Miler there is tons of availability between the US and Europe at 15,000 miles each way so we decided to check if the same holds true for Canadian departures. And it does. You can fly to many cities in Europe in Economy Class from Montreal, Quebec City or Toronto for only 15,000 Flying Blue Miles one way or 30,000 round trip. Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver departures see these flights at 20,000 Flying Blue Miles one way or 40,000 round trip.

Credit Card Review: HSBC World Elite Mastercard

 

The HSBC World Elite Mastercard is a relatively new card in the Canadian market. This is not their 'Premier World Elite' which is meant for people who bank at HSBC but rather this card is for any Canadian and it is essentially the same as the Premier version. When HSBC launched this card in late 2018 it became obvious they didn't want to only market their credit cards to those who bank with them, rather they wanted to get into the entire lucrative Canadian credit card market. It was about time they did as Canadians, slow as they may have been to adapt, are learning they don't have to get credit cards from the bank they bank with, rather they can get whatever card they like and HSBC wants part of that pie.

Canada Jetlines will launch with Toronto to Calgary flights instead of Moncton & Winnipeg and British Airways adding Vancouver to London Gatwick flights (with lots of award availability!)

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

This is getting a little confusing. Canada Jetlines was to launch flights from Toronto to Moncton and Winnipeg earlier this month. That was pushed back to next week due to a delay in the airline receiving their license to operate. But now with today's press release from the airline, they will officially launch on September 22 with flights between Toronto and Calgary. Moncton and Winnipeg are totally gone - you can't even book these anymore. They make no mention of Moncton and Winnipeg being dropped, so I wonder about those people who booked travel on these flights if Jetlines is protecting them on other airlines or just providing refunds. I'll be honest, all these changes over the course of this past month and dropping routes before they are even started doesn't bode well for this start up. I wish them the best and hope they can get their act together here as they'll need it to gain the confidence of Canadian travellers. (Source Canada Jetlines)

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.