Confirmed! Air France KLM Flying Blue's 15,000/20,000 mile Transatlantic redemptions are here to stay

A couple of weeks ago we posted an Award Availability Alert for Air France KLM Flying Blue's program. This alert showed you how you can fly from Canada to Europe, Turkey, and North Africa for only 15,000 to 20,000 miles one way in economy class. These redemption amounts represent a nice discount of what you would normally require to redeem for economy class flights. One question that we were asked on numerous occasions was "When will this unpublished discounted offer end" and we finally have an answer for you: It won't.

Receive up to $320 in value with this CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card JOURNIE Rewards offer

Over the past few years we've seen partnerships emerge between banks and popular Canadian  retailers or loyalty programs  One such partnership is from CIBC and JOURNIE Rewards. CIBC has teamed up with this popular gas loyalty program to offer extra benefits to those who connect their CIBC debit card and eligible CIBC credit card with the JOURNIE Rewards loyalty program to save up to 10 cents per litre at participating stations. 

Limited time targeted increased Amex Use Points for Purchases redemption rate and Visa Infinite cardholders benefits & perks at TIFF

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

You'll want to check your email or your American Express account to see if you have been selected for a limited time increased Use Points for Purchases redemption rate. Depending on which card you have you might get a 20% or 50% increase in value. For example targeted Platinum Cardmembers are getting an offer for $15 per 1,000 points redeemed and Cobalt Cardmembers are receiving $12 for 1,000 points. Both cards standard Use Points for Purchases redemption rate is 1,000 points for a $10 credit. If you are targeted for this offer you'll want to seriously consider redeeming right now if you happen to be someone who doesn't convert points to Amex's travel partners nor use Amex's Fixed Points for Travel option where you can extract more value than the 1.2 or 1.5 cents per point with this promotion. (BTW I was not targeted on any of my cards and found this offer posted on Reddit)

One week left to grab the best ever bonus on the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

The best ever bonus seen on the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card is set to end in only one week. Available until September 16, the bonus of up to 55,000 RBC Rewards points is one of the easiest to achieve in the market right now. There is the possibility RBC may extend the offer but typically they would have advised us by now (although that hasn't always been the case) and the likelihood of an even better offer coming to the card is slim to none. Thus if you have been considering this card you may want to apply for it in the next seven days.

Limited time offer: Earn up to 3 Aeroplan Points per dollar spent on Air Canada Gift Cards

Air Canada has brought back a limited time offer where you can earn extra Aeroplan points for buying Air Canada gift cards. The offer is available until September 14th and will award 1 point/$ spent on gift cards up to $750 and 3 points/$ if you spend over $750. Do note these don't code as Air Canada purchases on your credit card as they are processed by Buyatab so you won't earn extra points on the Aeroplan suite of co-brand credit cards or any credit card that has a travel accelerator. 

Details of the changes to Meridian credit cards and earn 2x status miles when you fly on Royal Air Maroc out of Montreal

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

A few weeks ago we let you know that Merdian Credit Union stopped accepting applications for their cards. The credit union stated they were going to change providers and update their cards for the fall. Meridian has new revealed some of the details of their new cards which should be available in October. The biggest change is that they will now be issuing the cards themselves rather than with Collabria (as many credit unions do). 

It also looks like they are taking page from some other banks' playbooks with their marketing/rewards tactics as they state "There will be a small change in the points earn rate structure, with no real impact for the Meridian Visa Cash Back Card and the Meridian Visa Infinite* Travel Rewards Card." and yet there is an impact. Here are the earn rates for the two cards they have revealed the details for:

Earn 100 Aeroplan Points for every $5 donated to the Canadian Red Cross + a chance to win 250K Aeroplan Points

During the month of September if you donate to the Canadian Red Cross you will earn Aeroplan points for doing so. Members will earn 100 points for every $5 donated and if you donate $100 or more you'll also be entered for a chance to win one of two 250,000 Aeroplan points prizes. This offer runs until Sep 30. 22. Note that you will not receive a tax receipt for donations that earn Aeroplan points.

Click here to learn more about this initiative and donate to the Canadian Red Cross

 

Image via Canadian Red Cross

Top Travel Credit Card Sign Up offers for September - These cards provide the best value out of their welcome bonuses

Here are Rewards Canada's Top Travel Credit Card Sign Up offers for the month of September 2022! This is not a 'best' credit card list like our Top Travel Rewards 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.

Earn 50% bonus Aeroplan points on all Air Canada flights worldwide

A systemwide Aeroplan flight bonus from Air Canada is a rare event but we have one right now! Air Canada launched a worldwide seat sale and as part of that sale Aeroplan members can earn 50% bonus points on all eligible flights booked during the sale. The offer does require registration so be sure to register for it right away so you don't forget if you happen to not book flights immediately as well. 

The Ultimate Student Credit Card portfolio, a new Amex Offer for Travelpro & select Air Canada elites receive access to Virgin Australia lounges

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

We completed another Ultimate Portfolio update and this is one timely with everyone going back to University and College for it is The Ultimate Student Credit Card portfolio! This wallet is for those Canadian students looking to get into the credit card game and have a card or cards that can help this cash strapped segment of the market!  This update wasn't as substantial as some of the last few Ultimate portfolios as the three cards we've had in the portfolio since 2017 remain the same. A couple of them happen to have new bonus offers and upcoming earn rate changes that we have made note of. Check out the updated portfolio here!