Earn double Aeroplan Miles on Air Canada's new routes

Earn Double Aeroplan Miles when you register and fly non-stop between Calgary and Honolulu or Maui (Kahului), in Economy and Executive Class® on Air Canada.
Offer is valid with the following fare options (booking classes): * Executive Class Lowest/Flexible (J, C, D, Z) * Latitude (Y, B) * Tango Plus (M, U, H, Q, V, W, S, L, A) * R class (Executive Class Upgrades)
Dec 5 , 09- Jan 31, 10

Earn Double Aeroplan Miles when you register and fly non-stop in Economy and Executive Class between Montreal and Houston, operated by Jazz.
Offer is valid with the following fare options (booking classes): * Executive Class Lowest/Flexible (J, C, D, Z) * Latitude (Y, B) * Tango Plus (M, U, H, Q, V, W, S, L, A) * R class (Executive Class Upgrades)
Nov 30, 09- Jan 31, 10

Full details on each offer and registration links can be found on our Aeroplan page.

Korean Air expands on Alaska Airlines and Delta codeshares to Canada.

The expanded codesharing on Alaska Airlines has Korean now offering their flight numbers on Alaska's flights to Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna and Victoria. Previously the codesharing only covered some of Alaska's routes out of Vancouver
Source: Airline Route Updates

Korean has also placed their codes on Delta flights from Montreal to Atlanta and New York JFK
Source: Airline Route Updates

EgyptAir to cancel Montreal-Cairo route

EygptAir's Montreal-Cairo summer seasonal route that has been operated since 2000 will not be returning for the summer of 2010.

Source: Airline Route Updates

LoyLogic application will allow loyalty program members the ability to redeem their points via the iPhone

Press release from LoyLogic:

November 23, 2009

Loylogic enables the mobile communication channel for loyalty programs.
Loyalty program members can now redeem their points via the iPhone

Zurich, Switzerland and Atlanta/GA, USA – Loylogic will launch another innovation: the first full blown loyalty program application that allows for real-time points redemption with the Apple iPhone. MobApp™ is the latest addition to Loylogic’s portfolio of loyalty solutions and enables loyalty programs around the world, to add the mobile communication channel through an easy-to-integrate and easy-to-manage turnkey solution.
Loylogic MobApp™ will soon be launched with the first program client and once again will provide the loyalty industry with an innovative and customer-friendly tool to deepen engagement and program satisfaction.

Member Experience – Get full access.
Loylogic MobApp™ loyalty provides program members all relevant program information at any time and anywhere. Members will be able to
• view program account information;
• check the latest partner promotions;
• browse a list of all program partners;
• retrieve general program information;
• benefit of channel-exclusive promotions;
• redeem points through an easy-to-navigate reward shop.


Program Experience – Drive member engagement.
By opening the mobile channel for members, loyalty programs around the world make sure to cope with the quickly changing needs of their mobile member base. Launching an iPhone application will increase the relevancy of the program, boost member engagement and help companies to stay top of mind with their most valuable customers.
In addition, loyalty programs get an opportunity to offer an exclusive promotional channel to participating program partners. The feature helps strengthening partnerships with key program stakeholders and adds new points earning opportunities for members.

Easy to Get!
Loylogic MobApp™ is suitable for any loyalty program and can be implemented within a short time frame. Loylogic also handles the entire application registering process with Apple worldwide.
The solution is supported by a dedicated Content Management System that can be managed by the program team or outsourced to Loylogic for a small management fee.
Loylogic MobApp™ is easily skinned in a program’s look and feel, and will add a series of innovative features in 2010.

About Loylogic
Loylogic is the leading provider of global points ‘earn’ and ‘burn’ solutions to loyalty programs. We help our program customers to boost member engagement by combining loyalty innovation with state-of-the-art technology and the fastest-growing global merchant network. Loylogic Inc. is an independent company with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland and offices in Atlanta, USA and Dubai, UAE. For more information, visit www.loylogic.com.

WestJet announces seasonal summer service to Bermuda

WestJet announced on Monday that will offer seasonal non-stop service between Toronto and Bermuda starting in May 2010.

At this time there are no further details on frequencies and flight timings.

Source: WestJet

Emirates: Save up to $3,000 on all routes in First or Business Class

Save up to C$3,000 on Emirates Flights out of Toronto
Savings of CAD 3,000 are applicable off roundtrip First Class fares,
savings of CAD 2,000 are applicable off one-way First Class fares,
savings of CAD 1,000 are applicable off roundtrip Business Class fares,
savings of CAD 500 are applicable off one-way Business Class fares
Fares valid only when utilizing scheduled Emirates® non-stop transatlantic service (Emirates® flights EK 241 and EK 242) to and from Toronto (YYZ). Discount is applicable to all destinations serviced by Emirates. Travel must commence by October 28, 2010.Book by Nov 25, 09

Book online at Emirates

BMO to buy Diners Club North America Franchise

BMO announced today that they will be buying t he Diners Club North America Franchise from Citigroup. It is a big move that will see BMO double its corporate credit card business and hopefully they will allow the personal card to be available once again to the Canadian and US public as their personal card, at least in Canada, is one of the best cards available (it ranked #1 in the Hybird Card category in our 2009 rankings of Canadian travel credit cards). Perhaps BMO can take this brand even farther then Citi did and make the card 'prestigious' once again like it used to be in the 70's and 80's.

I would have to assume though by the wording 'franchise' that the Discover Group, issuer of the Discover Card is still the owner of the Diners Club brand and BMO will simply be licensing it just like Citigroup did.

Press release from Canadian Press

(Thanks to long time Rewards Canada reader Andrew S for the lead on this one!)

Bonus Page Updates Nov 16-20

Nov 20 - Continental OnePass | EgyptAir Plus | Finnair Plus | Starwood Preferred Guest
Nov 19 - AeroMexico Club Premier | GoldpointsPlus | Philippine Airlines Mabuhay
Nov 18 - Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Delta SkyMiles
Nov 17 - Air Canada Aeroplan | Priority Club
Nov 16 - Emirates Skywards

WestJet delays the launch of their Frequent Flyer program

Mar 4, 10 Update: The program has been launched http://blog.rewardscanada.ca/2010/03/westjet-reveals-frequent-guest-program.html

According to an article in the Financial Post the highly anticipated launch of WestJet's Frequent Flyer program has now been pushed back to 2010. Latest reports had the program launching late November/early December but due to the ongoing issues with WestJet's new reservation system that date has been changed to January. WestJet wants to make sure their new reservation system is stable and working properly before launching the program.

The program itself that has been delayed numerous times is taking a page out of the Travel Rewards Credit Card industry by allowing members to redeem points for full or partial travel with no black out dates. Basically you will put your points/dollars (the proper term for WestJet's reward currency has not been released yet) towards the purchase of any ticket at the going rate from WestJet. Many Travel Point and Hybird Credit card programs do the same, for example redeeming 5000 points for a $50 credit towards any travel that is booked. Of course the more points/dollars you have the bigger the discount towards that travel.

What is good about programs like these is that you don't have to have a lot of points to redeem and get some sort of reward versus the set point programs like most frequent flyer programs where you need a minimum amount of points to redeem for a flight.

The main downfall of the credit card type or WestJet type of program is that value is lost when you have to redeem for expensive/non-seat sale flights as you may have to redeem more points versus the set point programs which require the same amount of points for a flight regardless of what it is selling for (of course this is the best case scenario not taking into account black out dates, availability etc)

We will continue to keep you up to date on all the happenings with the WestJet program as soon as they are released and like many of our readers we wait with anticipation.

Wi Fi now available on select Air Canada flights to the U.S.

Air Canada first announced that they will be providing onboard Wi Fi access early in 2009 and that has finally come to fruition, albeit only a very small number routes for a trial period:

"Enjoy full internet access for only $9.95 US

Gogo® Inflight Internet service is now available for a trial period until January 29, 2010 on select long haul flights travelling over the United States from Toronto or Montreal to Los Angeles.

In our continuing effort to provide the best travel experience around, we’ve taken a major step forward, becoming the first Canadian airline to offer our customers in-flight Internet access with Gogo® Wi-Fi service on select aircraft to keep you connected. You can now chat, surf or e-mail, tweet, and more on board.

Look for the Wi-Fi symbol on board next time you fly!"

Excerpt from Air Canada