Canadian Travel Hacking

Month: November 2014

  • How to Avoid Catching a Cold on your next Flight

    If you’re flying over the holidays, you might be concerned about catching a cold from your fellow passengers.

    I found a useful infographic from the Advisory Board cautions you to use your own hand sanitizer if you have to use the germiest area of the plane, the bathroom, and also to use sanitizing hand wipes to clean the tray.

    avoid-colds-airplane

    Here is the complete source of the infographic.

    Try to avoid the aisle seat, which gets touched by people when they walk by, and if you’re within a two-seat radius of someone coughing or sneezing, try to get your seat changed or at least turn on the overhead vent.

    Have you ever been sick on a plane? This is why I hate taking red-eyes when I am feeling run-down.

  • How to Find the Lowest Possible Price on Air Canada

    As much as I love travel hacks and points, sometimes you need to actually book a flight.

    Here are some tips that will help you navigate the Air Canada website to possibly save some money on your next flight.

    Seat Sale!
    Seat Sale!

    Air Canada has a free service called Fare Alerts. You just put in your desired itinerary and set your budget, and they will let you know via email as soon as a fare reaches or drops below that mark. They scan fare prices available over the next two months at aircanada.com.

    Fare Alerts are available for travel to or from cities across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean.

    webSaver weekly deals

    Air Canada has a free email service that sends you exclusive offers, seat sale fares, vacation packages, car and hotel deals, travel tips, and more.

    Learn to navigate the website

    Before you start searching for your flights, take a close look at the website, and check the right-hand column for deals.

    img048

    Air Canada highlights promotions and coupon codes on the right side of the page, so it is worth it to check out prior to booking your travel plans.

    Air Canada Lowest Price Guarantee

    If, within 24 hours after completing a purchase on aircanada.com or aircanada.com/agent, you find a price for the exact same Air Canada flight that’s at least $5 less, Air Canada will offer you a credit of $50 plus the price difference, per passenger.

    You’ll receive your Air Canada Lowest Price Guarantee credit in the form of a promotion code, which you can then easily apply toward a future travel purchase on aircanada.com or aircanada.com/agent.

    Last Minute Upgrade Purchase

    Did you know that when you check in online, on your mobile device, or at a self-service Check-in Kiosk, on an Air Canada flight that you could be offered a Last Minute Upgrade Purchase to the Executive cabin.

    Some of the advantages of Executive travel, include:

    • priority security clearance
    • priority boarding
    • access to the Maple Leaf Lounge at the airport from which your upgraded flight segment departs
    • lie-flat beds on most international flights
    • premium wines, spirits and cuisine

    What you need to know is that the price of the Last Minute Upgrade is based on the flight segment for which the upgrade is being selected and for flights operated by Air Canada or Jazz departing from Canada or United States.

    A Last Minute Upgrade Purchase is not available for:

    • Air Canada codeshare flights or flights operated by other airlines;
    • Bookings with more than one passenger, if one of the passengers does not want to purchase an upgrade
    • Bookings with more than one passenger, when not all the passengers can be confirmed in the Executive cabin.

  • Fairmont Hotel Black Friday 2014 Deal – Spend $500 Canadian at the Fairmont Hotel Between 1-4pm EST on the 28th and Receive $100 Gift Card

    Fairmont Hotel and Resorts is getting in the giving spirit of Black Friday saving.

    For all of their followers on Facebook, they will be giving away $100 Fairmont gift cards to anyone who spends $500 between 1-4pm on Friday the 28th. 

    Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

    If you’re planning a trip for at least 3 nights, then you would definitely qualify for this $100 gift card- that you could use to reduce the expense of your next trip.

    Click here to check out the Fairmont Hotel’s Facebook page.

  • Aeroplan Esso Promotion – Get pumped for 1,000 aeroplan bonus miles

    Earn up to 1,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles when you fuel up at Esso stations between November 17, 2014 and January 11, 2015.

    Visit an Esso station and pump up your earning potential. The more you fuel up at Esso stations, the more you’ll fill up on miles*.

    esso

    Here’s how you can earn up to 1,000 bonus miles* on your next 6 fill ups of 35L or more at Esso stations:

    Register to be eligible for this promotion remember to swipe your Aeroplan Card (or Speedpass™ linked to your Aeroplan Account) at the pump or in‑store to get closer to your next reward.

    Your bonus is on top of the miles you already earn at Esso stations:

    • 1 mile per $3 spent on Regular Grade gasoline and other eligible** purchases
    • 2 miles per $3 spent on Esso Extra Grade gasoline
    • 3 miles per $3 spent on Esso Supreme Grade gasoline

    Register now and visit an Esso station near you to take advantage of this exclusive offer ‑ until January 11, 2015.

  • Aeroplan 30th Anniversary Spree

    Starting today, Aeroplan is launching its 30th Anniversary Spree contest and will be giving away 10 million miles and more to members.

    aeroplan-30th-annual-spree

    The contest runs until December 23rd and there are ten grand prizes of 500,000 miles, secondary prizes of 5 million miles, gift cards, and even more will be won over 30 days.

    Members must first register for the contest at www.aeroplan.com/30years and then can earn entries in the following ways:

    • Showing their Aeroplan card each time they make purchase with an Aeroplan partner to earn miles and one entry for the grand prize.
    • Every purchase made using an Aeroplan-affiliated credit card also means an additional entry for the grand prize.

  • Pros and Cons of Alaska Airlines for Canadians

    This is a great frequent flyer program for Canadians living in Alberta and British Columbia. This airline flies from Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, and Edmonton in Canada to cities in Alaska, Hawaii, the lower 48 states, and Mexico.

    alaska-airlines

    Alaska Airlines® does not belong to any global airline alliance like the Star AllianceTM, but you do have the opportunity to earn and redeem miles across airlines from different alliances. This program makes sense for flyers that do not fly frequently enough in the United States with either Delta or American to achieve any type of Elite status with those carriers. You can credit the miles that you would earn flying those airlines to your Alaska Airlines® mileage account, making this a flexible program.

    Members of this program earn one mile per mile flown on Alaska Airlines® and their partners. You earn a minimum of 500 miles for short hops, i.e. Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle, Washington. First class fares earn 50 percent additional bonus miles, and Full Flex fares earn an additional 25 percent. Earning varies with partner airlines, and most offer actual flight miles with fewer miles for discounted coach fares and more miles for higher fare classes.

    Alaska Airlines® has many bonus mile offers on its website. They reward travel booked through Alaska Airlines® Vacations and premium fares booked (First, Business and Premium economy class tickets) with their airline partners.

    They also have one of the top travel reward credit cards available for Canadians, the Alaska Airlines® Platinum MasterCard Credit Card.

    This card features:

    • 25,000 Bonus Miles upon approval.
    • An annual coach Companion Fare from $110 (USD) ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees, from $11 depending on your Alaska Airlines® flight itinerary).
    • One mile for every $1 spent on qualifying net retail purchases.
    • Three miles for every dollar in qualifying net retail purchases of Alaska Airlines® flights and vacation packages.

    I have this credit card, and I really enjoy having the companion fare certificate. I use this for long-haul flights in North America to Florida or Hawaii, where the fares can be high flying from British Columbia.

    You have the option of using one-way or round-trip awards at three levels of redemption: Super Saver, Choice, and Full Flex for flights with Alaska Airlines. You can also redeem miles with fifteen other carriers, including American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Emirates, and KLM.

    If you travel enough with Alaska Airlines® and their select airline partners, you can qualify for elite status. As an MVP, MVP Gold, or Gold 75K member, you can enjoy great benefits, special treatment, and even bonus miles on every flight.

    I have redeemed my Alaska Airlines® miles for flights on the floatplane from Victoria to Seattle’s Lake Union with former partner Kenmore Air, flights to Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles, and for a trip to London, England with partner American Airlines.

    Positives:

    • Alaska allows one stopover of more than 24 hours or one open jaw on international awards.
    • As long as you keep your account active, by earning or spending at least one mile every 24 months, your miles will never expire.
    • Option of using Money & Miles for a discount off of a purchased ticket.
    • Can earn Elite status by flying with other partner airlines.

    Negatives:

    • Not too many retail partners in the program for Canadians, so you need to get an affiliated credit card or fly frequently to earn mileage.
    • Not a member of any major airline alliance.

  • Review of Coast Hotels Loyalty Program

    Coast Hotels is a hotel chain in western North America with over 40 hotels and resorts in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. Every pre-tax dollar that you spend towards applicable rates or packages at Coast Hotels & Resorts, including room and dining charges, earns Coast Rewards points.

    coast-hotels

    This program lets you choose between collecting Coast Rewards points, Alaska Airline Miles or Aeroplan® Miles. You can earn up to 500 miles per stay with either Aeroplan® or Alaska Airmiles.

    Coast Hotels and Resorts range from suburban and airport properties such as those in Greater Vancouver; Edmonton, Alberta; Calgary, Alberta; Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon to resort-designated properties such as: The Coast Osoyoos Beach Hotel in Osoyoos, British Columbia; The Coast Sundance Lodge in Sun Peaks, British Columbia; The Coast Pyramid Lake (Alberta) Resort in Jasper, Alberta; the Hillcrest Hotel, a Coast Resort in Revelstoke, British Columbia; the Maui Coast Hotel in Maui, Hawaii, and the Coast Capri Hotel, in Kelowna, British Columbia.

  • Aeroplan Gift Card Promotion – Save Miles Towards Gift Cards

    This is not the best way to use Aeroplan miles but if you have Aeroplan miles burning a hole in your pocket.

    aeroplan

    Aeroplan is currently running a promotion until December 5, 2014 where you can save miles when redeeming for a gift card.

    You will save about 500 miles per redemption. You will need to log into your account to see the promotion.

    If you redeem for a $50 gift card it costs 6,500 miles and the regular price is 7000 Aeroplan miles.

    Here is a link to Aeroplan.

  • 10 Easiest ways to earn Aeroplan Miles

    Our regular readers will know that I am a big Aeroplan fan (many redemption options, many partners, and credit card offers).

    S A I  L O R SC L U B

     

    I wanted to share 10 of the easiest ways to earn Aeroplan miles.

    1. Get an eye exam.

    FYidoctors provides complete vision care for you and your family, and they are offering Aeroplan miles.

    New patients earn 5x the miles with a complete eye exam. Plus, all Aeroplan Members get 500 miles with the purchase of premium personalized lenses.

    fyi-doctors

    If you have benefits at work, it is crazy not to get an eye exam (they are more costly than most places) but it is your health at stake!

    Book an appointment at one of our 100 locations across Canada to get a complete eye exam and earn even more Aeroplan Miles.

    2. Fill up your car at Esso.

    Most gas stations around Canada are the same – gas is gas and the price is around the same (at least here in Victoria).

    esso

    I like to fill up at Esso (I can buy my gift cards at Target to get my 5% off or Shop.ca) and collect a few Aeroplan miles with my fill-ups.

    3. Buy gift cards at Shop.ca

    This is a major partner of Aeroplan. You earn 1 Aeroplan mile for every dollar spent and you earn 1 additional mile if you are Distinction.

    shop-ca-logo

    They always have promos, like earn 10x miles for your purchase.

    I like to buy my gift cards as I can double-dip my purchases at Shop.ca.

    4. Do a survey.

    AskingCanadians is an online research community dedicated to providing our members with an opportunity to make their voices heard.

    ac-logo

    Your opinions and time are valuable so they’ll reward you for every survey you complete. You’ll automatically earn Aeroplan® Miles.

    5. Buy something at UPS store.

    Earn 1 Aeroplan Mile for every $1 you spend in store with The UPS Store in Canada—up to 1,000 miles daily.

    ups-store

    Plus, when you first sign up for the Get More card with The UPS Store, you’ll earn an additional bonus of 500 bonus miles and then earn miles even faster—up to 1.5 miles for every $1 you spend. What’s more, get 10% off every time you shop in store.

    Certain restrictions apply. See details in store and at theupsstore.ca/small-business-solutions.

    6. Buy something at the Aeroplan eStore.

    Shopping online through Aeroplan eStore is easy, secure, and fun! Simply log in, start shopping and earn Aeroplan Miles on every purchase.

    estore-aeroplan

    They have merchants like Ebay, Chapters, and The Bay.

    You’ll earn at least 1 Aeroplan Mile for every $1 you spend. They usually have promos where you earn 5x each dollar spent.

    7. Test drive a Volvo.

    Experience Volvo innovations for yourself. Take a Volvo for a test drive and earn 250 bonus miles. It’s just one of the many ways to earn with Volvo.

    volvo

    I did this when they had a promo and I earned 2,500 Aeroplan miles.

    8. Book your travel with Destination Miles.

    You’ll receive one Aeroplan Mile for the equivalent of every CAD dollar spent when you book hotel stays and car rentals.
    destination_miles_en
    Simply book online or through the Destination Miles Travel Desk at 1‑866‑343‑4364 and earn 1 mile for every $1 spent.

    9. Sign up for emails from Home to earn 100 Bonus Aeroplan Miles.

    This is really easy!
    home-hardware
    Just get their emails to earn easy Aeroplan miles.

    10. Get a first year no annual fee Aeroplan affiliated credit card.

    To really earn miles, get the American Express Gold Rewards Card and earn 25,000 American Express Membership Rewards points that you can convert to 25,000 Aeroplan Miles for spending $500 the first 3 months.
    That’s enough for a round-trip flight almost anywhere in North America!
    This card has no annual fee the first year. This is the quickest way to fly free!
    Enjoy!
    Are there any methods I am missing to earn Aeroplan Miles easily?

  • Introducin​g the Best US Roaming Deal for Canadians – Roam Mobility

    Introducing the new Snowbird Talk+Text Plan from Roam Mobility. Get unlimited talk and text, including free-long distance calls back to Canada, for only $19.95 per month.

    RM_eNewsHDR_600x260-v5

    This new plan comes with all of the same great features you get with our daily plans including free long-distance calls back to Canada, voicemail and caller ID.
    All for just $19.95 per month!

    With nationwide coverage including Florida, Arizona, Texas, California, and more, read more at Roam Mobility.