Canadian Travel Hacking

Year: 2014

  • Costco Canada to Stop Taking American Express

    AmEx was the only credit card accepted at Costco stores in Canada, and has worked with the warehouse-club chain to issue co-branded cards.
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    Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST), the largest U.S. warehouse-club chain, will stop accepting all American Express Co. (AXP) cards in Canada on Jan. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations between the two companies.

    “The credit card relationship between American Express and Costco Wholesale Canada will not be renewed when it expires on Dec. 31,” Lorelle Gilpin, vice president of marketing and membership for Costco Wholesale Canada, said yesterday in an e-mail to Canadian customers.

    AmEx, the biggest U.S. credit-card issuer by purchases, was the only credit card accepted at Costco stores, and has worked with the warehouse-club chain to issue co-branded cards. U.S. stores will continue to accept AmEx, with the exception of TrueEarnings and American Express Platinum Cash Rebate cards issued in Canada.

    “The terms of the contract was up, AmEx and Costco entered into negotiations and were unable to come to terms,” David Barnes, a spokesman for AmEx in Canada, said in a phone interview. “This is very specific and exclusive to Canada. There are separate contracts for AmEx’s U.S. Costco relationship.”

    Costco will still be offering a credit card and has signed a new agreement with Capital One.  The Capital One Platinum MasterCard will serve as both a credit card and a Costco membership card and this change means that Costco will accept all Mastercard credit cards in their stores – not just Costco branded cards.

  • Air Canada To Charge $25 For First Checked Bag

    Air Canada is revising its checked baggage policy for customers travelling with an Economy Class ticket issued after September 17, 2014 for travel on or after November 2, 2014 as indicated below.

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    It is more important than ever to pack light! This is in response to the WestJet charge (I hate that we have not enough competition in this space).

    I knew they would match WestJet (but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly).

    Travel within Canada:

    • Tango fares: Check a 1st bag for 25$ CAD/USD (per direction) and a 2nd bag for 25$ CAD/USD (per direction).
    • Flex fares: Check a 1st bag free of charge and a 2nd bag for 25$ CAD/USD (per direction).
    • Latitude fares: Check 2 bags free of charge.

    Travel between Canada and the U.S.*:

    • Latitude fares: Check 2 bags free of charge.

    Travel between Canada or the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Caribbean or the U.S. Virgin Islands:

    • Tango fares: Check a 1st bag for 25$ CAD/USD (per direction) and a 2nd bag for 25$ CAD/USD (per direction).
    • Flex fares: Check a 1st bag free of charge and a 2nd bag for 25$ CAD/USD (per direction).
    • Latitude fares: Check 2 bags free of charge.

    Between Canada or the U.S.* and Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua:

    • All Economy fares: Check a 1st bag free of charge and a 2nd bag for $25 CAD/USD (per direction).

  • 7,500 Bonus Aeroplan Miles when you complete two Radisson stays

    Club Carlson members who register for the Takeoff with More Miles offer and complete two Eligible Stays at participating Radisson hotels by December 15, 2014 will earn 7,500 Aeroplan® Miles.

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    Club Carlson is offered by Carlson Hotels, Inc. (“Carlson”), subject to Terms & Conditions. To be eligible for the Offer, you must be a Club Carlson member, an Aeroplan member, register for the Offer with your Aeroplan number by December 14, 2014, and present your Club Carlson member number during at check-in (“Eligible Member”). Eligible Members who complete two Eligible Stays between September 15, 2014 and December 15, 2014 will earn 7,500 Aeroplan Miles (“Bonus Award”). Please allow four (4) to six (6) weeks after December 15, 2014 for miles to be credited to your account. Only one Bonus Award per Aeroplan account.

    An “Eligible Stay” for purposes of this Offer is a stay of one or more consecutive nights at a Participating Property, at a rate eligible for Gold Points®. You must provide your Club Carlson membership number at the time of reservation or check-in. By participating in this Offer, you agree to these terms and conditions and the Club Carlson terms and conditions. Participating Hotels are subject to change without notice. Offer is subject to availability and blackout dates may apply. Carlson is not responsible for any technical failures/interruptions, internet accessibility problems, incomplete or inaccurate registration information, or other errors of any kind that may affect your enrollment in Club Carlson or participation in this Offer. Carlson reserves the right to add, modify or discontinue these terms and conditions, the Offer or Club Carlson, with or without notice or liability to you. Offer is void where prohibited by law, rule or regulation.

     

  • 1,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles For Fueling up at Esso – Ends October 5, 2014

    Earn up to 1,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles when you fuel up at Esso stations between August 11 and October 5, 2014.

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    Register to be eligible for this promotion and then 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 on eligible** purchases at Esso stations:

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

    Register now and visit an Esso station near you to take advantage of this exclusive offer – until October 5.

  • Amex Member Offer – $100 off Fairmont Stay (Minimum spend $500)

    Great offer to get $100 statement credit with a $500 Fairmont purchase on your AMEX Canada.

    This offer is only available to Canadian American Express Basic and Supplementary Consumer and Small Business Cardmembers. The American Express Card registered must be the same Card used when making the qualifying purchase. Maximum of one (1) $100 (CAD) statement credit per registered Card during the offer period.

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    To be eligible for this offer:
    – Your account must be in good standing
    – You must register your eligible Card in the American Express Registered Card program between September 9, 2014 and December 30, 2014 at amexnetwork.ca/fairmontoffer. Registration Period starts at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on September 9, 2014 and ends on December 30, 2014 11:59:59 p.m. ET.
    – Use your Registered Card at a participating Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property during the offer period between September 9, 2014 and December 31, 2014
    – A purchase made during the offer period prior to registration of your eligible Card in this Program is not considered a qualifying purchase

  • WestJet to charge economy passengers $25 for first checked bag

    WestJet Airlines (TSX:WJA) says it will charge a $25 fee for the first checked bag for passengers travelling on economy fares within Canada and also between Canada and the U.S.

    WestJet Plus
    WestJet Plus

    The new fee will apply to bookings starting Monday for travel as of Oct. 29. WestJet says the new charge is expected to affect one in five of its travellers since different baggage allowances apply to those in other fare classes or those using its new loyalty program also launched Monday.

    Passengers flying to international destinations, including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe will continue to be able to check a first bag at no charge.

    Baggage allowances for military personnel, infant and child equipment, mobility devices, and those travelling in connection with other airlines are not affected.

    The Calgary-based carrier charges all customers for a second checked bag.

    Will Air Canada not charge or meet this ancillary fee?

    Read more at CTV News.

  • Avoid Hotel Wi-Fi Blocks With a Google Chromecast

    I am a big fan of hotel wifi (when it is fast)!

    Most modern hotel rooms have Ethernet jacks.  In our experience the Ethernet jacks in hotel rooms are very rarely secured in any fashion and you can simply plug in a device and go.

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    Although its rare, if the hotel does have a login/authentication splash page for Ethernet users you can simply visit it with one of your devices (while connected to the wi-fi router). The router has a single IP/MAC address and doles out access (just like your home router) to all the attached devices. Once you accept the terms of agreement with one device through the unified access point the security system will let anything connected to the portable Wi-Fi router, including the Chromecast, pass through just fine.

    Read this interesting article from WiseGeek, How Can I Use My Google Chromecast In a Hotel Room.

  • Cathay Pacific – Economy Class Sale to Hong Kong from Vancouver

    Cathay Pacific is having a sale to Hong Kong from Vancouver (starting from $1151).

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    Offer Details:

    Departure Period Sep 10, 2014 – Dec 10, 2014

    Min/Max Stay No Min Stay / Max 6 Months

    Book Now to Save! Promotion until Sep 24, 2014.

    Terms and conditions on the website.

    You can also experience the latest in movies, TV shows or games in the StudioCX in-flight entertainment system. You can also stream audio and video from your personal devices to their 9-inch high-resolution Personal TV displays. Even more, the seats are equipped with USB port and in-seat power supply to keep your smartphone, laptop or other devices charged throughout the flight.

    Here is a link to the promotion.

     

  • Free Equifax monitoring for 1 Year – Home Depot data breach

    The Home Depot is truly sorry for any inconvenience caused by the data breach and is letting affected Canadian customers enroll in the Equifax Premier service at no cost to them at any time during the next 12 months.

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    These services are available through September 8, 2015, and include credit monitoring and an identity theft insurance policy.

    You are eligible to receive these services if you used a payment card at one of The Home Depot’s stores in 2014, from April 1, 2014 on.

    Here is a link to the offer.

  • 10 Bonus Aeroplan Miles for every dollar your donate to the Canadian Red Cross

    Earn 10 Aeroplan Miles for every $1 you donate this September to the Canadian Red Cross. Feel good knowing you’re supporting one of Canada’s leading humanitarian charities and feel even better knowing every dollar you donate will put 10 Aeroplan Miles in your account. The sky’s the limit – the more you give, the more you’ll get.

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    Where Does Your Donation Go?

    87 Cents of Every Dollar supports Programs and People in Need
    (based on a 5 year average cost of fundraising)he donation page.

    Here is the donation page.