Month: January 2020

Switch to the Top Airline loyalty program in Canada and get the value you deserve in a rewards program.

To participate in this Status match Challenge (the “Offer”), you must join WestJet Rewards at westjet.com/rewards and complete the Challenges below:

Challenge 1

Individually submit the form on this page between January 9 – 31, 2020 with the following information:

1. Your first and last name
2. Your 9-digit WestJet Rewards ID (provided to you upon joining WestJet Rewards)
3. Email and phone number on your WestJet Rewards account
4. A scanned copy or photo of your top-tier membership card from Altitude and VIPorter, showing your name, current status valid through to a minimum February 29, 2020. (The submission can include a screenshot of the digital card in Apple wallet, your desktop dashboard or boarding pass with all the info specified)

To get Gold WestJet Rewards status, you must have status in the following programs:	To get Silver WestJet Rewards status, you must have status in the following programs:
Altitude: 35K, 50K, 75K and 100K, VIPorter Priority	Altitude: 25K, VIPorter Passport

Challenge 1 will get you WestJet Rewards Gold or Silver benefits until March 31, 2020. If you want to keep extending those benefits, continue to Challenge 2.

Challenge 2

Got your new WestJet Rewards status? Take minimum one flight between January 9 – March 31, 2020:

• AC Altitude and Porter members must take minimum one WestJet flight anywhere

Challenge 2 will extend your upgraded Rewards top-tier status another 90 days till June 30, 2020.+ Complete Challenge 3 to take advantage of the full length of the Offer.

Challenge 3

Gold members with a minimum qualifying spend of $2,500 between the date of upgrade in Challenge 1 and June 30, 2020 will retain Gold status for another year, until June 30, 2021. Silver members that have a minimum qualifying spend of $1,500 between the date of upgrade in Challenge 1 and June 30, 2020 will retain Silver status for another year until June 30, 2021.^

With the new year upon us, I found a great offer from Scotiabank for their first year free cash back Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card.

Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). Plus, no annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards. A welcome offer value of $350 (annual fee is usually $150).

There is a reason this is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada (especially with no annual fee):

Grocery store purchases
Earn 4% for every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases. 

Includes: grocery stores and supermarkets.

Bill payments
Earn 4% for every $1 you spend on recurring bill payments.

Includes: pre-authorized payments setup to occur on a regular schedule (daily, monthly or annually).

Examples: insurance premiums, utilities, gym memberships and more.

Subscription payments
Earn 4% for every $1 you spend on recurring subscription purchases.

Includes: pre-authorized payments setup to occur on a regular schedule (daily, monthly or annually).

Examples: popular video or music streaming, meal kit delivery, lifestyle boxes and more.

2% Gas and daily transit
Includes: gas stations, paying at the pump, buses, taxis, trains, rideshare, and more.

Another great reason to get this card is for the free premium insurance that comes with it:

New Mobile Device Insurance

Protect your new cell phones, smartphones, or tablets purchased using your Card on or after August 1, 2019. This is one of the few Cash Back Visa Infinite credit cards with this insurance benefit.

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance

Charge at least 75% of your trip costs to your Card and get trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance at no extra cost.

Travel Emergency Medical Insurance

Coverage is provided for eligible persons under age 65 for up to 15 consecutive days.

Flight Delay Insurance

Charge at least 75% of the full ticket cost to your Card and you’ll be eligible for reimbursement of necessary expenses, such as hotel accommodations, meals, and other emergency items.

Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance

Charge the full cost of your airplane, train, bus, or cruise ship tickets to your Card. If your checked luggage is delayed or lost, you’re covered.

Travel Accident Insurance

Charge at least 75% of your ticket cost to your Card and you’re insured against accidental loss of life or dismemberment.

Rental Car Collision Loss/Damage Insurance

Charge the full cost of your eligible rental car to your Card and you’re automatically insured if your rental is damaged or stolen.

Purchase Security & Extended Warranty Protection

Most items purchased with your Card are insured against theft, loss, or damage for 90 days from the purchase date. The manufacturer’s warranty is also doubled for up to one year.

You must have a minimum annual income of $60,000 or a minimum household income of $100,000 or a minimum assets under management of $250,000. 

This offer ends April 30, 2020.

I know gift cards are probably the worst redemption with Aeroplan but sometimes we all need cash! This is the highest return I have seen on gift cards for a while on the Aeroplan website.

I value my Aeroplan at 1.5 cents per mile (meaning I try to get a return at a minimum of 1.5 cents).

Here is an example of some cards:

Air Canada gift cards:
$1000 gift card – 88000 miles (usually 100,000)
$500 gift card – 44250 miles (usually 50,000)
$250 gift card – 22250 miles (usually 25,000)

Here is a link to the promotion.

This ends January 15, 2020.

I love sharing these great status opportunities for our readers. You do not know how lucrative it is to have elite status until you use it or need to redeem it at a long line for a car rental!

How about a free elite status with National Car Rental.

Here are some of the benefits:

After enrolling, pay for your first rental with any American Express® Card and earn five Emerald Club Credits toward a future rental day. Rental day offer is valid at participating worldwide locations. You can get the free status even without having an AMEX card.

Your automatic upgrade to Executive Elite status means access to the following benefits:
• Reserve a mid-size to get access to Emerald Aisle.
• Guaranteed upgrades: reserve and pay for a mid-size, drive away in a vehicle in a higher class
• To maintain Executive Elite status, member must meet the standard qualifications of 25 or more rentals or 85 or more rental days during the full calendar year 2020.

You also get:
• Faster rentals by bypassing the counter.
• To choose your own car. Don’t waste time looking for your assigned car.
• Faster returns with Drop & Go. With e-receipts, there is no need to wait for an agent to give you a receipt.
• No second-driver fees
• Reward choices. Select from Free Rental Days**, frequent-flyer miles or hotel rewards.
• Special offers. Receive members-only discounts and offers through our periodic emails.

Remember one important thing about having status, that other will woo you! Once you get your status, you can match to other companies like Hertz, Enterprise, etc.

Here is a great post from fellow Canadian blogger, Prince of Travel.