Category: Point and Mile Bonuses

Starting November 6th, if you collect points from hotel loyalty programs, now is your chance to convert them into Aeroplan Miles. You’ll even receive a 30% bonus* when you convert them before Dec. 11, 2017!

Members will need to have 5,000 converted miles in order to be eligible to receive the 30% bonus.

Also to note, that this bonus is no longer applicable to Marriott’s Hotel+Air redemption packages.

For more information, please visit the following links: 

English : www.aeroplan.com/Fall2017Conversion.do?currentLanguage=en

French:    www.aeroplan.com/Fall2017Conversion.do?currentLanguage=fr

American Express Canada has introduced a new credit card in it’s large suit of products this week, the Cobalt card.

The American Express Cobalt card comes with a sign-up bonus of 40,000 points, but you won’t get all those points at once.

You’ll earn 2,500 points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases — up to 30,000 per year.

As part of their promotion, you’ll earn 10,000 points when you apply by January 1, 2018, and spend $3,000 within your first three months of becoming a cardholder.

As for earning on everyday spend, you’ll get 5x points on purchases at eligible bars, restaurants, grocery stores and food delivery in Canada, 2x points on eligible transit and gas purchases in Canada and other eligible travel purchases, as well as 1x points on everything else. The Cobalt Card comes with a monthly fee of $10, or a total of $120 annually.

I haven’t seen another card break down the fee monthly but whatever works!

You can no longer transfer points to Aeroplan or Avios (the airline travel partners) but they have some other transfers:

1. Points that you earn can be redeemed through the Amex Fixed Points Travel Program. You can fly on a short-haul route from Toronto to New York in economy for 15,000 points round-trip, as long as the maximum base ticket price is less than $300.
   
2. Transfer to Starwood Points. The points transfer to Starwood at a 2:1 ratio, effectively making the 5x food category worth 2.5x when transferred to the program. Meaning you would earn 2.5 Starwood points per dollar spent = 7.5 Marriott Points per dollar spent!

What do you think about this new card?

I love easy ways to earn points!

Until September 24, 2017, you can earn up to 1,000 bonus Marriott points!

You will earn 500 Marriott points for signing-up for Visa Checkout and 500 Marriott points for using Visa Checkout.

The email address on your Visa Checkout account must match the one on your Marriott rewards account.

I found a nice credit card offer to earn 3,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles plus a Companion Flight Rebate, and you will also have no annual fee (worth $120).

Receive 1,000 Bonus Miles after your first purchase using your Credit Card Receive an additional 2,000 Bonus Miles when you spend a minimum of $3,000 (less refunds and excluding cash advances, cash-like transactions, interest charges, fees, credit or debit adjustments) on purchases using the Credit Card within the first three (3) months from the Credit Card open date.

Companion Flight Rebate Offer: To be credited the Dream Miles for your Companion flight ticket, you must book any two flights (one way or return) for travel anytime (subject to availability from participating suppliers at the time of booking) through airmiles.ca using your Dream Miles before November 30, 2018. Both flight tickets must be booked in the same transaction, and on the same itinerary (both flights must be travelling on the same day, departing from the same location in Canada, and arriving to the same destination). You must have accumulated a sufficient balance of Dream Miles in your Collector Account to use for both flights in the same transaction to be eligible for this Offer. You will be credited the number of Miles back into your Dream Account that is equal to one flight ticket* (excluding all taxes, fees and applicable surcharges) within 45 days after your flight booking.

Exclusive 25% Flight Discount: Fly on any AIR MILES flight within North America for 25% fewer Miles when you book through airmiles.ca or by calling 1-888-247-6453. For example, you could redeem a 1,300 Miles flight for only 975 Miles.* *If you have the BMO AIR MILES World Mastercard or BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, when you redeem Miles for a flight in North America you will receive a 25% discount from the number of Miles you would ordinarily require. North America includes flight travel within Canada, from Canada to the United States of America, including Hawaii and Alaska, excluding Puerto Rico and flight travel within the United States, and flight travel to and from Mexico. This benefit does not apply to Cash + Miles Rewards. For flight redemptions: There are no blackout periods. This benefit does not apply to the cash portion of the flight redemption (such as airport improvement fees and booking fees) or to the flight component of package vacations and cruises. The mileages quoted are for low season, round-trip travel on economy flights under the regular AIR MILES flight offer. This benefit cannot be combined with any other offer. To redeem for Travel Rewards, you must have accumulated sufficient AIR MILES Miles in your Dream Balance. Collectors must pay applicable surcharges, fees and taxes on air travel Rewards. Travel Rewards may be subject to a minimum advance booking and availability from participating Suppliers. For complete details, see current Program Terms and Conditions available at airmiles.ca or the AIR MILES Customer Care Centre at 1-888-AIR MILES(in Toronto (416) 226-5171).

Disclosure: I just signed up for the American Express Business Platinum Card because of the generous sign-up bonuses.

This is one of the highest sign-up bonuses in Canada. Gives you 75,000 Membership Reward Points for spending the minimum $5,000 in 3 months.

These points can be transferred to these programs at the following ratios:

• Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1 to 1 ratio
• British Airways Avios at a 1 to 1 ratio
• Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles at a 1 to 0.75 a ratio
• Alitalia’s MilleMiglia Miles at a 1 to a 0.75 ratio
• Delta’s Skymiles at a 1 to 0.75 ratio
• Etihad Guest Miles at a 1 to 0.75 ratio

It charges $399 for an annual fee. The bonus points that you earn is worth a minimum of $800 towards travel or some travel program.  

Here are some additional features:

• Earn 1.25 Membership Rewards^® points for every $1 in eligible purchases charged to your Card.
• Interest-Free Days. Maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest-free days.
• Expense Management Reports. Quarterly and annual reporting that makes record keeping, expense tracking and tax preparation easier.
• Access to over 850 lounges around the world
• Extras at over 825 world-class properties in the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program
• There is an easy, convenient way to get more out of your Membership Rewards® points – simply charge an eligible purchase to your Card. Then you can pay for it with points by redeeming points for a statement credit.

The main benefit of this card is the huge 25,000 Membership Reward points bonus that you get when you refer someone or yourself to another card in the American Express rewards family.

Here is the combo to get: 

1. Get this card and meet minimum spending to earn 75,000 points.
2. Refer yourself or someone to the Business Gold (No Annual Fee) and earn 40,000 bonus points + 25,000 referral for this referral.
3. Refer to the Personal Platinum card and earn 60,000 bonus points + 25,000 referral for this referral.

This is a total 225,000 Membership reward points that you would earn! 

Not only that but if you referred your partner or friends and you can see how the points can really add up!

Here are the premium benefits with this card:

• Platinum Lounge Benefit Get complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounges and Servisair Executive Lounges regardless of the type of fare purchased or the airline booked. Lounge access is complimentary for you, your spouse and two children under the age of 21 or one travelling companion.

• Airport Club Program Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club^® lounges.

• Free Starwood Gold Preferred Guest Gold Membership/Marriott Gold Membersip: Usually reserved for guests with a recorded minimum of 10 stays or 25 room nights in a calendar year, the Gold Preferred Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest^® program is yours with no minimum requirements to fulfill. This membership provides you with a 50% bonus (three Starpoints^®) for every eligible dollar spent, no blackout dates on award stays and complimentary upgrades to a preferred room at check-in, when available.

• Fairmont President’s Club Charge 5 nights to your Business Platinum Card, and get the many privileges of Fairmont President’s Club Platinum Membership usually reserved for guests with a recorded stay of 30 nights. Benefits include $100 in Fairmont dining certificates, one complimentary night and two room upgrades.

• Fine Hotels and Resorts Program Enjoy exceptional amenities around the globe with access to more than 700 properties thought the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program.  Special extras may include upgrade to a higher room category at check-in (based on availability), daily continental breakfast for two and a guaranteed 4.00 p.m. check-out upon request. These amenities have been valued at over $450 USD based on a 1-night stay.
• Platinum Concierge Wherever and whenever in the world you need assistance, there’s always someone in your corner of the globe with the Business Platinum Concierge service. Trained service professionals can help you organize meetings or conference details while traveling, book hotels and flights and get you preferred access and recommendations to some of the most distinguished restaurants at home and abroad with the Fine Dining Program. And when it’s time for pleasure, get access to advance and reserved tickets to some of the hottest concerts, theatre productions and special events across Canada with Front Of The Line.
• International Airline Program Simply purchase an eligible ticket in first class or business class on a participating airline with your Business Platinum Card and you are eligible to receive a companion ticket. Or, when travelling alone enjoy complimentary upgrades as well as savings with special discount fares (offer excludes service charges, taxes, and fuel surcharges). To take advantage of the International Airline Program, booking must be made through Platinum Card Travel Service.
• Car Services Wherever business takes you, trust your Business Platinum Card to help get you there in comfort and style. Receive a membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold which provides access to preferred car rental courtesies at over 590 worldwide locations. Membership includes a complimentary One Car Class Upgrade (subject to availability).

Literally, anyone can have a sole proprietorship which would qualify you for the business card.

 

Here are some of the free insurance benefits included:

• Complimentary Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance Save money when travelling with the Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance included on your Business Platinum Card. Where allowed by law, you will be automatically covered for damage or theft of your rental car with an MSRP of up to $85,000. To take advantage of this protection, simply decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or similar option offered by the car rental company, and fully charge your rental to your Business Platinum Card. There’s no additional charge for this coverage, and you save yourself the daily insurance fee (usually $16 to $23 per day) charged by the car rental company.

• Trip Interruption Insurance When you fully charge your travel arrangements to your Business Platinum Card this coverage provides for the non-refundable unused portion of your prepaid travel arrangements, as well as transportation up to $1,500 per trip per insured person up to a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons combined should your trip be interrupted or delayed for a covered reason.

• Trip Cancellation Insurance When you fully charge your travel arrangements to your Business Platinum Card this coverage provides for the reimbursement of the non-refundable pre-paid travel arrangements, up to $1,500 per insured person to a maximum coverage up to $3,000 for all insured persons combined when you cancel a trip for a covered reason.

• Baggage Delay Insurance Book a flight with your Business Platinum Card and receive up to $1,000 coverage (aggregate maximum with Flight Delay Insurance) for all immediate daily reasonable and necessary emergency purchases, made within four days, for essential clothing and sundry items when your baggage on your outbound trip is delayed by six or more hours.

• Flight Delay Insurance Charge your airline ticket to your Business Platinum Card and receive up to $1,000 coverage (aggregate maximum with Baggage Delay Insurance) for all necessary and reasonable hotel, motel, restaurant expenses and sundry items purchased within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no alternate transportation is made available.

• Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance When you fully charge your airline tickets to your Business Platinum Card, you are covered for loss or damage to your checked-in or carry-on baggage and personal effects while in transit for up to a maximum of $1,000 per trip for all insured person(s) combined.

• Hotel / Motel Burglary Insurance Automatic coverage of up to $1,000 against the loss of most personal items (excluding cash) if your hotel or motel room is burglarized. Coverage is in effect as long as you have fully booked and paid for your accommodations with your Business Platinum Card.

• $500,000 Travel Accident Insurance Up to $500,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance covers you, your spouse and dependent children under the age of 23 when any of you travel on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and charge your tickets to your Business Platinum Card. Supplementary Cardmembers, their spouses and dependent children under age 23 are also covered.
• Travel Emergency Assistance AXA provides out-of-town emergency medical referrals and organizes medical visits at clinics, ERs or hospitals, according to the client’s condition. If necessary, AXA can also organize repatriation by commercial flight or evacuation by air ambulance. Legal referrals, and important travel-specific information (such as visa requirements or customs and inoculation regulations) as well as travel assistance services (pre-trip information, lost baggage assistance) are also available by telephone, 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week.

 

Personally, I find this card to be a great steal based on the referral bonuses and free premium statuses included.

Let me know if you have any questions on the referral process.

I am shocked as to the high-quality credit card bonuses and offers the last quarter.

TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card has a great offer for a free first year.

When you apply for and receive the card you’ll earn 6% cash back in the first free months on gas, grocery and recurring bill payments.

The 6% maxes out after $3,500 in spending in those categories for a maximum return of $210.

The card does not cost you anything for the first 12 months.

Features:

• Earn 3% in Cash Back Dollars on eligible grocery Purchases and gas Purchases, and on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account
• Earn 1% in Cash Back Dollars on all other Purchases made with your Card
• Redeem your Cash Back Dollars to help pay down your Account balance whenever you please – the choice is yours!
• Your Cash Back Dollars never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
• Emergency Road Services with the Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership
• Travel with confidence with Travel Medical Insurance
• Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge service available 24/7

Here is a link for more info.