Canadian Travel Hacking

Category: Point and Mile Bonuses

  • Earn Double Aeroplan Miles when you fly with Bearskin Airlines–February 2014

    Great promotion from one of my original Aeroplan partners (I used to fly with them living in Thunder bay – great little airline).

    Between February 01 and 28, 2014, fly Bearskin Airlines on all Flex or Liberty* fares and earn double Aeroplan Miles for every one‑way segment. That’s up to 200% of the miles you fly for each eligible Bearskin Airlines flight.

    Eligible routes:

    Between Thunder Bay and:

    • Sudbury
    • Timmins
    • Sault Ste Marie
    • North Bay

    Between Ottawa and:

    • Sudbury
    • Timmins
    • Kitchener‑Waterloo
    • Sault Ste Marie
    • North Bay

    Source

  • CapitalOne Aspire Travel MasterCard 35K bonus points + $75 Cash Back

    When you get approved you will get 35,000 bonus points (worth around $350) and extra $75 cash back when you sign up through our referral link to Great Canadian Rebates.

    capital-one-bonus

    Every year they also give you 10k anniversary bonus points which basically makes the annual fee around $20/year.

    For every $ spent you get 2 points (2% cash back on travel). Points can be used to pay for travel-related purchases. 10,000 points is equivalent to $100.

    Read my detailed review on the Canadian Travel Credit Cards page. This card is highly rated, even though I don’t actually own one!

  • Bid Your Starpoints to Attend 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic – Vancouver vs Ottawa

    What a great idea to use your Starpoints balance to attend the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic between Vancouver and Ottawa in Vancouver, BC.

    Starwood Preferred Guest is the Official Hotel and Resort of the National Hockey League — and you can watch all of the hockey action outdoors by redeeming your Starpoints.

    As a bonus — for most of the choices below — you can also procure passes which allow you to go behind the scenes and find out how outdoor hockey happens in the National Hockey League.

    2014 Tim Hortons National Hockey League Heritage Classic

    • Score two tickets and behind-the-scenes access for the Ottawa Senators versus the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place in Vancouver.

    The current bidding win is 27,000 (who knows what it will take to win), should I use my Starpoints to win or not?

    Tickets are going for around $217 each at the moment – I don’t know where these tickets are (I am assuming they are worth more than standard General admission tickets).

    Enjoy!

  • B.C. judge won’t issue interim order over pharmacy-rewards points and miles

    I love to double-dip to get miles or points with my pharmacy purchases.

    The chief justice of British Columbia’s Supreme Court has refused to issue an interim injunction so two grocery chains can continue to offer rewards points to their pharmacy customers.

    The college that regulates pharmacists in B.C. began enforcing a bylaw that prohibited incentives programs on Dec. 2, 2013.

    Sobeys West Inc. and Jace Holdings Ltd., which operate Canada Safeway and Thrifty Foods stores, is challenging the bylaw in court at the end of this month, but on Dec. 20 they applied for an interim injunction.

    This was a great way to collect extra miles but no more!

    In a ruling posted online Friday, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson says the stores tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a delay to the bylaw and must now live with their decision until the case has been heard.

    Source

  • Win Free Nights and Bonus Points With Starwood’s Take A Spin Sweepstakes

    To celebrate the launch of the new partnership, SPG and Caesars are holding a fun “Take A Spin” sweepstakes where SPG members can earn free nights, bonus Starpoints, a trip to Vegas and more. You can enter once per day per membership number now through February 7. To participate, go to the game page here and enter your SPG number. That will redirect you to a page where you can click a “SPIN,” and like a slot machine, if the three images match up, you win a prize.

    Screen shot 2014-01-13 at 4.53.46 PM

    Source: http://thepointsguy.com/2014/01/win-free-nights-and-bonus-points-with-starwoods-take-a-spin-sweepstakes/

  • American Express Rewards Bonus of 2,014 Membership Points on purchases of $400 or more of travel

    Earn 2,014 Bonus Membership Rewards® points when you charge $400 or more in one single transaction to an eligible Card on eligible± hotels and car rentals from December 19th, 2013 to February 13th, 20141.

    Whether you plan to have a relaxing family holiday or a pampering weekend at a spa hotel, you’ll find a wide selection of flights, hotels, and car rentals.

    What’s more, the 2,014 Bonus points are on top of the 1 additional point you can earn for every $1 you charge to an eligible on eligible± travel bookings2.

    So why not get 2014 off to a perfect start and book your next adventure with American Express Travel?

    Basic Cardmembers enrolled in the American Express Membership Rewards Program that book travel through the American Express Travel website are eligible. 2,014 Bonus Membership Rewards points offer available on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made from December 19th, 2013 to February 13th, 2014. A one time Bonus of 2,014 Membership Rewards points will be awarded per Membership Rewards account on purchases of $400 or more (after taxes and fees) charged to an eligible Card for eligible hotel and car rental bookings booked through americanexpress.ca/travel where American Express (not the hotel or car rental company) is the merchant. Purchase must be in a single transaction of at least $400 and cannot be cumulative purchases.

    Use of Membership Rewards points and an eligible Card for payment qualifies for the Bonus provided at least $400 is charged to an eligible Card.

    Eligible Cards include: The American Express® Card, American Express® Gold Rewards Card, Platinum Card®, Centurion Card®, Choice Card from American ExpressTM, ChoicePlus Card from American ExpressTM, Business Platinum CardTM from American Express, American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card, American Express® Corporate Card, American Express® Corporate Gold Card, American Express® Corporate Platinum Card, and the Platinum Credit Card. Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards Program apply.

    ±Hotel bookings under the Fine Hotels and Resorts program are not eligible for this Bonus Membership Rewards points offer.

    In order to redeem points for any travel booking, the Membership Rewards Program account must be active and the Card must be in good standing.

    Please allow up to 10 weeks for Bonus points to be credited to your account.

  • Benefits for Aeroplan Distinction members at Fairmont hotels

    Aeroplan Distinction members will receive special treatment, based on their Distinction level, when they book a stay directly with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts using their exclusive Fairmont Distinction Promotional Code.

    Enjoy a luxury hotel experience along with extra benefits according to each Distinction level.

    dSilver members receive:

    • Room upgrade at check-in (when available)
    • Daily complimentary breakfast

    dBlack members receive:

    • Room upgrade at check-in (when available)
    • Daily complimentary breakfast
    • $25 hotel credit

    dDiamond members receive:

    • Room upgrade at check-in (when available)
    • Daily complimentary breakfast
    • $25 hotel credit
    • Welcome amenity

      Terms and Conditions from the Aeroplan website:
      *A stay is defined as one or more consecutive nights at the same hotel, regardless of the number of check-ins and checkouts. The price for this offer is equal to Fairmont’s Best Available Rate for the room-type booked for that date. All bookings must include your Aeroplan Number for each stay or provided in your Fairmont President’s Club profile. Offer does not apply to existing bookings. Advance reservations are required. This offer is subject to availability of rooms. Cancellation policies vary by property. Valid on bookings made between January 1 and December 31, 2014 for stays completed by January 15, 2015. Offer cannot be combined with other Fairmont promotions or offers. Offer subject to change without notice, including possible extensions of expiry date. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is responsible for the fulfillment of this offer. This benefit is not applicable when members redeem Aeroplan Miles for a stay at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Black-out dates vary by property, for a complete list please seewww.fairmont.com/promotions/limited.
      1.To be eligible for this offer, you must be a dSilver member, use the exclusive Promotional Code provided at http://www.aeroplan.com/your_aeropla…nctionBenefits and make your reservation directly with Fairmont.
      2.Room Upgrade to next room category, is offered at time of check-in, and based on availability.
      3.Complimentary breakfast excludes In Room Dining. Daily breakfast for two (2) includes a full American breakfast in the Hotel’s main dining room.
      4.To be eligible for this offer, you must be a dBlack member, use the exclusive Promotional Code provided at http://www.aeroplan.com/your_aeropla…nctionBenefits and make your reservation directly with Fairmont.
      5.$25 hotel credit, per stay: dBlack and dDiamond members will receive (1) $25 hotel credit ($25 CDN at Canadian properties and $25 USD value at all other participating locations). Hotel credit has no cash value and cannot be applied toward the daily room rate, or for Third-party activities billed to the suite. Hotel credit cannot be applied to Fairmont Store or other retail outlet purchases within the property. Credit will be applied to applicable charges at check-out. No refunds will be issued if the dollar value of the promotion is not used. The credit will expire by checkout time the morning of the guest’s scheduled departure date. Guests are responsible for paying any remaining balance due at checkout time for charges applied to the room that exceed the total credit during their stay.
      6.To be eligible for this offer, you must be a dDiamond member, use the exclusive Promotional Code provided at http://www.aeroplan.com/your_aeropla…nctionBenefits and make your reservation directly with Fairmont.
      7.Welcome Amenity varies by hotel.

  • TD Aeroplan VISA Review – 1st Year Free + 15,000 Free Miles

    It is a new year and it is time for the new credit cards to be displayed!

    1388431807

    There are four TD Aeroplan Credit Cards to choose from and each comes with Welcome Bonus of Aeroplan Miles:
    • TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card – a Welcome Bonus of 15,000 miles
    • TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card – a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 miles
    • TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege™ Card – a Welcome Bonus of 25,000 miles
    • TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card – a Welcome Bonus of 20,000 miles
    Plus, your Welcome Bonus will help qualify towards your 2015 Distinction status
    TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, and TD Aeroplan Visa Business Cardholders also enjoy:
    • A limited time 2-for-1 short‑haul flight reward offer
    • Air Canada benefits like annual Maple Leaf™ Lounge access, Priority Check-in and Priority Boarding, and much more—experience a world of comfort Get ready to earn faster and travel sooner with TD Aeroplan Credit Cards

    Be careful about this offer as the lounge access is a one-time guest pass (not that useful if you have a family).

    Another problem is that the complimentary first checked bag benefit, up to 23kg (50 lbs), applies whenever the Primary Cardholder travels on any flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada rouge. Flights operated by other airlines are not eligible. The benefit is only given with the Aeroplan reward so it is not useful if you are a regular Air Canada flyer.

    If you are flying with United to the US, you are still paying the fee (not that useful a benefit).

    The final benefit is only good for flights booked with Aeroplan miles.

    You and your companions travelling on the same reservation can enjoy the convenience of Priority Check-In and Priority Boarding, whenever you travel on an Aeroplan Flight Reward operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada rouge.

    This is an OK credit card (no annual fee the first year), but I would stick with the American Express Gold Rewards card with the 25,000 bonus points that you get with no annual fee (at the moment).

    Here is the link to the TD Aeroplan VISA card.

    This card will have no annual fee (promoted at the branches starting tomorrow).

    It is really no competition with the American Express Gold Reward card.

  • Update your email address to American Express to get 100 FREE AIR MILES

    Provide your email address to American Express by December 22, 2013 and you can earn 100 BONUS reward miles!

    100 AIR MILES bonus
    100 AIR MILES bonus

    You will need to provide your full name, AIR MILES® Collector Number, and email address.

    The email address you provide will only be updated in American Express records if you are the Basic Cardmember associated with the Collector Number that was registered. Your email address will be updated up to 60 days after December 22, 2013.

    Here is a link to the promotion!

  • Transferring Starwood points to Aeroplan miles

    I have always wondered how long it takes to transfer Starwood Points to Aeroplan Miles.

    With Aeroplan, you can transfer up to 79,999 of your Starpoints® into Aeroplan miles at a 1-to-1 ratio. And for every 20,000 Starpoints transferred within the same transaction, you’ll earn 5,000 bonus Starpoints which will be automatically added to your transfer up to a maximum of 94,999 miles per eligible transfer.

    There is no minimum point transfer requirement for Platinum members. Gold members have a minimum point transfer of 1,500 Starpoints and Preferred members have a minimum point transfer of 2,500.

    Transfer maximums are based on a combination of member Starpoints and the Starwood Preferred Guest airline transfer transaction bonus. Only one airline transfer transaction per member per program per 24 hour period is allowed; multiple transfer transactions within the same 24 hour period will reject. Both the Starwood Preferred Guest and airline frequent flyer program accounts must have identical member names in order to complete this request; different names will cause the transfer to reject.

    Transfer time SPG to Aeroplan
    Transfer time SPG to Aeroplan

    Well it takes less than 2 business days!

    I tried to transfer online but I was not successful so I transferred 20,0o0 online and asked a great SPG rep to transfer the rest!

    Your mileage may vary – make sure the names match the accounts and verify all the numbers.