Canadian Travel Hacking

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  • Walt Disney World Parks in Florida – Special Canadian Residents offer – Ends Mar 15, 2019

    Canadian residents can purchase an adult 4-day or longer base theme park ticket for as low as $316 USD plus tax—that’s just $79 USD per day, plus tax. Upgrades to a Park Hopper Option are also available.

    Tickets may be purchased online or over the phone from August 29, 2018 through March 15, 2019 for usage through September 27, 2019. Blockout dates of December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019 apply.
    • Tickets are valid for admission to one theme park per day unless a Park Hopper Option is purchased.
    • Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use or by September 27, 2019, whichever comes first.
    • Blockout dates of December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019 apply.
    • Tickets will be sold as exchange certificates, which must be redeemed at the theme park Main Entrance for admission.
    • All adult Guests must present valid proof of Canadian residency that includes a government-issued photo ID to exchange the certificate for a valid ticket at the theme park window or Guest Relations prior to first use.
    • All tickets and options are nontransferable and nonrefundable and exclude activities/events separately priced.
    • Admission is subject to capacity closures and to other restrictions.
    • Offer is valid for advance purchase only and is not available at Walt Disney World Resort theme park ticket windows.
    • Residents of Canada who are not Canadian citizens must bring proof of Canadian residency.
    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Redeem Paytm Points for Paytm Cash and gift cards

    PayTM (my favourite way to pay my bills to earn extra credit card spending miles) has made some great new changes!

    1. Receive 500 welcome bonus points just for signing up. Starting today, when you download the Paytm Canada app from either the App store or the Google Play store and sign up you’ll get 500 points instantly.
    2. Receive 2,000 points for referring a friend. When you share your referral code with a friend you’ll get 2,000 points when they sign up for Paytm Canada and pay their first bill of $50 or more.
    3. Turn your Points into Paytm Cash. You can convert your Paytm Points for a Paytm Cash Card; which can instantly be used towards a bill payment, rewards card purchase, or to send money nationwide.
    4. Buy rewards cards using your Credit Card. Before today, you were only able to purchase reward cards with your Paytm Cash or your linked bank account. Now, you can use your credit card too! Which means that you can double up on points (if you collect credit card points) when buying yourself a reward. That sounds like a win-win to us.
    5. F-R-E-E Rewards! The most exciting change to our Paytm Rewards is that we now offer FREE Rewards. This means that you can collect your points and redeem them for free rewards cards. Each brand offers a different “free reward” depending on the amount of Paytm Points you want to redeem.

    Here is a link to signup if you haven’t already.

    I use this app to pay bills like my Hydro, Gas, property taxes which normally go through my bank earning me nothing! This app lets me pay with credit card and earn some nice perks!

    Use my code PTM7399557. 

    Enjoy!

  • Airmilesshops.ca Back-to-School Promotion – Get 100/300/1000 Air Miles shopping at 2/3/5 stores

    Between August 7 and September 9, 2018, Collectors must make eligible purchases of $20 CDN or more, excluding shipping, duty and taxes, in a single transaction at

    • 5 or more different online stores to qualify for the 1,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles
    • 3 different online stores to qualify for the 300 Bonus Miles
    • 2 different online stores to qualify for the 100 Bonus Miles.


    Collectors must sign in at airmilesshops.ca before purchasing in order to get Miles and qualify for this offer. Offer can be combined with other Bonus Miles offers. This offer is valid on the purchase of gift cards only at online retailers who regularly offer Miles on gift card purchases.

    Conditions:

    Between August 7 and September 9, 2018, Collectors must make eligible purchases of $20 CDN or more, excluding shipping, duty and taxes, in a single transaction at (i) 5 or more different online stores to qualify for the 1,000 AIR MILES® Bonus Miles; or (ii) 3 different online stores to qualify for the 300 Bonus Miles; or (iii) 2 different online stores to qualify for the 100 Bonus Miles. Collectors must sign in at airmilesshops.ca before purchasing in order to get Miles and qualify for this offer. Offer can be combined with other Bonus Miles offers. This offer is valid on the purchase of gift cards only at online retailers who regularly offer Miles on gift card purchases. See airmilesshops.ca for details. All online stores are subject to change and may be withdrawn at any time. This offer does not apply to purchases made at any travel online stores (including, but not limited to travel bookings, car rentals, and hotel stays). Please allow up to 120 days after the Bonus Offer end date for Bonus Miles to be posted to Collector Account.

  • Aeroplan Announces Air Transat as a Preferred Partner – Starts July 2020

    Aimia Inc. (TSX: AIM), today announced a new preferred partnership arrangement with Air Transat, Canada’s number one holiday airline, effective July 2020. Aeroplan Miles will be earned and redeemed on all Air Transat flights and vacation packages.

    “Adding Air Transat to Aeroplan come July 2020 further differentiates and significantly enhances our Aeroplan experience by bringing our members closer to their favourite sun and holiday destinations,” said Jeremy Rabe, Chief Executive Officer, Aimia. “This is an exciting step toward our goal of providing Aeroplan Members with great value when both earning and redeeming miles on travel bookings to popular holiday and transatlantic destinations.”

    “We are thrilled about this agreement in principle and look forward to Air Transat, recently recognized by Skytrax as the World`s Best Leisure Airline, partnering with Aeroplan for its members’ leisure travel needs to some 60 destinations in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East,” said Joseph Adamo, Chief Distribution Officer, Transat.

    Aeroplan continues to expand and enhance its member offering to provide Canadians with the best travel loyalty program experience come July 2020 including the flexibility to fly any airline, anywhere at any time. Preferred agreements, like the one announced today, coupled with bulk and block purchasing and stand-alone charters, unlock meaningful discounts supporting the delivery of great value to members on flight redemptions.

  • 30% bonus when you transfer hotel points to Aeroplan when you convert them before Aug. 20, 2018

    If you have points from hotel loyalty programs and you’re unsure what to do with them, now’s your chance to convert them into Aeroplan Miles! You’ll even receive a 30% bonus** when you convert them before Aug. 20, 2018.

    Converting your hotel points into miles is a great way to boost your miles balance, so you can redeem for a wide range of rewards.

    Bonus offer valid only on conversions received from eligible hotel partner loyalty programs points into Aeroplan Miles made between July 23 and August 20, 2018 (11:59 EDT). Hotel partner loyalty programs eligible for this promotion are: IHG Rewards Club, Best Western Rewards, Choice Privileges, Coast Rewards, Radisson Rewards, Hilton Honors, Le Club Accorhotels (Accor hotels), Golden Circle Award (Shangri‑La), Wyndham Rewards.

    † The Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest programs are not participating in this conversion campaign. While members can continue to convert their Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest points into Aeroplan Miles, these conversions will not be eligible for this bonus miles promotion.

    **The total amount of miles received from the conversion of hotel loyalty program points into Aeroplan miles must be greater than or equal to 5,000 Aeroplan Miles in order to be eligible to receive the 30% bonus. Bonus Aeroplan Miles will be issued by Aeroplan as follows: once the total Aeroplan Miles are earned by exchanging points from any combination of eligible partner programs during the promotion, the bonus miles deposited will represent 30% of the total miles earned from the exchange, BONUS MILE CREDITING: Bonus Aeroplan Miles may take up to 4‑6 weeks to be credited after the promotional offer end date of August 20, 2018.

    While the conversion of Membership Rewards® points from American Express Card members accounts into Aeroplan Miles is still possible, it is not eligible for this bonus miles promotion.

  • American Express Canada MR to SPG Transfer after August 4,2018 Rate Released

    The American Express Canada website made an update this morning. I suggest that you transfer today your Membership Rewards points to Starpoints.

    As of August 4th, the current transfer option of Membership Rewards points to Starpoints will end. The new transfer option will be Membership Rewards points to “points” under the new Starwood Preferred Guest Program. The new transfer rate will be 1000 Membership Rewards points = 1200 points. Please visit members.marriott.com for more information regarding all of the changes to the Starwood Preferred Guest Program, including redemption rates.

    The rate in that program is changing so the SPG program is ending – transferring everything to Marriott.

  • Aeroplan Transforming to Become the Best Travel Loyalty Program in Canada

    Aimia today unveiled further details of the future Aeroplan program, focused on three pillars: offering increased flexibility, delivering leading value and improving the member experience.

    Recently-appointed Aimia Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Rabe, commented on the future of the program: “The value Aeroplan already delivers to members is unmatched in the Canadian travel loyalty rewards industry. In transforming Aeroplan to be the best travel loyalty program in Canada, we will maintain our differentiation on exceptional value and deliver a more flexible and enhanced experience for our engaged base of five million members. Given our strong assets and unparalleled purchasing power, Aeroplan has an incredible opportunity ahead to capitalize on the growing travel market.”

    Increased Flexibility

    Canadians love to travel and are travelling more often. Seventy-two per cent of Aeroplan Members surveyed reported that expanding redemptions to any airline would be a “big improvement” to the program1. Aeroplan’s offering will respond to Canadians’ demand to travel more often with more airlines by expanding the broad reach of destinations currently offered through Aeroplan beginning July 2020.

    “We are strengthening our air offering and beginning July 2020, Aeroplan Members will be able to choose any seat on any airline*, anywhere at any time, bringing them closer to their travel ambitions, whether that be a sunny getaway, spending time with friends abroad or exploring the world,” said Rabe.

    Aeroplan is also introducing greater flexibility through the introduction of a unique points transfer program with Kaligo Solutions in July 2020. This strategic partnership will allow members to convert their Aeroplan Miles into close to twenty airline frequent flyer programs covering all major airline alliances, along with numerous hotel loyalty programs. As a result, members will be able to select economy, business and first class reward seats on a wider selection of global airlines and also access thousands of premium hotel rooms across the world.

    While flight rewards will continue to be a core differentiator for Aeroplan, the program will expand its redemption options for a wide variety of other travel, leisure and entertainment experiences including concerts, spas, private jets and more.

    Great Value

    Members have long benefited from the great value Aeroplan offers and the average member has been with the program for ten years. In 2017, members redeemed for two million flight rewards, with close to 80 per cent of rewards redeemed booked to North American destinations.

    “Our members have told us that the value of their Aeroplan Miles is critical to them,” said Rabe. “That’s why come July 2020, we’re committed to continuing to offer our members great value on flight rewards.”

    The following round-trip flights will be offered beginning at the following Aeroplan Miles:
    • North American short-haul: 15,000
    • North American long-haul: 25,000
    • Mexico and Caribbean: 40,000
    • Europe: 60,000
    • Asia: 75,000

    “These mileage levels are the same that we provide our members today. Together, these destinations represent close to 95 per cent of flight redemptions through the Aeroplan program.”

    With robust member travel history data and lengthy booking windows and with members typically booking well ahead of their planned travel, Aeroplan can predict members’ travel intentions and procure attractive flight options in advance to meet the demand.

    Leveraging its significant volume, Aeroplan plans to use bulk and block purchasing, stand-alone charters on key routes and preferred airline partner relationships to allow it to secure discounts of between 5% and 40%, keeping costs low and providing exceptional value per mile redeemed and attractive itineraries come July 2020. With the ability to purchase seats on any airline*, Aeroplan will also have the potential to purchase the cheapest available fares and offer market fare flight rewards to the same destinations for fewer miles.

    Value is also created by earning miles faster, allowing members to reach a reward sooner. Aeroplan is committed to strengthening miles’ accumulation options, evidenced by the recent renewal of partnerships like Home Hardware and new opportunities to earn under recently announced arrangements like Amazon.ca.

    Improved Member Experience

    Aeroplan will build on its strengths as one of the most recognized travel loyalty brands in Canada to become even more top of mind when members plan travel.

    Starting this September, Aeroplan will introduce a new online travel booking tool. In addition to redeeming their Aeroplan Miles for flights and cars, members will be able to rent a car or book a stay at one of 250,000 hotels world-wide using cash. With each reservation paid for in cash, members will earn Aeroplan Miles. The ability to obtain flights using cash or miles redemption will follow, evolving Aeroplan into a broader online travel booking service.

    Alongside these updates, a mobile-first approach and the introduction of further digital tools, enhanced by artificial intelligence, will evolve the member’s user experience to be best-in-class.

    “In the near future, we will enable our members to earn or redeem miles for every part of their travel journey,” adds Rabe. “With our ability to better understand our members through our industry-leading analytics capabilities and use of AI, we will revolutionize our engagement with members, giving Aeroplan a significant advantage in the travel rewards landscape.”

  • Amazon Cash: Earn a $25 credit when you add $100 or more

    Amazon.ca is offering first-time Amazon Cash customers a $25 Amazon.ca Credit when you add $100 or more with Amazon Cash. Your Credit is automatically applied to your next eligible purchase on Amazon.ca. Just add $100 or more with Amazon Cash to receive your Credit.

    Amazon Cash transaction must occur between 12:01 am (PT) on July 9, 2018 and 11:59 pm (PT) July 17, 2018.

    Note: This is a limited time offer, one per Amazon customer account. The promotional credit expires on August 31, 2018.

    The $25 credit expires on August 31st, 2018 so be sure to make your Amazon purchase prior.  Also remember that in order to use your $25 credit, you will need to find an item sold by Amazon.

  • MBNA Alaska Sign-up Bonus increased to 30,000 Alaska Miles

    MBNA has a great promo on now where they are giving 20% more bonus miles for meeting the minimum spending.
    If you access the offer from Great Canadian Rebates, you will see that they are disclosing 25,000 miles with the $75 annual fee but if you click through to the offer it says 30,000 miles upon meeting the minimum spending of $1,000 in first 90 days of the card.
    Remember you will earn $60 cash back from Great Canadian Rebates giving you a cost of $15 for 30,000 Alaska miles!
    Here are some more details:
    • 30,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 (USD) ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22) after you make $1,000 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
    • One complimentary checked bag per passenger on the same qualifying reservation, up to a maximum of six passengers.
    • Every year on your account anniversary buy one round trip and get a companion fare of $121 (USD) ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22)◊◊on Alaska Airlines. There are no blackout dates.
    • Earn 3 miles for every $1 charged to your Alaska Airlines Mastercard credit card on tickets, vacation packages, and cargo services from Alaska Airlines.
    • Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases.

    Remember to signup with Great Canadian Rebates first before signing up for the offer to bring your out of pocket cost to just $15.

  • New HSBC World Elite Mastercard – No FX, First Year Free (30K points + $100 travel credit)

    I found a great free no forex fee card for Canadians to use!

    The HSBC World Elite Mastercard has a strict income of minimum annual gross personal income of $80,000 or a minimum annual gross household income of $150,000; or $400,000 in assets at any Canadian Financial Institution but if you apply by September 4th, 2018 you will receive up to 30,000 Points as follows:

    • 20,000 Welcome Bonus
    • 10,000 Points when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening.

    This is worth $150 towards travel purchases.

    Plus, they will waive the $149 annual fee for the first year.

    Includes:

    No foreign transaction fees
    Save on all your foreign currency purchases (even online) with no additional foreign currency conversion charges. Only the exchange rate will apply.

    Enhanced rewards program

    Earn 3% in travel rewards on all eligible travel purchases (6 Points per $1) and 1.5% in travel rewards on all other eligible purchases (3 Points per $1).

    31-day insurance coverage
    Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical insurance. Enjoy longer trips with greater peace of mind (This coverage is only available if the primary cardholder is under age 65. Please note that travel in Cuba is not covered.)

    $100 annual travel enhancement credit
    Redeemable towards select airline seat upgrades, airline baggage fees and airport lounge passes.

    Exciting travel benefits

    • Receive a complimentary membership to Mastercard Airport Experiences Provided by LoungeKey
    • Unlimited Wi-Fi through Boingo at over 1 million hotspots worldwide10
    • 10% discount on select hotel bookings on your card with Expedia and Agoda

    My thoughts are that the $100 annual travel credit is nice and I plan to use it for airline baggage fees with Air Canada and the no-fx is a deal for me (saves me 2.5%).