Canadian Travel Hacking

Tag: american express canada

  • American Express Canada Platinum Card – Increased Sign-up Bonus to 75,000 Membership Reward Points

    This is one of my favourite cards to get (for the hefty signup bonus)!

    I had this when I received 60,000 Membership Reward Points and now the bonus is 75,000 Membership Reward Points!

    These Membership Reward Points are convertible 1:1 to Aeroplan or Avios.

    75k-amex-bonus

    I wrote a post that lists all the 10 major benefits for this charge card.

    Basically, the sign-up bonus gives you enough points to get (3 free flights round-trip any where in north america or a nice return ticket to anywhere in Europe – includes 2 stopovers), $200 annual travel credit (can be used in 2016 and then in 2017 so this is $400 value), amazing lounge access across the globe, great benefits for insurance, and assorted AMEX perks.

    This card has a hefty annual fee $699 – but when you consider the benefits that you get it is well worth it!

    Here is a link to signup for this card (I would not wait too long as these sign-up bonuses get pulled often).

  • American Express Membership Rewards 25% Transfer Bonus to British Airways Avios – Ends September 30, 2015

    Through September 30, 2015, transfers from American Express Canada Membership Rewards Points to British Airways Avios will be at a 1:1.25 ratio.

    amex-transfer-bonus

    This means instead of transferring 25,000 Reward Points you will get 31,250 – quite a nice savings.

    With flights starting at just 4.5K Avios in coach and 9K Avios for a lie-flat business seat there are some real steals with Avios.

    The 25% bonus that means that a coach award will start at just 3,600 Membership Rewards Points and a Business award will start at 7,200 Membership Rewards Points.

    This is great news for us Canadians as the US program has a 1000:800 ratio coming up in October.

    Avios is the loyalty program for British Airways. This airline flies from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal to cities in Europe. Additionally, they have a code-share with WestJet that lets you earn Avios.

    One major benefit of the Avios program is that you can combine Avios points from different Avios schemes (British Airways) into one family member’s accounts. This can make it easier to redeem your acquired points.

    The Avios program works on distance, so you can find some great buys.  A one-way flight between Toronto and New York can be had for only 4,500 Avios points (9,000 round trip), compared to 15,000 Aeroplan Miles for the same flight (round-trip).

    Here are some good value redemptions with Avios:

    • Vancouver, BC (YVR) to Los Angeles, CA (LAX), 15,000 Avios
    • Toronto, ON (YYZ) to Miami, FL (MIA), 20,000 Avios
    • Victoria, BC (YYJ) to Seattle, WA (SEA), 9,000 Avios
    • Calgary, AB (YYC) to Dallas, TX (DFW) 20,000 Avios
    • Edmonton, AB (YEG) to Seattle, WA (SEA) 9,000 Avios

    Even a trip to Hawaii from Seattle is only 25,000 Avios round-trip!

    Positives:

    • No blackout dates for redemption.
    • Can create a Household Account that enables you to share your Avios with the other members of your household for free.
    • Fantastic redemptions with Avios on short-haul flights (Montreal or Toronto to New York or Chicago, Calgary or Edmonton to Seattle) using American Airlines or Alaska Airlines (9,000 round trip).
    • The taxes are next to nothing (except for standard airport fees).

    Negatives:

    • No retail partners in Canada to earn extra Avios.
    • Charged for extra stopovers as an additional flight.
    • Major fuel surcharges charges.

    One of easiest ways to earn Membership Reward Points with very little cost is the Gold Rewards Card (comes with 25,000 free bonus miles after spending $500 the first 3 months).

    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Receive a credit of up to $280 from Relais & Châteaux – AMEX Canada Platinum Benefit

    I received a great promotional email from American Express Canada (I  am a Platinum member and receive great offers often).

    Amex Travel Promo.
    Amex Travel Promo.

    American Express Canada has some special resort credits at Relais & Châteaux properties. 

    Explore the offers below, and when you’re ready to reserve, call Platinum Card Travel Service at 1-800-668-9147. Your resort credit will be applied to your hotel account at the time of your stay. Experiences must be booked between August 1, 2014 and January 31, 2015, for stays from August 1, 2014, to February 3, 2015. You can book up to three rooms under this promotion. Blackout dates may apply.

    Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford (Napa Valley) CA, USA 
    Receive a $200 USD credit applicable for premium wine/champagne not included in the rate when you book select room categories.

    Twin Farms, Barnard VT, USA 
    Receive a $200 USD credit applicable for premium wine/champagne not included in theall-inclusive rate.

    Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver, Canada 
    Receive a $100 CAD Food and Beverage credit applicable at Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge with a minimum two-night stay. Offer excludes alcoholic beverages, room service and gratuities. Blackout dates apply.

    Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City, Canada 
    Receive a $100 CAD Food and Beverage credit applicable at Panache Restaurant or Café Bard Artefact with a minimum two night stay.

    The Point, Upper Saranac Lake NY, USA 
    Receive a $280 USD credit applicable to spa services, excluding spa retail use. Blackout dates apply.

    The Weekapaug Inn, Westerly RI, USA 
    Receive a $200 USD Resort credit applicable to spa services, food and beverage and activities with a minimum two night stay. Blackout dates apply.

    Ocean House, Watch Hill RI, USA 
    Receive a $200 USD Resort credit applicable to spa services, food and beverage and activities with a minimum two night stay. Blackout dates apply.

    The Inn of the Five Graces, Santa Fe NM, USA 
    Receive a $200 USD credit applicable to spa services, excluding spa retail use when you book the select room categories. Blackout dates apply.

    Eden Roc at Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 
    Receive a $200 USD credit applicable to spa services inclusive of value added tax, excluding spa retail use. (Closed for the month of September).

    Kensington Riverside Inn, Calgary, Canada 
    Receive a $200 CAD Resort credit with a minimum two night stay. Credit will be applied at checkout.

    Have you ever stayed at one of these properties?

    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Earn a $50 Statement Credit from American Express Canada (Shop.ca)

    We certainly do not have any American Express Syncs like they do in the United States but at least this helps a bit! This is a great promo to stack with their existing coupon codes and promotions.

    AMEX promot
    AMEX promo

    I think some of the prices on this website are quite high but if you can find a great deal (that you can anywhere else online) and remember that you are earning Aeroplan miles you can do well. They now offer many retail cards so if you are an Aeroplan Distinction member like me on a purchase of a $200 Gap Options card (to be used at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic), you can earn 2 Aeroplan miles at Shop.ca per every dollar spent (in addition to every mile you earn on your credit card).

    1. Use a coupon code to save $15 off any purchase more than $30.
    2. Use Great Canadian Rebates to get cash-back when making your purchase (just 4% cash back right now), or Ebates (7% cash back).

    It’s easy to earn your Statement Credit:

    Register your eligible American Express Card between July 23, 2014 and September 30, 2014 at amexnetwork.ca/shopca. Purchases made during the offer period prior to registration of your eligible Card in this program are not qualifying purchases.

    Once you’ve registered, use your registered American Express Card to make a cumulative purchase of $200 or more at SHOP.CA between July 23, 2014 and September 30, 2014.

    After the offer period ends a $50 Statement Credit* will be applied to the eligible Basic Cardmember’s American Express account.

    Here are the special terms:

    To be eligible for one (1) $50 (CAD) statement credit; make a cumulative spend of $200 or more at SHOP.CA. To be eligible, the card must be registered prior to making any purchases. The purchase(s) must be charged to your registered Card during the offer period. The qualifying purchase must be completed by 11:59:59 pm EST on September 30, 2014 and subsequently posted to the account to be a qualifying purchase for this offer. Statement credit may take up to 2 billing cycles to appear on your statement and up to 8 weeks to be credited to the account, after the Cardmember has completed the qualifying purchase(s). If the statement credit is being applied to a credit card account, please note that this does not satisfy the requirements to pay the minimum due. A statement credit does not constitute a payment. The Cardmember must continue to make separate payments of at least the minimum due in accordance with the Cardmember agreement and account statement. We reserve the right to substitute an American Express Gift Card or cheque in lieu of the statement credit. American Express is responsible for fulfillment of this offer.

     

  • American Express Travel – Spend $300 in qualifying purchase, get $125 credit

    Follow 3 steps to get $125 statement credit from American Express.

    AMEX travel statement credit.
    AMEX travel statement credit.

    1. Register your Amex card between Oct 16 – Nov 17 at www.amexnetwork.ca/actravel (Link is not working, probably has to wait till Oct 16.)
    2. Between Oct 16 – Nov 17, charge more than $150 (after tax) at aircanada.com with the AMEX card (gift cards are qualified)
    3. Between Oct 16 – Nov 17, charge more than $150 (after tax) at any of the following merchants in Canada: Fairmont Hotel, The Keg, Costco (in-store only), Future Shop (in-store only), Harry Rosen, Holt Renfrew, and the Bay.

    Available at: http://www.amexnetwork.ca/actravel

    Ends November 17, 2013

  • Earn 2500 bonus American Express Canada Membership Reward Points with $250+ hotel/car rental

    I received a great promotion from American Express for their Membership Rewards program (this is a flexible spending credit card). I personally own the American Express Gold Rewards Card (use this to book my travel to get reimbursed).

    2,500 American Express Bonus Membership Rewards points Offer
    2,500 American Express Bonus Membership Rewards points offer

    You can receive 2,500 Bonus Membership Rewards points when you purchase $250 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 $250 and cannot be cumulative purchases.

    Basic Cardmembers enrolled in the American Express Membership Rewards Program that book travel through the American Express Travel website are eligible.

    2,500 Bonus Membership Rewards points offer available on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made from August 1st, 2013 to September 30th, 2013.  A one time bonus of 2,500 Membership Rewards points will be awarded per Membership Rewards account on

    Use of Membership Rewards points and an eligible Card for payment qualifies for the bonus provided at least $250 is charged to an eligible Card.

    The 2,500 bonus points is worth $25 in rewards redemption.

    Here is a link to the offer.

  • American Express Canada Rewards Promo 25% bonus – End August 31st

    I am the owner of the American Express Canada Gold Rewards Card and when I logged into my account today I noticed that they have a redemption bonus of 25% (until August 31, 2013).

    American Express Canada Gold Rewards Credit Card
    American Express Canada Gold Rewards Credit Card

    Usually 1,000 American Express Membership Rewards points = $10 credit toward travel spending. Your new return will be $12.50.

    This credit card has several perks when you register for this card:

    • Earn 20,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® points
    • Earn double points on many travel and everyday Card purchases (grocery, gas, and drugstores) and earn one point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else.
    • No annual fee for the first year.

    With the bonus American Express Membership Rewards points you would receive $250 off any travel booked! 

    How the redemption works is easy:

    On your account summary page, choose the hyperlink, “Use points for qualified travel transactions“.

    Hyperlink to use points for travel
    Hyperlink to use points for travel

    Then on your account summary page you will see the new bonus:

    Use your points against balance
    Use your points against balance

    What I like about this card is that it is flexible.

    Many people spend their travel dollars differently and you can use a travel agency, tour operator or even an online travel website to book your travel plans with these membership reward points that you earn. Charge last-minute flights, seat sales, car rentals, cruises, and more to your Card. Your points can even cover taxes and fees.

    Once it charge appears on your statement, call American Express to redeem your points. You will not see any blackouts or seat restrictions in your way when you redeem.

    You also have the option of transferring to to Aeroplan or other frequent flyer and hotel programs (usually on a 1 to 1 point basis).

    [button href=”http://canadiantravelhacking.com/go/amex-gold” align=”left”]Register for the American Express Canada Gold Reward Card[/button]

     

    [styled_box title=”Disclosure Statement” color=”black”]I own this credit card and by clicking on my referral link, you will earn a Welcome Bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points when you charge $500 in purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. I earn a referral bonus of 10,000 commission Membership Rewards points if you successfully apply for the card. [/styled_box]