Canadian Travel Hacking

Tag: amex

  • American Express Membership Rewards – 25% Transfer Bonus to British Airways Avios

    AMEX is offering a 25% bonus on Membership Rewards (MR) points transferred to British Airways Avios until November 12, 2017.

    I love this program as a transfer partner as it really opens up the possibilities.

    You can redeem on partners like:

    • American Airlines
    • Alaska Airlines
    • Finnair
    • JAL
    • Cathay Pacific
    • LAN

    The Avios program is distanced based so their chart has some sweet spots, all for 15,000 Avios return.

    • Victoria – Seattle
    • Toronto / Montreal – New York.
    • Edmonton – Seattle
    • Calgary – Dallas
    • Edmonton – Phoenix
    • Halifax – Philadelphia

    Here are some great flights for 25,000 points return.

    • Bellingham/Seattle – Hawaii

    Here is a nice flight for 50,000 points return.

    • Vancouver – Tokyo

    You can earn 75,000 Membership Reward Points easily with the American Express Platinum Business card.

    This would be worth 93,750 Avios.

    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Limited Time Increase – Earn 25,000 Starpoints with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express

    This is the card that we use on a daily basis because of the high earn rate and the flexibility!

    American Express has upped the sign-up bonus to earn 25,000 Welcome Bonus Starpoints after you charge $1500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership.

    So if you take the 25,000 Starpoints you get with the sign up, and combine Aeroplan’s 35% transfer bonus you actually end up with 40,500 Aeroplan Miles!

    This offer runs from July 18 to October 18 so take advantage of it now before you forget and give yourself more time to enjoy those points! Also I don’t agree with many who think this card is ending in November.

    This offer ends October 18, 2017.

    Here is a roundup of some of the benefits:

    • You can earn 2 Starpoints for every dollar of eligible purchases charged to the Card at participating SPG®* and Marriott Rewards®* hotels from November 15, 2016 through November 15, 2017
    • Earn 1 Starpoint for every $1 in all other purchases charged to the Card.
    • Receive a Free Weekend Night Award when you reach $40,000 in purchases each year.
    • Enjoy an automatic upgrade to Starwood Gold Preferred Guest membership when you reach $30,000 in purchases each year.
    • As a Cardmember, you could earn more Starpoints by referring a friend. For each approved referral you could earn a referral bonus of 10,000 Starpoints.

    The last benefit is the most intriguing. If you apply for this card and refer the card to friend’s and family you will receive a bonus of 10,000 Starpoints! 

    I recommend this card to anyone getting started in travel as the points are flexible and can be transferred to airlines or even to Marriott on a 3:1 basis (i.e. this is worth 75,000 Marriott points).

    Here is a link to apply.

  • Vancouver Hotels Offering $100-$175 AmEx Gift Cards (ends August 2016)

    For every booking made at one of 36 downtown Vancouver hotels, Travelzoo members will receive American Express Gift Cards valued up to $175.

    vancouver-amex

    What you need to know:

    • Includes a mix of basic, moderate and the most luxurious hotels in the city
    • Gift cards can be used towards any purchase, including the hotel room itself
    • Every additional night booked comes with another $50 AmEx card
    • Covers most dates through August
    • We paired the best available rates with the appropriate gift card
    • Each gift card is valid per stay when you book a minimum of two nights

    $125 AmEx Gift Card for rooms priced $179-$304

    • Ramada Downtown: On Granville, in the entertainment district
    • Sandman Suites Vancouver on Davie: Overlooks English Bay
    • The Sylvia Hotel: Heritage hotel steps from the English Bay seawall

    $150 AmEx Gift Card for rooms priced $329-$450

    • Pinnacle Harbourside: Overlooks Coal Harbour and Stanley Park
    • Residence Inn by Marriott: Studio suites outfitted with kitchens
    • Executive Hotel LeSoleil: Elegant rooms feature marble bathrooms

    $175 AmEx Gift Card for rooms priced $529-$679

    • Pan Pacific Vancouver: Luxury property steps from the cruise ship terminals
    • Fairmont Waterfront Hotel: Chic harbourfront hotel with an outdoor pool
    • Fairmont Pacific Rim: Posh and modern, with a rooftop pool

    Promotion Details

    • Check-in must be before or on August 31st 2016
    • All Bookings must be made a minimum 5 days in advance of the check-in date
    • Bookings can be made using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express
    • This promotion is non-cancellable and non-transferrable
    • All bookings will be made in CAD and any other currency displayed is a representative value
    • Guests will receive their $100, $125, $150 or $175 AMEX Prepaid Gift Card per first 2 nights of booking
    • Guests will receive an additional $50 AMEX Prepaid Gift Card for every additional night after the 2nd night
    • Separate consecutive 2 night bookings at the same hotel will not result in the guest receiving more than one $100, $125, $150 or $175 AMEX Prepaid Gift Card
    • A Maximum of 3 bookings per person is enforced – all subsequent bookings will be converted into normal Best Available Rate bookings (and will apply the corresponding Terms and Conditions) and the guest will not receive an AMEX Prepaid Gift Card

    Click here to find rooms and conditions.

  • Choose from 36 Vancouver Hotels w/$50-$125 AMEX Gift Card

    36 Vancouver hotels partnered with beVancouver tourism group to offer AMEX Gift Cards (valued up to $125 per booking) that can be applied toward any purchase, including the hotel stay.

    vancouver-hotels

    Combined with already aggressive room rates, this savings equals up to 70%. Travel is valid most dates through February, perfect for early holiday shopping or as a base to explore the nearby world-class slopes.

    Hotels and deals are at a range of properties from budget-conscious to luxury, including (per night pricing):

    $50 AMEX Gift Card per stay
    •Comfort Inn – Downtown … $89
    Newly renovated hotel in the Entertainment District

    $75 AMEX Gift Card per stay
    •The Sylvia Hotel … $115-$135
    Landmark property on English Bay offering a beachside experience
    •The Best Western Plus Downtown Vancouver … $90-$105
    Overloo

  • One Day to apply for AMEX AeroplanPlus 30,000 Aeroplan Miles Sign-up bonus

    Just a quick reminder that the increased 30,000 Aeroplan Miles sign-up bonus on the American Express Aeroplan Plus card only runs through July 14, 2014.

    American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card Bonus Last Day to apply
    American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card Bonus Last Day to apply

    The normal sign-up bonus is 20,000 Aeroplan miles with no annual fee the first year. I posted some great reasons to apply for the card.

    If You Haven’t Applied Yet, Here’s Why You Should:

    • No Annual Fee the first year.
    • 30,000 Aeroplan Miles Sign-Up Bonus – usual spend is 1 Aeroplan Mile for $1 spend so a high sign up bonus makes up for the typical earn rate.
    • Flight Delay Insurance: Charge your airline ticket to your American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card and receive up to $500 coverage (aggregate maximum with Baggage Delay Insurance) for hotel, motel, restaurant expenses and other sundry items.
    • Baggage Delay Insurance: Book a flight with your American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card and receive up to $500 coverage (aggregate maximum with Flight Delay Insurance) for reasonable and necessary emergency purchases.
    • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance: When you fully charge your airline tickets to your American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card you can receive up to $500 coverage for loss or damage to your luggage or personal effects while in transit.

    Remember that this is a charge Card with a whopping 30% interest rate so make sure you can meet the minimum spending and avoid putting too much of a balance on the card (just meet the minimum spending).

    Here is the sign-up link for the American Express AeroplanPlus Gold Card.

    Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!