Canadian Travel Hacking

Tag: via rail

  • Getting Elite status with the VIA Preference program – Via Rail

    As much as I love flying, I loave taking a train! I don’t know – I had a poor experience in Europe while on honeymoon (another post for another time).

    Via Rail frequent traveller.
    Via Rail frequent traveller.

    Via Rail is the most popular train company in Canada. If you travel with VIA Rail, you can sign up for free with VIA Preference to earn loyalty points.

    In Canada we have some of the most beautiful train routes in the world!

    VIA Préférence offers a Welcome Bonus of 500 points for all new members who travel and spend $250 on VIA Rail within six months of registration. With free travel starting at only 550 VIA Préférence points, a first reward trip could be just around the bend!

    You can start earning points as soon as you become a member. You will get a membership number once you sign up for the program. To earn points, you must have your membership number on hand every time you buy a ticket. You can also use your membership number to sign in to your account at viapreference.com so you can update your profile and access personalized content and special offers created just for you.

    Your membership card will be sent to you as soon as you spend $250 on travel with VIA, or take two one-way trips with VIA.

    The qualifying period for each status runs from April 1 through March 31 of each year. You will enjoy the perks of the new status between May 1 and April 30 (i.e. 31 days after the qualifying period ends on March 31).

    Here are the highlights of the elite statuses:

    Préférence

    • Basic membership
    • When you spend between $0 and $999 (before taxes)
    • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on VIA Rail (before taxes)

    Privilège

    • Achieved when you spend between $1,000 and $1,999 (before taxes)
    • Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on VIA Rail (before taxes)
    • Selection 2 exclusive coupons
    • Access to a priority ticket line in major stations
    • Personalized luggage tag

    Premier

    • Achieved when you spend $2,000 or more (before taxes) and complete at least 8 segments (a one-way trip counts as a segment and if you change, it counts as a new segment)
    • Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on VIA Rail (before taxes)
    • Selection 4 exclusive coupons
    • Access to a priority ticket line in major stations
    • Personalized luggage tag
    • Unrestricted reward travel (except December 23 and 24)
    • Priority boarding in Montréal, Toronto and Quebec City, Business or Economy class
    • Access to Business lounges when travelling in Business or Economy Plus
    • Priority meal selection on board when travelling in Business class
    • Priority access to the VIA Rail Service Centre

    Are any readers frequent Via Rail travellers? What should be my first trip on Via Rail? 

  • VIA Rail Travel All of Canada at Half Price (Offer ends March 9th)

    Get 50% off the Economy Plus adult fare (Economy class) or the adult Regular fare (Sleeper and Sleeper Plus classes) for travel across Canada, by June 15, 2014 inclusive
    Valid for travel everywhere in Canada.

    VIA Rail Canada - (Back to Home)

    But hurry – this offer ends March 9, 2014.
    Conditions apply.
    *One-way Economy adult fare for travel in Economy class, excluding sales taxes.
    **One-way Discounted fare in Sleeper class (meals not included) in a cabin for two (2), in double occupancy, excluding sales taxes. Price per person.
    †One-way Discounted fare in Sleeper Plus class (meals included), in an upper berth, for travel by June 15, 2014, excluding sales taxes.
    ††One-way Discounted fare in Sleeper Plus class (meals included) in a cabin for two (2), in double occupancy, for travel by June 15, 2014, excluding sales taxes. Price per person.
    Tickets must be purchased no later than March 9, 2014. The number of seats is limited. The 50% discount applies to the Regular adult fare or Economy Plus adult fare. To benefit from this offer, Economy fare, Sleeper class Discounted fare or Sleeper Plus class Discounted fare must be selected for travel in Economy, Sleeper or Sleeper Plus classes. Fares may vary based on selected day of week and time of departure. Not valid for Sleeper Plus class on the Ocean (Montreal-Halifax).

    Buy your tickets online or call 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).