June 24 Update: newleaf marks its return, SPG Amex supplementary cards free in first year, Best Western promo update

News, Tips & Tricks

If you watched any Canadian news broadcasts last night
you’ll have seen one of the big new stories as being the return of
newleaf. The ultra low cost carrier was originally
slated to start service on February 12th but the CTA did not grant them
their license since the flights were not operated by them but by Flair
Air out of Kelowna. Flair Air is a division of Kelowna Flightcraft,
best known for their cargo services and also the being the airline that
was Greyhound Air back in the 90s! Now, it looks like everything has
been cleared up with the CTA and newleaf is ready to launch on July 25th with the following schedule:

Edmonton – Abbotsford 2 weekly (Day 47)

Edmonton – Fort St. John 2 weekly (Day 47)

Edmonton – Kamloops 2 weekly (Day 36)

Hamilton – Edmonton 2 weekly (Day 15)

Hamilton – Halifax 2 weekly (Day 47)

Hamilton – Moncton 2 weekly (Day 15)

Hamilton – Saskatoon 2 weekly (Day 36)

Hamilton – Winnipeg 3 weekly (Day 157)

Kamloops – Victoria 2 weekly (Day 36)

Kelowna – Regina 2 weekly (Day 47)

Kelowna – Saskatoon 2 weekly (Day 36)

Kelowna – Winnipeg 3 weekly (Day 157)

Winnipeg – Abbotsford 2 weekly (Day 47)

Winnipeg – Victoria 2 weekly (Day 47)

The airline is going to be run much like Ireland’s Ryanair and the
U.S.’s Spirit Airlines by charging for just about everything. If you
can fly with just a purse or laptop bag and check-in online and don’t
print a paper boarding pass you’ll get their lowest fares. Outside of
that you’ll have to pay more. You can find all the details on this new
airline at flynewleaf.ca.

Plane details:

Seat Map – Courtesy Flair Air

Now are they actually cheaper? Here is a comparison of WestJet versus newleaf for Edmonton to Hamilton Aug 8-15:

Nope. WestJet is cheaper, granted not direct but you’ll earn WestJet Rewards dollars and not have to pay for carry on luggage.

But checking Winnipeg to Victoria in September and they are significantly cheaper with direct flights:

Like always, it is best to shop around to see who has the best deal for your flights. Remember if newleaf codes as a travel provider on your credit card you will be able to redeem proprietary credit card points for their flights. Find out more about Proprietary Credit Card Reward programs here.

One final note, lets hope they make it as the other airline like newleaf that partnered with Flair Airlines, GoSarvaq didn’t even make it off the ground.

If you don’t have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express we do explain in this post why you should still consider getting it and now it got even better for those who need supplementary cards. As of yesterday any new applications that include a supplementary card will have that card’s fee waived in the first year for a $50 savings. Find out more and apply for the card here.

Yesterday we let you know about a potentially good Best Western Rewards offer. Well BW got back to us and the bad news this promotion is only open for Best Western Rewards members in Ireland, Russia, Spain & Portugal, Africa, and Middle East. So unless you have a residence or address there where you can change your BW Rewards profile to this offer won’t work for us Canadians.

Posts since our last update:

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Bonus Offers

Air Canada / Aeroplan

– Double Aeroplan Miles for stays on the Linger Longer offer at participating Langham Hotels Worldwide. More… Until Sep 30, 16

Le Club accorhotels

– 300 Bonus Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays at Accor Hotels in Moscow. More… Jun 29 – Aug 31, 16


Triple Le Club Accorhotels Points for stays of 2 or more nights at Accor Hotels in South Korea. More… Book by Aug 28 for stays until Sep 4, 16