January 29 Update: Case Study of a Fixed Return Card vs. a Reward Chart Card, Canadian North Aurora Rewards award ticket sale & lots more!

Our Case Study: Fixed Return Travel Card versus a Reward Chart Travel Card has been updated and relaunched. We removed it a couple of months ago as it used the Capital One Aspire World Elite Mastercard in the comparison and as we all know that card is no longer available for new applications. We have replaced it with another straight 2% back card, the mbna Rewards World Elite Mastercard. You can read the Case Study here

Canadian North Aurora Rewards members can save 30% on all Aurora Rewards award flights if you book by February 4th! Find out more here

A reminder that PC Plus and Shoppers Optimum become PC Optimum on
February 1st. I have finished a bunch of interviews over the past few
days on the upcoming consolidation and one good question that came up is
what could Loblaw’s do to promote this. Here’s what I said (and feel
free to take it PC Optimum) for this coming weekend, February 1 to 4
offer points on all purchases at Loblaw’s stores (Real Canadian
Superstore, No Frills etc.) not just those items selected for you in
the app and then offer 25x points over at Shoppers Optimum. Get your
customers in and get them used to new program and reward them handsomely
at the start and they won’t forget it. I know it won’t happen as they
probably already have something planned and usually it’s never as good
as it should be for the consumer. Anyways it’s just a thought. Read our post on the merger here.

Hainan Airlines, who already fly to Calgary and Toronto
are adding flights to Vancouver. Coming this May you’ll be able to fly
Vancouver-Tianjin-Shenzen twice per week. Hainan Airlines has their own
frequent flyer program called Fortune Wings (you can find their bonus
offer listing here on Rewards Canada) or what probably makes more sense
for Canadian’s flying on Hainan is crediting those flights to Alaska
Airlines. (Source Routesonline)

Not only did WestJet announce the brand new Halifax-Paris service today, they also announced a whole bunch of route enhancements for the summer:

Vancouver Toronto Calgary Edmonton
  • An increase of 24 weekly flights between Vancouver and Calgary
    for a total of 16 times daily, with hourly service in both directions
    (top of the hour from Vancouver, and bottom of the hour from Calgary).
  • Vancouver-Edmonton from 50 to 59 times weekly (nine times each business day).
  • Vancouver-Calgary, from 88 to 112 times weekly (16 times daily).
  • Vancouver-Kelowna from 40 to 49 times weekly (seven times daily).
  • Vancouver-Ottawa from seven to 14 times weekly (twice daily).
  • Vancouver-Regina from six to seven times weekly (daily).
  • Vancouver-Fort St. John from six to 12 times weekly.
  • Vancouver-Victoria from 33 to 35 times weekly (five times daily).
  • Vancouver-Cancun, from two to three times weekly.
  • Vancouver-Cabo San Lucas from one to two times weekly.
  • Toronto-Ottawa, 76 to 85 times weekly (13 times each business day).
  • Toronto-Montreal, from 88 to 93 times weekly (14 times each business day).
  • Toronto-Saskatoon, from 10 to 12 times weekly.
  • Toronto-Victoria, from three to four times weekly.
  • Toronto-Cancun, from nine to 10 times weekly.
  • Toronto-Montego Bay, from 10 to 11 times weekly.
  • Toronto-Nassau, from four to five times weekly.
  • Toronto-Puerto Plata, from two to three times weekly.
  • Toronto-Punta Cana, from five to six times weekly.
  • Toronto-Fort Myers, from four to five times weekly.
  • Calgary-Vancouver, from 88 to 112 times weekly (16 times
    daily), with hourly service in both directions (top of the hour from
    Vancouver, and bottom of the hour from Calgary).

  • Calgary-Nanaimo, from two to three times daily.
  • Calgary-Edmonton, from 66 to 79 times weekly (12 times each business day).
  • Calgary-Halifax, from 14 to 15 times weekly.
  • Calgary-Kelowna, from 45 to 47 times weekly (seven times each business day).
  • Calgary-Fort McMurray, 24 to 31 times weekly (five times each business day).
  • Calgary-Windsor, from six to seven times weekly (one time daily)
  • Calgary-Grande Prairie from 18 to 26 times weekly (4 times each business day)
  • Calgary-Montreal, from 19 to 20 times weekly.

    Calgary-Abbotsford, from 33 to 35 times weekly (five times daily).

  • Calgary-Penticton, from 10 to 14 times weekly (two times daily).
  • Calgary-Victoria, from 35 to 36 times weekly (five times daily).
  • Calgary-Dallas/Ft. Worth, from six weekly to seven weekly (one time daily).
  • Calgary-Las Vegas, from 20 to 22 weekly.
  • Calgary-Palm Springs, from four to five weekly.
  • Edmonton-Calgary, from 77 to 86 times weekly (12 times each business day).
  • Edmonton-Vancouver, from 49 to 58 times weekly (nine times each business day).
  • Edmonton-Kelowna, from 48 to 49 times weekly (seven times daily).
  • Edmonton-Fort McMurray, from 24 to 25 times weekly.
  • Edmonton-Saskatoon, from 19 to 20 times weekly.
  • Edmonton-Las Vegas, from 10 to 11 times weekly.
  • Edmonton-Los Angeles from six to seven times weekly (once daily).

We’ve added the RBC Visa Platinum to our RBC page. The card offers no rewards but is a low interest card offering 5.9% on balance transfers and cash advances. Could be used for those who have a lot of debt and need to decrease the amount of interest they are paying.

Posts since our last update:

Travel Deals

Remember to visit Rewards Canada’s Travel Booking site to book travel directly with many of your favourite airlines, hotels and more!

Canadian Bonus Offers

Choice Privileges

– Elite Status Match – Choice Privileges will match the elite status you hold in another hotel loyalty program. More… For residents of the U.S., Canada and Europe only

Other Bonus Offers

Alitalia MilleMiglia

– 50% Bonus MilleMiglia Miles when you buy or gift miles. More… Until Mar 31, 18

American AAdvantage

– Double AAdvantage Miles and save up to 15% off the base rate on
qualifying Affordable Rate rentals of one or more days at participating
locations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Europe, Mexico, Middle
East, New Zealand and St. Thomas. More… Until Jun 30, 18

IHG Rewards Club

– IHG Rewards Club PointBreaks Redeem only 5,000 to 15,000 points for
stays at select hotels Worldwide. Offer and participating hotels are
subject to change at any time. More… Until Apr 30, 18

Thai Royal Orchid

– Earn up to 4x ROP Miles on Hertz rentals in Thailand. More… Until Apr 30, 18

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

– Triple Flying Club Miles for stays at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives. More… Until Sep 30, 18

Follow Rewards Canada:

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+ YouTube Instagram RSS Newsletter