May 21 Update: Marriott extends free breakfast for Elite members, LH Business Class sale, Choice Hotels next systemwide promo

I hope that you all had a great Victoria Day weekend! My family and I
sure enjoyed our time around YYC and of course we made it up to Banff a
couple of times since its under an hour from my house! Anyways, by
taking a few extra days off, last Friday and yesterday, there seems to
be a lot of new bonuses out which will be added to FFB and RC over the
week and a fair bit of news to pass along.

News, Tips & Tricks

In the bonus offers section be sure to check out the new offers from IHG
and Choice Hotels as they cover Canada nicely (and the rest of the
world)

I totally forgot to mention this on the blog but back on May 7th Capital One removed
the sign up bonus on the Capital One® Aspire Cash™ World MasterCard®!
RC’s comparison chart on cash back cards was actually updated that day.

Marriott Rewards announced that Gold and Platinum Elite Marriott Rewards members will receive free continental breakfast for 2 at JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection®, Renaissance® and Marriott Hotels®
across the U.S. and Canada* – every day, 7 days a week starting on June 22. When the
concierge lounge is open, you and a guest can enjoy complimentary
continental breakfast. More details…

The PointsHound.com double up feature mentioned right here on RC last week appears to be better than initially stated by the company. Instead of around 1,000 hotels in the U.S. where you can double up at the actual number is around 3,200 hotels in 115 U.S. cities.

Icelandair will be increasing their Toronto service to 5x weekly. Really only good news if you are a regular Saga Club utilizer since they are dropping Alaska Airlines as a partner as of June 1st or if you like their sometimes cheaper fares to Europe via Iceland. (Source: Airline Route Updates)

Don’t forget to enter in my FFB8 Contest! Week 3 is in full swing right
here on the blog!. For more details and how to enter please visit www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/FFB8

Travel Deals

Lufthansa has launched a new business class sale from Canada. Book online at Lufthansa (CA): 

Athens from CAD 3940*
Barcelona from CAD 3908*
Beirut from CAD 3329*
Istanbul from CAD 3905*
Lisbon from CAD 4048*
Marseille from CAD 3935*
Tunis from CAD 3301*

* Round-trip including all taxes and fees.

The departure period is between 21st June 2013 and 8th September 2013.
The return period is between 24th June 2013 and 8th December 2013. 

Bonus Offers

Best Western Rewards

– Earn 6,600 Bonus Rewards Points for staying just two nights (nights do
not need to be consecutive) in any of the eight states along Route 66:
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and
Illinois More… Until Jun 30, 13

British Airways Executive Club

– Earn up to 7,000 Bonus Avios when you purchase Avios online. More… Until Jun 13, 13

Choice Hotels Privileges

– Earn up to 8,000 Privileges Points when you complete 2 qualifying stays at Choice Hotels Worldwide.More…   May 23 – Aug 31, 13 Valid for Residents of the U.S. and Canada only

IHG Rewards Club

– Receive a $50 Vacation Pay Prepaid MasterCard (up to $200) when you
pay for your stay with a MasterCard card for each stay of two
consecutive weekend nights (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) at participating
InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday
Inn Express®, Holiday Inn Club Vacations®, Staybridge Suites® and
Candlewood Suites® hotels worldwide. More… May 31 – Sep 1, 13 Valid for residents of the U.S. and Canada only

Turkish Miles&Smiles

– 10,000 Bonus Miles&Smiles Miles on completion of four weekend nights at participating Hilton Hotels Worldwide. More… Register by Jun 30 for stays until Aug 31, 13

US Airways Dividend Miles

– Double Dividend Miles when you fly US Airways between Charlotte and Rio De Janeiro or Sao Paulo. More… Jun 8 – Jul 31, 13