Apr 30 Update: Alberta to ban points/miles on prescriptions, latest set of Aeroplan Distinction flights, tons of new bonuses

Alberta joins B.C. and Ontario in banning points/miles on prescriptions, Distinction flights in Canada and more!

News, Tips & Tricks

While we were on vacation last week we missed this important development right here in Alberta. It appears that the Alberta College of Pharmacists has followed British Columbia and Ontario’s lead in banning the awarding of loyalty points/miles on prescriptions. This change is due to take effect on May 1st.You may recall from a few months ago we provided lots of coverage of the B.C. issue thanks to our reader Randy out of Victoria and now it is happening right here in the home province of Rewards Canada. The biggest hit that we see is the Safeway/Air Miles partnership as it is a huge draw to using Safeway pharmacies and as such there is a big push from the two (plus Sobey’s) to have this decision reversed. There is an online petition which at the time of posting already had over 22,000 Albertans voicing their opinion. I haven’t seen any communications from Rexall (Aeroplan), Sobey’s (Club Sobey’s/Aeroplan),  Shoppers Drug Mart (Optimum) or others yet but at least with Shoppers there is a work around as they award Optimum Points on buying Shoppers Gift Cards which can then be used for the prescription purchase. Perhaps for the time being Safeway should do the same, award Air Miles for Safeway GCs!  I also encourage our readers in Alberta to go and sign the petition at http://iearneditpetition.ca/

Aeroplan has released their next set of Distinction Flights. These are flights that only Aeroplan Distinction members can redeem for. The first batch of flights were in March for destinations in the U.S. and Mexico while this newest set is for flights within Canada. Here are the flight dates and times. The redemption amounts are 25,000 Aeroplan Miles for Economy or 50,000 for Business. Full details can be found here

and don’t miss this post from earlier today:

Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards – Save 25% on award tickets between Toronto/Montreal & Europe for summer travel

Travel Deals

Lufthansa has launched a new seat sale from Canada!

 Montreal to Venice from CAD 939*
 Montreal to Budapest from CAD 1,269*
 Montreal to Frankfurt from CAD 1,419*
 Montreal to St. Petersburg from CAD 1,509*

* Round-trip, Book by: 02.05.2014, Travel: 16.05.2014-17.12.2014

The departure period is between 16th May 2014 and 18th June 2014.

The return period is between 23rd May 2014 and 17th December 2014.

Book online at Lufthansa
 Montreal to Paris from CAD 909*
 Toronto to Barcelona from CAD 979*
 Toronto to Florence from CAD 1,019*
 Vancouver to London from CAD 1,099*

* Round-trip including all taxes and fees.  Book by: 02.05.2014,

The departure period is between 7th May 2014 and 18th June 2014.

The return period is between 14th May 2014 and 17th December 2014.

Book online at Lufthansa

Bonus Offers

Air Astana Nomad Club (on FrequentFlyerBonuses.com only)


50% Nomad Club Points discount on Air Astana award tickets
to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. More… Book by May 15 for travel until May 31, 14

Air Canada Aeroplan

– OFFER EXTENDED Earn Triple Aeroplan Miles when you rent an
Intermediate (Group C) or larger vehicle for 2 days or more at
participating locations in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Australia and
New Zealand. More… Until Jun 30, 14

Air France KLM Flying Blue

– Save up to 50% with Promo Awards Save 25% to 50% on the Award Miles
usually required for award ticket. Destinations vary by each promotional
period. More… Book by May 31 for travel between Jul 1 and Aug 31, 14

Alitalia MilleMiglia

– Earn up to 750 Bonus MilleMiglia Miles for stays at over 70 Accor hotels throughout Italy. More… Book by May 31 for stays until Aug 31, 14


Double MilleMiglia Miles for stays of 4 or more nights at the Petriolo SPA Resort. More… Until May 31, 14


Double MilleMiglia Miles for stays of 2 or more nights at
participating NH Hotels in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands,
Portugal, Spain or the United Kingdom. More… Until Jun 30, 14


Double MilleMiglia Miles for stays at UNA Hotel Napoli, UNA Hotel One (Siracusa – Sicily) or the UNA Hotel Modena. More… g Until Jun 30, 14


Triple MilleMiglia Miles for stays of 2 or more nights at over 160 participating World Hotels Worldwide. More… Until Dec 31, 14

Carlson Hotels Club Carlson

– Earn up to Triple Gold Points for stays at participating Carlson Rezidor hotels in Asia Pacific. More… Until Aug 31, 14


20,000 Bonus Gold Points when you arrive Thursday through
Sunday and stay two or more nights at a participating Radisson Blu® or
Park Inn® by Radisson hotel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More… Until Jun 29, 14

Etihad Guest

– Double Guest Miles on all South African Airways flights Worldwide. More… Until Jun 30, 14

– Double Guest Miles when you stay at any Viceroy hotel or resort Worldwide. More… Until Dec 19, 14

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

– Earn up to 7,500 Bonus Mileage Bank Miles when you fly on American Airlines between Chicago or Los Angeles and Tokyo. More… Until May 31, 14 Valid for JMB Members in the Americas and Japan only

– Double Mileage Bank Miles on all SriLankan flights Worldwide when flown in an eligible booking class. More… May 15 – Jun 30, 14

– Triple Mileage Bank Miles for stays at any participating Hyatt Hotel
Worldwide starting with your second stay. Triple Miles can be earned on
all stays from your second through to fifteenth stay. More…   Until Aug 31, 14

– Double Mileage Bank Miles when you stay on a qualifying rate for at
least 3 consecutive nights at any participating Millennium &
Copthorne Hotel Worldwide. More…   Until Jun 30, 14

Jet Airways JetPrivilege

– Triple JetPrivilege Miles for stays at any participating Hyatt Hotel
Worldwide starting with your second stay. Triple Miles can be earned on
all stays from your second through to fifteenth stay. More… Until Aug 31, 14

– Double JetPrivilege Miles for stays at participating Citrus Hotels in India. More… Until May 31, 14

– Double JetPrivilege Miles when you stay at any participating IHG hotel
in Australasia, Southeast & Southwest Asia, Japan & Korea, and
the Middle East & Africa. More… Until Jul 31, 14


Double JetPrivilege Miles for stays at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. More… Until Jun 30, 14


Earn up to Triple JetPrivilege Miles when you stay on an eligible rate at any participating Mandarin Oriental Hotel Worldwide. More… Until May 31, 14


Double JetPrivilege Miles for stays of 2+ nights at participating Preferred Hotel Group Hotels Worldwide. More… Until May 31, 14


Double JetPrivilege Miles for stays of 2+ nights at participating World Hotels Worldwide. More… Until Dec 31, 14

Miles & More

– Triple Miles & Miles for stays at any participating Hyatt Hotel
Worldwide starting with your second stay. Triple Miles can be earned on
all stays from your second through to fifteenth stay. More… Until Aug 31, 14

– Earn up to 3,000 Bonus Miles & More Miles for stays at Best Western hotels in Germany and Luxembourg. More… Until Jun 30, 14

– Triple Miles & More Miles for stays at participating Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. More.. Until Aug 31, 14

– Double Miles & More Miles on all convertible rentals in Germany. More… Book by May 31 for rentals until Jun 30, 14


Double Miles & More Miles on Hertz rentals of 3 or more days in Europe. More… Book by May 31 for rentals until Jun 30, 14

– Earn up to 50,000 Bonus Miles & More miles when you apply for and
receive The Lufthansa Premier Miles & More World MasterCard. More…

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

– Double Flying Club Miles for stays at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray or Madinat Jumeirah. More… Until Sep 30, 14


Double Flying Club Miles and a complimentary upgrade for stays
at all Radisson Blu Edwardian hotels throughout the UK. More… Until Jul 24, 14

– Double Flying Club Miles on all Hertz rentals of 3 or more days Worldwide. More… Until Jun 6, 14