Last fall MBNA made the decision to stop accepting new applications for their Alaska Airlines, Best Western and Harley-Davidson co-brand credit cards. They did however allow existing cardholders to keep their cards and continuing using them as usual. Earlier this month notices were sent out to holders of the Alaska cards that their cards were being converted to MBNA Rewards cards or being closed. This past week saw similar notices begin to arrive for MBNA Best Western Mastercard holders that their cards will be converted or closed.
Best Western Mastercards being closed or converted to MBNA Platinum Plus Mastercard
Rewards Canada reader Satty let us know they received a notice that their MBNA Best Western Mastercard will be cancelled as of September 12 and Platypus on RFD posted they received notice their BW card would be converted to the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus card.
Unfortunately, just as we have seen with the Alaska cards we do not have details as to why some cardholders receive the conversion option and others are being closed. Best guess is those who do use their card regularly (thus making MBNA some money at least) are being converted and those who do not use it are having their accounts closed. Let me stress that is just a guess however.
The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard
The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is one of the better no annual fee travel rewards cards in the market but if you are a BW loyalist that doesn’t really help you as you will no longer be earning Best Western Rewards points. The Platinum Plus card does earn 2 points per dollar on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases (up to $10,000 per category annually) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. It also receives a 10% birthday bonus providing up to 10,000 extra points annually.
No mention of a future conversion option
Unlike the news from MBNA that they will be adding a conversion option from MBNA Rewards to Alaska Airlines (read more: MBNA Rewards to Alaska Airlines conversion will be open to ALL cardholders pending final agreement) there is no indication there will be such an option for Best Western. There are now no options to earn BWR points in Canada with a Canadian credit card as the only other method via Diners Club ended several years ago.
Wrapping it up
Grandfathered MBNA Best Western Mastercards will be discontinued as of September 12 which means Canada will only be left with credit cards for one hotel loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy. Quite a difference from nearly a decade ago when we saw numerous card options from five separate hotel chains. Unfortunately that is the Canadian market for you – if a card isn’t for a major Canadian loyalty program or proprietary credit card program, it is tough to make it. Best Western now joins the likes of American Airlines, Choice Hotels, Delta Airlines, and IHG Hotels as unsuccessfully trying to make a go of a co-brand card in Canada.