Canadian Offer: 50,000 pts (20K approval, 30K for 1k spend) for MBNA BW Mastercard
#34
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canadia
Programs: A loyal Amerisuites customer... oh wait
Posts: 2,033
No. This offer expired sometime in November 2013.
MilesBuzz! Canada, post 146
MilesBuzz! Canada, post 146
#35
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Recent history for the MBNA Best Western MC has been:
Aug-Oct 2012 - 50,000 pts (20K, then 30K after 1K spend by Oct 31)
Jun-Aug 2013 - 60,000 pts (20K, then 30K after 1K spend by July 31, 10K after another 1K spend by Aug 31)
Sep-Nov 2013 - 50,000 pts (20K, then 30K after 1K spend by Nov 31)
Not sure if anyone can predict when the next signup promo will be based on these dates.
It's been an ongoing 20K signup promo at GCR with $60 rebate for over 1.5 years now. Each time I skipped the GCR promo in favour of the additional 30K-40K BWRs, which are worth much more in hotel stays than $60 cash.
Anyway, thank you MBNA for an easy 160,000 pts!!
Aug-Oct 2012 - 50,000 pts (20K, then 30K after 1K spend by Oct 31)
Jun-Aug 2013 - 60,000 pts (20K, then 30K after 1K spend by July 31, 10K after another 1K spend by Aug 31)
Sep-Nov 2013 - 50,000 pts (20K, then 30K after 1K spend by Nov 31)
Not sure if anyone can predict when the next signup promo will be based on these dates.
It's been an ongoing 20K signup promo at GCR with $60 rebate for over 1.5 years now. Each time I skipped the GCR promo in favour of the additional 30K-40K BWRs, which are worth much more in hotel stays than $60 cash.
Anyway, thank you MBNA for an easy 160,000 pts!!
#36
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
You kept the cards or cancel after each promo? and reapply?
#38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Aeroplan, Best Western, IHG Rewards, AAdvantage, Executive Club
Posts: 166
I just wanted to give my thumbs up to these BW-MBNA promotions as well.
Did anyone else found that it took a while for the points to posts? The points eventually arrived, but a little longer than expected.
Did anyone else found that it took a while for the points to posts? The points eventually arrived, but a little longer than expected.
#39
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
It varied, sometimes on the first statement, other times had to keep calling for months to get the points. Want to use these later in the year at Beijing, Bangkok, Chicago. Any suggestions at these locations? I did not find any BW at Singapore.
#40
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Cancelled each time, and then re-applied.
In the most recent rinse 'n repeat scenario, I completed the full $2K spend in July 2013 and got all 60K posted after my July statement. That promo ended at end of Aug.
Then before the dust even settled, the 50K version of the promo started up again in Sep 2013 with expiry at end of Nov. So, I cancelled in Oct, and reapplied in Nov...I cut it a bit too close, as I only got the card in my hands on Nov 29th, giving my just 2 days to complete the $1K spend. A quick shopping trip to Metro for gift cards and some cleverly planned over-payments online for some of my utilities (Telus, Rogers, etc) in advance, made it easy for me to hit that $1K by Nov 30th.
See my timelines above...didn't even carry the card for more than 3 months, cancelled and re-applied. All was good with MBNA! Obviously, I don't recommend others to apply willy-nilly like I did...I'm fortunate that I don't care about my credit score (no mortgage, no loans), other than it stays healthy enough to keep my card application approvals going through successfully.
Always posts within a day or two after my first spend-qualifying statement. Though, I did read at RFD that others had issues getting the points in a timely matter, but they did get them eventually. But, I've never had issues...I guess I'm like Will Munny, always "lucky in the draw".
In the most recent rinse 'n repeat scenario, I completed the full $2K spend in July 2013 and got all 60K posted after my July statement. That promo ended at end of Aug.
Then before the dust even settled, the 50K version of the promo started up again in Sep 2013 with expiry at end of Nov. So, I cancelled in Oct, and reapplied in Nov...I cut it a bit too close, as I only got the card in my hands on Nov 29th, giving my just 2 days to complete the $1K spend. A quick shopping trip to Metro for gift cards and some cleverly planned over-payments online for some of my utilities (Telus, Rogers, etc) in advance, made it easy for me to hit that $1K by Nov 30th.
#41
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canadia
Programs: A loyal Amerisuites customer... oh wait
Posts: 2,033
Quote:
Originally Posted by pointshogger
I just wanted to give my thumbs up to these BW-MBNA promotions as well.
Did anyone else found that it took a while for the points to posts? The points eventually arrived, but a little longer than expected.
It varied, sometimes on the first statement, other times had to keep calling for months to get the points. Want to use these later in the year at Beijing, Bangkok, Chicago. Any suggestions at these locations? I did not find any BW at Singapore.
Originally Posted by pointshogger
I just wanted to give my thumbs up to these BW-MBNA promotions as well.
Did anyone else found that it took a while for the points to posts? The points eventually arrived, but a little longer than expected.
It varied, sometimes on the first statement, other times had to keep calling for months to get the points. Want to use these later in the year at Beijing, Bangkok, Chicago. Any suggestions at these locations? I did not find any BW at Singapore.
#42
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
I understood that redeeming for hotel nights gets the best return. I certainly felt that last year I got a good deal in Copenhagen, better than $100 for 26000 points but maybe I did not shop for cheaper hotels or something.
#43
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,846
I have churned this card twice now and I am getting 3 nights in NYC at the new BW Herald Square for free. That's a savings of about $1,200, so YEAH, I'd say this statement is CORRECT!
#44
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Three-time churner for me. I was hooked after the first 50K promo. I redeemed 45K and got 4 nites out of them (1 nite was due to a 'glitch' ). Each nite would have set me back $120-$150 each, so was worth about $500 for me. At one of the hotels, I needed to book a pet-friendly hotel for our pooch, which required a nominal $20 fee. However, using the points to pay for the room, the front desk staff didn't even bother to bill me separately for our furry friend!
What is also so refreshing and satisfying with these free hotel stays is that unlike Aeroplan, and other airline, car rental programs, it really IS free! You don't have to pay any 'taxes' or scamcharges. If it's 10K, 15K or 20K for a room, that's all there is to it. Just book the room online on points, check in and give them your credit card for deposit/incidentals, and they hand you the keys to your room. Usually I like to ask for a receipt when I check out, but because I usually have no incidentals, one time the staff didn't even know what to do to generate the $0 statement! She assured me I would be billed $0, and asked me why I want a statement/receipt...I just want proof, that's all...like a souvenir.
So, anyway, I wouldn't even consider exchanging the points for gift cards when the hotel stays offer much better value. Even when you consider that the $1000 spend requirement diverts your spending away from, say for eg. a 1.5% cash back credit card program , the 'opportunity cost' of not getting an extra $15 in the other card's rebate cheque, is still minimal and thus worth it, to parlay it into booking the rooms for 'free'.
After my 2nd (60K) and 3rd (50K) churn, I've now got a balance of 115K to play with now. NY BW Herald Square you say??? Hmmm....