Canadian Offer: 50,000 pts (20K approval, 30K for 1k spend) for MBNA BW Mastercard
#46
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,846
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....
It is SUCH an EASY churn, too! No annual fee, easy application. I love the MBNA cards for their easy churnability! And cash back on GCR!
108,000 points will get you 3 nights at the BW Herald Square in NYC! Go for it!!!! I also got Diamond Elite status match at BW. Won't get me much (since breakfasts are already free!), but may get me the better room! Can't wait!
#47
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Whoah, slow down there, poke. Yes, I love the easy MBNA churns too, but the higher signup promos for the Best Western card have been outside of the GCR offers. Yes, you can apply for the BW MC card at GCR and get $60 cash rebate, but it's usually only for 20K BWRs. I'd rather forego the $60 cash and apply for the card when there is a higher promo (not via GCR) and get the additional 30K or 40K, which is worth more than $60 when applied towards a couple of hotel nights.
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Día Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,457
Anyone else having difficulty getting the last 10K pts from the 60K sign up bonus? I've called at least 3 times going back to end of Nov. Points still haven't posted. (I got the first 50K pts no problem.)
Trying to check my account today, and I can't even sign in.
Trying to check my account today, and I can't even sign in.
#49
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
Anyone else having difficulty getting the last 10K pts from the 60K sign up bonus? I've called at least 3 times going back to end of Nov. Points still haven't posted. (I got the first 50K pts no problem.)
Trying to check my account today, and I can't even sign in.
Trying to check my account today, and I can't even sign in.
#50
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Anyone else having difficulty getting the last 10K pts from the 60K sign up bonus? I've called at least 3 times going back to end of Nov. Points still haven't posted. (I got the first 50K pts no problem.)
Trying to check my account today, and I can't even sign in.
Trying to check my account today, and I can't even sign in.
Anyway, I've also experienced difficulties recently in logging in at BestWestern.com, but I've noticed that when you enter your username and password and click the "Sign In" link, it just spins its wheels for a long time...after about 30s, if I click on the "Rewards" link, and "Rewards Home", it closes the Sign In window and you are actually logged in. Give it a try.
#51
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
[B]Anyway, I've also experienced difficulties recently in logging in at BestWestern.com, but I've noticed that when you enter your username and password and click the "Sign In" link, it just spins its wheels for a long time...after about 30s, if I click on the "Rewards" link, and "Rewards Home", it closes the Sign In window and you are actually logged in. Give it a try.
#52
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canadia
Programs: A loyal Amerisuites customer... oh wait
Posts: 2,033
Same for me. MbNa acknowledges I have earned all 60,000, that they sent all 60,000, in 3 separate transactions, but they can't figure out why the 3rd one never arrived. Still waiting for those 10,000, which were earned in August.
#53
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Avios, AMEX, AeroPlan, BMO, AS, WestJet
Posts: 104
i guess most people didnt keep these cards even though it has $0 fee because they didnt bring back promo 50k like they had in 2012 and 2013 (unfortunately missed all of them as im relatively new to churning)
#54
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canadia
Programs: A loyal Amerisuites customer... oh wait
Posts: 2,033
It's a good time for Canadians to redeem Best Western points.
Because of the horrible CDN - US exchange rate, I'm going to cash in my points soon for US $ gift cards.
I have a bunch of Best Western points stored up.
Enough to buy CDN$250 in gift cards... or better yet: US$250 in gift cards!
Retailers include gas stations, Target, or Walmart (for a little extra).
Because of the horrible CDN - US exchange rate, I'm going to cash in my points soon for US $ gift cards.
I have a bunch of Best Western points stored up.
Enough to buy CDN$250 in gift cards... or better yet: US$250 in gift cards!
Retailers include gas stations, Target, or Walmart (for a little extra).
#55
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,846
It's a good time for Canadians to redeem Best Western points.
Because of the horrible CDN - US exchange rate, I'm going to cash in my points soon for US $ gift cards.
I have a bunch of Best Western points stored up.
Enough to buy CDN$250 in gift cards... or better yet: US$250 in gift cards!
Retailers include gas stations, Target, or Walmart (for a little extra).
Because of the horrible CDN - US exchange rate, I'm going to cash in my points soon for US $ gift cards.
I have a bunch of Best Western points stored up.
Enough to buy CDN$250 in gift cards... or better yet: US$250 in gift cards!
Retailers include gas stations, Target, or Walmart (for a little extra).
#56
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YWG
Programs: Aeroplan, MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,155
I'm not familiar with BW Rewards, but I'm assuming that there is probably not much to be had for 12,000 points per night or less... which is making me inclined to skip it for now until something juicier comes along.
#57
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
So is 20,000 the best offer there is right now? I'm weighing whether the Mrs. and I should churn this card.
I'm not familiar with BW Rewards, but I'm assuming that there is probably not much to be had for 12,000 points per night or less... which is making me inclined to skip it for now until something juicier comes along.
I'm not familiar with BW Rewards, but I'm assuming that there is probably not much to be had for 12,000 points per night or less... which is making me inclined to skip it for now until something juicier comes along.
20,000 has been the regular welcome bonus for as long as I can remember directly via MBNA.ca. But by going through GCR you'd get $25 as the current cash rebate. Prior to the Oct 2014 yank-off of MBNA cards, the GCR rebate was $60, which made it a bit more attractive.
The 3 'better' promos that I've seen were outside of GCR, so no cash rebate. But they were for 50,000 points, and one time for 60,000 points. We found plenty of good 15,000 redemptions in central/southern California for our road trips. Do your homework and look for reviews (TripAdvisor), and you won't be disappointed with these quick overniters.
So, with these kinds of redemptions in mind, the current 20,000 points (+$25 GCR) is going to be worth at most about $150, all-in including the cash rebate. Which is a bit too small for my liking, but if you have say 10,000 existing BWR points and need a top up, it may be Ok to signup and boost it to 30,000 and get 2 nites usage out of it.
JJJ
#58
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YWG
Programs: Aeroplan, MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,155
Yeah, best case scenario is basically signup + a bit of spend x2 will result in perhaps enough points for 4 nights. Perhaps not quite juicy enough for right now, but if I hit a signup dry spell I might consider getting it through GCR.
Thanks for the suggestion! Even we wise ones appreciate good advice
Thanks for the suggestion! Even we wise ones appreciate good advice