CIBC Aventura World MasterCard - 1st Yr Free & 15,000 Points (Sept 2011)
Oct 20, 2011, 7:43 pm
#31
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
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For sure, until end of December, this will only serve as backup to AMEX Gold Rewards - so I will keep using that one for the 2:1 purchases until then.
Oct 20, 2011, 7:46 pm
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
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But my Visa is the backup.. and the mastercard might make a nice replacement if points are transferred actual vs. 10,000 miles incremental..
Oct 21, 2011, 10:02 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
If you want to maximize Aeroplan points, you can also get an SPG Amex. 20,000 bonus points right now, and if you have a decent annual spend you should be able to get a gift card or bonus points on your renewal date.
SPG lets you transfer 1:1 to airlines and they give a 5000 bonus if you do 20,000. Coupled with Aeroplan's semi-frequent promotions that boost 25,000 to 30,000, you can transfer 20,000 starpoints to 30,000 Aeroplan miles. i.e. 1.5 Aeroplan miles per dollar spent on your SPG Amex.
SPG lets you transfer 1:1 to airlines and they give a 5000 bonus if you do 20,000. Coupled with Aeroplan's semi-frequent promotions that boost 25,000 to 30,000, you can transfer 20,000 starpoints to 30,000 Aeroplan miles. i.e. 1.5 Aeroplan miles per dollar spent on your SPG Amex.
Oct 21, 2011, 7:56 pm
#34
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
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If you want to maximize Aeroplan points, you can also get an SPG Amex. 20,000 bonus points right now, and if you have a decent annual spend you should be able to get a gift card or bonus points on your renewal date.
SPG lets you transfer 1:1 to airlines and they give a 5000 bonus if you do 20,000. Coupled with Aeroplan's semi-frequent promotions that boost 25,000 to 30,000, you can transfer 20,000 starpoints to 30,000 Aeroplan miles. i.e. 1.5 Aeroplan miles per dollar spent on your SPG Amex.
SPG lets you transfer 1:1 to airlines and they give a 5000 bonus if you do 20,000. Coupled with Aeroplan's semi-frequent promotions that boost 25,000 to 30,000, you can transfer 20,000 starpoints to 30,000 Aeroplan miles. i.e. 1.5 Aeroplan miles per dollar spent on your SPG Amex.
Do they waive the annual fee for the first year?
Oct 21, 2011, 11:00 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
As usual, Canadians get somewhat shafted - the annual fee for this card is much lower in the States, with more perks.
Oct 22, 2011, 8:45 pm
#36
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
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No, but they do give 20,000 points right now, which is 30,000 Aeroplan miles if you wait till the next promo. This card isn't a good primary card for a couple reasons - it lacks medical coverage (that the CIBC Infinite cards have), and as an AMEX, you'll always need to carry a backup.
As usual, Canadians get somewhat shafted - the annual fee for this card is much lower in the States, with more perks.
As usual, Canadians get somewhat shafted - the annual fee for this card is much lower in the States, with more perks.
What's the SPG annual fee?
I agree.. without the coverages, you would need a backup.. but an FTer isn't getting max points , if a couple of cards aren't going at the same time anyways..
Oct 25, 2011, 9:55 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
SPG annual fee is $120/year in Canada. In the States, it's $65 with the first year free. The bonus points for signup are also higher in the States, and you get more perks.
Oct 25, 2011, 11:02 pm
#38
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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At $120 per year, you really have to count on the bonus points to justify the application.
I'm not too sure, I would take advantage of a deal like this, unless its free to try it out..
Oct 26, 2011, 8:38 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 1,013
Since you transfer MR points to an AE number and not a name, you can send them to anyone. Done this multiple times and is why I prefer MR Amex's over Aeroplan mile ones.
Oct 26, 2011, 3:01 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG (mind in YYZ)
Programs: MPC Green, AC Tangerine :)
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Cardmembers may transfer points from his/her Program Account to an Aeroplan account held in the Cardmember's name at the rate of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,000 frequent flyer miles.
if they decide to audit the transfers they could always deduct the miles and not reimburse you
Oct 26, 2011, 3:18 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 1,013
that's against the T&C based on my reading
Cardmembers may transfer points from his/her Program Account to an Aeroplan account held in the Cardmember's name at the rate of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,000 frequent flyer miles.
if they decide to audit the transfers they could always deduct the miles and not reimburse you
Cardmembers may transfer points from his/her Program Account to an Aeroplan account held in the Cardmember's name at the rate of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,000 frequent flyer miles.
if they decide to audit the transfers they could always deduct the miles and not reimburse you
Meanwhile I'll live on the edge! 
Oct 26, 2011, 3:40 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG (mind in YYZ)
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it eats into AE's revenue since they charge 2 cents to people who don't know better to transfer miles between accounts
from an operational standpoint, it's pretty easy to flag these transfers, when one account transfers to more than one AE number it should probably be flagged, maybe amex is turning a blind eye towards this as long as it's not abused
Oct 26, 2011, 6:39 pm
#45
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just pointing it out so others aren't under the impression that since it can be done it's allowed, everyone's free to take their own risks
it eats into AE's revenue since they charge 2 cents to people who don't know better to transfer miles between accounts
from an operational standpoint, it's pretty easy to flag these transfers, when one account transfers to more than one AE number it should probably be flagged, maybe amex is turning a blind eye towards this as long as it's not abused
it eats into AE's revenue since they charge 2 cents to people who don't know better to transfer miles between accounts
from an operational standpoint, it's pretty easy to flag these transfers, when one account transfers to more than one AE number it should probably be flagged, maybe amex is turning a blind eye towards this as long as it's not abused
Whether AE or ccs enforce T&C in the future remains to be seen