What is the best aeroplan cc bonus you have ever seen?
 

I been reading through this forum for the past while and finally convinced myself to apply for credit cards to collect miles. I need about another 100k for a trip I'm planning for next year. Right now the most bonus miles are 10-15k for no fee credit cards, and 35k max bonus. which definately isnt enough. so im wondering if there hav been any promotions in the past that offered a lot of bonus miles, like the ones in the states that can go up to 60-75k, or has it always been pretty much the same?

It's more or less the same. There's a 50K bonus for getting the Amex AeroPlat card from time to time, but at $499, it's hardly a deal.

The best were the CIBC Aerogold convenience cheques that gave bonus AP points. Just pre-pay and write the cheque to your own account. Probably too many people were doing that as I haven't seen them for years. :D

interesting....... CIBC Aerogold convenience cheques? i have never seen anything like that...

They still exist, you just don't get points for them now because they're treated like cash advances.

Man, those were the days! Will never forget when we first got those in the mid 90's. It started as 10 checks with a max of 5K each for 50K miles. We did exactly what Braindrain described: we each put $5K in our accounts then write check to wife and her to me. Rinse and repeat. No interest and 50K miles each for free. Then it dropped to 5 checks, then it went down to $2500 max and then they stopped giving miles altogether for them. :(

These days, 25K for free business gold with $75 cash back from GCR ($3K spend over 3 months) and I still value the Amex Plats at $499 for 50K to put us over the top for our yearly F trips to Asia 1.

Some people have managed to get prorated refunds on their Amex AeroplanPlats but you need to be a high roller and I've only heard of a couple of instances.

Hey Ronin, do you churn that Amex Plat and get that 50K once a year or is it awarded annually (somehow), or just a once off. Is it worth it to get the 50K? What do you need to spend to get the 50K?

We get and cancel (before end of year) one a year to put us at the mileage required for an Asia 1 F reward. We only get it during the promos, which "has" been 50K for $1K spend with $499 annual fee. No other reason for _us_ to get it than the 50K. I wrote a post a few months back about our strategy. I'll try and dig it up for you.

The answer to the question of "is it worth it?" is "it depends on an individual's situation". :cool: We go to SE Asia every year and by playing all the angles we get to do it in style for what an economy ticket wold cost or less. At least until next year. Who knows after that, but we are milking it for all it's worth while it's there.

EDIT: Here you go David. A bit of banter explaining what we do. Might not be everyone's cup of tea. As the game changes we just have to keep adapting and evaluating.

Can anyone say if there is a waiting period for cancelling a current Canadian Amex card and re-signing up for a new Amex Card and qualifying for a second enrolment bonus ?

For sure!!!

I miss those suckers........

I tried to do that and was told at least 6 months.

I'll be coming up on my fee soon too and would like to cancel and sign up again while the first free year promo is still on....hopefully someone has some insight on this waiting period. I had the same concern

I have had an SPG Amex and applied for a new one. When I called to activate the new card, I cancelled the old one. So that was zero wait time. Usually we wait months though.

30K no fee with 15K for keeping a savings account open for 3 months with transactions...cost 12$ per month and then closing account. So 45K for about 48$ and change.

which card is this?

Is the CIBC banking offer?

Thanks to Ronin on his answer (above) to my question, guess I'd better look at getting an AMEX AE Plat (already have an SPG), if I want to earn serious AE bonuses.