Well, it might be a Canadian thing, after all this is "MILESBUZZ! CANADA" ;)

Is there a minimum spend requirement on this card, or do the 30k points credit to your account upon approval?

Also, can you only use the points to book flights, or can you use them for hotels, etc. do you have to use them while booking, or can they be applied as reimbursements after you've used e card to pay for the expenses? Thanks for your help!

Preacher, are you referring to the AMEX Aeroplan Plus Gold card? If yes, then it is 20K promo Aeroplan points if you sign up at AMEX directly, or 30K if you use a referral link (see my sig). $0 First Year Fees were introduced in this promo on Sep 2, 2013. You need to spend $500 in 3 months. Points will post to your Aeroplan account only after you've spent $500, and then they will appear at your next bill statement date.

If he's referring to the BMO MC WE then I don't believe there is a minimum spend - the points will be credited after FIRST transaction based on what I saw with my account earlier this month but there is no minimum dollar amount....I imagine even a coffee at Tim Hortons on the card will suffice. I believe you can use them for any travel-related transactions through their travel booking service (which I believe includes hotels and maybe car rentals?) but I'm not sure about timing of points usage, etc.

I got the card because I have a couple trips coming up and the Out of Country Medical/Emergency coverage, trip cancellation, and 4 priority pass passes will come in handy (even if I had to pay the $150 fee which we now don't in the first year).

Ahhh...I see. I saw 30K and thought it was related to the AP Gold promo. Didn't realize the BMO WE was also 30K points => $300.

How good is the trip cancellation insurance on the BMO WE? Is it for trip interruptions only, or for actual cancellation?

You should clarify what CARD you are asking

There are dedicated threads for AMEX and BMO cards too
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ex-canada.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...astercard.html

It is cancellation insurance just like you'd buy driectly brom BMO or RBC or CAA Insurance for example except for the dollar limit which you can specify when purchasing separate travel insurance from the 3 parties above. Coverage is up to $2,500 per person or $5,000 per account (so 2 travellers) which I believe may be the same as the Amex Platinum Card coverage.

Very few cards have this feature but most premium travel cards have the interruption/lost-delayed baggage type insurance (including the BMO card). CIBC Infinite AE and RBC Infinite Avion do not have cancellation insurance.

The Out of Country Medical/Emergency (and legal assistance, etc) coverage also do not require that you charge the trip to your card (but the cancellation/interruption insurance does).

I am sorry about not clarifying which card I was referring to. It was the BMO MC. I just read through the thread on it, and couldn't see anywhere where it said if this card has forex fees? Anyone know? Thanks again for your help.

Yes, it does have forex fees. The only cards that don't are Chase bank CCs (like Amazon and Marriott Visas).

It's still a great card, though. I used two of my Priority Pass lounge passes this past weekend...came in handy!

In fact RBC Avion (both Platinum & Infinite) have the Trip Cancellation Insurance now...!!

That's great....wasn't included when I was looking at this card previously.

ya..just started start of this month...both Trip Interruption & Trip cancellation now included.

Air Miles: Western Canada
 

Okay, it's not fabulous, but here's an offer that doesn't involve credit card signups (!!!)

From September 26 - 29, earn 10 bonus Air Miles (that's about $1 value) when spending at select Air Miles Cash Sponsors (that includes Rona and Shell). Limit one bonus transaction per day. Western Canada only.

So if you have 2 Air Miles cards in your household, you could earn $1 worth of Air Miles on each card, per day. So there's that.


Terms & conditions here

or redeem Air Miles Cash 95 miles for $10, and earn 25 miles back

https://www.airmiles.ca/arrow/Splash?splashId=18400098

This weekend only, get the most out of your AIR MILES reward miles.
Earn 25 Bonus reward miles when you redeem at select AIR MILES Cash Sponsors.*
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Every mile counts....thanks..!!