I set the table from the start. Reward points accumulated with our credit cards can be used to purchase gift cards or experiences.
We are used to optimize them when we travel, which is recommended by Milesopedia. But at a time when we’ve accumulated a lot of them, I suggest we temporarily take an unusual route.
Let’s remember from the start that these credit card rewards points were earned free of charge in several cases. For example, when the credit card fee is waived in the first year of membership.
Think of the latest welcome offers on the three National Bank cards (now expired) or the one on the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card. The latter in particular – still in force – requires no outlay on the part of Quebec residents for the award of 25,000 Aeroplan points. So there’s nothing to lose by using them.
I know a traveler who was recently worried that he couldn’t optimize his Aeroplan rewards points redemption on a flight. The calculation gave him 1.8 cents instead of 2 cents. However, he confided to me that he had a very large quantity of this currency.
Earn and BURN
However, if you end up with a valuation of less than 1 cent, you can always convert Aeroplan points into gift cards (note the maximum number of cards allowed).
Our colleague Aline has well-discussed the subject. Our credit card rewards points are like money. She suggests investing in them, so as not to let them languish too long until they can travel again.
These points are not optimized like for business class flights but invested, they remain active.
I’ll take you to a second option: purchasing gift cards or experiences with a portion of these rewards points via the rewards portals of our financial institutions, as well as those of Air Canada (Aeroplan) and British Airways(British Airways Executive Club – Avios Miles).
Why treat yourself? Because it’s the holiday season, because there’s no way COVID frustration will win, because those credit card points are for our use and not the other way around, and because we’re going to keep earning them anyway. I mean, because it’s healthy to treat yourself.
That said, for those who travel… Take advantage!
Here are some gift card discoveries and experiences. I’m sure you’ll be able to spot others. They don’t optimize the point as much as travel, but you’ll see that they’re not to be dismissed out of hand.
At NBC À la Carte Rewards, we’ve had the good sense to offer seafood platters for 20,000 to 28,000 points.
We checked the market price of these plates. For example, the deluxe lobster and crab platter retails for $199.99 at the retailer, which is highly rated by consumers.
NBC Rewards claims 26,110 points for this product, giving a value of 0.76 cent per point. Not bad at all for a point valued by Milesopedia at 0.9 cent.
We agree that to welcome 2022, it’s a beautiful folly.
As for HSBC Rewards, where each travel point is worth 0.5 cent, we’d like to highlight Brault & Martineau ‘s gift card offer of $250 in exchange for 80,900 points, giving them a value of 0.31 cent each.
Cushions, throws, lighting, a side table?
With a 1:1 exchange ratio, you can’t go wrong with Scene+ points.
All it takes is 1,200 to 2,000 points to get a general admission, 3-D movie, UltraAVX, IMAX, Premium seating, D-Box or VIP movie ticket.
Something to keep in mind when it’s possible again.
Granted, it’s a trip.
At Aeroplan, you can use your points to pay for all or part of a superb Rocky Mountaineer train trip. Points can be used to purchase gift cards ranging from $50 to $5,000, or from 4,000 to 400,000 points. In any case, the point is valued at 1.25 cents while Milesopedia rates it at 2 cents.
The dome train offers 4 routes including the Rocky Mountain route, First Passage to the West Classic. It winds through the mountains between Vancouver, Kamloops and Banff.
The gift card obtained with the points entitles the holder to hotel accommodation, excursions, lunches, dinners and snacks on board the train. For a 4 days/3 nights trip in April, the cost is $1,985 per person. And I repeat, the trip can be paid in whole or in part with points.
Also at Aeroplan, it’s still very convenient to pay for Switch Health test boxes with points. What’s more, delivery is included, which is not the case when you order them online and pay in cash!
Finally, until January 2, 2022, certain gift cards such as Petro-Canada, Apple and Amazon are reduced by 15%.
At TD Rewards, several gift cards are being promoted. They are reduced by 20% of the usual number of points required. A $25 gift card to David’s Tea, Esso, X-Box or even Costco costs 15,000 points instead of 20,000.
Since the TD point is valued at 0.5 cents, these purchases reduce their value to 0.33 cents. This is a way to use 80,000 or 100,000 free points obtained with this welcome offer.
At RBC Rewards, too, there are 20% discounts on several gift cards, plus gourmet experiences for Avion and Privilege credit cards.
The most optimized gift card is Air Canada’s 1:1 ratio. I’ll let you decide.
Enthusiasts will be pleased to know that American Express Membership Rewards points can be used to purchase an initial ClubLink subscription, or to pay for a hotel weekend including the network’s golf rounds.
The membership will give them access to over 40 world-class golf courses. They can be found at Quebec, in Ontario and Florida. Birdee for snowbirds!
35,000 Membership Rewards points worth $500: a valuation of 1.43 cents while Milesopedia gives it a value of 1.7 cents.
I went to the British Airways Executive Club. On experiences from Montreal, payable in Avios points. But it could also be from Quebec or Ottawa, Toronto, etc.
Well! In addition to transportation and city tours, there are several per city, on all dates including Christmas and New Year’s Day! For instance:
Not bad! The value of these points depends on each experience.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s priceless in times of pandemic, especially as the Avios currency can be complicated to use. Let’s spoil ourselves!
These are just a few examples. Just to show you the flexibility of our credit card rewards points. The important thing is not to let them stay unused and to know how to take a new path, while we must.
Share your own discoveries with your points in the Milesopedia Facebook group (link below).
Let me end this article with a thank you to Frédéric, who made sure that the calculations for the points valuation in this article were correct.
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