Now that Air Canada has acquired the Aeroplan loyalty program—and announced that it will be replacing Aeroplan with something new in 2020—we know that credit card offerings will be changing in the future, too.
In the meantime, Air Canada has promised it will be business as usual when it comes to earning and redeeming Aeroplan rewards points, and for frequent flyers of Air Canada and Star Alliance partners, there are some lucrative rewards credit card offers to consider right now. We’ve selected the three best based on our analysis of fees, points accumulation, redemption structures and flexibility to help get you to your next vacation faster.
Currency exchange board showing cross rates between various countries.
Millions of Canadians travel abroad with their domestic credit cards—and not realizing they’re racking up foreign transaction (also called “forex”) fees with every purchase. The 2.5% charged for every purchase you make in a foreign currency might not seem much, but can add up very quickly. For perspective, that’s $25 in forex fees for every $1,000 you spend on your card, and you have to pay the exchange rate as well.
If you like to explore other countries on vacation or your work frequently takes you abroad, it’s worth considering a card that travels with you.
The good news is there are a few credit cards that offer no foreign transaction fees (or their fees are returned to you as cash back), ultimately helping frequent travellers put the 2.5% back into their pockets. These picks are based on our analysis of each card’s benefits and annual fees; foreign transaction fees and how they’re handled (if rebated); and whether there are additional rewards incentives for using the card domestically and/or abroad.
The emergence of online retailers have paved the way for an e-commerce economy booming like no other. One-click purchases and subscriptions make it easier than ever before to shop from the comfort of your own home, plus hassle-free returns mean you can buy guilt-free.
Here are three tips to help you save money while online shopping:
Yes, it’s possible! Use Ebates.ca to start your online shopping. The brilliant method of Ebates.ca is that it’s a free online membership that allows you the ability to earn Cash Back on just about everything you purchase online. Plus, I use their Ebates app to get deals on the go and score exclusive Cash Back offers.
GALLERY: A view of desktop and mobile apps.
Once you’ve created your account, you can browse through 750
different stores, (including Amazon, Hudson’s Bay, Best Buy, even travel sites
like Expedia) their gift card shop (they carry hundreds of gift cards from gas
to groceries and restaurants), see if there are any additional coupons and
offers, and then it’ll send you over to the store’s website where you can shop
like you normally would.
To make it easier, use the Ebates Cash Back button in your browser to earn without having to visit Ebates first. For me, that means even if I forget to jump to Ebates.ca first, the button is a great reminder that I can still earn.
Click the image to add the Ebates.ca Cash Back button.
As long as you start on Ebates.ca, your purchase is logged and you will receive a Cash Back percentage in your account. It’s that easy! Every three months, you will receive a “Big Fat Cheque” or a PayPal payment directly into your bank account. If you’re going to buy something anyways, you might as well start online and use Ebates.ca to get paid to shop.
Lastly, you can earn extra Cash Back by referring friends to sign up and you’ll earn a $5 bonus after your first purchase of $25 or more! Sign up today using THIS link or download the app!
Make sure to comparison shop
Comparison shopping is how I find the best deals. Google Shopping
is a helpful website to input the item which you’re searching for, then let the
website scour the web for the lowest rate and find the deal that’s right for
you.
Google Shopping will search for everything from tech to home decor.
Then, note the items and their retailers.
Protect your purchases
I like to make it a regular practice to make my purchases on a
reputable credit card. This means reading through your consumer protection
rights should something arrive damaged, if something faulty happens to your
purchase, or even if you manage to lose it.
Plus, as a points collector, I responsibly use a credit card to rack up miles to use towards future purchases.
This article contains sponsored content from Ebates.ca.
