Best Rewards program

[rastaman]

I've never been one of those people who collects air miles or anything like that. The only thing I've ever had is Petro-points, and then a few years ago I got that petro points mastercard that saves you 2 cents a litre and at the same time earned me petro points on every purchase . I combined my petro points with my wife's (she has the same card) and now it looks like have enough points to fly just about anywhere. International flights are redeemed with 650,000 petro points, which at 10 points for every dollar equates to $65k in total spending.

Now that we have one flight in the bank with these petro points, I'm wondering if I should switch loyalty programs. I don't know anything about aeroplan or air miles, but I obviously want to go with the one that gives you the most bang for the buck (i.e. what is the spending level required to get the highest reward level). Does anyone have any idea?

[michcougar]

Thats a pretty good deal.

Seing as i work for Canadian tire, im going to have to mention the Gas card. You get .10cents off per litre @ the pumps for every 1000$ balance you had the month before.

But, at the same time. Its nothing compared to the deal you have now.....

[Massiv]

I did an analysis a few years back on all of the travel reward credit cards on the market. The RBC Platinum Avion came out as the clear winner. Right now, I have enough points to fly anywhere in the world for free....

Free tip for ya... Route EVERY BILL you have through that card. One bill to pay, PLUS, more points accrued. Thank me later...

Massiv.

[rastaman]

Free tip for ya... Route EVERY BILL you have through that card. One bill to pay, PLUS, more points accrued. Thank me later...

Massiv.

Yeah, thats exactly what I plan to do...just gotta choose the right card...

[ND4SPD]

my mom does the airmiles thing...

We have family out in Edmonton, and usually go visit once every 2 years... and she always seems to have enough points to fly both of us over for free (course, I think there are still things that aren't covered... like the taxes I believe.)

Its kinda scary though, because I think it works out to $20 = 1 airmile... heh, so when she cashes in several hundred, she always curses as she realizes how much money shes spent on bills, groceries... bills.. :tongue:

[rastaman]

my mom does the airmiles thing...

We have family out in Edmonton, and usually go visit once every 2 years... and she always seems to have enough points to fly both of us over for free (course, I think there are still things that aren't covered... like the taxes I believe.)

Its kinda scary though, because I think it works out to $20 = 1 airmile... heh, so when she cashes in several hundred, she always curses as she realizes how much money shes spent on bills, groceries... bills.. :tongue:

Yeah, the main reason I just collected petro points was because the card actually SAVED me something (i.e. the 2 cents a litre on gas). No annual fee, no catch, no nothing. All the points and everything I got was just bonus. I just checked out that RBC Avion card, and you still have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get a real long haul flight (any where from 60k -100k). And if you take into consideration that most of these cards i'm looking at have an annual fee of over $100, plus another $50 fee for a supplementary card for my wife, I'm thinking this is actually a pretty dumb idea. If I don't spend that almost $200 on annual fees for the X number of years I'm saving for the flight, I can afford it myself :rolleyes: I've never owned a card with an annual fee because I think the principle of charging me a fee for the "privilege" of having a card that charges a ridiculous interest rate is ludicrous. I was hoping that perhaps with a good rewards plan, the fee might actually be worth it, but I'm seeing very quickly that this is the biggest sham of the century. Looks like I have a new arch nemesis to rant about aside from Apple. :)

[ND4SPD]

:rofl:

Yeah, i'm not entirely sure if airmiles charges an annual fee... i can't see her actually using it if it did, since yeah... if one could just SAVE $200 bucks, then thats like half the plane ticket right there!

I do like the Petro Points though... and Canadian Tire money :biggrin:

[MUSKOKN]

I have a CIBC Dividend VISA.

Its absolutely free, and you get the credit at the end of the year on your statement for all expenditures used on the card.

If I remember correctly, the first $1000 spent on it, you get .3%, the next $2000, you get .5%, and after that its 1% on everything above and beyond.

The only catch is that you go to 19% on any balances you carry, versus the normal 18% on a regular VISA...Since I'm responsible with my finances, I don't carry any balances so I save TONS.

CIBC aeroplan is also good, but it costs something like $150 per year to have....So you really have to spend to make it useful.

The thing I like about the dividends, is its money back in MY pocket....I don't have to go and cash in credits on something to realise value....I just get my December statement credited, which is always nice to have in the back of your head when doing Christmas shopping.

Edit: So I buy everything I can on it.....Then I use my CAA plus card at the Sunoco Pump, along with my credit card.....I love double dipping!!! :tongue:

[Bergie_dark by design]

lol, i dont know about every where else but in my city. A few gas stations like bp have credit cards that allow you to get 29 cents off of every gallon..lol

[MUSKOKN]

lol, i dont know about every where else but in my city. A few gas stations like bp have credit cards that allow you to get 29 cents off of every gallon..lol

I'm moving to Fond du Lac!!!

Je ne pas parle francais. :banghead:

[boarder4life]

I'm moving to Fond du Lac!!!

Je ne pas parle francais. :banghead:

ITS OK! the crappy tire card still gives u a larger discount 10 cent/liter. if theres 4 liters(im rounding) in a gallon there for 29/4= 7.25 cents per litre. still a good discount but still 10 cents works for me. i really should get one of those cards lol

[MaverickFlyer]

I buy gas at Sunoco and the points go towards my CAA membership.