In This Issue: 

​​🚨 Air Canada Update: Crisis Averted

🧹 How to Steer Clear of Future Strikes and Airline Disturbances 

🛫 Multi City Flights = Cheaper Travel on Cash

🗺️ Chexy Deals: Business class flights to Paris, Nice and Zurich

Air Canada and Its Pilots Reach a Deal—Crisis Averted! 👏

Looks like we can all refund the fully refundable tickets we booked in case the strike went on for too long—Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have struck a tentative four-year agreement just in the nick of time. The deal, reached on September 15, 2024, keeps over 5,200 pilots from Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge happily in their cockpits, meaning your travel plans are safe… for now. 👀

What’s the Deal?

While the exact details are hush-hush, rumor has it that the agreement includes a hefty 26% pay boost upfront, followed by a nice 4% annual raise over three years. Apparently, Air Canada’s pilots are now looking at a 42% pay raise over the next four years, which should make those long-haul flights a bit more bearable (for them, anyway).

What About Us Passengers? 😬

If you, like myself, frantically changed your travel plans between September 15 and 23, fearing a strike, here’s the good news: Air Canada’s goodwill policy lets you revert to your original booking without paying extra. Just do it by November 30, and make sure there’s room on the flight. With this deal, it’s business as usual for Air Canada, which means you can safely complain about other passengers instead of a canceled flight. ✈️

Steering Clear of Future Strikes and Airline Disturbances  ✅

If you’re anything like me, a canceled flight or disrupted vacation can really mess with the excitement of getting to your destination. No one likes travel plans thrown off by a pilot strike or any unexpected situation. So, how can you stay calm and avoid getting caught in the chaos? 

Here are some tips to protect yourself from the unexpected and keep your trip on track:

1. Book a Fully Refundable Ticket 🎫

If you’re already booked and there’s buzz about a potential strike or cancellations, it’s smart to secure a fully refundable ticket before things escalate for the worse. Sure, it might seem like an extra cost, but if the worst happens, everyone else will be scrambling, and prices will shoot up. 🆙 With a refundable ticket, you can cancel without stress if needed, and if nothing happens, you’ll get your money back and enjoy your trip. Think of it as a small investment for flexibility and peace of mind.

2. Use Credit Cards With Great Travel Insurance ⭐️

Not all credit cards are created equal when it comes to travel protection, and at Chexy, we always recommend you fly with some of the best travel credit cards in the game.

A few of the top Canadian credit cards with the best travel insurance include:

• Scotiabank Gold American Express (Best Travel Insurance):

  • Travel accident insurance: $500,000 per person

  • Emergency medical insurance: $1,000,000 for 25 days (under 65)

  • Car rental insurance: MSRP of up to $65,000, for 48 days

  • Trip cancellation: Up to $1,500 per person

  • Trip interruption: Up to $1,500 per person

  • Flight delay insurance: Up to $500 per person

  • Baggage loss insurance: Up to $1,000 (for delays over 4 hours)

  • Baggage delay insurance: Up to $1,000 (for delays over 4 hours)

• BMO World Elite Mastercard: 

  • Travel accident insurance: $500,000 per person

  • Travel emergency medical: $5,000,000 for the first 21 days (for those under 65)

  • Car rental insurance: MSRP of up to $65,000 for up to 48 days

  • Trip cancellation: Up to $1,500 per person

  • Trip interruption: Up to $2,000 per person

  • Flight delay insurance: Up to $2,000 per person

  • Baggage loss insurance: $500 for delays of 6 hours or more

  • Baggage delay insurance: $500 for delays of 6 hours or more

A good travel credit card will keep you well-insured against any last-minute flight drama, strikes included. 🤭

3. Keep an Eye on the Airline’s Updates 🚨

Even if you’ve done all the right things – refundable ticket, credit card with insurance, etc. – stay on top of any updates from the airline. Sometimes strikes get resolved at the last minute, like Air Canada’s did, and it pays to know if you need to take action.

At the End of the Day: Protect Yourself Before the Mess Happens

Booking refundable tickets, using credit cards with top-tier travel insurance, and keeping tabs on airline updates are all key to avoiding unnecessary travel headaches. If a strike gets called off at the eleventh hour, you can just refund your ticket and keep moving forward. 😜

TAP Air Portugal hack - Explore 2 European Gems for the Price of 1

For those eager to travel but lacking enough points, here is a great option to get the most out of your money! Imagine strolling through the charming streets of Paris or soaking up the vibrant culture of Lisbon without breaking the bank. This holiday season, you can make it happen with an amazing deal that lets you visit both France and Portugal for under $600 CAD round trip from major Canadian cities! 🌍✈️ Now’s the time to book that dream getaway without emptying your wallet!

The Secret Travel Deal

This is one of the best-kept secrets in travel right now. TAP Portugal Airlines is offering an amazing deal that allows you to travel to Europe cheaper than it costs to reach Vancouver! By booking a multi-city flight with Lisbon as a stopover point, you can explore two beautiful countries for a fraction of the usual cost, but there are some conditions.

How to Book

Booking this deal is simple but you can’t get this deal directly from the Airline. Head to the Skyscanner website and select a multi-city flight. Choose your departure city in Canada and set Lisbon as your first destination. Before heading to France, you can decide how many days you want to spend in Lisbon. This flexibility allows you to tailor your trip to your preferences, whether you want a quick stopover or a longer stay to soak in the Portuguese charm. Consider traveling light as the bookings might not include checked baggage, please ensure you read the fine print as multiple variations of this itinerary can be generated by changing dates.

Sample Itinerary

To give you an idea of how this works, here’s a sample itinerary:

• Flight 1: Depart from Toronto on December 1st at 22:45 and arrive in Lisbon on December 2nd at 10:55. Enjoy a few days exploring Lisbon’s historic neighborhoods, delicious cuisine, and vibrant nightlife.

• Flight 2: On December 5th, depart from Lisbon at 19:30 and arrive in Paris Orly at 23:00. Spend your days in Paris visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

• Flight 3: On December 10th, depart from Paris Orly at 06:00, with a stopover in Lisbon, and arrive back in Toronto at 14:45.

Travel Dates

This fantastic deal is available for travel between December 2024 and January 2025. Whether you want to experience the festive holiday season in Europe or enjoy a winter getaway, these dates offer plenty of flexibility. Feel free to play around the dates and find the best possible combinations for your needs.

Why Lisbon and Paris?

Lisbon is known for its stunning architecture, historic trams, and delicious pastries. It’s a city that effortlessly blends tradition with modernity. Paris, on the other hand, needs no introduction. The City of Light is synonymous with romance, art, and culture. From its world-famous museums to its charming cafes, Paris is a destination that captivates every traveler.

Final Tips

• Book Early: These deals are likely to sell out quickly, so don’t wait too long to book your flights.

• Pack Light: With multiple flights, packing light will make your travel experience smoother.

• Explore Local: Take advantage of local transportation and explore off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods for a more authentic experience.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore two of Europe’s most enchanting cities for an unbeatable price. Happy travels! 🌟✈️

Our Free Rent Giveaway Contest Is Back – And It’s Better Than Ever!

If you’ve been with us for a while, you might remember our January Free Rent Giveaway, where one lucky renter won a month of free rent just by simply referring the most people that month. 🎊

Since you loved it so much, we’ve decided to bring it back—but this time, we’ve made it even better! Now, the top 5 referrers will win prizes, and the #1 spot still gets a month of rent-free! 🆓

How It Works:

1. Refer Friends & Family: Use your unique referral code, which you can find right on your Chexy dashboard.

2. Earn Rewards: Once your friend or family member signs up and activates their account, you’ll receive $15 and 1 point on the leaderboard.

3. Climb the Leaderboard: Rack up as many referrals as you can by the end of the month. The top 5 referrers will win awesome prizes, and if you finish in the top spot, you’ll get an entire month of rent-free!

Prizes for Top Referrers:

We’re offering a range of prizes for the top 5 referrers, so even if you don’t finish first, you still have a chance to win something great.

Want more details? Check out the full list of prizes and keep an eye on the leaderboard to track your progress. For all the nitty-gritty info, visit our giveaway FAQ page.

Let’s get those referrals rolling and give yourself the chance to win free rent—good luck!

Note: To participate, you must be an active Chexy user and use your unique referral code to share with friends and family.

We’re excited to share exclusive travel and credit card insights through this feature with The Prince of Travel, where we collaborate with expert partners to bring you the latest tips and trends in personal finance and travel. Let’s dive in!

Conduct Aeroplan award searches on the website, not the app

If you’re planning a trip with multiple stops, there’s a way to save a lot of Aeroplan points on award flights. ✅

However, you can’t do it using the mobile app; it’s only available on Air Canada’s browser-based booking system.

Say you want to fly from New York to Istanbul, spend some time there, then continue to Singapore.

Using the app, you would have to make two separate bookings.

In that case, a business class flight on one of Air Canada’s partner airlines from New York to Istanbul costs 70,000 Aeroplan points, plus $77 in taxes and fees. A business-class flight on a partner airline from Istanbul to Singapore costs 80,000 points, plus $74. 🤝

That’s 150,000 points and $151.

You can cut that point total by more than a third using Air Canada’s website.

Here’s how:

• Select the “multi-city” option.

• Check the box to use Aeroplan points, and remove the second flight option that automatically appears.

• Set your departure airport as JFK in New York and the destination as Singapore. Set the stopover city as Istanbul (the stopover can be up to 45 days), select your dates of travel, and search.

Depending on award availability, you can book the same business class journey for 92,500 points and $112 in taxes and fees.

There are some exceptions. Generally, if the cities of departure and arrival are on the same continent, the stopover city can’t be in a different continent.

You also can’t do a stopover within North America.

That said, when you’re planning multi-city trips using Aeroplan award flights, it’s definitely worth conducting your search on the website instead of the app.

Credit Card Spotlight 🔦

Welcome to Chexy Credit Card Spotlight! 👀 Each month we’ll recommend a credit card that everyone should have! This time, we’ve got the Scotiabank Gold American Express—perfect for everyday buys and travel. Let's jump in. ✅

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Earn up to 6X the Scene+TM points on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases.

Earn Rates:

6X on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, and more.

5X for every $1 CAD you spend on Dining, Food Delivery, and other eligible grocery stores.

5X for every $1 CAD you spend on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies.

3X for every $1 CAD you spend on gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more.

3X for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services.

1X on Everything Else

Annual Fee:

The card has a $120 annual fee but your first year is waived!

Check out these awesome deals you definitely don't want to miss if you're thinking about traveling in the next few months!

1. Toronto (YYZ) ➡️ Zurich ➡️ Paris (CDG)

   • Cost:70,000 (Business Class)

     

   • Dates: October 22nd, 2024

   • Book: Here

2. Montreal (YUL) ➡️ Zurich (ZRH)

   • Cost: 60,000 (Business Class)

     

   • Dates: October 24th, 2024

   • Book: Here

3. Montreal (YUL) ➡️ Zurich (ZRH) ➡️ Nice (NCE)

   • Cost: 60,000

     

   • Dates: April 3rd, 2025

   • Book: Here