In This Issue: 

🆓 Chexy Now Accepting Pre-Authorized Debit

​​🥇 WestJet Rewards Elite Tier Status Updates for 2025

🚀 Marriott Bonvoy’s 45% Bonus on Points: Here’s How to Maximize It

🔗 Partner Content: Best Aeroplan Redemptions

🗺️ Chexy Deals: Business class to Zurich, Delhi and Dubai

Exciting News: Chexy Now Supports PAD for Rent Payments! 💸 

We’ve got great news – you asked, and we delivered! Chexy now supports Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) for rent payments, which means you can finally earn rewards on your rent payments. 🏠✨

What’s in it for you?

• Earn up to $600 cashback each year 🤑

• Rack up thousands of points for your next free travel adventure ✈️

• Improved credit score by reporting rent payments

How it Works:

When you set up PAD payments with Chexy, we create a personalized Chexy Wallet just for you. It’s like your own digital bank account, making it easy to deposit rent securely every month.

1. Sign up for PAD at app.chexy.co to get your unique wallet details.

2. Share your Chexy Wallet info with your landlord or property manager.

3. Sit back and watch as you earn rewards each month – it’s that simple!

Need help getting set up or have questions? Check out our support page for all the info you need. 💬

👉 Ready to start earning on your rent? Sign up now!

WestJet Rewards Elite Tier Status Updates for 2025: What You Need to Know

WestJet just announced some major changes to their Elite Status program, kicking off a refresh that will impact loyal members starting in January 2025. These updates include raised spend requirements, new priority boarding zones, expanded upgrade opportunities, revamped milestone awards, and more. 

Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know, and why it matters if you’re a frequent WestJet flyer. ✅

1. Increased Tier Qualifying Spend Thresholds: The Price of Loyalty

WestJet is raising the bar—literally. For the first time in the program’s history, they’re increasing the amount you’ll need to spend to qualify for elite tiers. 

Here’s a quick look at what’s changing:

While these new levels might make status harder to reach, there’s a silver lining: the higher thresholds may help loyal flyers get better access to upgrades and benefits without so much competition. 😬

2. Priority Boarding Restructured

WestJet is also revamping boarding zones to give top-tier members and premium/business class travelers the spotlight:

• Zone 1: Reserved exclusively for Platinum members and premium/business class seats. 💺

• Zone 2: Gold and Silver members, plus guests in Extended Comfort seats. 👀

3. Expanded Complimentary Upgrade Eligibility

Starting January 15, if you’re a Platinum or Gold member traveling with a companion on the same reservation, both of you are eligible for an upgrade to the Premium cabin. This is a welcome shift for those who previously turned down upgrades to avoid splitting up from their travel buddy. 🤭

Of course, this could also make upgrades slightly harder to snag for lower-tier members if more high-tier members with companions join the queue. But overall, it’s a win for frequent WestJet pairs who value staying seated together.

4. Milestone Award Adjustments: More Spending, Fewer Rewards?

The milestone award structure is also seeing a shake-up. For 2025, milestone awards will be spread out over larger spending intervals:

This setup replaces the old system, where rewards kicked in every $2,000 spent. For many members, this will feel like a downgrade, with fewer awards available at lower spending thresholds.

5. Companion Voucher Flexibility: More Time to Use Them

Starting in 2025, milestone companion vouchers will now have a two-year expiry instead of the current one-year limit. This change applies to any new vouchers issued as milestone awards and retroactively extends unused 2024 vouchers by an extra 12 months. 🗓️

This added flexibility should be great for loyal travelers who might otherwise struggle to use their vouchers within a single year. It’s important to note that these vouchers differ from those issued with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, which still carry a one-year expiration.

Final Thoughts: Change Brings Pros and Cons

While some of these updates might feel like a hit—especially the increased spend thresholds and fewer milestone awards—there are some big wins for WestJet’s most loyal flyers. 

The milestone award updates might seem steep, but WestJet is hinting at exciting new options in 2025. 😆

Check out WestJet’s official Elite Status updates for more details, and stay tuned for more news as WestJet continues to refine the program throughout the year.

Marriott Bonvoy’s 45% Bonus on Points: Here’s How to Maximize It

Marriott Bonvoy is offering a 45% bonus on points purchases until December 23, 2024. For those looking to score on travel deals, here’s how this promotion can help.

The Basics of the Promo

• Offer: 45% bonus on points purchases of 2,000+ points.

• Bonus Gift: Get an extra 1,000 points when buying 20,000+ points.

• Ends: December 23, 2024.

With this promo, each point costs around 0.86 cents (USD)—a pretty good rate from the usual 1.25 cents. 💸

When Is It Smart to Buy Points

Luxury Hotel Stays

If a luxury stay is on your radar, using this promotion could save you hundreds of dollars. Here are some examples of current hotel says and how much they would cost if you paid in cash vs points during this promo.

Quick Top-Ups

Short on points for an upcoming stay? Buying a small amount can get you to your goal without a huge cost. For instance, 34,500 points with a bonus comes to 50,000 points—ideal for a night at places like W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal (cash rates around $500), costing about $297 (USD) with the promo.

Points Cap and Cost Breakdown

• Max Points Purchase: 150,000 (with the bonus, you’ll get 217,500).

• Max Cost: $1,875 (USD).

Should You Use a Credit Card to Buy Points?

Since points are sold through Points.com, purchases won’t count as travel expenses. Here are some card options to consider for points purchases:

• Canadian Cards with No Foreign Fees: Options like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card can save on foreign fees and provide a decent earn rate. Check out other options here.

• US Credit Cards: Any card you’re working on for a minimum spend bonus would be a solid choice.

Alternative Ways to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points

If buying points doesn’t appeal to you, consider these credit card options:

• Canada: American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card and Business Card offer 50,000 and 60,000 points as welcome bonuses.

• US: Options like the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offer bonuses of up to 95,000 points with a $650 (USD) annual fee.

For even more flexibility, consider Amex Membership Rewards, which transfer at a 1:1.2 rate to Marriott Bonvoy.

Bottom Line

Buying Marriott Bonvoy points during this promotion is a great way to plan for upcoming travel if you’re targeting a high-value redemption. While the cost is above the typical valuation, this bonus can tip the scale in your favor, especially for high-end bookings.

Head over to the Marriott Bonvoy Points Purchase Promotion to check out your bonus and take advantage of this offer before it ends on December 23, 2024.

We’re excited to share exclusive travel and credit card insights through this feature with 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!

The best Aeroplan redemptions are rarely found on Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline and it has one of the best loyalty programs in the world in Aeroplan.

Ironically, the best use of Aeroplan points is rarely on Air Canada flights.

That’s because Air Canada uses a dynamic pricing model for rewards, meaning the amount of points you need changes based on demand for the seats.

As a result, the cost of a business class seat on a transoceanic Air Canada flight is usually higher than it would be with a partner airline, as flights on partner airlines have fixed points values based on the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart.

Domestic flights are different.

If you want to fly within Canada using Aeroplan, Air Canada is often your only option.

So, if you plan to fly domestically and you want to fly business class, that could be a good time to turn to Aeroplan.

This is particularly true of transcontinental flights, such as Toronto to Vancouver.

For the best value, look for direct transcontinental flights costing 25,000-35,000 points for business class, but they will be hard to find.

It’s also best to check which plane is flying the route, as only larger planes in the fleet have lie-flat seats. Look for the Boeing 777s and 787s, or the Airbus A330s under “Details”.

Alternatively, if you search for the flights in cash, the routes with lie-flat seats will be labelled.

If you can’t find an award flight for 65,000 points or less, you won’t be maximizing the value of your Aeroplan points.

In that case, your best bet might be to use the flight as an opportunity to collect more points and pay for it with an Aeroplan credit card, whether you opt for the $1,410 business-class fare, or save some money by flying economy.

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) ➡️ New Delhi (DEL)

   • Cost: 90,000 (Business Class)

     

   • Dates: August 13th, 2025 (Business Class)

   • Book: Here

2. Montreal (YUL) ➡️ Zurich (ZRH)

   • Cost: 60,000 (Business Class)

     

   • Dates: November 16th, 2024

   • Book: Here

3. Montreal (YUL) ➡️ Dubai (DXB)

   • Cost: 90,000 (Business Class)

     

   • Dates: July 30th, 2025

   • Book: Here