In This Issue: 

​​🚨140,000 Points with the American Express Platinum Card

🚀 Save 25% on Economy Flights from Ottawa & Vancouver to Europe

🆓 Pay Rent and Build Credit- All for Free with Chexy

🗺️ Chexy Deals: Business Class to Lisbon, Toulouse and Copenhagen

Get 140,000 Membership Rewards Points with the Platinum Card from American Express – Here’s How to Make It Work for You? 🙌

There’s a new welcome bonus offer on The Platinum Card from American Express—up to 140,000 Membership Rewards points! That’s 40,000 points more than their previous offer, and it’s a game-changer if you’re looking to rack up your rewards. 💸

Here’s the breakdown and tips on how you can make the most of it, including a clever way to hit that sign-up bonus.

The Big Welcome Bonus Breakdown

Until January 28, 2025, new Platinum members can earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards points by meeting these milestones:

• 100,000 points after spending $10,000 in net purchases in the first three months.

• 40,000 points after making any purchase between 14 and 17 months.

This means that with some planned spending, you’re setting yourself up for a hefty points haul, which can lead to major travel perks or valuable statement credits. 🤑

What Are 140,000 Points Worth?

Let’s be real—these points are worth a lot. If you transfer points to travel partners, like Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, the value can skyrocket, potentially reaching $4,200 or more when you leverage premium redemptions for flights or hotels. 🏨

Note: the average one-way business-class trip to Europe costs about 60-70,000 Aeroplan points, which MR points transfer too 1:1

How to Reach the Spending Threshold – Consider Using Chexy

Hitting that $10,000 spend in three months might sound intimidating, but here’s a trick: use your Platinum Card to pay your rent through Chexy. Chexy enables rent payments with credit cards, this is a straightforward way to meet that spend requirement with rent being a very large expense for most Canadians. 

With the average Canadian rent at $2,200, you’ll already have charged your card $6,600 in 3 months, easily helping you in reaching that $10,000 sign-up bonus requirement. ✅

Sign up for Chexy here.

Where Can You Redeem Points?

One of the best parts about the Platinum Card is transferring it to a loyalty program like Aeroplan.

Transfer to Aeroplan: The 1:1 transfer rate to Aeroplan makes this card a top pick for anyone looking to fly with Air Canada or its partners. With enough points, you could even book premium business class seats, perfect for international trips.

The Perks

In addition to points, this card unlocks several premium benefits. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

• Global Lounge Access: Over 1,400 🥄

• Annual Travel and Dining Credits: There’s a $200 travel credit and a $200 dining credit that can be used at select restaurants

• Hotel Elite Status: Enjoy Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, which includes perks like free breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkouts.

Wrapping Up: The Best Way to Use Your Platinum Card Points

If you’re after an ultra-premium experience, this is your card. Just don’t let the high annual fee ($799) scare you—if you take advantage of the travel and dining credits, elite status perks, and lounge access, the value adds up. And if you’re planning on using your points to fly business class or transfer to Aeroplan, you’ll likely recoup far more in travel rewards.

To make the most of the new bonus offer, consider paying rent through Chexy and turning those points into travel dreams. Whether it’s a business class flight to Europe or a relaxing hotel stay, this card has something for every travel enthusiast.

Apply Here.

Air France KLM Promo Rewards: Save 25% on Economy Flights from Ottawa & Vancouver to Europe

Air France KLM’s Flying Blue program has just rolled out their November Promo Rewards, offering a sweet 25% discount on economy-class reward flights from Ottawa and Vancouver to various destinations across Europe, Turkey, and North Africa. 🚀

What’s the Deal?

For the month of November, you can snag economy class flights starting at just 15,000 miles one-way. This offer is valid for bookings made by November 30, 2024, with travel dates extending until April 30, 2025. It’s especially exciting to see Vancouver back on the list, giving Western Canadians a fantastic opportunity to jet off on an adventure.

Finding the Best Availability

When searching for flights, keep in mind that mileage amounts can vary based on your chosen destination and travel dates. To maximize, flexibility is key. 

Here’s a tip: Due to some quirks in the booking system, to access the monthly calendar view, select June 30, 2025, as your travel date and hit search. This will bring up the calendar view, allowing you to browse through different months and find the best deals.

Booking and Travel Period

Remember, you need to book by November 30, 2024, and your travel should be completed by April 30, 2025. So, whether you’re planning a winter escape or a spring adventure, there’s plenty of time to take advantage of this offer.

Boosting Your Miles with American Express Membership Rewards

If you’re short on Flying Blue Miles, don’t worry. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards to Flying Blue. The transfer ratio is 1 Membership Rewards point to 0.75 Flying Blue Miles. This means you’d need to transfer 40,000 points for a round-trip economy class flight. 

To put this in perspective:

• Amex Fixed Points for Travel: Requires 60,000 points for an economy-class flight to Europe, plus higher taxes and fees.

• Aeroplan: Typically requires 25,000 to 35,000 points for economy class to Europe, with comparable fees and no included checked baggage.

  • MR points transfer 1:1 with Aeroplan, so if you find a better deal here, it might be worth considering

Exciting News: Pay Rent with Your Debit Card and Report Rent - All for FREE! 🆓

We’re thrilled to announce that you can now pay your rent using your debit card and report rent payments to Equifax for FREE with Chexy! This is a game-changer for anyone looking to take control of their finances and build credit while simplifying their rent payments.

Why You Need It?

1. 📈 No Credit or Low Credit? No Problem: Paying rent with your debit card allows you to manage your finances easily, even if you’re not ready to use a credit card or if you don’t have a good enough one to use with Chexy!

2. 🚀 Build Your Credit Score: Opting in to report your rent payments to Equifax helps boost your credit score over time, which can lead to better interest rates on loans, credit cards, and even mortgages.

3. ✅ No Hidden Fees: You can enjoy the convenience of paying rent digitally and building your credit without the worry of extra fees —because it’s all FREE!

How to Get Started:

1. Sign up on Chexy by visiting chexy.co/creditb.

2. Add your rental and landlord information to start paying rent with your debit card.

3. Complete KYC and add your debit card.

4. Once you are paying rent with us, opt-in to the Chexy Credit Builder with just a few clicks and watch your credit score grow over time!

Whether you’re looking to improve your credit or just simplify your monthly rent payments, this makes it easier than ever. Start today and enjoy the benefits of hassle-free rent payments with Chexy!

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!

Aeroplan offers great value on flights to Europe

There are a lot of airlines to choose from when seeking business class seats on flights from North America to Europe, and you can access many of them as Aeroplan redemptions.

We told you about three options in this space last week, and we have two more for you now.

These recommendations are based on the outstanding value you can get from the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart.

The chart divides the world into four zones, then lists the award prices for flights on Air Canada’s partner airlines based on which zones you are flying between and the distance.

North America is its own zone and Europe is located in the Atlantic Zone, along with Africa and western Asia.

That means flights between North America and Europe usually fall into the two lowest distance tiers in the chart, which in turn means they can be found for 60,000 or 70,000 points.

Our first recommendation this week is Turkish Airlines, which flies to more countries than any other airline.

One thing that stands out about this option is the food, so be sure to save some room for the in-flight meals.

It’s also fairly easy to find award availability on Turkish Airlines. We found a route from Toronto to Istanbul via Detroit on our first try, with the Detroit to Istanbul leg in business class.

The last option we’ll discuss for travelling to Europe in business class is Lufthansa.

The flagship German carrier has improved a lot in recent years and provides excellent service.

That said, finding award availability from the major Canadian airports wasn’t as easy as it was for Turkish airlines, but when you do find it, a business class seat on a direct flight costs 60,000 points from Toronto or Montreal, and 70,000 from Vancouver.

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) ➡️ Copenhagen (CPH)

   • Cost: 28,100

     

   • Dates: February 13th, 2025

   • Book: Here

2. Toronto (YYZ)  ➡️ Lisbon (LIS)

   • Cost: 60,000 (Business Class

     

   • Dates: October 13th, 2025

   • Book: Here

3. Montreal (YUL) ➡️ Toulouse (TLS)

   • Cost: 64,700 (Business Class)

     

   • Dates: November 24th, 2024

   • Book: Here