Prince of Travel

AIR MILES Flash Offer: Earn Up to 2,500 AIR MILES

Vittorio Salac — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:06:21 GMT

AIR MILES is launching a limited-time Flash Offer that lets you earn up to 2,500 AIR MILES when you book eligible travel through its online agency, AIR MILES Travel.

From August 2–4, 2024, you’ll earn 100 Bonus Miles when you spend $100+, 1,000 Bonus Miles when you spend $500+, and 2,500 Bonus Miles when you spend $750+.

Let’s take a look at what this promotion entails and how you can maximize it.

AIR MILES Flash Offer: Earn Up to 2,500 AIR MILES

From August 2–4, 2024, you can earn up to 2,500 AIR MILES when you book with the AIR MILES Travel portal. To participate, you must opt-in through the AIR MILES website or app, which you can already do as of today.

Bonus AIR MILES can be earned as follows:

100 Bonus Miles when you spend $100+ with AIR MILES Travel
1,000 Bonus Miles when you spend $500+ with AIR MILES Travel
2,500 Bonus Miles when you spend $750+ with AIR MILES Travel

Given that AIR MILES can be redeemed at a rate of 95 AIR MILES = $10 in value, then you’ll earn $10.50, $105, and $263, respectively, when you meet the required spend before taxes and fees.

You’ll earn on most products on the AIR MILES Travel portal, including flights, accommodations, car rentals, packages, and extras. However, it’s important to note that cruises are excluded from this promotion.

Note that you must pay with a credit card entirely on your purchase to receive the bonus. You may use any credit card, but the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* will earn you a further 1 AIR MILE per every $12 spent.

BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®*

Earn 2,000 AIR MILES®† upon spending $3,000 in the first three months†
Earn 1x 3x AIR MILES®† per $12 spent at AIR MILES®† partners†
Earn 1x 2x AIR MILES®†per $12 spent at grocery stores, wholesale clubs, and alcohol retailers†
Use AIR MILES®† for Cash Rewards or Dream Rewards†
Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household†
Annual fee: $120 (rebated in the first year)†

Bookings must be made between August 2–4, 2024, and travel must be completed by January 31, 2025. There’s a limit of one offer per account.

Bonus AIR MILES earned will be deposited by August 26, 2024.

How to Maximize the AIR MILES Flash Offers

To maximize this AIR MILES Flash Offer, you’ll surely want to go for the highest spending threshold.

Assuming you spend exactly $750 or close to it, the 2,500 AIR MILES you’ll receive corresponds to up to a 35% return, which is obviously a great deal.

However, always keep in mind that AIR MILES Travel often isn’t the most affordable online travel agent. Hence, you should always compare its rates with booking direct or with another online agency.

That said, let’s take a look at what you could potentially book to maximize the promotion.

Airfares

Airfares will likely be your best bet with a promotion like this, since prices are generally the same across different online travel agencies. It’s also easier to reach the highest spend threshold of this offer with airfares.

However, make sure to compare the cost of booking directly with the airline, since you may find better deals, and you can deal with the airline directly in case of changes and cancellations.

Here’s an example. Say you find a round-trip Air Canada economy fare between Toronto and Vancouver priced through Google Flights as follows:

Meanwhile, like other third-party agencies, AIR MILES doesn’t offer Air Canada’s Economy (Basic) fare option, but only Economy (Standard) fares and above, with the pricing listed as follows:

If you wanted to book an Economy (Basic) fare for a domestic trip like the above, you’re better off booking with the airline directly. However, if you want to book an Economy (Standard) fare or perhaps an Economy (Latitude) fare to use your Aeroplan eUpgrades, then you could consider booking through AIR MILES to take advantage of this promotion.

Hotels

AIR MILES hotel reservations are considered third-party bookings, so you won’t receive elite status benefits and points with most hotel loyalty programs.

Therefore, if you’re looking to book hotels, you should use AIR MILES Travel for independent and boutique properties as much as possible.

Let’s take a look at an example. Seven nights at the five-star Lancaster Bangkok costs $750 plus $133 in taxes and fees, or a total of $883.

The same room costs $805 through Booking.com, proving that AIR MILES Travel often isn’t the cheapest among online travel agencies.

Still, factoring in the $263 in AIR MILES you’ll earn through this Flash Offer, you’ll come out considerably ahead.

Extras

Theme park tickets are among the top offerings of AIR MILES. For this offer, Disney and Universal Studios are worth considering, since they’re often excluded from promotions of other online travel agencies.

Through AIR MILES Travel, a seven-day ticket to Walt Disney World Florida for August 22, 2024 onwards costs $771 plus $45 in taxes and fees, or a total of $816.

The same ticket, when booked directly with Disney, costs $600 (USD) or $830 (CAD), plus any applicable foreign exchange fees on your card.

In this case, you’ll not only save money on the price of the ticket by booking through AIR MILES, but you’ll wind up getting a further $263 worth of AIR MILES as a bonus.

If you’re travelling as a family, consider booking your Disney tickets individually across your family members’ AIR MILES accounts to maximize this promotion. Keep in mind that there’s a limit of one offer per account.

Conclusion

AIR MILES is launching a Flash Offer that can earn you up to 2,500 AIR MILES when you book flights, accommodations, car rentals, packages, and extras through AIR MILES Travel.

From August 2–4, 2024, you’ll earn 100 Bonus Miles when you spend $100+, 1,000 Bonus Miles when you spend $500+, and 2,500 Bonus Miles when you spend $750+.

To participate in this promotion, make sure to opt-in through the AIR MILES app or website before making any bookings.

American Express Upgrade Offers: Switch to Cobalt, Gold, or Platinum

Kirin Tsang — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:45:48 GMT

Every now and then, American Express puts out upgrade offers for existing cardholders of select products. By upgrading to a higher-tier card, you’ll receive a new welcome bonus, and you’ll also benefit from any other perks included with the card.

Currently, there are upgrade offers to switch from the American Express Green Card to the American Express Cobalt Card or the American Express Gold Rewards Card, from the Cobalt Card to the Gold Rewards Card, and the Gold Card to the American Express Platinum Card.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upgrade offers.

Amex Green to Amex Cobalt Upgrade Offer

The American Express Green Card is the most basic Membership Rewards credit card in Amex Canada’s portfolio. It doesn’t have an annual fee, but it also doesn’t come with any other meaningful benefits, other than the following everyday earning rates:

Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all purchases
Earn 1 additional Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Amex Travel portal

Right now, you can choose to upgrade from this product to the American Express Cobalt Card. If you do so, you’ll earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points, so long as you make $2,000 (all figures in CAD) in net purchases within the first three months after upgrading.

If you make the switch, keep in mind that the Cobalt Card comes with a $12.99 monthly membership fee, and features the following earning rates, which are the best in Canada:

Earn 5 points per dollar spent on eats, drinks, and groceries (up to a maximum of $2,500 per month)
Earn 3 points per dollar spent on streaming services
Earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel and transit (travel will be reduced to 1 point per dollar spent in October 2024)
Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Earn 1 additional point per dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals through the Amex Travel portal

While the Cobalt Card is sparse on premium travel benefits, such as lounge access, its outstanding earning rates make it one of Canada’s must-have credit cards.

6 Reasons to Apply for the American Express Cobalt Card

If you wish to learn more about the upgrade from the Amex Green to the Amex Cobalt, head through to the offer’s landing page.

Amex Green to Amex Gold Rewards Upgrade Offer

Another upgrade option that’s currently available to cardholders of the Amex Green Card is to move up to the Amex Gold Rewards Card.

If you choose to do so, you can earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months as a cardholder.

The metal Gold Rewards Card, which also comes in rose gold, features the following everyday earning rates:

Earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel, gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases
Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Earn 1 additional point per dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Amex Travel portal

Additionally, the card carries the following travel benefits:

$100 annual travel credit, redeemable on the Amex Travel portal
Priority Pass membership, plus four complimentary Plaza Premium lounge visits each year
$50 NEXUS membership statement credit every four years

It’s worth noting that while the Gold Rewards Card comes with some premium travel benefits, its earning rate doesn’t match the 5x eats & drinks multiplier of the Cobalt Card.

If you’re interested in learning more about the upgrade, head over to the offer’s landing page.

Amex Cobalt to Amex Gold Upgrade Offer

If you currently hold the American Express Cobalt Card, you may find that the monthly fee structure, earning rates, or lack of travel benefits no longer meet your needs.

In such a situation, you may opt to upgrade your Cobalt Card to the American Express Gold Rewards Card with the current offer. By doing so, you’ll earn a renewed welcome bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which are awarded after making $3,000 in net purchases in the first three months after upgrading. Plus, you’ll get another 10,000 points upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder.

It’s worth noting that the Cobalt to Gold upgrade offer is considerably lower than the Green to Gold offer, and much lower than the best-available public offer for new applicants.

If you’re interested in learning more about the upgrade, head over to the offer’s landing page.

Amex Gold to Amex Platinum Upgrade Offer

If you currently have an Amex Gold Rewards Card, you may receive an invitation to upgrade to the American Express Platinum Card, though it appears that this particular offer is targeted.

If you’re eligible, you can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points upon spending $6,000 in the first three months as a cardholder.

The Platinum Card is a premium card, and comes with a hefty $799 annual fee compared to the Gold Card’s $250 annual fee.

However, you’ll also benefit from unlimited lounge access through the Global Lounge Collection, a $200 annual travel credit, a $200 annual dining credit, strong insurance, and more.

To see if you’ve been targeted with this offer, head over to the offer’s landing page, sign in to your account, and then proceed from there as you wish.

Should You Accept an Amex Upgrade Offer?

In the past, we’ve recommended the Amex Green Card as an ideal card to downgrade to from a more expensive premium card, like the American Express Platinum Card, so that you don’t lose access to your Membership Rewards points.

Therefore, if you’ve been holding the Green Card simply to park your Membership Rewards points, now could be an excellent time to top off your balance through one of the upgrade offers.

If you’ve yet to add the Amex Cobalt Card to your portfolio, we’d suggest considering the Green-to-Cobalt upgrade offer, but to hold off on the Green-to-Gold upgrade offer. Here’s why.

The Amex Cobalt’s 5x earning rate on restaurants & groceries is an industry leader that’s often imitated but never truly surpassed, since Membership Rewards points are transferable to a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs.

The American Express Cobalt Card has excellent earning rates

Furthermore, the welcome bonus on the upgrade offer is much more lucrative than the current public offer for the Cobalt Card, which is segmented into monthly minimum spending requirements of $750 to earn 1,250 bonus points. This results in a total of up to 15,000 MR points, spread out over the course of a year with monthly minimum spending requirements, rather than getting the same allotment of points by just spending $2,000 in three months.

In other words, to get the same amount of points with the best-available public offer compared to the Green-to-Cobalt upgrade offer, you’ll need to spend more than four times as much and wait an extra nine months to boot. It’s not hard to see why this is an excellent opportunity.

Meanwhile, when upgrading from the Green Card or the Cobalt Card to the Gold Rewards Card, the math becomes a little bit more complicated. This is mainly because the upgrade offers for 50,000 points upon spending $3,000 in three months (Green-to-Gold) or 20,000 points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months plus 10,000 points in year two (Cobalt-to-Gold) are 20,000 MR points and 40,000 points lower than the total best-available welcome offer of up to 70,000 bonus points, respectively.

However, the current best-available offer for the Amex Gold Rewards Card provides 5,000 bonus points for each billing period in the first 12 months in which you spend $1,000 on your Gold Rewards Card, for a total of up to 60,000 MR points upon spending at least $12,000. You’ll also get 10,000 MR points upon spending $4,000 in the first three months.

If you can sustain the spending requirements for the public offer over the course of the year, then the extra 20,000 or 40,000 MR points at stake could indeed be worth the added effort. However, if you’re looking for the path of least resistance to earn an extra 50,000 points, then the Green-to-Gold upgrade offer is certainly worth considering.

As for the Cobalt-to-Gold upgrade offer, the opportunity cost here is the loss of elevated earning rates on daily spending that you’d get with the Cobalt Card, especially for groceries and dining. If you happen to spend up to $2,500 at restaurants, bars, and grocery stores every month, the Gold Rewards Card probably isn’t the ideal card for your spending habits, and you’d be better off keeping the Cobalt Card as your daily driver.

On the other hand, you could also consider taking the upgrade offer for a boost of points, and then look at adding the Cobalt Card back into your portfolio further down the line for its elevated earning rates. Just beware that you may not be eligible for the welcome bonus the second time around.

However, this is where the magic of two-player mode comes into effect, since ideally, you’d have both the Cobalt Card and the Gold Rewards Card available in your household.

Maximizing Miles & Points in Two-Player Mode

If you’re living with a significant other, trusted friend, or indulgent family member, you could always refer that person to the Cobalt Card before upgrading yourself to the Gold Rewards Card. This would net you another 5,000 Membership Rewards points from the referral, which comes in addition to keeping the 5x eats & drinks earn rate under your roof.

In this situation, you’d benefit from the best of all worlds: easy access to an attainable welcome bonus of 50,000 points via the upgrade offer, the excellent daily earning rates from the Cobalt Card, and the travel benefits offered by the Gold Rewards Card.

Lastly, for the Gold-to-Platinum upgrade offer, you’ll need to consider whether or not you’re able to make use of all the card’s extra benefits in exchange for the $799 annual fee.

The American Express Platinum Card comes with a $799 annual fee and many premium perks

The best-available welcome bonus on the Platinum Card is for up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points, which is 20,000 points more than what’s at stake through the upgrade offer:

Earn 70,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
Earn 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder

However, keep in mind that the structure of the Gold-to-Platinum upgrade offer is much simpler, since you’ll get the full swath of 80,000 points upon spending $6,000 in the first three months.

Conclusion

American Express Canada is offering customers an opportunity to upgrade an American Express Green Card, American Express Cobalt Card, and an American Express Gold Rewards Card. The upgrade offers for all cards offer the chance to rapidly expand your points balances in only a few months.

If you’re able to take advantage of any of the upgrade offers, head over to the landing pages and crunch the numbers to see if you stand to come out ahead.

World of Hyatt Launches Partnership with Under Canvas

Jennifer Buchanan — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:11:52 GMT

The trendy world of glamping just got a little more enticing thanks to World of Hyatt, who has launched a new exclusive alliance with Under Canvas.

The upscale accommodation company connects guests with nature and the outdoors at its safari-inspired camps throughout the United States.

World of Hyatt Launches Partnership with Under Canvas

This week, World of Hyatt launched a new exclusive alliance with Under Canvas, adding glamping to its portfolio.

Through the partnership, World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem World of Hyatt points at 13 iconic Under Canvas properties, including Yellowstone National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, and the company’s newest luxury outdoor resort ULUM Moab.

Earn and redeem World of Hyatt points at Under Canvas properties

Named best new hotel of 2024 by AFAR Magazine, ULUM Moab promises “safari style spoiling” in Utah’s Canyon Country, and it sounds like that’s exactly what guests will get!

All Under Canvas tents come complete with plush queen- or king-size beds, a lounge area, private bathroom, and an outdoor deck where guests can dine from a locally inspired menu of charcuterie boards, fresh salads, seafood, and more.

World of Hyatt Benefits at Under Canvas Properties

World of Hyatt members will be able to earn and redeem points, and receive the same benefits at Under Canvas resorts as they do at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels.

If you recall, World of Hyatt launched a partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith in April 2024, allowing World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points at Mr & Mrs Smith properties across the globe.

World of Hyatt members will receive the same benefits at Under Canvas properties as they do at Mr & Mrs Smith properties

The benefits for World of Hyatt members looks like this:

Earn 5 Base Points per $1 (USD) spent on room rates.
Tier Qualifying Nights for each eligible night at Under Canvas resorts and ULUM Moab.
World of Hyatt Credit Cardmembers can also earn an additional 4 Bonus Points per $1 (USD) spent on room rates when booking through World of Hyatt channels.

It’s worth noting that both Under Canvas and Mr & Mrs Smith properties are subject to dynamic pricing, rather than the fixed pricing that all Hyatt properties are subject to.

This means that the amount of points required per night will vary depending on the corresponding cash rate.

For example, a one-night stay in a deluxe tent at Under Canvas West Yellowstone might cost $582 (USD) or 51,500 World of Hyatt points.

This results in a value of roughly 1.13 cents per point (USD), which is below our valuation of World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents per point (USD).

While there aren’t as many opportunities for outsized value for redemptions due to dynamic pricing, you’ll have another option to redeem your points through this new alliance, which could work well for anyone who’s in search of an experience rather than a stay.

Conclusion

World of Hyatt has launched a new exclusive partnership with Under Canvas, a collection of luxury outdoor resorts that promises guests the ultimate glamping getaway.

World of Hyatt members can now start earning and redeeming points by booking stays through Hyatt at Under Canvas camps across the United States. Bookings are now open for the 2024 and 2025 seasons on the Hyatt website.

Porter Airlines VIPorter Elite Status: Guide to Qualifying and Privileges

T.J. Dunn — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:31:56 GMT

VIPorter is the loyalty program for Porter Airlines, the fast-growing Toronto-based carrier. The loyalty program was relaunched in 2023 with added membership levels and benefits.

Through VIPorter, members can earn elite status levels after reaching specific spending thresholds. With this elite status, members then receive ongoing benefits with the airline, including seat upgrades, complimentary checked bags, and more.

How Does VIPorter Elite Status Work?

Anyone can become a VIPorter member for free.

When you sign up for a VIPorter account, you’ll automatically begin as a VIPorter Member.

Beyond this basic membership level, there are four elite status tiers within VIPorter’s Avid Traveller program: VIPorter Passport, VIPorter Venture, VIPorter Ascent, and VIPorter First.

Moving up within the Avid Traveller program is entirely based on how much money you spend with Porter Airlines each calendar year. You’ll get a credit for every $1 (all figures in CAD) spent with the airline, including on base fares, checked baggage fees, change fees, and more.

In fact, the only thing that doesn’t count towards earning status credit are taxes and surcharges.

Here’s how much you’ll need to spend to reach each elite tier level:

VIPorter Passport: $2,000
VIPorter Venture: $3,000
VIPorter Ascent: $6,000
VIPorter First: $10,000

With Porter Airlines, all fares are treated equally. You’ll earn the same qualifying spend on the lowest economy fares (PorterClassic) as you will on the more expensive fare types (e.g., PorterReserve).

The eligible earning period is from January 1 to December 31 of the same year, but it’s important to note that you won’t‌ earn qualifying credit until after you’ve completed your first trip.

Once you’ve reached the specific spending threshold for the next VIPorter elite status tier, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of that status until December 31 of the following year.

Additionally, after you’ve reached at least the VIPorter Passport level, any qualifying spend above your earned elite tier will carry over to the next year to a maximum of $3,000, through VIPorter’s Head Start benefit.

As an example, if you have $5,000 in qualifying spend in a calendar year, you’ll have earned VIPorter Venture elite status for spending $3,000, and you’ll be able to carry over $2,000 in qualifying spend to the next calendar year.

This means that you’ll automatically start ‌the next year at the VIPorter Passport level, which has a spending threshold of $2,000, and from there, you’ll be able to move up to the next level quicker.

You’ll enjoy the VIPorter status you’ve qualified for until December 31 of the following year

Porter Airlines has also run status match campaigns in the past to entice Air Canada elite members to try their services.

Status matches such as this allow an elite member of a competitor’s program to automatically receive an equivalent elite status for a short period of time, with an opportunity to extend that period with ongoing participation.

Lastly, as a perk for new parents, if you’ve recently added a new member to your family, you can request an extension of your benefits for up to 18 months by filling out a form on Porter’s website and providing supporting documents.

VIPorter Status Tiers

VIPorter’s four Avid Traveller levels come with better and better benefits as you spend more and move up in status.

Additionally, VIPorter benefits can be extended to up to nine passengers flying together with the Avid Traveller member.

Let’s take a closer look at what these benefits entail.

VIPorter Passport: Spend $2,000

At the first Avid Traveller level, VIPorter Passport members earn 6 points per dollar spent on everything except taxes and fees. Comparatively, non-elite VIPorter members earn 5 points per dollar spent.

VIPorter points can be used to book flights, with short-haul routes costing as few as 5,000 VIPorter points.

As a VIPorter Passport member, you’ll also have access to a dedicated call centre, and you’ll be prioritized over non-elite members for a seat on the next available flight when there are flight delays.

In addition to the increased point-earning potential and the customer service, you’ll also have access to dedicated check-in, priority security, and early boarding.

Lastly, you’ll get priority over non-elite VIPorter members if you’re flying standby.

VIPorter Venture: Spend $3,000

VIPorter Venture members have slightly more benefits than VIPorter Passport members; however, they’ll still earn the same 6 points per dollar spent.

At the Venture level, members receive one complimentary checked bag and complimentary carry-on bags when booking a PorterClassic Basic fare.

Additionally, VIPorter Venture members have access to complimentary seat selection when they book a PorterClassic seat. This would normally cost $12 when booking a Basic or Standard fare.

Once a VIPorter member spends $3,000 in qualifying spend and reaches the VIPorter Venture status level, they’ll also receive one PorterReserve certificate.

A PorterReserve certificate allows members to upgrade from a PorterClassic to a PorterReserve seat when they purchase a PorterClassic Standard fare or above.

Once upgraded, you’ll enjoy extra legroom, two complimentary checked bags, and more.

You’ll also be able to earn an additional PorterReserve certificate for every $2,000 you spend beyond the first $3,000 in a calendar year.

VIPorter Ascent: Spend $6,000

VIPorter Ascent members earn 7 points for every dollar spent.

Beyond the benefits offered to VIPorter Passport and Venture members, VIPorter Ascent elite status members also enjoy two free checked bags and free same-day changes on all fares other than PorterClassic Basic fares.

In addition to this, when a PorterClassic Stretch seat is available, VIPorter Ascent members can select that seat for free. This option would normally cost $30 when booking PorterClassic Basic, Standard, or Flexible fares.

VIPorter First: Spend $10,000

Porter Airlines highest Avid Traveller level is VIPorter First.

At this tier, members will enjoy all of the benefits offered to VIPorter Ascent members plus guaranteed reservation and guaranteed next flight re-accommodation.

Guaranteed reservation grants a seat to a VIPorter First member when they purchase a PorterClassic Freedom fare, even if the flight is sold out.

The guaranteed next flight benefit saves VIPorter First members a spot on the next Porter flight to their destination in the event that their original Porter flight is cancelled.

Both of these benefits mean that Porter Airlines will potentially remove another traveller from their flights to accommodate their most loyal passengers.

Summary of Benefits Per Tier

Here’s a summary of benefits per VIPorter tier:

Conclusion

‌The VIPorter loyalty program is one of the easier programs in which to move up in elite status, and you don’t have to worry about calculating mileage or making sure you book the right fare class.

All fare classes are treated equally, and you must simply meet specific spending thresholds to move up to the next status tier.

However, the benefits offered to elite VIPorter members aren’t quite at the same level as other airline loyalty programs.

This is mainly because Porter Airlines doesn’t offer a business class product and doesn’t currently have airport lounges, so these areas that commonly play a part in a program’s benefits are absent.

That being said, VIPorter has done a great job of not unnecessarily complicating the airlines’ loyalty program, and of allowing for more flexibility with earning and maintaining elite status with the Head Start benefit and the membership expiration extension for new parents.

Aeroplan Adds Partnership with Eurowings

Jennifer Buchanan — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 13:15:02 GMT

Aeroplan members will now have more options to fly further than ever before using their points thanks to a new partnership with Eurowings.

Aeroplan Adds Partnership with Eurowings

Aeroplan has announced that as of July 25, 2024, Eurowings has become Aeroplan’s newest air redemption partner, allowing members to redeem points for flights booked across the Eurowings network.

Vice President of Loyalty and Product at Air Canada, Scott O’Leary says “We are thrilled to welcome Eurowings as our newest Aeroplan partner,” adding “with the connectivity of their 20 plus destinations, our (Aeroplan) members can enjoy many more exciting ways to explore the world.”

Eurowings has become Aeroplan’s newest partner

Eurowings operates a modern fleet of 100+ narrowbody Airbus A320 aircraft, serving short- to medium-haul routes. Its hubs and focus cities are secondary German gateway airports, avoiding an overlap with parent Lufthansa’s megahubs in Frankfurt and Munich.

The newly announced partnership will give Aeroplan members access to far more destinations currently serviced by Eurowings across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Aeroplan says it’s excited about the new relationship which complements the other redemption partnerships it has with the Lufthansa Group of airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Edelweiss Air, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Discover Airlines.

Here’s a look at the key details of the partnership:

Members will be able to book Eurowings flights online at aircanada.com, through the Air Canada mobile app, or via Aeroplan’s Contact Centre
Flights will be priced based on Aeroplan’s partner grid
Flights can be combined with flights operated by Air Canada and its other international airline partners
Eurowings flights are eligible for redemption in economy and “BIZclass”
The partner booking fee will apply for flight rewards which include travel on Eurowings

Redeeming Aeroplan Points for Eurowings

Here’s Eurowings’s current route network, according to FlightConnections:

As a short- to medium-haul carrier, your best bet for booking Eurowings within the Aeroplan program is for connecting flights as part of a more complex Aeroplan itinerary.

A good example would be to book Toronto (YYZ) to Lisbon (LIS) on TAP Air Portugal and connect on a Eurowings flight to Hamburg (HAM), Düsseldorf (DUS), Cologne/Bonn (CGN), or Stuttgart (STR).

Another example would be from Newark (EWR), where you can book a transatlantic flight to various points in Europe on United Polaris business class, then connect to Eurowings’s destinations within Germany. Note, however, that Eurowings “BIZclass” might not be offered on certain short-haul flights.

Itineraries like these, which involve only partner carriers, avoid Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights.

On the other hand, when booked as standalone or connecting flights, Eurowings awards exclusively fall under the “Within Atlantic zone” chart.

Looking at an example, an award between Düsseldorf (DUS) and Nice (NCE), with a distance of 527 miles, costs 7,500 Aeroplan points in economy and 15,000 points in business class.

We value Aeroplan points at 2.1 cents per point (all figures in CAD). Using this value, we’d estimate that the cost for these flights in points are worth approximately $158 and $315.

Keep in mind, you’ll have to add in taxes and fees, as well as Aeroplan’s $39 partner booking fee. This same flight might cost €60 ($90) in economy and €160 ($240) in business class, which suggests that that Eurowings flights might not be the most valuable way to redeem Aeroplan points when booked as standalone awards.

One final point to consider, Eurowings’s “BIZclass” cabin is simply rows of economy seats with blocked middle seats, also known as European-style business class. Redeeming points for a business class seat that doesn’t really feel like business class might not be the most aspirational use of your points for standalone flights.

Eurowings BIZclass

Conclusion

Aeroplan has added Eurowings as its newest redemption partner giving members more options to fly further using their points. The discount air-carrier focuses mainly on short- to medium-haul routes across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Aeroplan members can book Eurowings flights directly through the Air Canada website, the Air Canada mobile app, or via Aeroplan’s Contact Centre. We’d recommend using your points towards Eurowings’s network of connecting flights in order to get the best bang for your buck.

Bilt Rent Day Promotion August 2024: Benefits with Virgin Voyages & BLADE Lounge Experience

T.J. Dunn — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:00:11 GMT

Each month, Bilt Rewards launches its Rent Day promotion, which offers a host of benefits to its members. The promotion is available to anyone who engages with Bilt Rewards, including cardholders of the Bilt World Elite Mastercard^®.

For the August 2024 Rent Day promotion, members can receive extra benefits when sailing with Virgin Voyages, and can also access an exclusive experience in BLADE lounges in New York City.

Bilt Rent Day Promotion August 2024: Benefits with Virgin Voyages & BLADE Lounge Experience

For the August 2024 Rent Day promotion, Bilt Rewards members can earn extra benefits when sailing with Virgin Voyages and have access to an exclusive BLADE lounge experience in New York City.

Virgin Voyages Benefits

For Rent Day August 2024, Bilt is partnering with Virgin Voyages to offer extra perks to members who book a cruise, including a complimentary plus one.

In order to be eligible for the extra benefits, you must book and activate the benefits by making an eligible Virgin Voyages booking on the Virgin Voyages website accessed from the Bilt Rewards app from July 26, 2024 at 9am Eastern Time to August 1, 2024 at 11:59 Pacific Time.

If you’ve made an eligible Virgin Voyages booking, you and up to one additional guest will enjoy the following perks:

Unlimited premium Wi-Fi
Two specialty coffees per day
$100 bar tab credit
Complimentary laundry
Unlimited group workouts
Essential drinks
Access to entertainment and events onboard
Access to an exclusive cocktail event
Priority boarding at embarkation
Dedicated support

In order for a Bilt member to be eligible for the Bilt Exclusive Benefits on their cruise, they must request benefits in the Bilt app after making their Virgin Voyages booking. Members should activate the benefits by entering their name, email, and booking reference number in the Virgin Voyages Travel Experience tab of the Bilt app or website.

BLADE Lounge Experience

For Rent Day August 2024, Bilt is also teaming up with BLADE to offer an exclusive experience at BLADE’s New York City lounges.

On August 1, 2024, you can enjoy a welcome cocktail before boarding a BLADE helicopter flight at the BLADE Lounge West prior to flying over Manhattan to the Blade Lounge East.

Upon landing, you’ll join other Bilt Members for a Lounge Party with a DJ on the helipad, small plates by Tao Group, and unlimited craft cocktails and beverages.

The full details and pricing for this experience are as follows:

Lounge Party Tickets

Lounge Party Tickets to the experience can be purchased for $50 (USD) or 2,500 Bilt Rewards points each
Bilt members can book a maximum of four Lounge Party Tickets.
Lounge Party Tickets grant access to the Experience at 8pm Eastern Time

Early Access Lounge Party Tickets

Early Access Lounge Party Tickets are available to Platinum and Gold Bilt account holders only
An individual Early Access Lounge Party Ticket to the Experience can be purchased for $50 (USD) or 2,500 Bilt Rewards points
Bilt members can book a maximum of four Early Access Lounge Party Tickets
Early Access Lounge Party Tickets grant access to the Experience at 7pm Eastern Time

Lounge Party + Flight Tickets (via BLADE Helicopter)

An individual Lounge Party + Flight Ticket to the Experience can be purchased for $200 (USD) or 10,000 Bilt Rewards points
Bilt members can book a maximum of two Lounge Party + Flight Tickets
Bilt members will be required to sign a waiver prior to booking Lounge Party + Transportation Tickets
Lounge Party + Flight Ticket holders must arrive at the BLADE Lounge West located at 12th Ave and W 30th St, New York, NY 10011 at 7pm Eastern Time
There are 30 total Lounge Party + Flight Tickets available

Bilt Rent Day August 2024: Earn Double Points and More

Aside from the extra perks with Virgin Voyages and the BLADE lounge experience, Bilt’s August 2024 Rent Day promotion is offering a number of other deals to members.

Double Points

If you have the Bilt World Elite Mastercard^®, you’ll earn double points on non-rent purchases from 12am Eastern Time to 11:59pm Pacific Time on August 1, 2024, structured as follows:

Dining: 6x points per US dollar spent (normally 3x points)
Travel: 4x points per US dollar spent (normally 2x points)
Other spend (excluding rent payments): 2x points per US dollar spent (normally 1x points)
Rent payments: 1 point per US dollar spent

You can earn a maximum of 10,000 bonus points on the Rent Day double points promotion. As a reminder, you must use your card at least five times during each statement period to earn points.

Bilt Neighbourhood Dining Series

Each month, Bilt offers all-inclusive dining reservations at Bilt Neighbourhood Dining restaurants, featuring a curated menu and premium cocktails.

This month, Bilt’s Neighbourhood Dining Series is available at 27 restaurants in 12 cities.

Book a seat for yourself and your guests starting at $75 or 6,000 Bilt points per person. Available as of July 27, 2024 in the Bilt app at 12 Eastern Time for Platinum Members, 12:10 Eastern Time for Gold Members, 12:20 Eastern Time for Silver Members, and 12:30 Eastern Time for Blue Members.

Reservations are bookable for $75 (USD) or 6,000 Bilt Points per person, and booking are available on the Bilt app at different times on July 29, 2024, depending on your status:

Platinum Members: 12pm Eastern Time
Gold Members: 12:10pm Eastern Time
Silver Members: 12:20pm Eastern Time
Blue Members: 12:30pm Eastern Time

Rent Day Rides

Bilt Rewards members can receive a complimentary Rent Day Ride session at 50+ SoulCycle locations across the US for the August 2024 Rent Day promotion when booked through the Bilt Rewards app as of July 30, 2024 at 12pm Eastern Time.

Plus, one rider who attends a Rent Day Ride will win a month of rent paid by Bilt, up to a total of $2,500 (USD).

Rent Free Game Show

On August 1, 2024, you can participate in the Rent Free game show for a chance to win free rent paid by Bilt for a month, up to $2,500 (USD).

You can play Rent Free in the Bilt app, which becomes available as of July 26, 2024 at 12pm Eastern Time. You can earn an entry by guessing the three most popular answers to questions selected by Bilt.

This month’s Rent Free game show is hosted by Jared Freid.

Conclusion

Bilt has announced the details of the Rent Day promotion for August 2024.

This time, you can benefit from extra perks when booking Virgin Voyages, plus access to an exclusive BLADE lounge experience.

Plus, there are offers to earn 2x points on your Bilt World Elite Mastercard^®, secure reservations at Bilt Dining restaurants across the US, win free rent through the Rent Free game show, and more.

Be sure to check the available offers and details on the Bilt Rent Day website or through the app.

†Terms and conditions apply. Bilt is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please visit the Bilt website for the most up to date information.

Qatar Airways Unveils Qsuites Next Gen Business Class

Jennifer Buchanan — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 11:08:20 GMT

Qatar Airways has unveiled its newest business class product, the Qsuite Next Gen and its ‘next’ level prestige! Already touted as having one of the world’s best business class products in the sky, the airline may have just outdone itself with its newest over-the-top business class experience.

Game Changer in Passenger Comfort

Qatar Airways unveiled the highly anticipated Qsuite Next Gen, on day one of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 in England. It’s a game-changer when it comes to passenger comfort featuring taller, digitally controlled dividers for privacy and larger lie-flat beds in its Quad Suites.

Qsuite Next Gen Quad Suites

The goal of the Qsuite Next Gen is clearly focused on creating a mindful work-life balance for passengers whether you’re travelling on business or with family and friends.

While the new design offers greater privacy, it also features increased shared dining space allowing passengers to enjoy the experience together. Picture a family of four sitting around the dinner table, only you’re in the air.

The Quad Suite offers more space than before with upgraded 4K OLED Panasonic entertainment screens, which is a first for any airline in the world. The screens can be folded to the side allowing for greater sight-lines and again, to create more open and shared space for up to four passengers.

Upgraded 4K OLED Panasonic entertainment screen

To top it off, the new Quad Suite will also offer the 5-star Qatar Airways turn-down service with a dedicated ‘Make My Bed’ feature.

The new Companion Suite has some similarities to the Quad and allows for two passengers to share the elevated business class experience. One seat is forward facing and the other rearward facing with an electronic divider that can be raised, which means you can sit face to face with your travelling companion while both enjoying a view of the skies.

Qsuite Next Gen Quad Suites

Qatar Airways says the Qsuite Next Gen is scheduled to make its debut as early as 2025, but likely a bit later, when the airline takes delivery of its new Boeing 777-900s.

Conclusion

Qatar Airways has unveiled its highly anticipated Qsuite Next Gen at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. Already known for having one of the best business class products of any airline in the world, Qatar is living up to its reputation with its new over-the-top business class experience.

Between the customizable ambient lighting options, increased shared space and larger lay-flat beds with turndown service, the Qsuite Next Gen is definitely a game-changer for passenger comfort.

20% Transfer Bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Aeroplan (Ending Soon)

Ricky Zhang — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:30:52 GMT

Last month, Chase Ultimate Rewards launched its latest transfer bonus promotion, once again offering a 20% bonus when converting points to Aeroplan on top of the usual 1:1 ratio.

Among all transferable rewards in the US, Chase typically offers the lowest frequency of transfer bonuses to any transfer partner, and this fourth-ever Aeroplan transfer bonus illustrates the depth of the relationship between Aeroplan and Chase.

As a reminder, the offer runs through to July 31, 2024, and it can be an excellent opportunity to rack up Aeroplan points – especially if you also happen to hold the Chase Aeroplan Card.

20% Transfer Bonus from Chase UR to Aeroplan

Between June 15, 2024, and July 31, 2024, all Chase Ultimate Rewards transferred to Aeroplan will include a 20% transfer bonus.

This brings the transfer ratio from the usual 1:1 to an effective ratio of 1:1.2. In other words, for every 1,000 Chase UR points you transfer, you’ll receive 1,200 Aeroplan points (or more, which we’ll explore below).

As a reminder, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a US-issued points currency, and you’ll need to be fairly far along in the US credit card game in order to earn these points as a Canadian.

You’ll need to transfer at least 1,000 Chase UR points to qualify for the bonus; however, there’s no cap as to how many points you can transfer over.

The listed transfer time is up to seven days, but you can expect your points to arrive much faster than that, as it’s typically instant.

Chase Aeroplan Card: An Extra Bonus of 10% Aeroplan Points

If you also hold the Chase Aeroplan Card, you have the potential to earn an additional 10% bonus alongside the current 20% transfer bonus.

Chase and Aeroplan offer a 10% bonus when converting Ultimate Rewards points into Aeroplan points, as long as you hold a Chase Aeroplan Card.

This began as a temporary promotion; however, Aeroplan has made it a permanent feature, which means that cardholders can enjoy the 10% transfer bonus in perpetuity.

The 10% transfer bonus will be posted separately from the base amount, and can take up to 72 hours to post on your Aeroplan account.

Note that this extra 10% bonus will apply to the base transfer points, and not on top of the promotional 20% transfer bonus. In other words, the two transfer bonuses will combine additively, not multiplicatively.

For example, when transferring 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan as a holder of the Chase Aeroplan Card, you’ll earn a total of 65,000 Aeroplan points:

50,000 Aeroplan points at the normal 1:1 transfer ratio
10,000 Aeroplan points as a result of the 20% transfer bonus
5,000 Aeroplan points as a result of the 10% transfer bonus

There are a two extra conditions for earning the 10% bonus:

You must transfer a minimum of 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points in a single transaction
There’s a maximum of 25,000 bonus points per calendar year, which is equivalent to transferring 250,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Therefore, if you transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan between the amounts of 50,000 and 250,000, you’ll earn an effective 30% bonus or unlock an effective transfer ratio of 1:1.3.

Should You Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Aeroplan?

An effective transfer ratio of 1:1.2, or potentially 1:1.3 if you also hold a Chase Aeroplan Card, is very attractive on the surface.

After all, Aeroplan is one of the most flexible loyalty programs out there, with more than 45 partner airlines, competitive award pricing, and plenty of other attractive features, including stopovers and generous routing rules.

Aeroplan has more than 45 airline partners, including EVA Air

Still, whether or not you should take advantage of this transfer bonus really depends on your personal earning and redeeming habits, and on which side of the border you live.

For most Canadians, Aeroplan points are easy to come by with our plethora of cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points (which transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan) and Aeroplan co-branded credit cards.

Therefore, Canadians earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points might do so with the goal of transferring to Chase’s more exclusive partners in World of Hyatt, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, which are much more difficult to access in Canada.

Aeroplan points are relatively easy to come by in Canada

For Americans, however, who might earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points as one of their primary currencies and are sitting on a large haul, there’s no reason to pass up this 20% (or 30%) transfer bonus opportunity to Aeroplan.

After all, Aeroplan can be certainly considered one of Chase’s most valuable transfer partners, and this 20% bonus would only amplify that value – especially if you’re already invested in the program via the Chase Aeroplan Card and can benefit from a further 10% bonus as a result.

Conclusion

Until July 31, 2024, Chase Ultimate Rewards will be subject to a 20% bonus when converted to Aeroplan, for an effective transfer ratio of 1:1.2.

If you also hold the Chase Aeroplan Card, you’ll earn an additional 10% transfer bonus as long as a minimum of 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points are transferred, resulting in an effective ratio of 1:1.3.

This can be a very attractive promotion if you’re sitting on a large stash of Ultimate Rewards points and are in need of more Aeroplan points, so be sure to take advantage if the transfer bonus suits your needs.

How The Prince of Travel Team Would Create The Perfect Credit Card

Vittorio Salac — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:17:33 GMT

Here at Prince of Travel, we maintain lists of the best credit cards – best overall credit cards, best travel credit cards, best Aeroplan credit cards, and so on.

However, while we think there are lots of great credit cards in the Canadian market, we also concede that there’s no one perfect credit card.

After all, we and the rest of the Miles & Points community have different wants and needs for this perfect card. Some people might put a premium on having no foreign transaction fees, while others might be most enthusiastic about collecting Aeroplan points.

But what if we had a say on what we’d like to improve about our favourite cards? What would we at Prince of Travel do to create the perfect credit card? Let’s find out.

Welcome Bonus

When it comes to credit card welcome bonuses, Canadian credit cards are somewhat lagging, especially when compared to the US, where credit cards come with more substantial offers.

American Express cards in Canada would be better with higher welcome bonuses

TJ, our Editor-in-Chief, wants these higher offers for the Canadian market as well, saying:

We write about both Canadian and American Amex cards. In particular, I’ve noticed how the best welcome bonuses for the US Amex Gold card, which tops out at 90,000 Membership Rewards points, are better than its Canadian counterpart, which maxes out at 70,000 Membership Rewards points.

I wish the American Express Gold Rewards Card, as well as other Canadian Amex offerings, would provide welcome bonuses that match their US counterparts.

TJ’s sentiment was echoed across the Prince of Travel team, who can’t help but be envious of the welcome bonuses being offered by the likes of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Miles.

While some of us dabble in US credit cards, we still want these juicy welcome bonuses for the local market, so our fellow Canadian Miles & Points enthusiasts would enjoy them easily as well.

Earning and Redeeming Rewards

The Prince of Travel team also has some suggestions for ways we’d like to improve how our credit cards earn and redeem rewards.

As someone who travels nine months out of each year, I personally like the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card for their valuable no foreign transaction fee feature, which saves me 2.5% on all my foreign currency purchases.

Scotiabank Scene+ cards would be better if points can be transferred to airline programs

Not only that, but both cards also give me at least a 1% return on my purchases in Scene+ points.

However, while I appreciate that you can redeem Scene+ points against any travel expense, I believe that points earned through the program would be more valuable if they could be converted to airline and hotel loyalty program points as well.

This is, after all, why people are drawn to the RBC Avion program through which you can transfer points to valuable airline loyalty programs at reasonable transfer rates.

For example, RBC Avion points can be transferred to British Airways Executive Club at a rate of 1:1, with the occasional offer of a 30% transfer bonus.

Another way we’d like to see reward programs improved is through better earning rates with certain credit cards.

For the RBC Avion suite of cards, Steve, one Prince of Travel’s Community Managers, would like to see more competitive category multipliers.

RBC Avion cards would be better with more earning multipliers

Specifically, looking back to when the HSBC World Elite Mastercard was transitioned into the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite†, we can see that while the no foreign transaction fee feature was retained on these transitioned cards, some of the category multipliers that existed on the HSBC card were lost in the changeover.

Historically, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard earned 6 points per dollar (all figures in CAD) spent on travel and 4 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases. Following the transition, the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† card only offers 1.25 points per dollar spent on travel purchases and 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

For the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† to be more compelling than its predecessor from HSBC, we’d like to see it invest in more attractive earning rates on top of the no-foreign transaction fee feature.

Another card our team would like to improve is the American Express Cobalt Card.

Shane, our Concierge Account Manager, wants the Cobalt to “return to its former glory,” wherein there was no monthly cap on the 5x Eats & Drinks earning rate.

Some of us wish the Amex Cobalt Card didn’t have the Eats & Drinks earning restriction

In August 2023, Amex Canada placed a $2,500 monthly cap on the Cobalt Card’s 5x Eats & Drinks earning when previously the cap was $30,000 annually.

Ostensibly, this change was designed to curb inorganic spending strategies, such as buying gift cards for other retailers at grocery stores to effectively get 5x the points on expenses at other merchants.

However, the monthly cap doesn’t account for people’s varying spending habits. For example, someone might spend more at restaurants in the summer or when travelling and could therefore easily use up the monthly limit. Big families, who could spend $2,500 on groceries alone, are negatively impacted by this change as well.

Features and Benefits

As a team of people who travel frequently, we find the no foreign transaction fee feature on credit cards very valuable.

While some members of the Miles & Points community find this feature to be “overrated,” a number of people on the Prince of Travel team still put stock in saving the 2.5% on foreign exchange fees since this can certainly add up over time.

For instance, by paying for a $2,000 foreign currency expense using a credit card that has a no foreign transaction fee feature, you’ll save $50 in fees.

No foreign transaction fee cards save you at least 2.5%

Amy, my fellow writer and our go-to source for all things related to family travel, thinks that the American Express Cobalt Card should add this feature so she and her family can benefit from the 2.5% savings and the 5x Eats & Drinks earning rate at the same time.

Chris, one of our Community Managers, also wants the no foreign transaction fee feature on the flagship American Express Platinum Card, especially since the card’s US counterpart already offers it.

In fact, most US American Express cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, so we’d love to see the Canadian American Express cards eventually follow suit.

The American Express Platinum Card would be better with no foreign transaction fees like in the US

Speaking of US cards, some Prince of Travel team members feel like they’re missing out on the variety and quality of benefits that US cards offer.

Rashaad, our Growth Marketing Specialist, thinks the Marriott Bonvoy cards in Canada should offer benefits more in line with Bonvoy cards in the US.

For instance, the US-based Marriott Bonvoy American Express Brilliant Card offers cardholders automatic Platinum Elite status, a Free Night Award worth 85,000 points, and a $300 dining statement credit.

Comparatively, the Canada-based Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card only offers cardholders Silver Elite status, a Free Night Award worth 35,000 points, and 15 Elite Nights towards the next elite status level.

Marriott Bonvoy cards in Canada would be better off with more benefits

On a related note, our team would also love to see improvement to the travel credits provided by American Express on certain cards in Canada.

Currently, the American Express Platinum Card (both personal and business) offer a $200 travel credit, while the American Express Gold Rewards Card comes with a $100 travel credit.

Jay, our Copywriter, wants the travel credit on his American Express Gold Rewards Card to have more flexibility and to be applicable to any travel purchase made on the card, rather than just bookings made with American Express’ in-house travel agency.

Conclusion

While we’re lucky to have access to a wide range of credit cards in Canada, there’s simply no one perfect credit card.

Across the Canadian credit card landscape, there’s plenty of room for improvement in terms of welcome bonuses, features, benefits, and earning and redeeming rewards. This is especially noticeable since we have the US credit card market and their offerings as a point of comparison.

Hopefully, financial institutions in Canada take heed of our recommendations above so that they can offer one kick-ass credit card that we and the rest of the Miles & Points community will love.

Korean Air Launches Prestige Suites 2.0 on Boeing 787-10 Aircraft

Jennifer Buchanan — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:15:45 GMT

Korean Air has launched its newest business class product, Prestige Suites 2.0, onboard its brand-new Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

The elevated business class product will make its long-haul debut on the Seoul Incheon–Vancouver route later this year, after it initially launches on the Seoul Incheon–Tokyo Narita route later this week.

Korean Air Launches Prestige Suites 2.0

Korean Air is set to debut its new Prestige Class cabin interior onboard its first Boeing Dreamliner 787-10, which the airline took delivery of this week.

Shiny. New. Just splendid.✨

Introducing the latest addition to our fleet, the B787-10✈️🎉

Join us on Korean Air Instagram (@koreanairworld) to celebrate the launch of our new B787-10 and grab our limited edition B787-10 goodies!🎁🎁🎁

👉 https://t.co/ocDvxPyD36 pic.twitter.com/D28HzNQZxj

— Korean Air (@KoreanAir_KE) July 22, 2024

Korean Air says the Prestige Suites 2.0 seats are designed to offer business class passengers an unparalleled travel experience when flying on the state-of-the-art aircraft. Passengers on the Seoul Incheon–Tokyo Narita route will be the first to experience the elevated business class on July 25, 2024.

Korean Air Prestige Suites 2.0

The Prestige Suites 2.0 design features traditional Korean patterns, including “Jogakbo” patchwork, to showcase Korea’s cultural beauty. The interior has been designed to create a warm and elegant atmosphere, featuring a cream color inspired by Joseon Dynasty porcelain and a gold hue reminiscent of brassware.

One of the standout features of the new business class product is its innovative design, which prioritizes passengers’ privacy. Each seat functions as its own independent space, with an open top that enhances a sense of openness while maintaining a level of privacy.

The seats, which have been extended and made wider, fully recline to a lay-flat bed and give passengers a generous amount of personal space.

Korean Air Prestige Suites 2.0

Passengers will also enjoy an enhanced inflight entertainment experience with 24-inch 4K high-resolution monitors with bluetooth audio compared to the 13-inch monitors in economy class.

Korean Air plans to initially launch the 787-10 aircraft on short-haul routes to stabilize operations before deploying the aircraft on long-haul flights, including the Seoul Incheon to Vancouver route.

How to Book Korean Air Business Class with Points

If you’re looking to book Korean Air business class with points, we suggest the three best options are with Korean Air SKYPASS, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, and Air France KLM Flying Blue.

With Korean Air SKYPASS, a one-way flight from Vancouver to Seoul in business class costs 62,500 miles in off-peak season, or 92,500 miles in peak season.

Unfortunately, Korean Air SKYPASS and Marriott Bonvoy terminated their relationship in June 2024, which means that it’s very difficult to come by SKYPASS miles via credit cards and transferable points currencies in North America.

If you have access to Alaska miles, a one-way flight between the two cities starts at 37,500 miles in economy or 75,000 miles in business class, plus a very modest amount of taxes and fees.

It’s also theoretically possible to book Korean Air flights using Flying Blue miles, which are much easier to come by in Canada and the United States.

However, Flying Blue didn’t show any award availability with Korean Air, and seems to have access to a different inventory than Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

Conclusion

Korean Air has launched its newest business class product, Prestige Suites 2.0. The airline says the elevated business class will offer passengers an unparalleled travel experience with larger seats that fully recline to a lay-flat bed.

Those traveling on the Seoul Incheon–Tokyo Narita route will be the first to experience the Prestige Suites 2.0 starting on July 25, 2024.

The elevated business class product will make its long-haul debut on the Seoul–Vancouver route later this year, which is something to keep an eye out for if you’re travelling to Seoul or onwards.