How the programs work, starter playbooks, and the guides worth reading first.
Through October 31, Borrowell is offering an extra $100 if you apply for a credit card through its platform, up to two $100 rewards per person. This guide covers how Canada’s credit system works, Equifax vs TransUnion, and how to check your score for free with Borrowell and Credit Karma.
Sign up through the referral link and get $50 cash back after $50 in purchases. This guide covers how US Rakuten.com works for online and in-store shopping, plus extra cash back on some credit-card and bank-account applications.
On September 3, 2026 Air Canada announced year-round Vancouver–Guangzhou from May 2027, and Toronto–Shanghai will go daily in summer 2027. This list covers all Air Canada flights between Canada and East and Southeast Asia.
Alaska Atmos awards on Hainan Airlines are bookable again. A 27 August 2026 search shows Vancouver–Shenzhen and Toronto–Beijing, plus plentiful space within China and on routes to Japan, Europe, and Australia.
A new user strategy lets you use TenPayGo with Apple Pay at Vancouver merchants that accept WeChat Pay but not credit cards. Keep the RMB amount reasonable, use a card with no foreign transaction fee, stay under RMB 200 where possible, and note that this use case may require scanning the merchant's QR code.
Alaska’s latest buy-miles promo adds 70% on purchases of 35,000 miles or more, for about 1.74 cpp USD. We run that cost through JAL, Korean Air, Hawaiian, and Condor business-class sweet spots.
JetBlue’s 125% buy-points bonus brought the after-tax cost to 1.43 cpp USD. We run that rate through Japan Airlines Vancouver–Tokyo awards and JetBlue Mint seats on Vancouver–New York and U.S. coast-to-coast flights.
Alaska miles now book Hawaiian’s Seattle–Seoul business class at 75k instead of 95k, with lots of space both ways through March 2026. This log also covers SEA–NRT awards and add-on segments from Canadian cities.
A step-by-step guide for Chinese passport holders living in Canada to renew a 10-year U.S. visa without an interview, including the DS-160, document mailing, pickup timeline, fees, and EVUS reminder.
Alaska Airlines Atmos awards on Philippine Airlines are now bookable, with plenty of Vancouver–Manila space. PAL is set to join oneworld in 2027, adding a Manila connection for North America–China trips.
Many Visa cards include free GigSky eSIM data across 175+ countries. Canadian Infinite cards get 1 GB / 15 days; some Scotiabank and Wealthsimple cards add 10 GB. U.S. Infinite and Signature cards add Visa Destinations unlimited days.
You can see the primary and authorized-user Priority Pass memberships for Chase The Ritz-Carlton in the Chase app under Benefits & Rewards, without calling. Authorized cards get their own unlimited Priority Pass accounts; from 15 January 2026 you can bring two guests into the lounge for free.
The 25,000-point Global Companion Award can reduce the cost of a two-person Alaska, Hawaiian, or oneworld award booking. Here is how to apply the code, pay taxes and fees, handle passenger rules, and use the ticket before it expires.
Using Ping An Wanlitong’s June promo, Flying Blue miles cost as little as 1.54 cpp CAD—about CAD 1,108 for China Airlines business from Vancouver to Shanghai via Taipei. This guide prices the usual Flying Blue sweet spots if you buy every mile instead of earning them.
Take a 40% off Flying Blue buy-miles promotion as an example: billing in euros instead of US dollars can cut the cost by about 10%. This tip covers the 1.22 EUR/USD breakeven and how to set the site to France so Buy Miles charges in euros.
A three-day Hong Kong trip using Rogers Bank’s five free Roam Like Home days: no extra setup, about 1.3 GB used, and $54 in daily roaming waived. The perk needs a matching Rogers Bank cardholder and Rogers account holder.
Airalo’s 2025 referral contest (June 17–July 15) awards $1,000 gift cards to the top five referrers in Canada (except Quebec), the U.S., Australia, Germany, Brazil, and the UK. This post covers how Airalo eSIMs work for travel, plus code DUN2659 for $3 off.
A toothache in Istanbul was partly reimbursed through RBC Avion Visa Infinite out-of-country emergency medical insurance. This data point covers the first call, a walk-in dentist, the Allianz claim form, and a $200 CAD cheque.
Fully updated in August 2026: compare how RBC, BMO, TD, CIBC, and Scotiabank account packages can waive credit card annual fees, plus monthly-fee requirements and other banking benefits.
Change your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account address to a UK address and pay in pounds: at the 5 February 2025 exchange rate, that cut the cost by 25% versus paying in US dollars.
Chinese ordinary-passport holders can apply for a Turkey e-Visa at evisa.gov.tr. Validity is 180 days with 30 days per entry, and the visa fee is US$60 plus small processing charges. This walkthrough took three minutes from start to download.
Checkout 51 pays cash back when you buy listed grocery brands, upload the receipt, and cash out by mailed cheque once you reach $20. Offers refresh Wednesday nights; surveys in Extras add extra rebates.
Japan Airlines married-segment awards between Japan and the US often show only from a domestic Japan city. Change that Japan domestic leg to a China–Japan flight in Alaska’s reservation tools and the ticket becomes JAL-operated China–Japan–US.
Alaska will issue a Japan Airlines award with AS and JL confirmation codes, but Seat Manage and JAL’s Japan-site booking lookup often fail. Switch the JAL site to an international city such as Shanghai or Vancouver to choose seats and meals.
Flying Blue awards on China Airlines and China Eastern often have no seat-selection option in the Air France app, and China Airlines’ site can error out. Use Czech Airlines’ My Bookings page with the Flying Blue confirmation code, then trial-and-error seats until they confirm.
Flexiroam partners with Mastercard on a free global eSIM. Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard can claim 15 days and 3 GB; some BMO Mastercards get 5 days and 1 GB. Register, install the eSIM, set the APN to flexiroam, and turn on data roaming.
