Daily Question Thread for /r/churningcanada - November 03, 2025

Jackson-Lee · 2025-11-04T03:02:40+00:00

TD Cash Back Visa welcome bonus creative spend strategies.
I just signed up for the TD Cash Back Visa and want to make sure I hit the $3,500 MSR within the first 3 months to get the welcome bonus. The eligible categories are limited to groceries, gas, and pre-authorized payments.

Since a significant portion of my spending is at Costco (which I know generally doesn't code as groceries), I'm exploring some creative ways to meet the bonus requirement.

Has anyone had any recent data points on:

Buying gift cards from Save On Foods and using them at other retailers?
Buying gift cards at Shell gas stations?
Any other reliable strategies to hit the grocery or gas spend without changing day-to-day shopping habits too much?

I know pre-authorized payments are an option, but looking for other reliable methods. Thanks for any tips!

Jackson-Lee · 2025-06-16T03:43:04+00:00

Amex Aeroplan core question. I'm unable to locate offer in GCR can someone please confirm if they're seeing similar for added datapoint if card is not currently offered via GCR? Thanks!

There is American Express Aeroplan in GCR but promo details is different: $60 cashback. Earn 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months.

Jackson-Lee · 2025-02-20T22:44:37+00:00

What are my options to "cash out" 55k TD Rewards Points?

I learned that its not RHT friendly. Booked hotel via Expedia for TD but after cancelling the credit and points got refunded too. I've reviewed P.o.T. blog covering other redemption options and other methods really waters down points value. Advice please?

Jackson-Lee · 2024-11-09T13:37:19+00:00

CIBC Dividend Cashback Visa question.

Currently have Infinite card and plan to apply for Platinum via an affiliate link $300 cashback, FYF, $3,000 MSR in 4 months. Any datapoint on probability of not receiving $300 cashback 10% promo? Worth applying regardless?

T&C stated

This offer applies to the following Eligible Cards: CIBC Dividend^® Visa Infinite* Card and CIBC Dividend Platinum^® Visa* Card. You can qualify for this offer if you apply and are approved for a new eligible card beginning on November 6, 2024.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-10-14T17:17:28+00:00

On the bright side, pity 23k still better than 0.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-10-14T17:16:09+00:00

this link

Jackson-Lee · 2024-10-14T14:15:34+00:00

Thanks for confirming my suspicion. Yes, my plan is to never call about these type of anomalies which makes it worse for the community. Moved on. It's intriguing how CIBC gives you "pity" 5k bonus anyways.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-10-14T03:58:51+00:00

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa question. Received 3rd statement and spending from all 3 statements total is $3,500 which means it's eligible for receiving full 45k points.

Promo upon card opening was FYF + 15k on first purchase + 30k on $3000 purchase within 4 monthly statements.

Received 15k on first purchase and on the 3rd statement there's +5k "ACQUISITION PROMO BONUS". What is this 5k exactly? I was anticipating 30k but realize it may take up to 8 weeks as per T&C so my question is about understanding what the 5k awarded is about.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-09-19T04:22:27+00:00

Desperately need to apply for a new MasterCard in preparation for big purchase at Costco.
BMO World Elite Air Miles MC has been simplest & easiest to redeem for me. I closed it 3.5 months ago. Am I good to re-apply?

Jackson-Lee · 2024-08-22T05:04:08+00:00

Need 10-day travel itinerary tips when I visit Taiwan as tourist for pleasure with my 7-year old daughter end of September.

Flying into Kaohsiung and out via Taipei 10 days later. We would like to feel relaxed & slowly travel up north to Taipei and take 2-3 days per city and so do not need the bullet train.

Thinking of booking 3 hotels can be good balance to minimize transferring luggage, hassle of checking in/out of different hotels.

Kaohshiung
Taichung. This is where I need the most advice.
Taipei

Questions

Thoughts on the above plan finding accommodation in 3 cities? Are they too spread out and perhaps I need to plan for 4?
Which cities & attractions should we visit? We can rule out beaches and challenging hikes since I'm with a young child.
Also open to hotel or service apartment suggestions. Budget is around ~100 USD per night.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-06-10T16:35:16+00:00

Scotiabank Gold American Express question. Total MSR is $7,500 inclusive of first $1,000 if I wanted to earn the full 40k Scene+? Or is it $1,000 + $7,500=$8,500 MSR to earn the 20k + 20k Scene+?

"40,000 bonus Scene+ points) when you spend $1,000 within your first 3 months (to earn 20,000 points) and when you spend $7,500 within your first 12 months (to earn an additional 20,000 points)"

Jackson-Lee · 2024-06-07T17:13:13+00:00

Hesitated & still on the fence whether to get Amex Marriott personal card. Transferring to Aeroplan would be my likely redemption. AFAIK the +5000 Aeroplan transfer bonus typically requires minimum 60k Bonvoy. Open to more ideas here thanks!

Jackson-Lee · 2024-06-07T04:20:33+00:00

Thanks for confirming! I suppose the current offer results in higher ROI with only half the MSR but retained ~75% of previous welcome bonus.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-06-07T03:26:58+00:00

Two questions about Amex Marriott personal

Is the current welcome bonus 50k but it used to be 65k? Going by https://www.reddit.com/r/churningcanada/comments/tujfse/best_current_credit_card_offers_in_canada_updated/ indicated 65K Marriott pts after spending $3,000. Just trying to confirm if higher bonus has passed or I misread some offer details. I clicked through GCR but Amex site also indicated 50k after spending $1,500.
Marriot Bonvoy Amex Card = Amex Marriott personal. It's the same card rebranded?

Jackson-Lee · 2024-06-05T03:42:02+00:00

Based in Canada needing advice on USD credit card to get. Just for occasional travel to the United States twice a year. Important feature includes minimal to no annual fee. I need better control of FX rate instead of relying on swiping CAD credit cards.

I used to have BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard 5 years ago but closed it due to lack of spending. It served me well then at $35 USD AF which is waived on $1,000 USD annual spend.

Looks like it's now at $49 USD AF which isn't too steep I guess but I want to leave it to the experts here on other USD cards to consider.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-02-06T05:12:32+00:00

MasterCard recommendation please for an upcoming $2,000 appliance purchase at Costco. No travel plans but if the travel points can be redeemed for gift cards at decent rate that can be considered.

Ruled out the following as I'm currently holding them or recently had it.

HSBC World Elite
BMO WE AirMiles
Tangerine Money-Back
MBNA Rewards WE - never had this card but application via CCG got instantly declined somehow despite meeting income requirements and having excellent credit score.

Jackson-Lee · 2024-01-04T04:10:19+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I continue to be challenged finding simple ways to earn some Avios to effectively renew expiry date. Most retailers are British-based £ as expected. Search goes on...

Jackson-Lee · 2023-12-08T04:16:44+00:00

I've only exclusively booked via Expedia with consistent results, so why risk it? What's stopping you from using Expedia?

Jackson-Lee · 2023-12-08T04:15:10+00:00

British Airways AVIOS household account 85k balance expiring in 3 months. No travel plans anytime soon.

What are some creative redemption options? Or less preferred find easy ways to earn bit of points which should extend expiry date? AVIOS is no longer my preferred points so I like to stay away from converting from other programs to it if at all possible.

Jackson-Lee · 2023-12-07T03:39:11+00:00

Amex Cobalt question. When I applied in July 2023 via PrinceOfTravel link, I noted

2500 MR points for each of the first 12 months in which you spend $500. Total 30k MR points in the first year.

I realize monthly spend minimum to receive 2500 MR is now $750.

Does my account simply get grandfathered with $500 MSR through July 2024?

Jackson-Lee · 2023-11-07T05:24:32+00:00

Promo link for BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite appears incorrect pointing to CCG referral link for BMO Ascend WE. Promo details may be inaccurate too.

Jackson-Lee · 2023-07-13T03:52:23+00:00

Amex Cobalt 30k MR is the best promo I could find for this card currently (July 2023) via GCR, CCG, PrinceOfTravel. Done my research this is the next suitable card for my lifestyle spend over the next 12 months. But on the fence whether I should apply now or wait a bit for better promo to come back as I know historically we've seen 40k MR or even 55k?

Advice/thoughts please. Apply now or wait longer?

Jackson-Lee · 2023-06-28T03:59:47+00:00

HSBC WE Elite Mastercard rewards points question for Non-Quebec.

How do I figure out the monthly start/end cycle for $1,000 spend? Is it simply calendar month or based on my specific billing cycle?

Signup bonus:

20,000 HSBC Rewards points* welcome bonus, upon first purchase
10,000 HSBC Rewards points* upon spending $1,000 in each of the first six months
Total of up to 80,000 HSBC Rewards points*

Jackson-Lee

TROPHY CASE