Half of travel points customers frustrated with redemption process, says survey
Every person loves the idea that they could earn points while spending money that they would any way and eventually, they would be treated to a free trip. Unfortunately, about 68 per cent of people surveyed faced irksome situations when it came to cashing in their points, according to a recent survey conducted by Capital One Canada.
Some of the major issues include hidden fees, blackout dates and the lack of flight availability.
But there is one ray of sunshine within this survey, apparently credit card companies and airlines are changing their ways since customers aren't afraid to walk away and switch card providers, says the survey.
With many travel reward cards to choose from there's lots to consider including annual fees, extra benefits, such as car rental or travel insurance, interest rates, where you can collect points and how quickly you can accumulate points. Most importantly, you should consider any details about the redemption process, such as if there's an expiry date on using your points, and how many points you'll need to redeem for a flight to wherever you want to go.
Some travel reward programs offer free sign-up points and it's important to consider how you can maximize those points to help you book a "free" trip.
Anyone who's with Aeroplan is likely considering whether they stick with the program or not, especially with the recent changed partnership to TD Bank, instead of a renewed collaboration with CIBC.
If you're looking to narrow down the wealth of travel reward credit card choices, MoneySense magazine offers a yearly updated credit card tool that suggest its top travel reward credit cards.
Before you decide on choosing any credit card, it's important to shop around and figure what are important aspects to you. While travel credit cards are a great way to add extra value for the money you spend, keep in mind that you'd be wasting that money if you didn't use your card responsibly.
What travel reward program do you use? What are the pros and cons of it?
Josephine Lim, MSN Money
Posted by: don | Oct 30, 2021 11:26:23 AM
I gave it up. (Air Miles) Collected points and when I went to use them (many years of collecting) the number on my card wasn't good enough. They wanted the telephone number we had when we first got the card. that was many moves ago, I could not recall the number but without it I couldn't do anything.I received one statement when I first signed up and nothing after that.
The number on the card isn't good enough?
This is just a sham to provide wealthy people with free vacations as the average consumer has to save forever to go anywhere. The wealthy put hundreds of thousands of business expenses on these travel credit cards and vacation for free. Forget the points, I will just take the lower interest rate.
Posted by: sam | Nov 3, 2021 10:38:49 AM
Just make sure when you think you have all this extra coverage through points like insurance
I would double nothing is free...with the travel insurance you will be covered for the basic
it you ever have to make a claim you will soon find out what you are covered for you might be
surprized...
always remember when the banks are pushing these cards for points, there is always something in it for them...
Posted by: Joe | Nov 3, 2021 2:28:51 PM
THE 2 BY FAR BEST CREDIT CARDS TO EARN TRAVEL POINTS WITH IS THE RBC AVION where you also get to transfer to BA Exec club(one world AmericanAirlines partner as well) 2x per yr and get 50%more. Essentially costs me $17,000 in spending and a free ticket with AA to anywhere in the US. What a bargain! AND also the AMEX GOLD AND PLATINUM cards. Everything else is JUNK. seriously.
Posted by: Ron maclean | Nov 3, 2021 5:07:09 PM
I have been trying to access my air-miles account for weeks by phone and by fax.I was also asked a lot of stupid questions, the latest being to supply a government issued ID. They wanted to know my street, my address and my postal code, and my phone number at that address I had when the card was issued years and years ago.All of the requests were fulfilled,but I still am not allowed to access my account, or redeem my air-miles.It's time the media is contacted. I am thinking of Pat Forran on CTV likes exposing scams etc.
Posted by: Troy | Nov 3, 2021 8:16:26 PM
Why would AeroPlan members consider changing 'just because' CIBC is no longer in the mix? I'm sure TD Bank will come up with offers to match or come close to those CIBC had over the years. Those poor cry-babies had their contact come due, and what did they do? Whine and complain and sic their lawyers on TD Bank and AeroPlan! They only want to keep customers that they make tons of money from? I was planning on doing more banking with CIBC... now I'm glad I waited for them to show their true colours.
We use AeroPlan since they seem to give good rewards for flights. Otherwise, AirMiles (who we also collect with) was almost as good for flights, better if you redeemed for other rewards.
Posted by: Kate | Nov 3, 2021 8:44:24 PM
We're aeroplan members and have been for at least 15 years probably closer to twenty. In that time frame at $170 for fees annually, we've paid $3,400 in fees. We have flown to Australia 1st class on our points...the minimum required, across Canada several times (family of 4), to New Orleans, Phoenix, Amarillo....and so on. Our trip to Austrailia alone more than covered our fees for the last twenty years and we still have enough points in our account to fly to Europe at least three times. We don't use our card for business, it's just everyday living expenses of middle class Canadian. Depending on your destination you may have to plan ahead a little, but you can certainly make this card work for you. I agree with the insurance comment, don't depend on it, but if you're looking for a good travel card, my vote is still with Aeroplan.
Posted by: Ann | Nov 4, 2021 12:42:24 PM
For years I have been a TD Platinum points collector and have enjoyed the freedom to use my accumulated money rewards to purchase travel on any airline at any time without any restrictions. The only cons I have are the annual $100.00 card fee and the recent cancellation of rental car collision coverage. I am not a fan of Airmiles. If you don't faithfully shop at the Air Miles participating retailers, don't even bother with this card. Let's not forget the travel limitations you are restricted to (blackouts, limited seating, etc., etc.). At the end of the day, all Credit Cards charge an interest rate of between 19.99 - 21.99 %, so shame on all of them for that......and, honestly, shame on us for buying things we don't necessarily need in the name of racking up points.....
Posted by: robyn mckenzie | Nov 30, 2021 4:17:06 PM
I gave up on Air Miles. I used it for years with an air miles mastercard and a gold air miles card; I found that traveling with it was not difficult. Then all of a sudden about 2 years ago, it seemed that I could not use it to travel unless I went on a very obscure and specific date midweek!!! I tried several times and realized this was now a scam card. I still have the air miles card and use it when I shop at an air miles redeemer, but I do not make unnecessary purchases for it. The blackouts on flights are relentless. As a teacher I can only travel at high season, and so I pay for that! I switched to BMO rewards and a World Elite mastercard...I have used BMO rewards once so far and it was super easy, had the choice of many flights and no blackouts.