Airmiles Armchair Chatter

[DilEmma]

Huh.... our experience with using AirMiles for Disney was almost a near-disaster. Perhaps I will try to learn from everyone's experiences.

However.... the only thing we ever collect AM on is fuel for the vehicle, and groceries... which is not a whole lot of earned points. We cashed in 13 years of points to take our Disney trip and I can't see us ever getting to a points level where it will be of value to use the AM.

Hello marcyleecorgan!

I concur with ottawamom.. let us know where you live...

Air Miles can really be quite lucrative if you pay attention to the promotions.

I don't recommend spending more than you would normally spend. Or buying things you would not have otherwise purchased. And overpaying for an item just to get Air Miles is just simply foolish (or just mental accounting for a sale which I advocate to some degree).

But I find I accumulate Air Miles with little effort and a bit of shopping strategy. Many offers are stackable. Though it is region specific.

It's not quite as lucrative right now, but I'm patient. And it really does seem to be all about the promotions.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

to Disboards Airmiles thread. Please share with us which province you live in. Offers vary greatly across the country and people will be able to direct you towards the good deals if we can narrow that down.

I'm in Alberta... Calgary to be exact.

I refuse to shop at Sobey's as the prices are stupid ridiculous and Safeway has gotten insane too. They raised prices on everything, decreased sizes, and then switch around between Lbs. and Oz. and G and KG on the "price-per-unit" to fool you into thinking stuff is affordable. I do not need to feel like I'm re-taking the freakin' SAT math test to buy enough food materials to make a salad!

And we really try NOT to use Shell for our fuel as we truly dislike the additives added to the gasoline (bad for our car, bad for the environment) - we try our best to use PetroCanada, but those points are only good for car washes and beverages and candy...

Shopping has pretty much become Superstore at this point... which doesn't offer AirMiles. Or the community produce boxes. Or growing our own salad greens in the kitchen window. Can't wait until Springtime when I can plant my 400 sq foot yard of gardening beds!

I despise promotions, marketing and advertising (with the exception of Disney vacations LOL) so I don't spend my very valuable free time (which isn't free) checking out "great deals". If we need milk, I buy it. We need fruit, I go buy it. You won't find me couponing, haggling with cashiers, or driving all over the city to save ten cents on something.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Do you collect PC Plus Points at Superstore? I've become slightly obsessed with that program since Christmas. You can redeem those points for in-store gift cards, including VISA and MC cards (yes, you have to pay the fee for these).

 

[ttaylorcan]

Shopped tonight since I'm anticipating a slower airmiles week next week, Sobeys $87, 137 am, Rexall, $45.43 plus tax, 162 ams. First time using Load and Go, didn't need to bring my phone, just used airmiles card, 80am coupon, 80am load and go. Also, shopped tonight after 7pm so received sale prices of items ending today as well as next week's sale prices. Thought I'd mention it in case people don't know about it. It is however a confusing time to shop because the sales stickers ending Thursday are removed. Also, some of sale items ending today will be out of stock but it's a good time to ask for a raincheck. I usually forget to.

@DilEmma, I thought I'd mention that the Rexall survey coupon switched back to being listed as "GWPCOUP" after the TOTAL line and no longer comes up as a manufacturer coupon. YMMV.

Thanks everyone for all your tips, really appreciate everyone's posts!

 

[ttaylorcan]

Do you collect PC Plus Points at Superstore? I've become slightly obsessed with that program since Christmas. You can redeem those points for in-store gift cards, including VISA and MC cards (yes, you have to pay the fee for these).

Just a heads up, due to fraud, redeeming pcplus points for gift cards has been suspended indefinitely. Rule changed about a week ago. You can still use the points to pay for groceries and take the savings out of the bank for travel though.

 

[tinkerone]

I'm in Alberta... Calgary to be exact.

I refuse to shop at Sobey's as the prices are stupid ridiculous and Safeway has gotten insane too. They raised prices on everything, decreased sizes, and then switch around between Lbs. and Oz. and G and KG on the "price-per-unit" to fool you into thinking stuff is affordable. I do not need to feel like I'm re-taking the freakin' SAT math test to buy enough food materials to make a salad!

And we really try NOT to use Shell for our fuel as we truly dislike the additives added to the gasoline (bad for our car, bad for the environment) - we try our best to use PetroCanada, but those points are only good for car washes and beverages and candy...

Shopping has pretty much become Superstore at this point... which doesn't offer AirMiles. Or the community produce boxes. Or growing our own salad greens in the kitchen window. Can't wait until Springtime when I can plant my 400 sq foot yard of gardening beds!

I despise promotions, marketing and advertising (with the exception of Disney vacations LOL) so I don't spend my very valuable free time (which isn't free) checking out "great deals". If we need milk, I buy it. We need fruit, I go buy it. You won't find me couponing, haggling with cashiers, or driving all over the city to save ten cents on something.

Not sure if this will help you or not however many people forget that if you shop online and purchase through Airmiles shop you can collect airmiles and they often have bonus airmiles. I have been fence sitting on the purchase of a new ipod for months now. I noticed last week that they had a 5Xs airmiles deal for Apple so I went ahead and made the purchase. That's a big item that most don't need but if you shop at amazon, which I do a lot, then you can collect airmiles from there as well. They have a 100 plus shops so if you do online shop check that out.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Do you collect PC

Plus Points at Superstore? I've become slightly obsessed with that program since Christmas. You can redeem those points for in-store gift cards, including VISA and MC cards (yes, you have to pay the fee for these).

Nope - there have been a number of news reports that employees have stolen the personal info off documents and opened PC Mastercard accounts in customers' names, so we've been very careful to never turn over any ID at a Superstore...

Not sure if this will help you or not however many people forget that if you shop online and purchase through Airmiles shop you can collect airmiles and they often have bonus airmiles. I have been fence sitting on the purchase of a new ipod for months now. I noticed last week that they had a 5Xs airmiles deal for Apple so I went ahead and made the purchase. That's a big item that most don't need but if you shop at amazon, which I do a lot, then you can collect airmiles from there as well. They have a 100 plus shops so if you do online shop check that out.

Nope... not an online shopper either. We try to buy everything as local as possible, except computer parts... that's what Memory Express is for...


When we initially planned our 1st Disney trip, we thought that AM would actually be helpful. We called and explained we wanted to go on a Disney trip, and they told us that we needed to call the booking office instead. So we got in a queue for 2 weeks for the Vacation Specialist to call us back. Meanwhile we watched all our preferred options "sell out" on the WDW website. By the time all was said and done, it was honestly only $800 that we saved. Luckily we fell in love with our Resort (POFQ) and all the Cast Members we dealt with but I was really, really aggravated with AM. How over 13,000 points only translated into $800 still boggles me, but I loved the vacation... so I know not to expect much AM promotion rewards to get to the Parks.

And now you all tell me that you can buy straight-up Park tickets (and wait to book your hotel) using AM? Whaaaaaaaa so what was the crazy BS we were handed?

 

[Donald - my hero]

Nope - there have been a number of news reports that employees have stolen the personal info off documents and opened PC Mastercard accounts in customers' names, so we've been very careful to never turn over any ID at a Superstore...



Nope... not an online shopper either. We try to buy everything as local as possible, except computer parts... that's what Memory Express is for...


When we initially planned our 1st Disney trip, we thought that AM would actually be helpful. We called and explained we wanted to go on a Disney trip, and they told us that we needed to call the booking office instead. So we got in a queue for 2 weeks for the Vacation Specialist to call us back. Meanwhile we watched all our preferred options "sell out" on the WDW website. By the time all was said and done, it was honestly only $800 that we saved. Luckily we fell in love with our Resort (POFQ) and all the Cast Members we dealt with but I was really, really aggravated with AM. How over 13,000 points only translated into $800 still boggles me, but I loved the vacation... so I know not to expect much AM promotion rewards to get to the Parks.

And now you all tell me that you can buy straight-up Park tickets (and wait to book your hotel) using AM? Whaaaaaaaa so what was the crazy BS we were handed?

I want to take some time to chat with you later but i brought the flu home with us from Disney and I'm still exhausted! Short answer to your last question .. YES! Best use of our miles has been passes to both Disney and Universal and rental cars. It does require time and effort to earn the miles and where you live does, unfortunately, play a large part in the "game". I am an other big on-line shopper and use sites like Expedia to book our flights to Florida -- earning the miles while snagging a good price. If I'm booking hotels anywhere and i don't have enough miles to redeem for that I will sling-shot thru the Airmiles store.

Hope you stick around to get some solid answers as to how you can make the programme work, might be that switching to Cash Miles would suit you better -- not my forte though! Welcome to the hunt

 

[DilEmma]

@DilEmma, I thought I'd mention that the Rexall survey coupon switched back to being listed as "GWPCOUP" after the TOTAL line and no longer comes up as a manufacturer coupon. YMMV.

Thanks much, I'll give it a try!

 

[ottawamom]

I'm in Alberta... Calgary to be exact.

I refuse to shop at Sobey's as the prices are stupid ridiculous and Safeway has gotten insane too. They raised prices on everything, decreased sizes, and then switch around between Lbs. and Oz. and G and KG on the "price-per-unit" to fool you into thinking stuff is affordable. I do not need to feel like I'm re-taking the freakin' SAT math test to buy enough food materials to make a salad!

And we really try NOT to use Shell for our fuel as we truly dislike the additives added to the gasoline (bad for our car, bad for the environment) - we try our best to use PetroCanada, but those points are only good for car washes and beverages and candy...

Shopping has pretty much become Superstore at this point... which doesn't offer AirMiles. Or the community produce boxes. Or growing our own salad greens in the kitchen window. Can't wait until Springtime when I can plant my 400 sq foot yard of gardening beds!

I despise promotions, marketing and advertising (with the exception of Disney vacations LOL) so I don't spend my very valuable free time (which isn't free) checking out "great deals". If we need milk, I buy it. We need fruit, I go buy it. You won't find me couponing, haggling with cashiers, or driving all over the city to save ten cents on something.

It sounds like the Airmiles program and the PC Program methods of saving may not be for you. There's still lots of great saving ideas for Disney trips in the other threads on the Canadian board. Maybe you'll find some useful information there. Disboards is full of lots of wonderful Disney tips and tricks.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Just a heads up, due to fraud, redeeming pcplus points for gift cards has been suspended indefinitely. Rule changed about a week ago. You can still use the points to pay for groceries and take the savings out of the bank for travel though.

Yes, I saw this at the store this week. I asked the cashier about it and she said it wasn't for "forever". We shall see though.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

BOOOOO I almost have enough points for a 100.00 gc. Oh well. I might have to do the redeem and take the cash and keep a cash envelope for this now too. I have several envelopes that I use for our " fun " money. It seems like the only way I'm able to save money for vacations. It works...just means an extra trip to the ATM to get the cash.

Just a heads up, due to fraud, redeeming pcplus points for gift cards has been suspended indefinitely. Rule changed about a week ago. You can still use the points to pay for groceries and take the savings out of the bank for travel though.

 

[ttaylorcan]

BOOOOO I almost have enough points for a 100.00 gc. Oh well. I might have to do the redeem and take the cash and keep a cash envelope for this now too. I have several envelopes that I use for our " fun " money. It seems like the only way I'm able to save money for vacations. It works...just means an extra trip to the ATM to get the cash.

lol, I'm horrible at this, for me it's another job to do, keep track of the money cashed in and get to the bank to withdraw. Even worse, it became the "go to" envelope whenever someone (aka my husband lol) was short on cash and never was replaced. If they decide not to reinstate the gift cards, I'll have to make more of an effort. Right now, I'm waiting it out, see how permanent this is.

 

[ottawamom]

BOOOOO I almost have enough points for a 100.00 gc. Oh well. I might have to do the redeem and take the cash and keep a cash envelope for this now too. I have several envelopes that I use for our " fun " money. It seems like the only way I'm able to save money for vacations. It works...just means an extra trip to the ATM to get the cash.

I don't know it this will work but could you pay using your PC points and then take cash back for $100 when you pay. ie. Shop $125 -PC points $100= $25 still to come from your bank account. Ask for cashback of $100 saves trip to bank to get the $100. Net of all this is $125 for your groceries comes out of your bank account it's just that it is now $25 towards your grocery bill and $100 cash back. Example assumes you use a debit card and don't use a credit card to pay for your groceries.

I don't have the PC card in our house so I'm not exaclty certain how it all works but this might be worth a shot. Even if you had to do it over a few trips to the store. Saves the trips to the bank.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

I don't know it this will work but could you pay using your PC points and then take cash back for $100 when you pay. ie. Shop $125 -PC points $100= $25 still to come from your bank account. Ask for cashback of $100 saves trip to bank to get the $100. Net of all this is $125 for your groceries comes out of your bank account it's just that it is now $25 towards your grocery bill and $100 cash back. Example assumes you use a debit card and don't use a credit card to pay for your groceries.

I don't have the PC card in our house so I'm not exaclty certain how it all works but this might be worth a shot. Even if you had to do it over a few trips to the store. Saves the trips to the bank.

I have saved them to use for a big purchase other times and used the whole 100.00 at once, like Thanksgiving dinner/ Christmas dinner etc etc etc. But I thought I would save and purchase gift visa credit cards to purchase tickets to either Disney or Universal. My goal is to have enough for us to do a family trip early 2018. I was just recently to Disney for 1 day with out daughter, but would love to take the dh and our 2 boys 16 & 14. Neither the hubby or boys have been there yet. So I'm refinishing furniture on the side like a mad woman and trying to get tickets with airmiles and Pc Points

Some way, I will make it work. If I have to take the 100.00 out at the atm after using to purchase groceries...so be it. I'm determined to do this ONE trip for my family. You don't mess with a determined momma

 

[buyerbrad]

Last week, I was emailed some personal Metro coupons with an expiry date of March 8th that I was able to have them scan the barcode off my phone and used them with no problem. This week, I received those same coupons with my weekly My Metro printable coupons as well as a few others. Since I didn't delete the email from last week, I compared the coupons and noticed they had different PLUs and was able to double up on the coupons.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I want to take some time to chat with you later but i brought the flu home with us from Disney and I'm still exhausted! Short answer to your last question .. YES! Best use of our miles has been passes to both Disney and Universal and rental cars. It does require time and effort to earn the miles and where you live does, unfortunately, play a large part in the "game". I am an other big on-line shopper and use sites like Expedia to book our flights to Florida -- earning the miles while snagging a good price. If I'm booking hotels anywhere and i don't have enough miles to redeem for that I will sling-shot thru the Airmiles store.

Hope you stick around to get some solid answers as to how you can make the programme work, might be that switching to Cash Miles would suit you better -- not my forte though! Welcome to the hunt

Silly question.... do you have to have your Airmiles account set to Dream or Cash Rewards to use your points to buy Disney tickets? I think that may have been our challenge in getting a deal - ours are Dream only, as my husband doesn't feel the Cash rewards give you anything useful. We don't shop online much so it makes us eyeroll to think about logging onto AM to "shop for a blender".

 

[mort1331]

The Disney tickets are only available in the Dream section. So yes you need to accumulate Dream miles for that. Keep an eye here for great tips. The biggest is don't overspend just for AM not worth it. But with a little planning you can accumulate quicker than 1 AM for gas.

 

[DilEmma]

http://www.rexall.ca/assets/downloads/RexallSurvey2017.pdf

Rexall $5 off coupon when you spend $25 - expires 11 April.
(In some areas it stacks with the get xx Air Miles when you spend $xx coupons.)

 

[isabellea]

Quick question... how many airmiles were necessary to get a 5-day or 7-day pass for WDW just before the current 25% promotion? The last time I ordered tickets from Airmiles was before the last increase (5-day adult ticket was 2500 airmiles in 2014 and 2015). Thanks!