With a bit of skill and discipline, you can work small miracles with your credit and loyalty cards. Our columnist followed the lessons of a points professional.

Published at 2:18 am Updated at 5:00 am

Strangely enough, the trick to maximizing your earnings with credit and loyalty cards is to be… unfaithful. But as with love, multiple relationships take time and strategic planning.

The difference in rewards programs is that no one will ever be unhappy or angry about the points they’ve accumulated.

On the contrary, these cards can enable couples and families to travel for free or almost free, to treat themselves to weekend getaways, full tanks of gas or grocery baskets without spending a single dollar.

But points don’t just fall from the sky. You have to get organized to obtain maximum rewards, which is not always easy with the multiplication of programs and their constantly changing offers.

To help the most motivated, Milesopedia, a Montreal-based Wikipedia dedicated to credit and rewards cards, offers a private mentoring service. Intrigued, I signed up for a session, thinking I’d receive general tips about each of my cards. I was mistaken.

Instead, expert Aline Nguyen develops personalized strategies to achieve a specific goal, such as going to Disney with the kids for a week, taking a honeymoon to Bali, and sleeping in one particular stilt hotel. Only with points. Considering the person’s consumption habits, the advantages of each card and current promotions, the coach develops a strategy by determining precisely which types of points are most advantageous and the best way to obtain them as quickly as possible.

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To access the article, follow this link and this one for the presentation page. (article in french)

To access the article, follow this link and this one for the presentation page. (article in french)

You’re in school and it’s time to build your credit? To help you make an informed choice, we’ve compared the best credit cards for students according to Milesopedia, a Web reference about credit cards and loyalty programs.

Do I have to change my credit card to benefit from a welcome bonus? Yes, but you have to plan ahead.

Personal finance specialists repeat: keep your oldest credit card to maintain your credit history and avoid having multiple credit cards in your wallet. This way, you preserve your credit rating.

Inflation is raging. You might as well use bonus points to pay for groceries. Here are seven of the most generous credit cards.

Reward program points are not RRSPs. With inflation and conditions of use constantly changing, it’s best not to accumulate them.

“During the pandemic, reward programs adapted. As people couldn’t travel, they extended usage to all types of purchases. Most have maintained these conditions,” explains Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founding president of Milesopedia.

Withinflation hitting everyday budgets hard, every bargain is worth taking. To make the most of every opportunity to have more money in your pocket, it’s possible to reduce your expenses by using the right credit card, because there are several rewards systems that allow you to save money on groceries orgas, but also on travel!

Thanks to the judicious use of these offers, some people have even saved up to $10,000 to take a trip across the globe. So Narcity spoke to Jean-Maximilien Voisine, an expert in loyalty and credit card programs, who is president and founder of Milesopedia, a website that compares different banking offers and programs.

EXCERPT

At IGA, until June 28, a 750-ml case of Quebec strawberries is $2.44 for Scene+ cardholders. On the other hand, if you’re unlucky enough not to have one, you’ll have to pay $3.99, or about 60% more. On social networks, some people were outraged to see member and non-member prices appearing in several food banners on fruits, vegetables, condiments and other popular foods.

At the same time, several grocery banners have announced changes to their loyalty programs with great fanfare in recent months. Here are our answers to a few questions on the subject.

What has changed?

Since the end of May, the Moi program, promoted by Metro, has included several other banners belonging to the same company: Super C, Jean Coutu, Brunet and Première Moisson. Each dollar spent earns one point, and each 500 points is redeemable for a $4 discount. The Scene+ card, meanwhile, is being introduced in Sobeys-related stores – IGA, Marchés Tradition and Rachelle-Béry – which are dropping Air Miles. These programs allow you to earn points when you purchase certain products. In both cases, personalized offers are also sent to users.

Loblaw-owned chains such as Provigo and Shoppers Drug Mart have a similar program, using the PC Optimum card. The Milesopedia site offers a detailed comparison of the different formulas.

CHRONICLE / When I told my colleague in charge of the business section that I was planning to write a piece on credit card churning, he replied: “Great! A consumer theme!

Many rewards credit cards have an annual fee. They can be salty… up to nearly 600 dollars. What if you tried to get rid of it?

Jean-Philippe Khazoom has just returned from a trip to Vancouver, for which he spent just a few hundred dollars, as he did for his skiing trip in Western Canada at spring break.

As for Jean-Maximilien Voisine, he and his family flew around the world in business class before the pandemic, free of charge… or almost. They are among the thousands of Quebecers who have become masters in the art of juggling credit card rewards programs, and who travel the globe with their travel points.

On March 10, BMO announced the acquisition of Air Miles in Canada. What does this mean for consumers?

Gérald Fillion asked Jean-Maximilien Voisine about the future of AIR MILES following the bankruptcy of Loyalty Ventures and the buyout of the program by BMO.

Interview with Jean-Maximilien Voisine, president and founder of Milesopedia: while rumors were circulating about the Air Miles reward program being on the verge of bankruptcy, BMO announced that it would become the owner.

The company behind the Air Miles loyalty program, Loyalty Ventures, is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection in the coming days.

Those who still have Air Miles points have little time left to use them. The company that runs the loyalty program is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection in the United States.

Loyalty Ventures Inc, which runs the Air Miles loyalty program, is preparing to file for bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported Thursday. What can you do with your points? We asked an expert.

Whether it’s going south for Christmas or visiting Disney World during spring break, we’re always looking for the best package, the best price possible. To this end, it’s a good idea to book three months in advance and be flexible in your choice of dates, but there are plenty of other tips!

When used wisely, a credit card offers undeniable advantages, especially if you are struggling with inflation.

But we need to use a map that is more relevant to our needs.

It’s possible to save money over the holidays by adopting the right reflexes.

With the difficulties experienced by airlines last summer, are you thinking about traveling with only carry-on luggage? Good idea. You will save time and money, but it is necessary to use strategy.

Things are changing in the world of loyalty programs. Three months after IGA, Jean Coutu has announced that it is abandoning its Air Miles loyalty program. The change is part of a new Metro strategy that also affects its eponymous chain, Super C and Première Moisson.

Félix Guay-Vachon buys between $700 and $900 worth of gift cards per month at the grocery store. Why spend that small fortune on prepaid cards? It’s simple, because his card offers him 4% cash back on his purchases, but only in grocery stores. This technique – still unknown – brings him no less than $500 per year.

Nearly 83% have at least one credit card, according to a recent analysis.

In this segment of the Ca$hMire podcast, Pierre Couture discusses retailer loyalty programs that are more popular than ever with consumers looking for discounts and cash back. The best credit cards available with the founder of Milesopedia, Jean-Maximilien Voisine

While loyalty program membership is gaining popularity among consumers looking to save money, they are also becoming a necessity for retailers. “It is now an obligation,” says Jean-Maximilien Voisine, president and founder of Milesopedia, an information and reference site on the various loyalty programs.

“For it to be complete, it will require a credit card as is the case with PC Optimum [Loblaw]. If you want to get the best value, you’ll have to have the credit card,” predicts Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founder of Milesopedia.com, an expert in credit cards and rewards programs.

“We’ve been seeing Airmiles lose partners for several years now. Now, one of its biggest partners is leaving,” says Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founding president of Milesopedia, a site specialized in loyalty programs and credit cards, in an interview with InfoBref.

“Here’s some news that’s shaking up the world of rewards programs in Canada! Scotiabank and Cineplex are pulling off a major coup by teaming up with the Empire Group to bring the Scene+ program to hundreds of grocery and drug stores nationwide. And they’re doing it to combat the equally well-established PC Optimum program,” reads a post on the Milesopedia.com blog, a reference site on loyalty programs and credit cards.

The consumer will gain from this, according to Jean-Maximilien Voisine, president and CEO of Milesopedia, a Web site specialized in loyalty programs and credit cards. “The Air Miles program is still perceived as complex. […] The Scene+ program is much simpler to understand. You can earn points more easily. There’s diversity in accumulation via credit cards, cinemas, restaurants, and travel. And on the usage side, it stays simple too: 1,000 points are worth $10.”

The founder of the Milesopedia.com website, Jean-Maximilien Voisine, is on the Ca$hMire podcast this week. He comes to talk about the strong recovery of the travel industry, the best credit cards available on the market and how to monetize them. We also talk about private lounges in airports accessible with certain credit cards.

Interview with Jean-Maximilien Voisine, CEO of Milesopedia.

When using your credit card abroad, always choose to pay in local currency rather than Canadian dollars. Be aware that the conversion rate is set by the merchant and is always higher than the rate charged by your bank.

Check out the best credit cards with no conversion fees on Milesopedia.

Milesopedia, a Quebec-based credit card and loyalty program comparison service, compiled a list of the most advantageous cards by category earlier this year.

Milesopedia, a credit card comparison platform with over 500,000 monthly users, has entered into a series of partnerships with players in the online personal finance management tools industry.

Traveling first class on a New York-Dubai flight with Emirates for only $700, when it would normally cost $15,000: mission impossible? Not for Jean-Maximilien Voisine, who, thanks to his credit cards and a few tricks, manages to benefit from a host of advantages when he travels.

Milesopedia, the information site he launched in 2015, is a Canadian reference for loyalty programs and rewards point credit cards, so much so that his credit card comparison site has become the official comparison site for Protégez-Vous . He shares some tips with us here.

Milesopedia.com, which offers credit card comparison solutions, has entered into a long-term partnership with Protégez-vous. The Montreal-based company, founded in 2015, thus continues its mission to help Quebecers make the best credit card choices for their needs.

Interview with Jean-Maximilien Voisine, president and founder of Milesopedia.

Don’t make a mistake with your first card, because you want to hold on to it as long as possible.

“The longer he keeps it, the better his credit score will be,” says Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founder of Milesopedia, a Quebec-based website specialized in loyalty programs and credit cards. Stability promotes a good credit rating, and one measure of that quality is the length of time the cards have been in effect.

Initially, avoid all those that require an annual fee. There will come a time when it will no longer be used, but will be kept only to gild your record.

“A common mistake is to order a new card from the parents’ account,” warns Jean-Maximilien Voisine. To build his or her case, the child must cut the cord and use his or her own card. And, of course, he must pay his balance each month before the due date and use only a fraction of the card’s capacity.

Stéphane Tellier talks to Jean-Maximilien Voisine, president and founder of Milesopedia.com, about loyalty programs, credit cards and travel.

Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founding president of Milesopedia.com, the largest community of users of these programs in the country, keeps telling his members that bonus points are not RRSPs.

“You have to use them over a 12- to 24-month horizon,” he adds.

It suggests that consumers set specific goals, such as using points for specific aspects of their consumption or travel (car rental, purchase of home improvement materials or gasoline…).

And to have options, such as using them for a trip to Canada during a pandemic.

Stéphane Tellier talks with Brigitte Bruneau, author on Milesopedia.com, about the many activities to do in Quebec during spring break.

I still bless that spring evening when I discovered strategies to save money and travel better!

For all information on optimizing reward points obtained through loyalty programs and credit cards, the Quebec site Milesopedia is the reference in Canada, especially since it is accompanied by a very large community of members who help each other and give tips!

Last March, Jean-Maximilien Voisine was in Australia in the middle of a five-month world tour with his family when the pandemic forced him to return to Quebec. He had to write off the rest of his journey funded by years of accumulating points.

“We were away in December. We were going to end up in Japan,” says the founder of the website Milesopedia, which focuses on tips for maximizing the benefits of travel credit cards.

But after nine months of the pandemic, travel credit card holders are wondering if they should keep this type of card that costs them $100 to $150 in annual fees and no longer offers many benefits.

But think twice before you cancel your card. If you have had it for a long time, it can hurt your credit score. In addition, you will automatically lose the extended warranty that covers all products purchased with your card.

Instead, Mr. Voisine suggests negotiating a reduction in annual fees with your financial institution. “We have multiple examples in our community,” he says. Many issuers have made adjustments to avoid losing a customer. They’ve taken away half or even all of their annual fee.”

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The best way to maximize your points is to look beyond airfare. “Our readers were encouraged to broaden their view of travel to include the concept of vacation,” Voisine says.

We tend to forget this, but hotels, cottages, Airbnb, campsites, train tickets, car rentals also fall under the “travel” category of credit cards. What to plan a nice vacation in Quebec or in Canada.

As of 2018, however, programs are better regulated. Points can no longer expire (wow!), just as it is no longer possible for issuers to drastically devalue the units in their program.

Still, it’s hard to follow. The rules are written in fine print and can change at the whim of the program developer. When the company goes bankrupt, the points are lost and, in the event of the holder’s death, they can rarely be transferred at their full value.

So, a reminder to those who rely on their points to fulfill their retirement plans, it’s risky to say the least. A loyalty program is not an RRSP.

“We recommend a 12 to 24 month vision,” advises Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founder of Milesopedia, a website specialized in loyalty programs.

In his view, these programs should be viewed as savings accounts linked to specific projects, but their value remains uncertain.

For Aeroplan members, the uncertainty continues. Those who were confident that the program would not change by 2020 are now wondering if Air Canada will make any changes once the deal closes next fall.

“What’s going to happen? Are they going to touch the fare grids? Are they going to touch the value of the miles? We don’t really know. And that’s what worries me a little bit,” said Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founder of Milesopedia, a website that specializes in the analysis of loyalty programs and credit cards.

What exactly do you do with Milesopedia?

I mainly explain to people how to use their points. I’m at the point where I’m going to exploit all the loopholes in the rewards programs, but, just knowing how to use your miles to get from point A to point B can be as silly as that well, it’s difficult for most people. I try to address these issues.

In the Journal de Montréal and 24H, journalist Philippe Orfali writes on 22/08/2018 about Aeroplan in an article: Turbulence in sight for Aeroplan members:

“If it goes through, the transaction will produce the best possible scenario for Aimia shareholders as well as members,” says Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu. “It will allow for the smooth transition of Aeroplan points to the new Air Canada loyalty program, as well as the protection of points.”

But for Jean-Maximilien Voisine, from the specialized media Milesopedia, this is probably bad news for the members of the program:

“The consortium will acquire…a huge debt of $1.9 billion, the value of all the Aeroplan miles currently in circulation. No doubt they will try to make up for it by devaluing the program,” he says.

I have listed a dozen of these little sweets with the help of Jean-Maximilien Voisine, from the loyalty program analysis website Milesopedia.

Suitcases, seat selection and parking / Airport lounges / Ticketing / Sus to exchange fees / Luxury at the hotel / Insurance…

Columnist and digital marketing specialist Maxime Trudel conducted an interview on TVA’s LCN with the subject “Travelling with your points: tips for getting there”(In your pockets column).

He mentions milesopedia as the only French-Canadian reference for learning and informing yourself about loyalty programs.

To use them, the more flexible you are, when it comes to travel, in your dates, in your destinations, it’s easier because not all flights are available and there is a certain number of limited seats available for people who want to buy with their points”, adds Maxime Trudel who also recommends to do it in advance.

The digital marketing expert also suggests learning about the different programs, as it is sometimes possible to transfer points from one to another.

“You have to play around with it a bit, but there are ways of treating yourself to a great vacation, inexpensively, anywhere in the world,” concludes Maxime Trudel, explaining that certain websites like Milesopedia help people to see things more clearly and get the most out of their loyalty program.

In its July 2017 issue, Protégez-vous took a look at advances in the AIR MILES loyalty program in an article titled: Finally, has AIR MILES delivered on its promises? Milesopedia was interviewed for the occasion. We invite you to find the full interview in the July 2017 magazine!

Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founder of milesopedia.com, a Quebec-based site specializing in loyalty programs, believes that the seduction campaign is far from being won. “Let’s face it, Air Miles is in a very difficult position, one that LoyaltyOne has put itself in over the past few months.” The company, he says, still has work to do to regain the trust of its members.

A strategy that could quickly show its limits if miles come to be devalued, believes Matthieu Guyonnet-Duluc, blogger for milesopedia.com: “LoyaltyOne could choose to modify the program by decreasing the value of miles in order to compensate for the financial losses weighing on its profitability.” The cancellation of the miles expiry policy in 2016 cost LoyaltyOne around $200 million, as members will finally have the opportunity to use their miles that were due to expire.

Jean-Maximilien Voisine believes that Air Miles would be better served by simplifying its operations, for example by eliminating the distinction between the Dream and Silver reward systems or, failing that, by allowing consumers to freely migrate miles from their Dream account to their Silver account – and vice versa.

Protégez-vous has listed over 50 useful resources for Quebec travellers. milesopedia is obviously one of them!

“Rebate and reward hunters need to be disciplined so that cash returns don’t go to late fees,” says Jean-Maximilien Voisine, founder of the Milesopedia site and blog. This French-language site is one of the few in Quebec to discuss the benefits of chasing miles in the credit card world. Self-employed workers who accumulate a lot of expenses and frequent travellers are among the consumers who are most spoiled by the multiple credit card offers,” says Jean-Maximilien Voisine.

Don’t hesitate to select competing credit cards from your financial institution. If your current expenses are significant, negotiate an annual fee waiver, suggests Jean-Maximilien Voisine. “If the answer is no, cancel your card before the anniversary date and look for another one with no annual fee,” he continues.

What about your credit report?

As long as your credit card balances are paid in full each month, having multiple cards does not in itself harm your credit report,” maintains Jean-Maximilien Voisine. He has had more than 30 different credit cards in the past five years without a single blemish on his credit record.

Paying off card balances a few days in advance and limiting credit utilization to 30% of total limits are factors that improve credit scores.

Jean-Maximilien is launching a blog these days, milesopedia.com. This will be the very first French-language site to address strategies for accelerating the accumulation of points and miles from the various loyalty programs (credit cards, hotels, airlines, etc.) available on the market. And contrary to what one might think, his credit rating is not worse. It is even excellent. (…)

Jean-Maximilien Voisine, like 70% of Canadian consumers, pays his sales on the nose every month. Unless you’re a millionaire or use your credit card(s) for business purposes, very few people in this country break through the 300,000 point a year mark with tricks and schemes.

Protégez-vous conducted a major annual survey of 70 credit card loyalty programs. The article in which milesopedia appears is available to subscribers:

Nicknamed “Mr. Miles” by his friends, Jean-Maximilien Voisine is a point hunter.

Noting that the details of credit card loyalty programs were often in English, in the summer of 2015 he created the Milesopedia site to help Quebecers understand and optimize their “points and miles assets,” which most consumers accumulate without really knowing what to do with them.

Choosing a credit card to earn rewards is no easy task. “There is a clear lack of education about loyalty programs,” he notes, mentioning the 500 or so people who visit his site each day, looking for advice and information.