Aeroplan wants to rewards big spenders ✈️, a Costco x Uber Eats hack 🛒✨, how to score a free MacBook Air 💻 & More
Yup, I never planned this newsletter to be a one-moose-show, so I am also pleased to announce that this issue include our first ever guest post!
Hello again, readers!
I’m back with another round of deals and news for this second edition of the Moose Money newsletter.
I am also pleased to announce that this issue includes our first ever guest post!
It was penned by none other than Barry Choi, who happens to be the loyalty and credit cards columnist at the Globe & Mail.
In this issue, Barry Choi shares with us how deals seekers like us are penalized by Aeroplan's new ways to calculate points, since Aeroplan's change was designed to reward first and foremost business travellers... assuming Air Canada's strike comes to an end.
While I did see this in the news, I did not realize what it meant for someone like me who tries to pay as little as possible for plane tickets!
More guest posts from Barry (and other experts I manage to convince) will be featured in this newsletter.
Yup, I never planned this newsletter to be a one-moose-show!
Keep on reading, as we’ve got lots of ways to save money in this issue, including a hack to save money on Uber Eats deliveries, a way to get a free MacBook Air M4 worth $1,400 and a buy-it-for-life cookware set under $300.
Happy deal hunting!
BARRY CHOI: Is Aeroplan Still Worth It? What the 2026 Changes Mean for You
Last month, Aeroplan announced major changes set to take effect in January 2026, transforming how members earn points and qualify for status. The key point? Aeroplan is moving to a revenue-based model, meaning both points and status will be directly linked to how much you spend. Larger spenders will receive bigger rewards.
The loudest reactions come from members with lower status who fear losing their perks. Ironically, many of these same voices have long complained that status is too easy to obtain, making eUpgrade credits almost useless due to overcrowding. Under the new system, since there would be fewer eUpgrades circulating, those remaining have a higher chance of being upgraded.
Air Canada is recalibrating a loyalty program that’s been stretched thin. By rewarding those who spend more, they’re not only streamlining benefits but also boosting profitability. It may annoy quite a few passengers, but the ones who naturally fly or spend a lot on Air Canada won’t be complaining.
If you chase the lowest fares, these changes won’t work in your favour. Some travellers have vowed to switch airlines, but let’s be honest: if price is your only priority, loyalty to Air Canada was never a good fit to begin with. You’re better off booking the cheapest fare you find, regardless of airline since that means more money in your pocket.
Some members are considering options like Avios (British Airways) or Flying Blue (KLM/Air France). While these choices seem appealing on paper, they offer limited flight options from Canada. Is sacrificing convenience, since you might need to take connections, really worth making a statement?
WestJet Rewards has improved, but still falls short in value and reach compared to Aeroplan/Air Canada. Additionally, WestJet doesn’t offer significant benefits to those in eastern Canada. VIPorter is a solid program, but Porter still lacks the reach that Air Canada has.
Whether you love it or hate Aeroplan, the team behind the program has a strong understanding of loyalty and offers excellent value for their most important customers. You can explore other programs, but Aeroplan will likely remain the best choice for most Canadian travellers.
You might not get status anytime soon, but who cares when you can still earn points quickly with an Aeroplan credit card. Redeeming your points is straightforward since you can book any available seat on Air Canada. If that’s not enough, switch to a cash back card.
This guest post was authored by Barry Choi, an award-winning personal finance expert who specializes in credit cards and loyalty points.
😎 Goodbye, debt! Use PC Optimum points to pay down your credit card bill
You can now use PC Optimum points to pay your PC Mastercard bill. 10,000 points will reduce your balance owing by $7. This is 30% lower than the redemption system for gas and groceries, where 10,000 points gets you $10 to spend, but it’s still a nice feature for reducing your credit card debt.
Source: Credit Card Genius
💰Uber Eats gift card hack saves you at least 5% on Costco purchases
If you want to skip the parking lot traffic jams and order your Costco deliveries through Uber Eats, try this hack, discovered by a Costco Canada Reddit user who is an Uber One member. While Uber Eats marks up products and charges service fees totalling about 15%, Costco sells Uber Eats gift cards for 20% off, which means a 5% savings. You can only buy two $50 gift cards every two weeks, but that'll buy you a lot of rotisserie chickens.
Source: Reddit
💳 Today is the last day to benefit from AMEX welcome offer and get up to 200,000 bonus points
AMEX has some pretty great welcome offers on, and they end on August 18, so you’ll have to act faster than an angry bull moose charging at another angry bull moose during mating season! You’ll receive up to 200,000 points (equivalent to $2,000 of statement credit) when you get a Business Platinum Card and up to 180,000 points if you get the American Express Platinum Card.
Source: Milesopedia
💰 Rakuten.ca now offers Interac e-transfer payouts
The cash-back shopping platform Rakuten now offers payouts by Interac e-transfer. You can still get your payouts via PayPal or the old-fashioned way, through a paper cheque mailed to you. But those take pretty long to reach the forests of Yukon, where I used to live. So, the new Interac e-transfer means you’ll get to access your money faster, typically just a few minutes after your purchase is made via Rakuten.ca.
Source: GlobeNewswire
🚨🏷️ Moose on the Loose in Dealville
MacBook Air M4
Want a free laptop? If you’re new to RBC and open a chequing and investment account with them, you’ll get a free MacBook Air M4 worth $1,400. You’ll have to add at least $50,000 to the investment account (TSFAs, RRSPs and FHSAs all qualify). You can also choose an iPad Pro M4 instead of a laptop. The offer is available until November 3, 2025.
Asus Chromebook
$199.99
My hooves are too big to use a keyboard (I always end up mashing at least five keys at a time. Big animal problems, amirite?). But my human friends will appreciate this deep discount on Asus Chromebooks at $199.99. They’re usually $399, so the 50% sale is a pretty good deal. The 14-inch CX1400 is on offer at the Asus website, but you can also get the 15.6-inch CB315 for $199 from Best Buy.
Costco All-Clad 8-Piece Set
$299.97
These days, being a real, full-fledged adult moose means having a matching set of pans. Costco is currently selling an 8-piece All-Clad set on clearance for $299.97. That means each piece costs under $40. The regular price was $499, and some locations already sold out at that price, so you might need to hunt around to find some in stock. It’s high-enough quality to be a buy-it-for-life set (in human years, not just moose years. We only live to be 20 😭😭😭). You’ll just have to promise me that no moose meat ever hits the surface of these shiny pans, alright?
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