Safeway's Sweet AirMiles Deals

[operabob]

Happened to phone AirMiles today enquiring about a cruise in May.

Some of you might remember Hordosr got a value of 18.5 cents/AM.

The one I requested was in the 20 cent/AM region.

In talking with the agent I believe I've discovered why.

Cruises are priced in $US. As our dollar has risen from $0.82 last year to as high as $0.99 this year we're getting much better rates at the moment. The person I talked to had to look up the price in $US then calculated how many AMs I'd need to purchase. So the exchange rate appears not to be set for the year but fluctuates daily.

If our dollar falls by the time I decide it will likely be a lesser value.

[coley3]

When we were in the States we had Best Western GC's. When I went to use them they had to convert them right there on the spot with the US dollar that day. Had $300 in giftcards but I think(can't quite remember now) we got $269 credited to our bill. I was sad that I hadn't realized this before. Just assumed that the GC was the same amount no matter where I used it. But now I see the light. So it only seems to follow that the cruises and other things US/Canada rates would be the same. At least the $ is good right now!!

[operabob]

P. 1 updated

Other than the Pepsi looks like a lousy week.

[jandaman]

Just got back from Safeway and got 370 airmiles

Spend $100 and get 100 AM, plus 5 base airmiles
Buy2 safeway garlic bread = 15AM ( $2.50 each x 2 = $5 )
Buy2 safeway bright green paper towels = 50AM ( $5.99 each x 2 = $11.98 )
Buy3 duracell 8pack batteries = 100AM ( $6.99 each x 3 = 20.97 )
Buy 10 michelina frozen entree = 100AM ( $1.50 each x 10 = $15 ) BEST DEAL
Bought the Dr Pepper/Schweppes Ginger Ale/Orange Crush 12x355ml which was buy 2, get 1 free, so bought 6 cases total with 2 free cases, cases were 3/$10 or 3/$6.66 with freebie
Bought some other stuff to push it over $100, wish I had room for the michelinas.

Gonna get the cineplex movie buy1get1 movie passes for 30 AM each so about 12 passes worth $12.50 each or $150.
Basically I just got paid $50 and free groceries to watch movies that I do anyways.
For those who don't watch movies, you can get $50 giftcards for 370-400 airmiles so basically groceries half off.

[trinity991]

I wasn't aware that there was a buy $100 get 100 airmiles coupon :-( I should look more closely! I ended up doing 2 shops and if I had just done 1 I would have spent over $100
I got 6 packs of batteries = 200 AM
9 Michelina + 1 Eggo = 100
9 Dare real fruit minis = 75
10 Soft soap = 100
2 Zest = 30
Total was over 500 AMs so I'm happy. I had coupons for the Dare fruit mini's, the batteries and the Eggos.

[operabob]

20 Free AMs at IRIS until Sept. 18

https://www.airmiles.ca/arrow/webres...E_Coupon_E.pdf

[operabob]

P. 1 has been updated.

Of Interest:

Kraft event - There are B2G$1 coupons out there on Christie's crackers which could make this an excellent buy.

There are also B4G$4 coupons good until Sept. 30 that can be used on Cookies, Cheese and Cream Cheese.

[operabob]

Haven't checked to see if this is legit yet:

http://free.airmiles.ca/

[operabob]

Eric53 just alerted me that Safeway has the Secret Deodarant on for $2.99 B3G30AMs.

If you have the B3G$9 from Brandsaver it's free but for the tax.

SDM has the same offeron this week but no AMs as we know.

Thanks Eric.

[eric53]

Eric53 just alerted me that Safeway has the Secret Deodarant on for $2.99 B3G30AMs.

If you have the B3G$9 from Brandsaver it's free but for the tax.

SDM has the same offeron this week but no AMs as we know.

Thanks Eric.

Actually I found out about that on here Opera. Mutchdutch (Sorry, my Dyslexia) I think it was posted about Safeway and the Secret deoderant for $2.99

I got 6 with 2 brandsaver coupons, a few cents tax paid. 60AM's
Did the Primo Beans/Pasta thing B5 get 30AM twice 60AM's
Did the Kraft Event B4 get $4 off, 40AM's
2 Base Airmiles for a total of 162 Airmiles
Total Cost $43.96

A good Airmiles day for me today!

[mutchdutch]

teehee...close...

I am waiting for my extra copies of my flyer to do this one (my mom gives me hers! I love FREE airmiles and FREE deo!!

Actually I found out about that on here Opera. dutchmutch I think it was posted about Safeway and the Secret deoderant for $2.99

I got 6 with 2 brandsaver coupons, a few cents tax paid. 60AM's
Did the Primo Beans/Pasta thing B5 get 30AM twice 60AM's
Did the Kraft Event B4 get $4 off, 40AM's
2 Base Airmiles for a total of 162 Airmiles
Total Cost $43.96

A good Airmiles day for me today!

[operabob]

Advantage of living in a condo is grabbing all the ones people throw out.

Up to 7 flyers now.

Also the B2G$5 coupon looks good. You'd end up paying $0.48 + tax each and pick up $1.40 worth of AMs at the same time.

Not too shabby!

[operabob]

Had a question from someone about how I manage to get $0.185/AM on a cruise.

First step:

Sign up for: http://www.vacationstogo.com/

This is the most complete listing of cruises I know of. It will give you the discounted price of the cruise before taxes/port charges. Set it to $Canadian.

It's a bit cumbersome to figure out but when you get their email, wait for it to load then scroll to the very bottom, click the "90 day" link, wait for everything to download, scroll to the bottom and there's a feature where you can be more specific, for example:

Choose a region (leave as is)
May 2011 to July 2011
Norwegian
Choose a Ship (Could leave blank or not)
7 days
Leaving LA
Visiting Vancouver

Second step:

Sign up for: http://www.cruisecompete.com/

After picking a cruise I ask for a quote at CruiseCompete. They send your request to multiple Travel Agents who come back with full quotes. I do this just to see how good the quote at VacationstoGo is.

Third:

Now that I've confirmed the price if it's Carnival I can find out the AirMiles needed on the AirMiles site. If it's Norwegian (or Holland as I think they are still offered) phone AirMiles and ask how many AirMiles needed for the cruise.

Fourth:

Divide cost (pre tax/port charges as you pay those extra I believe plus a small booking fee) by AirMiles needed, for example

$650 cost
3,500 AMs to purchase

$650/3500 = $0.186 per AM

$0.186 is what each AM is worth to buy this cruise.

An alternative:

I haven't been on Norwegian. I have been on Carnival which IMO is not all that great. While Holland used to have a good reputation it seems to me they are quite high to buy with AMs.

If you wish a better line you could convert AMs to Marlin Travel (or sister agencies) gift certificates. You can use up to $400 worth/person. For 2 this saves $800. Seems to me the conversion rate was $0.133 for Marlin. Not as good as $0.186 but you have far more choice in lines and they might have a trip special which boosts your return anyways.

Trick with Marlin:

Don't tell them you're using gift certificates until after they quote you the price. Last time I went through them the agent said something about how they're supposed to charge $50 extra for trips using GCs.

Happy sailing every one.

[mutchdutch]

I have a q? about the bonus airmiles on puchased product, and am hoping someone here knows the answer. For example..they have the B5Kraft get 50 Bonus AM on right now. Do you have to buy those 5 items in one transaction or do they cumulate on your weekly purchase? Sounds like a silly q? I know, but I made a booboo and bought 2 types of Christie crackers that were not included, so now I am wondering if I should just return all 5 items (to rebuy with the proper combo) or only the 2 'wrong' boxes of crackers.

[operabob]

No silly questions.

It all has to be in one purchase.

Note there is a maximum of 500AMs or 10 multiples on any one offer/store per day.

So if you buy 12 multiples of a BWhatereverG40 you'd think you'd get 480AMs but you'll only get 400AMs for the first 10 multiples.

If you get a mix up error again just take your receipt and the items to Customer Service and get them to to do a "Phantom Refund RePurchase".

I had to do that yesterday as the cashier forgot to scan my AirMiles card. I always check the bottom of the receipt before leaving the store to make sure the correct AMs are credited.