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How to use Scene+ points to reduce travel costs

by Anne Betts | Mar 21, 2024 | Travel Hacking | 32 comments

Updated March 21, 2024

What’s the best use of Scene+? Is Scene+ a useful program for travelling the world on miles and points? How does Scene+ work and what are the ways to use Scene+ points to reduce travel costs ? How does it measure up against the former Scotia Rewards program? How does it compare to other fixed-point reward programs? These questions and more hopefully will be answered in this guide to Scene+.

Table of Contents

Scene+ loyalty program

How to earn scene+ points, current scene+ credit card offers, other scene+ credit cards, what’s the best use scene+ points, 1. scene+ travel, how to redeem using ‘apply points to travel’, what qualifies as a travel purchase , refundable bookings, 1. several ways to earn scene+, 2. enhanced earning on travel purchases, 3. convenient system to cancel refundable bookings, 4. discounted annual fee, 5. no forex fee, 6. one-tier redemption value, 7. twelve months to redeem points, 8. excellent online redemption process, 9. access to rebates on credit card applications, 10. user-friendly scene+ app, 1. no way to extract greater value, 2. limited number of travel expenses, 3. points can’t be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs, 4. a rocky transition to the new program, 5. cineplex booking fee, final verdict.

Scene+ is the result of a merger between two former programs: Scotiabank’s Scotia Rewards and Cineplex’s SCENE with an effective date of December 13, 2021. In June 2022, grocery giant Empire joined as a third partner with a plan to replace Air Miles with Scene+ as its loyalty program.

Scene+ is a third-party program  operated by Scene Limited Partnership (owned by Scotia Loyalty Ltd., a subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia), Galaxy Entertainment Inc. (a subsidiary of Cineplex Entertainment LP), and Empire Company Ltd., the parent company of stores that include Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, IGA, FreshCo, Needs,Thrifty, and Lawtons Drugs.

As such, Scotiabank no longer has an in-house loyalty program. This means that Scene+ points earned on Scotiabank credit cards reside in a third-party account. If the credit card that earned Scene+ points is cancelled, the points remain in the member’s Scene+ account, pooled with points earned on other Scotia banking products or a Scene+ Membership Card.

However, there are rules regarding activity. A Scene+ account may be closed, and points forfeited, without any earning or redeeming activity during any 24-consecutive-month period. But a member with a Scene+ Scotiabank product (a credit card or debit card in good standing) is exempt from account closure.

The Scene+ program offers several earning opportunities. These include:

• sign-up bonuses associated with credit cards that earn Scene+ points
• everyday spending on a choice of seven credit cards earning Scene+ points
• purchases using a debit card associated with Scotiabank’s banking packages (Preferred Package, Ultimate Package, Private Banking, Student Banking Advanced Plan, Getting There Savings Program for Youth)
• purchases at partners such as *Empire stores (e.g., Sobeys and Safeway) and  Home Hardware
• movie and entertainment purchases at Cineplex theatres or online at the Cineplex store
• cashback in points by shopping through the rebate portal, Rakuten
• dining at partners that include East Side Mario’s, Harvey’s, Kelsey’s, Montana’s, and Swiss Chalet 
• booking hotel stays and car rentals through Scene+ Travel (powered by Expedia)
• purchases of games and eats at Playdium and The Rec Room

Another advantage of the merged program is that it’s possible to double-dip on earning at partner locations when using a Scene+ credit card and Scene+ Membership Card. Dining purchases at Swiss Chalet, for example, earn one point for every $3 spent and five points per dollar with the dining multiplier on the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. Special offers increase the earning power.

It pays to check your Scene+ account on a regular basis for current offers from Scene+ partners.

*Empire stores include Sobeys, Sobeys Liquor, IGA, Safeway, Safeway Liquor, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry, and Needs Convenience. In the Atlantic, Scene+ points can be earned at Lawtons Drugs that’s owned by Empire.

And of course, Scotiabank customers using select Scotiabank credit cards can ‘double dip’ by paying for purchases with a Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points. At Empire grocery stores, the multipliers are higher.

• Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns 6 points per dollar
• Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card earns 3 points per dollar
• Scotiabank American Express Card earns 3 points per dollar

The latest promotion on the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card sees a return of an annual fee waiver in the first year (a saving of $150). The sign-up bonus is

• an attractive 30,000 Scene+ on spending $1,000 in the first three months
• an unattractive 10,000 Scene+ points on spending $40,000 each year

Besides having worldwide acceptance as a Visa card, attractive features of the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite include

• an accelerated earning rate of x3 at Empire stores
• accelerated earning rates of x2 on eligible grocery, transit, ride share, dining, and entertainment (applicable worldwide)
• no foreign transaction fees (2.5%)
• complimentary Visa Airport Companion membership and six lounge visits per year

The offer is available until July 1, 2024. Applying through the Great Canadian Rebates portal sweetens the deal with a $30 rebate.

The current promotion on the popular Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is in effect July 1, 2024. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an annual fee waiver in the first year. The annual fee is $120, or $79 for seniors, that can be offset by applying through a rebate portal. The current rebate at Great Canadian Rebates is $125.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns:

• 20,000 Scene+ on a $1,000 spend in the first three months
• additional 20,000 Scene+ on a $7,500 spend in the first year
• 6 Scene+ per dollar spent at Empire grocery stores
• 5 Scene+ per dollar spent on groceries (at grocery stores other than Empire), dining, food delivery, and entertainment
• 3 Scene+ per dollar spent on gas, transit, and select streaming services
• 1 Scene+ per dollar spent on everything else  

There’s no FOREX (foreign transaction) fee on purchases in a foreign currency.

Like most banks, Scotia offers a banking package where the annual fee on a credit card can be waived every year. For more information see the  Ultimate Package bank account.

In addition to the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, the other Scene+ credit cards are:

• Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
• Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card
• Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
• Scotiabank American Express Card
• ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card
• SCENE Visa Card
• SCENE Visa Card for Students

What’s the value of a Scene+ point?

Scene+ can be redeemed for Apple and Best Buy merchandise and gift cards, dining, movie tickets, and Scotiabank credit card account credits. Unless there are special offers, these types of redemptions are at a lesser value than when redeemed for travel.

The exception is at participating grocery stores where 1,000 points can be redeemed for $10 off grocery purchases. This is a value of one cent per point.  

Travel redemptions are consistently valued at one cent per point (i.e., 10,000 points = $100). This applies to Scene+ Travel bookings, and those booked independently through other providers.

Much like the former Scotia Rewards Program, there are two ways to redeem points for travel. An advantage over the former program is that the minimum threshold of 5,000 points ($50) no longer exists.

Scene+ Travel replaces the former in-house Scotia Rewards Travel Service. The new service under the auspices of Expedia operates in much the same way as ExpediaForTD, the portal for members of the TD Rewards program. Points can be redeemed against any travel booked via the portal.

Charge the full amount to your credit card, or against the points balance in your account. Or, use the part-points-part-charge option.

2. ‘Apply Points to Travel’

This operates much the same way as it did under the former Scotia Rewards Program. It’s for bookings with travel providers other than Scene+ Travel.  

Charge a purchase to your credit card and wait for it to post to your account. Points can then be redeemed against the purchase. This includes taxes, booking fees, airport fees, and travel insurance premiums.

A cardholder has 12 months from the posting date of the purchase to apply the points.

Log into your Scene+ account and navigate your way to  > Rewards > Travel (under Spend your points) > Apply Points to Travel

A drop-down menu will list the credit cards attached to your Scene+ account. Clicking on each credit card will reveal any purchases coded as travel in the period you select.

For example, in my case, all travel purchases charged to my Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card in the last 90 days appear as a list. They include a visa for Turkey, airport bus, hostel accommodation, transit card purchase and initial load, train ticket, scooter account top-up, and a drink at a hotel. 

I can redeem Scene+ points for specific charges by selecting each one. The Summary box to the right shows me my selected charges, the total number of points I’ve chosen to redeem, the monetary value of those points, and the remaining points in my Scene+ account.

Clicking the Continue button takes me to a confirmation page, and the information that the monetary value of my redemption will be credited to my credit card account in two to three days. A confirmation email with the same information is received within seconds.

To be eligible for redemption, the charge needs to be recognized as a travel purchase with merchant codes or identifiers set by the Visa network as:

• airlines and air carriers, airports, flying fields, and airport terminals
• lodgings, hotels, motels, resorts, trailer parks, and campgrounds
• passenger railways, bus lines, steamship, and cruise lines
• travel agencies and tour operators
• automobile rental agencies, and motor home/recreational vehicle rentals

These were the same identifiers previously used by the Scotia Rewards Program.

Based on previous experience, I’ve found that charges for passenger railways, bus lines, and tour operators could be inconsistently included or excluded as candidates for redemption.

For example, Queensland Rail travel between Brisbane and Maryborough West in Australia was eligible as a travel redemption. A journey of a similar distance with Irish Rail between Dublin and Galway wasn’t.

Also, when a purchase is coded as entertainment, it’s excluded from the list of travel charges. This has an impact on tours. For example, tours of Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol and Belfast Titanic were coded as entertainment. As a result, they didn’t appear on the list of eligible travel redemptions. Admission to Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral for a self-guided tour wasn’t coded as entertainment, but it appeared on the list of possible travel redemptions.

Another observation concerned dining purchases if they were purchased at a hotel or while travelling by train. They appeared as travel purchases on my account and were therefore eligible as a travel redemption.

There are many reasons to make refundable bookings. One issue to consider is whether you prefer to be refunded in points or cash if you need to cancel.

If you book through Scene+ Travel and make a booking using points, your cancelled booking will be refunded in points rather than cash. If you prefer a cash refund, you should book through a platform other than Scene+ Travel (e.g., Expedia) using your Scotiabank credit card and prepay in full. Once the charge posts to your account as a travel purchase, use the ‘Apply Points to Travel’ feature and select the transaction for redemption. The points value of the charge will be deducted from your Scene+ points balance and the cash value of the charge will post to your account within a few business days.

Then, cancel the refundable booking. I find the online process at Expedia using the Virtual Assistant is user-friendly and efficient. The charge will be refunded to your credit card account within five business days.

Ten attractive features of the Scene+ program

When combined with Scotiabank’s best features, the Scene+ program offers several advantages.

In addition to opportunities to earn points with Scene+ partners, Scotiabank has seven credit cards in the Scene+ family. Several of them offer points multipliers for various types of category spending.

The best points multiplier is on spending using the popular Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. It earns 5 points per dollar on groceries, dining, and entertainment and 3 points on gas, daily transit, and select streaming services. (The multiplier increases to 6 points per dollar at Empire grocery stores.)

Only purchases in Canadian funds are eligible for the points multiplier, but there have been reports of cases where the multiplier has been applied while travelling abroad. In my view, t he best use of the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is to use it exclusively for the x5 multiplier (x6 at Empire grocery stores). Even for gas, purchase gas gift cards at a grocery store for the x5 or x6 multiplier, and gift cards of other merchants you support. 

For moviegoers, the Scene Visa Card (or the Scene Visa Card for Students) may be useful as a no-fee ‘forever card’ to build and anchor a person’s credit history. It earns x5 on purchases at Cineplex theatres or at cineplex.com, but its value to someone without a lengthy credit history is that it could help elevate a credit score and a person’s credit worthiness. 

Scene+ credit cards earn 3 points per dollar (pre-taxes and fees) on hotel and car rental bookings at Scene+ Travel. The occasional offer such as x10 points on hotel bookings in the fall of 2022 boost earning efforts. This is in addition to the points earned on the respective credit card.

Refundable bookings at Scene+ Travel are conveniently and efficiently processed by Expedia’s Virtual Agent. Clicking on the Customer Support link at the bottom of the confirmation email takes you to your Scene+ account login and then to the Virtual Agent where you’ll be prompted to enter your itinerary number or the last four digits of the credit card used for the booking. Once the Virtual Agent locates the booking, one click cancels it and an email arrives within seconds confirming the cancellation. 

Scotiabank offers discounted annual fees for seniors. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has a fee of $79 (as opposed to $120). The ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card’s fee is $65 (compared to $110).  

Scotiabank is to be applauded for being the first of the big-five banks to offer a no-FOREX-fee credit card to its Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. I suspect that dropping the 2.5% fee cuts into a lucrative profit margin but clearly it’s been worth it. Otherwise, Scotia wouldn’t have added this feature to the popular Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. Needless to say, it came with an annual fee increase from $99 to $120 and the downgrading of several benefits.

To help you decide if a no-FOREX-fee credit card is the best credit card to have while travelling abroad, see Is a no-FOREX-fee credit card always the best choice for international travel?

Unlike other programs (e.g., TD Rewards), there’s no loss of value between using Scene+ Travel and other travel providers. The flexibility to book travel with any provider without any devaluation of points means cardholders can search for the best deal and use a vendor of their choice.

Dealing directly with a provider can be beneficial. In the case of flight delays and overbooked or cancelled flights, it’s my experience that service is better if the booking was made directly with the airline. For hotel bookings, it’s usually necessary to have booked directly with the hotel’s booking service to earn loyalty points and other loyalty program benefits.

(For AirBnB bookings, if you’re chasing Avios points, consider booking through the British Airways Executive Club portal to earn x3 Avios points on each pre-tax £1/€1/$1 spend on accommodation or experiences, plus what you earn on your credit card of choice.)  

Having 12 months to use the ‘Apply Points to Travel’ route means you don’t need to have the points when you book. You can accumulate the necessary points using the welcome bonus and points multipliers with your Scene+ credit card, and then redeem them when it’s to your advantage.

The online system for post-purchase redemptions is user-friendly and efficient.

Scotiabank regularly uses affiliate partners that offer rebates on approved credit card applications. For example, the Great Canadian Rebates (GCR) rebate of $150 on the popular Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is very appealing.

Offers are loaded on the app and the Scene+ membership card is within easy reach to take advantage of earning opportunities. Tapping on an account holder’s points total reveals points-earning activity by date and credit card, with multipliers. A quick glance reveals if points and multipliers have been correctly applied.

The Scene+ app mirrors essential account information available at the Scene+ site.

  Five shortcomings of the Scene+ program

Unlike CIBC Aventura, RBC Avion Rewards, and American Express Membership Rewards, at the present time, Scene+ doesn’t have a flight reward chart where it’s possible to extract a value greater than one cent per point.

For more information on the CIBC Rewards (Aventura) program, see When travelling the world on miles and points, is the CIBC Aventura program worth it?

The system of merchant codes and travel identifiers is mostly restricted to flights, accommodation, transit, car rentals, cruises, and travel packages. Attractions, tours, and sundry travel purchases are mostly excluded. In this respect, TD Rewards can be redeemed for a broader range of travel expenses.

For more information on the TD Rewards program, see: When travelling the world on miles and points, is the TD Rewards program worth it?

There are no conversion partners where it might be possible to extract a greater value than one cent per point on travel redemptions.

Based on the comments in various miles-and-points forums, far too many people had negative experiences with the transition to the Scene+ program. Missing points, missing multipliers, and other anomalies have resulted in reports of people who, in frustration, stopped using Scene+ credit cards until such time as the glitches were resolved. While some issues have been addressed, not all problems have been resolved. Thankfully, Scene+ has a callback system based on a caller’s place in the callback queue.

Also, Scene+ is yet to expand its two-factor authentication to include email. Members with a physical SIM card and local number (or eSIM data-only package) while travelling abroad cannot receive a text or call to a Canadian number that temporarily doesn’t exist or is not in service. Unlike Aeroplan, I can receive an email to confirm my identity and log into my account to manage bookings. This isn’t possible with Scene+ and renders it less useful while travelling.   

In June 2022, Cineplex undermined the convenience of online bookings by introducing a non-refundable booking fee $1.50 per movie ticket. The fee is discounted for Scene+ members (to $1.00 per ticket), and waived for CineClub members enrolled in Cineplex’s monthly subscription service. It doesn’t apply to movie tickets purchased at the theatre.

1. The x5 points multiplier on groceries, dining, and entertainment (x6 at Empire grocery stores) helps make the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card a useful keeper card for many cardholders, and a strong earner of Scene+ points.

2. The addition of Empire is exciting news for Scene+ members who find value in the Scene+ program and now earn points on grocery and drug store purchases at stores under the Empire umbrella. The points boost from x5 to x6 on purchases at Empire grocery stores on the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is welcome news indeed.  

3. The flexibility in redeeming Scene+ for purchases from any travel provider with no loss in value makes it a very attractive fixed value program. In this respect, it has the edge on the TD Rewards Program that has a two-tier redemption structure.

4. The ease of redeeming points online is a welcome user-friendly feature. Having 12 months to do so adds to the appeal.

5. Scene+ points are handy for a variety of travel expenses such as budget flights or those that aren’t part of a primary airline alliance/frequent flyer program. They’re useful for ground transportation, ferries, and miscellaneous accommodation that are outside existing airline and hotel loyalty programs. When used strategically, they can play a beneficial role in reducing out-of-pocket travel expenses.

6. The program has excellent potential as one of several secondary programs in a diversified miles-and-points portfolio. As such, it can be used to complement frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs that are capable of generating a much greater value than one cent per point.

As far as I can see, the new Scene+ program is greater than the sum of its former parts. With no obvious signs of devaluation, it replaces Scotia Rewards as my favourite fixed-point program.

If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. Do you collect Scene+ points? If so, what’s your experience with the program? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.

Might you be interested in my other miles-and-points posts?

• When travelling the world on miles and points, is the CIBC Aventura program worth it?
• Is a no-FOREX-fee credit card always the best choice for international travel?
• Finding Aeroplan flights: a step-by-step guide
• Meeting Minimum Spend Requirements to travel the world on miles and points  
• Lounge and flight review of United Airlines’ Polaris experience
• Does the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard deserve a place in your wallet?
• Travelling the world on miles and points. Is the TD Rewards program worth it?
• Why the Best Western loyalty program is good for travellers
• What is the best credit card for trip cancellation, trip interruption and flight delay insurance for trips on points?

Care to pin for later?

32 Comments

Hi Anne Great article on a card I do not have yet. One question. It says that the points credit may not show up for up to two statements. Does this mean interest is charged for those two months, then credited back or is the credit in the system but just not showing? I would hate to leave any balance on a card even when a credit will eventually come.

Hi John. The credit appeared on my account much faster, and there’s no interest involved. Here’s an example using the Spirit of Queensland train fare. I charged it to my credit card in January and the $371.38 charge appeared on my next statement. Each monthly balance is paid in full so by the time I took the train in March, it had already been paid. When I returned from Australia in April, I redeemed 37,138 points and the credit voucher for $371.38 appeared in my account within a matter of days. That put my credit card account in the black at the end of April, and each subsequent charge on my credit card was deducted from that credit. Had I chosen to close the account with a credit, I could have asked for a cheque, or had it transferred to my no-fee Scotia credit card. Does this help answer your question?

Anne, hi. I have the same question on how many days are taken from the date of post-purchase redemption request to a date of showing up in a credit card account. The UP-TO 2 statement periods is really scaring me. You said that it took only several days in your example. Based on your experience , is a week realistic?

Hi Seong. Thanks for dropping by. My experience involved just a few days. It’s my sense banks are over cautious with their “up-to” advertised long periods for points, refunds, buddy passes and the like to be posted. I should think a week is a reasonable expectation despite the stated two statement periods.

Hi Anne, as March 8 2023, the Apply Points to travel Button seems to be gone as an option to redeem existing points. The only way left is to purchase a new trip through their portal powered by Expedia!

Hi Anne, Although in theory the merger of ScenePlus and ScotiaRewards seems to be an excellent program, it is having some serious startup problems : missing points, missing multiplier points, as well as points double-posted including double-posted points for returns. Calculating an accurate points total is almost impossible. A month and a half after the merger the problems have not yet been resolved. Phoning in to rectify the points balance involves wait times of up to four hours plus. All of this for a points program that that involves annual fees. Disappointed? You bet.

Agreed, there have been lots of complaints, especially on multipliers. I’m fortunate in that my Scotia Rewards all converted to Scene+ but I’m taking a break from using Scene+ credit cards until there are reports that the glitches have been fixed. Some reports indicate a commitment to have it fixed sometime in February. Fingers crossed, as I quite like this as a secondary program.

Hello, Anne. Although the merger of ScenePlus and ScotiaRewards appears to be a great programme in theory, it has a number of major initial issues, including missing points, missing multiplier points, and double-posted points, including double-posted points for returns. It’s nearly impossible to calculate an exact point total. The issues have not been resolved a month and a half after the merger. Calling in to correct the points balance can take up to four hours or more. All of this for the sake of a points programme with annual payments. Disappointed? Yes, absolutely.

Hello, Anne. I have the same issue about how long it takes from the time a post-purchase redemption request is submitted to the time the funds appear in a credit card account. I’m terrified of the UP-TO 2 statement periods. In your example, you mentioned it just took a few days. Is a week realistic based on your experience?

A week was realistic with the former Scotia Rewards program. I’m yet to make a redemption from the new Scene+ program.

Hi Anne, thanks for the review. The lack of Forex fees is a big win for me and anybody who uses their VISA abroad. However I noticed that booking travel although is ‘powered by’ Expedia, doesn’t offer the same benefits as using Expedia directly. i.e. must book flights and hotels separately, no packages or package discounts are available. I even did a head-to-head comparison for an upcoming trip to Miami and found the Expedia website price cheaper than via Scene+ Travel, which is very frustrating.

Thank you for this breakdown Anne. I have the Scotia Gold Amex and waiting for the Scotia passport in the mail. Im have no experience in this program and my question is, do my points combine from both cards or do I end up with 2 separate Scene+ accounts?

Marlene, your points combine in the same Scene+ account. You’ll see your total points and a breakdown of the points from your feeder cards. Many people have experienced problems with points being posted correctly, including multipliers, so it’s a good practice to check your points during these early months of the new program.

Greetings, I have a Scotiabank Passport Infinite card I’ve been using in the United States but I don’t seem to be accumulating scene rewards points. Are US dollar spends eligible for points? Tried to connect with Scenes.ca but don’t have time to wait for the estimated 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Yes, the Passport Visa Infinite earns Scene+ on foreign purchases, both base points and the multiplier. It sounds like you’re one of several people experiencing glitches during the transition from Scotia Rewards to Scene+.

This was really helpful – thank you so much! I was struggling to find information on the new program and you’ve summarized it in a very user-friendly way.

Hello. Do you know if AirBnB bookings can be redeemed as part of the Points for Travel program? Is it considered an Eligible Travel Expense?

Hi Cathy. AirBnB is a recognized accommodation provider by the Visa network so it should appear on your list of eligible travel redemptions on your Scotiabank credit card account that earns Scene+ points.Good luck.

Unlike with Scotia Rewards, booking airfare through the new Scene+ system is a complete horror show. People assisting with bookings are incompetent and most do not have adequate English language skills.

I have had exactly the same experience. Very disappointing after receiving consistently excellent service through the previous program.

Where can I find the redeem Scene+ points for travel purchases already made button. I can see my points balance but can’t seem to find the button to redeem. Thanks

It should be in your Scotia account (not Scene+). Any purchases coded as travel should appear as eligible for redemption.

The apply points to travel is not operating at all like it used to with scotia rewards. I made several purchases in the last 6 months of airlines, hotels, taxis, etc. and none of them show up in the list for redemption. It’s really frustrating. Also I used to get double points with my card on any travel bookings before and now it’s just regular points. And living overseas it used to also allow me to get bonus points on restaurants/ entertainment that wasn’t exclusively in Canada. Now not..

Says you need to phone if you want to apply “partial” redemption, as it isn’t yet available in the app. But when you live overseas calling doesn’t work. Overall just a huge disappointment since switching.

Thanks a lot for your summary – so useful. I’ve had a Scotiabank visa infinite since earlier this year. My question is, I have about 60000 scene + points. I’ve incurred hundreds of dollars of travel expenses within the last 6 months. Is there any downside to simply using the “apply points to travel” option and cashing everything out? Am I missing out on any potential better use of the points? Doesn’t seem like it to me, but I’m new to this program, so just wanted to ask an expert. Thanks!

Hi Jonathan. Unless there are special offers, I’m assuming travel redemptions at a penny a point offer the best return. The only downside I can think of to NOT using the points now against recent travel expenses is the possibility of a devaluation. I like to think that’s not likely in the near future given the need to attract members and build confidence in the Scene+ program.

My mother just got her visa infinite scene card in the mail and she is ready to collect points. After reading this I’m a little concerned. We planned on paying our travel agency with the card to earn points, but I’m starting to see that won’t work. Will we earn points for booking tours and whatnot when not using the travel portal? Do you earn points with every purchase?

Thanks for the help

Yes, you earn points with every purchase. So is it the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card? If so, the earning rate is 1 point for every $ spent, except it increases to 2 points per $ on groceries, dining, entertainment, and daily transit. So if you pay your travel agent $500, 500 points will be earned on the purchase. Does this help?

I just got a new Scene+ card from my local Foodland store. When I went to register it I was not happy that I was expected to enter a credit card number as well to complete the process. I found that very suspicious and unless I can be convinced that it is necessary I won’t bother with the card.

Scene is terrible to deal with, please if you are reading this DO NOT GET ANY SCENE CARD! I ordered a 100 dollar gift card that never came. I have called and emailed for months and they will not return my points, so I’m out 100 dollars. All banks have points now, go to one that works, scene is garbage.

It is March 2023 and Scene+ still is in a mess. It is unclear whether they give 3x points for flights and hotels (as they advertise) or 1 point for every dollar spent. Just got back from Europe where all travel and hotels were paid for using Scotiabank Infinite Passport card and only 1 point/$spent appears on statement. The call centre staff are, for the most part, absolutely useless. Why is it called Powered by Expedia? Do you have to book through Expedia?

Thanks for this information. I’ve been trying to confirm with Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card that even foreign purchases earn points (1 point per dollar). Is that your understanding? Purchases made around the world still earn points? Thank you!

Yes, the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite earns points on all foreign transactions. It also earns points on the multiplier categories. So if you use the card in any country on dining or groceries, it earns x2 points. If you link it to your Uber account, you’ll earn x2 on the ride-share category. All the best.

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• Is a no-FOREX-fee credit card always the best choice for international travel? - Packing Light Travel - […] What’s the best use of Scotia Rewards for travelling the world on miles and points […]

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Explore your Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card

Take advantage of all the ways your Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card adds to your life.

Your Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card comes with more than just rewards

Discover the benefits and features included with your card.

Unlock the benefits available to you as a Scotiabank Scene+ Visa cardholder.

Scotia selectpay™*.

A flexible way to pay off your eligible Scotiabank Visa* credit card purchases of $100 or more, with no interest rate on your plan and a low fee. 11

Learn more about SelectPay

Save on car rentals 

As a Scotiabank Scene+ Visa cardholder, you can save up to 25% off base rates at participating AVIS locations and at participating Budget locations in Canada and the U.S. when you pay with your Scene+ Visa card. 5

AVIS reservations may be made online at avis.com/scotiabankscene or by calling 1-800-TRY AVIS (879-2847) .

Please quote AVIS worldwide discount number C030303 .

Budget Reservations may be made online at budget.com/scotiabankscene or by calling 1-800-268-8900 .

Please quote Budget corporate discount number A363312 .

Scotia Credit Card Protection

This optional insurance coverage can offer you and your family the financial protection you need by paying off your outstanding account balance or help cover your monthly credit card payments as a result of certain unexpected events.

Learn more about the insurance coverage

Explore the features that being a Scotia customer gets you.

Visa Zero Liability Policy

Use your Visa card to make purchases anywhere and you're protected from unauthorized use of your card or account information. With the Visa Zero Liability policy 8 , your liability for unauthorized transactions 9 is $0-you pay nothing. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply.

Learn more about the Visa Zero Liability Policy

Instant cash advances

Simply pick a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at any Scotiabank branch to obtain cash advances at over 1 million ABMs around the world displaying the Visa/PLUS * symbols and at ABMs displaying the Interac ** symbol in Canada.

Get in touch with us 

Scotiabank scene+ visa card customer service .

For general information: 

In Canada & U.S. 1-888-999-2718

All other areas (collect) 416-288-4676

Scene+ rewards information and travel service

Visit ScenePlus.ca 

Scene+ Centre 1-866-586-2805

Scene+ Travel 1-800-419-8586 (24/7)

TeleScotia Telephone Banking

In Canada & U.S.  1-800-267-1234

Manage your card

Do more with your card, helpful resources.

Scotiabank Privacy Agreement Scene+ Program Terms & Conditions

Regular Earn Rate:  You are awarded one (1) Scene+ Point for every $1.00 in all purchases of goods and services charged to the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Account (the “Account”).

Accelerated Earn Rates:  You will earn accelerated earn rates on the following eligible purchases charged to the Account:

Grocery Stores

You are awarded two (2) Scene+ Points for every eligible $1.00 purchase made at Sobeys, Safeway, participating IGA, Foodland, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, Rachelle Béry, Les Marchés Tradition, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by Safeway and Voilà par IGA locations charged and posted to the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Account. This list of eligible grocers may be changed from time to time without notice. See full list of participating merchants across Canada at  scotiabank.com/participatingstores .

Home Hardware Stores

You are awarded two (2) Scene+ Points for every eligible $1.00 purchase made at eligible Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca charged and posted to the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Account. The list of eligible locations may be changed from time to time without notice.  See full list of eligible locations across Canada at  scotiabank.com/participatingstores .

You are awarded two (2) Scene+ Points for every $1.00 purchase made at Cineplex theaters, the Cineplex App and online at  cineplex.com  charged and posted to the Account.

Eligibility:  Only purchases earn Scene+ Points. Cash advances (including Balance Transfers, and Cash-Like Transactions), fees, interest or other charges, returns, refunds or other similar credits to your Account do not qualify for Scene+ Points. Scene+ Points will not be posted to an Account that is not in good standing when purchases are made or when a statement is issued, or if the Account is not open when a statement is issued. See your Scene+ Points terms at  www.scotiabank.com/sceneplus  for full program details.

All dollar amounts are in Canadian currency unless otherwise stated.

The savings of up to 25% applies to Avis and Budget base rates and is applicable only to the time and mileage charges of the rental. All taxes, fees (including but not limited Air Conditioning Excise Recovery Fee, Concession Recovery Fee, Vehicle License Recovery Fee, Energy Recovery Fee, Tire Management Fee, and Frequent Traveler Fee) and surcharges (including but not limited to Customer Facility Charge and Environmental Fee Recovery Charge) are extra. The Bank of Nova Scotia is not responsible for, and provides no representations, warranties or conditions regarding this offer or any Avis or Budget products or services, including Avis Preferred Plus membership and services and those obtained under this offer, which are governed solely by Avis’ terms and conditions. Avis Preferred Plus membership and services are provided by Avis.

A Primary Scene+ Scotiabank Cardmember or Co-Borrower can redeem Scene+ Points online through the Program Site for a credit that will be applied to the Program Card Account, or through such other method as may be permitted, or we may from time to time send a Primary Cardmember or Co-Borrower an offer to redeem Scene+ Points for a credit. These types of redemptions are called “Points for Credit”.

Your Program Card Account must be open at the time the credit is applied to the Program Card Account to receive any Points for Credit. The amount of your Points for Credit will be applied to your Program Card Account within 5 business days following a request to redeem Scene+ Points for a credit.

Once the request to redeem Points for Credit has been submitted, you cannot cancel the request and no changes can be made. The credit will be applied towards the balance of the Program Card Account not towards a particular transaction. Please note that even if you redeem for Points for Credit, you are still responsible for making the monthly minimum payment on your Program Card Account by your payment due date.

For additional information and instructions on how to redeem Points for Credit, including if any minimum redemption amounts are required, please visit the Program Site.

Scotia SelectPay  Conditions apply. Review  Terms and Conditions  for full details or visit  scotiabank.com/selectpay  to learn more.

Help Centre

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Where can I earn and redeem my Scene+ points?

Earn and redeem Scene+ points on what you want — from groceries, shopping, and dining, to movies, tech, and more. Check out our complete list of Scene+ partners .

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Will my Scene+ points expire under the new Scene+ program?

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Scotia Rewards and SCENE Merge to Become Scene+

For many years, Scotiabank has maintained close ties with Cineplex and the SCENE loyalty program by issuing SCENE co-branded credit and debit cards.  

As of December 13, 2021, the Big 5 bank and the cinema giant have taken their relationship to the next level by combining their respective points programs: Scotia Rewards and SCENE have merged to become Scene+.

Everything’s largely staying the same, and the features of Scotia Rewards program that we’ve come to appreciate will still be around.

However, there are a few minor changes to take note of, as well as a few mildly interesting new opportunities that arise.  

Scotia Rewards Has Become Scene+

The Scotia Rewards and SCENE loyalty programs have merged to become Scene+.

Scotia Rewards points have been phased out, and the Scotiabank travel credit cards will simply earn Scene+ points instead. Your existing Scotia Rewards points and SCENE points have all been converted to Scene+ at a 1:1 ratio:

• If you currently have a Scotiabank credit card but didn’t have a SCENE account, a new Scene+ account has been created for you automatically to house your old Scotia Rewards points.
• If you previously had a SCENE account, that’ll become your Scene+ account, and your Scotia Rewards points will have transferred over by now.

The migration process was seamless for our team member Josh, who has two active Scotiabank credit cards but has never had a SCENE account.

You can access your Scene+ account for the first time by following the links from Scotiabank’s online banking portal:

You’ll be prompted to create a Scene+ password, but your email address and profile information will be populated from Scotiabank.

Going forward, you’ll be able to earn Scene+ points in the exact same ways that you could earn both Scotia Rewards points or SCENE points: by making purchases with an eligible Scotiabank credit card or debit card, or by seeing movies at Cineplex.

Earning rates and welcome bonuses on Scotiabank’s credit cards haven’t changed at all, so you’ll still get a strong 5x return on groceries, dining, and entertainment with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card , for example. Also, card designs aren’t changing at this time.

Scene+ Is a Third-Party Loyalty Program

Here’s an important distinction to make: Scene+ isn’t Scotiabank’s in-house rewards currency like Scotia Rewards was before; instead, it’ll be treated like a third-party loyalty program for most intents and purposes.

The practical implications of this include:

• Instead of having a separate Scotia Rewards account for each Scotiabank credit card that you hold, all the points earned from different Scotiabank credit cards will be pooled into a single Scene+ account going forward.
• If you were to cancel a Scotiabank credit card, you previously had 60 days to redeem your Scotia Rewards points or they’d be forfeited. Now, these points will remain safe with Scene+ even if you cancel your card.
• The points you earn from your Scotiabank credit card may post to your Scene+ account along with your monthly statements, rather than instantly after each purchase (as is the case with most co-branded credit cards).

This arrangement also makes Scotiabank unique among Canada’s Big 5 banks as the only bank that doesn’t issue their own in-house rewards currency.

Scotiabank now has no counterpart to RBC Avion , TD Rewards, CIBC Aventura, or BMO Rewards. Technically speaking, they only have co-branded Scene+ credit cards, even though they function very much like an in-house rewards currency and are joint-owned by Scotiabank along with Cineplex.

Use Scene+ Points for Any Travel Purchase

Scotia Rewards points were considered one of the most powerful secondary points currencies that a Canadian traveller can collect. Fortunately, that isn’t changing with Scene+.

They’re of secondary importance because their redemption value is limited to 1 cent per point (cpp) against travel purchases. If you have 40,000 Scene+ points from signing up for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card , you can only redeem them for stuff that’s worth $400 – and not a cent more.

On the other hand, they’re powerful because it’s extremely easy to redeem them for 1cpp. Simply pay for travel using your Scotiabank credit card, and you can redeem your points as a statement credit against any travel purchase.

Unlike rival in-house points programs from TD, CIBC, and BMO, there’s no need to book through a dedicated portal or anything like that. This also allows you to redeem your Scene+ points at 1cpp towards stuff that can’t otherwise be booked on points in the traditional sense, such as car rentals, train tickets, cruises, or (despite some initial technical difficulties) public transit or rideshares.

To use Scene+ points this way, you need to make a minimum redemption of 5,000 points (against $50 in travel expenses). Also, unlike with Scotia Rewards before, it seems you can no longer apply points to partially cover a single transaction, which may be an inconvenience as you try to redeem against larger purchases.

Earn 3x Scene+ Points on Hotels and Car Rentals

With the sun setting on Scotia Rewards, you’ll now have access to the new Scene+ Travel portal powered by Expedia.

You’ll earn 3x Scene+ points on hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel, in addition to the credit card rewards you earn for making a travel purchase.

As long as the price you see with Scene+ Travel is the same as what you’d otherwise pay, it could make sense to book through Scene+ Travel for an extra 3x Scene+ points (equivalent to a 3% return) on top of the points you earn from your credit card.

Keep in mind that booking chain hotels through third-party travel agencies is rarely a good idea. You’re usually better off booking directly with a loyalty program like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors to earn points, rack up elite qualifying nights, and enjoy your elite benefits. 

Even if you’re staying with a non-chain property, you could book luxury hotels through third-party booking services like Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts , or cheaper properties using Hotels.com for an average 10% return . 

On the other hand, booking car rentals through Scene+ Travel could be a good idea for that extra 3% return. 

However, you’ll still want to weigh this against booking directly with the car rental agency for elite status benefits, or against booking portals that you could use – for example, Aeroplan Elite Status members are entitled to 3x Aeroplan points on car rental bookings made through the Aeroplan portal , so that would be more valuable than Scene+ Travel’s 3x Scene+ points.

Nevertheless, it’s a useful option to have around for Scotiabank credit card holders. 

Other Ways to Earn Scene+ Points

Scene+ has introduced Scene+ Offers, individual partnerships with specific merchants where you can earn bonus rewards.

I’d say these offers are more akin to RBC Offers or Neo and Brim ‘s rewards programs, rather than Amex Offers . Still, it’s worth checking to see if there’s any extra value you can get here.

You can use these offers as a Scene+ member even if you don’t have a Scotiabank credit card. Note that the 15x rates are relative to the base rate of 1 point per $3 spent that Scene+ members earn at partner merchants, so really it amounts to a 5% return.

However, if you do have a Scotiabank credit card, these offers are separate from credit card rewards, and the bonus points earned will stack with them. So with 5x rewards on dining from your credit card, plus a 5% return with a Scene+ Offer, you could get 10 points per dollar spent in total.

Here’s an example of the terms and conditions from a Scene+ Offer:

* 15X Scene+ points bonus offer is valid on purchases made by December 31, 2021 only, at participating Bier Markt restaurants. Valid for one time use only. Once you have loaded your offer, you will be directed to a confirmation page. Scene+ members only need to present their Scene+ membership card at the time of payment to earn 15 Scene+ points for every $3.00 spent on the purchase of food and beverages (excluding alcohol where required by law), less all taxes, gratuities and service or delivery charges, to a maximum of 5,000 bonus Scene+ points per transaction. Valid for dine-in and walk-in/take-out orders only. Members must ensure that they receive the confirmation page when loading the offer. In the event of a dispute, Scene+ is not responsible for issuing bonus points to any member that does not receive the confirmation page. Only one (1) bonus points offer per transaction. Cannot be combined with any other offers including but not limited to free appetizers, two can dine, discounts and specials/ feature menu items. Scene+ membership cards are limited to earning Scene+ points on a maximum of three (3) transactions per day across all participating Recipe restaurants. Some restrictions and limitations may apply. ®Trademarks of Recipe Unlimited Corporation, used under license.

Other Ways to Redeem Scene+ Points

In addition to statement credit for travel expenses, you can also redeem points at 1cpp via Scene+ Travel. You can pay with a mix of cash and points, making this a good way to use up a leftover balance that you’re unable to use for a statement credit.

Aside from that, there are a few other ways to redeem Scene+ points, but the value is always best if used for travel. Here are a few other ways you can use your rewards:

• Cineplex movie tickets
• Apple and Best Buy merchandise
• Statement credit against non-travel purchases (0.33 cents per point)

Occasionally you may find redemptions at 1 cent per point, but never more. Since it’s easy enough to use points for a refundable booking , I don’t see any advantage to using them for anything other than travel.

Scotia Rewards and SCENE have merged to become Scene+. You can find all the details on the Scotiabank website.

The changes are mostly cosmetic in nature, with both programs rolling into one but continuing to function as they did before. Like Scotia Rewards before them, Scene+ points will remain useful for offsetting the costs of travel outside of flights and hotels.

If I’m being honest, I do wish Scotiabank and the other Big 5 banks outside of RBC would take the leap of making their rewards programs even more interesting by adding a couple of airline or hotel transfer partners one of these days – but in the absence of greater competition among the Big 5 banks , I’m just relieved that Scotiabank hasn’t taken a step backwards as they tweak their strong program, albeit one of secondary importance.

• Earn  20,000 Scene+ points  upon spending $1,000 in the first three months
• Earn an  additional 20,000 Scene+ points  upon spending $7,500 in the first year
• Earn 6x Scene+ points at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and more
• Plus, earn 1x 5x Scene+ points on groceries, dining, and entertainment
• Also, earn 1x 3x Scene+ points on gas, transit, and select streaming services
• Redeem points for statement credit for any travel expense
• No foreign transaction fees
• Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
• Annual fee: $120

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Points Consulting

Scene+ points value

Since it costs 1,000 Scene+ points to redeem $10 in travel, one Scene+ point is worth 1 cent. Unfortunately, even though Scotia Rewards has multiple redemption options , the maximum value you can get for your points is 1 cent each. Here’s a quick look at all your redemption options with Scene+.

As you can see, the Scene+ points value is best used for travel purchases. Using your Scotia Rewards points for anything else devalues your points so it’s best to avoid that whenever you can. If you don’t like to travel, then you shouldn’t collect these points since your Scene+ points value will be quite low for other redemptions. You would be better off getting one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada .

How to redeem Scene+ for groceries

Scene+ is now the official loyalty program for Empire-owned grocery stores, which includes:

• Voilà by Sobeys

At participating stores, you can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for $10 off your groceries. This gives your points a value of 1CPP, which is tied for the highest redemption you’ll get.

How to redeem Scene+ for travel

Many people like the Scene+ travel portal since it’s easy to use and you can book vacation packages, flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises. You can either use points, cash, or a combination of both for your travel redemption which is convenient. It’s also worth noting that you’ll earn 3 X the Scene+ points on hotels and car rentals when booked through the Scene+ travel portal. That effectively gives you a 3% return which is not bad at all.

There are no blackout dates and you pay the market price for all redemptions so the prices you find on the travel portal should be about the same as any other travel website. Finding flights is easy but the hotel selection can be tricky since there is no map and not many filters. It may be easier to do your hotel search on a different site before using the Scene+ travel portal. Car rentals are limited to a few companies and you need to call for cruises.

You can also apply your points to any travel purchase made on any travel website with a Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+. This gives you more options since you’re not restricted to the choices available on the travel portal. Booking directly also allows you to earn points and elite qualifying activities for airlines, hotels and/or travel agency loyalty programs. For example, if you book a Marriott hotel via Marriot.com, your Marriott Bonvoy status would apply. However, if you booked the same hotel via the Scotiabank Travel portal, you would not be able to use your status benefits. 

To redeem using Apply Points to Travel, there is a minimum of 5,000 points ($50) per transaction, but you can use points at a ratio of 100 points = $1 for any expense, including taxes and fees. Your travel purchase must fall into one of the following categories:

• airlines & air carriers, airports, flying fields, and airport terminals
• lodgings, hotels, motels and resorts
• trailer parks and campgrounds
• passenger railways, bus lines
• steamship and cruise lines
• travel agencies and tour operators
• automobile rental agency
• motor home and recreational vehicle rentals
• include related taxes, booking fees, airport fees and travel insurance premiums

There is one downside to booking travel on your own and then applying points. You must have enough Scene+ points to cover the entire cost if you want to make a redemption. There is no partial redemption for Scene+ when using the book your own travel option.

How to redeem Scene+ at Cineplex

Now that SCENE and Scotia Rewards have merged, you can now use your points at Cineplex theatres and cineplex.com at 1 cent per point value. The specific redemptions are as follows:

• 1,250 Scene+ points = Free General Admission or 3D Movie Ticket
• 2,000 Scene+ points = Free Enhanced Movie Ticket
• 2,500 Scene+ points = Free VIP Cinemas Movie Ticket
• 500 Scene+ points = $5 Off Your Food & Drink at the Movies
• 100 Scene+ points = $1 Off at the Cineplex store
• 1,000 Scene+ points = $10 off at The Rec Room
• 500 Scene+ points = $5 Off at Playdium

When redeeming your Scene+ points for movie tickets at the theatre, only do it when paying full price since that’s what maximizes your value. If your local theatre has lower prices at certain times of the day or week, then you’re better off paying cash.

With food, cineplex.com, Rec Room, and Playdium redemptions, it doesn’t matter how you use your points since they all have the same value.

How to redeem Scene+ at restaurants

Scene+ also has a few restaurants where you can use your points. The value is exactly the same at 500 points for $5 off, which works out to a value of 1 cent per point. The following restaurants are where you can redeem your Scene+ points:

• Swiss Chalet
• East Side Marios
• Fionn MacCools
• D’Arcy McGee’s
• Paddy Flaherty’s

How to redeem Scene+ for gift cards

Similar to almost all other loyalty programs, Scotia Rewards allows you to use your points for gift cards. In most cases, it takes 13,400 Scene+ points to get a $100 gift card. This is a decent value compared to other programs, but it’s still 25% less compared to travel. Some of the more popular merchants include:

• Canadian Tire

How to redeem Scene+ for merchandise

While Scene+ has a lot of merchandise to select from, the average value for your points is .60 – .75 cents per point which is not very good. When shopping at Best Buy and Apple online, you can get slightly more value of your points, but it’s still not anywhere near the value of travel redemptions. Don’t waste your points on merchandise, but if you insist, some better items include:

• Pots and pans
• Coffee machines
• Small appliances

How to redeem Scene+ points for a statement credit

Finally, you can also redeem your points for a statement credit . How much credit you get depends on how many points you redeem.

• 3,000 Scene+ points = $20
• 4,500 Scene+ points = $30
• 7,500 Scene+ points = $50
• 11,000 Scene+ points = $75
• 14,500 Scene+ points = $100
• 21,500 Scene+ points = $150
• 43,000 Scene+ points = $300
• 71,500 Scene+ points = $500

As you can see, the more Scene+ you redeem, the better value you get for your points. At the lowest value, your Scotia Rewards are worth .67 cents per point and .80 cents per point on the high end. That said, a statement credit is still a lower value compared to using your points for travel. Using your Scene+ points for a statement credit would only be useful if you’re having cash flow issues.

Do Scene+ points expire?

What’s interesting about Scene+ is that it’s acting like a third-party loyalty program. This is an odd move by Scotiabank, but it actually benefits collectors. You see, since Scene+ points are no longer tied directly to a credit card, you would retain your points even if you cancel your card. In the past, you would have had 60 days to redeem your points from the time you cancel your card. That said, Scene+ points expire after 24 months of inactivity.

How Scene+ compares to others

Scene+ is one of the most flexible and easiest programs to use in Canada. Unlike American Express Membership Rewards , CIBC Rewards and RBC Rewards , Scene+ doesn’t have a fixed points flight program from which you can get more value than $0.01 per point.

Scene+ points have a maximum value $0.01 per point, but this is easily compensated by the fact that you can earn 2 points per dollar spent on several categories with the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite card and up to 5 points per dollar spent with the Scotiabank Gold American Express card.

To get the best value out of your Scene+ points, use the Apply Points to Travel option since it allows you to book your travel on your own directly and then you can claim your points later to offset your costs. ALternatively, book your hotels through the Scene+ travel portal to earn 3X the points.

How to earn Scene+ points

The easiest way to earn Scotiabank Rewards is from sign up bonuses and your everyday spending with a Scotiabank credit card that earns you Scene+ points. There are quite a few credit cards that allow you to earn Scene+ points, but two cards stand out and are worth applying for if you plan on collecting Scene+ points.

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card

• $150 annual fee
• 30,000 Scene+ points when spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
• 10,000 points when spending $40,000 in the first year
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Empire owned supermarkets
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Visa Airport Companion Program membership + 6 passes per year
• No foreign transaction fees

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card is one of the best travel credit cards in Canada since it comes with a generous sign up bonus and 6 free airport lounge passes. The earn rate is respectable, so it’s a good everyday card. What many people love about this card is how it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees , so it’s an ideal all-in-one card for travellers.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

• $120 annual fee
• 20,000 Scene+™ points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
• 20,000 Scene+ points when you spend $7,500 in the first year
• Earn 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Empire owned supermarkets
• Earn 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on grocery, dining, and entertainment
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, and daily transit purchases
• Earn 1 Scene+ point on all other purchases

The Scotiabank Gold Amex has quickly become one of the most popular credit cards in Canada due to the high earn rate. You’ll get 5 points per $1 spent on grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases; 3 points per $1 spent on gas, public transportation, rideshares and eligible streaming service purchases; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. For those who spend a lot on a regular basis, this card could really benefit them. The welcome bonus is typically worth at least $200.

Scotiabank Scene+®* Visa* Card

• No annual fee
• 5,000 Scene+ points when you spend $750 in the first 3 months
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Cineplex™ theatres, cineplex.com and Empire owned grocery stores
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Traditionally, the Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card is seen as one of the best student credit cards in Canada . However, now that you can earn Scene+ points with the card, it could easily qualify as one of the best no fee credit cards in Canada . Basically, this is an entry level card that allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for travel.

Scene+ Rakuten

Members can link their Scene+ and Rakuten.ca accounts for instant access to exclusive offers and start earning Scene+ points instead of Rakuten “cash back” from hundreds of online retailers including Gap, Sephora, Indigo, and Sport Chek. What’s interesting is that Scene+ members can earn up to 20% more “cash back” in points with exclusive offers delivered to their Scene+ inbox. This could be a highly lucrative way to earn Scene+ points. I’ve been using Rakuten for years, so this partnership is very exciting.

Final thoughts

Scene+ is a great travel rewards program that’s worth collecting. The points are easy to accumulate with some of the best Scotiabank credit cards which have high earn rates. The fact that you can use the points at full value to book your own travel is what makes the Scotia Rewards program stand out as one of the best in Canada.

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

32 Comments

Awesome article Barry. Gets right at answering my remaining questions about the workings of Scotia Rewards. I’ve now submitted my application, and been approved, for a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card. Looking forward to soon avoiding forex transaction fees and getting a predictable and decent value for the points we earn on our spending.

Thanks for the feedback. I had this post in mind but your comments gave me that extra push. Hopefully you signed for the Scotiabank Passport card today because they just increased the sign up offer to 30K points.

OK all looks good, but I am really interested in the rental car insurance coverage. Scotia’s fine print does not mention what happens if you need the car for more than 48 days. Other cards that offer car insurance coverage state that you can start a new 48 day cycle AFTER ONE FULL DAY. Do I need to call them to see why Scotia does not mention this in the fine print?

I don’t know the answer to your question. I advise calling Scotiabank’s insurance provider.

RE. Travel Ins. I believe If u are over 65 yrs. credit cards wont cover u, is this correct.

It depends on the card. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card gives you 10 days of coverage per trip if you’re over the age of 65. You need to read the certificate of insurance for each card to see what you get.

Thanks for all the details and break down! Just got my passport and know I know the best way to redeem the points. do you know if there a certain time limit from when you can redeem on purchases, say you purchased a flight in May, can you redeem in August?

Thanks in advance!

You can claim your points right away.

I have this card for 6 months now. Today when I was trying to redeem my 50,000 for a flight, no matter how I change my dates, and destinations, all I ever got was Sorry, we could not find any results. Please try expanding your search”. There’s no other way I knew how to “expand my search”. Very frustrating.

Note that with Scotia Rewards you can book any travel on your own and then claim points after. You don’t need to go through the Scotia portal.

What would be the most economical. I have around 70000 points accumulated, and I am looking to buy a new Apple Watch Series 5. Option 1: Redeem my Scotia Rewards for the watch Option 2: Redeem Scotia Rewards for Cash by applying to past travel expenses and the use the same Amex Card to buy the Apple Watch

Always redeem your points for travel as that gives you the best value. So option 2 is the best value.

Great read!!! Now, if I could only find a list of the places “eligible grocery stores and dinning purchases” for the 2 for 1 points!

Good luck, that’s like a closely guarded secret

[…] no foreign transaction fees. This is one of the best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada and you earn Scotia Rewards points which can be […]

[…] Ultimate Package and you MomentumPLUS Savings account, then the monthly fee will be waived1. Scotia Rewards is one of the best bank travel rewards programs in Canada so make sure you choose that over SCENE […]

Hi Barry, Great article and great website. I have 2 questions for you: 1. Have you compared the scotia debit card options for collecting scene points vs scotia reward points? Do you have a recommendation? There also seems to be an option to have a scotia iTrade debit card but not sure if that collects any points. 2. I believe that when you use the scotia passport visa or american express Gold above for foreign currency transactions that although you don’t pay an exchange fee, your point collection is only at 1% back even if it is on the categories that are supposed to have 5Xthe points like restaurants. Is that your experience too? Thanks, John

I haven’t done a deep dive into Scotia Debit cards, but I know Scotia Rewards transfers to SCENE at a fair value. Not sure what the earn ratios are for their debit cards.

As for foreign purchases on their credit cards, it does seem to be common now for most credit cards to offer only the base earn rate regardless of what category they fall under.

Hi! Thanks for all the useful information! I’d add two points related to applying the points to past travel expenses: – you have up to one year, so there’s plenty of time to accumulate enough points – Uber trips and hotel restaurants are showing up in the list of elligible expenses, which is convenient if you don’t have that many points (since you need enough points to cover the full expense)

Great article. I have one complaint though, I consistently find better pricing for hotels on other sites and the scotia rewards travel service does not honour those rates. It also does not let you benefit from the discounts offered by BC hotels right now to vacation locally. They want to charge $50 to cancel a booking I did minutes before I saw the better rates (was quite a bit cheaper even with free parking and $50 dinning credit) and contacted them to ask if they could match that price… Not impressed and not inclined to rely on scotia rewards to book travel!

Hi, I’d like to share with you my experience in redeeming Scotia Rewards. I have a Scotia Passport Infinite Visa Card and with 77K points I filed a request to redeem 2 units of $250 Visa Prepaid card and 1 $50 dollar Winners gift card. The Order request was done June 28,2020 and in 2 days the Winners gift card was sent. But until this writing, the Visa prepaid has not been processed. I have followed up numerous times and the rewards customer service will promise you that a ticket to this request was done. It is almost 2 months of wait…. Just sharing my experience in redeeming Scotia Rewards.

Hi Mary, thanks for sharing. You would think that gift card redemptions would be automated so a delay makes no sense.

What would cause an adjustment in reward points? New points earned 10,230 and then adjustment of -6,820. Did not purchase anything and then return.

You’d have to contact Scotiabank to find out.

Very helpful, especially since certain details seem to be lacking on the Scotia website. In particular, I can’t find any information about the number of points required to redeem a specific dollar amount of travel. I know you have provided the numbers but it would be reassuring to be able to find it online. Can you point me in the right direction?

As for earning points, I found this which surprised me….

Earning Scotia Rewards Points 1. General You are awarded one (1) Scotia Rewards point (or “point”) for every $5.00 in purchases of goods and services made with a Program Card from a Program Card Account, provided that each such purchase is for a minimum of $2.50.†

https://scotiarewards.scotiabank.com/en-CA/Help/TermsAndConditions

“The minimum point redemption is 5,000 points (5,000 points is equivalent to $50 in travel savings) each time a redemption towards a travel purchase is made through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service.”

As for the earning Scotia Rewards terms you quoted, that specifically refers to the Passport ScotiaCard which is a debit card.

https://scotiarewards.scotiabank.com/en-CA/Help/TermsAndConditions https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/personal/ways-to-bank/debit-credit-card-purchases/visa-debit.html

That card is different from the Scotiabank Passport Visas that they offer.

Thanks for getting me on the right track! Must admit all the points and the ins and outs of each card make my head spin. Really appreciate your work, the websites are not the easiest to navigate.

Barry, My Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card has 25,000 points ( equivalent to $250). I hope it’s still the same dollar value under the new Scene+ program. If I used the above credit card to buy an air ticket at $1,000 through Air Canada website, would I get a credit of $250 after Scene+ credit redemption? In other words, I only require to pay $750 (1000 – 250) to my credit card statement. Thanks!

Scene+ points have the same value as Scotia rewards so you would indeed get $250 off.

Hi there, great article, very helpful. One thing I am unclear on. You said this.. “There is one downside to booking travel on your own and then applying points. You must have enough Scene+ points to cover the entire cost if you want to make a redemption. There is no partial redemption for Scene+ when using the book your own travel option.”

But then just above, Amy’s comment, you advised her that she could use 25,000 points to get $250 off a $1000 flight that she booked on her own. Basically a partial redemption. Can you do this now?

You have to call in to get the partial redemption.

Hi, on the old Scotia card I could transfer from one visa card to another to put the points all in one place. I don’t see that anywhere. Also, on the account it only shows my scene points and my husband’s are seperate scene points. How do we get them together? It shows a full amount on the visa bills.

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Scotiabank’s Scene+ Rewards: How to Earn and Redeem Scene+ Points

If you’re mostly familiar with the Scene+ rewards program because of its association with movie theatre chain Cineplex Odeon, you might wonder if signing up is worth it.

But Scene+ points can be redeemed for a lot more than a night at the movies. Let’s dive in and find out how to get the most out of being a Scene+ member.

How Scene+ works

Scene+ was originally launched in 2007 as Scene, Cineplex Odeon’s rewards program. At the time, Scene points could only be earned on Cineplex purchases and redeemed for free movies and discounts at the concession stand. That changed in 2021, when Scene and Scotiabank’s Scotia Rewards programs merged and became Scene+. Since then, Scotiabank’s rewards credit cards have been co-branded with Scene+.

Scene+ operates similarly to other popular rewards programs, like Air Canada’s Aeroplan and American Express’s Membership Rewards . Program members can use a co-branded credit card or debit card to earn points, present their membership card when making purchases at Scene+ retail partners or do both and really ramp up their points totals. Scene+ points can be redeemed for a variety of merchandise and experiences. 

Where can you earn and redeem Scene+ points?

You can earn Scene+ points at a variety of different businesses, including grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants. You can also earn points online through travel or merchandise purchases. 

When redeeming Scene+ points, each point is worth approximately one cent. 

Grocery stores, pharmacies and liquor stores that offer Scene+ points

• Sobeys, Voila by Sobeys, Sobeys Pharmacy and Sobeys Liquor.
• Saveway, Pharmacy at Safeway and Safeway Liquor.
• FreshCo and FreshCo Pharmacy.
• Thrifty Foods, Thrifty Foods Pharmacy and Thrifty Foods Liquor.
• IGA and Voila by IGA.
• Lawtons Drugs.
• Rachelle Bery.
• Les Marches Tradition.

The points earned at these businesses will vary depending on digital and in-store offers. You can typically redeem 1000 Scene+ points for $10 off of purchases at participating grocery stores.

Restaurants that offer Scene+ points

You can earn one Scene+ point for every $3 spent on dine-in or take-out purchases at:

• Swiss Chalet.
• East Side Marios.
• Montanas BBQ and Bar.
• Bier Markt.
• Kelseys Original Roadhouse.

If you’d like to use those points while dining, you can redeem 500 Scene+ points for $5 in savings at participating restaurants. At some locations, you may even be able to put your points toward alcohol purchases.

Entertainment spaces that offer Scene+ points

Scene+ points can be earned at The Rec Room and Playdium locations, as well as at Cineplex Odeon theatres and online at the Cineplex store. 

You’ll earn one point for every dollar spent at The Rec Room and Playdium, and five points for every dollar spent on movie and entertainment purchases at Cineplex theatres, concession stands (excluding alcohol) and the Cineplex store.

At The Rec Room and Playdium, you can redeem 500 points for $5 that can be put toward games, food and fun. At Cineplex, redeeming 100 points will get you $1 off movie tickets or purchases made through the Cineplex store. You can also redeem 500 points for $5 off food and drinks at the movies.

Other ways to earn and redeem Scene+ points

• Travel purchases. Earn three points for every dollar spent on hotel and car rentals made through Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia. Redeem 100 points for $1 off vacation bookings.
• Online shopping. Earn points when shopping from hundreds of retailers participating in Scene+ Rakuten. Points can be redeemed for gift cards at over 60 retailers and brands, or for anything you like at the Scene+ Apple or Scene+ Best Buy online stores.
• Other Scotiabank products. Scotiabank offers two Visa debit cards that earn Scene+ points. Several bank accounts earn points, too, including the Ultimate Package, Preferred Package, Student Banking Advantage Plan and the Getting There Savings Program for Youth. 

Best Scotiabank Credit Cards

Compare Scotiabank credit card side-by-side and find out the best card that will meet your need with special perks and benefits.

Scotiabank credit cards that earn Scene+ points

There are currently six Scotiabank credit cards that earn Scene+ points, including:

• The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.
• The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
• The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card.
• The Scotiabank American Express Card.
• The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card.
• The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students.

You don’t need a Scotiabank credit card to earn Scene+ points, but they are an effective way of juicing your points total and claiming rewards more quickly. Let’s see how many points you can earn by being a Scene+ member and shopping with a Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points. 

Our example purchase will be a fairly typical shopping trip: groceries at a participating Scene+ retailer, lunch at a participating restaurant and gas for the week. We’ll assume a $100 spend each on groceries and gas and $60 on lunch for a total of $260.

• Your Scene+ membership entitles you to 20 points on lunch and nothing on gas. The actual number of points you earn at the grocery store will depend on what you buy and what offers are available, but we’ll assume one point per dollar spent, which gives you another 100 points. Your total points earned as a Scene+ member for this excursion is 120.
• Paying with a Scotiabank credit card, like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 600 Scene+ points on your grocery purchase, 300 points on lunch and another 300 points on gas. Your total points earned with this Scene+ credit card is 1,200.

Your Scene+ points for the day total 1,320 — 1,200 more than you would earn just by being a Scene+ member.

Making Scene+ work for you

Managing your Scene+ rewards is relatively easy. 

• Register at sceneplus.ca and receive a Scene+ card number. Your Scene+ card number can be added to digital wallets for easy access when shopping. 
• Download the Scene+ app from either Apple’s App Store or Google Play. The app isn’t required, but it will help you keep track of your Scene+ points balance and claim exclusive offers.
• To earn and redeem Scene+ points through Rakuten purchases, you’ll have to link an existing Rakuten account to your Scene+ account. You can do that by visiting rakuten.ca/scene .
• Cineplex now charges an extra $1.50 booking fee when buying movie tickets online or through the Cineplex app, so you may want to consider buying your tickets in person to avoid having your Scene+ rewards eaten up.
• Remember to redeem your points. They’re unlikely to expire, but they can’t be transferred to another Scene+ member.
• You can redeem your Scene+ points in-person when making purchases at participating retailers or through the Scene+ app by clicking “Rewards” and choosing how you’d like to put your points to work.

Frequently asked questions about Scene+ points

No, your points won’t expire so long as you have a Scotiabank product that earns Scene+ points and that product remains open. If you close a Scotiabank product that earns points, you’ll have access to your Scene+ points for as long as your Scene+ account is active. A Scene+ account will remain open so long as it isn’t inactive for 24 consecutive months.

You can redeem 100 Scene+ points to knock $1 off the price of a movie Cineplex is showing. If a regular priced movie in your city costs $12, for example, you’ll need to cash in 1200 Scene+ points to pay for one ticket.

About the Author

Clay Jarvis is NerdWallet’s mortgage and real estate expert in Canada. Thus far, his entire professional writing career has revolved around real estate. Prior to joining NerdWallet, he was the…

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