[TRAIN] Elite Status with VIA Preference
If you travel with VIA Rail, you can sign up for free with VIA Preference to earn loyalty points. We have written extensively about the VIA Rail program. Today, we will discuss the perks of elite status with the VIA Preference program.
The qualifying period for each status runs from April 1 through March 31 of each year. You will enjoy the perks of the new status between May 1 and April 30 (i.e. 31 days after the qualifying period ends on March 31).
Below are the highlights of the elite statuses:
Préférence
- Basic membership
- When you spend between $0 and $999 (before taxes)
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on VIA Rail (before taxes)
Privilège
- Achieved when you spend between $1,000 and $1,999 (before taxes)
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on VIA Rail (before taxes)
- Selection 2 exclusive coupons
- Access to a priority ticket line in major stations
- Personalized luggage tag
Premier
- Achieved when you spend $2,000 or more (before taxes) and complete at least 8 segments (a one-way trip counts as a segment and if you change, it counts as a new segment)
- Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on VIA Rail (before taxes)
- Selection 4 exclusive coupons
- Access to a priority ticket line in major stations
- Personalized luggage tag
- Unrestricted reward travel (except December 23 and 24)
- Priority boarding in Montréal, Toronto and Quebec City, Business or Economy class
- Access to Business lounges when travelling in Business or Economy Plus
- Priority meal selection on board when travelling in Business class
- Priority access to the VIA Rail Service Centre
I really like the VIA Preference elite status perks and I had the opportunity to take advantage of a few perks when I was a Privilège member. VIA Rail is one of my favourite ways to travel and I only hope that they will continue to improve their product and service.