Points Pulse for Nov. 3, 2025: Fraud is up, perks are down, Air Canada pours another round
Introducing Points Pulse, NerdWallet Canada’s new roundup of the latest in travel rewards and credit cards. Think of it as your quick-hit digest of points news worth knowing. We’ll keep tabs on shifting perks, fresh promos and loyalty news so you can stay in the know and make the most of your points.
In this edition of NerdWallet Canada’s Points Pulse series:
Fewer lounge visits, same fee: Amex reins in airport lounge access
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Amex Platinum cardholders will no longer receive unlimited complimentary access to Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges. Instead, access will be limited to six free visits per lounge chain per year — unless cardholders splash $20,000 or more annually, which unlocks unlimited access for the remainder of that year and the next.
Free and unlimited access to Centurion Lounges, Executive Lounges by Swissport, and lounges in the Global Lounge Collection remains intact — for now.
Nerdy takeaway: At $799, the Amex Platinum is the priciest credit card in Canada. For now, its lux perks help justify the astronomical fee. But once these lounge limits roll out, comparable Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounge access will be available on cards that cost roughly half as much. For example, the Scotiabank Platinum costs $399 annually and includes 10 airport lounge passes a year.
Air Canada makes a bid to please economy passengers with free beer and wine
In a shift from its long-standing pay-per-drink policy, Air Canada announced complimentary alcoholic beverages for all economy flights in October 2025. Don’t expect fancy cocktails or morning mimosas, though. Free drinks are limited to beer and wine alongside the typically-free standards: coffee, tea, juice and pop.
Just don’t mistake this gesture for generosity. Air Canada is under increasing pressure to stay competitive with Porter, which has offered free economy-class beer and wine for years. But more immediately pressing for Air Canada’s brand is rebuilding passenger goodwill after its recent labour strike stranded thousands of Canadians abroad.
Nerdy takeaway: This is a cute move, but it won’t be particularly cost-saving for passengers. It’s all too easy to be nickel-and-dimed on AC flights, especially once you account for the cost of checked bags, seat selection and any extra in-flight food. One way or another, you’ll pay for those ‘free’ drinks — like spending $10 for veggies and dip, for example.
As credit card fraud skyrockets across Canada, Ottawa steps in
Credit card fraud in Canada rose to 0.75% in Q2 2025, up from 0.44% a year earlier, according to Equifax’s Market Pulse Fraud Trends and Insights Report. The jump was largely fuelled by third-party identity fraud. In most cases, Canadians’ identities are being used to open fake accounts.
The good news is that the federal government is paying attention. The 2025 budget announced plans to create a National Anti-Fraud Strategy and Financial Crimes Agency to investigate fraud and combat financial scams. The plan includes tougher rules for financial institutions, enhanced data-sharing requirements, and stricter oversight — a coordinated effort to protect Canadians from increasingly prevalent financial scams that have already cost the country millions.
Nerdy takeaway: Financial scams have become more challenging to identify, especially amid the rising prevalence of AI. Protect yourself and your loved ones by regularly checking your credit report, turning on purchase alerts, and using secure payment methods with two-factor authentication when shopping online.
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Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell