Journie Rewards is one of the biggest rewards programs in Canada when it comes to gas, competing with the likes of Shell, Esso, Petro-Canada, and the Mobil-linked PC Optimum Program. For every 300 points you earn at the pump or in-store, you can select up to $16+ worth of free merchandise, discounts, and even Aeroplan points.
Key Takeaways
- Journie Rewards is the official loyalty rewards program of 5 gas chains, including Chevron, Pioneer, and Ultramar.
- 300 Journie points are worth $7 – $16 CAD of free merchandise, in-store discounts, and fuel discounts.
- You can also redeem Journie points for bonus Aeroplan points.
- The best gas credit card is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite.
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What is Journie Rewards?
Journie Rewards is the loyalty program for 5 gas station and convenience store chains. Sign up for free at a participating gas station, on the Journie Rewards website, or on the Journie App for Android or iOS to start collecting points at locations across the country.
| Brand | Products | Locations* | Provinces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron | * Car washes * Gas | 40+ | Alberta, British Columbia |
| Fas Gas | * Car washes * Convenience stores * Gas * Propane refills | 40+ | Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Yukon |
| ON the RUN | * Automotive and travel supplies * Coffee * Drinks * Ready-made food * Snacks | 1,000+ | Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Quebec |
| Pioneer | * Car washes * Convenience stores * Gas | 140+ | Manitoba, Ontario |
| Ultramar | * Car washes * Convenience stores * Propane refills * Gas | Nearly 800 | Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec |
While none of these brands offer nationwide coverage, taken together, they provide a coast-to-coast network of pumps and convenience stores. The only place you might not get rewarded is Northern Ontario and the northern territories.
Pro Tip: If you’re taking a trip, the "Map" section in the Journie App can show you where to collect points on the way.
Overview
Currency: Journie Rewards Points
Redemption options: Free merchandise, carbon offset credit, fuel discount, in-store discount
Pros:
- 1,200+ participating service stations
- 4 CIBC credit cards with Journie sign-up bonuses and fuel discounts
- 4 ways to earn points
- 4 ways to redeem points
- 300 points are worth up to $16 CAD
- Free membership
- Members-only deals and discounts
Cons:
- 300 points are worth as little as $7 CAD
- Rewards expire 60 days after your account reaches 300 points
- Journie App required
- Limited Reward options
- Low-value redemption options for Aeroplan points
- Not all convenience stores award points
What are Journie Rewards points worth?
Journie Rewards uses a unique, cyclical rewards system. Think of it as a racecar going around and around a track – whenever your account reaches 300 points, you complete a lap, and your points reset to 0.
Instead of redeeming points for rewards, Journie members receive one Reward of their choice at 3 different milestones. The key to maximizing your points is to pick the most valuable Reward at every milestone:
| Reward level | First level | Second level | Third level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone | 75 points | 150 points | 300 points |
| Options (most to least valuable)* | * 1 free small candy, bottled water, or mini pop * $2 in-store discount * 20 Aeroplan points | * 1 free candy, drink, or food item * 1 free carbon offset credit * 3 cents off per litre of fuel (up to 100L) * 30 Aeroplan points | * 7 cents off per litre of fuel (up to 100L) * 300 Aeroplan points * $5 in-store discount * $5 M&M discount |
| Best option | Free Cadbury chocolate bar ($3.49 value) | Free Maynard’s candy ($5.59 value) | 7 cents off per litre (up to 100L) ($7 value) |
| Worst option | 20 Aeroplan points ($0.40 value) | 30 Aeroplan points ($0.60 value) | $5 in-store discount ($5 value) |
Whenever you meet a milestone, the Journie App will give you a random selection of 3 Rewards. Picking the most valuable Reward at every milestone could give you over $16 of value per cycle – or as little as $7.
To make the most of your Journie, we recommend choosing the most valuable piece of free merchandise offered to you at the first and second levels. Use the Journie App to set a gas discount as your preferred third-level reward and avoid picking Aeroplan points whenever possible.
As a second-level reward, Journie offers one carbon offset credit to cover the emissions from 45L of gas. The International Energy Agency estimates the average Canadian car consumes 8.6L/100 km, giving us a carbon footprint of 0.09 metric tonnes; an equivalent Fairtrade carbon offset credit is worth about $3.39 CAD.
How to earn Journie points
Journie Rewards is a fairly straightforward program wherein every dollar you spend with a partner contributes to your points balance. Using the Journie App is a must – it’s the only way to collect points at the pump and in store.
To maximize your points, follow these 4 steps:
- Download the Journie App
- Shop at Journie stores
- Stop at Journie gas stations
- Use a CIBC credit card
You’ll also have a few opportunities to collect bonus points, which we explain below.
1. Download the Journie App
The Journie App is available to both Android and iOS users, and it’s a requirement to use the program. Once you download it and sign up (or log in), you’ll have at least 4 opportunities to collect bonus points:
- Create a Journie account during a promotional period for 75 bonus points
- Link your Aeroplan account for 75 bonus points
- Link your CIBC account for 75 bonus points
- Link your M&M Food Market account for 75 bonus points
- Sign up for emails on deals and discounts for 75 bonus points
You can earn more points by checking out the "Deals" tab in the Journie App. Purchasing select products, getting a car wash, or shopping with certain partners will net you extra points.
Pro Tip: Click the round logo in the top right corner of the Journie App homepage to view your profile. Click "Refer a friend" to get a code. If a friend signs on using your code, they’ll receive a 2-cent-per-litre gas discount, while you get a bonus 3 cents off per litre.
2. Shop at Journie stores
To collect points on in-store purchases, scan your membership card or provide your phone number at checkout. Every purchase at a participating store awards 2 points per $1 spent.
Said purchases may include food, drink, merchandise, and services such as car washes. You can even earn 1 point per $1 spent at M&M Food Markets after linking your M&M and Journie accounts.
While you’re shopping, keep the following restrictions in mind:
- Not every convenience store participates in the Journie program. To find a participating store, use the "Map" tab in the Journie App.
- You can’t earn more than 200 points on a single transaction.
- You can’t earn points on alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, lottery tickets, and phone cards. Exclusions vary by province.
- You can’t earn points on purchases through food delivery services.
Don’t forget: convenience store goods often come with a price markup. Unless your lifestyle keeps you on the road or you need a daily car wash pass, you’re unlikely to earn many Journie points from in-store purchases.
3. Stop at Journie gas stations
To collect points at the pump, you must scan your membership card or enter your phone number before payment. For every litre of diesel or gasoline (any grade) you buy, you’ll earn 1 point.
The good news is that your point earnings aren’t affected by any gas discounts you choose to apply. The bad news is that you can only earn up to 150 points per fuel transaction.
If you drive an electric vehicle (EV), you can’t yet earn Journie points on EV charging. That said, you can get $5 off your first purchase – and another $5 discount for every 100 kWh charged – by using the Journie App to pay at ON the RUN EV Fast Charge stations.
There are currently about 50 charging stations available in Canada, located primarily in British Columbia and Alberta. Another 50 locations are planning to open in Ontario and Quebec.
Unfortunately, you can’t claim points on a retroactive fuel purchase if you forget to present your Journie membership card or phone number before paying.
4. Use a CIBC credit card
If you link an existing CIBC credit card or debit card to your Journie account, you’ll get 75 bonus Journie points and 3 cents off per litre whenever you use it to pay for fuel. The discount applies to a maximum of 100L per transaction and is available to all CIBC personal banking customers.
Simplii Financial and select business credit card customers aren’t eligible for the 3-cent Journie fuel discount.
If you aren’t yet a CIBC customer, you can qualify for a 900-point bonus, 2 free car washes, and 10 cents off per litre (for your first 250L) by applying for one of 4 credit cards:
| Credit card | Welcome bonus | Rewards | Annual fee | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card | $45,000 | * 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre * 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstores * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | $139 | Apply |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card | $10 | * 4%† cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and groceries * 2%† cash back on eligible restaurants, transportation, and recurring bills/payments * 1%† cash back on all other purchases | $120 | Apply |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | $40,000 | * 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, EV charging, groceries, and Air Canada * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | $139 | Apply |
| CIBC Select Visa Card | N/A | $29 | Apply |
CIBC values the Journie sign-up bonus at $70 CAD. It’s the same for every card, so let’s talk perks and rewards.
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card is the best gas credit card of the bunch, earning 4% cash back on every purchase of fuel. That’s $4 in rewards for every $100 spent at a gas station.
Rewards earned in CAD / money spent in CAD x 100 = rate of return in %
×1 Award winner Join and earn over $400 in value including a first-year annual fee rebate.†
1x Award winner Join and earn over $400 in value including a first-year annual fee rebate.†
However, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card includes much more credit card insurance, a larger welcome bonus, and free airport lounge access for only a slightly higher annual fee. It earns 1.5 CIBC Aventura points per $1 spent on gas for a maximum return of 3.4% – a minor sacrifice if you prefer perks and benefits to cash back rewards.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on fuel and provides extra perks whenever you fly Air Canada, including Aeroplan Preferred Pricing. Lastly, there’s the CIBC Select Visa, which doesn’t earn rewards, but carries the lowest annual fee of all 4 cards.
If you prefer to use Petro-Canada, you can get 3 cents off per litre and 20% more Petro-Points with select RBC credit cards.
How to redeem Journie points
Whenever you reach a 75, 150, or 300-point milestone, you have 60 days to choose and claim a Reward. Wait out the clock and your Reward(s) will expire, regardless of whether you’ve made a selection or not.
To choose a Reward, launch the Journie App and check out the homepage, which displays how many points you’ve earned and how far you have to go in your current cycle. The square labeled "300pts reward" shows which Third-Level Reward you’ve chosen to redeem automatically, if any.
The banner labelled "Use Your Rewards" displays every Reward you’ve chosen (or have yet to choose), plus a countdown timer in days. Tap on a Reward to choose it; after a short animation plays, you’ll be able to choose between 3 options by swiping left or right. Read the Terms and Conditions, then tap the blue button to complete the process.
Rewards are automatically added to the "Wallet" located in the middle of the bottom edge of the screen. Scan your membership card at the checkout or the pump as usual, and the Rewards listed below your card will be automatically redeemed.
You can ask the Journie App to select the same third-level rewards whenever you reach 300 points by tapping the round icon in the top right corner of the homepage. Click "300pts Reward" to choose your preferred Reward.
Important note: Linking your Aeroplan and Journie accounts sets your automatic Third-Level Reward to 300 Aeroplan points for as long as your accounts are linked. Unlink your accounts if you prefer to receive a 7-cent gas discount (more details in the next section).
How to redeem Aeroplan points at gas stations
If you linked your accounts, you may have the opportunity to redeem Aeroplan points for Journie rewards – but we don’t recommend it. The most value you can get is 1.18 cents per point (CPP) by redeeming 1,100 Aeroplan points for a free car wash.
Value of reward in CAD / cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)
Given the fact Aeroplan points are worth an average of 2 CPP when redeemed on flights, there’s no reason to spend your hard-earned rewards at the pump.
| Reward | Cost | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 7 cents off per litre of fuel (up to 50L) | 300 points | 1.17 CPP |
| $5 in-store discount | 500 points | 1 CPP |
| $5 M&M voucher | 600 points | 0.83 CPP |
| Absolutely Everything carwash | 1,100 points | 1.18 CPP |
We’d also like to draw your attention to the fact the 7-cent fuel discount available to Aeroplan members applies to 50L instead of 100L. In other words, Aeroplan members receive half the value of the regular 7-cent discount offered by the Journie app.
As long as your Aeroplan and Journie accounts are linked, the regular discount will be unavailable. To get it back, you must unlink your accounts in the settings page of the Journie App. Unlinked accounts can only be re-linked after 60 days.
FAQ
What gas stations use Journie?
Chevron, Fas Gas Plus, Pioneer, and Ultramar gas stations participate in the Journie Rewards program in Canada.
How do I use my Journie card at the gas pump?
To collect Journie points on gas purchases, enter your 10-digit phone number or swipe your membership card at the pump before payment. If your account is linked, you can also choose to enter your 10-digit Aeroplan membership number at the pump.
What can you do with Journie points?
Members receive one reward of their choice when their account reaches 75, 150, and 300 Journie points, making a total of 3 rewards per cycle. Rewards are randomized but may include free merchandise, an in-store discount, a gas discount, a carbon offset credit, or Aeroplan points (if your account is linked).
How do you earn Aeroplan points with Journie?
Tap 'Learn More' under the 'Partner Hub' section of the Journie App homepage to link your Journie account to various partners. Linking your Aeroplan account will give you the option to receive Aeroplan points instead of the usual Journie rewards.
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