October 16, 2026
Normally, when you hear about points and miles, it’s for first class seats or luxury resorts. But that isn’t for everyone, and I get that. This is why I love points and miles; you can use them however they fit your lifestyle. Now, back to hockey and how to attend an Edmonton Oilers game for nearly free. I will say that this may take some pre-planning, as Oilers games are not as cheap as those of some other teams. We’re going to cover flights, hotels, and game day tickets. While Edmonton has tons of hotels, I’m going to recommend ones that are close to Rogers Place.
Flights/Driving
If you’re flying from within Canada, I’m going to assume you’re flying with WestJet or Air Canada because, unlike the U.S., we don’t have a lot of options. If you’re flying with Air Canada, you’ll want to book directly through the Air Canada website using points. Aeroplan points can be earned through co-branded TD, CIBC, and American Express credit cards, or you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. If you need more details on flying with Air Canada using points, you can find them in the following blog post: Aeroplan Credit Cards
WestJet is the second major carrier, and there are a few ways you can fly with WestJet using points, so we’re going to break them all down:
- Use your WestJet companion voucher plus WestJet points if you have the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.
- Book a WestJet Member Exclusive fare. You’ll pay for the fare with points and cover the taxes and fees in cash. You can use your WestJet points, and if you don’t have enough, you can transfer RBC Avion points to WestJet.
- Book through the Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule. This option uses a fixed number of points, plus taxes and fees, and can offer great value for your Avion points.
- Book a WestJet-operated flight through KLM/Air France. This option is more complex because it involves transferring American Express points to KLM/Air France and then booking a WestJet operated flight, but it can offer really good value.
If you’re driving, you could redeem cash back from a credit card. A good option is the CIBC Dividend card, or you could use your Scene+ points. If you fill up at Shell, you can pay for gas with Scene+ points: 1,000 points equals $10, with a maximum redemption of $100. If you want to save your points and pay cash, use this as a points earning opportunity instead. Some great cards to use when filling up your car are:
- American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card – Earns 4% cash back on gas
- RBC ION+ Visa – Earns 3X points on gas
- American Express Cobalt Card – Earns 2X points on gas
Hotels
There are many different credit card travel portals and other ways to book hotels. If you have the American Express Platinum or Gold Card, this could be an opportunity to use your annual travel credit. The hotels I’ve selected are close to Rogers Place and easy to book with points. Just note that even though I’m discussing one way to book each hotel with points, you can always check your credit card’s travel portal and book through it instead.
- JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – This is my number one choice because it’s directly connected to Rogers Place, making it the most convenient hotel. It offers modern luxury and is a beautiful place to stay. Rates range from 42,000 to 58,000 points.
- Delta Hotels Edmonton Centre Suites – It’s only a few blocks from Rogers Place and is a great choice. You’ll be close to downtown dining and can easily walk to the game, all for fewer points than the JW Marriott. Rates range from 21,000 to 32,000 points.
- Sandman Signature Edmonton Downtown Hotel – You can book this hotel through Aeroplan HotelSavers. It’s very close to the JW Marriott and Delta Hotels Edmonton Centre Suites, and it’s within walking distance of Rogers Place. This Category 5 hotel ranges from 35,000 to 50,000 points.
Maybe you don’t have points yet, but you really want to stay at one of the Marriott hotels. The easiest way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is through the welcome bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. Another option is to earn American Express Membership Rewards points and transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy. If you want to learn more about Marriott Bonvoy, here is a guide to earning points: Marriott Bonvoy Points
Aeroplan HotelSavers is another sweet spot in the points and miles world. It offers tiered redemption rates for a variety of hotels. Aeroplan points can be earned through co-branded credit cards from TD, CIBC, and American Express, or you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan. If you would like more information on Aeroplan HotelSavers, you can find it here: Aeroplan HotelSavers
Oilers Game
Now, let’s talk about buying tickets, which unfortunately aren’t cheap. If you want to buy game tickets, the simplest option is to use cash back from a credit card. Some options include the CIBC Dividend Card and the American Express SimplyCash Card.
If you want to book with points, you can use RBC Avion Rewards because it partners with Ticketmaster. Log in to Ticketmaster and connect your RBC Avion credit card. When you check out, there should be an option to “pay with points.” This may not be the best use of your Avion points, but if you really want to attend a game and using your points makes it possible, then go for it!
Happy Travels!
– Alexis