Scene+ Points Guide: Best Ways to Earn and Redeem for Travel, Groceries, Movies, and More

What are Scene+ points?

Scene+ is one of Canada's largest loyalty programs, born from a partnership between Scotiabank, Cineplex, and Empire Company (the parent of Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, and more). It's a points currency you can earn and redeem across groceries, movies, travel, dining, entertainment, home improvement, and online shopping, making it one of the most versatile everyday programs in the country.

Unlike airline-specific programs such as Aeroplan, Scene+ points aren't tied to one redemption type. You can use them for a $10 discount on groceries at Sobeys, a free movie at Cineplex, a statement credit on your Scotiabank card, or an entire vacation booked through Scene+ Travel powered by Expedia. That flexibility is what makes them so appealing, but it also means some redemption methods are significantly better than others.

This guide focuses on how to get the most value from your Scene+ points, with a particular emphasis on travel redemptions, since that's where the math often works best.

How much are Scene+ points worth?

Scene+ points have a consistent baseline value of 1.0 cents per point (CPP) across most redemption methods, but your actual value can vary depending on how you redeem:

A quick rule of thumb:

• Scene+ points are worth about 1.0 cent each across nearly every redemption method.
• Unlike some loyalty programs, there's no "sweet spot" that lets you extract 2+ CPP. The value is basically flat.
• The best strategy is to earn as many points per dollar as possible (through high-multiplier credit cards and stacking), since redemption value is consistent.

The 5 main ways to redeem Scene+ points

1) Book travel through Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia

Scene+ Travel is the program's dedicated travel portal, powered by Expedia. You can search and book flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities — and apply Scene+ points at a rate of 100 points = $1.

How it works:

• Log in to sceneplus.ca and navigate to Scene+ Travel.
• Search for flights, hotels, car rentals, or "things to do" — the same inventory available on Expedia.
• At checkout, choose to pay with points, cash, or a combination of points + cash.
• You earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 on hotel bookings, car rentals, and activities booked through Scene+ Travel (on the cash portion).

When this is best:

• You want to use points for an entire trip (flights + hotel) in one booking.
• You're comfortable booking through an OTA (online travel agency) rather than directly with the airline or hotel.
• You want a simple, predictable 1.0 CPP redemption.

Important notes:

• Flights booked through Scene+ Travel (Expedia) may not earn airline loyalty points or credit toward elite status, depending on the airline and fare class.
• Hotel bookings through the portal typically do not qualify for hotel loyalty perks (room upgrades, late checkout, elite status recognition). After booking, you can reach out to the hotel directly to link your loyalty account and confirm you'll be earning status progress and points.
• Always compare pricing on Scene+ Travel against booking direct. OTA prices aren't always the cheapest.

You can choose to redeem your points during checkout. If you don't have enough points to cover your entire trip, you can also choose to redeem a partial amount towards your trip.

2) Redeem for a Scotiabank account credit (travel purchases)

If you have a Scotiabank credit or debit card linked to your Scene+ account, you can redeem points as a statement credit against travel purchases you've already made.

How it works:

• Make a travel purchase (flight, hotel, car rental, etc.) with your Scotiabank credit or debit card.
• Within 12 months of the purchase, log in to your Scene+ account and apply points at 100 points = $1 to offset that charge.
• The credit appears on your Scotiabank statement.

When this is best:

• You want to book directly with the airline or hotel (earning loyalty points and retaining elite benefits) and then erase the cost with Scene+ points after.
• You prefer flexibility — buy the ticket first, decide later whether to use points or keep them.
• You found a better price booking direct than through Scene+ Travel.

This is generally the best travel redemption method because you get the same 1.0 CPP value while keeping all the benefits of booking direct — airline miles, hotel loyalty points, elite status credits, and the ability to modify bookings through the airline/hotel.

3) Redeem for a Scotiabank account credit (any purchases)

Same as above, but you can apply points against any purchase on your Scotiabank card — not just travel. You won't get the same 100 points = $1 value here though. The best you can get if you choose to redeem the highest amount is 100 points = $0.70.

How it works:

• Make any purchase with your eligible Scotiabank credit or debit card.
• Redeem Scene+ points as an account credit.

When this is best:

• You don't have any travel plans and want to use your points for everyday purchases.
• You need cash flow relief and want to reduce your credit card balance.

The problem is, since you're not maximizing to get to 1.0 CPP, your best bet is to wait until you have any sort of travel transactions coming up soon.

4) Redeem for groceries at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, and more

You can redeem Scene+ points directly at checkout in Empire grocery stores.

How it works:

• At checkout, scan your Scene+ card (physical or app).
• Redeem 1,000 points for $10 off your grocery bill.
• Points can be redeemed in increments of 1,000 (i.e., $10, $20, $30, etc.).

Participating grocery stores:

• Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, Voilà (online grocery), Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry, and Co-Op (select locations).

When this is best:

• You shop at Empire-family grocery stores regularly and want immediate, tangible savings.
• You want to reduce your grocery bill without any extra steps.

5) Redeem at Cineplex (movies, food, and drinks)

Cineplex is one of the original Scene+ partners, and movie redemptions remain a popular option.

How it works:

• At the box office, concession, or on cineplex.com, scan your Scene+ card.
• Redeem 100 points for $1 toward movie tickets, food, and drinks (including concessions, Starbucks inside Cineplex, VIP lounges, and in-seat dining).
• You can also redeem 500 points for $5 toward your purchase.

Earning at Cineplex:

• You earn 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Cineplex on tickets, food, and drinks — this is one of the highest earn rates in the program.

When this is best:

• You're a regular moviegoer and want free movies and snacks.
• You want to treat the family to a movie night using points.

Other ways to earn Scene+ points (beyond credit cards)

While Scotiabank credit cards are the fastest way to accumulate Scene+ points, you can earn across the entire partner ecosystem:

Pro tip: Double-dip by scanning your Scene+ card AND paying with a Scotiabank Scene+ credit card. You earn the loyalty card points from the partner plus the credit card points — they stack. For example, at Sobeys with the Scotiabank Gold Amex, you'd earn the grocery offer points PLUS 6 Scene+ points per $1 from the credit card.

Best Scotiabank credit cards for earning Scene+ points

The right Scotiabank card dramatically accelerates your earning. Here's how the lineup compares:

Which card should you get?

For most Canadians who shop at Sobeys/IGA/Safeway: The Scotiabank Gold American Express is the clear winner. At 6x points on Sobeys-family stores and 5x on all other groceries, dining, and entertainment, it earns points faster than any other Scene+ card. The first-year fee waiver makes it risk-free to try, and you only need $12,000 in personal income to qualify.

For frequent international travellers: The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite offers no foreign transaction fees, 6 lounge passes, and Visa acceptance worldwide. If you travel abroad often, the 2.5% FX savings alone can offset the $150 annual fee.

For people who want simplicity and hate tracking categories: The Scotiabank American Express Platinum earns a flat 2x on everything, with no category restrictions. It also has lounge access, the lowest interest rate of any premium rewards card (9.99%), and only a $12,000 income requirement.

For people who want a free card: The Scotiabank American Express ($0/year) or the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa ($0/year) are both solid. The Amex earns more (3x Sobeys, 2x groceries/dining) but has limited acceptance. The Visa earns less but works at every merchant.

Scene+ points for travel: the complete breakdown

Since this is a travel-focused site, here's a deeper look at the three ways to use Scene+ for flights and hotels.

Method 1: Scene+ Travel (Expedia portal)

Value: 1.0 CPP (100 points = $1)

Scene+ Travel is an Expedia white-label portal. You get access to the same flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities as Expedia, and you can pay with Scene+ points, cash, or a mix.

Flights: You can book any flight available on Expedia and pay with points. Unlike some programs, there's no award chart — you simply offset the cash price at 1.0 CPP.

Hotels: Book hotels and earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 on the cash portion. You can also redeem points toward the booking.

Car rentals and activities: Same deal — earn 3 points per $1 and/or redeem at 1.0 CPP.

Scotiabank cardholders get enhanced earn rates: If you book through Scene+ Travel and pay with an eligible Scotiabank card, you can earn up to 4 Scene+ points per $1 on hotels and car rentals (with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite).

When to use Scene+ Travel

• You don't care about earning airline miles or hotel loyalty points on the booking.
• The Expedia price matches or beats the direct price.
• You want to pay entirely with points.

When NOT to use Scene+ Travel

• You have elite status with an airline or hotel chain (OTA bookings typically don't earn status credits or get elite perks).
• You found a cheaper fare booking directly with the airline.
• You want the ability to change or cancel directly with the airline (OTA change policies can be more restrictive).

Method 2: Scotiabank account credit (travel purchases) — the recommended method

Value: 1.0 CPP (100 points = $1)

This is the best way to use Scene+ points for travel for most people. Here's why:

1. Book directly with the airline or hotel — earn airline miles, retain elite status benefits, and have full control over changes and cancellations.
2. Pay with your Scotiabank card — earn Scene+ points on the purchase.
3. Apply Scene+ points as a statement credit against that travel purchase within 12 months — at 100 points = $1.

You get the same 1.0 CPP as the Expedia portal, but you keep all the loyalty benefits of booking direct. It's the best of both worlds.

Example: You book a $800 round-trip flight from Toronto to Vancouver directly on Air Canada's website, paying with your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite. You earn 800 Scene+ points from the purchase (1x on flights). Later, you redeem 80,000 Scene+ points to fully offset the $800 charge on your statement.

Step-by-step:

1. Book your travel directly with the airline, hotel, or travel provider.
2. Pay with your eligible Scotiabank credit or debit card.
3. Log in to your Scene+ account at sceneplus.ca.
4. Navigate to Redeem → Account Credit.
5. Select the travel purchase you want to offset.
6. Choose how many points to apply (100 points = $1).
7. The credit appears on your next Scotiabank statement.

Method 3: Scotiabank account credit (any purchases)

Value: 1.0 CPP (100 points = $1)

Same process as above, but you can offset any purchase — not just travel. This is useful if you don't have travel plans but want to use your points productively.

Scene+ vs. other Canadian loyalty programs for travel

How does Scene+ stack up against the competition for flights?

The honest truth: Scene+ is not the best program for maximizing travel value per point. Programs like Aeroplan and Avion can deliver 1.5–2.5+ CPP on flights when used optimally. Scene+ tops out at 1.0 CPP for travel.

But that's only half the story. Scene+ makes up for it with:

• Much faster everyday earning — 5x and 6x rates on groceries, dining, and entertainment through the Gold Amex.
• Extreme flexibility — use points for groceries, movies, dining, travel, or statement credits with no value penalty.
• No transfer risk — you never have to worry about irreversible transfers, award chart devaluations, or limited award availability.
• A massive partner ecosystem — earn and redeem across 3,300+ locations.

For many Canadian families, the ability to earn 6x at Sobeys and then use those points for either groceries or travel at the same 1.0 CPP is more practical than hunting for Aeroplan sweet spots.

How to maximize your Scene+ earning (the stacking strategy)

The key to getting outsized value from Scene+ is earning more points per dollar, since the redemption value is fixed at 1.0 CPP. Here's how to stack:

Step 1: Scan your Scene+ loyalty card at every partner

Present your Scene+ card (physical or in the app) at every participating partner:

• Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods — earn personalized offers, member pricing, and bonus points promotions.
• Cineplex — earn 5 points per $1.
• Home Hardware — earn 50 points per $50.
• Recipe Unlimited restaurants — earn 1 point per $3 at Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, Montana's, East Side Mario's, Bier Markt, and Kelsey's.
• Rec Room / Playdium — earn 1 point per $1.
• Needs Convenience — earn 1 point per $2.

Step 2: Pay with a Scotiabank Scene+ credit card

This is the double-dip. When you scan your Scene+ card AND pay with a Scotiabank credit card, you earn points from both:

Example at Sobeys with the Scotiabank Gold Amex:

• Scene+ loyalty card offers: Varies (weekly offers, member pricing)
• Credit card earn: 6 Scene+ points per $1
• Combined: up to 6+ points per $1 (plus any bonus offers that week)

On a $200 grocery trip at Sobeys, you'd earn at least 1,200 Scene+ points ($12 in value) from the credit card alone — plus whatever the weekly Scene+ offers add.

Step 3: Use the grocery store app and digital coupons

Download the Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, or FreshCo app (depending on your store) and link your Scene+ account. You'll get:

• Personalized offers — bonus points on specific products.
• Digital exclusive offers — extra points promotions only available in the app.
• Member-only pricing — reduced prices on select items each week.
• You can also check offers at mygroceryoffers.ca.

Step 4: Shop online through Rakuten with Scene+

Link your Scene+ account to Rakuten and earn cash back in Scene+ points when you shop online at 600+ retailers. The cash back rates vary by store and promotion, but this is free points on purchases you'd make anyway.

Step 5: Book travel through Scene+ Travel for bonus earn

When booking hotels, car rentals, and activities through Scene+ Travel, you earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 on the cash portion — in addition to any credit card points.

Scene+ points for groceries: the full breakdown

For many Canadians, grocery redemptions are the most practical use of Scene+ points. Here's how the math works:

Redemption rate: 1,000 points = $10 off groceries (1.0 CPP)

Best earning card: Scotiabank Gold American Express — 6x at Sobeys-family, 5x at other grocery stores

Let's run the numbers for a typical Canadian family:

With the Gold Amex at Sobeys-family stores, an $800/month grocery spend generates $576/year in Scene+ points — enough for almost 6 free grocery trips or a significant dent in a vacation.

Scene+ points for movies: free Cineplex nights

The Cineplex earn rate of 5 points per $1 is one of the highest in the Scene+ ecosystem. Here's how movie nights stack up:

• A general admission ticket costs about $16.99.
• You'd redeem 1,699 points for a free ticket.
• If you earn 5 points per $1 at Cineplex, you need to spend about $340 at Cineplex to earn a free ticket from Cineplex earning alone.

But combined with grocery earning, it's much faster. If you earn 4,800 points/month from groceries (Gold Amex at Sobeys), that's almost 3 free movie tickets per month just from your grocery spending.

How to transfer Scene+ points between people

Scene+ points are tied to your individual Scene+ account. There's no direct member-to-member transfer feature — you can't simply send points to another person's Scene+ account.

However, there are a few ways to effectively share points:

Option 1: Link a Scotiabank joint account

If you and a partner share a joint Scotiabank bank account or credit card, you may be able to pool or share Scene+ points through that shared account.

How it works:

• Both partners need their own Scene+ accounts.
• Link the joint Scotiabank account to both Scene+ profiles.
• Points earned on the joint account can be accessed by both account holders.

Option 2: Add a supplementary cardholder

Adding someone as a supplementary (authorized user) cardholder on your Scotiabank credit card means their purchases earn Scene+ points into your account. This effectively pools household spending into one points balance.

Important: The supplementary cardholder cannot redeem the points — only the primary cardholder can. This is different from a co-applicant.

Option 3: Redeem for gift cards and share them

If you want to "give" someone Scene+ value, you can redeem your points for gift cards (Cineplex, Home Hardware, Sobeys, etc.) and give them the gift card. This is indirect but works for any situation.

Scene+ points expiry

Scene+ points do not expire as long as your account remains active. Your account is considered active as long as you earn or redeem at least one Scene+ point within a 24-month period.

If your account has no earning or redemption activity for 24 consecutive months, your points may be forfeited. Given the massive partner network (grocery stores, Cineplex, etc.), keeping your account active is easy — a single grocery trip with your Scene+ card is enough.

Other redemption methods

Gift cards

You can redeem Scene+ points for gift cards from 60+ brands, including:

• Cineplex, Home Hardware, Sobeys, Amazon, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Uber, and more.
• Minimum redemption is typically 1,000 points for a $10 gift card (1.0 CPP).
• Some gift cards may occasionally be offered at promotional rates (more value per point).

Dining at Recipe Unlimited restaurants

Redeem 500 points for $5 at Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, East Side Mario's, Montana's, Bier Markt, and Kelsey's. That's 1.0 CPP — consistent with other redemptions.

Entertainment (Rec Room, Playdium)

Redeem 500 points for $5 toward game credits, food, and drinks at Rec Room and Playdium locations.

Home Hardware

Redeem 1,000 points for $10 off purchases at Home Hardware stores and homehardware.ca.

Pro tips to get the most from Scene+ points

1. Always scan your Scene+ card at partners — even if you forget your Scotiabank card, scanning your Scene+ loyalty card still earns partner points and unlocks member pricing.

2. Stack credit card earning with loyalty card earning — the double-dip at Sobeys-family stores with the Gold Amex is the single most valuable Scene+ earning opportunity (up to 6x + offers).

3. Use the Scotiabank account credit for travel — it gives you the same 1.0 CPP as the Expedia portal while letting you book direct and keep airline/hotel loyalty benefits.

4. Download the grocery store app — personalized offers can add hundreds of bonus points per month for products you'd buy anyway.

5. Link Rakuten to your Scene+ account — free bonus points on online shopping at 600+ retailers.

6. Don't hoard points unnecessarily — since Scene+ points are worth a flat 1.0 CPP with no sweet spots, there's no reason to save them for a "big redemption." Use them when you want them.

7. Watch for promotional offers — Scene+ occasionally runs bonus points events (especially at Sobeys and Cineplex) that can dramatically accelerate your earning.

8. Consider the Gold Amex + Scene+ Visa combo — carry the Gold Amex for maximum earn rates at grocery, dining, and entertainment, and the Scene+ Visa (free) for merchants that don't accept American Express.

Quick decision checklist

• Want maximum grocery earning?

  • Get the Scotiabank Gold American Express → 6x at Sobeys-family, 5x at other groceries

• Want to use points for travel?

  • Use Scotiabank account credit (book direct, then offset with points) → 1.0 CPP with full loyalty benefits

• Want no-fee simplicity?

  • Get the Scotiabank American Express ($0) for better earn rates, or the Scene+ Visa ($0) for broader acceptance

• Travel internationally often?

  • Get the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite → no FX fees, lounge access, Visa worldwide

• Want premium insurance and lounge access?

  • Consider the Scotiabank American Express Platinum → 2x everything, 10 lounge passes, 9.99% interest rate

Bottom line

Scene+ is not a program designed to deliver outsized CPP on aspirational premium-cabin flights — that's Aeroplan's and Avion's territory. Instead, Scene+ excels at something arguably more practical for everyday Canadians: earning a lot of points quickly on everyday spending and redeeming them flexibly at a consistent 1.0 CPP.

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express earning 5–6x on groceries and dining, a family spending $800/month on groceries at Sobeys can generate $500+ per year in Scene+ value — redeemable for travel, groceries, movies, dining, or anything else. No award charts to study, no transfer partners to research, no blackout dates to navigate.

For Canadians who want a simple, high-earning, flexible rewards program that works across everyday life and travel — Scene+ is one of the best options in the country.