Scene+ is one of Canada’s largest loyalty programs, bringing together Scotiabank, Cineplex, Sobeys, and more. Here’s how to maximize your Scene+ points across all partners.
Scene+ Overview Feature Details Point value ~1 cent per point Expiry No expiry Primary partners Scotiabank, Cineplex, Sobeys Transfer partners Aeroplan (for Scotiabank cardholders)Membership cost Free
Scene+ Partners Banking: Scotiabank Product Earning Rate Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite 4% cash back OR Scene+ equivalent Scotiabank Gold Amex 5x Scene+ on groceries/entertainment Scotiabank Scene+ Visa 1 point per $1 everywhere Banking transactions Occasional bonus promotions
Entertainment: Cineplex Transaction Earning Rate Movie tickets 1 point per $1 Concessions 1 point per $1 Gift shop 1 point per $1 The Rec Room 1 point per $1 Playdium 1 point per $1
With Scotiabank card: 5x points at Cineplex (5 points per $1)
Groceries: Sobeys Banner Stores Store Earning Sobeys 1 point per $1 Safeway 1 point per $1 IGA (some regions) 1 point per $1 FreshCo 1 point per $1 Foodland 1 point per $1 Thrifty Foods 1 point per $1 Lawtons 1 point per $1
With Scene+ app offers: Additional bonus points on specific products
Other Partners Partner Earning Expedia for Scene+ 1-3 points per $1 Apple Points on purchases through Scene+ restaurants Selected partners Home Hardware 1 point per $2
How to Earn Scene+ Points At Groceries (Best Value) Method Points Example ($200 grocery shop) Scene+ card only 200 points + Scotiabank card (5x) 1,000 points + Bonus offers (avg 200) 1,200 points Total 1,200 points = $12 value
Maximizing grocery earning:
Load personalized offers in Scene+ app before shopping Pay with Scotiabank Scene+ credit card Scan Scene+ card even if paying cash At Cineplex (Entertainment) Method Earning Scene+ card only 1 point/$1 With Scotiabank card 5 points/$1 Scene+ Tuesdays Discounted tickets + normal earning
Example movie night: $50 spent × 5 points = 250 points ($2.50 value toward next visit)
With Scotiabank Cards Card Best Categories Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite 4% groceries, 4% dining Scotia Gold Amex 5x Scene+ on groceries, entertainment Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Travel focus Scene+ Visa (no fee) 1x everywhere
Bonus Offers Check the Scene+ app regularly for:
Offer Type Example Product bonuses “Get 100 bonus points on Coca-Cola 12-pack” Spend thresholds “Spend $50, get 200 bonus points” Partner promos “Double points at Cineplex this weekend” Personalized offers Based on your purchase history
How to Redeem Scene+ Points Movie Rewards Redemption Points Needed General admission (regular) ~1,250 points General admission (IMAX/premium) ~1,750 points Combo (popcorn + drink) ~1,000-2,000 points Scene+ Tuesdays discount Fewer points on Tuesdays
Value: ~1 cent per point
Grocery Gift Cards Amount Points Needed $10 1,000 points $25 2,500 points $50 5,000 points $100 10,000 points
Value: Exactly 1 cent per point (solid, predictable value)
Travel Redemptions Redemption Value Expedia for Scene+ ~1 cent/point Via Rail ~1 cent/point Hotels ~0.8-1 cent/point
Transfer to Aeroplan (Scotiabank Only) Transfer Ratio Scene+ to Aeroplan 1:1 Minimum transfer 1,000 points Availability Scotiabank cardholders only
When to transfer:
If you value Aeroplan points for flight redemptions If you have a specific Aeroplan redemption in mind Aeroplan points are worth ~1.5-2 cents vs Scene+ at 1 cent Example: Transfer 50,000 Scene+ to Aeroplan = 50,000 Aeroplan (worth $750-$1,000 for flights vs $500 if redeemed as Scene+)
Other Redemptions Option Value per Point Merchandise ~0.7-0.8 cents ❌ Gift cards (non-grocery) ~0.8-1 cent Charitable donations ~1 cent
Scene+ Credit Card Comparison Card Annual Fee Scene+ Earn Rate Best For Scene+ Visa (no fee) $0 1 point/$1 Basic earning Scotia Gold Amex $120 5x groceries/entertainment Entertainment focus Scotia Momentum VI $139 4x groceries/dining Cash back + Scene+ Scotia Momentum No-Fee $0 1% + Scene+ No-fee option Scotia Passport VI $139 Travel focus Travelers
Best Scene+ Card by Spending Your Spending Best Card Heavy groceries + entertainment Scotia Gold Amex Groceries + dining + gas Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Light spending, no fee wanted Scene+ Visa (no fee) International travel Scotia Passport Visa Infinite
Scene+ Membership Tiers Scene+ has membership levels based on activity:
Tier Requirement Benefits Member Sign up Base earning Plus Earn 5,000+ points/year Bonus offers, previews Premium Earn 15,000+ points/year Best offers, exclusive experiences
How to reach Premium:
$15,000 spending on 1 point/$1 card $3,000 spending on 5x card Combined groceries + entertainment + Scotiabank Premium Benefits Benefit Details Exclusive offers Higher bonus point offers Movie premieres Early access to screenings Bonus events Scene+ member experiences Partner perks Exclusive discounts
Scene+ Strategy by Lifestyle For Movie Lovers Action Why Get Scotia Gold Amex 5x at Cineplex Use Scene+ app for offers Bonus points on concessions Go on Scene+ Tuesdays Discounted tickets Redeem for movies Straightforward value
Annual earning example:
$100/month at Cineplex × 5 points = 6,000 points = ~5 free movies per year For Grocery Shoppers (Sobeys) Action Why Get Scotia Gold Amex or Momentum 4-5x on groceries Load app offers weekly Bonus points add up Scan Scene+ every visit Even if paying cash Redeem for grocery gift cards 1 cent/point guaranteed
Annual earning example:
$600/month groceries × 5 points = 36,000 points Bonus offers average 500/month = 6,000 points Total: 42,000 points = $420/year in free groceries For Travelers (Aeroplan Strategy) Action Why Get Scotiabank card Enables Aeroplan transfers Earn Scene+ everywhere Solid earning rate Transfer to Aeroplan Better value for flights
Why transfer to Aeroplan:
Scene+ = 1 cent/point Aeroplan = 1.5-2 cents/point for flights 50,000 Scene+ as flights = $750-$1,000 value Scene+ vs Other Programs Feature Scene+ PC Optimum Air Miles Point value 1 cent 1 cent 10-15 cents (per mile) Grocery partner Sobeys Loblaws — Entertainment Cineplex — — Credit card partner Scotiabank PC Financial BMO Transfer to airline Yes (Aeroplan) No No Expiry Never Never 3yr inactive
Scene+ vs PC Optimum If You Shop At… Use… Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland Scene+ Loblaws, No Frills, Shoppers PC Optimum Both (split shopping) Both programs
Tips for Maximizing Scene+ Weekly Routine Day Action Before shopping Check Scene+ app for loaded offers At checkout Scan Scene+ card, pay with Scotiabank After shopping Check points posted correctly Weekly Browse new offers, load relevant ones
Common Mistakes Mistake Fix Not loading app offers Check app before each shop Using non-Scotiabank card Missing 4-5x earning Forgetting to scan Always scan even if paying cash Redeeming for merchandise Stick to movies/groceries/Aeroplan
When Points = Real Money Scenario Value 10,000 points $100 groceries 25,000 points ~20 movie tickets 50,000 points (→ Aeroplan) ~$750 in flights
Frequently Asked Questions Can I have Scene+ without Scotiabank? Yes. Scene+ membership is free for anyone. However, the best earning rates come from Scotiabank credit cards.
How do I check my Scene+ balance? Scene+ app (easiest) Scene.ca website On your Cineplex or Sobeys receipt Can I share Scene+ points with family? Not directly. Each Scene+ account is individual. However, you can redeem points for movie tickets for family members.
Is Scene+ better than PC Optimum? It depends on where you shop:
Shop at Sobeys → Scene+ Shop at Loblaws → PC Optimum Many people use both based on where they’re shopping Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Information may be simplified, incomplete, or out of date. Consult a licensed mortgage broker, financial advisor, or other qualified professional before making financial decisions. WealthNorth may receive compensation from partners featured on this site — this does not influence our editorial content. See our privacy policy for details.