Scene+

What Scene+ actually is

Scene+ is a coalition loyalty program jointly owned by Scotiabank and Cineplex. It launched as a movie rewards program in 2007 and expanded significantly in 2022 when Empire Company (Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland) joined the program, replacing the grocery chain's previous Air Miles partnership.

The result is one of the few Canadian programs where you can accumulate points at a grocery store, spend them on a flight, and earn them at the cinema along the way — all within a single account. Points are worth exactly 1¢ each across all three of those categories, which makes the math unusually straightforward.

Where you earn Scene+ points

Grocery: Empire banners

The single biggest earn opportunity for most Scene+ collectors is the weekly grocery shop. Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, and Voilà by Sobeys (grocery delivery) all participate. You earn 1 point per dollar at the checkout by scanning your Scene+ card. Pair that with a Scotiabank Gold Amex and the earn stacks: the card earns 6 points per dollar at eligible grocery stores (including those Empire banners), for a combined return of roughly 7 points per dollar, or 7¢ in travel value, on every grocery trip.

Entertainment: Cineplex

Cineplex is the other anchor. You earn points on movie tickets, concessions, and Cineplex digital purchases. For regular moviegoers this adds up faster than it looks — a family of four at the movies earns hundreds of points per visit. Points also redeem directly at Cineplex at full 1¢ value, so the loop from earn to redemption is short.

Scotiabank credit cards

Scotiabank issues several Scene+ credit cards at different tiers. The card you choose determines how quickly you accumulate on everyday spending beyond the grocery and cinema earn.

The Gold Amex is the standout card for most Scene+ collectors. Six points per dollar on groceries, restaurants, food delivery, and entertainment, with no foreign transaction fee, is a combination no other major Canadian card matches at that price point. The $120 fee is recovered quickly by anyone spending regularly at Sobeys or Safeway.

Other partners

Scene+ has expanded its partner network steadily since 2022. Home Hardware, Rakuten Canada, and Empire-owned restaurants are among the additional earn categories. The full partner list is available through the Scene+ app, which also shows rotating bonus earn offers tied to specific merchants and categories.

What Scene+ points are worth

Scene+ is a fixed-value program: 1 point = 1¢, in every redemption category that matters.

• Travel (Scene+ Travel portal): 1¢/pt. Book flights, hotels, and car rentals. 10,000 points covers a $100 travel expense.
• Cineplex: 1¢/pt. Redeem at the box office or online for tickets and concessions.
• Groceries: 1¢/pt at Sobeys, Safeway, and other Empire banner checkouts.
• Statement credits: Lower value. Avoid using points this way.

The fixed rate removes the guesswork. Unlike Aeroplan, where the CPP varies by route, cabin, and availability, Scene+ points deliver the same value every time. That predictability is the program's defining feature. Use the points reward values calculator to see what your current Scene+ balance is worth in dollar terms.

Earning on travel

The Scene+ Travel portal (formerly Expedia for Scotia) lets you book flights, hotels, and car rentals directly against your points balance. You can also earn points when booking through the portal, stacking earn on top of whatever you earn with your Scotiabank credit card at the same time.

For travellers who prefer simplicity over optimization, this matters. You don't need to search award space, transfer to an airline partner, or wait for seat availability. You see the cash price, divide by 100, and know exactly how many points you need.

What the earn math looks like

A household spending $1,200 per month at Sobeys or Safeway, plus regular dining and general spend, on the Scotiabank Gold Amex:

162,000 points per year. At 1¢ per point through the travel portal, that’s $1,620 in travel value — on $2,500 in monthly spending. A return flight within Canada, a week of accommodation, or a combination of both.

Scene+ vs. other programs

vs. Aeroplan: Aeroplan points can be worth significantly more than 1¢ on premium cabin redemptions — sometimes 3¢ to 5¢ per point or more. But that upside requires seat availability research and transfer timing. Scene+ always delivers 1¢. Aeroplan rewards the patient optimizer; Scene+ rewards the person who wants a reliable return without the homework.

vs. More Rewards: More Rewards is the stronger choice for BC and Alberta shoppers who buy groceries at Save-On-Foods, Buy-Low, or Quality Foods. Scene+ dominates at Sobeys and Safeway stores, which are concentrated in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and the Prairies. In BC, Scene+ grocery earn is limited to Sobeys-banner locations, which are fewer than the Pattison network.

vs. Blue Rewards: Blue Rewards (formerly Air Miles) lost Sobeys and Safeway in 2022. Scene+ picked them up. For anyone who relied on those chains for Air Miles earn, Scene+ is the natural successor for that spend.

Who Scene+ makes sense for

• Regular Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, or FreshCo shoppers — particularly in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and the Prairies where those chains have the strongest presence
• Cineplex regulars who want their movie spend to convert to travel
• People who want a fixed-value travel currency with no redemption complexity
• Scotiabank banking customers who want everything in one ecosystem
• Travellers who don’t want to deal with airline award programs but still want meaningful travel value from their spending

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Related: How loyalty points work in Canada · More Rewards for BC and Alberta shoppers · Understanding cents per point (CPP)