Welcome to the VIA Préférence Member Web Site

VIA Préférence offers the convenience, enhanced services and special promotions you want and deserve. There are no registration fees. If you are a resident of Canada or the United States, you can join now and start earning points towards free travel.

Book online or use a VIA Rail self-service ticketing kiosk to earn bonus points

Special offer for VIA Préférence members. When you book online, you will receive 25 bonus points (lifetime maximum 250 points). Plus, when you obtain your tickets from a kiosk at a selected VIA Rail station, you will also receive 25 bonus points (lifetime maximum 250 points).

To find out more, click on any topic below

Becoming a Member
Questions about VIA Préférence?
Earning Points
Welcome Bonus
Préférence, Privilege and Premier memberships
Qualifying Services
Non-qualifying Services
Claiming Missing Points
Redeeming Points/Booking Travel

Becoming a Member

Join now by clicking here. You may also join by calling us toll-free using the number listed below.

You'll receive your membership number instantly. You will then be able to access your VIA Préférence account information online 24 hours a day at www.viarail.ca Member Service.

After enrolment, travel either 2 trips or for a minimum of $250 on VIA Rail and we will mail your permanent membership card and program information. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

After reviewing the program information online, if you still have questions, please:
Call us toll-free: 1 888 VIA PREF (842-7733)
Fax us toll-free: 1 888 249 1259
Email us at: mail@viapreference.com

Back to Top

For More Information About VIA Préférence or to Enrol

Earning Points

As a VIA Préférence member, you'll start by earning one point for every dollar you spend (excluding taxes) for your travel on VIA Rail anywhere in Canada. With more travel, this can increase up to three points per dollar. Just remember to quote your VIA Préférence membership number when purchasing tickets.

Back to Top

Welcome Bonus

You will receive a Welcome Bonus of 500 points - when you travel for $250 within 6 months of enrolment.

Back to Top

Préférence, Privilège, and Premier Membership
Loyalty has its rewards. The more you travel with VIA Rail, the sooner you'll enjoy the ultimate in recognition, preferred service, and personal assistance that goes with being a Préférence, Privilège, or Premier Member.

The amount you travel with VIA during the annual qualifying period (April 1 to March 31) will determine your level of membership for the subsequent qualifying period. See below for qualifying criteria.

* Please note that a segment is a one-way trip on the same train. Each change of train constitutes the beginning of a new segment.

Back to Top

Qualifying Services

You’ll earn VIA Préférence points on:

• All services owned and operated by VIA Rail Canada
• Canadian portion of travel on the International between Toronto and Chicago and the Maple Leaf between Toronto and New York
• Moncton - Saint John bus service
• CANRAILPASS purchases and upgrades to VIA 1 and Sleeper classes
• Commuter and Corridor passes
• North American Rail Pass: earn 400 points for adults, during high season (360 points for seniors and students) and 285 points for adults during off-peak season (255 points for seniors and students).
• Tickets purchased with such passes as CN and CP
  
  

Back to Top

Non-qualifying Services

• Tickets purchased with a VIA Rail Pass
• Tickets purchased with an AD75 or an AD50 coupon
• Rail services portion of a package tour
• Group tickets and charters that are part of a block
• VIA Gift Certificates
• Services provided by VIA's interline partners such as Amtrak services, Trentway-Wagar services, Acadian Bus Lines, SMT and Pacific Coach Lines
  

Back to Top

Claiming Missing Points

If you forgot to quote your VIA Préférence number, or purchased tickets or upgrades on-train, you can still claim your points up to six month from the date of travel*:

• Call the VIA Préférence Service Centre at 1 888 VIA PREF
• Mail a copy of your original ticket receipt along with your name, telephone number and membership number to:

  VIA Préférence Service Centre
  P.O. Box 11705, Station Centre-Ville
  Montréal, Québec H3C 6L5

• Fax a copy of your original ticket receipt along with your name, telephone number and membership number to: 1 888 249 1259

*Claims received after April 15 will not be applied to the qualifying period that ended March 31.
*Claims cannot pre-date enrolment by more than one month.

Back to Top

Redeeming points and booking free travel.

It won't be long before you earn the number of points you need for free reward travel.
Redeeming your points is easy and convenient.

• To book free travel contact the VIA Préférence Service Centre toll free
  1 888 VIA PREF (842-7733)
• VIA Service Centre Hours:

  Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. E.T.
  Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. E.T.

Some helpful suggestions:

• Book early to ensure you get the travel arrangements you want.
• For return travel reward trips, you must book return tickets at the same time as outbound tickets.
• Changes to your reward ticket? These must be made through the VIA Préférence Service Centre, and not through a VIA Rail Canada agent.
• Canceling or changing your reward ticket? Be sure to contact the VIA Préférence Service centre at least one hour before departure time. Otherwise, we will be unable to reimburse your points.
• Picking up tickets? You can do so at any VIA Rail Canada station. Allow one hour prior to departure. (Personal ID is required).
• Do you want rewards tickets mailed to you? Please book a minimum of five business days in advance of departure (a mailing fee will apply effective September 1st, 2006).
• Stopovers are permitted according to the existing rules of the paid tickets.
  
  

Back to Top