The last few years have been rough for the Air Miles rewards program. After losing partnerships with major chains like Metro, Rona, and Rexall, one of the oldest loyalty programs in Canada nearly shut down before it was saved by BMO in 2023.
If you’re looking for a similar travel rewards program with better stability (and more value), we recommend checking out Aeroplan, Amex Membership Rewards, Aventura, Avion, or Scene+. All 5 rivals offer travel rewards and a range of co-branded credit cards to maximize your earnings.
Key Takeaways
- Air Miles is a store loyalty and credit card rewards program.
- Members and BMO Air Miles credit cardholders can spend Miles on travel, cash rebates, and more.
- The 5 best alternatives to Air Miles in Canada are Aeroplan, Amex Membership Rewards, Aventura, Avion, and Scene+.
- Amex Membership Rewards provides faster earnings, more value, and more flexibility than Air Miles.
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What is Air Miles?
Air Miles is a store loyalty and credit card rewards program owned and operated by the Bank of Montreal (BMO). Free members and certain BMO credit card holders can collect Miles at partner stores and use promotions and Air Miles credit cards to maximize their earnings.
The more Miles you collect, the higher you move up 3 membership ranks. Gold Collectors earn more Miles, get access to more rewards, and qualify for more discounts than Blue Collectors, and Onyx Collectors earn more than Gold.
You can trade Miles for various rewards but, true to their name, Miles are best spent on travel. You can get 20+ cents per mile (CPM) by using the Air Miles travel website to book flights, car rentals, hotel stays, and vacation packages.
Value of reward in CAD / cost in miles or points = value in cents per mile/point (CPM/CPP)
Miles and points are like apples and oranges, but we’ll do our best to compare the two so you can make an informed choice. The 5 best alternatives to Air Miles in Canada provide competitive value, compelling travel rewards, membership perks, and multiple earning opportunities.
Want to see all that Air Miles offers? Here's our guide to getting the most out of the Air Miles program
5 best Air Miles alternatives in Canada
Back in the day, the Air Miles rewards program’s 5 biggest attractions were:
- Exciting travel rewards
- Flexibility
- Membership perks
- Multiple earning opportunities
- Value for money
While the current Air Miles program still offers many of these things, it’s not the titan it used to be. It’s lost many in-store partners and you generally have to work harder to earn Miles through partner sales, scanning receipts, and taking advantage of online offers.
It’s much easier to earn points with these 5 rivals:
| Air Miles | Amex | Aeroplan | Scene+ | Aventura | Avion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. value | 20 CPM | 4 CPP | 4 CPP | 1 CPP | 2.29 CPP | 2.33 CPP |
| Max. credit card return rate* | 5% | 10% | 10% | 6% | 4.58% | 2.91% |
| No. of credit cards | 3 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Free membership | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Travel rewards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cash rewards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Merchandise rewards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Transfer points | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
* Return rates measure the value of your rewards against the money you’ve spent, so you can directly compare different rewards programs. For example, a 10% return rate means you get $10 in rewards for every $100 spent!
Value of rewards in CAD / money spent in CAD = return rate in %
If you see something you like, feel free to skip ahead. Otherwise, we’ll cover the 5 best Air Miles alternatives, starting with the best.
1. Best overall: American Express Membership Rewards
Owner: American Express
Currency: American Express Membership Rewards points
Best for: General spenders
Pros:
- 6 credit cards with better earn rates than Air Miles
- 6 redemption options, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages through American Express Travel
- Points worth up to 2 CPP
- Ability to transfer points to 8 loyalty programs
- Some redemption options have fixed values for points
Cons:
- Points worth as little as 0.3 CPP
- American Express credit card required
- Lower acceptance for American Express
- No in-store partners
Amex Membership Rewards belongs to the titular bank and payment network. The only way to earn points is to sign up for an Amex credit card, but there are 6 ways to use them, from credit statements and gift cards to the Amex Fixed Points Travel program.
The Amex Membership Rewards program beats every runner-up because it’s the most flexible. You can transfer points to 8 other rewards programs for free, including Air Canada – plus, it’s tied to the best overall credit card in Canada.
With the American Express Cobalt Card, you can earn tons of points on everyday purchases while saving for vacation. Assuming you spend them on travel, your returns with the Cobalt Card can reach up to 10%, making it the highest-earning rewards credit card on this list.
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2. Highest value: Aeroplan
Owner: Air Canada
Currency: Aeroplan points
Best for: Frequent flyers
Pros:
- 11 credit cards with better earn rates than Air Miles
- 6 redemption options, including flights, car rentals, cruises, hotels, and vacation packages through Air Canada
- 5 advanced membership levels with more perks than Air Miles
- Points worth up to 4 CPP
- Free to join without a credit card
Cons:
- Points worth as little as 0.5 CPP
- No fixed value per point
- Only 3 in-store partners
- Requires frequent travel
Free Aeroplan members and Aeroplan credit cardholders earn points on flights, everyday purchases, and partner promos to spend on gift cards, merchandise, and travel. Commit to flying Air Canada and you’ll be rewarded with exclusive perks at every membership level – from free airport lounge access to complimentary eUpgrades – but you can also grab points at Starbucks, Uber, and the LCBO.
Unfortunately, Aeroplan flight rewards use dynamic pricing, meaning you’ll have to bargain-hunt to get your money’s worth. Pick a quiet destination during "off-peak" or “shoulder” tourist seasons and you could score a deal worth up to 4 CPP.
The best official Aeroplan credit card, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card, exemplifies the best of the program. It provides steady rewards and perks such as preferred pricing, 1 hotel night free for every 3 nights booked with points, and free first checked bags for you and up to 8 friends travelling on the same reservation.
3. Most in-store partners: Scene+
Owner: Scotiabank
Currency: Scene+ points
Best for: Moviegoers and general spenders
Pros:
- 30+ in-store partners
- 6 credit cards with accelerated rewards
- 4 redemption options, including flights, car rentals, cruises, hotels, vacation packages, and attractions through Expedia
- Free to join without a credit card
- Points hold a fixed value
Cons:
- Points only worth 1 CPP
- No points transfers
Scene+ is the most obvious successor to the Air Miles throne. Free members and Scene+ credit cardholders can scoop points at 30+ partner stores – including Cineplex, Sobey’s, and Home Hardware – to redeem for rebates, gift cards, and travel. Because Scene+ points hold a fixed value of 1 CPP, you never have to worry about maxing your rewards.
Like Air Miles, the Scene+ program limits your best earning and redeeming opportunities to partner stores. It’s a decent choice for travellers, especially in combination with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card’s travel insurance coverage and no foreign exchange fees.
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1x Award winner 4. Most flexible travel: Aventura
Owner: CIBC
Currency: Aventura points
Best for: General spenders
Pros:
- 6 redemption options, including flights, car rentals, cruises, hotels, and attractions through the CIBC Rewards Travel Centre
- 5 credit cards with accelerated rewards
- Points worth up to 2.29 CPP
- No travel blackout dates
- Some redemption options have fixed point values
Cons:
- Points worth as little as 0.63 CPP
- Points can only be redeemed for economy flights
CIBC Aventura Rewards offers the most flexible travel rewards of any program on this list. You can book a round-trip flight with certain conditions for up to 2.29 CPP, choose a reward from the CIBC Travel Centre for a fixed 1 CPP, or redeem points toward any travel-related purchase of your choice for a fixed 1.25 CPP.
To get started, you’ll need a CIBC credit card like the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card. Based on a typical yearly spend of $24,000, it averages 2.66% in returns – nearly double the rate of the best Air Miles credit card.
5. Best for banking: Avion
Owner: RBC
Currency: Avion points
Best for: RBC customers
Pros:
- 6 credit cards with accelerated rewards
- 6 redemption options, including flights, car rentals, cruises, hotels, and vacation packages through Avion Travel Rewards
- Points worth up to 2.33 CPP
- Can transfer points to 4 airlines
- Free to join without a credit card
Cons:
- Points worth as little as 0.58 CPP
- Complicated earning, membership, and redemption system
Although you can join the Avion Rewards program without an RBC credit card, we wouldn’t recommend it. Avion bars free members from the best point-earning options and travel rewards rates – plus, you’ll miss out on exclusive perks like 3 cents off per litre at Petro-Canada and a free DashPass membership.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite gives you access to the best of the program, including the Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule, which can yield up to 2.33 CPP under the right conditions. You can add to your points balance by opening an RBC Banking Account in the Value Program, which also lets you turn Avion points into bank deposits.
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Currency: Canadian dollars and GeniusCoins
Best for: People who want cash back on all purchases
Pros:
- Cash back on all your spending
- GeniusCash Offers are real cash, not points
- Recommendations to help you maximize your rewards
- Opportunities to level up your financial knowledge and earn bonus cash back
Cons:
- Must connect your credit card accounts to use the Max feature
GeniusCash is a rewards program that lets you earn cash back on all your spending; it’s not affiliated with a specific credit card issuer or network.
When you connect your cards, GeniusCash will analyze your spending to unlock Max rewards and bonus cash back on your everyday purchases. You’ll be able to explore personalized Max Actions to learn the best ways to use your credit cards to get even bigger returns – all tailored to your unique spending habits.
The GeniusCash app also shows you limited-time offers on the best financial products and services across Canada so that you’ll never miss a deal.
FAQ
Does Air Miles still exist in Canada?
Air Miles still operates in Canada under its new parent company, the Bank of Montreal.
What’s better, Air Miles or Aeroplan?
If you’re a frequent flyer aboard Air Canada, you’ll get the most value out of collecting Aeroplan points. If you prefer to save for your next vacation through general shopping and don’t mind hunting for promotions and online offers, Air Miles is the best choice.
Does Costco use Air Miles?
Costco does not award Air Miles. Costco Executive Members can earn 2% cash back on Costco travel purchases, while CIBC Costco Mastercard customers can earn up to 3% cash back on Costco gas.
Is Avion the same as Air Miles?
RBC’s Avion Rewards is a different rewards program than Air Miles, which is owned by BMO.
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