You can use Air Miles Dream Miles to pay for some or all of your base fare by booking a flight through the Air Miles travel website. An economy flight during the "off" season costs fewer Dream Miles than a business-class flight during peak tourist season.
We’re breaking down how to make the most of your dream miles – and some of the best Air Miles credit cards that can help you reach your goal faster.
Key Takeaways
- Air Miles members can choose to collect Cash Miles, Dream Miles, or some combination of the two.
- You can redeem Cash Miles for merchandise, tickets, and store discounts on the Air Miles web portal.
- You can redeem Dream Miles for accommodations, car rentals, and flights on the Air Miles travel website.
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How do Air Miles work?
The Air Miles Rewards program allows you to collect points – or "miles" – by visiting partner stores, buying certain goods, or participating in promotions.
Naturally, the best part of any rewards programs is the rewards. You can redeem your Air Miles for a variety of discounts, entertainment, merchandise, and travel offers.
Cash Miles vs. Dream Miles
Whether you collect Air Miles using the app or a partner credit card, all your miles are split into two categories: Cash Miles and Dream Miles.
You can choose a custom collection ratio (like 50/50), 100% Cash Miles, or 100% Dream Miles by using the Air Miles website, Android app, or iOS app.
Only Onyx status members can transfer points back and forth between Cash Miles and Dream Miles with a limit of 3,500 Miles per day.
Cash Miles are redeemable for Cash Rewards, like in-store discounts or electronic vouchers. You can trade 95 Cash Miles for $10 off at checkout with a Cash Rewards partner like Shell, LCBO, Indigo, or Starbucks, up to a $750 maximum per day.
Dream Miles are redeemable for Dream Rewards, which include entertainment – like movie or amusement park tickets – and products such as kitchen appliances, luggage, home decor, and electronics.
Last but not least, Dream Miles can be redeemed for the most iconic Air Miles reward of all: flights and travel.
How to redeem your Dream Miles
When it comes to booking travel, the value of each Dream Mile depends on:
- The type of travel reward you book
- When you book
- Which Air Miles travel partner you choose
Depending on how you choose to redeem them, your Dream Miles could be worth anything from $0.05 to $0.20 each:
| Travel reward | Average value | Where to book |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | $0.10 per Dream Mile | Air Miles travel |
| Accommodations | $0.10 per Dream Mile | Air Miles accommodations |
| Car rentals | $0.09 to $0.20 per Dream Mile | Air Miles car rentals |
| Packages | $0.10 to $0.15 per Dream Mile | Air Miles packages |
| Extras | $0.10 per Dream Mile | Air Miles extras |
How to book flights with Air Miles Dream Miles
Onyx Air Miles collectors can ask a Customer Care Ambassador to book and apply their Dream Miles to a flight by calling 1-888-247-6453. Otherwise, you can log in to the Air Miles travel booking website to book your flight.
Visit the website, log in (or create an account and then sign in), and then:
- Search for one-way or round-trip flights for up to eight travellers in any combination of Adults (12+), Children (2– 11), or Infants (0 – 2)
- Choose your Air Miles flight destination from six categories: Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America; Europe, or International
- Select your travel dates up to 11 months in advance
- Select your payment preference – you can pay via credit card or cover some or all of your booking with Dream Miles
- Click "Search"
Use the filters on the left and top of the search results page to select an airline, preferred departure time, preferred arrival time, and number of stops. Once you’ve chosen your flights and fare options, you’ll have the opportunity to review all the details on a summary page.
To complete the transaction:
- Select "Trip Price" in the top right corner and click “Check Out Now” in the drop-down menu.
- Add an optional Air Miles travel insurance plan if you’d like trip interruption, trip cancellation, emergency medical, or rental car coverage. Note that you can’t pay for this insurance using Dream Miles.
- Enter your traveller and payment details and confirm the booking.
Congratulations! All that’s left to do is review your destination’s travel requirements and mark your trip on your calendar.
Air Miles flight restrictions
As long as you use a partner airline and the official booking website, Air Miles flights are fairly flexible – but there are a few limitations to keep in mind:
- You can’t book flights for pets. If you have an animal travelling companion, search for flights and then call the airline to ask if it accommodates pets. Once you get the green light, book your flight, then call the airline again to complete your travel arrangements.
- You can’t cancel your flight without paying a fee unless you’re an Onyx member. Otherwise, you must pay $25 per person to cancel or change your Air Miles flights. If you’re eligible for a refund, Air Miles will deposit your Dream Miles back into your account within five business days.
- Dream Miles might only apply to some flight taxes and fees.
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Refunded Air Miles follow your account’s collection preferences. If you cancel a flight, set your collection preferences temporarily to 100% Dream Miles so your refund doesn’t convert to Cash Miles.
How to go further with Dream Miles
Gone are the days of the Air Miles travel chart, where each mile had a fixed value. It takes some planning to go as far as you can with modern travel rewards.
To maximize your Air Miles flight rewards, try:
- Setting your collection preferences to 100% Dream Miles
- Booking flights with low-cost carriers (beware added taxes and fees)
- Booking flights during "shoulder" and “off-peak” tourist seasons
- Collecting promo codes by signing up for Air Miles emails
- Taking advantage of Air Miles travel deals
- Collecting 500 Air Miles within a year to unlock Gold membership and 1 Mile per $10 spent on travel
- Collecting 5,000 Air Miles within a year to unlock Onyx membership and 1 Mile per $5 spent on travel
- Signing up for an Air Miles credit card
Three credit cards to earn Air Miles fast
Air Miles credit cards have a respectable earn rate and flexible rewards. BMO is now the exclusive Air Miles credit card issuer in Canada, which limits your selection to three choices.
1. Best overall: BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard
×1 Award winner 
$150 GeniusCash + Up to 9,000 bonus AIR MILES + 3x the AIR MILES at partners.*
GC: $150
1x Award winner As a World Elite Mastercard, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard includes dining benefits, exclusive event access, and a concierge service. Cardholders also enjoy access to over 1,500 airport lounges in 400+ airports and 120+ countries courtesy of the Mastercard Travel Pass.
If that’s not enough, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard card provides automatic Onyx collector status, up to 3 miles per $12 spent, a 25% discount on one Air Miles flight per year, and 14 types of insurance coverage, making it one of the best travel insurance and Mastercard credit cards available.
The catch? You need at least $80,000 of personal or $150,000 of household income to qualify.
2. No annual fee: BMO AIR MILES Mastercard
For zero annual fees, check out the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard. It’s light on perks – including automatic Gold collector status, up to 3 Air Miles per $25 spent, and basic insurance – but it also won’t cost you anything.
3. Best for business: BMO AIR MILES World Elite Business Mastercard
A business credit card, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Business Mastercard gives some of the highest Air Mile earn rates on everyday purchases. The card also welcomes you with a nice bonus and a generous travel insurance package. Plus, the modest annual fee is waived for the first year, which gives you a chance to try out the card.
FAQ
Can you use Air Miles towards a flight?
If you have Dream Miles, you can use them to book flights, hotels, car rentals, packages, cruises, and more. However, you can’t use Dream Miles to pay for insurance for your flight.
How many Air Miles do you need for a free flight?
While it varies, you need approximately 9,150 Air Miles Dream Miles to cover the average international flight from Canada and 2,600 to cover the average domestic flight. Keep an eye out for flight deals that require fewer miles.
Can you tell me how to convert Air Miles to flights?
To use Air Miles for flights, you need to have Dream Miles. If you have Cash Miles, you can log into your account and transfer them to Dream Miles, but you are limited in the number you transfer based on your status.
How can I book a flight with Air Miles?
To book a flight, sign into the Air Miles travel booking website, select your flight(s), and select how many Dream Miles to apply during the checkout process. You can pay for 50% or more of your flight with Dream Miles.
Which airlines accept Air Miles?
Air Miles partners with SkyTeam airlines, Aeromexico, Qantas, Icelandair, Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand, Air North, Air Canada, OneWorld airlines, Qatar, Sata, Condor, Calm Air, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Air Transat, Porter, Air India, Arajet, and WestJet.
Is there an Air Miles flight calculator I can use?
The Air Miles program does not have a flight calculator since it doesn’t operate using a fixed point system for booking flights. Instead, Air Miles requirements are based on travel dates, demand, destination, fare class, and more.
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