The Air Miles reward program has undergone many changes over its 30-year history, but you can still get over 15 cents out of every Dream Mile by spending them on travel. Best of all, you can double-dip Miles by purchasing promotional items at partner stores with an Air Miles credit card like the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard.
Key Takeaways
- Air Miles is a free membership and credit card rewards program owned by BMO.
- Dream Miles are worth 20+ cents each if you spend them on travel or merchandise, but Cash Miles have a fixed value of 10.53 cents each.
- You can earn Air Miles by shopping at participating stores, scanning receipts, using the Air Miles online store, and signing up for BMO banking products.
- The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard earns up to 12 miles for every dollar spent and includes automatic Onyx Collector status and benefits.
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What is Air Miles?
Air Miles is a rewards program open to anyone with a free membership or a co-branded credit card issued by its owner, the Bank of Montreal (BMO). Collectors earn Miles by shopping at partner stores, scanning receipts, and using BMO banking products.
The Air Miles program has weathered many changes, the biggest of which is switching from one currency to two: Cash Miles and Dream Miles.
Air Miles overview
Currency: Cash Miles and Dream Miles
Reward categories: Air Miles Travel, Charitable Donations, eVouchers, In-Store Discounts, Merchandise, Personal Shopper
Pros:
- 300+ hotel chains, 60 airlines, and 5 car rental agencies on Air Miles Travel
- 250+ online stores awarding Miles
- 70+ in-store partners
- 60+ partners accepting Cash Miles and eVouchers
- 6 ways to collect Miles
- 6 ways to redeem Miles
- 3 Air Miles credit cards
- 3 membership tiers
- Dream Miles worth over 20 cents CAD each
- Cash Miles worth 10.53 cents CAD each
- Free membership, no credit card required
- No blackout dates on reward stays or flights
- Miles can be gifted and pooled
Cons:
- Dream Miles worth as little as 5 cents CAD each
- Only 12 national in-store partners offering Air Miles
- Miles can’t be bought or converted to other points
- Miles expire after 24 months of inactivity
- Offers all have different conditions
Cash Miles vs. Dream Miles
No matter how you collect Air Miles, your rewards will take one of two forms: Cash Miles or Dream Miles. You can collect 100% Cash Miles, 100% Dream Miles, or a mix of the two by setting your balance preferences in the Air Miles mobile app or website. Your choice will take effect at 3:00 AM ET the following day.
Once collected, you can’t convert Cash Miles to Dream Miles (or vice versa) without unlocking advanced membership status.
What are Air Miles worth?
The biggest difference between Cash Miles and Dream Miles is what you can spend them on, which dictates their maximum value.
True to their name, Cash Miles can be redeemed for in-store discounts or eVouchers for up to 10.53 cents per mile (CPM). Dream Miles are much more flexible, yielding up to 15 – 20 CPM when you spend them on travel. They can also be exchanged for merchandise and charitable donations.
Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in miles x 100 = value in cents per mile (CPM)
All in all, Air Miles Collectors have 6 redemption options available – 2 for Cash Miles and 4 for Dream Miles:
| Reward | Redemption options | Currency | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Miles Travel | * Accommodations * Car rentals * Cruises * Extras * Flights * Packages | Dream Miles | 10 – 20+ CPM |
| Personal Shopper | * Any item | Dream Miles | 10.53 CPM |
| eVouchers | Up to 60 partner stores, including: * Air Canada * Amazon * Cineplex * Dollarama * DoorDash * Indigo * Pizza Pizza * Starbucks * Uber Eats * Walmart | Cash Miles | 10.53 CPM |
| In-Store Discounts | * Irving Oil Gas* * Kent* * Pharmasave** * Shell | Cash Miles | 10.53 CPM |
| Merchandise | * Electronics * Entertainment * Fashion and beauty * Hobbies, music, and games * Home * Kids, baby, and pets * Kitchen and dining * Luggage and travel * Outdoor living * Sport and fitness * Sustainability | Dream Miles | 5 – 20+ CPM |
| Charitable Donations | * Food Banks Canada * Kids Help Phone * Motionball for Special Olympics | Dream Miles | 10 CPM |
* Only available in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
** Not available in Quebec.
How does Air Miles work?
Collecting Air Miles starts with a free account (which you can get on the Air Miles mobile app or website) or a BMO Air Miles credit card. The more Miles you collect, the higher your membership level:
- To become a Blue Collector, sign up for a free membership
- To become a Gold Collector, collect 500 – 4,999 Miles OR sign up for a BMO Air Miles Mastercard
- To become an Onyx Collector, collect 5,000+ Miles OR sign up for a BMO Air Miles World Elite or Business Mastercard
Once you achieve advanced Collector Status, you have the rest of the calendar year (January 1 – December 31) and the following year to enjoy your benefits. You must meet the membership requirements every year to avoid losing perks like:
| Benefit | Blue | Gold | Onyx |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to contests and giveaways | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Annual exclusive reward offer | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Convert between Cash and Dream | ❌ | Up to 1,000/year | Unlimited |
| Merchandise reward discount | ❌ | Up to 5% | Up to 10% |
| Access to Personal Shopper | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Priority Customer Care | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Travel earn rate | 1 Mile per $15 | 1 Mile per $10 | 1 Mile per $5 |
| Travel package earn rate | 3 Miles per $15 | 4 Miles per $10 | 5 Miles per $5 |
| No Online Travel booking fees | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customer Care Travel booking fee | $50 | $50 | $0 |
| Discount on one Travel booking during Air Miles Travel Month* | ❌ | 30% (to a max. of 250 miles) | 40% (to a max. of 500 miles) |
| No booking, change, or cancellation fees through Customer Care | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Pay for Travel with Cash + Miles | Min. 50% Miles required | Min. 50% Miles required | Min. 50% Miles required |
| Pay for Travel packages with Cash + Miles | Min. 50% Miles required | Min. 25% Miles required | Min. 1% Miles required |
* Program set to begin in 2025.
How to earn Air Miles
"Double-dipping" is using 2 or more methods to earn rewards on a single purchase; it also happens to be the fastest way to earn Air Miles.
Here are the 6 basic methods you can mix and match:
- Shopping at Air Miles partners
- Scanning Air Miles Receipts
- Shopping online offers
- Linking your Mastercard credit card
- Using a BMO Air Miles chequing account
- Using a BMO Air Miles credit card
We also highly recommend sharing an Air Miles account with multiple people, either by using a single digital membership card or requesting additional credit cards on the same account.
1. Shopping at Air Miles partners
While the Air Miles empire has shrunk, there are still 70 – 90 participating stores across Canada offering in-store Miles. Present your digital or physical membership card at the checkout to earn Miles at:
- Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National car rentals
- Boston Pizza, St. Louis Bar & Grill, Factor, and Hello Fresh
- Global Pet Foods
- IHG and Hilton
- Shell and VIA Rail
Some stores provide flat earning rates (such as 1 Mile per $30 spent) while others award Bonus Miles if you meet certain conditions. Naturally, the best shopping partner is Air Miles Travel – depending on your membership level, you can earn up to 5 Miles per $5 spent on the site.
You can browse the list of Air Miles partners and offers by province online.
2. Scanning Air Miles Receipts
Since Air Miles parted ways with Metro, Sobeys, and Safeway, there are only two ways to earn Miles on groceries: use a BMO banking card (more on that later) or scan your receipts.
First, download the Air Miles mobile app. Head to this week’s "Bonus Offers" and find something you want to buy, like a jar of Nutella for 10 Bonus Miles. After visiting a major national or regional grocery store and buying a jar, open the app and tap “Scan a Receipt” to take a pic.
Once your scan is uploaded, you should receive your Bonus Miles within 20 days or less.
3. Shopping online offers
For more shopping choices and even more Miles, head to AirMilesShops.ca. Once you’ve logged in, you can browse Bonus Offers from 250+ online retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, PetSmart, Sephora, and Walmart. Some retailers offer a flat earning rate (such as 1 mile per $20 spent before taxes and shipping) or Bonus Miles on certain purchases.
To maximize your earnings, check the site regularly for deals and download the Air Miles Shop Assistant browser extension. Any Miles you earn will appear in your account within 75 days or less.
4. Linking your Mastercard credit card
You can now earn Air Miles using any Canadian-issued Mastercard simply by linking your credit card to your Air Miles account.
A linked Mastercard won’t give you Air Miles on every purchase, but it’ll make it easier for you to pick up Bonus Offers. Visit the Card Linked Offers page online or on the Air Miles app, opt into the offer (if necessary), and use your linked credit card to pay. No need to show your membership card or provide your number.
BMO Air Miles credit cards are automatically linked to your Air Miles account.
5. Using a BMO Air Miles chequing account
If you want to maximize your Miles, you may as well go all in, right? Sign up for a BMO Air Miles Chequing Account for $17.95 per month and you’ll receive:
- 1 Air Mile per $30 spent using your BMO debit card
- 25 Bonus Miles per month with a BMO Air Miles Mastercard or World Elite Mastercard
You’ll also get unlimited transactions, a free Canadian or US Dollar savings account, and other incentives. More importantly, you can finally earn Miles on every dollar spent, not just bonus offers and partner stores.
6. Using a BMO Air Miles credit card
A BMO credit card is a must for anyone trying to maximize Air Miles. The best Air Miles credit cards in Canada earn up to 3 Miles per $12 spent at 12 stores nationwide:
- Alamo, Budget, and National Car Rental
- Global Pet Foods and Pitou Mondou & Compagnons
- Irving and Shell
- Kent and Timer Mart
- Liquor Mart and the NSLC
- Pharmasave
Plus, cardholders get rewarded with 1 Mile for every $12 – $25 of general purchases:
| Credit Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Rewards | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard | $120 |  $150 GeniusCash + Up to 9,000 bonus miles, first year free (terms) | * 1 Mile for every $12 spent * 3x the Miles for every $12 at participating Air Miles partners * 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores | Apply Now |
| BMO AIR MILES Mastercard | $0 | $20 GeniusCash + Up to 1,200 2,500 bonus miles (terms) | * 1 Mile per $25 spent on all purchases * 3x the Miles for every $25 at participating Air Miles partners * 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores | Apply Now |
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard is our top pick for rewards and benefits. Cardholders receive automatic Onyx Collector Status in the Air Miles program, plus World Elite Mastercard benefits (like a free DragonPass membership) and 14 types of travel insurance.
×1 Award winner 
GC: $150
1x Award winner If you don’t have enough income to qualify for a WE Mastercard, the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard is the next best thing. This no fee credit card provides few benefits or insurance, but you’ll still get up to 20% off Alamo and National car rentals; 7 cents off per litre at Shell, and 7% off accommodations on Booking.com.
How to gift or pool Air Miles
Collectors of all levels can gift or pool Air Miles by using the Transfer Miles page or calling Customer Care at 1-888-247-6453.
Each gift will incur a fee of 15 cents per Mile (plus tax), which also applies to merging accounts between Collectors from different households. There’s no fee for merging accounts with someone who shares your address.
Just remember, you can only transfer Cash Miles between Cash Miles accounts (and Dream Miles between Dream Miles accounts) and gifted Miles don’t count toward Collector Status.
A deceased Collector’s Air Miles may be transferred to one or more beneficiaries using the Air Miles Estate Matters form.
How to redeem Air Miles
Quick, check your Cash and Dream Miles accounts using the Air Miles mobile app or website – do you have at least 95 Cash Miles or 909 Dream Miles? Great!
Most Air Miles redemption options are available on the Air Miles Travel, Cash Rewards, Cruises, and Merchandise Rewards websites. The only rewards you can redeem in person are in-store discounts.
Remember, the most valuable redemption option is travel for 15 – 20+ CPM!
Air Miles Travel and Cruises
Redemption options: Accommodations, car rentals, extras, flights, and packages booked on Air Miles Travel, or cruises booked on RedTag
Most valuable option: An Alamo compact rental car for 1 driver in Vancouver (YVR) for a week in December, for 22.92 CPM (note that this is not common; the average value is just under 14)
Currency: Dream Miles
Air Miles Travel rewards range in value from 9 – 20+ CPM. Your mileage (heh) varies depending on what you pick:
| Travel Reward | Value | How to book |
|---|---|---|
| Packages | 10 – 15 CPM | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call Customer Care at 1-888-247-6453. |
| Car rentals | 9 – 20+ CPM | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call Customer Care at 1-888-247-6453. |
| Cruises | 11 CPM | Visit the Air Miles Vacations website or contact RedTag at 1-866-973-3824. |
| Accommodations | 10 CPM | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call Customer Care at 1-888-247-6453. |
| Flights | 10 CPM | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call Customer Care at 1-888-247-6453. |
| Extras | 10 CPM | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call Customer Care at 1-888-247-6453. |
Warning: bargain-hunting on Air Miles travel requires a spreadsheet and a lot of spare time. We found just one car rental for 22.92 CPM and one flight + accommodation package for 15.31 CPM after calculating the value of 60 redemption options over 3 trips. Changing travel dates, destinations, and brands made little difference; car rentals averaged 13.88 CPM and packages 11.49 CPM.
It’s much easier to visit the Air Miles Cruise website operated by RedTag and exchange 909 Dream Miles for $100 off your ticket for 11 CPM. Redeeming Dream Miles for Flights, Hotels or Extras on Air Miles Travel also yields a consistent value of 10 CPM.
Personal Shopper
Redemption options: Items available in Canada worth $100 CAD or more
Most valuable option: Any option for 10.53 CPM
Currency: Dream Miles
Air Miles is nearly as flexible as cash if you’re an Onyx Collector with access to the Personal Shopper service. Find something you like and you can submit a request to pay it in Dream Miles. The official estimate is 95 Dream Miles per $10 (or 10.53 CPM, the same value as in-store discounts and eVouchers).
The Customer Care team should review your request and provide a quote within 5 – 10 business days. If you accept the offer, the Dream Miles will be deducted from your account and the item delivered with no further action on your part.
That’s not to say you’ve got carte blanche. For example, you can’t exchange Dream Miles for:
- Items unavailable in Canada
- Items worth $99 CAD or less
- Alcohol, drugs, firearms, tobacco, pets, or perishable items
- Custom-made products
- Gift cards, prepaid credit cards, gift certificates, or cash equivalents
- Services (such as construction, gardening, plumbing, etc.)
In-Store Discounts and eVouchers
Redemption options: In-store discounts or eVouchers
Most valuable option: $20 Pizza Pizza eVoucher for 15.38 CPM
Currency: Cash Miles
Redeeming Cash Miles for in-store discounts and vouchers is a straightforward way to get 10.53 CPM. Present your Air Miles Card the next time you visit an In-Store Cash Rewards Partner to trade 95 Cash Miles for every $10 off the total (to a maximum of $750 per day).
The Air Miles Cash Rewards website offers eVouchers for sale for the same price. eVouchers have the advantage of occasionally going on sale – we found a $20 Pizza Pizza eVoucher for just 130 Cash Miles (down 32% from its usual price) and worth 15.38 CPM.
Air Miles recommends locking your Cash Miles account to prevent unauthorized redemptions, which you can do on the Air Miles mobile app.
Merchandise
Redemption options: Electronics; Entertainment; Fashion and Beauty; Hobbies, Music, and Games; Home; Kids, Baby, and Pets; Kitchen and Dining; Luggage and Travel; Outdoor Living; Sport and Fitness; and Sustainability
Most valuable option: Cuisinart 14" Pre-Seasoned Steel Wok with Helper Handle for 24.92 CPM
Currency: Dream Miles
While there are one or two Air Miles Merchandise Rewards worth over 20 CPM, many more are worth less than 10 CPM. As usual, the only way to tell the difference is to grab a calculator and do it yourself:
Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per mile (CPM)
Due to the lack of choice, shopping frustration, and low average value (10.39 CPM), Merchandise Rewards rank second to last. If you feel like braving the Catalogue, here are 3 tips for finding a deal:
- Check the main page frequently for deals and promotions
- Choose expensive items to apply a 5 – 10% discount for Gold and Onyx Collectors
- Shop during holidays and special events
Once you find something you like, simply add it to your cart and checkout. The price of most Merch Rewards includes shipping and handling, but the odd few carry an extra fee in cash. Sadly, there’s no expedited shipping available.
Merchandise Rewards are non-refundable, but you can submit a refund request for damaged or defective items using the Air Miles merchandise issue form within 10 days of delivery.
Charitable Donations
Redemption options: Food Banks Canada, Kids Help Phone, and Motionball for Special Olympics
Most valuable option: Any option for 10.53 CPM
Currency: Dream Miles
Like Merchandise, you can shop for Donations on the Air Miles Merchandise Rewards site. Pick a cause to support, add a $50 donation to your cart for 500 Dream Miles (10 CPM), and give yourself a hearty pat on the back after checking out.
Air Miles vs. Aeroplan
There’s one more thing to consider besides Cash Miles, Dream Miles, earning methods, and redemption options: Aeroplan Rewards. Air Canada’s official rewards program is Air Miles’ biggest competitor – but which one is better for you?
| Feature | Air Miles | Aeroplan |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Cash Miles and Dream Miles | Aeroplan Points |
| Membership requirements | Free account OR credit card | Free account OR credit card |
| Canadian credit cards | 3 | 8 |
| Airline partners | 60 | 45+ |
| Retail partners | 250+ | 250+ |
| Rewards | * Cash * Donations * Merchandise * Travel | * Cash * Merchandise * Point conversions * Travel |
| Travel rewards | * Accommodations * Car rentals * Cruises * Flights * Vacation packages | * Accommodations * Car rentals * Flights * Vacation packages |
| Best redemption option | Car rentals for 20+ CPM (very rare) | Flights for 2 CPP |
| Worst redemption option | Merchandise for 5 CPM | Gift cards for 0.71 CPP |
| Membership benefits | * Access to Air Miles Travel * Air Miles Travel Month * Annual exclusive reward * Personal Shopper | * eUpgrades * Free checked bags and priority services on Air Canada * Maple Leaf Lounge access * Preferred pricing |
We’ll give Air Miles the edge in flexibility but Aeroplan’s simplicity and earning rates win out. The best Aeroplan credit cards yield returns of up to 4.5% compared to 1.11% for the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard.
Ultimately, the deciding factor in the Air Miles vs. Aeroplan debate is a matter of preference. Because you’ll be earning and redeeming the majority of your rewards with Air Miles Travel or Air Canada, you should pick the travel company you prefer to use.
FAQ
Do Air Miles Rewards expire?
Your Cash Miles and Dream Miles will expire if you go 24 months without earning or redeeming any Air Miles whatsoever.
Does Air Miles still exist in Canada?
Air Miles continues to operate in Canada; the program celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022.
How much are 5,000 Air Miles worth?
5,000 Cash Miles are worth a $526.50 discount at the till, while 5,000 Dream Miles can be exchanged for $500 off a flight or hotel, $550 toward a cruise, and $1,000 or more on a car rental or travel package.
Where can I use Air Miles Cash Rewards?
There are 90+ stores across Canada accepting Air Miles Cash Rewards. While participating stores vary from province to province, the list of staples includes Shell, Pharmasave, VIA Rail, and Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, and National car rentals.
Are Air Miles worth it?
Air Miles rewards members who are willing to put a moderate amount of effort into the program. Maximizing your Miles requires using the Air Miles Travel website, shopping at partner stores, and checking constantly for new promotions and bonus offers.
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