Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Canada for 2025
Credit cards that boost your Air Miles rewards earnings.
There aren't many Air Miles options, but the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* is the best Air Miles credit card out there. As a World Elite Mastercard, you’ll enjoy luxurious perks and benefits that help offset the card’s annual fee.
However, the right Air Miles credit card for you also depends on whether you are willing to pay an annual fee or if you’re looking for business benefits. We’ll break down each of your options so you can find a card tailored to you.
Key Takeaways
- The best Air Miles credit card is the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard.
- Air Miles members can earn Cash Miles and Dream Miles by shopping at participating stores, taking advantage of bonus offers, and using a BMO Air Miles credit card.
- Cash Miles can be redeemed on in-store discounts and evouchers for 10.5 cents apiece.
- Dream Miles can be redeemed on merchandise or travel for about 9.5 – 12.7 cents apiece.
The best Air Miles cards compared
Although the Air Miles rewards program has experienced some turbulence, it remains one of the best rewards programs in Canada. We’re hoping BMO’s partnership with Costco signals a return to form – so if you like to shop in bulk (and travel), why not collect miles at the same time?
There are three official Air Miles credit cards available in Canada, all issued by BMO. We ranked them according to their ability to earn Air Miles, provide credit card insurance for shopping and travelling, and collect a reasonable annual fee.
| Category | Credit card | Welcome bonus | Annual Fee | Types of insurance Included | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Air Miles card overall | BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* |  $150 GeniusCash + Up to 9,000 bonus miles, first year free (terms) | $120 | 14 | Apply Now |
| Best no fee Air Miles card | BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* | $20 GeniusCash + Up to 1,200 2,500 bonus miles (terms) | $0 | 2 | Apply Now |
| Best business Air Miles card | BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* | Up to 8,000 miles (terms) | $149 | 13 | Apply Now |
Note: The BMO Air Miles Mastercard for students has been discontinued. Students are encouraged to check out the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for students instead.
1. Best Air Miles credit card
×1 Award winner 
GC: $150
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 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
If you meet the card’s high income requirements and don’t mind paying an annual fee of $120, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard gives you the highest earn rate of any Air Miles credit card. First, there’s the welcome bonus: for a limited time, you’ll enjoy up to 9,000 bonus Air Miles (the biggest bonus of any card on our list) plus save up to 32 cents per litre on gas at Shell stations.
Then there’s the earnings potential. The standard earn rate is 1 Mile per $12 spent, but it jumps to 2 Miles at grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores (need a new Costco card?), and 3 Miles if you shop at a partner like Shell or Pharmasave.
With this premium Air Miles card, you’ll enjoy automatic Onyx status, allowing you to earn up to 1 Mile per $5 spent on Air Miles Travel and 5x the Miles when you bundle at least two travel products. And since it’s a World Elite Mastercard, you’ll enjoy travel perks like concierge service, a free DragonPass membership, car and hotel discounts, and the best travel insurance of any credit card in Canada.
The catch? You need a high income to qualify.
Pros:
- 25% off one Air Miles flight redemption per year
- 24/7 credit score monitoring with CreditView
- Up to 20% off Alamo and National car rentals, and up to 4% off Enterprise
- 14 types of insurance
- Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Up to 7% off accommodations on Booking.com
- Automatic Air Miles Onyx status
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
Cons:
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required
- Lower rewards than other premium cards
2. Best no fee Air Miles credit card
Rewards:
- 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
You don’t have to pay an annual fee to get an Air Miles credit card that gives you great rewards. The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard is not only a no fee credit card, but it also has a much lower income requirement. You won’t get the premium perks, but you’ll still earn 1 Mile per $25 spent and get the usual multipliers at partner and food, liquor, and wholesale stores.
Plus, the card has a super low promotional balance transfer interest rate (0.99 % for 9 months) – so if you’re carrying credit card debt, now might be the time to tackle it. Cardholders looking for Air Miles rewards won’t be disappointed. You’ll earn automatic Gold status, which gives you 1 Mile per $10 spent on the Air Miles Travel website, 4x the Miles for bundling travel products, and up to 5% off merchandise rewards.
Pros:
- Only $15,000 of personal income required
- 24/7 credit score monitoring with CreditView
- 20% off tickets to Cirque du Soleil and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas
- Up to 20% off Alamo and National car rentals, and up to 4% off Enterprise
- Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Up to 7% off accommodations on Booking.com
- No annual fee
- Automatic Air Miles Gold status
Cons:
- Only 2 types of insurance included
- Lower rewards than other no fee credit cards
3. BMO Air Miles World Elite Business Mastercard
Rewards:
- 1 mile for every $12 spent
- 4x the miles at participating Air Miles partners
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Business Mastercard gives you some of the highest earn rates of any Air Miles credit card, but businesses enjoy more useful benefits. You’ll get one of the best insurance packages of any credit card and an extended grace period on your purchases.
This card also provides protection if you suspect a cardholder is misusing funds. Specifically, you have the option to waive that cardholder’s liability for wrongful charges.
Pros:
- Get up to 8,000 welcome bonus AIR MILES
- Includes 13 types of insurance
- Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell
Cons:
- Low rewards compared to other premium cards
- High income requirements
How we get our rankings
Our Genius Ratings are based on an evaluation of 120+ credit card features broken into seven categories:
- Rewards (54%)
- Fees (13%)
- Insurance (11%)
- Perks (11%)
- Interest (5%)
- Acceptance (3%)
- Approval (3%)
It seemed fitting for a list of the best Air Miles credit cards in Canada to give more weight to rewards, followed by fees and insurance. The creditcardGenius algorithm crowned the winner based on how many miles they’d earn after $2,000 of typical monthly spending.
Compare top Air Miles cards by Genius Rating
×1 Award winner GC: $150 1x Award winner Learn more about the Genius Rating methodology
Pros and cons of Air Miles credit cards
To be frank, the going’s been rough ever since Air Miles declared bankruptcy. Although BMO swooped in to make a purchase and save the day, the program’s competitiveness has suffered as a result.
- Advanced Mile earning rates
- Earn more Miles at participating stores
- Automatic Gold or Onyx membership status
- Even higher rewards during Air Miles promotions
- Excellent welcome offer bonuses
- Multiple car rental and entertainment partner discounts
- Miles can be gifted and pooled
Cons:
- A limited selection of co-branded cards
- Fewer retail partners than competitors like Aeroplan or Scene+
- Lower earning rates than credit cards in the same categories
- No points conversion partners
- Understanding Cash Miles vs. Dream Miles can be confusing
How does Air Miles work?
Air Miles is one of the longest-running and simplest rewards programs in Canada. Collectors earn "Miles" on certain purchases, which they can redeem for a variety of rewards.
But the company has complicated things with the introduction of Cash Miles and Dream Miles. In brief:
- Cash Miles can only be redeemed on Cash Rewards (ie, cash vouchers or in-store discounts) at a rate of 95 Cash Miles per $10 off (or 10.5 cents per Mile).
- Dream Miles can only be redeemed for Dream Rewards – which include entertainment, merchandise, and travel – for up to 12.7 cents per Mile
Before you start collecting Miles (and at any point during), you can choose to collect only one type or a mix of the two. Fortunately, it’s now possible to convert Cash Miles to Dream Miles and vice versa – but only if you have Gold or Onyx membership status.
Should you collect Cash Miles or Dream Miles?
We like that you can choose between Cash Miles and Dream Miles, but we don’t love that you have to research both options. In a nutshell, here’s what we like about each one:
Cash Miles
Best for: frequent shoppers who want to save on everyday purchases
- You can redeem miles instantly (for instance, 95 Miles equals $10 off)
- You can use miles for gas, groceries, and with other participating partners
Dream Miles
Best for: people who are saving for long-term goals and big-ticket rewards
- You can redeem miles for travel, merchandise, and experiences
- These typically have better value per mile than Cash Miles
How do you choose? If you’re looking for immediate savings, your best bet is to choose Cash Miles. If you’re saving up for a big reward like a vacation or trip, pick Dream Miles.
Remember: You can divide the miles you earn in the future between both types, but you can’t switch them once you’ve earned them.
How to earn Air Miles
You can earn Air Miles by:
- Presenting your membership card at Air Miles partners
- Taking advantage of bonus offers and promotions
- Using a BMO Air Miles chequing account
- Using a BMO Air Miles credit card
The more Miles you collect, the higher your membership level. You can join for free at the Blue level, move up to Gold after 500 miles, and reach Onyx once you’ve broken the 5,000-mile mark.
Besides the ability to convert Cash Miles and Dream Miles, Gold and Onyx members enjoy higher earning rates on Air Miles Travel bookings, discounts on merchandise rewards, and annual discounts on flight redemptions.
How to redeem Air Miles
Not all Air Miles rewards are created equal, nor is there a single way to redeem them. Here’s how to use your Miles and how much they’re worth:
| Reward category | Average value (cents per mile) | Type of mile | How to redeem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car rentals | 12.7 | Dream Miles | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call customer service. |
| Vacation packages | 11 | Dream Miles | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call customer service. |
| eVoucher | 10.5 | Cash Miles | Visit the Air Miles Cash Rewards website to redeem 95 Cash Miles for a $10 eVoucher. |
| Flights | 10.5 | Dream Miles | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call customer service. |
| In-store discount | 10.5 | Cash Miles | Present your membership card at checkout to exchange 95 Cash Miles for a $10 discount. |
| Attractions | 10.2 | Dream Miles | Visit the Air Miles Rewards website to purchase tickets for movies, concerts, zoos, and more. |
| Hotels | 9.8 | Dream Miles | Visit the Air Miles Travel website or call customer service. |
| Merchandise | 9.5 | Dream Miles | Visit the Air Miles Rewards website to purchase toys, electronics, kitchen appliances, and more. |
Learn more about the Air Miles program and how to maximize your rewards
Calculate how much your Air Miles are worth
Wondering how much your Air Miles are worth and how best to spend them? Check out our Air Miles rewards calculator.
| Redemption Option | Point Value | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| Car rentals | 12.7 cents | $127 |
| Vacation packages | 11 cents | $110 |
| Attractions | 10.8 cents | $108 |
| Flights | 10.5 cents | $105 |
| AIR MILES Cash | 10.5 cents | $105 |
| Hotels | 9.8 cents | $98 |
| Merchandise | 9.5 cents | $95 |
Air Miles vs. Aeroplan
So, how does Air Miles stack up to Air Canada’s reward program, Aeroplan? Since you already know how the Air Miles program works, take a quick look at Aeroplan:
Pros:
- Better benefits like airport lounge access, free checked baggage, a free in-flight alcoholic beverage and snack, and free seat selection
- Better credit card options, including a wider selection of cards issued by more banks that have better rates of return and premium perks
- Better earning opportunities through its online shopping portal, bonus opportunities, credit cards, and travel rewards
Cons:
- Less straightforward redemption process – redeeming points for the most value by booking Air Canada travel can be complicated
| Feature | Aeroplan | Air Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Membership requirements | Aeroplan credit card OR free account | BMO AIR MILES credit card OR free account |
| Currency | * Aeroplan Points | * Cash Miles * Dream Miles |
| Rewards | * Events and attractions * Gift cards * Merchandise * Travel | * Events and attractions * In-store discounts * Gift cards * Merchandise * Travel |
| Top rewards category | Air Canada flights (4 CPP) | Concerts (21.6 CPP) |
| Bottom rewards category | Gift cards (0.71 CPP) | Merchandise (7.7 CPP) |
| Special membership benefits | * Flight eUpgrade credits * Free checked bags and priority services on Air Canada flights * Maple Leaf Lounge access | * Priority customer service * Travel bookings by phone |
While Air Miles and Aeroplan are both competent rewards programs, Aeroplan slightly edges out Air Miles with its larger earning power, generally making it more valuable to an average customer. That said, always do your due diligence and look into the details of both rewards programs to see which one will be better for you.
Learn more: Air Miles vs. Aeroplan: Which is better?
Is the Air Miles program worth it?
Generally speaking, Air Miles is a good rewards program. The extent of your rewards will depend significantly on your spending habits, but as a free program that’s easy to use, there are virtually no downsides to joining the Air Miles program.
Many people continue to use the program, even over 30 years after its inception:
The general consensus seems to be that the Air Miles program can be worth it, though you’ll have to put in a little extra effort to see real value from it.
FAQ
Can you get Air Miles without a credit card?
You can start collecting Cash Miles and Dream Miles with a free Air Miles account and a digital or physical membership card. You don’t need a qualifying credit card to earn miles, but you’ll maximize earnings if you do.
Which is the best credit card for collecting Air Miles?
The best Air Miles credit card in Canada is the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, which lets you earn up to 3 Miles per $12 spent. You’ll also get automatic Onyx status, which boosts your earnings, and a free DragonPass membership.
Can I combine Air Miles with other loyalty programs?
Unfortunately, at this time, you can’t combine Air Miles with points from different loyalty programs or convert your Air Miles to points in another loyalty program. Air Miles only work within the BMO Rewards program.
What should I consider when choosing an Air Miles credit card?
Ask yourself if you mind paying an annual fee. If not, you might spring for the premium World Elite Mastercard, which earns the most points and has the best insurance. Otherwise, the standard Mastercard is your best bet.
Are there any fees associated with redeeming Air Miles?
Although there are no fees for redeeming Cash Miles, you may have to pay surcharges, taxes, and fees when you redeem Dream Miles for travel, merchandise, or events. Pay attention to terms and conditions when redeeming Miles.
What is the difference between Air Miles and Aeroplan?
The main difference is how you collect points. Air Miles allows you to earn points on a wider range of everyday purchases. Aeroplan only grants you points when you travel with Air Canada or make purchases with certain partnered businesses.
How many miles do you need for a free flight?
Booking a flight through the Air Miles Travel website yields an average value of 10.5 cents per Mile, so you’d need 2,850 Miles for a $300 flight. You can experiment to find a trip that fits your budget.
Does TD have an Air Miles credit card?
TD Canada Trust doesn’t have an Air Miles credit card; the only bank that can issue Air Miles credit cards is BMO. If you’re set on getting an Air Miles credit card, you'll need to apply through BMO.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 226 Canadian credit cards.
