The new BMO Blue Rewards Mastercards are here. And now, we can finally say goodbye to the AIR MILES program that many of you have loved.
Anyone who had a BMO AIR MILES Mastercard is being transitioned to a corresponding Blue Rewards card.
These new cards are packed full of features, but are a little light on the rewards side of things. Let's dig into what the BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard and the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard have to offer.
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Summary of BMO Blue Rewards Mastercards
First, here are some of the main features included with the new BMO Blue Rewards Mastercards.
| BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard | BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 20,000 bonus points (terms)* | $125 GeniusCash + Up to 100,000 bonus points, first year free (terms)* |
| Earn Rates | * 5 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners* * 1 point per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases* * 0.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases* | * 10 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners* * 2 points per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases* * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases* |
| Average Earn Rate | 0.58% | 1.16% |
| Features | * 0.99% on balance transfers for 9 months*
* Roadside assistance* | * Roadside assistance*
* 4 airport lounge passes* * 0% on balance transfers for 12 months* |
| Insurance Coverages | 2 types | 12 types |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $150 |
| Income Requirements | None | * $80,000 personal
* $150,000 household |
What are Blue Rewards worth?
Let's start with how you can redeem your Blue Rewards. Basically, all the same options for redeeming points you had with AIR MILES still exist with Blue Rewards. These include:
- Travel
- e-Vouchers
- Merchandise
- Events and attractions
- Live event tickets
We'll have full data on the value for each option soon. For now, we'll stick to what were the most common redemptions – e-Vouchers and travel.
With e-Vouchers, 1,500 points can get you a $10 voucher to many Blue Rewards partners, making each point worth 0.67 cents.
For travel, we looked at a few bookings, and the value is around 0.64 cents per point. A similar setup to how AIR MILES ended – e-Vouchers were worth slightly more than travel bookings.
As with Air Miles, you can use Blue Rewards to book flights or hotels.
BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard
The BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard is the no-annual-fee card of the group, replacing the old BMO AIR MILES Mastercard.
To get you started, you'll earn 20,000 Blue Rewards points after spending $1,500 in the first 110 days.
You can also earn $100 in GeniusCash when you apply for the card through us.
On purchases, here's what you'll earn:
- 5 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners*
- 1 point per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases*
- 0.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases*
Spending $3,000 per month on various categories will get you 31,050 rewards points per year.
Seems like a lot, and this brings us to a bit of a downside with Blue Rewards cards – unless you spend lots at Blue Rewards partners, the rewards are just fair.
Based on a $3,000 monthly spend split across typical categories such as groceries and gas, you'll earn an average 0.58% return on your purchases. To get the most return, you'll have to spend a lot at Blue Rewards partner stores.
There are a few key perks that this card offers. Credit card debt? This card comes with a balance transfer offer – 0.99% for the first 9 months, with a 2% transfer fee.
This is also a rare credit card that offers complimentary roadside assistance.
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard
The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard takes everything up a few notches for a $150 annual fee. This card replaces the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard.
The welcome bonus is large – 100,000 after spending $5,000 in the first 110 days, $10,000 in the first 6 months and $20,000 in the first year.
It also has a GeniusCash offer of $125.
The rewards are also vastly increased:
- 10 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners*
- 2 points per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases*
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
These rates will give you around 62,100 rewards if you spend $3,000 per month. The return? Still only 0.58%, which is lower than many other World Elite Mastercards.
But it has a bevy of perks to make up for it. It also includes a balance transfer offer – one of the best in Canada. The offer is 0% for the first 12 months, with a 2% transfer fee.
Want airport lounge access? The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard has you covered. It comes with a Mastercard Travel Pass membership, along with 4 free lounge passes per year.
And, like the other Blue Rewards card, it also includes free roadside assistance should you ever need it.
To top it off, it has the same insurance package as other BMO World Elite Mastercards, with 12 types included. Here is everything that is included.
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite®* Mastercard®*
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $2,000,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $2,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $200 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $750 |
| Personal Effects | $750 |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
GC: $125
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FAQ
What is Blue Rewards?
Blue Rewards was formerly known as the AIR MILES program. BMO has rebranded the program and created new credit cards. The new program has all the same redemption options as before, including travel and e-Vouchers.
What does the BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard offer?
The BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard offers cardholders up to 5 points per $1 spent on purchases, comes with an introductory balance transfer offer, and includes free roadside assistance – all for no annual fee.
What does the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard offer?
The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard offers up to 10 points per $1 spent on purchases. It also comes with 4 free lounge passes per year, roadside assistance, 12 types of insurance, and a balance transfer offer – all for a $150 annual fee.
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GC: 
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