How to Maximize the Air Miles/Blue Rewards Program

Air Miles rewards have been a cornerstone of Canadian loyalty programs for decades, giving collectors the opportunity to turn everyday spending into dream vacations and practical savings.

Whether you're new to the program or looking to optimize your strategy, knowing the ins and outs of earning and redeeming can significantly boost your rewards balance. The biggest tip you should know is that Air Miles is rebranding as Blue Rewards.

Blue Rewards credit cards are replacing Air Miles credit cards, taking a sizable chunk out of credit card rewards.

The guide below explains what the current Air Miles program is, how to earn and redeem Miles, what to redeem them for, and much more. Keep in mind that all of this information is subject to change as more information about the rebrand is released.

What is Air Miles?

Air Miles is one of Canada's most popular loyalty rewards programs, open to anyone with a free membership or a co-branded credit card issued by the Bank of Montreal (BMO). Collectors earn Miles by shopping with participating retailers, using partner credit cards, or booking through Air Miles Travel.

The Air Miles program has weathered many changes, the biggest of which is switching from 1 currency to 2 – Cash Miles and Dream Miles – and then back to a single currency (as of January 25, 2026). Cash and Dream Miles have officially been merged into a single balance.

Each Mile you earn has a set redemption value depending on what you use it for, but the best value typically comes from travel rewards. When you collect enough Miles, you can cover all or part of your trip costs without paying full price out of pocket.

As Air Miles user Samantha Kohn explains, "This summer, I used my Air Miles to pay for a flight to Prince Edward Island for my husband and me. It felt great to turn everyday spending into a real trip – it was one of those moments where we actually saw the rewards pay off!"

Air Miles overview

Currency: Miles

Reward categories: Air Miles Travel, Charitable Donations, eVouchers, In-Store Discounts, Merchandise, Personal Shopper

Pros:

• 300+ online stores awarding Miles
• In-store partners vary by province
• 6 ways to collect Miles
• 6 ways to redeem Miles
• 3 Air Miles credit cards (changing to Blue Rewards cards this summer)
• 3 membership tiers
• Miles worth up to 10.5 cents CAD each
• Free membership, no credit card required
• No blackout dates on reward stays or flights
• Miles can be gifted and pooled

Cons:

• Miles worth as little as 5 cents CAD each
• Very few 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

What are Air Miles worth?

Air Miles recently streamlined their reward denominations, so you no longer have to keep track of Cash Miles or Dream Miles. Instead, you can use your Miles for travel, personal shopping, eVouchers, merchandise, and charitable donations, with their value varying from 5 to 10.53 CPM.

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:

Note that some options are only available in certain provinces.

How does Air Miles work?

Collecting Air Miles (soon to be Blue Rewards) 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 in a calendar year OR sign up for a BMO Air Miles Mastercard.
• To become an Onyx Collector, collect 5,000+ Miles in a calendar year OR sign up for a BMO Air Miles World Elite or Business Mastercard.

Note that both Gold and Onyx Collector Statuses will eventually phase out, so related information will change accordingly.

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:

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:

1. Shopping at Air Miles partners
2. Scanning Air Miles receipts
3. Shopping online offers
4. Linking your Mastercard credit card
5. 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 over 50 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 (requires a Mastercard linked to your account), Factor, and Hello Fresh
• Global Pet Foods
• IHG and Hilton
• 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.

Note that Shell is no longer an Air Miles partner. Instead, Shell has partnered with Scene+, as well as Scotiabank and Tangerine. But Irving remains in the Air Miles family.

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 picture.

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 300+ 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 credit card

A BMO credit card is a must for anyone trying to maximize Air Miles/Blue Rewards.

BMO's former Air Miles credit cards are no longer available, and existing cardholders are being transitioned to new Blue Rewards Mastercards. You can still use your current Air Miles card until your new card arrives.

Blue Rewards cards aren't available just yet, but there's a waitlist if you're interested.

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, any Miles transferred won't count towards reaching AIR MILES Gold or Onyx status for the recipient.

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

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 eVouchers for travel, since each Mile is worth 10.5 cents.

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).

Air Miles Travel rewards range in value from 9 – 20+ CPM. Your mileage varies depending on what you pick:

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 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 10.5 CPM

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 for it in Miles. The official estimate is 95 Miles per $10 (or ~10.5 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 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 Miles for:

• Items unavailable in Canada
• 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

Redeeming 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 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.

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

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

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 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?

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 Miles will expire if you go 24 months without earning or redeeming any Air Miles whatsoever. To keep your account active, make a purchase that earns Miles or redeem some of your Miles at least once every year or so.

Does Air Miles still exist in Canada?

Air Miles continues to operate in Canada; the program celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. However, BMO announced that it's transitioning the program to a newer rewards program called Blue Rewards. The new program will begin in summer 2026.

How much are 5,000 Air Miles worth?

When you plug 5,000 Miles into our Air Miles calculator, you'll see that they're worth the most when redeemed for cruises (at a value of $550). Your worst redemption option is merchandise, which only nets you a $475 value.

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 Pharmasave, VIA Rail, and car rentals from Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, and National.

Are Air Miles worth it?

Air Miles rewards are worth it to 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.