AIR MILES rewards guide: How to get the most out of your AIR MILES points

Our AIR MILES rewards guide shows you how earn AIR MILES faster, how to redeem AIR MILES and how get the most out the AIR MILES Canada program.

While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.

BMO AIR MILES is Canada's most recognizable loyalty program offering members Bonus Miles on everyday purchases.

BMO AIR MILES is one of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada. With millions of active collector accounts across the country, the chances are you or someone you know is already collecting AIR MILES. 

What are AIR MILES?

The BMO AIR MILES program is a powerhouse partnership between the Bank of Montreal (BMO) and AIR MILES, one of Canada’s most popular loyalty programs. This collaboration offers Canadians a turbo-charged way to earn travel rewards, merchandise, and even cash back on their everyday spending.

The AIR MILES program launched in 1992, with BMO acquiring the program in 2023. As of 2025, the AIR MILES program boasts nearly 10 million members across Canada. and offers 3 credit cards:

BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®*

Apply Now

Get up to $1,000 in value including up to 7,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and no annual fee in your first year.†

$120 Annual Fee

Excellent Recommended Credit Score

$80,000 Required Annual Personal Income

BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®*

Apply Now

Get 1,200 AIR MILES Bonus Miles‡ and a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee.†

$0 Annual Fee

Good Recommended Credit Score

$15,000 Required Annual Personal Income

BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* for students

Apply Now

Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles.†

$0 Annual Fee

Good Recommended Credit Score

$0 Required Annual Personal Income

BMO isn’t just another player in the AIR MILES game – it’s the MVP. Here’s why:

  • Exclusive card issuer: BMO is the only major Canadian bank offering AIR MILES credit cards. This means you’re getting access to some of the most competitive AIR MILES earning rates in the country.
  • Turbo-charged earning: BMO credit cards often offer multipliers on AIR MILES earned, letting you rack up rewards faster than you can say “vacation time!”
  • Flexibility: Whether you’re a casual collector or a points-hoarding pro, BMO has a card to match your AIR MILES ambitions.
  • Extra perks: Many BMO AIR MILES cards come packed with additional benefits like travel insurance, purchase protection, and exclusive discounts

How do AIR MILES work?

AIR MILES come in two flavors: Dream Miles and Cash Miles

  • Dream Miles: Your ticket to, well, dream rewards! Use these for flights, vacation packages, merchandise, and events. Perfect for planning that bucket-list trip or scoring the latest gadget.
  • Cash Miles: The practical sibling. These can be redeemed for instant discounts at participating retailers or as statement credits. It’s like finding money in your pocket every time you shop!

While the choice is up to you, unfortunately, you can’t swap your miles to either category once you’ve earned them. In other words, if you currently have 2,000 Dream Miles, you can’t switch those to Cash Miles to make a redemption.

Cash Miles Dream Miles
Value:
95 Cash Miles = $10
Value:
Varies (often higher value for travel)
Flexibility:
High (instant discounts)
Flexibility:
Medium (more options, but less immediate)
Best for:
Everyday savings
Best for:
Travel and big-ticket items
Minimum redemption:
95 Miles
Minimum redemption:
Varies by reward
Where to use:
Partner stores, groceries
Where to use:
Travel, merchandise, events
Can convert to Dream Miles?
Yes
Can convert to Cash Miles?
No

💰 How to earn AIR MILES in Canada

In the world of reward programs, BMO AIR MILES stands out as a powerhouse for savvy Canadian consumers. Here's how to make every purchase count in the BMO AIR MILES program:

The fastest way to earn BMO AIR MILES is by getting a BMO AIR MILES credit card. BMO offers a range of AIR MILES cards for different groups:

BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®*

Card name Sign-up bonus Earning Air Miles
BMO AIR MILES® World Elite®* MasterCard®* Get up to $1,000 in value including up to 7,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and no annual fee in your first year.† 3x the Miles per $12 spent at participating AIR MILES partners*
2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*
1x the Mile for every $12 in credit card purchases, everywhere you spend*
BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®* Get 1,200 AIR MILES Bonus Miles‡ and a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee.† Earn 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners
Get 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store*
Earn 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible wholesale clubs, membership-based retailers and alcohol retailers
Earn 1x the Mile for every $25 that you spend with your credit card everywhere else

Best for: Premium travel

up to 7,000 MILES†

Welcome Bonus

$1,297

First Year Value

$297

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get up to $1,000 in value including up to 7,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and no annual fee in your first year.† Expires Jun 01, 2025

Learn More Apply Now On BMO's Secure Site

You can earn the most points per dollar – you’ll get 3x the Miles per $12 spent at participating AIR MILES partners* and 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*, and then 1x the Mile for every $12 in credit card purchases, everywhere you spend* – with the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®*. The welcome bonus of up to 7,000 AIR MILES and first year free† is the most you’ll get from any AIR MILES credit card and the annual fee waived for the first anniversary*. Other benefits include an exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year*, complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass* and a comprehensive travel insurance package*.

Disclosures:

  • *Terms and conditions apply

Best for: No annual fee

1,200 AIR MILES*

Welcome Bonus

$263

First Year Value

$143

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get 1,200 AIR MILES Bonus Miles‡ and a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee.† Expires Jun 01, 2025

Learn More Apply Now On BMO's Secure Site

Earning AIR MILES on nearly everything is the main draw for frugal cardholders with the BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®*, which collects 1x the Mile for every $25 that you spend with your credit card everywhere else on everyday purchases*, with no annual fee. Earn 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners and 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store*, and 1,200 AIR MILES Bonus Miles* as a welcome offer after reaching the required minimum spend. There are also some peripheral perks that may or may not be interesting to travellers, like a 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months, 2% fee applies to balance amounts transferred* and car rental discounts*. Learn more by reading our BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®* review.

If you’re unsure which AIR MILES card is the best fit for your lifestyle, you can use our AIR MILES calculator. Enter approximations of how much you spend in different categories each month and the features of the cards you’re comparing. The calculator will then tell you the approximate real-world value each card will give you in a year. 

Disclosures:

  • *Terms and conditions apply

Another great way to earn AIR MILES is shopping with AIR MAIL partners. AIR MILES has an all-star lineup of more than 60 partner merchants where your BMO card can earn extra miles. These options are separated based on province but offer a vast selection of merchants and brands to choose from. Some heavy hitters include:

  • Shell (for all your road trip needs)
  • Metro (grocery runs just got more rewarding)
  • LCBO (toast to extra miles)
  • Staples (office supplies with a side of miles)
  • Rexall (where filling prescriptions fills your AIR MILES account too)
  • List of AIR MILES partners

    +

    A&W

    Air Canada

    Airbnb

    Amazon

    American Eagle Outfitters

    Ardene

    Bass Pro Shops

    Bath & Body Works

    Best Buy

    Boston Pizza

    Cactus Club Cafe

    Cineplex

    DAVIDsTEA

    Decathalon

    Dollarama

    Doordash

    Dynamite

    Earls

    Edo James

    Foodtastic

    Foot Locker

    Gap brands (Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic/Athleta)

    Garage

    Golf Town

    H&M

    Harry Rosen

    Indigo

    Inspired Dining Card

    Instacart

    Joey Restaurants

    Kernels

    Kobo

    La Cage

    Landmark Cinemas

    Lululemon

    Lyft

    Mark's Work Warehouses

    Microsoft Xbox

    Nintendo

    Pharmasave

    Pizza Pizza

    Redtag

    Roots

    Sail

    Saje National Park

    Sephora

    Shell

    Skip

    Sony Playstation

    Spotify

    St. HubertStarbucks

    Subway

    The Children's Place

    Home Depot

    The Keg

    Tim Hortons

    Timber Mart

    Uber Eats

    Urban Bar

    WINNERS/HomeSense/Marshalls

    Walmart

    WaySpa

    WestJet

    sportinglife

You can also earn AIR MILES by shopping through airmilesshops.ca, the program's shopping portal. Airmilesshops.ca is your online shopping gateway to turbocharge your AIR MILES earnings.

Using airmilesshops.ca is easy:

  • Log in at airmilesshops.ca with your AIR MILES account number
  • Browse categories or search for your favorite stores
  • Click "Shop Now" to be redirected to the retailer's website
  • Shop as usual, starting with an empty cart

AIR MILES top tip: Double dip like a pro

Looking to earn even more BMO AIR MILES? Use your BMO AIR MILES credit card AND present your AIR MILES collector card for double the points.

Spending tips to boost your AIR MILES

  1. 1 Partner power: Always prioritize spending at AIR MILES partners when using your BMO card. That 3x multiplier is your fast track to rewards.
  2. 2 Groceries: Most BMO AIR MILES cards offer bonus miles on grocery purchases. Make these stores your go-to for everyday essentials.
  3. 3 Fill up then fly: Use your BMO AIR MILES card at Shell for both miles and  up to 7¢/L on premium fuel savings.
  4. 4 Double dip: When shopping online, start your journey at airmilesshops.ca. You’ll earn miles from both your BMO card and the AIR MILES shopping portal.

Bonus offers and multipliers

  • Keep an eye out for promotions: BMO and AIR MILES frequently run promotions offering bonus miles or increased earning rates. Check your email and the AIR MILES app regularly.
  • Seasonal offers: Look out for major earning events like the AIR MILES Mega Miles and Shop the Block promotions. These can supercharge your earning potential.

Cash Miles

  • Value: 95 Cash Miles = $10 off your purchase
  • Best for: Everyday savings on groceries, gas, and more
  • Flexibility: Use them on the spot at participating partners

Dream Miles

  • Value: Varies, often higher for travel redemptions
  • Best for: Travel, merchandise, and experiences
  • Flexibility: More options, but less immediate than Cash Miles

AIR MILES point valuations by award option

The value of AIR MILES varies based on how you choose to redeem them. Here’s how much value you’ll get from AIR MILES when redeeming for different awards:

  • Cash back or statement credit: 10 cents per point
  • Travel (economy class flight): 10.5 cents per point
  • Travel (business class flight): 13 cents per point
  • Hotels: 9.8 cents per point
  • Vacation packages: 11 cents per point
  • Merchandise/gift cards: 7 cents per point

Do AIR MILES expire?

AIR MILES don't expire as long as your account is inactive for 24 months.

How to keep AIR MILES from expiring

Wondering if all your AIR MILES will expire in the near future? Here's everything you need to know about keeping your miles active:

  • Earn or redeem AIR MILES with partners
  • Earn miles using airmilesshops.ca
  • Earn bonus miles by scanning a receipt with the AIR MILES mobile app
  • Use an AIR MILES credit card
  • Redeem AIR MILES
  • Transfer or gift AIR MILES

Redemption type
How to redeem
Cash Miles
Present your AIR MILES card at checkout with participating partners
Dream Miles - Travel
Book through airmiles.ca or directly with partner airlines
Dream Miles - Merchandise
Browse the online catalog at airmiles.ca
Dream Miles - Gift Cards
Select from over 150 retailers in the AIR MILES Reward Program

How to redeem AIR MILES Cash Miles

Redeeming AIR MILES Cash Miles is less complicated than redeeming AIR MILES Dream Miles.

For example, 95 Cash Miles can be redeemed for $10 in purchases at participating sponsor locations. You can redeem in-store by letting the cashier know that you want to redeem your Cash Miles when you’re checking out.

AIR MILES Cash Miles can be redeemed in increments of $10 up to $750/per Collector Cash Account, per day. Alternatively, you can redeem for vouchers at other participating merchants.

How to redeem AIR MILES Dream Rewards

AIR MILES Dream Rewards can be redeemed for a variety of experiences and products. Common rewards include flights, car rentals, hotels, tickets to attractions, and events. You can also use your points to purchase household items and electronics such as cameras, barbecues, watches, and more. Once you have a sufficient number of Dream Rewards, you can proceed to exchange your points for your desired reward online.

Please note that AIR MILES Dream Rewards gift cards are no longer available. If you are looking for vouchers to restaurants, the movies, etc., they now fall under the AIR MILES Cash Rewards program.

How to redeem AIR MILES Dream Miles for travel

The rewards proven to have the highest CPM are travel-related rewards.

These high CPM include hotels, attractions, car rentals, events, and flights. When redeeming for travel you’ll still want to use your AIR MILES calculator to make sure you are getting a good CPM, but you can rest a little easier knowing that these reward categories generally make your miles go further.

For the highest CPM on AIR MILES flights, your best bet is to choose short-haul domestic flights rather than long-haul international flights.

Interprovincial flights typically offer the most value since they are usually expensive when paying cash, but they’re considered short haul within the AIR MILES program. Last minute flights also tend to have a significantly higher CPM than flights booked in advance. While this may not always work for your travel needs, it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you want the highest value possible for the miles you’ve accumulated.

Note that you can also redeem 909 AIR MILES for $100 in purchases at redtag.ca. That gives you a CPM of $0.11 which is a decent value.

How many AIR MILES points do I need for a flight?

AIR MILES calculates flight redemption rates based on distance. Generally speaking, you can get the most out of your Dream Miles when you redeem them for short-haul flights. Redeeming miles for roundtrip tickets on these popular routes will cost:

Route Air Miles required in low season Air Miles required in high season
Toronto to New York City 1,400 1,700
Vancouver to San Diego 2,500 3,000
Calgary to San Francisco 3,000 4,000
Winnipeg to Cancun 5,000 7,500
Montreal to Paris 6,000 9,000

To find out exactly how many points it’ll take to reach your destination, check out this helpful interactive map.

Airlines set aside a limited number of seats for loyalty program travellers, so your flight choices will likely be more limited than they would be if you were to buy them outright on the market. While redeeming the cost of the flight in AIR MILES, remember that you’re still on the hook for any taxes and fees associated with the flight.

Read more: AIR MILES calculator

Can you transfer AIR MILES from Dream Miles to Cash Miles?

As soon as you sign up for an AIR MILES account, you will have to choose how you want to allocate your points. Your options are Cash Rewards, Dream Rewards, or both. You can choose to earn all your AIR MILES as one or the other, or a combination of the two. Although you can change your earn allocation at any time, once the points have actually been earned as Cash or Dream Rewards miles, you can’t transfer them between the two.

Just how many AIR MILES you earn also depends on your AIR MILES tier status. The program has three tiers:

  1. 1 Blue (Basic)
  2. 2 Gold
  3. 3 Onyx

Blue

Blue status is where everyone begins. Here’s what you get:

  • Basic earn rate: 1 Mile for every $20 spent at partner stores
  • Access to Dream and Cash Miles redemptions
  • Ability to use Cash Miles in-store

Gold

Gold status is where things start to get interesting. Here’s what you need to know:

How to Qualify:

  • Collect between 500 and 5,999 Miles in a calendar year
  • OR get it automatically with a BMO AIR MILES Mastercard or BMO AIR MILES Business Mastercard (no-fee version)

What You Get:

  • 20% bonus on Miles earned at participating partners
  • Exclusive Gold Collector offers
  • 1 Mile for every $10 spent on travel bookings (that’s twice as nice as Blue!)

Onyx

Onyx status is the AIR MILES equivalent of flying first class while sipping champagne and eating caviar. It’s the good life, and here’s how you get it:

How to Qualify:

  • Collect 6,000 or more Miles in a calendar year
  • OR get it automatically with a BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard

What You Get:

  • 50% bonus on Miles earned at participating partners
  • Exclusive Onyx Collector offers
  • 1 Mile for every $5 spent on travel bookings (now we’re talking!)
  • Priority customer service line (because your time is precious)
  • Exclusive events and experiences

AIR MILES pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • Flexibility: Spend your miles as Cash Miles or Dream Miles. Even better, miles don't expire

  • Extensive partner network: Earn miles at hundreds of partners, from gas stations to grocery stores

  • Competitive credit cards: BMO AIR MILES credit cards offer competitive earn rates on travel, groceries and other purchase

  • No blackout dates: There are no blackout dates when redeeming miles for travel

Cons

Cons

  • Value differentiation: Mile values can fluctuate, especially for flights

  • Heavy cost for best rewards: Want that first-class ticket? Be prepared to part with a mountain of miles.

  • Slow miles posting: Miles can take up to 60 days to show up in your account

Is AIR MILES worth it?

You don’t have to be a jet setter to rack up frequent flyer points to travel for free. Turns out, the best way to collect points is on the ground, using AIR MILES credit cards to supercharge the way you earn them. If you collect AIR MILES, already do most of your shopping with participating sponsors, and pay off your balance in full each month, using an AIR MILES credit card makes all kinds of sense.

Read more: Best AIR MILES credit cards Canada

Disclosures:

  • BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

AIR MILES points FAQs

  • How many AIR MILES do I need for a free flight?

    +

    The amount of AIR MILES you need for a free one-way flight can be anywhere between 3,000 to 20,000 miles depending on the destination you're traveling to. Check out our flight redemption table for more information.

  • Is AIR MILES owned by BMO?

    +

    Yes, BMO is the owner of AIR MILES. In 2023, BMO declared the full acquisition of LoyaltyOne’s AIR MILES Reward Program.

  • What is the AIR MILES Rewards Program?

    +

    The AIR MILES Rewards Program is a popular Canadian loyalty program that lets members earn AIR MILES points through purchases at participating retailers and service providers. These points can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, including travel, exclusive AIR MILES merchandise, events and much more.

  • How can I earn AIR MILES points?

    +

    You can earn AIR MILES points by shopping at partner retailers, using affiliated credit cards, and engaging with promotional offers. Each partner may offer different earning rates and opportunities, so it's beneficial to check with individual partners for specific details.

  • What can I redeem with my AIR MILES points?

    +

    AIR MILES points can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, such as flights, hotel stays, electronics, gift cards, and entertainment experiences. The program offers flexibility to choose rewards that suit your preferences and lifestyle.

  • Do AIR MILES points expire?

    +

    AIR MILES points do not expire as long as your account remains active. To keep your account active, you need to earn or redeem at least one AIR MILES point within a 24-month period. Inactive accounts may be subject to point expiration.

Daniel Teo is a personal finance expert and travel writer based in Toronto. With a passion for financial literacy and a wanderlust that has brought him to over 30 countries, his stories touch on what’s possible when you achieve financial goals. His work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, CBC and on BNN.

Cory Santos Credit card expert

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

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