Air Miles is one of Canada’s oldest and most widely used loyalty programmes, with over 11 million active collector accounts. Operated by LoyaltyOne, Air Miles allows Canadians to earn rewards at a wide network of partner brands — from grocery stores and pharmacies to Shell gas stations — and redeem them for flights, travel packages, merchandise, and cash-equivalent purchases.
Air Miles at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme owner | Air Miles Reward Program (LoyaltyOne) |
| Two currencies | Dream Miles (travel rewards) and Cash Miles (in-store cash) |
| No expiry | Miles don’t expire (as of 2023 policy change) |
| Primary credit card partner | BMO Financial Group |
| Major collecting partners | Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Rexall, Shell, Staples, Home Hardware |
| Primary booking platform | airmiles.ca |
Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Canada 2026
1. BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard — Best Overall
Annual fee: $120 | Network: Mastercard | Income required: $80,000 personal / $150,000 household
The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is the premium offering in the Air Miles credit card lineup, earning the highest rate of any BMO Air Miles card:
Earn rates:
- 3 Air Miles per dollar at Air Miles partner locations (Sobeys, Shell, Rexall, etc.)
- 2 Air Miles per dollar at grocery stores and everyday spending not at partner locations
- 1.25 Air Miles per dollar on all other purchases
Welcome bonus: Typically 2,000 to 3,000 bonus Air Miles — confirm current offer at bmo.com
Key benefits:
- Complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi access at 1 million+ hotspots worldwide
- Comprehensive travel insurance (emergency medical, trip cancellation, baggage)
- 25% discount on Air Miles Flight Reward bookings
- Mastercard network (accepted at Costco Canada)
Annual fee justification: Earn 2 Air Miles per dollar on all non-partner purchases. On $30,000/year in general spend: 60,000 Air Miles. At 10 cents each (Cash Miles value) = $600 — well above the $120 fee.
2. BMO Air Miles Mastercard — Best No-Fee Air Miles Card
Annual fee: $0 | Network: Mastercard | Income required: None specified
The BMO Air Miles Mastercard offers Air Miles earning with no annual fee — the best option for Canadians who want to participate in the programme without a commitment.
Earn rates:
- 2 Air Miles per dollar at Air Miles partner locations
- 1 Air Miles per dollar on all other purchases
Key difference from World Elite: Lower earn rate on non-partner spend (1 mile vs. 2 miles). At $2,000/month in non-partner spend, the World Elite earns an extra 12,000 miles/year — worth approximately $120 in Cash Miles. The $120 annual fee on World Elite essentially breaks even with the extra earn at this spend level.
Best for: Moderate Air Miles collectors who don’t want an annual fee, or those just getting started with the programme.
3. BMO Air Miles Mastercard for Business — Best for Business Owners
Annual fee: $120 | Network: Mastercard
Designed for small business owners who want to earn Air Miles on business expenses:
Earn rates:
- 3 Air Miles per dollar at Air Miles partners
- 1.5 Air Miles per dollar on all business purchases
Best for: Business owners who shop at Air Miles partners for supplies (Staples, Shell) and want to funnel business spend into Air Miles.
Understanding Air Miles Redemptions
Dream Miles: Flight Redemptions
Air Miles Dream Miles can be used to book flights through the Air Miles Flight Rewards programme. There are two booking methods:
Fixed Rewards (Zone-based chart):
| Route | Dream Miles Required |
|---|---|
| Short Canadian hop (Toronto–Ottawa, Calgary–Edmonton) | ~450 Dream Miles |
| Mid-range (Toronto–Montreal, Vancouver–Calgary) | ~550 Dream Miles |
| Transcontinental Canada (Toronto–Vancouver) | ~750–950 Dream Miles |
| Canada–US short haul (Toronto–New York) | ~750 Dream Miles |
| Canada–US transcontinental (Toronto–Los Angeles) | ~1,000–1,200 Dream Miles |
| Canada–Europe economy | ~2,500–3,500 Dream Miles |
Calculated Flights (cash-based pricing): Dream Miles worth approximately 10 to 14 cents each under this method. A $500 flight costs approximately 3,500 to 5,000 Dream Miles depending on the calculation applied.
Cash Miles: In-Store and Statement Redemptions
Cash Miles can be redeemed for in-store purchases at participating Air Miles partners by scanning your Air Miles card at the point of sale. 95 Cash Miles = $10 in purchase credits at eligible partners (Sobeys, Shell, Rexall, etc.).
This gives Cash Miles a value of approximately 10.5 cents each — slightly better than their face value in some redemptions.
Cash Miles can also be redeemed for:
- Statement credits against your BMO Air Miles credit card
- Merchandise and experiences through the Air Miles catalogue
Earning Air Miles at Partner Stores (Without a Credit Card)
You can earn Air Miles at partner locations by scanning your Air Miles card even when paying with any other method:
| Partner | Earn Rate |
|---|---|
| Sobeys / Safeway / IGA / Foodland | Varies by promotion; base 1 mile per $20 spent |
| Shell | 1 mile per 20 litres of fuel |
| Rexall | Varies by promotion |
| Staples | 1 mile per $20 spent |
| Home Hardware | Varies by promotion |
| Boston Pizza | 1 mile per $20 spent |
Stack your earning: Use your BMO Air Miles credit card at partner stores to earn both credit card miles AND partner scan miles simultaneously.
Air Miles vs Competing Canadian Programmes
| Programme | Fixed Value | Transfer Options | Best Redemption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Miles Dream | 10–14 ¢/mile | None | Flights (fixed chart) |
| Air Miles Cash | ~10.5 ¢/mile | None | In-store at partners |
| Aeroplan | 1.5–4 ¢/point | Amex MR, Marriott | Star Alliance business class |
| Scene+ | ~1 ¢/point | None | Travel booking / Cineplex |
| PC Optimum | ~1 ¢/point | None | Loblaws grocery |
Key takeaway: Air Miles delivers competitive value on domestic flight redemptions, but Aeroplan is generally more flexible and delivers better value on international business class awards. Air Miles excels for Canadians who want to earn while shopping at Sobeys, Shell, and Rexall without needing to fly much.