BMO Rewards is a straightforward programme: earn points on purchases, redeem through the travel portal. There are no transfer partners and no complex award charts. The upside is simplicity; the downside is a fixed ceiling on point value (0.67¢/pt).
Here is how to get the most from your BMO Rewards balance.
Redemption #1: Travel Portal Flights and Hotels
Value: ~0.67 cents per point
The BMO Rewards travel portal is the best and only high-value redemption available. Any flight, hotel, or car rental with available inventory can be booked with points at the rate of 150 points = $1.
When the travel portal makes sense:
- Booking economy flights on any airline
- Hotel stays where Award availability isn’t a factor
- Car rentals on business trips
- Vacation packages
When it doesn’t make sense:
- Premium cabin flights — at 0.67¢/pt, a $4,000 business class ticket costs ~600,000 BMO points. Those same points would be worth far more ($2,000–$4,000 in travel) if they were in Avion (transferable to Avios) or MR (transferable to Aeroplan).
Redemption #2: Partial Point Payments
BMO Rewards supports partial point payments — you can pay a portion of a travel booking with points and the remainder on your BMO card. This is useful when your balance doesn’t cover the full cost of a booking.
Redemptions to Avoid
| Redemption | Rate | vs. Travel Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Statement credits | ~0.5¢/pt | −25% |
| Gift cards | ~0.5–0.6¢/pt | −15–25% |
| Merchandise | ~0.4–0.6¢/pt | −10–40% |
Never use BMO Rewards for statement credits if you have any upcoming travel plans. The travel portal consistently delivers more value.
Maximising BMO Rewards: Focus on Earn Rate
Since BMO Rewards has a fixed value ceiling, the best strategy is to maximise the earn rate — specifically using the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite’s 5x categories:
| Category | Monthly Spend | Points/Month | Monthly Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food/dining | $600 | 3,000 | $20 |
| Groceries | $1,200 | 6,000 | $40 |
| Gas | $200 | 1,000 | $7 |
| Transit | $150 | 750 | $5 |
| Everything else | $350 | 350 | $2 |
| Total | $2,500 | 11,100/mo | ~$74/mo |
Annual: ~133,200 points = ~$891 in travel portal value ($120 annual fee = ~$770 net).
BMO Rewards vs. Scene+: Annual Value Comparison
Same $2,500/month spend profile, same eligible categories:
| Programme/Card | Annual Points | Annual Value | Annual Fee | Net Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO eclipse (5x BMO Rewards) | ~133,200 | ~$891 (portal) | $120 | ~$771 |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex (5x Scene+) | ~133,200 | ~$1,332 (1¢/pt) | $120 | ~$1,212 |
Scene+ delivers higher net value because the point redemption rate is 1¢/pt vs BMO Rewards’ 0.67¢/pt. Both earn 5x in similar categories. For most everyday spenders, the Scotiabank Gold Amex wins on value.
BMO eclipse is a better choice if you value BMO’s banking relationship, prefer Visa acceptance, or specifically want BMO’s card benefits (extended warranty, purchase protection, insurance).
Related Articles
- How BMO Rewards Works
- BMO eclipse vs. BMO Rewards World Elite
- BMO Rewards vs. Other Programmes
- Scene+ Points Value Guide
Point values and redemption rates are subject to change. Verify at bmo.com. See our Advertiser Disclosure.