Air Miles is very well known among Canadian points collectors. Although many would say Air Miles lost some of its lustre in recent years, BMO acquired and relaunched the program in 2024 with new partners and more ways to earn Miles. Let’s see how the three BMO credit cards available to everyday collectors stack up against each other.
Best Air Miles credit cards in Canada
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Gold: Best Air Miles credit card
BMO AIR MILES Mastercard
Save on an annual fee and earn up to 3 Miles per $25 spent at Air Miles partners.
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Annual Fee:
$0
Interest Rates:
21.99% purchase, 23.99% cash advance, 23.99% balance transfer
Welcome offer:
$158 value
Earn 1,500 AIR MILES Bonus Miles! That’s enough for $150 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash
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Silver: Best Air Miles credit card
BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard
Collect Air Miles twice as fast by earning up to 3 Miles per $12 spent at Air Miles partners.
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Annual Fee:
$120
Interest Rates:
21.99% purchase, 23.99% cash advance, 23.99% balance transfer
Welcome offer:
$316 value
Earn 3,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles! That's enough for $310 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash!
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Best choice for students
BMO AIR MILES Mastercard – Student
Similar features and earn rates as the BMO Air Miles Mastercard, but with fewer eligibility requirements.
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Annual Fee:
$0
Interest Rates:
21.99% purchase, 23.99% cash advance, 23.99% balance transfer
Welcome offer:
$85 value
Earn 800 Air Miles Bonus Miles worth $80 towards purchases with Air Miles Cash
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Gold: BMO Air Miles Mastercard
At a glance: The no-fee BMO Air Miles Mastercard is the best option for casual Air Miles collectors. With decent rewards and a standard set of perks, this is a great entry-level card, especially for Canadians who participate in multiple loyalty programs and aren’t interested in paying an annual fee.
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BMO Air Miles Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 1 – 3 Miles
- 3 Miles per $25 spent at Air Miles partners
- 2 Miles per $25 spent at eligible grocery, liquor and wholesale stores
- 1 Mile per $25 spent everywhere else
Welcome offer: Earn 1,500 Air Miles bonus Miles ($150 value) and a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for nine months with a 2% transfer fee.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $15,000 |
| Credit score | 660 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on average when redeemed for travel. 1 Cash Mile = $0.105. |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Air Miles Gold status: Get automatic Gold collector status and related perks.
- Free additional card: Add another cardholder and get more Miles.
- Earn twice: Show your Air Miles Collector Card when paying at Air Miles partners to double your Miles.
Cons
- Limited Air Miles partners: Many partners like Sobeys, Metro, Staples and LCBO have left the program over the years, meaning fewer opportunities to earn rewards.
- Low base earn rate: On regular purchases that aren’t part of the bonus categories, you have to spend $25 to earn 1 point.
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Silver: BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard
At a glance: If you’re a more serious Air Miles collector, the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard offers great rewards and benefits. This card is best for those who want to maximize rewards through the Air Miles program. With great earnings on travel and a comprehensive suite of travel insurance and perks, this card is a great option for frequent flyers.
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BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $120
Rewards: 1 – 3 Miles
- 3 Miles per $12 spent at Air Miles partners
- 2 Miles per $12 spent at eligible grocery, liquor and wholesale stores
- 1 Mile per $12 spent everywhere else
Welcome offer: Earn 3,000 Air Miles bonus Miles ($310 value)
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on average when redeemed for travel. 1 Cash Mile = $0.105. |
Pros and cons
Pros
- High earning on travel: Get up to 5 Miles per $5 spent through Air Miles Travel.
- Comprehensive travel insurance: Coverage for medical, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage, common carrier accidents and more.
- Discounted flight: Exclusive 25% discount on a worldwide Air Miles flight redemption once a year.
- Mastercard travel rewards: Shop, dine and relax with partners outside of Canada to unlock Mastercard Travel Rewards cash back offers.
- Air Miles Onyx status: Get automatic Onyx collector status and related perks.
- Earn twice: Show your Air Miles Collector Card when paying at Air Miles partners to double your Miles.
Cons
- Limited Air Miles partners: Many partners like Sobeys, Metro, Staples and LCBO have left the program over the years, meaning less rewards.
- Travel medical coverage period: The 15-day coverage is less than most comparable travel credit cards.
- No free lounge visits: Even with the card’s complimentary Mastercard Travel Pass membership, lounge access comes at a small fee.
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Best Air Miles credit card for students
At a glance: This student card comes with mostly the same earn rates and benefits as the BMO Air Miles Mastercard. However, as a student credit card, the eligibility requirements are less strict. To qualify, you’ll need to be a student at a recognized post-secondary school, aged 18 to 24 and the age of majority in your province, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and have an income (either employment, scholarship/grant, student loan or family allowance).
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BMO Air Miles Mastercard for Students
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 1 – 3 Miles
- 3 Miles per $25 spent at Air Miles partners
- 2 Miles per $25 spent at eligible grocery stores
- 1 Mile per $25 spent everywhere else
Welcome offer: Earn 800 Air Miles bonus Miles ($80 value)
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances |
| Income required | None specified |
| Credit score | 660 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on average when redeemed for travel. 1 Cash Mile = $0.105. |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy to qualify: As a student card, it is very accessible.
- Air Miles Gold status: Get automatic Gold collector status and related perks.
- Free additional card: Add another cardholder and get more Miles.
- Earn twice: Show your Air Miles Collector Card when paying at Air Miles partners to double your Miles.
Cons
- Limited Air Miles partners: Many partners like Sobeys, Metro, Staples and LCBO have left the program over the years, meaning less rewards.
- Low base earn rate: Beyond spending on groceries, most purchases earn at a rate of 1 point per $25 spent.
- Fewer benefits: A few less perks than the BMO Air Miles Mastercard, such as you won’t earn 2 Miles at liquor and wholesale stores.
What’s changed about Air Miles?
BMO bought Air Miles in March 2023, after the program’s owner, Loyalty Ventures Inc., filed for bankruptcy. In July 2024, the bank unveiled changes to Air Miles aimed at “reinvigorating one of Canada’s largest loyalty programs.” The changes include new ways to earn and redeem Air Miles rewards. Read more about the Air Miles relaunch.
Where can you collect Air Miles in Canada?
There are dozens of retailers and service providers that offer Air Miles. When you shop at these stores, you’ll earn additional Air Miles on your purchases. Note, as of July 21, 2024, Metro is no longer an Air Miles partner; instead, the grocery store chain now offers Moi rewards in Metro and Food Basics stores. The current list of Air Miles partners includes:
- Alamo Car Rental
- Boston Pizza
- Budget Car Rental
- Decathlon
- Dollarama
- Global Pet Foods
- Goodyear
- H&M
- Harry Rosen
- Instacart
- Porter
- Shell
- Simons
- Via Rail
Which gas stations take Air Miles?
While Air Miles is widely accepted in Canada, the program is only offered at a limited number of Canadian gas stations. Currently, Shell Canada and Irving Oil are the two gas stations in Canada that allow you to pay with Air Miles. BMO Air Miles cardholders also get:
- 1 Mile for eve
Source
Author : Huma Hamid