The perfect Air Miles bank cards
The Air Miles loyalty program is without doubt one of the most established and well-liked in Canada. Although it misplaced a few of its lustre in recent times, BMO acquired Air Miles in 2023 and relaunched this system in 2024 with new companions and a deal with experiences. BMO gives three Air Miles bank cards, together with a variation of the BMO Air Miles Mastercard for college students. There are additionally three enterprise Air Miles bank cards. Let’s take a look on the three playing cards supposed for on a regular basis Air Miles collectors.
| Air Miles bank card | Primary profit |
|---|---|
| For no annual price BMO Air Miles Mastercard Annual price: $0 |
Earn as much as 3 Miles per $25 spent with out paying an annual price |
| For probably the most earnings and perks BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Annual price: $120 (waived first yr) |
The quickest option to earn Air Miles and get journey perks, like journey insurance coverage and complimentary Dragon Cross membership |
| For college kids BMO Air Miles Mastercard for Students Annual price: $0 |
Accessible to college students and comes with the identical advantages because the BMO Air Miles Mastercard |
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For no annual price
At a look: In the event you’re on the lookout for a no-fee credit card, why not select one which rewards you each time you utilize it? With no annual price and a set of normal perks like prolonged guarantee and buy safety, the BMO Air Miles Mastercard is a good entry-level card. When your time involves redeem, you’ll have the added satisfaction of realizing your reward—whether or not it’s a toaster oven, money for groceries or a flight—didn’t come at the price of an annual price.
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BMO Air Miles Mastercard
Annual price: $0
3 Miles per $25 spent at Air Miles companions
2 Miles per $25 spent at eligible grocery, liquor and wholesale shops
1 Mile per $25 spent in all places else
Welcome supply: earn 1,500 AIR MILES Bonus Miles!* That’s sufficient for $150 in the direction of purchases with AIR MILES Money*
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Earnings required | Private revenue of $15,000 |
| Credit score rating | 660 or greater |
| Level worth | 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on common when redeemed for journey. 1 Money Mile = $0.105 |
For probably the most earnings and perks
At a look: Canadians who use the Air Miles program primarily for journey will discover the advantages and bonuses with the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard to be excellent. What actually places this card into its personal class are the quite a few travel-specific perks for account holders. To start out, it comes with strong journey insurance coverage, together with $5 million in out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical for cardholders below 65 years of age. Members additionally get complimentary membership in Mastercard Journey Cross supplied by DragonPass.
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BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard
Annual price: $120
3 Miles per $12 spent at Air Miles companions
2 Miles per $25 spent at eligible grocery, liquor and wholesale shops
1 Mile per $12 spent in all places else
Welcome supply: earn 3,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles! That is sufficient for $310 in the direction of purchases with AIR MILES Money!
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on money advances, 23.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Earnings required | Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or greater |
| Level worth | 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on common when redeemed for journey. 1 Money Mile = $0.105 |
For college kids
At a look: The BMO Air Miles Mastercard for College students comes with the identical earn charges and advantages because the BMO Air Miles Mastercard. However as a student credit card, there are fewer eligibility necessities, making it simpler or college students with modest incomes to get accepted. To qualify, you’ll must be enrolled as a scholar at a acknowledged post-secondary faculty, aged 18 to 24 and the age of majority in your province, a Canadian citizen or everlasting resident, and earn an revenue from employment, scholarship/grant, scholar mortgage or household allowance.
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BMO Air Miles Mastercard for College students
Annual price: $0
3 Miles per $25 spent at Air Miles companions
2 Miles per $25 spent at eligible grocery, liquor and wholesale shops
1 Mile per $25 spent in all places else
Welcome supply: earn 1,500 AIR MILES Bonus Miles!* That’s sufficient for $150 in the direction of purchases with AIR MILES Money*
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Earnings required | None specified |
| Credit score rating | 660 or greater |
| Level worth | 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on common when redeemed for journey. 1 Money Mile = $0.105 |
New methods to earn and redeem
BMO bought Air Miles in March 2023, after this system’s proprietor, Loyalty Ventures Inc., filed for chapter. In July 2024, the financial institution unveiled adjustments to Air Miles geared toward “reinvigorating one in every of Canada’s largest loyalty applications.” The adjustments embody new methods to earn and redeem Air Miles rewards. Learn extra about the Air Miles relaunch.
Air Miles companions
There are dozens of retailers and repair suppliers that supply Air Miles. Once you store at these shops, you’ll earn further Air Miles in your purchases. The checklist of Air Miles companions contains:
- Alamo Automobile Rental
- Boston Pizza
- Finances Automobile Rental
- Decathlon
- Dollarama
- World Pet Meals
- Goodyear
- H&M
- Harry Rosen
- Instacart
- Porter
- Shell
- Simons
- By way of Rail
Which gasoline stations take Air Miles?
Whereas Air Miles is extensively accepted in Canada, this system is barely provided at a restricted variety of Canadian gasoline stations. At present, Shell Canada and Irving Oil are the 2 gasoline stations in Canada that can help you pay with Air Miles. BMO Air Miles cardholders additionally get:
- 1 Mile for each 10 litres of premium gas, and 1 Mile for each 10 litres of bronze, silver and diesel gas at Shell Stations, plus 1 Mile for each $5 spent on automobile wash or in-store merchandise.
- 1 Mile for each 20 litres of gas bought at Irving Oil gasoline stations, plus 1 Mile for each $20 spent on comfort retailer merchandise and automobile washes.
Dream Miles versus Money Miles
One other function of the Air Miles program is that it allows you to select from two other ways to earn: Money Miles or Dream Miles.
Money Miles can be utilized in the direction of on a regular basis purchasing at groceries or gasoline at taking part companions. You can use your Miles on garments at Lululemon, on an evening on the films with Cineplex, and even on a latte from Starbucks. The speed stays the identical, and Money Miles are easy to redeem both in-store at Air Miles companions or on-line for Air Miles e-vouchers.
Dream Miles are saved towards a “dream” reward, like journey, occasion tickets or home equipment. These are usually big-ticket gadgets (“larger” than what you’ll use with Money Miles), and the redemption price varies. You can redeem your Dream Miles for a flight booked on one of many Air Miles accomplice airways.
As an Air Miles collector, you must select whether or not to earn your Miles within the Money or Dream classes—however don’t fear in regards to the dedication. You possibly can select both or each. For instance, if you wish to use all your Air Miles for on a regular basis purchases, you’ll be able to go on the Air Miles website and choose 100% of your Miles going to Money. Or, if you’d like all your Miles to enter financial savings in opposition to a visit, you’d select 100% Dream. Or, you’ll be able to break up between the 2 in any proportion you need: 50:50, 60:40, 80:20, or another mixture.
Air Miles collector standing
Beforehand, Air Miles members couldn’t switch Dream Miles to Money Miles (and vice versa), as soon as the rewards had been earned. Nonetheless, with the latest adjustments to this system, Air Miles can now be transformed relying in your collector standing. Listed here are the three Air Miles tiers, and how one can qualify for every:
- Blue: Each Air Miles collector is routinely given Blue standing.
- Gold standing: Get 500 to 4,999 Miles in a calendar yr, or be a cardholder of the BMO Air Miles Mastercard to routinely qualify.
- Onyx standing: Get 5,000 Miles or extra in a calendar yr, or be a cardholder of the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard to routinely qualify.
Gold and Onyx collectors can convert Dream Miles to Money Miles and vice versa. Onyx collectors get limitless transfers, whereas Gold collectors can switch as much as 1,000 Miles per yr. Gold and Onyx collectors additionally get extra journey advantages and merchandise reductions. Every tier comes with the power to redeem with a mix of money and Miles.
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