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

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 you 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)

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

Bonus offers and multipliers

• Keep an eye out for promotions: 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

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:

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

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

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.

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