Best AIR MILES credit cards in Canada

You have to have an AIR MILES credit card to earn AIR MILES so it might make sense to choose the card that lets you earn them as quickly as possible, even if it comes with a $120 annual fee.

Then there's the welcome bonus for new accounts:

• Get up to $1,000 in value including up to 7,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and no annual fee in your first year.†.

The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* earns 3x the Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners and 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*, 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible wholesale clubs, membership-based retailers and alcohol retailers*. 1x the Mile for every $12 in credit card purchases, everywhere you spend*.

BMO even waives the annual fee for the first anniversary*. Travel insurance is the icing on the cake on the card, undoubtedly one of the best air rewards credit cards on the market. Here's a rundown of some of those extra perks:

• Travel insurance*; exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year*; complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*

Disclosures

• *Terms and conditions apply

• BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

Because the BMO AIR MILES^®† Mastercard^®* for its $0 annual fee, meaning you basically earn AIR MILES for free whenever you shop.  

The card earns Earn 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners and 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store*. Earn 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible wholesale clubs, membership-based retailers and alcohol retailers and 1x the Mile for every $25 that you spend with your credit card everywhere else, plus comes with a solid welcome bonus for new accounts:

• Get 1,200 AIR MILES Bonus Miles‡ and a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee.†.

Beyond the points and sign-up bonus, cardholders can take advantage of the 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months, 2% fee applies to balance amounts transferred You also enjoy the benefits of extended warranty and purchase protection*.

Disclosures

• *Terms and conditions apply
• BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard student card is an interesting travel card option for students at Canadian colleges and universities. The card is similar to the regular BMO AIR MILES Mastercard but is much more accessible for those new to credit. 

The student-version of the AIR MILES Mastercard comes with similar features to its frown up sibling, including a welcome bonus (something you don't find on a student credit card typically):

• Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles.†

Outside of the welcome bonus the card offers reduced rewards vs. the regular card with students earning the following AIR MILES on purchases:

• Earn 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners
• Earn 2 Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery stores
• Earn twice the AIR MILES at partner locations
• Earn 1x Miles on all other purchases

As noted those rewards are half what you'd expect from the BMO AIR MILES^®† Mastercard^®* but for a student looking for travel rewards that's not bad at all. 

How to earn

1. 1 In-store purchases: Scan your AIR MILES card at participating locations to earn points
2. 2 Online shopping: Earn through airmilesshops.ca with various brands
3. 3 Receipt scanning: Use the AIR MILES app to earn on eligible purchases (more on this below)
4. 4 Credit cards: Accelerated earning with BMO AIR MILES credit cards

How to redeem

The AIR MILES program utilizes a dual currency system, offering flexibility in how members can use their rewards. These currencies are known as Cash Miles and Dream Miles.

Read more: AIR MILES rewards guide

AIR MILES shines because it partners with over 300 stores and services, meaning you can rack up points all over the place. Here are some examples of eligible AIR MILES merchants in major categories:

You can find a full list of AIR MILES partners on the AIRMILES official website.

Choosing a new credit card can be challenging if you don't know what to look for. Here are some expert tips on choosing the right AIR MILES credit card for your needs:

1. 1 Pay attention to the annual fee: Consider whether the benefits outweigh the annual fee. For example, if you don't plan on checking each purchase to ensure you are shopping with an AIR MILES partner to earn max rewards, the annual fee wit the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* might not make sense.
2. 2 Earn rate: Like the annual fee, the earn rates with the AIR MILES cards differ significantly. However, which card is best for you depends on your spending habits.
3. 3 Travel benefits: Another key area to consider is travel benefits (and especially insurance coverage). The World Elite Mastercard version of the AIR MILES credit card offers comprehensive insurance while the no annual fee version provides a much more "stripped back" coverage.
4. 4 Interest rates for balance transfers:  While the AIR MILES credit cards feature the same APR on purchases, the BMO® AIR MILES®† MasterCard®* offers a balance transfer APR slightly lower than the World Elite Mastercard version.

You might opt to simplify your selection process by using our automated AIR MILES calculator. Just input your monthly spending and the features of the AIR MILES credit card you’re considering, and the calculator will tell you how much value the credit card will give you in a year.