Best Air Miles credit cards

Air Miles cards are some of the most popular rewards credit cards in Canada, catering to both frequent travelers and rewards points earners. You can redeem Air Miles points for a wide array of travel and non-travel-related benefits by choosing either Air Miles Dream Rewards or Air Miles Cash Rewards. Learn more in our guide to Air Miles cards below.

Best for no annual fee:
BMO AIR MILES Mastercard

Credit recommended (660-)Apply nowon BMO's secure site

660
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to3x
Miles

800
Miles welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & Cons
• Details

With the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard, you'll earn Air Miles while enjoying a $0 annual fee. Get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners, 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store, and 1 AIR MILE for every $25 spent elsewhere. Plus, this card comes with an appealing balance transfer offer. Get a rate of 0.99% on balance transfers for 9 months. A 2% transfer fee will be charged for each transferred balance.

• Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles (enough for $80 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash).
  
• This card has a $0 annual fee.
• Free additional cardholders.
• Get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners, 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store, and 1 AIR MILE for every $25 spent elsewhere.
• Get 2X the points by presenting your BMO Air Miles Mastercard and your Air Miles Card at participating Air Miles Partners.
• Get a discount of up to 25% off the base rate of rental vehicles at participating National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® locations.
• Get a rate of 0.99% on balance transfers for 9 months. A 2% transfer fee will be charged for each transferred balance.
  

• You'll face a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% every time you use your card overseas or online with international retailers.
• Should you take advantage of the balance transfer offer, you'll face a balance transfer fee of 2%.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	20.99% fixed
Cash Advance Rate	22.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents)
Balance transfer APR	0.99% intro for the first 9 months (then 22.99% fixed)
Welcome offer	Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles (enough for $80 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash).
Rewards	Get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners, 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store, and 1 AIR MILE for every $25 spent elsewhere.

Best for earning Air Miles:
BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard

Credit recommended (760-)Apply nowon BMO's secure site

760
Min. credit score

$120 ongoing
Annual fee

Up to3x
Miles

2,000
Miles welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & Cons
• Details

Earn accelerated AIR MILES that can be redeemed for travel perks and merchandise. Get 3 Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners, 2 Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store and 1 AIR MILE for every $12 spent on eligible purchases. Earn a bonus of up to 2,000 AIR MILES. Terms apply. Plus, get the annual fee of $120 waived in the first year.

• Earn a bonus of up to 2,000 AIR MILES. Terms apply. Plus, get the annual fee of $120 waived in the first year.
  
• Earn mile per $10 spend in purchases.
• Get peace of mind with a wide range of travel insurance benefits including up to $2,000,000 Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical Protection as well as coverage for delayed flights, trip cancellations, interruptions and delays, rental car collision damage and baggage loss, theft or damage.
• Get up to a 25% discount at National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car locations with complimentary Collision Damage Waiver benefits (MSRP of up to $65,000).
• Use less Miles with an exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year. Plus, get complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass.

• This card has an annual fee of $0 in the first year and $120 thereafter.
• This card has a foreign transaction fee of 2.5%. This will apply on any overseas purchases or any purchases made online with an international retailer.
• You'll need to earn a personal income of at least $80,000, or a combined household income of at least $150,000 annually.

Annual Fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($120 thereafter)
Purchase APR	20.99% fixed
Cash Advance Rate	23.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents)
Balance transfer APR	22.99% fixed
Welcome offer	Earn a bonus of up to 2,000 AIR MILES. Terms apply. Plus, get the annual fee of $120 waived in the first year.
Rewards	Get 3 Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners, 2 Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store and 1 AIR MILE for every $12 spent on eligible purchases.

Best for earning Air Miles on everyday purchases:
American Express AIR MILES Platinum Credit Card

Credit recommended (700-)Apply nowon American Express's secure site

700
Min. credit score

$120
Annual fee

Up to1x
Miles

2,000
Miles welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & Cons
• Details

The American Express AIR MILES Platinum Credit Card allows you to easily build up Air Miles points from common, everyday purchases. Earn 1 AIR MILE for every $5 spent on eligible food, drink, gas and transit purchases (up to an annual spend of $30,000), and earn 1 AIR MILE for every $10 spent on all other eligible purchases (and after the $30,000 annual spend). Earn a Welcome Bonus of 2,000 AIR MILES when you spend at least $1,500 in eligible purchases within the first three months. That’s enough to redeem for $200 towards your purchases with AIR MILES Cash.

• Earn 1 AIR MILE for every $5 spent on eligible food, drink, gas and transit purchases (up to an annual spend of $30,000), and earn 1 AIR MILE for every $10 spent on all other eligible purchases (and after the $30,000 annual spend)
• Earn a Welcome Bonus of 2,000 AIR MILES when you spend at least $1,500 in eligible purchases within the first three months. That’s enough to redeem for $200 towards your purchases with AIR MILES Cash.
  
• Enjoy peace of mind while you're travelling with up to $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance. Coverage applies to the cardholder as well as his/her spouse and dependent children under 23 years old.
• Complimentary Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance (MSRP of up to $85,000)

• You'll be charged a $120 annual fee.
• The purchase interest rate is higher than comparable cards at 20.99%.
• Compared to Visa and Mastercard, American Express is much less widely accepted in locations across Canada, the US and around the world.

Annual Fee	$120
Purchase APR	intro for the first first 6 months (then from 20.99% fixed)
Cash Advance Rate	21.99%
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	Earn a Welcome Bonus of 2,000 AIR MILES when you spend at least $1,500 in eligible purchases within the first three months. That’s enough to redeem for $200 towards your purchases with AIR MILES Cash.
Rewards	Earn 1 AIR MILE for every $5 spent on eligible food, drink, gas and transit purchases (up to an annual spend of $30,000), and earn 1 AIR MILE for every $10 spent on all other eligible purchases (and after the $30,000 annual spend)

• How we chose the best Air Miles credit cards

  We’ve chosen the cards on this page based on the current range of Air Miles credit cards available on the market through Finder. We’ve narrowed down our top picks by considering the value of reward points, annual fees, interest rates, introductory offers, travel perks and additional card benefits.
  No single credit card will be the best choice for everyone, so compare your options before picking your new card.

How do Air Miles cards work?

An Air Miles credit card allows you to earn frequent flyer points as you charge purchases to your card. These cards come with an annual fee, but you’ll get travel benefits and a generous welcome offer to offset the cost. Air Miles cards can be great tools for frequent flyers who pay off their account balances in full each month, but are probably not suitable for those carrying an outstanding balance on their account.

Some rewards cards allow you to transfer your points to several partnered frequent flyer programs. If you belong to more than one frequent flyer programs, this might be one way you can get more flexibility from your rewards card.

How do Air Miles points cards work?

You can typically earn 1 frequent flyer point for every $10-20 spent on eligible purchases. The number of points you earn per dollar differs among credit cards and transaction types. For example, a credit card could let you earn 1 point per $10 on eligible purchases, but only 0.5 points per $10 spent on other transactions.

Premium cards tend to cost more but give you a better return on miles and benefits. With both the reserve and the platinum card, you’ll get more miles when you spend money on daily purchases as well as with Air Miles partners.

How to compare Air Miles cards

When comparing Air Miles cards, be sure to factor in the costs and make sure they don’t outweigh the value of any possible rewards and benefits. If you’re interested in getting one, consider these factors when shopping for your new Air Miles card:

• Earn rate. The earn rate will determine how fast you can get your next reward. Note that credit cards with higher earn rates also usually come with higher annual fees and interest rates, so you should weigh these up when deciding.
• Points cap. Some cards impose a cap on the points you can earn each month, e.g. earn 1 point per $1 spent up to $500 and 1 point per $10 spent subsequently. Consider how this may impede your earning capacity.
• Bonus points offers. Getting a large number of bonus points when you sign up could be totally worthwhile because some introductory bonuses give enough points for you to instantly redeem a return flight. Don’t be so eager that you don’t consider the downsides of the card though, such as the high annual fee and interest rate.
• Partner airlines. Even if you’re an absolutely loyal passenger to your frequent flyer airline, it can be advantageous to have access to a large network of partner airlines. This is especially beneficial when you fly out further and require a variety of flight connections.
• Available rewards. Browse your frequent flyer store before deciding if it’s the frequent flyer program for you. This will ensure that you’ll truly enjoy the rewards you’ll be earning.
• Card perks. Air miles cards can come with a variety of complimentary benefits such as free travel insurance, airport lounge access, airport limousine services and personal concierge services.
• Annual fee. This can be a major cost when it comes to Air Miles cards, with the annual fee often directly correlated to the earn rate and perks offered by a card. Make sure you’re not paying for perks you don’t need or won’t use.
• Interest rates. As with all credit cards, card interest rates are important if you intend to carry a balance. If you make regular repayments and always pay in full, this will be less important.
• Other fees. It’s always good to know exactly what you’re signing up for and what you may someday be charged for. Pay attention to fees like the cash advance fee, foreign transaction fee (especially if you plan to use the card overseas) and any other possible administrative fees.

Compare Air Miles cards

The 7 ways to collect Air Miles fast

If you’re saving up for that dream vacation, you might be wondering how to earn Air Miles fast. We get it, and that’s why we’ve rounded the 7 actions you can take to start earning more Air Miles everywhere you spend money.

1. Sign up for an Air Miles credit card

The best way to earn top dollar on your Air Miles is to sign up for a targeted credit card. These cards will usually give you a return of 1 mile for every $10-$20 you spend. If you want to get the highest number of miles per dollar, your best bet is to pay an annual fee for a premium card.

2. Get more miles for frequent purchases

Look for a card that offers a higher return on rewards for the types of purchases you make most often. For example, some cards might offer a higher return on miles when you spend money on gas and groceries, while others might give you more miles for spending money on dining or entertainment.

3. Shop around for a decent sign-up bonus.

Kickstart the number of miles you can collect by choosing the card that offers the best sign-up bonus. Just be aware that you might need to spend a certain amount of money on your card in an allotted time frame before you’ll get your top-up.

4. Spend money with Air Miles partners

You’ll earn 2x the rewards when you use your Air Miles credit card with partner stores. For example, when you buy your groceries at Sobeys, fuel up at Shell Canada, shop with online partners like Amazon or rent your next car from Budget.

5. Take advantage of “multiplier” rewards

Some Air Miles partners offer special promotions that allow you to earn up to 20x the miles when you shop for certain products or spend a specific amount of money in-store. Keep an eye out for these special promotions wherever you shop.

6. Spend money on the Air Miles shopping portal

You can accelerate the number of miles you earn by shopping online with airmilesshops.ca. This online portal is connected to hundreds of online stores so that you can streamline the rewards you earn and get a bigger return for every dollar you spend.

7. Share the love with family or friends

If you want to earn Air Miles Rewards quickly, a simple solution is to get your family members or friends on board. You can do this by ordering additional cards so that everyone can collect miles wherever they shop. This way, your miles will add up faster and you’ll be cashing in on your next big trip before you know it.

What can you redeem your Air Miles card points for?

Although nowadays you can redeem almost anything via the frequent flyer store, flight redemptions still usually offer the greatest value in terms of dollar per point. You can usually use your points to redeem flights with any of your frequent flyer programs partner airlines, although some routes and seat classes may be excluded.

Additional rewards you can get with your Air Miles points may include:

• Travel packages. The range of travel rewards has extended to include travel packages and vacation packages, so your frequent flyer store can now be your one-stop shop when it comes to vacations.
• Hotel accommodation and car rental. Frequent flyer programs now extend to your full travel needs. You can book your overseas hotel stay and car rental using your points at the same time, which can be done when booking through your frequent flyer website. If not, you might also need to provide your frequent flyer number and elect that you’d like to pay with points when making the booking.
• Cruises. If you have enough miles, you may be able to cash them in for a round-trip cruise or an all-inclusive vacation.
• Entertainment. You should be able to get a decent exchange rate on your miles when you use them to book tours, events, entertainment and experiences.
• Products from the rewards store. Frequent flyer stores these days appear more fully stocked than department stores, with their wide range of clothing, jewellery, homewares, electronics and toys. These online stores can usually be accessed through your online frequent flyer account.
• Lifestyle rewards. You can even spend your points on theme park tickets, concert tickets, wine and restaurant dining.
• Shopping and gift cards. Most frequent flyer programs have large retail partners, so you can exchange your points for store vouchers either to be used online or at their bricks-and-mortar outlets.
• Charitable donations. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can also transfer your miles into a cash donation for the charity of your choice.

How to redeem Air Miles points

The way you redeem your miles will depend on whether you sign up for Cash Miles or Dream Miles. Cash Miles are easy to redeem instantly for in-store discounts or cash vouchers with participating partners. Dream Miles are a little bit more complicated because you’ll have to sign in to your Air Miles rewards account and look through their online catalogue. When you settle on what you want, you can make your redemption online or over the phone. Learn more details about how to redeem Air Miles points in our full guide here.

Deciding if an Air Miles card is right for you

As a general rule, make sure your Air Miles credit card gives you more value than it costs. A simple way to calculate this is by adding up the value of rewards you’d redeem in a year and comparing that with the amount of fees you’d pay each year. While Air Miles cards may be a great idea for some people, they’re not for everyone.

If you have settled on getting a travel rewards credit card, you’ll find that Air Miles, Aeroplan, Avion, Aventura and WestJet rewards are all competing for your loyalty in the Frequent flyer space these days. That means there are quite a few options to pick from, so make sure to compare the following features listed below before settling on your card:

• Partner companies. Look for the frequent flyer plan that will let you earn miles at the stores where you shop most frequently.
• Partner airlines. Choose a card that works with the airlines that you prefer to use for flights to make sure you have a wide range of options.
• Available rewards. Look at each program’s “rewards store” to find out what you can use your miles to purchase aside from airline tickets.

Bottom line

If you’re a frequent flyer and you want to try out an Air Miles card, there are several suitable options. Find out how these cards work and compare basic and premium cards to find the best fit for your budget.

Air Miles credit cards FAQs

• How many Air Miles do I need per dollar?

  When it comes to using Ari Miles Cash, you'll have to redeem 95 Cash Miles to get $10, which means you'll need 9.5 Air Miles Cash points to get $1 of real money. Keep in mind that you're limited to redeeming $10 at a time when you use Air Miles Cash for in-store purchases or eVouchers (up to a maximum of $750 worth of Cash Miles per day).

• Where can I earn 2x the Air Miles?

  You can earn double the miles when you shop at an extensive list of Air Miles partners including Rona, Staples, Shell Canada, Safeway, Sobeys, Rexall, Budget and many more. You can find out more about partner stores by visiting the Air Miles website.

• Will my Air Miles expire?

  No. So long as your account is open and in good standing, your miles won't expire.

• Can I transfer miles between my Cash Miles and Dream Miles accounts?

  No. Once you earn a mile in one category, you can't transfer it to another. You'll need to set your preferences when you open your account, with Dream Miles being the default setting when you start collecting points.

• How far in advance can I book my travel?

  You can book flights up to 11 months in advance, keeping in mind that you may encounter some blackout dates and restrictions along the way. You should also keep in mind that the majority of flights need to be booked a minimum of at least two days in advance.

• Can I use my miles to book a first class ticket?

  Unfortunately, no. You can only book economy seats through the Air Miles Reward Program. That said, you can get access to first class seats if you have the American Express Air Miles Reserve Card.

• Will I have to pay additional charges for booking my flights with Air Miles?

  Yes. You'll have to pay booking fees when you book travel using your Air Miles. These usually range between $10 and $50 per person.

• How does Air Miles make money?

  Air Miles makes money from retailers who buy in to the Air Miles program, which allows them to use the program at their store. Air Miles also profits from retailers when it provides marketing services for specific stores.

  You may be wondering why retailers would bother to buy in to the Air Miles program to being with, since it costs them money. But in reality, if a store can advertise that it accepts Air Miles, then all of those loyal Air Mile users are more likely to shop at those retailers to build up their points. And it can be much more efficient for a company to buy in to an already existing rewards program than build their own.