AIR MILES and Dollarama partnership: Get ≈ $10 free easily with a promotion this weekend

Of course, $10 is pretty pathetic. And AIR MILES is very (very very) far from being the best rewards program. But it’s free, and just about everyone has a Dollarama nearby to take advantage of the deal easily. And an extra $10 for travel is still a quarter of what it costs for a full day’s budget in many affordable countries!

Seriously, if there’s one thing all travelers need to understand, it’s that earning travel rewards directly from programs like this is not how you’ll earn them quickly. It’s really nothing compared to the new deal that gives you $825 for free.

But $10 as easy as that is a nice plus… if you take it in addition to welcome bonuses.

Here are the details of the AIR MILES promotion at Dollarama.

Basics of travel rewards

First, I’ll add this important paragraph for those who aren’t among our Flytrippers fans who have earned over 3 million dollars in free travel with our travel rewards deals or who haven’t read our infographic that summarizes the travel rewards basics in one page.

Here are the basics:

• Travel rewards pros earn lots of rewards
• And they don’t do it directly with rewards programs
• $10 is pathetic compared to the $2,000+ a year I get
• For example, there are 3 simple deals that give you more (so easily)
  • $825 bonus with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
    • $12,000 income required
    • No annual fee for 1^st year
    • Simple points redeemable for literally any travel expense
    • 5 or 6 pts/$ earn rate (5%-6%)
    • 0% foreign transaction fees (your card charges 2.5%)
  • $625 bonus with the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
    • $60,000 income required (or $100,000 household)
    • No annual fee for 1^st year
    • Simple points redeemable for almost any trip
  • ≈ $744 bonus with the American Express Cobalt Card
    • No minimum income required
    • The best Canadian card overall
    • 5 pts/$ earn rate (≈ 7.5% or 5% minimum)
• If you want to minimize your effort, focus only on this
  • Welcome bonuses are by far the most important part of all this
• But if you want more, always take all the other rewards too (it’s free)
  • Including those given directly by the programs
  • Especially when there are good promotions (they are frequent)

Save your spot for our free webinar for beginners coming soon!

Basics of AIR MILES and Dollarama partnership

Instead of having 1 step to do like with all promos (opting in for each promo), there are 2 steps with this partnership (the additional step is only required once for all promos, though).

Here are the details of the partnership between AIR MILES and Dollarama:

• It’s a new and slightly different partnership
  • Limited time only (for now)
  • Part of the new AIR MILES “Card linked offers” benefit
  • Similar to the “Amex Offers” credit and rebate benefit
• You can’t just show your AIR MILES card
  • That’s not how this works
• You need any Mastercard to participate
  • It does NOT have to be an AIR MILES Mastercard
  • As long as it’s a Mastercard issued in Canada
• You have to link your Mastercard to your AIR MILES account manually
  • It takes 30 seconds
  • It only needs to be done once, and then it’s good for all promos
  • It’s required for many promotions like this week’s
  • Step-by-step guide below (with screenshots)
• You simply pay with your linked Mastercard
  • The promos you’ve registered for will apply automatically

For all the details, don’t miss our content on the AIR MILES, Aeroplan, Aeroplan, and Marriott Bonvoy programs soon.

AIR MILES promotion at Dollarama (July 2024)

Here are the details of the AIR MILES promotion that gives you an easy $10 this weekend:

• You have to register for the promotion manually before you can take advantage of it
  • As with almost all promotions of this kind
  • It takes 30 seconds
  • Go to the offers page and click on “Opt in”
  • Log in to your AIR MILES account (we recommend 1Password)
  • Step-by-step guide below (with screenshots)
• You have to spend $10 at Dollarama with your linked Mastercard
  • Amount AFTER taxes, as is often the case
  • So you can spend about $9 if it’s taxable (in most provinces)
• You’ll earn 100 AIR MILES Miles (worth ≈ $10.50)
  • So your $10 Dollarama purchase is free
• You can take advantage of the offer just once per account
  • So 2 times in total with your player #2 if you have one
  • It’s the term for your partner in the world of travel rewards
• The promotion ends on Sunday, July 21
  • It’s a very short one
• Promotion valid at all Dollarama stores in Canada
  • I have 7 within a 15-minute drive; you probably do too
  • Just about everyone needs something there all the time
• AIR MILES miles will go into your preference in the 2 options
  • You can choose between Dream Miles and Cash Miles
  • We strongly recommend earning Dream Miles
  • To redeem them for almost any trip
  • Easy to change in your account

How to link your Mastercard to your AIR MILES account

If you’ve done this before to take advantage of the other offers, you can skip to how to sign up for this week’s promotion for 100 Miles.

You really only need to link the card once, and it will be done for all future offers.

Go to the page to link your Mastercard and AIR MILES account.

Click on “Link now” or “Link your cards”.

Flytrippers highly recommends the 1Password tool for security and simplicity. It protects your information and identity, and you won’t have to remember a password or account number. We use it ourselves and it’s changed our lives.

Enter your Mastercard credit card number and your AIR MILES membership number, check the 4 buttons, and click on “Submit”.

Again, it doesn’t have to be an AIR MILES Mastercard. It can be any Mastercard, including the terrible ones you shouldn’t have.

By the way, I wouldn’t recommend taking one of the AIR MILES cards right now. The offers are very low and it’s plausible that BMO will eventually put out some nice offers to highlight the fact that they’ve acquired the AIR MILES program and are working hard to improve it. There are also way better offers right now.

Best credit cards for AIR MILES Rewards
BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®*
Min. income (card): $80k or $150kMinimum personal income of $80,000 or minimum household income of $150,000
Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos. + 8 fill-ups (optional)
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE ends November 30th
≈ $249Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (Miles): 2,000 pts (≈ $210) Earn on min. spend: 375 pts (≈ $39) Card fee: 1st year free (-$0)
Rewards: ≈ $249
Card fee: $0 $120
AIR MILES Miles: 2,375 Miles with welcome bonus & AM elite status
BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®*
Min. income (card): $15kMinimum personal income of $15,000
Min. spend (bonus): $1k in 3 mos. + 8 fill-ups (optional)
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE ends November 30th
≈ $92Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (Miles): 800 pts (≈ $84) Earn on min. spend: 80 pts (≈ $8) Card fee: none (-$0)
Rewards: ≈ $92
Card fee: $0
AIR MILES Miles: 880 Miles with welcome bonus & Dream/Cash conversions
Show more
BMO AIR MILES World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*
Card: business required
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE
$420Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 3,000 pts (≈ $360) Earn on min. spend: 500 pts (≈ $60) Card fee: 1st year free (-$0)
Rewards: $420
Card fee: $0 $120
AIR MILES Miles: 3,500 Miles after welcome bonus
BMO® AIR MILES®† No-Fee Business® Mastercard®*
Card: business required
Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE
$138Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 1,000 pts (≈ $120) Earn on min. spend: 150 pts (≈ $18) Card fee: no annual fee (-$0)
Rewards: $138
Card fee: $0
AIR MILES Miles: 1,150 Miles after welcome bonus
BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* (Student)
Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required.
Min. spend (bonus): $1k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE
≈ $92Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 800 pts (≈ $84) Earn on min. spend: 80 pts (≈ $8) Card fee: none (-$0)
Rewards: ≈ $92
Card fee: $0
AIR MILES Miles: 880 Miles after welcome bonus
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information.

Best credit cards for AIR MILES Rewards		WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	AIR MILES Miles
	BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®* Min. income (card): $80k or $150kMinimum personal income of $80,000 or minimum household income of $150,000 Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos. + 8 fill-ups (optional)	≈ $249Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (Miles): 2,000 pts (≈ $210) Earn on min. spend: 375 pts (≈ $39) Card fee: 1st year free (-$0) Rewards: ≈ $249 Card fee: $0 $120	2,375 Miles with welcome bonus & AM elite status	SEE MORE ends November 30th
	BMO AIR MILES®† MasterCard®* Min. income (card): $15kMinimum personal income of $15,000 Min. spend (bonus): $1k in 3 mos. + 8 fill-ups (optional)	≈ $92Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (Miles): 800 pts (≈ $84) Earn on min. spend: 80 pts (≈ $8) Card fee: none (-$0) Rewards: ≈ $92 Card fee: $0	880 Miles with welcome bonus & Dream/Cash conversions	SEE MORE ends November 30th
	BMO AIR MILES World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* Card: business required Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 3 mos.	$420Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 3,000 pts (≈ $360) Earn on min. spend: 500 pts (≈ $60) Card fee: 1st year free (-$0) Rewards: $420 Card fee: $0 $120	3,500 Miles after welcome bonus	SEE MORE
	BMO® AIR MILES®† No-Fee Business® Mastercard®* Card: business required Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos.	$138Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 1,000 pts (≈ $120) Earn on min. spend: 150 pts (≈ $18) Card fee: no annual fee (-$0) Rewards: $138 Card fee: $0	1,150 Miles after welcome bonus	SEE MORE
	BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* (Student) Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required. Min. spend (bonus): $1k in 3 mos.	≈ $92Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 800 pts (≈ $84) Earn on min. spend: 80 pts (≈ $8) Card fee: none (-$0) Rewards: ≈ $92 Card fee: $0	880 Miles after welcome bonus	SEE MORE
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information.

Anyway, you’ll see this screen confirming that the Mastercard is linked to the AIR MILES account.

How to register for the AIR MILES promotion

You can go directly to the featured offers AIR MILES page (or the page with all AIR MILES offers).

You click on the offer and then on “Opt in to this offer.”

You log in to your account (in 1 click if you use 1Password).

And there you are, you’re registered for the offer.

It’s as simple as that (especially for the next few offers, when your Mastercard will already be linked).

Then you go to Dollarama and buy for $10 total (taxes included). It’s an offer on your credit card, so they’re really looking at the amount that’s charged to your card, not the amount before taxes (unlike a retailer’s direct promotions).

Before you know it, you’ll be receiving 100 AIR MILES miles, worth ≈ 10.5¢ per point. So your $10 items at Dollarama will have been completely free.

Want to get more content to learn how to earn free travel?

Summary

The new partnership between AIR MILES and Dollarama is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Focus on welcome bonuses if you want to stop earning so slowly. But take the free rewards too if you want to maximize.

What would you like to know about the AIR MILES and Dollarama partnership? Tell us in the comments below.

See the deals we spot: Cheap flights

Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks: Travel tips

Discover free travel: Travel rewards

Featured image: Dollarama store (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

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