How to redeem AIR MILES Miles (4 options)

There are currently record-high AIR MILES offers ending September 30: the highest AIR MILES welcome bonus seen in years and the highest no-annual-fee card welcome bonus seen in years! So I want to elaborate on your AIR MILES redemptions options.

This post is about how you can redeem AIR MILES Miles, as in your available options to redeem your rewards. We’ll share a separate post on the logistics and the step-by-step process to concretely redeem them, with screenshots, very soon.

Here’s how to redeem AIR MILES Miles.

Best redemptions of AIR MILES Miles

The value of AIR MILES Miles can still be higher when using them for travel. But there are 2 caveats.

It’s not necessarily always more value, as often the value is the same as it is for simple discounts on merchandise (unlike most rewards currencies, which are almost always worth more when used for travel). And it’s not a lot more value even when it is more value for travel, as often it’s only about 15% more (not a huge difference, unlike with other programs).

So even if there’s never any outsized value possible (the price in points is at least somewhat related to the price in cash), it does vary a little depending on the precise trips chosen. It’s a bit like the worst of 2 worlds: less simple, but without being that much more lucrative.

Since its acquisition by BMO, the AIR MILES program has improved a lot on the earn side, but the redemption side remains disappointing for those who used to like the redemption option of the more lucrative type for flights. That’s gone. And it likely won’t return.

All redemption options for AIR MILES Miles

The goal is always to have the most rewards… but also to maximize the value of all your rewards. As rewards of the more simple type, AIR MILES Miles are pretty easy to understand, redeem, and maximize.

Obviously, one of the basics of travel rewards is that all reward programs offer many redemption options, most of which give you a different value.

The only added complexity with AIR MILES is that there are 2 types of Miles: Dream rewards and Cash rewards. You can convert from one to the other by simply having an AIR MILES credit card.

(Even the no-fee card allows this, but with a maximum of 1,000 converted Miles per year instead of unlimited. So if you want to convert your Miles, there’s no reason not to at least add one the same calendar day you apply for a good card with a huge welcome bonus, like the 4 highest offers for September!)

For each available redemption option, here is the value per AIR MILES Mile:

• ≈ 10.5¢ to ≈ 12¢: Any trips on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)
• 10.5¢: Merchandise at in-store partners (Cash rewards)
• 10.5¢: Merchandise at many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)
• ≈ 8¢: Merchandise on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)

Unfortunately, many people don’t quite grasp how huge of a difference there is between 8¢/pt and 12¢/pt (a whopping 50% more value!!!). When the value is expressed in ¢/pt (the standard measurement unit for rewards value), the difference seems less major than it is.

So, for a concrete example, here’s the value of the 3,498 Miles you’ll have by unlocking the BMO AIR MILES World Elite MasterCard‘s current increased welcome bonus:

• ≈ $367 to ≈ $420: Any trips on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)
• $367: Merchandise at in-store partners (Cash rewards)
• $367: Merchandise at many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)
• ≈ $280: Merchandise on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)

And here’s a reminder of how many AIR MILES Miles you can easily get with the best cards.

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.

With record-high offers on the BMO AIR MILES World Elite MasterCard (highest bonus of any AIR MILES card in many years) and the BMO AIR MILES MasterCard (highest bonus of any Canadian no-fee card in many years), it’s a great time to earn more of these rewards.

Here are more details about each redemption option.

Redeem AIR MILES Miles for any trips on the AIR MILES website (Dream rewards)

You can use your AIR MILES Miles for a variety of travel expenses on the AIR MILES Travel website:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Car rentals
• Theme parks
• Cruises
• Packages

Again, the value varies slightly for each individual trip, but it hovers around 10.5 ¢/pt to 12 ¢/pt. Make sure to simply calculate the value for each trip.

More details about this option that is the best coming soon.

Redeem AIR MILES Miles for merchandise at in-store partners (Cash rewards)

You can use your AIR MILES Miles for merchandise at the few in-store partners:

• Shell
• Pharmasave (NEW)

The value is a fixed 10.5 ¢/pt because you can redeem 95 Miles for a simple and easy $10 discount.

Redeem AIR MILES Miles for merchandise at many stores with eVouchers (Cash rewards)

You can use your AIR MILES Miles for merchandise at a ton of other partners via the eVouchers you get on the AIR MILES website:

• Airbnb
• Amazon
• Uber Eats
• DoorDash
• SkipTheDishes
• Walmart
• Winners/HomeSense/Marshalls
• GAP/Old Navy/Banana Republic
• Starbucks
• Subway
• The Keg
• So many more!

The value is a fixed 10.5 ¢/pt because you can redeem 95 Miles for a simple and easy $10 discount.

Redeem AIR MILES Miles for merchandise on the AIR Miles website (Dream rewards)

This is really to be avoided since you lose so much value.

But there are many options for merchandise on the AIR MILES website if you insist on getting less for your Miles.

Learning how to travel for less

Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less — including thanks to the wonderful world of travel rewards!

Summary

The AIR MILES program offers a few redemption options, with a value that is rather similar for both travel and merchandise at partners. The only option to avoid is merchandise online as it gives much lower value. And the only option that can sometimes give a bit more value is for travel.

What would you like to know about how to redeem AIR MILES Miles? Tell us in the comments below.

See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights

Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards

Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks: Travel tips

Featured image: Atitlán, Guatemala (photo credit: Shelby Murphy Figueroa)

Share this post to help us help more people travel more for less: