Best Air Miles Credit Cards In Canada For May 2024
Points that are easy to earn.
The best Air Miles credit card in Canada is the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* with plenty of chances to earn Air Miles wherever you go.
Though Air Miles may have hit some bumps in the road, it's still a good rewards program in Canada with plenty of credit card options to choose from.
Here's our analysis of the Air Miles credit card lineup.
Key Takeaways
- The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is the best Air Miles credit card in Canada.
- You can earn double or triple miles by using an Air Miles credit card and an Air Miles collector card.
- Air Miles can be redeemed for in-store cash rewards, merchandise, travel opportunities, and more.
- The Air Miles program has experienced some setbacks but remains a strong rewards program.
3 best Air Miles credit cards in Canada for May 2024
Here are some of the best Air Miles credit cards you can apply for, as rated by our unbiased, math-based algorithm.
| Category | Credit Card | Current Welcome Bonus Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Best Air Miles credit card | BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* |  $20 GeniusCash + Up to 2,000 3,000 bonus miles, first year free (terms) |
| Best no fee Air Miles credit card | BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* | $20 GeniusCash + Up to 800 1,500 bonus miles (terms) |
| Best Air Miles credit card for students | BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* for students | Up to 800 bonus miles (terms) |
Not sure which card is best for you? Here are the best Air Miles credit cards in Canada in detail.
1. Best Air Miles credit card overall
×1 Award winner 
GC: $20
1x Award winner Pros:
- Up to 3 miles per $12 spent on purchases.
- Annual 25% discount on 1 Air Miles reward flight per year.
- 14 types of insurance.
- Up to 2,000 3,000 bonus Air Miles.
Cons:
- Not the best rewards among Air Miles credit cards.
The
What makes it the best? It offers the most rewards, and comes with a unique perk to save on rewards travel.
This Air Miles credit card gives you 1 mile for every $12 you spend on every single purchase. Meanwhile, if you happen to shop at participating Air Miles partners, you’ll get triple the miles for everything you buy there. And there's a bonus on your groceries, too – you'll get double the miles.
Then, BMO gives you a 25% discount on the Air Miles required for 1 reward booking per year, up to 750 miles saved. It's an excellent discount to help further stretch your miles.
On top of that, you'll also get automatic Onyx status. That opens up even more deals for rewards, especially when it comes to free flights.
You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 3,000 Air Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
One more welcome bonus that we offer is an extra $20 in GeniusCash. If you're looking to make the switch, why not snag a little extra cash?
Plus, you get the following premium perks for a pretty reasonable $120 annual fee, given that you get:
- free access to the Mastercard Travel Pass (no free passes),
- access to 24/7 credit card concierge service,
- one of the most comprehensive credit card insurance packages you can get with 14 types, and
- you'll pay no annual fee for the first year.
The big drawback? The income requirements. You'll need to meet standard World Elite income requirements of either $80,000 personal or $150,000 household to be eligible for this credit card.
2. Best Air Miles credit card with no annual fee
Pros:
- No annual fee.
- Earn up to 3 miles per $25 spent on purchases.
- Up to 800 1,500 bonus Air Miles.
- Automatic Air Miles Gold status.
Cons:
- Poor rewards compared to no annual fee cards.
- Only includes basic insurance.
Coming in as the best Air Miles credit card with no annual fee is the
This credit card will give you:
- 1 Mile per $25 spent on all purchases
- 3x the Miles for every $25 at participating Air Miles partners
- 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores
You'll also get a nice sign-up bonus of 800 1,500 Air Miles, which is rare for a no fee card.
Plus, for some added peace of mind, all of your purchases made with the card will be covered with 90 days of purchase protection, which means you’re safe if your new purchase gets lost, stolen, or damaged. It will double your manufacturer's warranty for up to an extra year too.
If that wasn’t enough, for a limited time, this Air Miles credit card will give you an introductory balance transfer interest rate of only 0.99% for 9 months. For a no fee card, this card has a lot going for it.
3. Best Air Miles card for students
Pros:
- Earn up to 3 miles per $25 spent.
- A welcome bonus of up to 800 bonus miles
Cons:
- Poor rewards compared to typical no annual fee cards.
- Disappointing insurance package.
Especially for students who travel frequently, the
Take a look at the earn rates associated with this card:
- 1 Mile per $25 spent on all purchases
- 3x the Miles for every $25 at participating Air Miles partners
- 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery stores
And the best part is that when you shop at Air Miles partnering retailers, you can actually earn even more reward miles. Yes, that means stacking your miles and earning double or even triple the rewards.
While we do think that this card could use a boost in the insurance department, a minimal insurance package is pretty standard for a no fee card. Taking advantage of the extended warranty and purchase protection that it does offer can provide some impressive value for students.
Compare Air Miles credit cards
×1 Award winner GC: $20 1x Award winner Awards are given out once a year but rating and rankings can shift throughout the year. The #1 card for 2024 is pinned to the top.
How we determine the best Air Miles credit card in Canada
How do we decide what the best Air Miles cards are? We take into account over 126 features of each card, broken down into 7 main categories:
We then take those features and put them through our algorithm, which calculates a score out of 5. And since we're talking about Air Miles credit cards, we give extra weight to the rewards category, as it's the primary feature we're after for cards on this page. Our rewards are based on a typical $2,000 monthly spend.
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology.
Best Air Miles credit cards head-to-head
Want to see how the top Air Miles credit cards compare when pitted against each other?
Here's a comparison of 3 key areas.
Annual fee
First, let's take a look at how much each card costs to keep in your wallet every year.
It's also important to keep in mind that the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard offers the first year for free.
Average earn rate
But how many Air Miles will you earn with these cards in your wallet?
Let's compare the average earn rate for each card, based on a typical $2,000 monthly spend.
Welcome bonus value
But what about the welcome bonus? Which of these cards will start you off with the biggest bang?
Here's what we estimate each bonus is worth, based on our average Air Miles point value when redeemed for flights.
Now the #1 Air Miles credit card really starts to shine, thanks to its 2,000 3,000 mile welcome bonus.
Pros and cons of Air Miles credit cards
Unfortunately, Air Miles has been in the news quite a bit recently, and the headlines haven't always been good – the company declared bankruptcy in early 2023 but BMO soon swooped in to save the day and purchase the company.
Now, more than ever, there are both good and bad points to weigh with Air Miles credit cards.
- Current collectors earn more: If you collect plenty of Miles, an Air Miles credit card can supercharge your earning rate.
- Opportunities with partner retailers: Stack rewards on top of rewards when shopping with Air Miles partner retailers.
- Discounts on flights: In the case of the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, you can get up to a 25% discount on the Miles needed for 1 flight reward per year.
However, you'll also want to think about these less-than-stellar drawbacks for Air Miles cards too:
- Poor rewards: Unfortunately, Air Miles credit cards have relatively poor rewards compared to similar credit cards.
- Limited selection: BMO is the only issuer of Air Miles credit cards, and they only offer 3 personal cards.
- Fewer retail partners: In the last couple of years, Air Miles has lost several partnering retailers, including Sobeys, Staples, and Jean Coutu.
How Air Miles Canada rewards work – Cash Rewards vs. Dream Rewards
Especially if you're not already an Air Miles collector, it's important to know that you have the option of collecting either Cash Miles or Dream Miles. You can collect all of one or the other, or some combination of the 2. The percentage mix you collect is completely up to you and you have the option of adjusting it via the Air Miles website whenever you want.
It's important to note that once collected, you can't convert a Cash Mile to a Dream Mile, or vice versa. So be sure you think about what you want to do with your Air Miles, and adjust your account accordingly.
The miles you earn can be redeemed for a number of different things, including:
- flights,
- car rentals,
- hotels,
- vacation packages,
- attractions,
- concerts, or
- merchandise.
Plus, Air Miles can even be redeemed like cash at participating stores.
Here's what you can redeem Air Miles for:
| Cash Rewards | Dream Rewards |
|---|---|
|
|
These options are great, but one downside is not all shops are Air Miles partners. Air Miles Canada does have the most partners of any rewards program in Canada, but unless you’re willing to do some major planning around what you buy and what stores you go to, it can still take years to build up your miles to redeem for a big-ticket reward like a free flight.
Be sure to check out our full review of the Air Miles Canada program to learn how to best earn and redeem your miles.
And, if you want to earn bonus miles? Air Miles runs frequent promotions throughout the year to boost your miles bank. You can find out more about them on our Air Miles promotions page, or through your Air Miles app.
FAQ
What is the best Air Miles credit card in Canada?
We believe the best Air Miles credit card in Canada is the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard. This premium travel card will earn you 1 Air Mile for every $12 spent, 2x miles on groceries, and 3x miles at participating Air Miles partners.
How do I apply for an Air Miles card?
You can apply for any Air Miles credit card by clicking on the green "Apply" button you see under our picture of the card. This will take you to the card issuer's site where you can complete the application process.
Where is the Air Miles sign up?
You can sign up for Air Miles online through airmiles.ca – just click on "Join now," and set up an account. Read our guide to the Air Miles rewards program to learn how to maximize your points.
How do I replace my lost Air Miles card?
You can easily request replacement for your Air Miles collectors card online. Sign into your account, go to the "Help" section, click on "Order Card," verify your address, and you'll receive a new Air Miles card in no time.
Is there a best no fee Air Miles credit card?
The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard is our top no fee Air Miles credit card. In addition to being able to use it to earn Air Miles rewards anywhere you shop, you’ll get a sign-up bonus of 1,500 miles.
Where can I learn more about maximizing Air Miles rewards?
To learn more about how to earn, maximize, and redeem Air Miles Canada rewards, head over to our How To Maximize The Air Miles Rewards Program article. You'll learn the best ways to earn and redeem your miles, and more.
Do Air Miles expire?
As long as your Air Miles account remains active and in good standing, your miles won't expire. Your account is officially deemed inactive after 24 consecutive months, so be sure to take advantage of miles redemption offers before then.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 218 Canadian credit cards.
