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Tag: BMO Air Miles World Elite

  • Air Miles expands offerings, including ways to earn and redeem – MoneySense

    Air Miles expands offerings, including ways to earn and redeem – MoneySense

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    As you might recall, BMO Financial Group bought Air Miles in March 2023, after the program’s owner, Loyalty Ventures Inc., filed for bankruptcy. At that time, BMO said the acquisition “would be a made-in-Canada opportunity to enable a reinvigoration for one of Canada’s largest loyalty programs.” 

    Air Miles collectors, that day has come. Let’s look at how the program has changed.

    What’s new about Air Miles?

    In addition to its emphasis on moments (collecting them, winning them, getting to them faster), the new Air Miles brand platform reflects several program enhancements rolled out since April:

    More ways to earn

    Collectors can take advantage of two ways to rack up more Miles: 

    • Air Miles Receipts, introduced in 2023, gives members Miles for buying certain products and scanning the receipts with the Air Miles app within 14 days. Air Miles Receipts initially included grocery stores. It recently expanded to liquor stores, and more categories are coming in September.
    • Card-linked offers give collectors bonus Miles at partner retailers. To access offers, link a Canadian-issued Mastercard to your Air Miles Account. (BMO Air Miles Mastercards are automatically linked.) Two recent examples: 250 bonus Miles for spending $500 at LG Electronics, and 125 bonus Miles for spending $300 at Porter Airlines. 

    More ways to redeem 

    Collectors can redeem Air Miles for eVouchers at several more well-known retailers, including Amazon, Sporting Life, TJX brands (Winners, HomeSense, Marshalls) and more. Redeeming 95 Cash Miles gets you $10 in value (the same as before the relaunch). 

    Gas discounts at Shell 

    If you have a BMO Air Miles–linked credit card or debit card, you’ll save $0.07 per litre on Shell V-Power premium fuel and $0.02 per litre on other Shell fuel—a nice perk given the high cost of gas.

    Other credit card benefits

    BMO Air Miles credit cardholders can now earn double the Miles on purchases at wholesale clubs and liquor retailers in Canada, the same boosted earn rate they get at eligible grocery stores.

    Conversions between Cash Miles and Dream Miles 

    Air Miles requires cardholders to allocate their reward Miles into two buckets: Cash Miles (redeemable for retailer eVouchers and in-store discounts) and Dream Miles (redeemable for merchandise and travel rewards). The ratio is up to you, but you couldn’t convert one to the other—until now. Onyx and Gold collectors (the upper two of Air Miles’ three tiers) now have more flexibility: Onyx collectors get unlimited transfers, and Gold collectors can transfer up to 1,000 Miles each year. (Sorry, Blue collectors, no transfers for you.)

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    Jaclyn Law

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  • Why you won’t get Air Miles at Metro anymore – MoneySense

    Why you won’t get Air Miles at Metro anymore – MoneySense

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    In the mid-2000s, Air Miles devalued its points, making it harder for customers to reach their rewards goals. Then, in 2016, the company announced it would add an expiration date to Miles. Though the decision was reversed after an outcry, the move damaged customer relations. Next, the company split Air Miles into Cash Miles (for in-store redemption and e-vouchers) and Dream Miles (for merchandise, travel, events and attractions), further confusing collectors. 

    By 2022, some of Air Miles’ biggest draws had left the program, including Staples, Rexall, the LCBO, Lowe’s and others. Metro stores are the latest mega-partners to sever ties with Air Miles. 

    Earning rewards for groceries

    All of this might be bad news for Air Miles, but consumers can still find ways to earn rewards on their grocery shopping bills. 

    One way is to join the loyalty programs of your grocery chain. Like Metro with its new Moi Rewards program, Loblaws stores give out PC Optimum points, Save-on-Foods and others use More Rewards, and Thrifty Foods uses Scene+ points. 

    Unfortunately, Moi Rewards alone won’t get you the value you’re used to with Air Miles. If it takes 500 Moi Rewards points to redeem for $4, the value per point is $0.008. How does that stack up against Air Miles? While the value of an Air Mile will fluctuate depending on what you redeem it for, the average value is $0.121. Luckily, you can use a different strategy to make your food shopping pay dividends.

    The best grocery credit cards in Canada

    You can earn rewards on your groceries by purchasing them with a rewards credit card. For example, you could use a PC Mastercard to pay for food at Metro, and you’d still earn PC Optimum points—not as many as you’d get shopping at Loblaw banner stores, but you’d still get the base rate. Many other rewards cards are good for groceries, too. The best one for you will depend on where you shop and your shopping habits. 

    Here’s a quick look at some of our top picks.


    What’s replacing Air Miles at Metro?

    So, Air Miles is out and Moi Rewards is in. While it’s true that the advertised Moi Rewards earn rate is underwhelming, the details of the program remain to be seen. In the meantime, Metro shoppers can get their rewards by using a solid rewards credit card at the till.

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    Keph Senett

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