Complete Blue Rewards guide
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On June 2, 2026, the AIR MILES program officially became Blue Rewards. More than 34 years after its launch in Canada, the program changed its name, currency, and structure. BMO's promise: a single balance, a simple equation (1,500 points = $10), and an expanded network of more than 400 partners. Find all current Blue Rewards promotions on our dedicated promotions page.
If you are already an AIR MILES member, the transition happened automatically and with no loss of value. If you are discovering the program, here is what matters before getting started: the real value of Blue Points, ways to earn, and redemption options. The two new BMO credit cards tied to the program and the transition timeline follow.
What is Blue Rewards
Blue Rewards is the new Canadian loyalty program replacing AIR MILES. It is operated by a subsidiary of the Bank of Montreal, which has already controlled AIR MILES since 2023.
The program keeps AIR MILES’ infrastructure (member number, app, physical cards) but radically simplifies the mechanics. Gone is the dual system with Cash Miles and Dream Miles. As of June 2, 2026, you earn and redeem a single currency: Blue Points.
Membership remains free. No credit card or BMO account is required to sign up. However, BMO customers receive additional benefits (earning with a debit card, chequing account bonuses).
The transition for AIR MILES members
BMO has confirmed that the conversion of AIR MILES Miles to Blue Points happened with no loss of value and automatically on June 1, 2026. No AIR MILES customer needed to do anything to protect their balance. Here is exactly what happened.
Transition timeline, day by day
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Until May 31, 2026 | AIR MILES operates normally. You earn and redeem your Miles as usual. |
| May 31 to June 1 | Redemption blackout. You cannot redeem Miles during the transition. |
| June 1, 2026 | Automatic conversion in the background. The app, website, and customer service are unavailable during the day. |
| June 2, 2026 | Everything is restored. Your balance is displayed in Blue Points (multiplied by 16). Redemptions resume. |
Conversion rate: 1 Mile = 16 Blue Points
The official rate is 1 AIR MILES Mile = 16 Blue Points. This equation preserves the monetary value of your balance. Here are a few concrete examples:
| AIR MILES balance | Blue Points balance | In-store value |
|---|---|---|
| 95 Miles | 1,520 Points | ≈ $10 |
| 500 Miles | 8,000 Points | ≈ $53 |
| 1,000 Miles | 16,000 Points | ≈ $107 |
| 5,000 Miles | 80,000 Points | ≈ $533 |
| 10,000 Miles | 160,000 Points | ≈ $1,067 |
Special cases to know
- BMO AIR MILES credit card: it keeps working with the same number and now earns you Blue Points.
- Gold and Onyx status: you can still reach either tier until December 31, 2026, then both disappear. Thresholds and dates are detailed just below.
Gold and Onyx status: until December 31, 2026
Did you join AIR MILES on or before May 31, 2026? You can still reach Blue Rewards Gold or Onyx status until December 31, 2026, and enjoy it until December 31, 2027. After that, points you earn no longer count toward a status, but you keep earning and redeeming them as usual. The general rules are in the Blue Rewards terms and conditions.
- Gold status: 7,890 qualifying Blue Points (versus 500 Miles under AIR MILES), earned and posted to your account before December 31, 2026.
- Onyx status: 78,940 qualifying Blue Points (versus 5,000 Miles under AIR MILES), on the same terms.
- Points that don't count: refunded or transferred points, points from an employee incentive program and points from an offer that is explicitly excluded.
- Posting delay: a partner can take up to 120 days to credit your points. A point earned in 2026 but posted in 2027 doesn't count, so leave yourself some margin.
- Automatic Gold: you have it until December 31, 2027 if you hold, or held at any point in 2026, a BMO AIR MILES Mastercard, a BMO AIR MILES No-Fee Business Mastercard or, as primary holder, an AIR MILES banking program account.
- Automatic Onyx: same rule with the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, the BMO AIR MILES Business Mastercard or the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Business Mastercard.
- Personal Shopper service: it ends on December 31, 2026, and the last order must be placed by December 1, 2026.
Value of Blue Points
The official formula sets 1,500 Blue Points at $10, or about 0.67¢ per point for an in-store redemption or an e-gift card. That is the same value as BMO Rewards points, although the two balances cannot be transferred between them.
On the travel platform, no fixed rate is published: the value depends on the displayed price. We break down the value by redemption method, the daily limit and our calculation method on our Blue Points value page.
How to earn Blue Points
Six main ways to earn Blue Points:
- In-store purchases at retail partners (more than 400 brands in Canada)
- Purchases with a Blue Rewards credit card (two new cards launched on June 2, 2026)
- Purchases with a BMO debit card linked to an eligible chequing account (registration required in the BMO app)
- Purchases with a linked third-party Mastercard to your Blue Rewards account (any Mastercard issued in Canada, including non-BMO)
- Scanning grocery receipts via the mobile app
- BMO chequing account bonuses: 500 Points a month with a $4,000 daily balance in the Blue Rewards Chequing Account
The most powerful earning lever remains Blue Rewards credit cards, especially when you shop at a participating partner. That is where the 10x accelerator comes into play.
The 10x Points accelerator
“10x Points” is the core selling point of the new Blue Rewards cards. The principle is simple: you shop at a participating partner, pay with your Blue Rewards credit card, and earn 10 points per dollar spent.
In practice, the mechanics combine two rates:
- With the Blue Rewards Mastercard (no fee): 5 Points per $1 at partners (combined cap of $15,000 per calendar year)
- With the Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard: 10 Points per $1 at partners (combined cap of $25,000 per calendar year)
On top of that, you get a bonus by presenting your membership card at checkout. You earn the partner's points in addition to your credit card points, which BMO calls "double-dipping."
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$670Annual fee rebated$150Total$820Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $820
- Welcome offerAfter $20,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
- Ends Oct 31, 2026
Apply Now
on BMO's website
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$134Total$134Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $134
- Welcome offerAfter $1,500 in 3 months
- 20,000 points
- Ends Oct 31, 2026
Apply Now
on BMO's website
Blue Rewards partners
The Blue Rewards network includes more than 400 participating brands. Among them, a shorter list provides access to the bonus rate. That list includes Pharmasave, Global Pet Foods, Budget, Alamo, National Car Rental, TIMBER MART, KENT, Irving Oil, Pitou Minou & Compagnons, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, Dollarama, and Blue Rewards Travel.
Accor Group joined the 10x rate in August 2026: Fairmont, Sofitel, Novotel, Raffles and Emblems Collection now participate. Instacart and MTY Group restaurants (Thaï Express, Mr. Sub, Manchu Wok, Mucho Burrito, Pizza Delight and Jugo Juice) also earn 10x the Points. Shell Canada, on the other hand, left the program for Scene+, on March 2, 2026 in Alberta and on May 25, 2026 in the rest of Canada. Find the full list by category and the caps on our Blue Rewards partners page.
Since September 2026, BMO Insurance is also part of the network: a pet insurance quote earns you 500 Blue Points, no purchase required.
How to redeem your Blue Points
In-store redemptions and e-gift cards
This is the main and best-value option: 1,500 Points = $10 at participating partners or in e-gift cards. A daily limit of $750 (112,500 Points) applies across combined in-store and e-gift card redemptions.
Blue Rewards Travel
The Blue Rewards Travel platform is powered by Expedia Group. It provides access to a wide range of suppliers: flights, hotels, and car rentals.
- No minimum threshold: you can use your points starting with the very first point earned
- Split payment: combine points and cash to pay for a booking
- Large inventory: access to the Expedia network for flights, hotels, and rentals
- Coverage of taxes and fees: you can now pay 100% of an airline ticket with your Points, including taxes
- Cruises excluded from the platform
- Fees paid on site at the property are not covered by points
Donations to charity
You can also donate your Blue Points: 7,500 points fund a $50 donation to motionball for Special Olympics, Kids Help Phone or Food Banks Canada. We compare this minimum with other programs in our article on donating your points for Giving Tuesday.
Blue Rewards Credit Cards
BMO launched two personal Blue Rewards credit cards on June 2, 2026. They are the only retail credit cards in Canada with built-in accelerators on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging and warehouse clubs combined.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
| Features | BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard | BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $150 (first-year rebate) |
| Income Required | None | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| Credit score | Good (680+) | Very good (725-759) |
| Base rate | 0.5 Point per $1 | 1 Point per $1 |
| Groceries, gas, alcohol, wholesale | 1 Point per $1 | 2 Points per $1 |
| 10x partners | 5 Points per $1 | 10 Points per $1 |
| Welcome Offer | Up to 30,000 Points (≈ $200) until October 31, 2026 | Up to 135,000 Points (≈ $900) until October 31, 2026 |
A higher earn rate than the old AIR MILES
With Shell’s departure, some former AIR MILES members are questioning the program’s value. For everyday spending, the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard still earns more than the old AIR MILES card. In accelerated categories (groceries, gas, alcohol, warehouse clubs), it earns 2 Points per dollar, or about 1.3% in value at a rate of 0.67¢ per Point. By comparison, the old AIR MILES card earned the equivalent of about 0.8% in those same categories.
| Old AIR MILES | Blue Rewards World Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Value earned (per $12 spent) | ≈ $0.10 | ≈ $0.16 |
| Value rate | ≈ 0.8% | ≈ 1.3% |
For full details on each card, see our dedicated pages: BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard and BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
Complete transition timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 25, 2026 | Official program announcement. Merger of Cash and Dream balances. Waitlist opens for the cards. |
| March 2, 2026 | End of the Shell partnership in Alberta. |
| March 2026 | Launch of the enhanced travel platform via Expedia. |
| May 25, 2026 | End of the Shell partnership in the rest of Canada. |
| May 31 to June 1, 2026 | Redemption blackout. Automatic conversion of AIR MILES Miles to Blue Points (1:16 rate). |
| June 2, 2026 | Official launch of Blue Rewards. Blue Points available for redemption. Launch of the two Blue Rewards credit cards. |
Blue Rewards vs BMO Rewards
Be careful not to confuse the two BMO programs. They are two distinct ecosystems, even though the unit value of the points is identical (0.67¢).
- BMO Rewards: BMO’s legacy program, tied to Ascend and Eclipse cards. Redeem for travel, merchandise, or investment deposits.
- Blue Rewards: the new program from AIR MILES, tied to Blue cards and the retail partner network. Redeem in store, for e-gift cards, and for travel via Expedia.
In practical terms: if you have a BMO Ascend card, you earn BMO Rewards points. If you have a BMO Blue Rewards card, you earn Blue Points. The two balances are separate, but worth the same when redeemed.
Exclusive benefits for BMO clients
Beyond credit cards, BMO customers earn faster thanks to several exclusive benefits:
- Blue Rewards Chequing Account: 2 Points for every $2 on groceries, gas, wholesale club and EV charging on up to $1,000 in purchases a month, then 1 Point for every $2 everywhere else on up to $5,000 a month
- Monthly bonuses: 500 Points with a daily balance of $4,000 in the Blue Rewards Chequing Account, and 500 more Points if you hold the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard
- Any other BMO chequing account: 1 Point for every $2 on groceries, gas, wholesale club and EV charging, on up to $300 in net purchases a month
- BMO Mobile app: direct access to your Points balance and personalized offers
- Annual fee rebate: $150 rebate on the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard with a Premium chequing account
To compare BMO accounts, see our guide to BMO banking packages.
Debit earning takes an opt-in
Every BMO chequing account holder can earn Blue Points with their debit card. Earning starts once you opt in: sign in to BMO Online Banking or the BMO Mobile Banking app, then accept the terms.
The cap depends on the account. On the Practical, Plus, Performance, Premium and Senior plans it is $300 in net purchases a month, across all eligible merchants combined, or 150 Points a month. The Blue Rewards Chequing Account goes up to $1,000 in the accelerated categories and $5,000 everywhere else.
New terms effective September 14
BMO has published a revised version of the Blue Rewards terms and conditions, effective September 14, 2026. Six changes directly affect members.
- Notices go by email only. BMO will send any document or notice to the email address most recently provided, rather than to the mailing address on file. Keeping that email up to date becomes your responsibility: BMO is not responsible for a message that is returned, undeliverable or blocked.
- Passwords replace PINs. Sign-in credentials become your email address and password. Members who still sign in with their member number and PIN may need to create an email and password to keep access to their account.
- Partner points can take 120 days. They are credited within a reasonable time after the partner's notice, which can be up to 120 days after the offer conditions are met.
- The 60-day period is a waiting period, not a deadline. To report missing points, you must wait until 60 days have passed since the transaction, and at least 120 days for points from bonus offers or promotions. Your claim does not become ineligible after that period.
- A merchandise order can be cancelled within 48 hours. This is a new option: until now, no cancellation or refund was allowed once an order was placed. Your points are returned to you.
- Instalment purchases no longer count. Transactions paid through a "buy now, pay later" service are no longer eligible for card-linked offers.
Official Resources
- bluerewards.ca (official program site)
- BMO Blue Rewards Credit Cards
- All BMO Credit Cards (Milesopedia)
Who Blue Rewards is a good fit for
The Blue Rewards program is primarily designed for everyday, practical use. It is worth considering if:
- You regularly shop with network partners (pharmacy, pets, car rentals, travel, hardware)
- You want a simple currency, without complex calculations
- You are already a BMO customer and want to maximize your banking ecosystem
- You were an AIR MILES member and want to continue effortlessly
However, your priority may be optimizing points for business-class flights or transfers to airline programs. In that case, Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, or RBC Avion remain more rewarding.
Blue Rewards – Frequently asked questions
What is the AIR MILES to Blue Points conversion rate?
The official rate is 1 AIR MILES Mile = 16 Blue Points. This preserves the monetary value of your balance (95 Miles = 1,500 Points = $10).
Do you need to be a BMO customer to join?
No. Membership in Blue Rewards is free and open to all Canadian residents. However, BMO customers receive additional benefits (earning with a debit card, chequing account bonuses, and access to dedicated credit cards).
How much are Blue Points worth?
1,500 Blue Points = $10 CAD for in-store redemptions or e-gift cards. This gives a unit value of 0.67¢ per point.
How does the 10x Points accelerator work?
The 10x accelerator applies when you pay with a BMO Blue Rewards credit card at a participating partner. With the Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard, you earn 10 Points per dollar spent (combined cap of $25,000 per calendar year). With the no-fee Blue Rewards Mastercard, you earn 5 Points per dollar (cap of $15,000 per calendar year).
Were my AIR MILES Miles lost in the conversion?
No. AIR MILES Miles were automatically converted to Blue Points on June 1, 2026, with no loss of value and no action required on your part.
Will my BMO AIR MILES credit card continue to work?
Yes. Your card continues to work with the same number and the same offer. It now earns Blue Points. You can also request to switch to one of the two new Blue Rewards cards.
Can I link a non-BMO Mastercard to earn Blue Points?
Yes. You can link any Mastercard issued in Canada to your Blue Rewards account, including a non-BMO Mastercard. For BMO Mastercards, linking is automatic. For third-party Mastercards, linking is done in the Blue Rewards app or at bluerewardscardlink.ca. For a BMO payment card whose Member Number is not already on file, you do it at your branch. As of September 14, 2026, you can also use the CDB Linking Feature in BMO Digital Banking.
How do I redeem my Blue Points?
You have three main options. The best value remains in-store redemptions or electronic gift cards, at a rate of 1,500 Points for $10 (daily limit of $750). You can also book flights, hotels, and car rentals on the Blue Rewards Travel platform powered by Expedia. There is no minimum threshold, and you can pay with a mix of points and cash. For the best alternatives based on your profile, see our best credit cards page.
Can I still earn Gold or Onyx status?
Yes, until December 31, 2026, if you joined AIR MILES on or before May 31, 2026: you need 7,890 qualifying Blue Points for Gold and 78,940 for Onyx, posted to your account before that date. The status you earn lasts until December 31, 2027, after which Blue Rewards retires both tiers.