Earn AIR MILES Reward Miles at Costco!

Updated Oct 3, 2024
Fact checked by
Alexandrine Bertrand
Alexandrine Bertrand

Alexandrine Bertrand

Alexandrine Bertrand
An avid solo traveller, Alexandrine is an expert on loyalty programmes such as Aeroplan, Avios, AIR MILES, Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. With a budget-conscious approach, she helps travellers make the most of their points and miles to experience affordable, off-the-beaten-path getaways. She also shares a love of gastronomy and enjoys exploring local flavours and culinary traditions.
All posts by Alexandrine Bertrand
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To the point With the right Mastercard in your wallet, you can earn AIR MILES Reward Miles on all your purchases at Costco!

Costco warehouses and Mastercard credit cards

** This article, written in 2021, is out of date. Please see this article on earning AIR MILES at Costco for the latest information.

A few years ago, Costco Canada made a radical transition by having an exclusive agreement with Mastercard at the expense ofAmerican Express.

costco mastercard

In the first few months, the Capital One Mastercard for Costco members was promoted in the warehouses.

Actually, it continues to be so with welcome bonuses ranging from a grocery bag to $10 off your purchases, so not much to say!

costco capital one affiche

However, this Capital One card only offers between 0.5% and 3% depending on the type of purchase.

Yes, 0.5%: that’s the maximum you’ll get instead of 1% until you reach $3,000 in Card purchases. And the counter starts again at zero every year! This is a sort of disguised annual fee of $15 ($3,000 x 0.5%).

Add to this the near impossibility of getting a higher credit limit than the one assigned at the time of the application. You get a poor value card in the end, especially if you buy a lot of stuff at Costco in a year!

Finally, Costco has decided to end its partnership with Capital One in 2021.

Please note: Costco warehouses are not considered “grocery stores .” Thus, not all credit cards that may offer a higher earning rate for groceries can be considered.

Fortunately, Canada has many choices regarding Mastercard credit cards (check out the best credit card offers for Costco)! Here are several dedicated to AIR MILES collectors!

The Best AIR MILES credit cards for Costco

Only American Express Canada and BMO issue AIR MILES credit cards, and only BMO offers Mastercard credit cards.

So the choice is quickly made for those who would like to collect AIR MILES miles via their Costco warehouse purchases.

The Best BMO AIR MILES credit card

Without a doubt, the best AIR MILES credit card from BMO is the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*.

You can earn 1 AIR MILES Reward Mile for every $12 spent at Costco and all your other purchases. And 3 miles for every $12 spent at select AIR MILES partners (Sobeys, Jean Coutu, Shell, etc.).

Quite simply, it’s the AIR MILES credit card with the best earning rate in Canada.

The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* is therefore particularly attractive for a number of reasons:

  • First-year free
  • 1 AIR MILES Reward Mile per $12 spent everywhere
  • 3 miles per $12 spent at select AIR MILES Partners
  • A great welcome bonus
  • An exclusive 15% discount on many AIR MILES flight rewards
  • Premium travel insurance

In short, it’s simply the best AIR MILES credit card for shopping at Costco.

BMO's best no-fee AIR MILES credit card

If you don’t qualify for a BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard ($80,000 personal income or $150,000 family income), you may be eligible for a BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®*.

Especially since Milesopedia runs an exclusive welcome offer.

You can earn 1 AIR MILES Reward Mile for every $25 spent at Costco and all your other purchases. And 3 miles for every $25 spent at select AIR MILES partners (IGA, Jean Coutu, Shell, etc.).

Other BMO no-fee AIR MILES credit cards

In addition to the BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard* – and its particularly attractive welcome bonus – you should know that there are four other NO CHARGE credit cards offered by BMO to collect AIR MILES miles!

These other credit cards earn 1 AIR MILES Reward Mile for every $25 spent at Costco and on all your other purchases. At some AIR MILES Sponsors (IGA, Jean Coutu, Shell, etc.), you can earn 3 AIR MILES Reward Miles for every $25 spent.

As our community has noted, there’s no reason why you can’t get more than one BMO AIR MILES credit card – they’re different products.

However, we strongly recommend that you spread out your credit card applications over time.

BMO AIR MILES Business Credit Cards

Finally, there are 2 BMO AIR MILES Business credit cards. Find out in this article how to apply for them.

Bottom Line

Being a Costco member and collecting AIR MILES miles is not incompatible! All you need is the right credit card in your wallet!

Check out the best Costco credit card offers.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine

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