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AIR MILES: collect more miles at Costco and other retailers

To the point In a series of new accumulation opportunities, AIR MILES adds the possibility of earning more miles at Costco, SAQ and LCBO.

Added benefits at AIR MILES

To collect even more AIR MILES miles faster, the AIR MILES Loyalty Program announced today that it is adding the following:

Earn faster with AIR MILES credit cards at Costco

Starting today, AIR MILES credit cardholders earn twice as many miles at any eligible wholesale club or alcohol retailer when they pay with their card.

For example, for a BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* cardholder, this means that instead of receiving 1 reward mile for every $12 in purchases made with the card, you’ll now receive 2 reward miles for every $12!

This applies to :

  • Costco
  • SAQ
  • LCBO
  • BC Liquor Store
  • The Beer Store, etc.!

Those who use a BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard®* earn 2 miles (instead of 1) for every $25 spent, which represents an increase in value.

So a $250 purchase at Costco with a BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®* will earn :

Before (1 mile/$12 purchase) After (2 miles/$12 purchase)
20 miles ($2.10 value, 0.8% return) 40 miles ($4.21 value, 1.68% return)

With this enhancement, a person who goes to Costco twice a month gets an appreciable accumulation of 960 miles ($101 value) over the course of a year.

All you have to do is pay for your Costco purchases with an AIR MILES credit card. No AIR MILES Collector Card will be required at checkout.

Every time you make a transaction at a liquor store or warehouse, miles are piling in your account.

The payment of miles is very fast (a few days after the purchase). Here’s an example of how miles are paid out for a purchase at Costco and another at the SAQ:

Costco alcool AM

AIR MILES receipts and the addition of new categories

Since November 2023, the AIR MILES Receipts option allows you to earn more miles. Simply take a photo of a grocery receipt with the targeted products in the AIR MILES mobile application. Many grocery stores across Canada were accepted.

In late spring 2024, members will be able to earn bonus miles on an additional category: alcohol retailers! The original date was May 23, 2024, but this option will be available shortly.

We can therefore imagine that eligible products such as bottles of wine, spirits or beer will be targeted products and that the following retailers will be accepted to get more miles:

  • SAQ
  • LCBO
  • The Beer Store
  • BC Liquor Store, etc.

The AIR MILES program promises that other categories will follow.

Please note that Collectors will not be able to scan their AIR MILES card at the cash register of these retailers. Everything is done directly between the AIR MILES mobile application and your bill. Read our article on how AIR MILES Receipts work.

New retailer at Airmileshops.ca

AIR MILES welcomes Instacart to airmilesshops.ca, giving their members another opportunity to earn miles on grocery delivery.

The basic accumulation is 1 mile for $20 in purchases.

Right now, if you’re a new Instacart customer, there’s a promotion to get 100 AIR MILES miles on your first order.

instacart air mileshops

Bottom Line

The addition of a category specifically for wholesale clubs and warehouses like Costco is excellent news!

Let’s hope that other credit cards will follow, as this type of business is very popular, but additional accumulations are very rare.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Caroline Tremblay
I'm Caroline, a loyalty program specialist! I use my points to travel more often and at a lower price with my spouse and our two children. I'm passionate about writing about the latest rewards news and how to put more points in your pocket.

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