AIR MILES Travel Transitions to Expedia
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As of March 16, 2026, AIR MILES offers its travel services via Expedia Group, eliminating the minimum miles required and allowing 100% of miles to be used to pay the total cost, including taxes and fees. With this transition, Flex Pay is no longer an available payment option.
For a full overview of the new program, see our complete Blue Rewards guide, which breaks down point value, earning, and the transition.
This major transformation of the AIR MILES program aims to offer a simplified booking experience and expanded access to travel options through the partnership with Expedia, recognized as a trusted travel brand. Canadian members will see significant changes in how they use their miles, with notable benefits but also the loss of some popular features.
Mile Redemption Value: Initial Tests
With the launch of the Expedia platform, collectors can now see the real value of their miles. Early analyses show a uniform redemption value of 10 cents per mile for all booking types: flights, hotels, car rentals and activities.
This value represents a slight disadvantage compared to:
- 10.5 cents per mile for gift cards and redemptions with certain partners
- 11 cents per mile for cruises (which remain with redtag.ca)
AIR MILES and Expedia – Concrete Examples of Value
Flights
Montreal-Cancun Flight: Fares consistently show a value of 10 cents per mile
Hotels
International Hotels: The redemption value is the same, regardless of the destination. Discounts follow the same reduction on the cash price of the room.
Car rentals
Car Rentals: The redemption value is identical to other categories, as seen in this example for San José, Costa Rica.
This standardization simplifies calculations but limits opportunities to obtain higher value, unlike other travel rewards programs that offer variable values depending on the booking type or dynamic pricing.
Nevertheless, some limited-time special offers are displayed, such as this one on bonus miles.
Why is AIR MILES choosing Expedia as its partner in 2026?
AIR MILES is making this change to offer travel services through Expedia Group because it is a trusted travel brand. This strategic decision will enable a simpler booking experience and access to a significantly expanded travel inventory for all Canadian Collectors.
What exactly changes for AIR MILES members on March 16, 2026?
Collectors can keep booking on a computer, tablet or mobile device as usual, but with major changes: miles can cover 100% of the cost including taxes and fees, no minimum number of miles is required (except for cruises), and Flex Pay is gone. The interface stays familiar but gives access to the full inventory of Expedia.
| Aspect | Before March 16, 2026 | As of March 16, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Platform | AIR MILES Travel | Expedia via AIR MILES |
| Minimum Miles | Required | None (except cruises) |
| Miles Redemption | Partial + Flex Pay | 100% including taxes |
| Flex Pay | Available | Not available |
| Customer Service | AIR MILES | Expedia |
| Travel Inventory | Limited | Expanded (Expedia) |
How can I use my AIR MILES to pay 100% of my trip with Expedia?
You can use your miles to cover the full cost of your booking, including taxes and fees (except for cruise bookings and fees payable on site). The redemption value is now set at 10 cents per mile for all travel bookings via Expedia, whether for domestic or international flights, hotels or car rentals.
You can also use as little as one mile to get a 10-cent discount on your booking, which provides more flexibility in using miles for a portion of the total cost.
Step-by-step booking process:
- Log in to your AIR MILES account via the website or mobile app
- Search for your flight, hotel, car rental, or travel package
Select your preferred option from the Expedia inventory - At checkout, choose the number of miles to use (minimum 1 mile)
- Confirm your booking – it will be managed according to Expedia’s terms and conditions
Important points to remember:
- No minimum required: Use from 1 mile (10 cents discount)
- Fixed value: Each mile is worth exactly 10 cents
- Full coverage: Including all taxes and airport fees
- Total flexibility: Combine miles and cash according to your needs
- Expanded inventory: Access to millions of Expedia options
Strategic note: Since gift cards offer 10.5 cents per mile, some members might prefer to redeem their miles for gift cards (better value) and use them for their travel purchases.
Benefits of the New Payment System
- Use 100% of miles for the total cost
- Taxes and fees included in miles usage
- No minimum miles required
- More flexibility for small balances
- Access to more travel options
What happens to my existing bookings after the AIR MILES-Expedia change?
Bookings made before March 16, 2026, continue to be processed by AIR MILES customer service and remain subject to the current terms and conditions. Cruises are an exception and continue to be booked and processed by redtag.ca, even after the transition.
For bookings made on or after March 16, 2026, they will be processed on the Expedia platform and subject to Expedia’s terms of use. This includes their cancellation, modification policy, and separate customer service.
Which privacy policy applies after March 16, 2026?
Expedia’s privacy statement applies to all bookings (except for cruises) made on or after March 16, 2026. Members will need to accept these new terms to continue using the service. Cruises will remain under redtag.ca’s privacy policy.
Are cruises affected by the AIR MILES-Expedia partnership?
No, cruises are not affected by this change. They will continue to be booked and processed through redtag.ca, with the same current conditions, including the minimum miles required and the exclusion of certain fees from miles usage.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the partnership between AIR MILES and Expedia represents a major transformation of the travel rewards program. However, with a fixed redemption value of 10 cents per mile for travel, which is lower than the 10.5 cents offered for gift cards, several members might prefer to continue redeeming their miles for gift cards rather than booking travel.
It will be interesting to follow the evolution of this partnership during the transition of AIR MILES to Blue Rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
On what exact date does the AIR MILES-Expedia partnership take effect?
The change came into effect on March 16, 2026. From this date, all new travel bookings (except cruises) are made via the Expedia platform, while previous bookings are managed by AIR MILES.
Will I still be able to use Flex Pay to combine miles and cash after March 2026?
No, Flex Pay has not been available since March 16, 2026. This feature, which allowed paying partly with miles and partly with cash, will be completely eliminated. In return, you can use your miles for 100% of the total cost, including taxes and fees.
What is the minimum miles required to book with the new Expedia system?
There will no longer be any minimum miles threshold required to make a booking, except for cruises, which will retain their current restrictions. This is a major change that will allow even very small miles balances to be used.
How to contact customer service for a booking made before March 16, 2026?
Bookings made before March 16, 2026, will continue to be handled by AIR MILES customer service at 1-888-247-6453. These bookings will remain subject to AIR MILES’ current terms and conditions, not Expedia’s.
Will taxes and fees truly be included when using 100% of miles?
Yes, you can use your miles to cover the entire cost of your booking, including taxes and fees. The only exceptions are cruise bookings and fees payable on-site (such as resort or parking fees).
Which privacy policy will apply to my data after March 16, 2026?
How to book cruises with my AIR MILES after March 2026?
Cruises continue to be booked and processed through redtag.ca, exactly as before. The partnership with Expedia does not affect cruise bookings, which retain their current conditions, including the minimum miles required.
