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On June 2, 2026, the AIR MILES program officially becomes Blue Rewards. More than 34 years after its launch in Canada, the program is changing 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. The Shop the Block promotion is currently running until July 8, 2026.
If you are already an AIR MILES member, the transition happens automatically and with no loss of value. If you are discovering the program, here is everything you need to know before getting started: the real value of Blue Points, ways to earn, redemption options, the two new BMO credit cards tied to the program, and the exact transition timeline.
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).
BMO has confirmed that the conversion of AIR MILES Miles to Blue Points happens with no loss of value and automatically. No AIR MILES customer needs to do anything to protect their balance. Here is exactly what will happen.
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:
The official formula is clear: 1,500 Blue Points = $10 CAD. This equivalency applies to in-store redemptions at participating partners and to e-gift cards.
This gives a unit value of 0.67¢ per point, or about two-thirds of a cent. This is the same value as Rewards points (the parallel program tied to BMO Ascend and eclipse cards). Both BMO programs are now worth exactly the same, without being interchangeable.
Six main ways to earn Blue Points:
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.
“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:
On top of that, you get a bonus by presenting your Blue Rewards membership card at checkout: you earn the partner’s points in addition to your credit card points. This is what BMO calls “double-dipping.”
The Blue Rewards network includes more than 400 participating brands at launch. Here are the confirmed partners for the 10x accelerator as of June 2, 2026:
BMO has also announced the addition of major partners across several categories. Not all will be active at launch, but they will be added to the network in the following months:
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.
The Blue Rewards Travel platform is powered by Expedia Group. It provides access to a wide range of suppliers: flights, hotels, and car rentals.
BMO is launching two new Blue Rewards credit cards on June 2, 2026. They are the only retail credit cards in Canada to offer built-in accelerators on groceries, gas, alcohol, and warehouse clubs simultaneously.
With Shell leaving the program, some former AIR MILES members are questioning the program’s value. For everyday spending, the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard actually earns more than the old AIR MILES card. In its accelerated categories (groceries, gas, alcohol, warehouse clubs), it earns 2 Points per dollar, or about 1.3% in value at the rate of 0.67¢ per Point. By comparison, the old AIR MILES card earned the equivalent of roughly 0.8% in those same categories.
Note: this 1.3% rate applies to everyday categories. The card’s base rate is 1 Point per dollar (about 0.67%), while purchases at participating partners can reach 10 Points per dollar (about 6.7%).
For full details on each card, see our dedicated pages: BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard and BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard. Our detailed comparison also helps you choose between the two based on your profile.
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¢).
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.
Beyond credit cards, BMO customers earn faster thanks to several exclusive benefits:
To compare BMO accounts, see our guide to BMO banking packages.
The Blue Rewards program is primarily designed for everyday, practical use. It is worth considering if:
However, if your priority is optimizing points for business-class flights or transfers to airline programs, programs such as Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, or RBC Avion remain more rewarding.
Want to stack even more? Check out all current Blue Rewards promotions.
The official launch takes place on June 2, 2026. The automatic conversion of AIR MILES Miles to Blue Points happens on June 1, 2026, and Points are available for redemption starting the next day.
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).
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).
1,500 Blue Points = $10 CAD for in-store redemptions or e-gift cards. This gives a unit value of 0.67¢ per point.
The 10x accelerator applies when you pay with a BMO Blue Rewards credit card at a participating partner. With the Blue World Elite Card, you earn 10 Points per dollar spent (combined cap of $1,000 per cycle). With the no-fee Blue Card, you earn 5 Points per dollar (cap of $500).
No. All AIR MILES Miles are automatically converted to Blue Points on June 1, 2026, with no loss of value. No action is required. If your account is inactive, reactivate it by earning at least one mile before that date.
Yes. Your card will continue to work with the same number and the same offer. It will be automatically renamed “BMO Blue Rewards Card” in the weeks following the June 2, 2026 launch. You can also request to switch to one of the two new Blue Rewards cards.
AIR MILES Gold status will be automatically migrated to the equivalent status in Blue Rewards. BMO has confirmed that status will be preserved, but the full details of the new tier’s benefits will be announced at launch.
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 by calling BMO customer service or visiting a branch.
At launch, the confirmed 10x partners are Blue Rewards Travel, Pharmasave, Global Pet Foods, Budget, Alamo, National Car Rental, TIMBER MART, KENT (Atlantic), Irving Oil (Atlantic), Pitou Minou & Compagnons (Quebec), and Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. Porter Airlines, Accor, Instacart, and MTY Group will join the program in the following months.
Shell is no longer a partner after March 2, 2026 in Alberta, and after May 25, 2026 in the rest of Canada. Shell is now joining the Scene+ program. Use your Miles at Shell before these dates if you want to cash them out in this category.
Yes. This is an important new feature of Blue Rewards. You can now cover the full cost of a ticket, including taxes and fees, with your Points. AIR MILES did not allow this (you had to pay taxes in cash). This is a real improvement for travel redemptions.
The split between Cash Miles and Dream Miles is gone. BMO first merged the two balances into a single one on January 25, 2026, and that single balance then becomes Blue Points on June 1, 2026. You no longer have to allocate your miles between two buckets: one currency now covers everything, both in-store redemptions and travel. The conversion happens automatically, with no loss of value.
You have three main options. The best value remains in-store redemptions or e-gift cards, at 1,500 Points for $10 (with a $750 daily limit). You can also book flights, hotels, and car rentals on the Blue Rewards Travel platform powered by Expedia, with no minimum threshold and split point-and-cash payment. For the best alternatives based on your profile, see our best credit cards page.
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