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10 Ideas to Redeem Your Points for Free Christmas Gifts

10 Ideas to Redeem Your Points for Free Christmas Gifts
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Practical Guide to Affordable and Unique Gift Ideas

If you’re earning reward points through your credit card or loyalty programs, you can turn them into Christmas gifts without spending any extra money! To spoil your loved ones or yourself without overspending, redeem your points for gifts and keep your budget intact.

Often, the best use of points is for travel. But if you don’t have any trips planned, you might as well use them for something else just as enjoyable!

Here’s a list of gift ideas for your upcoming holiday shopping.

Useful Gift Ideas for Adults and Teenagers Using Points

Movie Tickets

Scene+ points allow you to purchase Cineplex gift cards, where every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed equals $10 towards a gift card purchase. Until December 12, 2025, you can even get a up to 20% points back on your Scene+ points redemptions!

Another option is to use 375 Dream Miles to get two free adult movie tickets plus one regular popcorn at Cineplex theatres with AIR MILES.

With AIR MILES Cash Miles, you can get a $50 AIR MILES e-gift card for Cineplex or Landmark Cinemas for 475 Cash Miles.

Gift Idea: LEGO Set

Whether by purchasing a LEGO e-gift card or to buy a specific LEGO set (Ferrari SF-24, Hogwarts Castle, or the Trevi Fountain), you can buy them with your Cash or Dream Miles.

A Free Year of Membership With a Costco Membership Card

With AIR MILES, you can gift a Costco Gold Star Membership to friends or family for 725 Dream Miles.

The Costco Executive Membership, which is a higher tier, is also available for 15,600 NBC points.

Video Games

With AIR MILES, approximately 6,800 Dream Miles can be used to buy a wonderful Nintendo Switch!

10 Ideas to Redeem Your Points for Free Christmas Gifts - Air Miles switch

Investment

Give yourself a gift, from you! At the end of the year, contribute to your NBC RRSP or TFSA to cash out your points and give yourself the perfect gift.

Or, with your RBC Avion Rewards points, contribute to one of these Royal Bank of Canada investments:

  • Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
  • Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
  • Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
  • Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

You must redeem a minimum of 3,000 Avion points to get a $25 value.

It is also possible to contribute with CIBC Aventura points, BMO Rewards, and BONUSDOLLARS. Read our guide to investing with your points:

Amusement Park Tickets (Disney, Universal, Legoland, etc.)

For you, for a friend, or for your children/grandchildren, treat them to an adventure:

Food and Groceries

On the NBC rewards site, a delicious gourmet platter of crab, seafood, and oysters is available for approximately 35,000 NBC points.

Redeem all your Moi points at Super C or Metro to treat yourself to a holiday feast and give yourself a well-deserved break at the end of the year. For example, 125 points will give you $1 off your grocery bill.

Do the same for a $10 discount for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed at IGA (or with Les Marchés Tradition, Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, etc.).

10 Ideas to Redeem Your Points for Free Christmas Gifts - Moi points
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Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$150 $0Welcome offer
No welcome offerEnds Nov 4, 2026
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Annual fee$120Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
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For Travel

My colleague Aline showed us that you can book a trip for another person with your points.

For someone who went through a tough time during the year or a loved one who really needs a change of scenery, use your points to surprise them!

For instance:

Air Fryer

For a quick and convenient meal, gifting the ever-popular air fryer is a great way to make life easier for your favourite person.

If you have between 20,000 and 33,000 RBC Avion Rewards points and aren’t sure how to use them, redeem them for this useful holiday gift.

Alternatively, TD Rewards Points can be used to buy this famous air fryer for a total ranging from 50,000 points to 89,000 points.

10 Ideas to Redeem Your Points for Free Christmas Gifts - air fryer

Gift Card: The Best Christmas Gift Idea for the Person Who Has Everything

It’s the most versatile idea, especially for the person who seems to need nothing!

Almost all rewards programs offer gift cards in exchange for points. AIR MILES and Scene+ are among the best where exchanging miles or points is most advantageous.

Your AIR MILES can be used to purchase e-gift cards for all tastes and styles, such as Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, Airbnb, Dollarama, Garage, Simons, Sail, Spotify, Ikea, Xbox, or Airbnb.

A Sobeys gift card (including IGA, Foodland, Safeway, and more) costs the same number of Scene+ points as redeeming at checkout: 1,000 points equals $10 off. This is ideal because your points won’t lose value during redemption, unlike other programs where the value is lower.

10 Ideas to Redeem Your Points for Free Christmas Gifts - IGA Scene gift card
Sponsored
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$500
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until November 1, 2026, you can earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points, broken down as follows:

  • 30,000 Scene+ points by charging $2,000 in purchases to the card within the first 3 months
  • 20,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$29

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 6xWith the partner brand
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xEntertainment
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,460
2nd Year Value$461

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Bottom Line

By using your points, you can give the perfect gift without touching your budget.

We often say not to let your points or miles sit idle. Remember that the value of your points can fluctuate. That’s why it’s better to use them for concrete experiences and gifts rather than letting them accumulate in your accounts.

Take advantage of rewards programs to treat your loved ones or yourself.

Are you in the points earning phase? Take advantage of the holiday season to multiply your points and earn more with our tips :

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$1,050
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Total$1,050Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

For a limited time, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, worth up to $1,500 in travel.

  • 35,000 points upon approval of your application
  • 20,000 points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your account within the first six months
  • 15,000 points on the first anniversary of your account

You can redeem your Avion points for flights with more than 500 airlines, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions, or transfer them to partner programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage, The British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and WestJet Rewards.

The card earns you 1.25 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all your other eligible purchases. It also includes extensive insurance coverage: emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, collision coverage for rental vehicles, and mobile devices.

The annual fee is $120.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.25xTravel
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,369
2nd Year Value$271

Transfer partners

  • American Airlines AAdvantageAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • WestJet RewardsAirline

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Can you give your points directly to someone else?

Some programs allow free transfers (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton), while others require the reservation to be made in the person’s name (Aeroplan or RBC Avion).

Otherwise, you can always transfer points, but with fees. Consult our article on transferring and combining points between people.

Which loyalty or reward points work best for affordable Christmas gifts?

All rewards programs (like AIR MILES, Scene+, and RBC Avion) offer gift cards, merchandise, experiences, or travel as gifts.

Choose the program you are most familiar with or that offers the most unique or valuable gift to treat your loved ones. Then, carefully check the delivery date to ensure the gift arrives on time.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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