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AIR MILES Is Gone. Here's What Actually Earns You Travel Now

  If you've been holding onto a Air Miles card waiting to redeem for a flight, the program you signed up for doesn't exist anymore — and the cards that replaced it aren't the best game in town. If you searched "best AIR MILES credit card" and landed here, there's something you need to know first: there is no such thing anymore. AIR MILES, the loyalty program that's been part of Canadian wallets since 1992, officially became BMO Blue Rewards on June 2, 2026. BMO had already stopped issuing new AIR MILES cards back in January, and every collector's Miles converted automatically into Blue Points at a rate of roughly 1 Air Mile to 15.79 Blue Points — no action needed, no lost value. That's good news if you're a longtime collector sitting on a pile of Miles. It's less good news if you were hoping to earn free flights that way going forward, because Blue Rewards was built to compete with PC Optimum and Scene+ — grocery, gas, and everyday spendi...

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Ottawa Steps In to End Air Canada Flight Attendant Strike With Binding Arbitration

 

Air Canada flight attendants strike outside Montreal–Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025.


In a swift move to end a nationwide travel disruption, the federal government has ordered binding arbitration between Air Canada and the union representing more than 10,000 flight attendants. The decision, announced by Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu on Saturday, came less than 12 hours after the strike began, grounding Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights and stranding an estimated 130,000 passengers per day.

Invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, Hajdu directed both sides to resume operations while an arbitrator resolves outstanding issues. The minister said months of negotiations and federal mediation had failed to produce a deal, and arbitration was the “most stable way” to protect Canadians and the economy.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) criticized the intervention, accusing Ottawa of undermining workers’ Charter rights and siding with an “obstinate employer”. The union’s key demands include wage increases to match inflation and compensation for unpaid duties when planes are on the ground.

Air Canada expressed regret over the disruption and warned it could take five to ten days for full service to resume. Flights operated by Air Canada Express remain unaffected.

The standoff now shifts from picket lines to the arbitration table — but for thousands of travellers, the wait to get moving again has only just begun.

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