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 spending — not with the airline and hotel programs that actually move the needle on a trip. Shell also left the partner network entirely earlier this year.

So if what you actually want is a card that earns you real travel — flights, checked bags, lounge access, companion fares — here's where Canadian travellers are putting their money instead in mid-2026.

1. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — best for Air Canada loyalists on a budget

If you fly Air Canada even occasionally, this is the easiest card to justify. It carries a modest $139 annual fee (waived the first year for you and up to three authorized users), earns 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar, and comes with a free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions on the same booking — worth roughly $35 per bag, per leg. Welcome offers on this card have run as high as 40,000 points recently.

What it means for you: A family of four flying Air Canada round-trip saves roughly $280 in bag fees alone on one trip — often more than the annual fee in a single use.

2. American Express Aeroplan Reserve — best for big Aeroplan spenders

This is the premium end of the Aeroplan lineup, aimed at frequent, higher-spending flyers rather than occasional ones. It carries a much higher annual fee than the TD card, but welcome offers have reached the 85,000–150,000 point range at various points this year, and it stacks lounge access, elevated earn rates, and Air Canada status perks on top.

What it means for you: Only worth it if you'd otherwise be paying for lounge access or premium seat selection anyway — casual travellers will get more value from the TD card above.

3. WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard — best for WestJet flyers

The mirror image of the TD Aeroplan card for anyone loyal to WestJet instead of Air Canada. It carries a $139 annual fee, earns 2 WestJet points per dollar on WestJet flights and vacation packages, and comes with a round-trip companion voucher — RBC says the average cardholder saved $585 on a companion fare last year. The current welcome offer runs up to 70,000 WestJet points for applications approved through November 4, 2026, though this round doesn't include a first-year fee rebate.

What it means for you: The companion voucher alone can be worth more than the annual fee on a single Vancouver–Honolulu or Toronto–Cancun booking.

4. RBC Avion Visa Infinite — best if you don't want to commit to one airline

Avion points can be redeemed on any airline, any flight, any date, with no blackout periods — a real advantage over co-branded cards if your travel plans aren't tied to Air Canada or WestJet specifically. The $120 annual fee is lower than most competitors, and the current welcome offer runs up to 55,000 Avion points through August 12, 2026 (35,000 on approval, 20,000 more after $5,000 in spending within six months). You'll need $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income to qualify.

What it means for you: Best pick if you split your travel between multiple airlines or book last-minute, when award seats on a single airline's program are often sold out.

5. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite — best all-round value with a fee rebate

Aventura points work similarly to Avion — flexible across airlines — but this card leans harder into everyday bonus categories: 1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, groceries and drugstores. The welcome offer sits around 45,000 points for $3,000 in spending across your first four statements, plus a full first-year fee rebate on the $139 annual fee (and $50 back per authorized user).

What it means for you: With the fee rebate factored in, this is close to a free first year — a low-risk way to test whether a flexible travel card fits your spending before committing long-term.

What about the new BMO Blue Rewards cards?

BMO's new Blue Rewards Mastercards launched alongside the program on June 2, 2026, and they're genuinely strong for everyday spending — 2 points per dollar on groceries, gas, alcohol, and warehouse clubs simultaneously, which no other Canadian retail card offers across all four categories at once. New travel partners include Porter Airlines, Instacart, and Accor hotel brands like Fairmont and Sofitel.

But Blue Rewards is designed to compete with PC Optimum and Scene+, not with Aeroplan or Avion. If your main goal is stretching a household grocery and gas budget further, it's worth a look. If your goal is a specific flight, one of the five cards above will get you there faster.

The bottom line

Don't let an old bookmark send you chasing a program that no longer exists. If you're still holding AIR MILES, your balance already converted to Blue Points automatically — check your BMO or Blue Rewards account to confirm. And if you're shopping for a new card specifically to earn travel, pick based on which airline you actually fly, not which program used to have the most recognizable name.

Welcome bonuses and offer end-dates on credit cards change frequently — confirm current terms directly with the issuer before applying. This article is for informational purposes and isn't financial advice.