AIR MILES Is Now Blue Rewards: What Changed for Canadian Collectors in 2026

One of Canada’s best known loyalty programs has a new name. AIR MILES, the program behind the blue collector cards that many households have carried for years, officially became Blue Rewards on June 2, 2026. BMO, which completed its purchase of the AIR MILES business in June 2023, now runs the renamed program through a subsidiary.

For most members the switch happened in the background. Balances moved over on their own and collector cards kept working. Still, the new program earns, redeems and works with partners in noticeably different ways, and the BMO credit cards connected to it were rebuilt as well.

From Announcement to Launch

BMO first outlined the plan on January 26, 2026. The bank said the redesigned program would arrive in summer 2026, open to all Canadians through a new Blue Rewards app and built into BMO’s online and mobile banking.

The January announcement also flagged an early change for drivers. Shell partner rewards in Alberta ended on March 2, 2026. Shell rewards across the country, along with Shell earning on BMO AIR MILES credit cards, ended on May 25, 2026.

The official launch followed on June 2. In its launch release, BMO named five credit products under the new brand: the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard, the no annual fee BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard, two business versions and a commercial card. Mathew Mehrotra, Group Head, Canadian Personal and Business Banking at BMO, said at the time that “Blue Rewards helps Canadians make real financial progress.”

What Happened to Existing AIR MILES Balances

The biggest question for collectors was what would become of the miles they had already saved. According to BMO, existing AIR MILES Reward Miles were converted into Blue Points automatically and with no loss of value. Member card numbers stayed the same and no action was required.

Credit card earning changed too. The flagship BMO card now earns 10 Blue Points per dollar at participating Blue Rewards partners, including travel booked through Blue Rewards Travel, plus 2 points per dollar on groceries, gas, EV charging, wholesale clubs and alcohol, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Its annual fee is $150, waived in the first year at the time of writing, and BMO says the fee can be rebated each year for clients with a BMO Premium Chequing Account. Readers who want to see how the card performs in daily use can turn to this BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard review, which covers the earn rates, travel insurance and lounge benefits in more detail.

The conversion also retired one of the old program’s more confusing features. AIR MILES had split balances into Cash Miles and Dream Miles, which members managed separately. Blue Rewards replaces both with a single currency, Blue Points, so there is now one balance to track.

New Partners and New Ways to Earn

Blue Rewards launched with more than 400 partner brands. Several were new to the program, including Porter Airlines, Instacart, Accor hotel brands such as Fairmont, Sofitel and Novotel, and MTY Group restaurants like Thai Express, Mr. Sub, Mucho Burrito and Jugo Juice. Pharmasave and Global Pet Foods were also listed among participating brands.

Grocery earning works a little differently than before. Members can earn Blue Points on grocery and food delivery purchases by scanning in-store receipts in the Blue Rewards app, and BMO said bonus points would be offered at most grocery retailers and wholesale clubs across Canada. BMO chequing customers can also opt in to earn points on debit card purchases of gas, groceries, wholesale goods and EV charging.

Air travel gained a closer link in the fall. In late September 2026, Porter was named the preferred airline partner of Blue Rewards. Members who link their Blue Rewards and VIPorter accounts earn extra VIPorter points on Porter flights, and bonus Blue Points are available on eligible Porter flights booked through Blue Rewards Travel. The program also said Blue Points would become transferable to VIPorter at a ratio of two Blue Points to one VIPorter point, a feature described as arriving in the coming months.

How Redemptions Have Changed

Travel redemptions now run through Blue Rewards Travel, a booking platform powered by Expedia. Members can book flights, hotels and car rentals, and BMO says points can cover any share of a trip, from a small partial payment up to the full cost including taxes and fees. Cruises and fees paid at the property are not included.

Everyday redemptions carry a fixed value. BMO lists 1,500 Blue Points as worth $10 when redeemed in store at participating partners or for eGift cards. The flagship card’s welcome offer is also built around the new currency, and at the time of writing it is split into spending tiers over the first year, so applicants are advised to check the current terms before signing up.

Both of BMO’s main releases on the change, the January announcement and the June launch, were distributed through Newswire, where the full text of each, including partner lists and card details, remains available to read.

What Collectors Can Expect Next

BMO has said more partners, promotions and features will be announced as the program develops. The two to one transfer option to VIPorter is the most closely watched of these, since it would give Blue Points a direct path into an airline program for the first time.

For now, the practical steps for long-time collectors are modest. Members who have not yet opened the Blue Rewards app can confirm that their converted balance looks right and review the new partner list.

BMO cardholders may also want to compare their current card with the new Blue Rewards lineup. So far the change has been gradual and orderly for a program many Canadians still know by its former name.