BMO Air Miles Mastercard

Overview

The BMO Air Miles Mastercard is a no-annual-fee card issued by BMO Bank of Montreal on the Mastercard network. It earns Air Miles Reward Miles on eligible purchases, with bonus miles at participating Air Miles partner stores and accelerated miles at eligible grocery stores. The card has no annual fee and no income requirement, making it the entry point for Air Miles collectors who bank with BMO.

Availability note (April 2026): Air Miles is transitioning to a new program called Blue Rewards in Summer 2026. BMO has announced that existing Air Miles balances will automatically convert to Blue Rewards points, and BMO Air Miles credit cards will transition to BMO Blue Rewards credit cards. New applications for the BMO Air Miles Mastercard are accepted until June 1, 2026. If you apply now, your card and miles will carry over into the Blue Rewards program. The conversion rate is approximately 16 Blue Points per 1 Air Miles Mile.

Who this card is for

This card is for existing Air Miles collectors who want to earn miles through everyday credit card spending without paying an annual fee. If you regularly shop at Air Miles partners like Sobeys, Rexall, or Shell, the bonus earning at those stores provides added value. It's also suited to BMO banking clients who want to keep their financial products in one place, or anyone who wants to start earning Air Miles without a fee commitment before the program's Blue Rewards transition completes.

Key benefits

The card earns 3 Air Miles for every $25 spent at participating Air Miles partner locations, 2 Air Miles for every $25 spent at eligible grocery stores, and 1 Air Miles Mile for every $25 spent everywhere else.

At partner stores, that works out to roughly 1.2 miles per dollar — above the base rate and meaningfully faster accumulation if you're regularly shopping at Sobeys, Rexall, or other Air Miles partners. The welcome offer for new applicants includes a meaningful bonus of Air Miles on approval — the current promotional amount is available on BMO's site and is subject to the June 2026 application deadline.

No annual fee means the card costs nothing to hold, making it a reasonable complement to another primary rewards card if you shop frequently at Air Miles partner stores.

Potential drawbacks

The Blue Rewards transition creates short-term uncertainty. If you apply today, the Air Miles miles you earn will convert to Blue Rewards points at approximately 16:1 in Summer 2026. Blue Rewards is a newer program, and its long-term value proposition is still establishing itself. The base earning rate outside partner stores (1 mile per $25 spent) is low — that's effectively 0.04 miles per dollar, which is a very modest return on general spending.

How it compares

The BMO Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee and earns 3% cashback on groceries (up to $500 monthly) — a straightforward, high-value return if you don't specifically want Air Miles. For people committed to Air Miles/Blue Rewards accumulation, the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard earns at higher rates and includes travel benefits, though it carries a $120 CAD annual fee and an income requirement.

Bottom line

A reasonable no-fee card for Air Miles collectors who shop regularly at Air Miles partners. Be aware of the Blue Rewards transition — your miles will carry over, but the new program's dynamics are still evolving.