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AIR MILES credit cards: what happened

If you’re shopping for an AIR MILES credit card in 2026, here’s the honest answer most lists won’t give you: there isn’t one to apply for anymore. BMO has retired its AIR MILES cards in favour of a new program, and American Express left AIR MILES years ago. Here’s exactly what changed, and the best cards to consider instead.

Updated June 2026

The short answer

  • Can you get one?No — there are no AIR MILES credit cards open to new applicants
  • BMO’s cardsRebranded to BMO Blue Rewards (June 2026)
  • Amex’s cardsDiscontinued back in 2023
  • What to doConsider Aeroplan, a cash-back, or a BMO Blue Rewards card

We won’t list discontinued cards as if you can still get them. As of June 2026, no AIR MILES credit card is open to new applicants in Canada — so this page explains what happened and points you to cards you can actually apply for.

BMO retired its AIR MILES cards for Blue Rewards

BMO completed its acquisition of the AIR MILES program in 2023, after AIR MILES’ former owner LoyaltyOne filed for bankruptcy protection. Then, on June 1–2, 2026, BMO began moving its AIR MILES credit cards to a new in-house rewards program called BMO Blue Rewards. The AIR MILES versions of BMO’s cards — the no-fee AIR MILES Mastercard and the AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard — are being replaced by new BMO Blue Rewards Mastercards.

Existing cardholders keep working cards through the transition, and collected AIR MILES are being converted to Blue Points. But for a new applicant, there’s no AIR MILES card to choose — you’d be applying for a Blue Rewards card instead. Because the Blue Rewards line-up is brand new, confirm its earn rates, fees and terms directly on BMO’s site before applying.

American Express left AIR MILES in 2023

The other place Canadians used to get AIR MILES cards was American Express — and Amex ended that partnership in 2023. It announced the change in July 2023 to focus on its own Membership Rewards program, closed applications, and transitioned existing AIR MILES cardholders to Membership Rewards cards by that September. Today, Amex’s Canadian cards — the Cobalt, Gold and Platinum — earn Membership Rewards, not AIR MILES.

What to get instead

AIR MILES sat between a travel program and an everyday-savings program, so the best replacement depends on how you used it:

  • If you fly, the closest airline-rewards equivalent is Air Canada’s program — see our best Aeroplan cards, or the broader best travel cards.
  • If you valued AIR MILES for everyday savings, a flat cash-back card is simpler and more flexible — a dollar is worth a dollar, with no partner list or redemption chart.
  • If you specifically want a BMO card, the new Blue Rewards Mastercards are the direct successors — start with our BMO cards hub and confirm the current terms at BMO.

Frequently asked questions

Can you still get an AIR MILES credit card in Canada?
Not as a new applicant. As of June 2026, BMO — which owns AIR MILES — has retired its AIR MILES credit cards and replaced them with BMO Blue Rewards Mastercards, and American Express discontinued all of its AIR MILES co-branded cards back in 2023. So there is no AIR MILES credit card you can apply for today. Existing BMO cardholders keep their cards through the transition, but the product line is being replaced.
What replaced the BMO AIR MILES cards?
BMO Blue Rewards. BMO completed its acquisition of AIR MILES in 2023 (out of the LoyaltyOne bankruptcy) and, on June 1–2, 2026, began moving its AIR MILES credit cards to a new in-house program called BMO Blue Rewards. Existing AIR MILES balances are being converted to Blue Points. If you want a BMO rewards card now, look at the BMO line-up rather than an AIR MILES card.
Why did American Express drop AIR MILES?
American Express Canada ended its AIR MILES partnership in 2023 to focus on its own Membership Rewards program. It announced the change in July 2023, closed applications, and transitioned existing AIR MILES cardholders to Membership Rewards cards by that September. A live check of Amex Canada’s current line-up shows no AIR MILES cards — the Cobalt, Gold and Platinum earn Membership Rewards instead.
What is the best alternative to an AIR MILES credit card?
It depends on how you redeem. If you fly, the Aeroplan cards (Air Canada’s program) are the closest airline-rewards equivalent. If you valued AIR MILES for everyday savings, a flat cash-back card is simpler and more flexible. And if you specifically want a BMO card, the new BMO Blue Rewards Mastercards are the direct successors — check the current BMO line-up for their terms.
Do my existing AIR MILES still work?
This page is about AIR MILES credit cards specifically, which are being retired or have been discontinued. For the status of AIR MILES you have already collected and how they convert to BMO Blue Points, check directly with BMO and the AIR MILES program, since the transition terms and timing are theirs to set and can change. Do not rely on a third-party page for the value or expiry of your existing balance.
Best Aeroplan cards Best cash-back cards

Educational content, not financial advice. The BMO AIR MILES → Blue Rewards transition (June 2026) and the 2023 Amex AIR MILES discontinuation are widely reported; program transition terms and the value of existing balances are set by BMO and AIR MILES and can change — confirm directly with them.