Blue Rewards Canada: What Former AIR MILES Collectors Should Know

Blue Rewards is the loyalty program that replaced AIR MILES in Canada. It is essentially an updated, rebranded version of AIR MILES.

For more than 30 years, AIR MILES was a major player in Canada’s rewards landscape. It launched in 1992, was acquired by BMO in 2023 and underwent a major simplification in January 2026 when Cash Miles and Dream Miles were consolidated into one unified AIR MILES balance.Blue Rewards is the biggest change of all.

Blue Rewards officially launched on June 2, 2026. Existing AIR MILES members were automatically transitioned into the new program, and their AIR MILES Reward Miles were converted into Blue Points with no loss of value. Existing collector numbers became Blue Rewards member numbers, so current members did not need to create a new account.

One of the more notable aspects of Blue Rewards is its large partnership network. Blue Points members can earn and redeem Blue Points with more than 400 Canadian, global and online brands. New and expanded partners include Porter Airlines, Instacart, Accor hotel brands such as Fairmont, Sofitel, Novotel and Rimrock, MTY Group restaurants, Dollarama and Pharmasave.

Blue Rewards is also leaning into everyday essentials. Members can now earn and redeem Blue Points at more than 800 participating Pharmasave locations nationwide. A Blue Rewards-commissioned Leger survey conducted in May 2026 found that 78% of Canadians say loyalty programs help them save money on everyday essentials, 72% say loyalty programs matter when deciding where to shop during periods of economic uncertainty, and 65% say they are more likely to choose a pharmacy that offers a loyalty or rewards program.

In practice, Blue Rewards works like many other loyalty programs: you earn points through eligible purchases and offers, then redeem those points for rewards. So, what’s changed?

Blue Points can be redeemed for:

For in-store redemptions and many eGift cards, 1,500 Blue Points are worth $10. eGift cards are available from more than 80 brands and start at 1,500 Blue Points.

Redemption values may vary depending on how you use your points. Before redeeming, compare the cash price of the item or booking with the number of Blue Points required to make sure you’re getting reasonable value.

It's free to become a Blue Rewards member. To collect Blue Points, you must be a Canadian resident.

You can apply online by providing personal information such as your name, date of birth, mailing address and email address. New members can use a digital Blue Rewards card after joining.

Existing AIR MILES collectors were automatically transitioned into Blue Rewards, and their collector numbers became Blue Rewards member numbers.

Blue Rewards is free to join, so there’s little downside beyond sharing personal information and opting into another loyalty ecosystem.

Earning Blue Points can be as simple as showing your membership card or entering your membership number at checkout.

The program may be especially useful if you regularly shop with participating partners, use the Blue Rewards online shopping portal or can take advantage of promotional offers. New everyday-spending partners such as Pharmasave and Dollarama may make the program more relevant for regular household purchases than AIR MILES had become for some collectors.

The BMO Blue Rewards credit cards may also make it easier to earn Blue Points, particularly at participating Blue Rewards partners. However, the stingy base earn rates and low spending caps on the bonus categories might not deliver the results some members are hoping for.

To get the most out of Blue Rewards, you’ll likely need to shop strategically, watch for limited-time offers and understand which purchases qualify for bonus points. This could make the program seem tedious or labour intensive.

Blue Rewards alternatives

Aeroplan, Scene+ and Avion Rewards may be better fits depending on where you shop, which credit cards you use and whether you prefer travel, grocery, entertainment or cash-equivalent rewards.

Aeroplan | Owned by Air Canada

Co-branded credit cards with TD and CIBC, an online shopping portal and an attractive “Family Sharing” feature that allows up to eight family members or friends to pool their points.

Scene+ | Owned by Scotiabank, Cineplex, Empire Company Limited

Scene+ has co-branded credit cards with Scotiabank and Tangerine, a cash back relationship with Rakuten, and partnerships with major grocery chains.

Avion Rewards | Owned by RBC

Co-branded credit cards with RBC, offers both cash back and points, travel portal offers Price Prediction and Price Watch tools.