Points Pulse for Jan. 12, 2026: Amex boosts Flying Blue transfers, BMO axes Shell
In this edition of NerdWallet Canada’s Points Pulse series:
Flying Blue is now a 1:1 transfer partner for Amex
Amex Membership Reward point collectors, pull up a chair. Your Air France and KLM flight options just got all the more rewarding now that there’s a 1:1 transfer ratio between the Amex and Flying Blue rewards programs.
The old transfer rate between these programs was a less competitive 1,000 Amex points → 750 Flying Blue Miles. Now, 1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Flying Blue Miles. That’s a value boost of 33%.
Flying Blue Miles can be redeemed for flights, cabin upgrades, hotel stays, merch and more.
Fly Further with the AMEX Cobalt® Card! Apply now and earn up to 15,000 AMEX points—now equal to 15,000 Flying Blue miles thanks to the increased transfer rate. Use your miles for: A one-way economy flight from North America to Europe or Asia, Flight upgrades, Extra baggage, legroom seats, or premium meals. Turn everyday spending into real travel rewards. Apply for the AMEX Cobalt Card today and start planning your next adventure.
Nerdy take: Parity between these two programs means Amex point collectors get more bang for their buck when converting to Flying Blue Miles. It’s a sweet update that’s well worth taking advantage of when you want to fly Air France or KLM.
Shell gas discounts dry up for BMO cardholders
In Dec. 2025, BMO ended its partnership with Shell. Translation: no more gas discounts for BMO credit cardholders.
Discounts of up to 7¢/ per litre of Shell fuel are no longer available for the following BMO credit cards:
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard
BMO AIR MILES Mastercard
BMO eclipse rise Visa Card
Worth noting is that the Shell-Air Miles partnership remains unchanged, so BMO Air Miles cards still earn bonus Air Miles on Shell purchases.
Nerdy take: BMO may replace Shell with a different gas partner — though it’s possible the perk is gone for good. If you’re a BMO cardholder and losing discounts at the pumps is a dealbreaker, greener pastures exist. There are gas credit cards from other providers that offer rewards and discounts on fuel purchases, so you road warriors and daily commuters can save where you frequently spend.
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Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell