Points Pulse for Mar. 23, 2026: Amex boosts Flying Blue as Blue Rewards comes into focus
In this edition of NerdWallet Canada’s Points Pulse series:
Amex’s new Flying Blue bonus makes a strong points play even stronger
American Express Canada is offering a 25% transfer bonus when cardholders move Membership Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. It’s a strong bonus on the Canadian side of the program, and it runs from March 18 to April 17.
During the promo, the usual 1:1 transfer ratio becomes 1:1.25. That means 1,000 Membership Rewards points become 1,250 Flying Blue miles.
Why the excitement? Timing. In January, Amex permanently improved Flying Blue transfers from the old 1,000-to-750 rate to 1,000-to-1,000. Layer the 25% bonus on top of that, and Flying Blue suddenly looks a lot more compelling for travellers eyeing Air France or KLM redemptions — especially when Flying Blue Promo Rewards are in the mix.
Nerdy takeaway: This is the kind of transfer bonus that can justify moving flexible points, but only if you’ve already got a near-term redemption in mind. Speculative transfers are still risky.
Fly Further with the AMEX Cobalt® Card! Apply now and earn up to 15,000 AMEX points—now equal to 18,750 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.
Blue Rewards comes into focus
BMO’s upcoming Blue Rewards program is beginning to feel a lot more real.
What started as a broad promise of a summer 2026 transition is now taking on clearer shape. Early details suggest a tiered credit card lineup built around everyday earning, boosted partner rewards and spending caps on higher earn rates.
A BMO Blue Rewards promo page invites consumers to join a waitlist for the incoming cards and promotes earning up to “10x the points” at participating partners. Based on the footnotes, here’s what to expect:
BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard: 0.5 points per $1 base earn, or 5 points per $1 at participating partners, capped at $500 in partner spend per statement cycle.
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard: 1 point per $1 base earn, or 10 points per $1 at participating partners, capped at $1,000 in partner spend per statement cycle.
BMO Blue Rewards Business Mastercard: 1 point per $1 base earn, or 10 points per $1 at participating partners, capped at $1,000 in partner spend per statement cycle.
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Business Mastercard: 1.25 points per $1 base earn, or 12.5 points per $1 at participating partners, capped at $2,000 in partner spend per statement cycle.
This is clearly more than a simple loyalty rebrand. The shape of the new lineup suggests BMO is building a more segmented rewards ecosystem, with value increasingly tied to partner spending.
Nerdy takeaway: Blue Rewards is starting to look like a real program, not a placeholder. If you currently carry a BMO AIR MILES card, the replacement may be more structured (and more capped) than you expect.
Visa’s new Infinite+ tier could add a new shape to the premium card market
Visa Canada has published upcoming interchange modifications showing a new “Infinite+” category taking effect April 18, 2026. In the rate tables, Infinite+ appears between Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege.
This doesn’t guarantee a wave of new card launches, and there don’t appear to be any publicly marketed Infinite+ cards yet. Still, the creation of a new tier for the Visa network is worth watching because it gives issuers a new pricing and positioning lane.
If banks use it, Canadians could start seeing cards with higher fees fees and premium benefits without reaching today’s highest-end tier. That’s just an inference based on Visa’s interchange structure, not something Visa has explicitly announced.
Nerdy takeaway: There aren't any Visa Infinite+ cards to apply for yet, but the new tier suggests issuers could soon have a new way to sell Canadians on more expensive “middle luxury” cards that sit above today’s Visa Infinite products without going full Infinite Privilege.
Get up to 20% cash back. Earn up to $100 cash back in your first three months, when you spend up to $500 on eligible gas, grocery and drugstore purchases, and pre-authorized payments. Plus, Sign up for a Simplii™ Cash Back Visa* Card and earn a $50 PRESTO Voucher. Terms and Conditions Apply. Click “Apply Now” for details.
Spring cleaning? Don’t forget your cashback setup
Tangerine and Simplii cardholders may want to give their cashback setup a quick look before April rolls around.
For Tangerine users, this is a practical time to think ahead. Cardholders can update their 2% cashback categories once every 90 days, with changes taking effect at the beginning of the next monthly statement period. That makes late March a smart time to line up your spring and summer spending.
For some households, that could mean swapping in categories like home improvement for garden projects, deck repairs or seasonal shopping. For others, public transportation may make more sense if commuting picks back up with warmer weather.
Simplii’s categories are fixed, so there’s less to optimize on the setup side. But its Cash Back Visa still stands out for offering up to 4% back at restaurants and bars — and is currently promoting a $50 PRESTO voucher for new applicants.
Nerdy takeaway: Your spending changes with the season. Your cashback rewards strategy should, too.
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Shannon Terrell
