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There must be something in the water in Canada, because the loyalty program changes just keep coming. On the heels of the upcoming relaunch of Air Transat’s loyalty program, we now have news of another update. AIR MILES, the long-running Canadian program that spans a wide range of everyday earning opportunities, is set to change both its name and how it works.
Starting in summer 2026, the program will be rebranded as Blue Rewards. Along with the new name come several changes that Canadian residents will want to pay attention to.
Here's what to know.
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What Is the AIR MILES Program?
AIR MILES is a unique program that lets members earn and redeem Reward Miles across a wide range of retail and travel partners. Think shopping portals, in-store purchases, and targeted offers, just to name a few.
In the near future, though, the program will be rebranded as Blue Rewards.
AIR MILES Is Becoming Blue Rewards
Come summer 2026 — with an exact date still to be announced — all AIR MILES will automatically convert to Blue Points. While Blue Rewards points won’t lose their underlying value, the redemption structure will change.
Currently, 95 AIR MILES can be redeemed for $10. Under the new program, members will need 1,500 Blue Points to redeem $10 toward purchases. We can reasonably expect point balances to increase during the transition to preserve value and account for the higher redemption threshold.
Additional Changes Coming With Blue Rewards
Beyond the name change, there are several additional updates coming with Blue Rewards. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect.
Partnership changes
Previously, members could choose between earning Dream Miles, which were redeemable for travel and merchandise, or Cash Miles, which could be redeemed for cash rewards. Under Blue Rewards, those options will be consolidated into a single currency: Blue Points. These points can be redeemed across all participating partners.
On top of that, Blue Rewards is also adding new partners. Canadian airline Porter Airlines and international hotel group Accor are joining the program. Accor’s portfolio includes brands such as Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Novotel, and SLS Hotels.
Other partners, including Instacart and MTY Group restaurants like Thai Express, Bâton Rouge, Pizza Delight, Allô! mon Coco, Sushi Shop, Mr. Sub, Manchu Wok, Mucho Burrito, and Jugo Juice, give members plenty of opportunities to earn points on everyday spending.
New travel booking engine
The new program will use Expedia Group’s booking engine for travel reservations and Blue Points redemptions. That should give members access to a broad range of flights, hotels, and vacation packages, along with the ability to cover part or all of their travel expenses using Blue Points.
A brand-new credit card
Any Canadian-issued Mastercard currently linked to your AIR MILES account will carry over to the new program. Cardholders will continue earning rewards, just in the form of Blue Points when making purchases with participating partners.
BMO, which owns the loyalty program, has also announced a forthcoming Blue Rewards credit card. The card is expected to offer category bonuses, with elevated earning rates on purchases such as gas, groceries, and warehouse clubs.
More details are still to come, but interested members can join the waitlist for a chance to win 1,000,000 Blue Points.
BMO checking account holders will also be able to earn Blue Points on eligible debit card purchases at partners. BMO appears to be leaning heavily into the revamped program, and tying multiple banking products to rewards earning should make it easier for customers to rack up points.
Bottom Line
AIR MILES will be renamed Blue Rewards in summer 2026. This Canadian loyalty program is one of a kind, with countless ways to earn rewards on everyday purchases and travel. With more than 400 partners, including newly added Porter Airlines and Accor, the program has an extremely broad reach.
Once Blue Rewards launches, we’ll get a better sense of how valuable redemptions are through Expedia Group’s booking engine. That said, the seamless conversion and expanded earning opportunities should be welcome news for the nearly 10 million members of this sizable loyalty program.
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