AIR MILES Shop the Block: Earn Up to 550 Bonus Miles

AIR MILES is bringing back its Shop the Block promotion, this time running from April 2–15, 2026.

This time, you can earn up to 500 Bonus Miles by completing qualifying actions with four different partners, plus an extra 50 Bonus Miles if you use an existing BMO AIR MILES credit card, for a total of 550 Bonus Miles.

Registration is already open, so you'll want to opt in through the AIR MILES app or website before the promotion kicks off on April 2.

AIR MILES Shop the Block Promotion

Shop the Block is a tiered promotion that rewards you with bonus AIR MILES for making purchases with different partners across the AIR MILES network. Here’s how the bonuses break down for this round:

• 100 Bonus Miles when you shop at two different partners
• 250 Bonus Miles when you shop at three different partners
• 500 Bonus Miles when you shop at four or more different partners
• Plus 50 Bonus Miles when you make a purchase with an existing BMO AIR MILES credit card at one of the qualifying partners

As a fixed-value rewards currency, AIR MILES are valued at 95 AIR MILES = $10 (all values in CAD). That means:

• 100 Bonus Miles ≈ $10.53
• 250 Bonus Miles ≈ $26.32
• 500 Bonus Miles ≈ $52.63
• 550 Bonus Miles ≈ $57.89

To participate in the promotion, you must first opt in by logging into your account on the AIR MILES website or app.

Compared to the December 2025 edition, this round requires just four partners to hit the top tier, down from five. The trade-off is a lower ceiling–550 Bonus Miles versus 825 last time–but the lower barrier to entry makes it more accessible.

Over time, the reward amounts have decreased while the number of actions required has crept up–making the path to the top tier more effort-intensive. Still, Shop the Block continues to offer a solid bonus opportunity for those already earning AIR MILES on regular spending.

What Counts Toward the Bonus?

To qualify, you must earn at least one Reward or Bonus Mile with each partner. Simply making a purchase isn't enough if you don't hit the minimum to earn miles, it won't count.

To illustrate this, at Pharmasave, you'll only earn 1 Reward Mile when you spend $10. Purchases less than that threshold won't earn you any AIR MILES and therefore won't count towards this promotion.

It's also important to keep in mind that your purchases must be made with different partners. But with more new partners and ways to earn AIR MILES, it's easier for you to do so than it has been for the last couple of years.

Qualifying purchases can be made through the following channels:

• In-store partners
• AIR MILES Receipts
• AIR MILES Shops
• Card-linked offers
• Redeeming miles (either Cash or Dream Miles)
• AIR MILES Travel bookings paid fully in cash
• Making a purchase with an existing BMO AIR MILES credit card (counts as one qualifying activity)

In-Store Partners

Partners include Pharmasave and other regional retailers. You must earn at least one Reward or Bonus Mile at an in-store partner for your purchase to qualify.

An easy, affordable way to earn Bonus Miles with in-store partners is by buying featured items. You'll see them in promotional materials, through the AIR MILES app or website, or in-store.

Keep in mind that Shell locations in Alberta have already switched to Scene+ as of March 2026, so Shell no longer counts as an AIR MILES partner in that province. In the rest of Canada, Shell remains an AIR MILES partner until May 25, 2026, so it still qualifies for this promotion outside Alberta.

For Shell gas stations (outside Alberta), you'll earn Bonus Miles by buying featured items from their attached convenience stores. You'll see these featured items in-store or through the AIR MILES app.

You can also buy $10 worth of items, such as personal care items, at Pharmasave and already earn 1 Reward Mile for this promotion.

Make Multiple Online Purchases with AIR MILES Shops

You may actually participate in and maximize this promotion from the comfort of your own home with AIR MILES Shops. You'll earn the full 500 Bonus Miles by shopping and earning AIR MILES with four different online partners.

Usually, with online partners, you'll earn 1 Reward Mile with a $20 purchase. Therefore, you can simply make small purchases with four different stores, and you’d already have earned the 500 Bonus Miles.

Of course, it's not worth buying things you don't actually need just to chase AIR MILES. The reward is decent if it lines up with your existing purchases, but it's not going to move the needle on its own.

That said, if you find yourself just one partner short of hitting a higher bonus tier, it might be worth making a small strategic purchase to get across the line.

Retailers like Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic only require $50 in merchandise to qualify for free shipping through airmilesshops.ca, making them relatively low-cost options to help you round out your four qualifying actions.

If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you can take advantage of its low free shipping requirements.

However, keep in mind that Amazon has a list of "included categories", such as clothing, luxury beauty, and Fire TV devices. Therefore, for your purchases to earn AIR MILES and qualify for this promotion, you'll have to make sure you're buying items from the listed categories.

Combining with Other AIR MILES Promotions

As mentioned, the terms and conditions of the Shop the Block promotion specifically state that "this offer can be combined with other offers". This means that you can maximize your AIR MILES earnings by looking at other concurrent offers through the AIR MILES website or app.

Check the AIR MILES app or website for current bonus offers that overlap with the Shop the Block period. You might find targeted offers for Pharmasave, Shell (outside Alberta), or other partners that stack with the promotion.

Again, you must check the AIR MILES app or website for your current offers, as some of these offers are targeted and require opting in.

Using a BMO AIR MILES Credit Card

You'll earn 50 Bonus Miles when you use an existing BMO AIR MILES credit card with one of the partners of your choice. Plus, making a purchase with your BMO AIR MILES card counts as one of your qualifying partner activities for this promotion.

It's worth noting that BMO AIR MILES credit cards are no longer open to new applicants as the program transitions to Blue Rewards. However, if you already hold one, your card continues to work as usual–and this is a good opportunity to put it to use.

If you hold the BMO AIR MILES^®† World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*, you'll earn 3 AIR MILES per $12 spent with participating partners on top of the promotion bonus.

Some of the abovementioned partners also happen to be in-store partners of AIR MILES, so in turn, your purchases with these partners will qualify for Shop the Block.

When Will Bonus Miles Post?

AIR MILES typically posts all Bonus Miles from Shop the Block promotions within four to six weeks after the promotion ends.

Blue Rewards Transition

It's worth noting that AIR MILES is transitioning to Blue Rewards later in 2026. This Shop the Block promotion still runs under the AIR MILES brand, and your miles will carry over to the new program at equivalent value.

With Shell moving to Scene+ and the AIR MILES Travel transition to Expedia, the ecosystem is evolving quickly. This may well be one of the last Shop the Block promotions under the AIR MILES brand, so it's worth taking advantage while the mechanics are still familiar.

Conclusion

If you're already shopping at Pharmasave, filling up at Shell (outside Alberta), or buying anything through AIR MILES Shops, you're likely just one or two activities away from the top tier. The 550 Bonus Miles won't blow anyone away, but they're essentially free on top of spending you'd do anyway.

If you don't regularly earn AIR MILES, this promotion alone isn't a reason to start. Skip it and focus your energy elsewhere.

For everyone else: opt in now, plan your four qualifying activities before April 2, and make sure each one actually earns at least one mile. The promotion runs April 2–15, 2026.