As part of its ongoing revamp after being acquired by BMO, the AIR MILES program has just unveiled a new brand platform called “Collect more moments”.
With the launch of the new branding comes a slew of improvements to the program, and chief among them is the ability to transfer between Dream Miles and Cash Miles.
AIR MILES Enables Transfers Between Dream Miles and Cash Miles
AIR MILES has launched a brand-new tagline, “Collect more moments”. According to the program, this new branding “encapsulates the open and flexible program AIR MILES has been evolving into”.
Among the features that have come with the evolution of the program is the ability to convert between Dream Miles and Cash Miles for Gold and Onyx collectors starting today, June 27, 2024.
Gold collectors can now transfer 1,000 AIR MILES (worth about $105) per calendar year in either direction, while Onyx collectors may transfer an unlimited number of AIR MILES.
Recall that you’ll gain AIR MILES Gold status upon earning 500–4,999 AIR MILES in a calendar year, and AIR MILES Onyx status upon earning 5,000 AIR MILES in a calendar year.
Alternatively, holders of the BMO®† AIR MILES® Mastercard®* and the BMO®† AIR MILES® No-Fee Business Mastercard®* automatically qualify for Gold status, while holders of the BMO®† AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*, BMO®† AIR MILES® World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*, and BMO®† AIR MILES® Business Mastercard®* automatically qualify for Onyx status.
How to Transfer Between Dream Miles and Cash Miles
To transfer between your Dream Miles and Cash Miles balances, you must first log into your AIR MILES account on either the AIR MILES website or the app.
On the website, you’ll find the Transfer Miles feature in the upper right-hand corner, while on the app, you’ll find it in the top part of the home page.
Clicking on the link will take you to the transfer page, where you’ll need to select the direction you’ll perform the transfer. You may transfer a minimum of 1 AIR MILE.
Make sure to review the details of your transfer before clicking the “Transfer” button, since there’s no review page. As soon as you click “Transfer”, your AIR MILES will move without any further steps.
The confirmation page shows the remaining number of miles you can transfer for the remainder of the calendar year.
Your Dream Miles and Cash Miles balances will instantly reflect the transfer.
A Long-Awaited Rollout on the AIR MILES Platform
Previously, AIR MILES collectors were required to choose whether to earn Dream Miles or Cash Miles. Dream Miles can be used on travel bookings and merchandise, while Cash Miles can be used to redeem gift cards or instant rebates at brick-and-mortar establishments.
While collectors were allowed to choose the ratio between Dream Miles and Cash Miles they earned, they weren’t allowed to transfer between the two balances once AIR MILES were deposited. Worse yet, revising the earning ratio between Dream Miles and Cash Miles took at least a day to take effect.
Thus, this new flexibility is certainly welcome news. Now, you can convert between your two balances with a few clicks, especially if you need a top-up for a redemption from either your Dream Miles or Cash Miles balance.
You wouldn’t necessarily be stuck with a balance of Dream Miles you can’t use if you have no plans of travelling, or you wouldn’t need to change your AIR MILES earning ratio if you’re just a few miles shy of a gift card.
This new feature is just one of the many developments AIR MILES has been rolling out since the program’s acquisition by BMO in 2023.
While the program has seen the departure of major partners, such as Sobeys and Metro grocery stores, it’s made up for it by enabling new and better ways to earn AIR MILES, such as scanning of retail receipts and card-linked offers applicable to any Canadian-issued Mastercard.
Plus, holders of BMO AIR MILES credit cards now earn 2x AIR MILES at alcohol retailers and wholesale clubs, such as Costco.
Conclusion
AIR MILES has just enabled transfers between Dream Miles and Cash Miles balances for Gold and Onyx members, adding flexibility to collectors of the program.
This new development is part of the AIR MILES’s launch of a new brand platform, “Collect more moments”, which signals its evolution to a more open and flexible rewards program.