To the point
Following BMO's acquisition of AIR MILES, American Express co-branded AIR MILES credit cards are now discontinued.
As of mid-April, American Express AIR MILES co-branded cards are no longer available for purchase. Today, American Express confirmed in a press release the discontinuation of these cards, which will be transferred to other products on September 30, 2023 linked to their main loyalty program, Membership Rewards.
This news follows on naturally from the events of recent months concerning AIR MILES: the bankruptcy of Loyalty Ventures, the company which owned AIR MILES, and the confirmed acquisition of AIR MILES by BMO.
Several changes and events in recent months have led to this important shift, which has raised many questions among AIR MILES Collectors. The good news is that all AIR MILES Collectors will keep their mileage balances.
With BMO’s acquisition of AIR MILES, we couldn’t help but wonder about the future of co-branded cards with American Express, a competing financial institution.
What about American Express co-branded cards?
The following AIR MILES credit cards issued by American Express are discontinued:
- American Express® Prestige AIR MILES® Credit Card‡
- American Express® AIR MILES® Platinum Credit Card‡
- American Express® AIR MILES® Credit Card‡
And the business cards:
- American Express® AIR MILES®* for Business Card
- American Express® AIR MILES®* Gold Business Card
Current American Express Co-branded Cardholders
Do you have one of these cards? As of September 30, 2023, your card will be transferred to another American Express product, a card where you can earn Membership Rewards points.
Details of the product transfers were not announced in the official American Express announcement. If you are a co-branded cardholder, keep an eye on your communications from American Express (by mail or electronically) as you should soon receive more details depending on the card you are currently using.
What are the alternatives to American Express co-branded cards?
If you’ve been meaning to sign up for an AIR MILES credit card, there are still many options available to you at BMO. Here they are:
This may be a good time to sign up for the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®* MasterCard as an alternative. Here are the details of this credit card:
With this exclusive offer for the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®*, you can earn 3,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases, representing a cash value of $315.
Get 25¢ per liter off your next eight fill-ups (maximum 50 L) at Shell, plus automatic rebates of 7¢ per liter on Shell V-Power® NiTRO+ premium fuel or 2¢ per liter on other types of fuel. These savings can amount to as much as $128 in fuel.
Besides, the annual fee is waived in the first year!
With this card, you earn 3 miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners. Then, earn 2 miles for every $12 in purchases at any eligible grocery store and wholesale club (warehouse like Costco) or alcohol retailer (SAQ, LCBO, etc.). Everywhere else, you’ll earn 1 AIR MILES mile for every $12 in purchases, including Walmart.
And it’s the only AIR MILES credit card in Canada to offer a 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®* card also offers:
- 7 ¢/L discount on Shell V-Power fuel and 2 ¢/L discount on all other Shell fuels
- Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
- 2X miles for car rentals with National or Alamo
Bottom line
The disappearance of AIR MILES co-branded American Express cards was expected, following the announcement of the acquisition by BMO. AIR MILES Collectors will keep the miles they earn on their American Express co-branded credit cards, but these will soon be transferred to other cards that earn Membership Rewards points.
It’s a great opportunity to learn more about Membership Rewards, an excellent loyalty program offering flexible points for travel rewards. Depending on your spending habits, you may also want to consider Scene+ credit cards, since it’s now possible to earn points at grocery stores, such as Sobeys and IGA, which previously had AIR MILES.
In any case, take the opportunity to review your strategy with these rewards programs!
