Air Miles Going Away?

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Jul 7th, 2021 8:54 am

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Jul 2nd, 2021 9:31 pm

MrFrugal1 [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 4478 posts; 3664 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Jul 2nd, 2021 9:31 pm

Air Miles Going Away?

Not sure if I should post this here or in 'Shopping'.

Anyone know whats's happening with Air Miles and retailers no longer accepting the card? I was in Lowes/Rona as well as the LCBO, and both no longer are affiliated.
Should I just try and cash out and ditch this card from my wallet?

28 replies

Jul 2nd, 2021 9:49 pm

robsaw: Deal Addict; May 16, 2017; 2541 posts; 3364 upvotes

Jul 2nd, 2021 9:49 pm

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Not sure if I should post this here or in 'Shopping'.

Anyone know whats's happening with Air Miles and retailers no longer accepting the card? I was in Lowes/Rona as well as the LCBO, and both no longer are affiliated.
Should I just try and cash out and ditch this card from my wallet?

They only time that Airmiles was worthwhile for me was when Safeway had lots of good bonus offers, otherwise the earn rate is pathetic. Now that our local Safeway has changed to Freshco about the only place I can regularly earn a decent rate of return is at Thrifty Foods. I know Ontario folks don't have either Safeway or Thrifty so not sure where there is much value in Airmiles for you.

Also, LoyaltyOne (AirMiles and some Netherlands equivalent) is being spun-out of Alliance Data Systems as a separate company. Given the recent corporate history of AirMiles, I would assume that Alliance does't see LoyaltyOne as a core part of its business. Maybe a new ownership structure will help but I see it fading away as the shared loyalty program business model isn't growing.

+2

Jul 2nd, 2021 10:22 pm

davisml: Jr. Member; Dec 3, 2019; 120 posts; 168 upvotes

Jul 2nd, 2021 10:22 pm

Airmiles is junk. I'd be happy if it went away and they lower the cost of goods instead of charging 2% more to run that program.

+1

Jul 2nd, 2021 10:47 pm

MrFrugal1 [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 4478 posts; 3664 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Jul 2nd, 2021 10:47 pm

Hmm... I get points off my insurance provider (Johnson), which is probably the largest chunk of it, after Shell.
I'd probably be better off using Gas Buddy and finding lower prices.
I think I'll cash out at Shell station fill up and be done with it

Jul 2nd, 2021 11:25 pm

Jon Lai: Deal Expert; May 30, 2005; 48243 posts; 9134 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jul 2nd, 2021 11:25 pm

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Hmm... I get points off my insurance provider (Johnson), which is probably the largest chunk of it, after Shell.
I'd probably be better off using Gas Buddy and finding lower prices.
I think I'll cash out at Shell station fill up and be done with it

Unless you plan to switch providers, it looks like you will constantly get more miles. Why be "done with it" in that case?

Tons of things for sale!
Silver Coins and Numismatics | Hardwood cutting boards, dining tables, home decor, and more | Heatware

Jul 2nd, 2021 11:53 pm

ml88888888: Deal Fanatic; Jan 19, 2017; 8496 posts; 4994 upvotes

Jul 2nd, 2021 11:53 pm

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Hmm... I get points off my insurance provider (Johnson), which is probably the largest chunk of it, after Shell.
I'd probably be better off using Gas Buddy and finding lower prices.
I think I'll cash out at Shell station fill up and be done with it

Most merchants give reward of 1AM for every $20 spending. So it is like 0.5%. If you spend $10k per year, it is $50 reward. It is better than nothing.

+1

Jul 3rd, 2021 7:38 am

bylo: Deal Expert; Jan 7, 2002; 27569 posts; 25643 upvotes; Waterloo, ON

Jul 3rd, 2021 7:38 am

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Hmm... I get points off my insurance provider (Johnson), which is probably the largest chunk of it, after Shell.
I'd probably be better off using Gas Buddy and finding lower prices.
I think I'll cash out at Shell station fill up and be done with it

In both cases you'll save more money by shopping for lowest prices rather than showing "loyalty" to one seller just because you get a pittance in points.

I switched insurance brokers this year from PCF Insurance (where I'd been getting about $50/year in PCO points) to another broker/insurer who offers no points and saved $300 in cold hard cash.

Likewise I find that Shell's gas prices tend to be at the upper end of Gas Buddy's listings. So again buying at Shell to get a pittance in AMs is a fool's errand. My TD CBI Visa pays 3% in cash back at all gas stations. That's not only several times as much as AMs, it's also cash and I can use it at wherever gas is cheapest and/or closest.

[And that's even before we get to disLoyalty One's unethical business practices. So shady if fact that the province of Ontario had to introduce legislation to stop them. disLoyalty One should have been put down years ago.]

veni, vidi, Visa

Jul 3rd, 2021 7:53 am

MrFrugal1 [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 4478 posts; 3664 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Jul 3rd, 2021 7:53 am

bylo wrote: ↑ In both cases you'll save more money by shopping for lowest prices rather than showing "loyalty" to one seller just because you get a pittance in points.

I switched insurance brokers this year from PCF Insurance (where I'd been getting about $50/year in PCO points) to another broker/insurer who offers no points and saved $300 in cold hard cash.

Likewise I find that Shell's gas prices tend to be at the upper end of Gas Buddy's listings. So again buying at Shell to get a pittance in AMs is a fool's errand. My TD CBI Visa pays 3% in cash back at all gas stations. That's not only several times as much as AMs, it's also cash and I can use it at wherever gas is cheapest and/or closest.

[And that's even before we get to disLoyalty One's unethical business practices. So shady if fact that the province of Ontario had to introduce legislation to stop them. disLoyalty One should have been put down years ago.]

Yes, I understand that shopping around for a lower price or a sale price is almost always going to save you money over purchasing from vendors who use a loyalty program.

I should have actually framed my post differently.
I don't necessarily go to specific vendors simply because of AirMiles. If I happen to be making a purchase at one and they offer AirMiles, I'll pull out the card.
I was more wondering if AirMiles is going to cease to exist, since it appears to have been dropping in a number of places.

Jul 3rd, 2021 8:14 am

bylo: Deal Expert; Jan 7, 2002; 27569 posts; 25643 upvotes; Waterloo, ON

Jul 3rd, 2021 8:14 am

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ I was more wondering if AirMiles is going to cease to exist, since it appears to have been dropping in a number of places.

I've been wondering that for years. IMO it couldn't happen soon enough.

P.S. I donated my remaining "dream" miles to the Red Cross during the Ft McMurray wildfire a few years ago and turned my nightmare into something constructive.

veni, vidi, Visa

Jul 3rd, 2021 8:33 am

mzmoney: Deal Fanatic; Oct 3, 2018; 5823 posts; 6341 upvotes; GTA

Jul 3rd, 2021 8:33 am

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Yes, I understand that shopping around for a lower price or a sale price is almost always going to save you money over purchasing from vendors who use a loyalty program.

I should have actually framed my post differently.
I don't necessarily go to specific vendors simply because of AirMiles. If I happen to be making a purchase at one and they offer AirMiles, I'll pull out the card.
I was more wondering if AirMiles is going to cease to exist, since it appears to have been dropping in a number of places.

I am sure Air Miles users here will tell you otherwise.
@PointsHubby @kiiaal @Howitzer1 @rdiamond1

airmiles-2021-rfd-cus-general-discussio ... #p34664125

BMO and Amex are still partnered with them via co-branded Air Miles credit cards. Having said that, a number of merchants are finding the Air Miles program expensive and creating their own loyalty program.

p.s. do you collect Dream Miles or Cash Miles?

Last edited by mzmoney on Jul 3rd, 2021 9:04 am, edited 2 times in total.

ㅤ

Jul 3rd, 2021 8:44 am

bylo: Deal Expert; Jan 7, 2002; 27569 posts; 25643 upvotes; Waterloo, ON

Jul 3rd, 2021 8:44 am

mzmoney wrote: ↑BMO and Amex are still partnered with them with co-branded Air Miles credit cards. Having said that, a number of merchants are finding the Air Miles program expensive and creating their own loyalty program.

So let's rephrase the question from "Air Miles Going Away?" to "BMO's and Amex's credit card relationship with Air Miles Going Away?

I can't imagine customers keeping their co-branded credit cards if the opportunities to get value from them continues to nosedive. If disLoyalty One won't go away voluntarily, maybe BMO and Amex will force the issue for them

veni, vidi, Visa

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:10 am

SenatorsFan: Member; Oct 8, 2020; 297 posts; 443 upvotes; Ottawa

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:10 am

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Not sure if I should post this here or in 'Shopping'.

Anyone know whats's happening with Air Miles and retailers no longer accepting the card? I was in Lowes/Rona as well as the LCBO, and both no longer are affiliated.
Should I just try and cash out and ditch this card from my wallet?

The Ontario PC Party when in opposition said the LCBO should not accept Air Miles because the LCBO essentially has no competition. They also suggested it was unnecessarily costing the government money. Then when the PC Party became government they followed through on their promise to no longer accept Air Miles at the LCBO.

+1

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:21 am

SnowyDumpling: Member; May 15, 2019; 447 posts; 459 upvotes; GWN

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:21 am

I suspect that when customers feel deceived, they have a long memory (devaluation of miles).

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-mi ... -1.3955506

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:42 am

Mars2012: Moderator; May 28, 2012; 12187 posts; 4878 upvotes; Saskatoon

Jul 3rd, 2021 11:42 am

I still have the AM card and a BMO MC with AM's but I don't go out of my way to collect points. I pretty much gave up on that program after they pulled that stunt of having miles expire and forcing members to redeem their points only to change their minds a few months later.

+1

Jul 3rd, 2021 1:02 pm

bylo: Deal Expert; Jan 7, 2002; 27569 posts; 25643 upvotes; Waterloo, ON

Jul 3rd, 2021 1:02 pm

Mars2012 wrote: ↑after they pulled that stunt of having miles expire and forcing members to redeem their points only to change their minds a few months later.

Don't forget the timing. They enacted the points expiration policy AFTER they stopped allowing people to convert "dream" points to "cash" points AND at the same time they stripped the "dream" points store of merchandise so as to turn the remaining "dreams" into nightmares. Then of course they devalued cash points, again creating a nightmare for those who did manage to convert their "dream" points.

Not a nice way to engender "loyalty" from customers. Frankly I'm astounded that participating merchants let them get away with these scams.

veni, vidi, Visa

+1

Jul 3rd, 2021 2:16 pm

embguy: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2005; 13415 posts; 12175 upvotes

Jul 3rd, 2021 2:16 pm

I stop collect dream miles after cash miles was created. I was collecting cash miles at Safeway on sales promo. After Sobeys switched over to AM and took over Safeway, I collect AM from Sobeys west, IGA west and Safeway. There is a Safeway and a Sobeys west store within 3 minutes drive from my house. In order to earn more miles during AM event STB and MM, I finally got the BMO AM MC. I got my Onyx status last year. I will continue to hold AM as long as Safeway, Sobeys west and BMO are still will AM. I like the meat from Safeway/Sobeys more than RCSS meat.

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Jul 3rd, 2021 2:41 pm

ruaman: Newbie; Dec 12, 2011; 25 posts; 38 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 3rd, 2021 2:41 pm

It might be irrelevant, but I kind of suspected some change for some time when I saw the Perkopolis’ new perk for Shell gas station. It says, “Check back soon, new program launching early 2021.”

https://www.perkopolis.com/Shell

+1

Jul 3rd, 2021 2:45 pm

blexann: Deal Guru; Mar 10, 2005; 11507 posts; 4680 upvotes

Jul 3rd, 2021 2:45 pm

Garbage program, I still collect but don't go out of my to do so. Spend cash miles at Sobeys mainly for their AAA Steaks and once in a while for gas at Shell

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus

Jul 3rd, 2021 5:01 pm

ml88888888: Deal Fanatic; Jan 19, 2017; 8496 posts; 4994 upvotes

Jul 3rd, 2021 5:01 pm

ruaman wrote: ↑ It might be irrelevant, but I kind of suspected some change for some time when I saw the Perkopolis’ new perk for Shell gas station. It says, “Check back soon, new program launching early 2021.”

https://www.perkopolis.com/Shell

It is July already. Either they meant early 2022 or they gave up on the new one.

Jul 4th, 2021 5:37 pm

muscleflex: Sr. Member; Jun 10, 2016; 509 posts; 392 upvotes; Brampton

Jul 4th, 2021 5:37 pm

I've been afraid for awhile that Air Miles is on the way out - with a bunch of their partners leaving, less e-voucher availability, etc. I'm reluctant to keep my cash miles too high. Instead, I've been starting to spend it as I go at places I still can (Shell, Metro, Sobeys). I'll keep collecting at places I already shop, but no longer see the value in saving up for bigger ticket items when those could disappear in a flash.

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