The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* is the best credit card for business owners who are dedicated to the AIR MILES®† program.
With a solid welcome bonus and a long-running first-year annual fee waiver, this card could be a useful option for any business owner looking to pick up some extra AIR MILES®† to supplement their next trip.
Bonuses & Fees
Currently, the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* is offering a welcome bonus of up to 3,000 AIR MILES®†, which are awarded upon spending $5,000 in the first three months.*
The card has an annual fee of $149, which is waived for the first year. You can give the card a spin at no cost before deciding whether it’s a good long-term fit for your business needs.
The fee for adding authorized users is $50. You can add up to 22 secondary cardholders on your account.
Earning Rewards
The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Business Mastercard has a two-tier earning structure. You’ll earn:
- 4 AIR MILES®† for every $12 spent at participating partners*
- 1 AIR MILE®† for every $12 spent on all other purchases*
The base earning rate is fairly competitive for a business credit card, and is on par with the personal BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®*. The 4x bonus at AIR MILES®† partners is a nice extra bonus.
Having said that, unless you’re specifically aiming to collect AIR MILES®† with your business expenses, there could be much more valuable points currencies towards which you could put your business spending instead.
Additionally, you’ll automatically be enrolled for offers on Mastercard® Easy Savings, good for 1–25% cash back rebates at select merchants, on top of your regular rewards.
Redeeming Rewards
AIR MILES®† are redeemed in two categories: Cash Rewards and Dream Rewards. You can set your preference on the AIR MILES®† website in any ratio (e.g., 95% Cash Rewards, 5% Dream Rewards), but keep in mind while you can change this later, the miles cannot be reallocated.
Cash Rewards can be redeemed at a rate of 95 AIR MILES®† = $10 (10.5 cents per point) at participating merchants, including the Sobeys and Metro grocery chains.
Dream Rewards are best redeemed for travel, including short-haul flights, hotels, car rentals, and attraction tickets. You should always aim to redeem Dream Rewards for at least 10.5 cents per point against the cash price, as otherwise you would’ve been better off collecting Cash Rewards instead.
Perks & Benefits
Cardholders will get five free virtual care visits per year with Maple,* an online health platform. Maple’s Canadian-licensed doctors can diagnose and treat many conditions, including reproductive health, mental health, and other specialties. They can also write prescriptions and sick notes for you. You can connect on-demand 24/7 or with an appointment, via text, voice, or video.
In addition, cardholders can get up to 7 cents off per litre on all Shell®± fuel*, until December 31, 2024. Eligible cardholders will receive 2 cents off per litre on regular fuel, and 7 cents off per litre on premium fuel, up to 1,000 litres per month.
Insurance Coverage
The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* provides travel insurance to cardholders. There’s the usual coverage for out-of-province and out-of-country medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, lost or stolen baggage, and more.*
As far as car rentals go, this card covers up to an MSRP of $65,000.*
This card will also double the manufacturer’s warranty for purchases made with the card, up to one additional year.*