Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs Blue Rewards — Last verified: August 2026. Loyalty programs change their earning rates, redemption values, and even their names — as this article itself proves — so treat specific numbers as a snapshot.
Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs Blue Rewards — if you’re trying to figure out which points program is actually worth your loyalty, you’re asking the right question. Quick heads-up before we start: if you’re searching for “Air Miles,” you’re not going crazy. The program you remember doesn’t exist under that name anymore.
As of mid-2026, BMO rebranded Air Miles into a new program called Blue Rewards. We’ll explain exactly what that means below, alongside Canada’s two other major everyday points programs: Aeroplan and Scene+.
Short answer: Aeroplan offers the highest potential value of the three, but mainly on flight redemptions, especially premium international ones. Scene+ offers simple flat value at 1 cent per point, with its real value now in groceries and banking after the 2026 changes to movie redemptions. Blue Rewards, the renamed Air Miles program now run by BMO, has the lowest per-point value but the widest retail partner network. Compare programs on cents per point, not just earn rate.Key points from this guide · last reviewed Sep 11, 2026
The Quick Comparison
| Aeroplan | Scene+ | Blue Rewards (formerly Air Miles) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | Air Canada | Scotiabank® / Cineplex / Sobeys | BMO |
| Typical point value | Roughly 1–3 cents per point (up to 6+ for premium flight redemptions) | About 1 cent per point | About 0.67 cents per point |
| Best earned through | Air Canada flights, Aeroplan credit cards, everyday spending | Cineplex, Sobeys/FreshCo, Scotiabank credit cards | BMO credit cards, 400+ partner retailers |
| Best for | People who fly Air Canada or want flight redemptions | Grocery shoppers and moviegoers with a Scotiabank card | Everyday shoppers who bank with BMO |
| Where value tends to peak | International business class flight redemptions | Grocery + Scotiabank card combo | In-store and gift card redemptions |
In simple terms: All three let you earn points on everyday spending and redeem them for value later — the real differences are which bank or retailer they’re tied to, and how much each point is actually worth when you cash it in.
What Happened to Air Miles?
In January 2026, Air Miles combined its old “Cash Miles” and “Dream Miles” into a single balance, and by summer 2026, the program fully relaunched as Blue Rewards, run by BMO.
- Existing Air Miles converted automatically into Blue Points, with no loss in value — your old collector number simply became your new Blue Rewards member number.
- The new redemption rate works out to roughly 1,500 Blue Points = $10, or about 0.67 cents per point, for in-store and e-gift card redemptions.
- Blue Rewards is earned mainly through BMO credit cards (a no-fee BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard and a $150/year World Elite version) and a network of over 400 partner retailers.
- New partners added as part of the relaunch include Porter Airlines, Accor hotel brands (like Fairmont, Sofitel, and Novotel), Instacart, and several MTY-owned restaurant chains (Thai Express, Sushi Shop, Mr. Sub, and more).
What this means for you: If you were an Air Miles collector, nothing was lost — your points and their value carried over automatically. But if you’re new to the program, know that it’s really a BMO-branded loyalty program now, not the old grocery-store-counter Air Miles.
Aeroplan: Best for Flyers
In simple terms: Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program, and it’s generally the strongest of the three if you actually redeem points for flights — especially premium international ones.
- Typical redemption value ranges from about 1–3 cents per point for standard flight bookings, but can climb to 3–6+ cents per point on premium international business class redemptions through partner airlines.
- Redeeming for merchandise, gift cards, or hotels tends to be a much weaker deal — often under 1 cent per point.
- Points are earned through Air Canada flights, Aeroplan-branded credit cards (from TD, CIBC, and American Express), and a large network of everyday spending partners.
Quick Tip: As a rough rule of thumb, if a flight redemption is giving you less than about 1.2 cents of value per point, you’re often better off paying cash and saving the points for a better redemption later.
Best for: Frequent flyers, or anyone willing to be strategic about saving points for a high-value flight redemption rather than everyday purchases.
Scene+: Best for Groceries and Movies (With a Catch)
In simple terms: Scene+ points are worth a flat, predictable 1 cent each — 100 points equals $1 in value, whether you’re redeeming toward movie tickets, groceries, or other eligible purchases.
- Points are earned through Cineplex, Sobeys and FreshCo grocery stores, and Scotiabank credit cards.
- As of May 2026, Cineplex reduced how many points you earn on standard movie tickets — down from 5 points per dollar to 3 — while increasing the rate on premium formats like IMAX and VIP from 5 to 6 points per dollar. Concession purchases were reduced too, from 5 down to 3 points per dollar.
- At the same time, using a Scotiabank credit card at Sobeys or FreshCo can earn a higher rate per dollar than a movie ticket does — meaning Scene+ has quietly become more of a grocery-and-banking rewards program than a movie one.
What this means for you: If you’re joining Scene+ purely to earn free movies, know that it now takes noticeably more spending to get there than it used to. It’s still a solid program — just increasingly better suited to everyday grocery and banking spending than to being a “movie card.”
Best for: People who already shop at Sobeys/FreshCo and bank with Scotiabank — the combination is where Scene+ delivers the most value today.
Blue Rewards: Best for Everyday BMO Shoppers
In simple terms: Blue Rewards is BMO’s replacement for Air Miles, worth a flat 0.67 cents per point — the most modest of the three, but backed by a wide network of everyday partners.
- Points are earned mainly through BMO Blue Rewards credit cards (a no-fee option and a $150/year World Elite version) or an eligible BMO chequing account, plus over 400 partner retailers.
- Redemption rate: 1,500 points = $10 for in-store purchases and e-gift cards, with additional redemption categories rolled out closer to and after launch.
- New partners added in the relaunch include Porter Airlines, Accor hotel brands, Instacart, and several MTY-owned restaurant chains.
Best for: BMO customers or anyone who shops often at its large partner network and wants simple, predictable value without chasing flight redemptions.
Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs Blue Rewards: How Do You Compare Loyalty Programs Fairly?
The trick is converting each program’s points into cents per point — a consistent unit you can compare across programs, regardless of how many points each purchase earns.
Simple example:
- Scene+: 100 points = $1 → 1 cent per point
- Blue Rewards: 1,500 points = $10 → about 0.67 cents per point
- Aeroplan: varies a lot by redemption, roughly 1–3 cents per point for typical flight bookings
Quick Tip: A program that hands out points quickly isn’t necessarily better — if those points are worth less per point, you could end up with less total value than a program that’s stingier but redeems at a higher rate.
Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs Blue Rewards: So Which One Should You Use?
There’s no single “best” program — it depends heavily on which bank you already use and where you actually shop. Here’s a practical way to think about it:
If you fly Air Canada regularly or want to save toward flights: Aeroplan tends to offer the highest ceiling on value, especially for premium redemptions — if you’re willing to be strategic about it.
If you shop at Sobeys/FreshCo and bank with Scotiabank: Scene+ offers simple, predictable value with no real strategy required.
If you bank with BMO or shop frequently at its 400+ partner retailers: Blue Rewards is a straightforward, everyday-spending program, even if its per-point value is the most modest of the three.
What this means for you: A program that’s excellent for someone else can be mediocre for you if your spending doesn’t line up with its partners.
Key Takeaways
- Air Miles is now called Blue Rewards, run by BMO — existing points carried over automatically with no loss in value.
- Aeroplan offers the highest potential value, but mainly for flight redemptions, especially premium international ones.
- Scene+ offers simple, flat value (1 cent per point), though 2026 changes made movie redemptions less generous and shifted the program’s real value toward groceries and banking.
- Blue Rewards has the lowest per-point value of the three, but a wide retail partner network for everyday spending.
- Compare programs using cents per point, not just how fast you earn — a higher earn rate doesn’t always mean more total value.
The Bottom Line: The “best” loyalty program is really the one that matches where you already bank and shop — chasing a program that doesn’t fit your spending usually means leaving value on the table no matter how generous it looks on paper.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aeroplan vs Scene+ vs Blue Rewards
What happened to Air Miles? Air Miles was rebranded by BMO into a new program called Blue Rewards, which fully launched in summer 2026. Existing Air Miles balances converted automatically into Blue Points at the same value — nothing was lost, and collector numbers simply became Blue Rewards member numbers.
Which loyalty program offers the best value: Aeroplan, Scene+, or Blue Rewards? Aeroplan has the highest potential value per point, but mainly for flight redemptions. Scene+ offers simple, flat value at about 1 cent per point. Blue Rewards has the lowest per-point value (about 0.67 cents) but a very wide partner network. The “best” one depends on where you actually bank and shop.
Do I need a credit card to earn Aeroplan, Scene+, or Blue Rewards points? No — all three programs let you earn points just by shopping at partner retailers or flying with the affiliated airline. A co-branded credit card simply boosts your earn rate on everyday spending.
Did I lose any Air Miles when the program became Blue Rewards? No. BMO converted existing Air Miles balances into Blue Points automatically and at the same value, with no action required from collectors.
Want to keep learning? Browse more beginner-friendly personal finance guides on MoneyMint, including our guide to what a TFSA is.
This article is for general educational purposes and isn’t financial advice. Loyalty program rules, partners, and redemption values change frequently — always confirm current details directly with Aeroplan, Scene+, or Blue Rewards before making decisions based on this article.