Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of BMO Rewards hub
GUIDE
How to redeem BMO Rewards points for travel
BMO Rewards is the points programme for BMO Rewards credit cards, and travel is redeemed through Pay with Points, which applies points to eligible travel purchases already made on the card — flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises among them. [1] [5]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- BMO Rewards travel redemptions run through Pay with Points, which applies points to eligible travel purchases on the card, including flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises. [1] [5]
- You choose the purchase from your recent transactions after signing in to bmorewards.com or the BMO Mobile Banking app. [6]
- Points can be applied to as little as $1 of an eligible purchase, and you decide how many points to use. [6]
- Points also go toward merchandise, gift cards, or a contribution to a BMO savings or investment account. [1]
What does BMO Rewards Pay with Points do?
BMO Rewards points are collected on almost any purchase made with a BMO Rewards credit card. [1] Pay with Points then applies those points directly to eligible purchases on the account. [1] For travel, BMO names flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, cruises and more as purchases the points can cover. [1] [5]
Because the mechanism works from transactions, redemption happens after the purchase rather than at the point of booking: the cardholder signs in, opens the Pay with Points tab, browses recent transactions and picks the eligible purchase to offset. [6]
Travel is one of three destinations for points. BMO also runs a merchandise catalogue with hundreds of products and gift cards from major brands, and lets cardholders put points toward a contribution to a BMO savings or investment account. [1]
| Option | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Pay with Points — travel | Eligible travel purchases such as flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises [1] [5] |
| Merchandise | Catalogue of hundreds of products and gift cards from top brands [1] |
| Savings or investment | A contribution to a BMO savings or investment account [1] |
How do you redeem BMO Rewards points for a travel purchase?
BMO sets out the Pay with Points steps on its rewards card pages. The purchase has to appear among your recent transactions before you can select it. [6]
- Pay with your BMO Rewards card. Complete the eligible travel purchase so that it shows in your recent transactions. [6]
- Sign in. Use your BMO Online Banking credentials at bmorewards.com, or open the BMO Mobile Banking app, and select the Pay with Points tab. [6]
- Choose the transaction. Browse recent transactions and select the eligible purchase you want the points to cover. [6]
- Set the amount. Decide how many points to put toward the purchase; BMO allows redemptions from as little as $1. [6]
What are BMO Rewards points worth on travel?
The size of a travel redemption depends on how much of the purchase you choose to cover, because the cardholder sets the amount and can start at $1. [6] BMO presents travel redemption on the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard as flights, hotels or cruises at "the same great value every time". [6]
The rewards calculator on that card page is described by BMO as illustrative, with the values displayed stated as valid as of 6 March 2024, so any figure drawn from it is a dated snapshot rather than a standing rate. [6]
How quickly points build up depends on which card you hold. On the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, BMO pays 5 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments, and 1 point per $1 everywhere else. [6] The account carries a $150 annual fee, waived in the first year. [6]
Exceptions and limits
- Eligible purchases only. Pay with Points works from the transactions BMO shows as eligible in your recent activity, so a purchase that is not in that list cannot be selected. [6]
- $1 floor. The smallest amount points can be applied to is $1 of a purchase, and the number of points used is chosen at redemption. [6]
- Redemption follows the purchase. Points are applied against a transaction that is already on the account, which means the travel is paid for first and offset afterwards. [6]
- Card by card. BMO offers a range of BMO Rewards credit cards, and earn rates and fees differ between them. The 5x/3x/1x structure and the $150 annual fee described above belong to the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, which requires minimum annual income of $80,000 for an individual or $150,000 for a household. [1] [6]
- Values move. The point levels and values shown in BMO's rewards calculator are illustrative and dated, so confirm the current figure at the time you redeem. [6]
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a flight directly with BMO Rewards points?
BMO describes travel redemption through Pay with Points: you make the eligible travel purchase on the card, then apply points to that purchase from your recent transactions. [1] [6]
Which travel purchases can BMO Rewards points cover?
BMO lists flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, cruises and more among the eligible travel purchases for Pay with Points. [1] [5]
Is there a minimum BMO Rewards redemption?
Yes. Points can be applied to as little as $1 of an eligible purchase. [6]
What else can I do with BMO Rewards points?
Points can be spent in BMO's merchandise catalogue, which carries hundreds of products and gift cards from top brands, or put toward a contribution to a BMO savings or investment account. [1]
Do all BMO Rewards cards earn points at the same rate?
BMO offers a range of BMO Rewards credit cards, and earn rates are set card by card. The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, for example, earns 5 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on eligible dining and entertainment and on recurring bill payments, and 1 point per $1 elsewhere. [1] [6]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. This guide covers BMO Rewards only; BMO AIR MILES and BMO Aeroplan cards are outside its scope.
- BMO Rewards credit cards: earning and redeeming points, checked 18 October 2026
- BMO credit cards: BMO Rewards and Pay with Points overview, checked 18 October 2026
- BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard: rewards and Pay with Points steps, checked 18 October 2026