[UPDATE: Promo is now underway, see more tips and info] Shop The Block, a major Air Miles promotion, will get underway later this month (November 19 – December 28, 2020). If you have any interest in collecting Air Miles this could be a great way to add to your balance. Be aware, however, that this promo only comes along once a year and requires some effort and organization to reap maximum rewards.
What’s Shop The Block?
It was just about a week ago that I received my Mega Miles bonus of 1000 miles. That promotion was postponed from March due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Mega Miles and Shop The Block are the two headliner promotions of the Air Miles program where collectors can earn a large bonus on top of several individual bonuses.
The Shop The Block website does not yet reveal the participating partners or offer details but it does show the number of offers to complete with corresponding bonus:
3 Offers – 300 Air Miles
5 Offers – 800 Air Miles
7 Offers – 1200 Air Miles
Note that offers must be completed at different partners:
* Between November 19, 2020 and December 28, 2020, Collectors must make eligible purchases at (i) 7 different AIR MILES® Partners using 7 or more different AIR MILES SHOP THE BLOCK® Event Bonus Offers (“Bonus Offers”) and meet the criteria required for each unique Bonus Offer to qualify for the 1,200 Bonus Miles; or (ii) 5 different participating AIR MILES Partners using 5 different Bonus Offers and meet the criteria required for each unique Bonus Offer to qualify for the 800 Bonus Miles; or (iii) 3 different participating AIR MILES Partners using 3 different Bonus Offers and meet the criteria required for each unique Bonus Offer to qualify for the 300 Bonus Miles. Criteria, offer periods and spend frequency may vary for each Bonus Offer. Please see the Terms and Conditions of each unique Bonus Offer for specific details. Bonus Offers are available at airmiles.ca/ShopTheBlock. Limit of one (1) Bonus Offer per Collector Number. Please allow up to 120 days after the Bonus Offer end date for Bonus Miles to be posted to Collector Account.
Shop The Block varies from Mega Miles in that you need to complete 7 offers (instead of 5) to achieve the highest bonus available. Like last year, the biggest bonus is 1200 miles. In years past the bonus was as high as 2000 so it’s unfortunate that it dropped over time. But, more important than the size of the bonus is the feasibility of attaining it. I would much prefer several easy offers with an okay bonus than a generous one combined with unusable offers.
Important Reminders
These multi-offer promotions like Mega Miles and Shop The Block aren’t really doable as a casual collector who really doesn’t like to deviate from one’s normal shopping habits. You need to be prepared to shop at different stores or time your purchases around restrictive dates on individual offers.
As the promo is set to begin in a couple of weeks’ time, if you have any significant purchases planned at any Air Miles partners, either in-store or through the airmilesshops online portal, hold off if possible in case they could help you complete a Shop The Block offer.
Another good idea is to accumulate a stash of miles in the Cash category. Occasionally there will be offers to redeem miles in-store so having some Cash miles ready to go will come in handy.
If completing 7 offers proves too difficult, ensure that family members are signed up as Air Miles members so you can perhaps finagle 3 or 5 offers for everyone.
Bottom Line
If you happen to shop at any Air Miles partners or if you have an interest in earning rewards, this promotion will deserve your consideration once the details are released. In this time of limited travel it could provide a little inspiration to ponder a future trip, and when the times comes, you’ll have some points to work with. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to redeem for merchandise or save on everyday spending with Cash miles, Shop The Block could potentially serve you well. We’ll just have to wait and see how achievable the offers are.
idid not revesve in my emai