<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">They arent totaly useless, yes the value if you add it up, you get 1mile for every 20 dollars you spend, a ticket YYL-YUL-YYZ will cost (if you spend your money just to get enough points) $19,000. I have about 7,780airmiles and I dont buy products with them(except flights ) but still collect in case I need to go somewhere for a family event or something else(I am going YYZ-YUL-YYZ for a family wedding) its about 2600 airmiles for 3 people(YYZ-YUL) and i can get my rental car with airmiles too. Its not food big time travelers its for people who shop at stores that give airmiles and use them for occasional flights. Its still good to have. Flights always include Return also.</font>
We're talking two different products here.
One is Air Miles, a fee-free program that will let you get miles for things you wouldn't otherwise, including items you'd have to purchase no matter what (like groceries.)
The other is a credit card, that has lots of alternatives. As a rewards program credit card, the MNBA program is a week and distant cousin compared to Amex, Diner's Club, AeroGold and RBC Avion.