Just tried to redeem AirMiles on YYZ-dca.

My "reward" from AirMiles works out to about a 50% discount versus just buying the tickets outright -- thanks to AM's fees and surcharges. Some might argue that it's better than nothing, but it royally irks me.

Grrrr. No big surprise, though. That's pretty much my standard experience with AirMiles over the years.

The only reward that's of value, in my experience at least, is the Cineplex movie vouchers. The air rewards, IMHO, are an absolute rip-off. (They should really change the program name!). And all of the great restaurant gift card options (Keg, Earls) have quietly disappeared from the program.