Avion Rewards: Maximizing Points and Perks for Canadians
Avion Rewards is Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) loyalty program designed to make earning and redeeming points straightforward for Canadians. As an Avion Rewards member, you can easily collect points through your everyday purchases. Plus, you get flexible redemption options, including travel, merchandise, and financial rewards.
By learning how the program works and making informed choices, you can get the most value from your points and enjoy a more rewarding banking experience.
Avion Rewards points value
Avion Rewards points offer varying value depending on how you choose to redeem them, making it essential to consider your redemption options. Travel redemptions generally provide the highest value, with a base value of 1 cent per point when redeeming 1,000 points for $10 in travel. If you use the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you may get up to 2.33 cents per point, which is significant if you want to maximize your rewards.
The value of your points also depends on the RBC card you hold. Avion points are more beneficial when earned through an RBC Avion card, such as the RBC Avion Visa Platinum, RBC Avion Visa Infinite, or RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege. With an RBC ION Visa card, travel redemptions cost 172 Avion points for every $1, which decreases the value to about 0.71 cents per point.
Here’s a quick reference table on redemption values:
| Redemption type | Redemption value |
|---|---|
| Travel | 1 cent per point |
| Travel Redemption Schedule | Up to 2.33 cents per point |
| Gift cards | .71 - 1 cent per point |
| Financial rewards | .83 cents per point |
| Merchandise | .60 - .75 cents per point |
| Statement credit | .58 cents per point |
When you redeem points for travel, especially flights, you often receive the best return on your Avion points. Other options, such as merchandise, financial rewards, and statement credits, offer lower value. You can check your current balance or browse redemption options at the Avion Rewards page.
One thing to note is that RBC Rewards and RBC Avion are slightly different. Even though many RBC credit cards allow you to earn RBC Rewards, you may not get the full benefits that come with RBC Avion credit cards.
With standard RBC Rewards points, you don’t get as many travel benefits/options. Since RBC Avion points are more valuable, you’ll want to hold one of the three RBC Avion cards, which are as follows:
- RBC Avion Visa Platinum
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
How to redeem RBC Avion points for travel
You can redeem your RBC Avion points for travel by signing in to the Avion Rewards portal or the Avion Rewards app. Your points are flexible and can be applied to flights, hotels, cruises, vacation packages, and car rentals. There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions for flights, and you can use points to cover the entire travel cost, including taxes and fees.
If you don’t have enough points for the full amount, you can pay the balance with your RBC Rewards credit card—no minimum redemption is required. All bookings must be made through the RBC portal or by calling the travel centre, though a $30 booking fee applies for phone reservations.
You can use your RBC Avion Rewards points for any seat on any flight, and there are no blackout periods or seat restrictions. Points can be used to pay the entire airfare price, including taxes. If you don’t have enough points to pay for the whole redemption, you can use as few points as you wish, since no minimum redemption is required. The remaining balance will be charged to your RBC Rewards credit card. Unfortunately, RBC Rewards can’t be applied to travel booked on your own.
RBC Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule
With the RBC Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you can redeem your Avion points for economy or business class flights at specified point levels. This program features a chart that details the points needed for specific destinations and establishes a maximum base fare for each redemption. You must possess the entire amount of points to complete a redemption, as partial redemptions are not permitted.
Below is an overview of the points required and maximum base fares for different destinations:
| Points Required | Destination | Max. Ticket price |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | Within or to an adjacent Province/Territory/U.S. State | $350 |
| 35,000 | Anywhere in Canada/U.S. except Hawaii and Alaska | $750 |
| 45,000 | In western Canada/U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska Eastern Canada to Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean | $900 |
| 55,000 | In eastern Canada/U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska Western Canada to Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean | $1,100 |
| 65,000 | From any major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Europe | $1,300 |
| 100,000 | From any major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East, Africa, South America | $2,000 |
Flights booked using the schedule cover the base fare up to the maximum ticket price, but you are responsible for taxes, fees, and any carrier surcharges above the covered amount. If the total base fare exceeds the maximum for your redemption, you will need to pay the difference in cash.
Using the schedule often gets you a value of up to 2–2.33 cents per point, especially on costly routes like last-minute short-haul or long-haul flights to European destinations. For example, a flight from Canada to Europe can be booked for 65,000 Avion points plus taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges, provided the base fare is $1,300 or less. If the base fare is higher, you pay the difference.
There are no blackout dates, and all seats on all carriers are available, making the process flexible and straightforward. You are free to choose any carrier and book a seat for any available travel period without restrictions.
When considering redeeming your points, compare the value you get here to other options, such as transferring points to another program. Often, the predictable value and flexibility of the RBC Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule make it attractive for high-cost or last-minute travel.
The RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule and the ability to convert your RBC Rewards points to other loyalty programs is why I rank RBC Rewards ranks #2 on my list of Canada’s best bank travel rewards programs.
How to redeem Avion Rewards points for gift cards
You can use your Avion Rewards points to get gift cards from a range of merchants, including Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Beer Store, Best Buy, Air Canada, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Food Basics, and Golf Town. The number of points needed for each gift card and its value vary by retailer.
| Merchant | Points Needed | Card Value |
| Amazon | 1,400 | $10 |
| Bath & Body Works | 3,500 | $25 |
| The Beer Store | 3,500 | $25 |
| Best Buy | 7,000 | $50 |
| Air Canada | 10,000 | $100 |
| Fairmont Hotels | 10,000 | $100 |
| Food Basics | 14,000 | $100 |
| Golf Tow | 35,000 | $250 |
The value you get per point varies depending on the merchant. For example, Food Basics offers $100 for 14,000 points, which works out to about 0.71 cents per point. Travel-related gift cards, like Air Canada, tend to offer the best redemption value, typically around 1 cent per point.
To redeem your points, sign in at avionrewards.com or use the Avion Rewards app. Once logged in, browse the gift cards section, choose your preferred brand, and proceed to checkout.
Occasionally, Avion Rewards offers bonus promotions on select gift cards, such as 10% to 30% more value for the same number of points. These promotions can make some gift card offers more appealing. Always check for any current offers before redeeming.
How to redeem Avion Rewards points for financial rewards
support your saving goals or help pay down debt. Simply log in to your RBC Rewards account and select RBC Financial Rewards from the “Shop & Redeem” menu if you have eligible RBC financial products.
A minimum of 12,000 points is required to redeem $100 towards these financial options:
- Add to your existing investments (e.g., RRSP, TFSA)
- Make a mortgage payment
- Repay your line of credit
| Financial Reward | Minimum Points | Dollar Value |
| RRSP, TFSA, FHSA | 12,000 | $100 |
| Mortgage Pre-payment | 12,000 | $100 |
| Line of Credit Payment | 12,000 | $100 |
Using points for financial rewards can help you save on interest if you pay off loans or a line of credit sooner. Adding to investments like your RRSP may result in tax advantages, while using a TFSA allows you to save with tax-free growth.
Merchandise, statement credits, charitable donations, and other redemptions
You have the option to redeem your RBC Rewards points for merchandise, statement credits, and charitable donations. The merchandise catalogue includes a range of items, but the points required often make it a lower-value choice, except when discounts are occasionally offered.
For statement credits, 17,200 points equal a $100 credit, resulting in only .58 cents per point. This is one of the least valuable uses for your points compared to other redemption methods, such as travel or gift cards. Cash back is not offered directly, but the statement credit works similarly by reducing your balance.
Charitable donations are available, allowing you to support various causes using your points.
| Redemption Option | Points Required | Approximate Value |
| Merchandise | Caries (often high) | Low |
| Statement credit | 17,200 = $100 | .58 cents per point |
| Charitable donation | Varies | Variable |
RBC Avion points transfer partners
RBC Avion points offer a variety of flexible transfer options for both travel and retail loyalty programs. This flexibility enables you to maximize the value of your points based on your travel or shopping plans. Below is a breakdown of the main transfer partners, transfer ratios, and brief descriptions.
| Airline Partner | Transfer Ratio |
| WestJet (WestJet Rewards) | 1,000 RBC points = 1,000 WestJet Points |
| American Airlines (AAdvantage) | 10,000 RBC points = 7,000 miles |
| Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) | 10,000 RBC points = 10,000 miles |
| British Airways (Avios) | 10,000 RBC points = 10,000 Avios |
It’s hard to put an exact value on airline miles since there are so many variables, but generally speaking, their value is around a minimum of 1.5¢ per mile for economy tickets. Often you can get double the value if you’re booking in business class. That said, WestJet Rewards points are worth about 1 cent each.
Transfers to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and British Airways Avios are at a 1:1 ratio, which is favourable for international travel. American Airlines AAdvantage has a slightly different ratio but can still represent strong value, especially if you find good award seat availability.
Featured Benefits and Tips
- Promotions & Bonuses: RBC Rewards periodically offers transfer bonuses to select partners, sometimes increasing your conversion value by up to 30%. These bonuses typically apply to airline programs like WestJet, British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage. Check for these promos directly in your RBC Rewards account to maximize value.
- Combining with RBC WestJet Products: If you hold both an RBC Avion card and the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard, you can stack welcome bonuses and quickly accumulate WestJet points. Avion points can be transferred to WestJet at a clear fixed rate.
- Redemption Value: Airline miles fluctuate in value depending on route, class of service, and availability. On average, you might expect at least 1.5¢ per mile, and potentially much more for premium cabin bookings.
Avion Rewards expiration date
Your RBC Avion Rewards points do not expire as long as you maintain an eligible, active RBC Royal Bank credit card account. If you choose to close your credit card, you’ll have a 90-day period to redeem any remaining points before they are forfeited.
- Points don’t expire while your account is open and in good standing
- 90 days to use points after account closure
If you have questions about your points, it’s recommended to call RBC customer service for details or clarification.
How RBC Avion compares to others
RBC Avion Rewards stands out among major Canadian loyalty programs for its flexible redemption options, including no blackout dates and no minimum points required to redeem. You benefit from a fixed points flight program and regular promotions, which can improve your overall value.
| Program | Notable Features |
| RBC Avion | Fixed points flights, transfer partners, flexible redemptions including financial rewards |
| American Express MR | Book travel anywhere, multiple transfer partners, best credit cards |
| CIBC Rewards | Flexible travel, no transfer partners |
| BMO Rewards | Book travel anywhere, multiple transfer partners, and the best credit cards |
| TD Rewards | Uses Expedia for TD which does not have the best prices. |
| Scene+ | Fixed points flights, transfer partners, flexible redemptions, including financial rewards |
The main limitation compared to American Express Membership Rewards is that you’re required to book travel through the RBC portal and it doesn’t have Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy as transfer partners. One major downside with RBC is that Avion cards don’t have strong earning rates compared to other banks. You can explore more with these links: CIBC Rewards, BMO Rewards, TD Rewards, Scene+, and American Express Membership Rewards.
How to earn RBC Avion Rewards
You can earn Avion points by using an eligible RBC Avion credit card for your everyday purchases. These cards allow you to accumulate points simply by making transactions, whether it’s groceries, gas, bill payments, or travel bookings. The range includes six personal credit cards (such as the RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card) and two business credit cards.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
- $120 annual fee
- 35,000 Avion points on approval
- 20,000 Additional points when spending $5.000 in the first 6 months
- Earn 1.25 Avion points for every $1 spent on travel purchases
- Earn 1 Avion point per $1 on all other purchases
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Mobile device insurance up to $1,500
The sign up bonus for new cardholders is typically 35,000 -55,000 points which is comparable to some of the best travel credit cards in Canada.
The earn rate of 1.25 points per $1 spent on travel is decent, while the 1 RBC Reward point earned per dollar spent on all other purchases, including bill payments, is pretty common.
The RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card also provides good travel insurance when travelling outside Canada. Not only do you get travel medical, but you’ll also be covered for trip cancellation/interruption, delayed and lost baggage, hotel/motel burglary and more. Obviously, some exclusions apply, so read the certificate of insurance for complete terms.
Avion Rewards Retail Partners
You can also earn Avion points when shopping with select Avion Rewards retail partners. This includes making purchases through partner merchants online, in-store, or via the Avion Rewards app. Linking your RBC Avion credit card or debit card ensures you receive points automatically for eligible spending.
Ways to maximize earnings with retail partners:
- Shop through the Avion Rewards portal or app for special promotions and earning multipliers.
- Watch for limited-time offers, in which extra points are available on select categories like electronics, fashion, or travel bookings.
- Use Avion Rewards program tools, such as the rewards app and RBC online banking, to review participating partner offers and track transaction history.
- Combine points earned from credit cards with bonus points from partner promotions for faster accumulation.
Final thoughts
Avion Rewards is one of the best bank travel rewards programs. The RBC Visa Infinite Avion card may not give you the best signup bonus or have the highest earn rate, but there’s no denying that once you have the points, they’re easy to use. There are no blackout dates and no minimum points required to make a redemption, so you’ll never run into any issues using your points. If you’re a fan of RBC, check out my RBC InvestEase review and find out how you can reduce your investment management fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book travel with my Avion Rewards points?
You can book travel by logging into the Avion Rewards Travel portal. Once signed in, use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
How can I log into my Avion Rewards account?
To log into your account, visit the Avion Rewards website and click “Sign In.” You can also access your account through RBC Online Banking if your card is linked.
Are there special rewards for concerts like Taylor Swift’s?
Occasionally, Avion Rewards offers exclusive access or pre-sale opportunities for select concerts and live events, including popular artists. These offers are time-limited and are announced through the Avion Rewards website or member communications. Check the rewards platform regularly for the latest event rewards.
Where can I find the Avion Rewards catalogue for redemption?
The Avion Rewards catalogue is available online at the Avion Rewards website. Browse various redemption options, including merchandise, gift cards, and experiences. You need to sign in to view and redeem your points.
What is the phone number for Avion Rewards customer service?
You can reach Avion Rewards customer service at 1-800-769-2512. For additional support, you may also use the “Help” feature within your online account or the travel portal.
Can you explain more on the comprehensive cancellation insurance for traveling? For flight
Wendy,
What I mean is you get travel medical, trip accident, trip cancellation, lost luggage, etc. You cAN READ THE FULL DETAILS HERE.
https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-visa-infinite-avion/rbc-visa-infinite-avion-certificate-of-insurance.pdf
Barry choi,
What about outright flight cancellation by company with no booking possibility ? this happened to me 5 years ago and Avion card could not do anything!
When saying trip cancellation … talking from whom??
Lucia,
What do you mean by company with no booking possibility? With fight cancellation, it only applies to reasons that are outlined in your insurance policy.
When should I pay for a flight as opposed to redeeming points. I want to go to Vancouver – Honolulu -L.A. – Vancouver.
Points 45000 plus $266
Cash $960
Plse advise and thx,Lawrence
Lawrence,
45,000 Rewards points would be worth $450 + $266 for taxes = $716. Since the value of your redemption via the fixed travel program is $960, you come out ahead using the fixed program.
How much is 28906 rbcrewards point please
Sarah,
10,000 points = $100 so you have $289 at the base value. Your points are worth more if you use the RBC Rewards Air Travel Redemption Schedule
Hi. I have 10500 pts and I purchased my ticket for $2000 whose base fair is $1400. What’s the best way to go with the schedule?
You need 15,000 points to make a claim within or to an adjacent Province/Territory/U.S. State. That fare has a maximum base price of $350 so you can’t use the fixed redemption schedule.
you could just 10,000 points to redeem $100.
Sorry Barry. I have 105000 points. I missed a zero. Can you please update your response?
Masoud,
If you’ve already paid for your ticket, you can’t use the air redemption schedule. Assuming you didn’t 100K points gets you a flight from any major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East, Africa, South America
Hi Barry, thanks for the article and for all the Q&A work as well !!
I’m looking at making the switch to Amex. I have 160k reward points I’ve saved up over the years. Looking to cash out or use these points up somehow with the best value. Appears as tho 10,000 points for $100 value is about the best offer from RBC rewards?
Also, do you know if these points expire if I got rid of my RBC Avion card?
Thanks!
Hey Greig,
Yup, 10K points for $100 is indeed the best value. You lose all your points if you cancel your card. Your best bet would be to transfer your points to WestJet Dollars or hotels.com giftcards as they have good value.
Hi Barry,
I product switched to the RBC British Airways Visa almost 4 months ago. My account has remained in good standing however, I haven’t received the welcome bonus of 15k points yet. I have called RBC multiple times and each time I have been told that BA awards the points but when I speak to BA, they say that RBC needs to award the points. Do you have any idea who should be awarding the points? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Sam
Hi Sam,
In theory, it should be BA that actually issues the points but RBC would have to authorize it.
I would advise escalating the case with RBC first to see if that resolves anything.
If I wish to use my Avion Rewards points to pay off my credit card bill, is it straight 100 points/per every $1?
Julie,
No, it takes 172 points to claim $1 in statement credit so you’re devaluing your points quite a bit if you were to go that route.
Is this card best to earn miles to book a points first class flight from Vancouver to Tokyo?
I just noticed RBC is offering 50% more points if converted to Avios, does the same offer ever happen with AA points?
Carl,
The 50% bonus is quite rare. I’ve never seen it with AA.
Is it worth it to convert your Avion points to BA Avios given the 50% bonus on until Dec 15th? I live in Vancouver and typically fly to Hawaii in Winter and Europe in summer. Your insight is much appreciated.
Bradley,
If you plan on using those BA points, then yes, it’s a great deal. That said, I’m not sure which airlines you can use BA Avios points to get you from Vancouver to Hawaii.
Hi, is it worth buying the air Canada gift cards at a 10% discount? Are they easy to use and are there any hidden charges / rules to these we should know about?
Laurie,
Buying the gift cards gives you a guaranteed discount of 10%, but you might get better value if you used your points on the fixed travel program. It’s honestly a personal choice but I imagine you wouldn’t have any issues with using the gift cards. As far as I know there are no additional charges or rules, but read the fine print before you commit.
Do my RBC rewards expire at any point
Bette,
Not as long as you have a credit card account that earns you RBC Rewards active with them that’s in good standing.
RBC Reward points expire after 3 years on a First In, First out basis.
Parick,
That is incorrect. If you refer to handbook, the first page states that RBC points don’t expire.
https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-visa-platinum-avion/rbc-visa-platinum-avion-benefits-guide.pdf
The reference to points expiring after 3 years is old and should have been removed from the website.
my mistake, you are correct. I believe my knowledge was outdated.
I just logged into my RBC Rewards and I see that I have a – 69K point balance. How is it possible to end up with a negative reward points balance?? I have never even used my rewards and forgot that it was even available. Any help would be appreciated.
Mark,
You’d have to check with RBC about that
Do you think it is worth keeping the RBC Infinite Avion card beyond the first year? Is it worth the $120 per annum annual fee considering that I am also paying fees for amex gold card and BMO cash back card?
Thanks for your insight
Hi Viviene,
I personally wouldn’t keep three credit cards with annual fees. Of the three cards you mentioned, I’d probably drop the BMO cash back card but that’s because I prefer travel points. Who do you bank with? Do they waive the fee for any cards?
I bank with BMO but it’s a joint account and the waiver goes towards my partner’s BMO MC world elite card. I figure the cashback we get each year more than pays for the annual fee.
What does RBC Avion offer that justifies its fee? It seems as if it would take a long time to build up any significant number of points.
Viviene,
Well it’s really for you to decide based on your spending. E.g. if you moved all the spending from your cash back card to the RBC card, you could more in points for flights than what the annual fee would cost you. I think the RBC Rewards fixed flight travel chart offers good value especially if you’re looking at short haul flights. However, that may be redundant since you have the Amex Gold which also has a fixed points program.
How would you compared the two fixed points program? I tend to focus on transferring my Amex points to Avios and haven’t really looked at the Amex fixed points program. I also feel that the Amex Gold has more to offer than the RBC card in terms of travel insurance and flexibility on how to use points. But I may be wrong….
Viviene,
Both programs have their sweet spots. Amex is arguably better since you have more transfer partners. The Amex Gold has a slightly higher earn rate on travel. but RBC Rewards has occasional promos where if you transfer your points to BA, you get 25 or 50% more points.
I do agree that the Gold Amex is a better overall card.
Is there anyway I can browse through options for say a vacation package, that would be qualified for if I had 150000 points? For example my 150000 points would allow me to go to Cayo Largo Cuba, or Puerto Plata Dominican Republic or Cozumel Mexico…you get the idea.
Marcel,
It doesn’t give you an option to search for results based on X points. All really allows you to do is search by price from low to high after you’ve selected a country.
I have always been a fan of the RBC Avion program until today when I tried to change a departing flight and was told that all the flights I chose were “not available” although there were clearly seats for sale on both the airline website AND Expedia. RBC only offered a few very poor flight options. I thought “any flight” meant “any flight”. I have never encountered this before. We ended up buying new flights from the airline after spending over 30 minutes on hold, suffering through a painfully frustrating conversation with an agent and draining the battery on my phone.
I’m going to bail on Avion after learning that they recognize an Air Canada fuel surcharge of 570$ per ticket to europe in a time of extended, sustained low fuel prices. It was going to cost me 1100$= in fees when flights can be purchased outright for just over 1600$.
Value lost due to poor decisions at Avion….. adios!
MooMoo,
That’s Air Canada’s fault, not Avion.
How long does it take to convert RBC points into Asia Miles? Is it instantaneous or do you have to wait 6-8weeks?
Noel,
It usually takes 4-5 days for the transfer to Asia Miles
I have around 200k in avion points. I am trying to figure out the best option for using them as we are moving to Europe for a year. I looked into the flights but almost 1/2 goes to the taxes, etc. I was wondering if it was best to use them while we are there for short trips. So, what would be the best value? (ie rental car, hotels, ?), anything else?
ASjoo,
Points for flights to Europe are typically of low value due to the fees. Using them within Europe is also not a good value since you wouldn’t be able to use the fixed travel program. You could use the RBC travel portal when you’re abroad and book points at 10,000 points = $100 in travel.
Alternatively, you could convert your points to WestJet dollars at a 1:1 ratio. On occasion, there are promos where you can convert to hotels.com giftcards which can be a good value.
Hi Barry, we have ~250,000 RBC Avion points and I’m trying to maximize getting to FCO (Rome) this summer from YYZ (Toronto.) We also have 90,000 in Aeroplan.
Traveling with a 15 month old so really wanted to optimize for lie-down seats. But they are pricey. ($8000 for two seats on AC’s direct flights.)
Can you suggest a way to optimize our points to make it work?
Heather,
Flying from Toronto to Europe is one of the worst redemptions regardless of the program due to high airport taxes. With Aeroplan, you need 110K points for a return business flight so that won’t really work.
For RBC, I don’t think you can use your points for business so that doesn’t really help.
The best value I can think of right now and this is honestly not the greatest solution is to consider transferring your points to WJD. If you have the WestJet World Elite Mastercard, you can use the companion voucher for premium economy. I just booked two flights from YYZ to LGW for $2400. Of course, you would still need to get a flight to Rome and you’d only be redeeming your points at a 1% value.
IMO, you’re better off paying cash for this route and saving your points for later.
Help. We have 175000 Avion points. Looking to use them from YVR to LHR. If I use the points for 3 fares return it looks like another $700 each on top !!!! With Aur Canada. Flights in September are approximately $700 each return.
Can you give any advice. I have not checked if BA charges the same.
Audrey,
Flights to Europe are a terrible value due to the high taxes. You’re better off saving your points for a different redemption.
Is it possible to use Avion points to pay for an upgrade on an already booked flight? Is it worth it? Looking at this for a flight from Houston to Auckland on Air New Zealand.
Trish,
You’d have to call and ask. You definitely can’t do upgrades via the RBC Travel portal.
Is there a time limit to redeem accumulated points? And I wld like to purchase a gift card for electronics?
Velva,
Your points don’t expire as long as you have an active RBC credit card that’s in good standing.
I am a bit lost with car rental points… if my rental was $800.00 how many points would I need
Hi Kathy,
That falls under travel so it would cost you 80,000 points.
Barry,
Can RBC Avion Visa Infinite cardholders redeem for a Premium Economy class seat instead of Economy class?
Thanks!
Amy,
RBC Rewards is a full service travel agency so you can book premium economy, but it’ll cost you more points. It’s unlikely you’d be able to book premium under the Air Travel Redemption Schedule since the price would exceed the maximum base price.
Barry,
RBC Avion Visa Infinite redemption schedule
From Canada to Hong Kong: 100,000 points. Maximum ticket price: $2,000.
Normally the Air Canada Premium Economy ticket from Canada to Hong Kong costs close to (less than) $2,000. It’s not worth to redeem Economy class, which is about $1,000 or less.
That’s why I would like to know whether I can redeem Premium Economy class or not.
Thanks!
Amy,
As long as the base ticket price is below $2,000, you should be able to redeem a premium economy flight using your RBC Rewards points.
Hi Barry, I’m totally torn between Scotia Passport and RBC AVion? Which one do you really prefer if we plan on going US visits and Asian Countries as well?
Rachel,
Both cards a bit different. The Scotiabank card is a good all-in-one card since it has no forex fees, but the RBC Avion has a fixed points travel chart which can be of good value. Since you’re based in Canada, Air Canada/Aeroplan cards are good for US travel thanks to the new Buddy Pass. WestJet companion vouchers can also be handy.
Barry, early thanks for answering my question. I am contemplating on utilizing approx. 111,000 Avion points for Best Western gift cards. I presume the gift cards are in Canadian funds? Travel contemplated is in the U.S. once the ban is lifted. How is the difference in currency handled by U.S. based Best Westerns?
Gary,
The gift cards are only worth it if you’re getting an equal value to your RBC Avion points. E.g. 1,000 points = $10. Yes, the cards would come in CAD. If you use them outside of Canada, you would be subject to the exchange rate at the hotel which will definitely have a markup.
Avion $350 air fare fee for interprovincial travel is useless to many Canadians outside the Upper / Lower Canada belt. Many interprovincial one way tickets are $350 or more. I’ve amassed nearly a million dollars over the years on my Avion card, and travel with my family of 6, using the points. I always have to wait for airlines to post sale prices before I can use the points, because their reward amount is set too low. Its not a cheap card either. I’ve never complained, but its been the same price system for over 10 years. Hello! Inflation!
Paying the taxes on flights is also a bummer. I’ve often just bought sale priced flights with cash, because the Avion rewards taxes where close to half the flight cash amount. Didn’t see the point in wasting them.
How do I book a business class seat?
We’d like to go back to Europe next year and want to fly business class.
I have over 300,000 points with Avion.
Two years ago we booked two business class seats after transferring points to British Airlines, What a nightmare!
I swore that I’d move to another point card to get better service, connections, etc.
Please help.
CAtherine,
RBC has a travel rewards portal where you’d book your flights and then redeem your points.
Aeroplan is a lot easier these days, it’s worth considering switching to a card that earns you Aeroplan points.
We have 215000 points with RBC and travel to Mexico, US and are thinking of going from Edmonton to Amsterdam and returning to Edmonton from Rome. What are the best way to use our points. Is transferring points to Westjet a better deal than buying Westjet gift cards .
Hey there,
To maximize your value, you should use the RBC Air Trave Redemption schedule – https://www.rbcrewards.com/#!/travel/redemptionSchedule
It’ll cost 65,000 points to get to Europe with a max ticket value of $1,300. That works out to 2 cents a point which is double the normal value.
Ad for WJD, it’s a better value to transfer your points directly instead of buying gift cards
Any luck with product switching lately and receiving the welcome bonus of 15,000 points for Avion Infinite?
No bueno
Darn. Seems to still work for WJ MC. Perhaps makes sense to PS to a no AF card and then cycle back.
I recently “purchased” airline tickets using Avion points. Unfortunately I mistakenly selected the Flexible Points Pricing and as a result ended up using roughly twice as many points as would have been needed under the Fixed Points Pricing. The difference is somewhere around 35,000 points.
I requested that Avion reverse this mistake but was advised that it was their policy to not allow such a change. I requested to talk to a manager, but they basically advised that this wasn’t going to happen (they told me it would take 6 weeks).
Any advice.
Hey John,
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely they’ll reverse the charges. This happens with all points programs.
Hi Barry… I have over 1 Mil points… and on flight can I upgrade to Exec or 1st Class with my points ??
I don’t see it anywhere when i am looking at the booking … Any ideas.
Thanks
Mike
Hi Mike,
In the RBC Avion travel portal, you should be able to choose premium economy or business class seats for your flights.
What are the pros & cons of flex points vs flexible points booking w Avion? How do I know which we should use?
All rbc rewards and avion rewards points can be used on any travel purchase made through the RBC travel portal.
Hi Barry,
I have been reading your awesome feedback from Avion customers! I recently tried to receive information from the RBC Rewards program call centre and it was horrific – unprofessional and unknowledgeable agents, transferring me first to Expedia and then to Air Canada. They wore me down. I then went online and read reviews on the performance of the program – from what I saw, every customer who had to make a change on their travel booking experienced exactly the frustration I did..
Has this program gone down hill in recent years on their customer service assistance?
Paula,
The program itself is fine, but I imagine every travel operator is experiencing customer service issues. I guess the real problem is knowing who to call. If you book travel through the Avion travel portal, technically speaking, you will go through them to make changes even if you booked an Air Canada flight.
Hi Barry,
I’m unsure whether to use my avion infinite Visa card to pay a Europe bike tour purchase as the surcharge is 4 percent or pay with an e-transfer. The foreign currency rate I’m billed at was 1.49. I look forward to your response. Also, if I pay with an e-transfer will I have any travel protection? Thanks in advance! Barbara
Hey Barbara,
A 4% surcharge is quite a bit. That said, an e-transfer may come with fees too. I personally would just choose what’s cheaper. That said, if you don’t pay with your credit card, you don’t get any protection if you need to cancel your tour for a qualifying reason.
Hi Barry,
Thank you for your responses. I really appreciate it!
Barbara
Regarding financial rewards, more specifically applying a credit to an existing RBC mortgage: is the cash value going to be considered a lump sum payment or something else? I ask this because the options to pay down a mortgage faster are limited to double-up payments upon each scheduled payment, and one lump sum payment (aka prepayment) of up to 10% of the initial principal per year. I already used my yearly lump sum and I’m concerned that I wouldn’t be allowed to redeem my Avion points towards my mortgage or I may be allowed to do so, but I could be issued a penalty for not following the rules. I couldn’t find anything online about what the value of the points redeemed is considered to be.
Hey Stephanie,
If I had to guess, it would count as a prepayment. You’d have to call them to find out for sure.
Too old to travel. So thinking of using my Avion points to buy RBC merchandise. How can I see what is available if I don’t do any banking transactions on a computer?
Dave,
You need to go to the RBC Avion website to see what items are available for redemption – https://www.avionrewards.com/index.html
On the web site that I see, the first thing that they want is your Visa number. And that is exactly why we don’t do money matters on line.
Dave,
Avion Rewards is a credit card rewards program. Using your credit card number is how you log in.
Hello I redeemed 130,000 points for a flights to Barcelona from Toronto and had to cancel. What is the value of these points so that I can make a travel insurance claim
That’s a value of $1,300.
Hi Barry,
Thought you might be interested in my experience being transitioned from HSBC World Elite MC to RBC Avion Visa. Since I don’t have anything that spells out the fees, conversion rate, etc. I called the RBC conversion team. They are waiving the $120 annual fee for the first year and that’s it. Although the HSBC card did not charge the 2.5% foreign conversion fee, the RBC card does. The extra points which HSBC gave for travel expenses are likewise not available with the RBC card. It seems to me that if I wanted this card I would be better off applying for it and getting the bonus. Very disappointing.
Hey Laura,
You should have received paperwork about the details of your new card. HSBC World Elite MC holders being switched the Avion Visa Infinite will still get no FX fees on their card.
You’re correct about losing the travel credit after the first year.
The Avion card is a clear downgrade, I mention a few other options in this article – https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-hsbc-clients-may-not-love-their-new-rbc-credit-cards-but-rbcs-avion/
Thanks Barry. I don’t subscribe to the Globe but I assume you suggested the Scotiabank Passport Visa as an alternative. I don’t want to take up your time with all this but I applied for the Scotia card and it developed into a real mess. I’m still trying to find out what happened, currently waiting to hear back from their Escalated Customer Concern team.
Hey Laura,
I suggested a few.
The Amex Cobalt for high earn rate, Rogers Mastercard for Costco (if you use Rogers), and Platinum for high end travel benefits. If you want no FX, the Scotiabank card is indeed good, but I like the EQ Bank card cuz it has no fees.
I’ll def check into the EQ card, thanks again.