Avion Rewards Guide 2026: Points Value & Best Redemptions
Avion Rewards (formerly RBC Rewards) is RBC’s points program, and it’s one of the most flexible bank programs in Canada: no blackout dates, no expiry while your card is open, and four airline transfer partners. Points are worth 1 cent each at baseline and up to 2.33 cents on the fixed-rate flight chart.
The quick facts:
- Points value: 1¢ for flexible travel bookings, up to 2.33¢ on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule. A realistic average is 1.5 to 1.6¢.
- Best cards: the RBC Avion Visa Infinite ($120 a year) for most people, the Avion Visa Infinite Privilege ($399) for big spenders.
- Transfer partners: WestJet, British Airways Avios and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at 1:1, plus American AAdvantage at 10,000 to 7,000.
- Expiry: points don’t expire while you hold an active RBC Avion card.
- Skip it if: you want Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy points. Neither is a partner.
Here’s how to earn Avion points, what they’re really worth, and how to squeeze more out of every one.
How much are Avion points worth?
Avion points are worth 1 cent each at baseline and up to 2.33 cents on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule. Independent valuations land between 1.5 and 1.6 cents per point on average, so the rule is simple: never redeem for less than 1 cent.
| How you redeem | Value per point | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Redemption Schedule | Up to 2.33¢ | Fixed points per trip, Elite cards only |
| Transfer to British Airways Avios | About 1.5 to 2¢ | Varies by route |
| Flexible travel (100 points = $1) | 1¢ | Covers taxes and fees too |
| Gift cards | 0.71 to 1¢ | Promos can add 10 to 30% |
| Financial rewards (RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, mortgage) | 0.83¢ | 12,000 points = $100 |
| Merchandise | 0.60 to 0.75¢ | Skip it |
| Statement credit | 0.58¢ | 17,200 points = $100. Skip it |
Your card matters. Avion Elite cards (Platinum, Infinite, Infinite Privilege and the business card) unlock the full menu. RBC ION and ION+ cards redeem at 0.58¢ (172 points = $1) and can only transfer to WestJet.
One trick is to hold a regular Avion card and the ION+ since the ION+ card has a higher earning rate and you can transfer your points to your Avion card at any time.
How do you earn Avion points?
You earn Avion points on everyday purchases with an RBC Avion credit card, and the welcome bonus is the fastest route to a free trip.
- Everyday spending. The Avion Visa Infinite earns 1.25 points per $1 on travel and 1 point per $1 on everything else. The Infinite Privilege earns 1.25 points per $1 on all purchases. The entry-level Avion Visa Platinum earns 1 point per $1.
- Welcome bonuses. Right now the Infinite offers up to 70,000 points and the Infinite Privilege up to 100,000. Most of that arrives in three chunks: on approval, after you spend $5,000 in six months, and on your first anniversary.
- Retail partners and promos. The Avion Rewards app and portal regularly run bonus-point offers with partner retailers. Check before you shop online.
There are personal and business Avion cards, so pick one that matches how you spend. The cards are compared below.
How to redeem Avion points for the best value
The best Avion redemptions, in order: the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, airline transfers during a bonus, then flexible travel bookings at 1 cent per point.
1. Air Travel Redemption Schedule
This fixed chart is the program’s best deal. Any airline, no blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and you pay a set number of points as long as the base fare fits under the cap. You need the full points amount, and Elite cards only. You pay the full points price even when the fare is cheaper, so the best value comes from fares close to the cap.
| Points (round trip) | One-way | Max base fare | Max value | Where you can fly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | 7,500 | $350 | 2.33¢ | Adjacent province, territory or U.S. state |
| 35,000 | 17,500 | $750 | 2.14¢ | Canada and U.S. (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) |
| 45,000 | 22,500 | $900 | 2.00¢ | Western Canada or U.S. to the Caribbean |
| 55,000 | 27,500 | $1,100 | 2.00¢ | Eastern Canada or U.S. to the Caribbean |
| 65,000 | 32,500 | $1,300 | 2.00¢ | Canada or U.S. to Europe |
| 100,000 | 50,000 | $2,000 | 2.00¢ | Canada or U.S. to Asia, Australia or Africa |
Taxes, fees and surcharges sit outside the cap. You can pay them with points too.
2. Transfer to airline partners
Transfers cost nothing and are available on Elite cards. ION and ION+ cards can only send points to WestJet.
| Partner | Ratio | Minimum transfer | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways Avios | 1:1 | 10,000 points | Short-haul flights and Oneworld partners |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | 10,000 points | Premium cabins to Asia |
| WestJet Rewards | 1:1 | 1,000 points | Flying WestJet |
| American AAdvantage | 10,000 points = 7,000 miles | 5,000 points | Oneworld awards, at the weakest ratio |
RBC runs transfer bonuses from time to time, including up to 30% extra Avios in spring 2026 and up to 15% extra AAdvantage miles. Wait for one when you can. Transfers are one-way, so confirm award space before you move points.
3. Flexible travel bookings
Book flights, hotels, cruises, vacation packages and car rentals through the Avion Rewards Travel portal at 100 points per $1. Taxes and fees are covered, there are no blackout dates, and you can use points for the whole bill. It’s a solid floor at 1 cent per point.
What to avoid
Merchandise and statement credits pay 0.75¢ or less. Gift cards and financial rewards are better, but still lose to almost any travel redemption.
Best RBC Avion credit cards right now
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is the best pick for most people. The Infinite Privilege only pays off if you’ll use the lounge passes and clear the $200,000 income bar.
Both cards include travel medical, trip cancellation, travel accident and mobile device insurance. The Privilege adds six lounge passes a year, priority security lanes and premium parking at select Canadian airports.
A few other options. The Avion Visa Platinum is the entry-level Elite card. The Avion Visa Infinite Business card carries a $175 fee and earns 1.25 points per $1 on the first $75,000 you spend each year. The ION and ION+ cards are fine for everyday spending, but they redeem at a weaker rate and only transfer to WestJet, so travel fans should look elsewhere.
Offers change often. Check RBC’s site before you apply.
5 tips to get more from Avion Rewards
- Price flights on the schedule first. A $340 base fare costs 15,000 points, which is 2.3 cents each. A $1,250 fare to Europe costs 65,000, which is close to 2 cents each. If the fare is well under the cap, book it flexibly instead.
- Transfer only on a bonus. A 30% Avios bonus turns 10,000 points into 13,000 Avios. Watch for them and move points only when you have a booking in mind.
- Never take statement credits or merchandise. They pay 0.58 to 0.75 cents per point. Almost anything else is better.
- Use financial rewards for investing. At 12,000 points for $100 toward an RRSP, TFSA or FHSA, you get 0.83 cents per point, which beats a statement credit by a wide margin.
- Redeem before you close a card. Points don’t expire while a card is open. Close it and the clock starts. RBC’s terms are reported at 12 months, though older guides say 90 days, so use or transfer your points first.
How does Avion Rewards compare to other Canadian programs?
Avion’s edge is its fixed-rate flight chart and its four airline transfer partners. Its gaps are no Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy transfers, and flexible bookings that run through RBC’s travel portal.
If you want Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy points, look at American Express Membership Rewards, which transfers to both. If airline partners don’t matter to you, compare Avion against CIBC Rewards, BMO Rewards, TD Rewards and Scene+ based on where you actually spend. Compare the value you get here to your other options before you commit.
Avion Rewards FAQ
Are RBC Rewards and Avion Rewards the same thing?
Yes. RBC renamed its rewards program Avion Rewards in August 2022. Same points, same program.
How much are Avion points worth?
One cent each for flexible travel bookings, and up to 2.33 cents on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule. A realistic average is 1.5 to 1.6 cents.
Do Avion points expire?
Not while you hold an active RBC Avion card. If you close your card, you get a limited window to redeem or transfer what’s left, so use your points first.
Which airlines does RBC Avion transfer to?
WestJet Rewards, British Airways Avios and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at 1:1, and American AAdvantage at 10,000 points to 7,000 miles. There is no fee to transfer.
Can I transfer Avion points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy?
No. Neither is an Avion transfer partner.
Can I use Avion points to pay for taxes and fees?
Yes. You can redeem points for taxes, fees and surcharges, including baggage charges and fuel surcharges.
What is the best RBC Avion card?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite ($120 a year) suits most people. The Avion Visa Infinite Privilege ($399) suits high earners who use lounges.
How do I log in or contact Avion Rewards?
Sign in at avionrewards.com or through RBC Online Banking.
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.