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Avion vs Aeroplan
Compare Aeroplan vs Avion to find out which program offers the best combination of points and benefits.
Want to earn travel rewards points wherever you shop? Aeroplan and Avion are two popular frequent flyer programs in Canada. Both Avion and Aeroplan offer a good mix of travel rewards and benefits, and come with a number of program-affiliated credit cards.
To help you decide whether Avion or Aeroplan is the best travel rewards program for you, we’ve compared some of the key features of both programs.
Summary of program differences: Avion vs Aeroplan
| Aeroplan | Avion | |
|---|---|---|
| Operated by: | Air Canada | Royal Bank of Canada |
| Ways to earn points: | With membership and credit card | With RBC credit card only |
| Number of partners: | 150+ partners (in-store and online) | No partners |
| Value of points: | Between 0.5 and 2.5 cents | Around 1 cent |
| Rewards: | Flights, merchandise, gift cards, activities and charitable donations. Points can also be transferred to friends or family. | Travel, merchandise, gift cards, charitable donations, Avion Rewards vouchers. Avion Rewards points can be redeemed to make cash contributions to your RESP, RRSP or TFSA. You can also redeem points to pay for online or mobile trading fees with RBC Direct Investing. |
| Card types: | Aeroplan Visas from CIBC and TD Bank, American Express Aeroplan cards | Avion Visa Platinum and Visa Infinite cards, such as the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card. |
The main difference between Avion and Aeroplan
The main difference between Avion vs Aeroplan relates to how your membership in the program works:
- Aeroplan. Aeroplan is a standalone travel rewards program owned by Air Canada that isn’t affiliated with a particular bank. To earn Aeroplan Points (formerly called Aeroplan Miles), you have to sign up for a membership and shop with Aeroplan partners. You can also sign up for a program-affiliated credit card to earn extra points with partners and for making daily purchases.
- Avion. Avion works a bit differently than Aeroplan in that it’s operated by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and doesn’t require a membership to participate. Instead, you have to sign up for an Avion credit card to earn points for making everyday purchases. While you won’t earn points for spending money with partners, the selling feature of Avion is that the rewards are fairly flexible and RBC offers a decent customer service program.
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How to compare programs: Avion to Aeroplan
If you’re thinking about participating in the Avion or Aeroplan programs, there are a couple of features you should compare to get started.
- How many points you’ll earn. Look at how many points you’ll get when you spend money with your membership or credit card.
- How much those points are worth. Figure out how much your points are worth compared to each dollar you spend.
- What types of rewards you’ll get. Look at the rewards catalogue for each program to find out what you can use your points to buy with Avion vs Aeroplan.
- What’s the customer service like. Check out customer reviews to get a sense of the kind of customer service you’ll get with each program.
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How many points can I earn with Avion vs Aeroplan?
You’ll earn a different number of points with Avion vs Aeroplan depending on what kind of credit card you have and whether you can earn extra points with partners.
- Aeroplan. Aeroplan typically lets you earn one point for every dollar you spend with partners. You can also earn accelerated points when you shop at Aeroplan’s eStore or make purchases with your Aeroplan credit card. Depending on what kind of card you have, you’ll usually be able to earn between 0.5 and 1.5 Aeroplan points for every dollar you spend on everyday purchases.
- Avion. The number of points you can earn with Avion will depend on what type of Avion credit card you sign up for. Basic cards offer 1 Avion Point for every dollar you spend, while premium cards offer 1.25 points per dollar. It may take you a bit longer to accumulate points since Avion doesn’t have a network of partners, which makes Avion a less desirable option than Aeroplan for many Canadians.
Keep in mind that it’s not possible to transfer Aeroplan Miles to Avion Rewards, or vice versa. This is because the points have different values and there’s no system for bridging your Aeroplan Miles to Avion.
What’s the value of each point?
It’s hard to pin down exactly how much your points will be worth with Avion vs Aeroplan, since the value will vary based on what rewards you redeem them for. For example, both Avion and Aeroplan will give you a better return on your points when you redeem them for flights. You’ll usually get a lower return for categories like merchandise, gift cards and charitable donations.
That said, there are many estimates that place the value of each Aeroplan Point somewhere between 0.5 and 2.5 cents. The value of each individual Avion Reward, on the other hand, is said to be around 0.62 of a cent. This means that your points can potentially be worth more with Aeroplan than with Avion.
What types of rewards will I get with each program?
Most frequent flyer members tend to use their points to redeem for flights and other travel-related rewards. There are also a number of other categories of rewards to choose from.
- Travel. Aeroplan tends to offer a higher value for your points when you redeem them for flights and other travel. This is because it works with a wider network of partners to give you special discounts and extra Aeroplan points when you redeem your points for travel. For tips on redeeming Aeroplan points, read our guide.
- Merchandise. Both programs offer similar merchandise so it’s a safe bet to go with either one. Just make sure to take a look at what’s available before you settle on a program if you intend to exchange your points for specific products.
- Gift cards. You’ll be able to use your points to get gift cards for a number of reputable stores and brands. Just be aware that you’ll usually get less value for your points if you cash them in for gift cards with both Avion and Aeroplan.
- Entertainment. If you’re searching for a bit of adventure, your points can also be used to help you participate in hot-ticket events and activities. This can include everything from movie and concert tickets to city tours and other must-do activities.
- Charitable donations. Both programs offer a “charitable donations” category that lets you turn your points into a cash donation for the charity of your choice. The only difference between the programs will be which charities you can choose.
What is the quality of customer service for each program?
Both Avion and Aeroplan claim to offer a high level of customer service to help you navigate issues with your account and get the information you need to make the most out of your travel rewards. That said, many Aeroplan customers have indicated that it’s difficult to get in touch with an agent through phone and email, though this could change now that Air Canada operates the program.
Since Avion’s customer service program is linked to RBC, many customers seem happy with the personal care and attention they receive from the bank. This is because they can speak to an agent directly about the Avion program at their local branch even when they might not be able to get the information they need through other forms of communication like email and phone.
How to compare credit cards: Avion to Aeroplan
If you’re thinking about getting a credit card with either program, there are a couple of features you should compare to get the best fit for your needs.
- Return on rewards. Find out how many points you’ll earn with each card in relation to how much you’ll pay for your annual fee.
- Welcome offers. Check out the welcome bonuses on offer and get the card that will give you the most points right off the bat.
- Benefits. Aim to get a suite of benefits that fits your lifestyle. For example, you might want travel insurance if you fly regularly but you might prefer roadside assistance if you’re a long-haul driver.
- Annual fee. Keep an eye on the annual fee you’ll have to pay and make sure that as the fee goes up, you get a higher return on rewards and benefits.
- Interest rates. Consider any card that offers an average interest rate of 19.99% but be sure to shop around for a lower interest rate if you tend to carry a balance on your card.
- Other fees. Read the fine print on your contract to make sure you don’t end up paying unexpected charges on your account.
Bottom line on Aeroplan vs Avion
If you want to earn the maximum number of points for every dollar you spend, you might find that Aeroplan is the best frequent flyer program for you. But if you’re looking for a program that offers dedicated customer service and is affiliated to a Big Five Canadian bank, Avion could be a more suitable choice.
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