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Avion vs Aventura

Compare Aventura vs Avion, two of the most popular travel rewards programs from Canada’s Big Five banks. 

If you want to earn travel points by spending money with a bank-specific frequent flyer program, it’s definitely worth it to compare RBC Avion vs CIBC Aventura. Both these rewards programs offer a series of credit cards that will let you earn points for every dollar you spend. Here’s a breakdown of each program and its available credit cards.

What’s the difference between RBC Avion vs CIBC Aventura?

There are no major differences between Avion vs Aventura other than which bank each program belongs to as well as what types of cards you can qualify for. Both programs are well-known for offering flexible rewards, no blackout dates on flights and points that don’t expire.

  • Aventura. Aventura is operated by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), and it offers several different types of credit cards. These include fee-free, premium, business and student cards. You’ll typically earn between 0.5 and 1.5 points for every dollar you spend on your card, and you’ll get a wide selection of benefits based on how much you spend on your annual fee.
  • Avion. Avion is run by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and it offers three main credit cards. All of its credit cards come with a fee of $120 or more, so there’s no option to get a fee-free card. You’ll usually earn between 1 and 1.25 points for every dollar you spend on your card, and you’ll get a decent spread of benefits with every option. These include travel insurance (except travel medical), mobile phone insurance and fuel discounts at Petro-Canada.

Compare RBC Avion credit cards

1 - 5 of 5
Name Product Welcome Offer Rewards Purchase Interest Rate Annual Fee Min. Credit Score Description
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
35,000 points
Up to 1 point per $1 spent
20.99%
$120
Min. recommended credit score: 650
Get up to 35,000 Welcome Points.
RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card
35,000 points
1 point per $1 spent
20.99%
$120
Get 35,000 Welcome Avion points on approval.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
35,000 points
1.25 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$399
Get 35,000 Welcome Avion points on approval.
RBC ION+ Visa
7,000 points
3 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$48
Min. recommended credit score: 660
Get up to 7,000 points. Get 3,500 Welcome Points on approval and earn 3,500 bonus points when you spend $500 in your first 3 months. Apply by July 31, 2023.
RBC ION Visa
3,500 points
1.5 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$0
Min. recommended credit score: 660
Get 3,500 Avion points when you get approved for the card. Apply by July 31, 2023.
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Is a bank-specific card the right fit for me?

There are four main frequent flyer programs in Canada, including two standalone programs (Aeroplan vs AIR MILES) as well as two bank-specific programs (Avion vs Aventura).

  • Frequent flyer cards (Aeroplan vs AIR MILES). These cards offer more opportunities to collect points. This is because you can pair them with your frequent flyer membership card to earn double the points with program partners. The points you earn will also typically be worth more than what bank-specific programs offer. Aeroplan’s new program also offers flexible booking dates and allows you to use your points to pay for taxes and fees on your ticket.
  • Bank-specific cards (Avion vs Aventura). With a bank-specific card, it might be difficult to earn as many points as you could with a frequent flyer program. However, the points you earn will be more flexible when you want to redeem them, particularly when it comes to flight redemptions. That said, Aeroplan’s new program now offers flexible bookings with no blackout dates, which makes it a better option than a bank-specific program in most regards.

How to compare the Avion vs Aventura programs

You can compare RBC Avion and CIBC Aventura by asking the following questions:

  • How many points will I earn? Figure out how many points you’ll earn for every dollar you spend with your membership or credit card.
  • How much will my points be worth? Find out the real dollar value of each point to determine which program gives a higher return.
  • What types of rewards will I get? Check out the rewards on offer from both programs to see which one aligns most with your interests.
  • What type of credit cards are on offer? Learn what types of credit cards are on offer with each program so you can find the one that best matches your needs.

How many points can I earn with each program?

You’ll earn a different number of points with each program depending on what kind of credit card you have as well as on whether you take advantage of promotional offers.

  • Aventura. Most of Aventura’s credit cards let you earn one point for every dollar you spend. That said, you may earn less or more than this amount depending on what type of card you have. It’s also possible that you may be able to cash in on extra points by taking advantage of some of CIBC’s promotional offers.
  • Avion. The number of points you can earn with Avion will depend on what type of credit card you sign up for. Avion’s Visa Infinite and Visa Platinum cards offer 1 RBC point for every dollar you spend, while its Visa Infinite Privilege card offers 1.25 points per dollar spent (but you’ll have to pay an annual fee of $399 to maintain this card).

What’s the value of each point with Avion vs Aventura?

It’s hard to pin down exactly how much your points are worth with Avion vs Aventura because the value will vary based on what rewards you redeem them for. For example, both Avion and Aventura 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, many estimates place the value of both Aventura and Avion points at around 1 cent per point. For reference, AIR MILES and Aeroplan points are valued at anywhere between 0.5 and 2.5 cents per point, depending on what you redeem them for. Despite their lower value, the reason why some people choose to collect Avion and Aventura points is that they’re extremely flexible and are affiliated directly with a Big Five Canadian bank.

What types of rewards will I get with each program?

In addition to flights, you’ll also be able to redeem your points for a number of different types of rewards. The types of rewards for both programs are the same, and include the following:

  • Hotel stays. Use your points to stay at a swanky hotel when you travel overseas or within Canada.
  • Car rentals. Lock in a car rental to help you get to where you need to go when you don’t have access to your own vehicle.
  • Merchandise. Get special deals on thousands of products and consumer goods in the CIBC and RBC merch stores.
  • Gift cards. Cash in on in-store or online credit at some of your favourite stores with a wide selection of gift cards.
  • Bill payments. Pay down your credit card balance or bills, or use your points to invest in the suite of financial products on offer from CIBC or RBC.

How to compare Avion vs Aventura credit cards

When you compare the RBC Avion and CIBC Aventura programs, the most important thing to figure out is which type of credit card you want. Think about these features to make your decision:

  • Number of points you can earn. Find out how many points you’ll collect with each card and weigh this against the cost of your annual fee.
  • Welcome offers. Check out what kind of welcome bonus each card offers, and keep in mind that a higher welcome bonus can sometimes be worth paying a higher annual fee.
  • Benefits. Look for the benefits that best suit your lifestyle. For example, you might want travel insurance if you fly often. You might prefer mobile device protection if you’re planning to purchase a new phone.
  • Annual fee. Consider the annual fee you’ll have to pay to maintain your card and make sure you only pay for a card that includes the benefits you know you’ll use.
  • 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

Aventura and Avion offer similar frequent flyer programs, both in terms of how many points you’ll earn and what you can redeem them for. The main difference between the two programs boils down to what types of benefits you’ll get, what types of credit cards are on offer and which bank each program belongs to. This is why it’s important to compare RBC Avion and CIBC Aventura to find the best fit for you.

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