How is Avion different to other rewards programs like Aeroplan and Blue Rewards (formerly AIR MILES)?

Avion and Blue Rewards both let you earn points that can be redeemed on travel, merchandise and other categories with various partners and airlines. Aeroplan is a frequent flyer program owned by Air Canada, although you can redeem points for hotels, car rentals, experiences, merchandise, gift cards and flights with Air Canada partners like Air China, Cathay Pacific and United. Avion stands out for having a very flexible points redemption system, especially when it comes to flight, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions.

What are Avion Rewards for?

Avion points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, experiences, cruises, merchandise, gift cards, RBC financial rewards (like investments and loan payments), "Pay with Points" transactions (like statement credit, bill payments and qualifying in-store purchases) and charitable donations. You can also convert Avion points to other loyalty programs. Note that some redemption options are only available for Avion Premium and Elite members.

Do I need an RBC Avion Rewards credit card to earn points?

No. You can sign up to become an Avion Rewards member under the free Select tier even if you don't have an RBC credit card. But to enjoy the benefits of an Avion Premium or Elite membership, like the ability to pay with points or convert your points to other loyalty programs, you'll need an eligible RBC account or credit card.

Do RBC Avion points expire?

No. As long as your account is open and in good standing, your Avion points won't expire.

RBC Avion Credit Card Comparison

Avion is a premium loyalty and rewards program offered by the Royal Bank of Canada, one of Canada’s Big Five banks. Compare RBC Avion credit cards to find the right fit for you, and find out how to earn and redeem points with an RBC Avion credit card.

Compare Avion credit cards

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Welcome Offer	Rewards	Purchase Interest Rate	Annual Fee	Min. Credit Score
RBC Avion Visa Infinite	Up to 70,000 Avion points	Up to 1.25 Avion points per $1 spent	20.99%	$120	Get up to 70,000 Avion Points. That’s up to $1,500 in travel value. Apply by November 25, 2026. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 650	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
RBC ION Visa	Up to 7,000 points	Up to 1.5X Avion points per $1 spent	20.99%	$0	Get up to 7,000 Avion points. That's up to $50 of value in gift cards. Apply by January 12, 2027. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
RBC ION+ Visa	Up to 14,000 points	Up to 3X Avion points per $1 spent	20.99%	$48	Get up to 14,000 Avion points. That's up to $100 of value in gift cards. Apply by January 12, 2027. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card	35,000 points	1 point per $1 spent	20.99%	$120	Get 35,000 Avion Points upon approval. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege	100,000 points	1.25 Avion points per $1 spent	20.99%	$399	Get up to 100,000 Avion points + 6 airport lounge passes. That's up to $2,375 in value. Apply by November 25, 2026. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 5 of 5 results

How does the RBC Avion Rewards program work?

RBC offers nine credit cards affiliated with the Avion Rewards program—six for personal use and three business cards (including the Visa CreditLine for Small Business).

The annual fees for Avion personal cards range from $0 with the RBC ION Visa to $399 with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege. Annual fees for Avion business cards range from $0 with the RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business card up to $175 with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card.

Like Aeroplan and Blue Rewards (formerly AIR MILES), Avion requires a membership.

What are the Avion Rewards program membership tiers?

There are three tiers to choose from: Avion Select, Avion Premium and Avion Elite. Every tier gives you access to special deals at more than 2,000 partner brands and lets you earn up to 40% cash back when you shop with the Avion Rewards ShopPlus browser extension.

Avion Select. Free tier, and you don’t need to be an RBC client to join.
Avion Premium. Available with select RBC accounts and cards, a Premium membership lets you pay for purchases with points; convert Avion points to American Airlines AAdvantage miles, British Airways Avios, WestJet dollars and Asia Miles; earn 3X Canadian Tire Money and get up to 7¢/L in value at Petro-Canada stations (consisting of 3¢/L gas savings, 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points).
Avion Elite. This tier offers the benefits of a Premium membership plus elite travel and rewards offers and fixed-points pricing on flights (so the points you need to pay for a flight stay the same even if the price of the flight increases).

What can Avion points be redeemed for?

Travel. Book flights and hotels (separately or together), car rentals, cruises and vacation packages.
Merchandise and gift cards. Redeem points for merch from Best Buy and Apple or gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Petro-Canada, Winners, Starbucks, The Keg and Indigo.
RBC financial rewards. Premium and Elite Avion members can use their points to save for retirement or their children’s education fund, invest or make loan payments.
“Pay with Points” transactions. Use Avion points to pay down your credit card balance, make bill payments, send e-Transfers or make qualifying in-store purchases.
Charitable donations. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can also transfer your points to make donations for the charity of your choice.
Convert Avion points to other loyalty programs. Premium and Elite Avion members can convert their points to American Airlines AAdvantage miles, British Airways Avios, WestJet dollars and Asia Miles.

Why should I redeem my RBC Avion points for flights?

One of the best ways to maximize the value of Avion points is to use them for flights. Other advantages of redeeming Avion points for travel include:

No blackout dates or seating restrictions. Use points to book flights with over 500 airlines anytime, anywhere (even holidays), as long as seats are available.
Use points to cover taxes & fees. Avion points can cover taxes, fees and surcharges on flights.
Avion points never expire. Avion points don’t expire with Premium and Elite memberships, so there’s no rush to use them within a given timeframe.
Book flights for friends and family. Your Avion points can be redeemed to book flights for friends and family, provided their names are identical on the booking and their passports.

How much are Avion points worth?

Avion points are usually worth more when redeemed for flights than other categories like merchandise, gift cards or RBC financial products. For Premium and Elite members, who get fixed-point pricing on travel, each Avion point redeemed for flights is worth around 1¢ to 2¢.

When we checked the Avion Rewards website, a flight worth $750 CAD required 35,000 points, while a flight worth $1,300 CAD required 65,000 points. At this rate, each point is worth around 2¢. But the website says that every $100 redeemed for stays, rental cars and activities is worth 1¢.

Deciding if an Avion credit card is the right fit for you

Before you apply for an RBC Avion Visa, compare cards from other rewards programs to narrow down a card that best suits your lifestyle and spending habits. Look at the following features to get a better idea of which program is right for you.

Redemption value. Aim for a card that gives you the best cash-for-points value.
Redemption flexibility. Think about which card gives you the most options for redeeming your points, and look at the range of redemption categories besides travel.
Partner companies. Select a program that’s partnered with retailers you shop at frequently, so you can rack up points fast.
Available airlines. Find out which airlines accept points from the program(s) you’re interested in, and take note of any booking restrictions.

How to compare Avion credit cards

If you value flexible points redemption over the chance to earn more points on every purchase, an Avion Visa may be a good fit for you. When browsing Avion credit cards, compare these features.

Earn rate. Some cards like the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card offer one Avion point for every qualifying dollar you spend, while other cards like the RBC ION+ Visa offer up to three points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases.
Welcome offer. RBC periodically offers special promotions for new cardholders, sometimes up to tens of thousands of bonus Avion points.
Annual fee. Avion credit cards range from no annual fee cards like the RBC ION Visa to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, which comes with a $399 annual fee.
Benefits. Each card comes with different perks, with Visa Infinite cards typically offering a broader range of benefits.

How to redeem Avion points

To redeem Avion points, log in to the Avion Rewards website or mobile app (available for iOS and Android), and navigate to the Redeem tab.

Select the redemption category you want (i.e. gift card, merchandise, “Pay with points” etc.) and follow the prompts to finish the process. For flights, car rentals and other travel purchases, select the Travel category and use your points to pay.

To redeem Avion points for online purchases at Best Buy or Apple, select the retailer logo on the Avion Rewards home page or Shop page. Browse and add the item(s) you want to your cart. Pay for the transaction using points or points plus your credit card.

Compare RBC Avion credit cards with other travel points credit cards

Not sure if an RBC Avion credit card is right for you? Compare features of other travel points credit cards in the table below. Once you’ve decided on the best option for your needs, click the “Go to site” button to apply.

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Welcome Offer	Rewards	Purchase Interest Rate	Annual Fee	Min. Credit Score
American Express Cobalt Card	15,000 points	Up to 5x points per $1 spent	21.99%	$191.88	Earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points in your first year. Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or shopping trip. T&Cs apply.	Annual fee: $15.99/month ($191.88 annually). Quebec residents: $191.88/year. Min. recommended credit score: 700	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
RBC ION Visa	Up to 7,000 points	Up to 1.5X Avion points per $1 spent	20.99%	$0	Get up to 7,000 Avion points. That's up to $50 of value in gift cards. Apply by January 12, 2027. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
BMO eclipse rise Visa Card	Up to 25,000 bonus points	Up to 5 points per $2 spent	21.99%	$0	Get up to 25,000 welcome points and 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee. Apply by October 31, 2027. Plus, earn up to 5,000 bonus points every year. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card	65,000 points	Up to 6x points per $1 spent	21.99%	$120	$150 Reward Finder Rewards: Join Finder then apply through Finder and get approved for a Scotiabank Gold American Express Card as a new Scotiabank customer to receive a $150 digital Visa gift card. Ends 30 Dec 2026. T&Cs apply. Earn up to $1,100 in first-year value, including up to 65,000 bonus Scene+ points. Apply by January 3, 2027. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 700	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
RBC ION+ Visa	Up to 14,000 points	Up to 3X Avion points per $1 spent	20.99%	$48	Get up to 14,000 Avion points. That's up to $100 of value in gift cards. Apply by January 12, 2027. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Hilton Honors American Express Card	Up to 70,000 points	Up to 6x points per $1 spent	21.99%	$150	Earn up to 70,000 Hilton Honors Points and a Free Night Reward. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 700	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard	115,000 points	Up to 5x points per $1 spent	21.99%	$0 annual fee for the first year ($150 thereafter)	Limited Time Offer: Get up to 115,000 points, Mastercard Travel Pass & 4 Complimentary Lounge Passes, NEXUS Statement Credit and get the $150 annual fee waived in the first year. That's up to $1,900 in value. Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months with a 2% transfer fee. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 760	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege	200,000	5 points per $1 spent	21.99%	$599	Get up to 200,000 welcome points, 10 lounge passes and a $200 annual Travel Credit. That's up to $2,700 in value. Apply by October 31, 2027. Plus, get 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months with a 2% transfer fee. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 760	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card	45,000 points	Up to 4x points per $1 spent	20.99%	$150	Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points (that’s up to $1,350 in value in the first 12 months). Apply by January 3, 2027. T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 700	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card	10,000 points	Up to 4 points per $1 spent	21.99%	$0	Earn up to 10,000 Scene+ points in the first 3 months. Apply by April 30, 2027 Plus, get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (with a 2% fee per cash advance). T&Cs apply.	Min. recommended credit score: 660	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 10 of 20 results

Bottom line on RBC Avion Visa cards

There are three main RBC Avion credit cards that you can choose from to earn RBC Avion Rewards points. Compare the features of the cards on offer and learn how you can earn and redeem Avion Rewards to put towards travel and other purchases. Make sure to compare your options with other travel points credit cards to find the best one for your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Avion and Blue Rewards both let you earn points that can be redeemed on travel, merchandise and other categories with various partners and airlines.
Aeroplan is a frequent flyer program owned by Air Canada, although you can redeem points for hotels, car rentals, experiences, merchandise, gift cards and flights with Air Canada partners like Air China, Cathay Pacific and United.
Avion stands out for having a very flexible points redemption system, especially when it comes to flight, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions.
Avion points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, experiences, cruises, merchandise, gift cards, RBC financial rewards (like investments and loan payments), "Pay with Points" transactions (like statement credit, bill payments and qualifying in-store purchases) and charitable donations.
You can also convert Avion points to other loyalty programs. Note that some redemption options are only available for Avion Premium and Elite members.

Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.

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Written by

Stacie Hurst

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Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family. See full bio

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Claire Horwood was a writer at Finder, specializing in credit cards, loans and other financial products. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of Victoria, and an Associate’s Degree in Science from Camosun College. Much of Claire’s coursework has focused on writing and statistics, with a healthy dose of social and cultural analysis mixed in for good measure. In her spare time, Claire enjoys rock climbing, travelling and drinking inordinate amounts of coffee. See full bio

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