Avion is the premium rewards program offered by RBC, one of Canada’s Big Five banks. An RBC Avion credit card lets you earn RBC points wherever you shop and has a more flexible redemption schedule than other frequent flyer programs.
Learn more about how you can earn and redeem points quickly and easily, and compare to see which RBC Avion Visa will get you the best deal for your lifestyle and financial situation.
Compare Avion credit cards
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Compare Avion credit card benefits and features side by side
Earn 1 Avion point for every $1 you spend and an extra 25% on eligible travel purchases.
Earn 1.25 RBC Rewards points for every $1 you spend.
Welcome bonus
Get up to 55,000 Welcome Points. Get 35,000 points on approval and 20,000 points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months. Apply by April 30, 2024.
Get up to 55,000 Welcome Points. Get 35,000 points on approval and 20,000 points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months. Apply by April 30, 2024.
Get up to 55,000 Welcome Points. Get 35,000 points on approval and 20,000 points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months. Apply by April 30, 2024.
Fee for additional cards
$50
$50
$99
Insurance coverage
Comprehensive travel coverage (no emergency medical)
The RBC Avion Rewards program offers a total of five credit cards affiliated with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) – three cards for individual use and 2 business cards. Each of the three Avion credit cards for personal use differ depending on how much you want to spend on the annual fee and what types of benefits and perks you’re looking for.
Avion works a little bit differently from frequent flyer programs like Aeroplan and Air Miles because it doesn’t offer a membership, which means you won’t earn bonus points for shopping with certain partners. Instead, you’ll receive a flat rate for spending money on your card.
Since Avion doesn’t have a network of partners, it can take more time to earn points for every purchase you make. That said, the selling feature of Avion cards is that there are no blackout dates or seat restrictions for booking travel. Your RBC points aren’t limited to travel and can be redeemed for everything from car rentals and merchandise to gift cards and charitable donations.
RBC Avion Points are worth around $0.01 per point, which is less than other frequent flyer programs. That said, your Avion Points may be worth a different amount based on what you’re redeeming them for.
For example, you’ll typically get a higher value for your points when you book flights than you will if you use your points for items such as merchandise, gift cards or RBC financial products. That’s why it makes the most sense to redeem your points for flights if you want to get the most bang for your buck. For more, read our guide on Avion points.
Deciding if an Avion credit card is the right fit for you
Before you decide on an RBC Avion Visa, you should compare cards from several frequent flyer programs. This will help you narrow down which card best suits your specific lifestyle and spending habits. Compare the following features to get a better idea of which program to go for.
Points to dollars ratio. Aim for a card associated with the frequent flyer program that gives you the best cash for points value.
Partner companies. Select the program that partners with the companies you shop at most frequently to earn more points per dollar spent.
Points redemption. Think about which card gives you the most options for redeeming your points and look at what you can redeem them for aside from airline tickets.
Available airlines. Look at which airlines are willing to accept your points and what restrictions they might place on bookings.
How to compare Avion credit cards
If you value flexible points over the chance to earn more points on every purchase, an Avion Visa is probably a good fit for you. Compare these features to find the best fit for your needs.
Return on travel rewards. Basic cards offer 1 point for every $1 you spend while the more expensive card offers 1.25 points per $1.
Welcome offers. You’ll get 15,000 points for Avion’s basic cards and 25,000 when you sign up for the premium card.
Annual fee. Basic cards cost $120 per year while you’ll pay $399 for the highest-level card.
Benefits. Each class of card has different benefits, with Visa Infinite cards offering the best bang for your buck.
RBC Avion card benefits
Flexible points. You can convert your points to other loyalty programs including WestJet dollars and Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
Savings at Petro Canada. It’s easy to link your RBC card with your Petro Canada Membership to save 3 cents ($0.03) per litre on fuel and earn 20% more on Petro-Points and RBC Rewards.
Optional extras. You can pay more to get optional travel insurance, roadside assistance, balance protection insurance and identity theft protection.
What other rewards can I get?
Travel package. Use your points to book an all-inclusive vacation or cruise.
Hotel accommodation. Reserve your stay while you’re away with everything from budget to 4-star hotels.
Car rentals. If you need a rental car, you can cash in your points for a set of wheels at your destination.
Merchandise. You can redeem your points for hundreds of products in RBC’s online store, ranging from clothing and jewellery to homewares and electronics.
Gift cards. RBC has partnered with many stores to provide gift cards that you can redeem online or in person at the time of your choosing.
Bill payments. You can use your points to pay down your credit card balance or bills, or to invest in RBC’s suite of financial products.
Charitable donations. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can also transfer your points into a cash donation for the charity of your choice.
RBC financial products. You can use your points to pay off your credit card balance, make payments on your loans, contribute to your investment products or pay your monthly bills.
Why should I redeem my RBC Avion points for flights?
You’ll be able to get the best value for your points when you exchange them for flights. Some of the other reasons you might want to book flights with RBC include:
No blackout dates or restrictions. You can use your points to book flights for anytime and anywhere, as long as a seat is available.
Use points to cover taxes and fees. It’s possible to use your points to cover the taxes and fees on your flight.
Points won’t ever expire. You won’t need to worry about your points expiring, which means there’s no need to use them in any given timeframe.
No booking fees. You won’t have to pay additional fees to book your flights with an RBC agent.
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.
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 about RBC Avion credit cards
Avion is well-known for its flexible points systems, especially when it comes to flight redemptions. It offers no blackout periods on travel and you won’t run into seat restrictions or get stuck in the airport on unnecessary stopovers.
You can convert your points to other loyalty programs including WestJet dollars and Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
Yes. Unlike Aeroplan and AIR MILES, RBC requires you to spend money on your card to earn points. It doesn’t work with a network of partners or offer a membership program, so you’ll only be able to earn points when you spend money on your credit card.
No. So long as your account is open and in good standing, your points won’t expire.
Yes. You can apply online for the RBC Avion Visa card of your choice by going to the RBC website and choose the card you’re interested in.
You won’t be able to exchange your points for cash in hand. However, you can apply your points as a statement credit on your credit card, so it will help to pay down your outstanding balance. You can also contribute to RBC investment products, pay down your loans or pay your monthly bills using your points.
You can convert your points to other loyalty programs including WestJet dollars and Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
Claire Horwood is 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.
Travel anywhere and on any airline with the RBC Avion Infinite credit card. Here’s our review.
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