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If you’re an avid collector of CIBC’s Aventura Points, chances are there will come a time when you want to redeem Aventura Points for rewards using the CIBC Rewards Centre. You can easily tap into this online portal to exchange the points you’ve earned for flights, merchandise, gift cards and cash redemptions.
Use this guide to find out more about how you can cash your points in and what you can “buy” when you accumulate enough points.
What is Aventura?
Aventura is a bank-specific frequent flyer program operated by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC – one of Canada’s Big Five banks). With this program, you can earn points whenever you spend money on your Aventura credit card. You can then redeem Aventura Points for a wide array of flexible rewards.
There are a number of Aventura credit cards that you can choose from, including 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.
The downside of this program is that Aventura doesn’t offer an independent membership or have a wide network of partners. This means you can’t earn double the points when you shop at certain stores (in the same way that you can with Aeroplan or AIR MILES).
It can be difficult to say how much each individual Aventura Point is worth because the value of each point will depend on the reward you’re redeeming it for. That said, estimates from other reputable sites note that each point is worth around 1 cent on average.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect to get a higher return if you redeem Aventura Points for flights. You’ll typically get less bang for your buck if you exchange your points for other rewards like merchandise, statement credits and gift cards.
How can I redeem Aventura Points?
You can redeem the points you accumulate for a number of different rewards. The way you’ll redeem points will be different for each category of reward. That said, you’ll typically have to sign on to CIBC’s Rewards Centre to redeem Aventura Points.
Flights and other travel
Sign on to CIBC’s Rewards Centre to book flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals and vacation packages. You can peruse the options available on CIBC’s site and then book in the same way you would on a regular travel site. For example, you’ll typically have to input your dates of travel along with personal information and additional booking details. You can also take advantage of exclusive travel promotions through this online portal and you’ll be able to use Aventura’s Travel Assistant to book your perfect trip.
Infobox: What makes flight redemptions so special?
Flight redemptions are often the best way to redeem Aventura Points because you’ll get the best return. There are also a number of other benefits to flight redemptions that are unique to CIBC’s Aventura program.
No blackout dates or restrictions. You’ll be able to book any flight you want at any time of year with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.
Use points to cover taxes and fees. You can use your points to pay for taxes and fees on your flights so you don’t have any out-of-pocket expenses.
Points won’t ever expire. You won’t need to use your points by a certain date because they don’t expire.
No booking fees. You won’t have to pay additional fees to CIBC to book your flights through its Rewards Centre.
Merchandise and gift cards
Visit CIBC’s online rewards catalogue to cash your points in for gift cards or consumer goods like electronics, clothing, appliances and sporting goods. To redeem Aventura Points, you’ll just need to sign in to your online rewards account. You can then search for the product you want by filtering for brand, the number of points you want to exchange or a particular keyword. From there, you simply redeem your points and your reward will be sent to you by mail (or by email for digital gift cards).
Exclusive experiences
You can also use your points to bid on “auctions” for unforgettable experiences and getaways. With an auction, you’ll be required to indicate how many points you’re willing to exchange for a particular item (for example, a two-day trip to Las Vegas). Then, your bid will be entered into the competition and other Aventura cardholders will have a chance to outbid you. Just be careful when you’re bidding to weigh out the actual cost of the experience you want to make sure you don’t devalue your points.
Bill payments and other CIBC financial products
You can use your Aventura Points to pay for a number of CIBC’s financial products. This can include using your points to pay down your credit card balance, make a one-time payment on your mortgage, contribute to your investment products or pay down your line of credit. All you need to do to get started is sign into your CIBC online banking, select “Payment with points” and fill out the online form. You’ll then be able to see how much your points are worth before you cash them in.
Bottom line
If you’re ready to redeem Aventura Points, it’s easy to get started by visiting the CIBC Rewards Centre, redeeming points through online banking or calling in to speak to an agent about your options. Find out how much your points are worth and how you can redeem them for a number of different rewards using this handy guide.
When you’re ready to redeem Aventura Points for travel, merchandise or other rewards, you can visit the CIBC Rewards site to sign in to your online account or call the CIBC Rewards Centre.
Your Aventura Points will be worth different amounts based on the category of rewards you redeem them for. For example, your points will typically have the most value when you redeem them for flights. They’ll usually be worth less when you redeem them for merchandise, gift cards and bill payments.
No. Your Aventura Points will never expire so you can use them whenever you want, even if it’s years down the line.
Yes. You can transfer any balance you hold to another eligible Aventura cardholder through your online account. You can also call a customer service rep to help you carry out the transfer if you’re not sure how to do it online.
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.
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