rbc travel rewards my trips

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RBC Avion : How to Use Your RBC Avion Points for Travel Rewards

RBC Avion Rewards Credit Cards

There are several RBC Avion credit cards part of the Avion Rewards program . One of the best is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card .

It has excellent insurance, including one for mobile devices, which is rare. In addition, as a welcome offer, it offers a lot of points with little effort.

Other cards that earn Avion Points are:

• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
• RBC ION+ Visa Card
• RBC ION Visa Card
• RBC ® Avion ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
• RBC Avion Visa Platinum
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card
• RBC Avion Visa Business Card

With this exceptional offer for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can earn up to 55,000 Avion points:

• 35,000 Avion points on approval
• 20,000 Avion bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months

This offer expires on April 30, 2024, and will not be renewed. Take advantage of it before it’s too late !

You can use your Avion Rewards points for travel or redeem them with other loyalty programs such as :

• American Airlines AAdvantage
• British Airways Executive Club (and Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• WestJet Rewards

For example, with the current welcome offer, you can get 55,000 British Airways Avios Points or 550 WestJet Dollars .

With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you earn 1 point per dollar and 1.25 points for travel purchases.

And you’ll benefit from a wide range of insurance coverage: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance, Rental Vehicle Collision/Loss Damage Insurance, Mobile Device Insurance.

How to Use Your Avion Points for Travel Rewards

Use the fixed fare chart for airline tickets.

One way to use your Avion points for travel is with the purchase of an airline ticket. This is the best way to get the most value out of the RBC Avion Rewards program . This is described in detail in this article .

Depending on the destination, 15,000 to 100,000 Avion points are required per ticket.

RBC Avion Rewards points can be used to travel anywhere in the world with a round-trip ticket. A one-way trip requires half as many Avion points. Here is the airfare table for a round-trip flight:

On average this equals about 2 cents per Avion point .

Use the Flexible Fare Chart for Airfare

The Flexible Fare Plan uses 100 Avion points for a $1 discount on your airfare. The transaction must be made directly on the Avion Rewards website, using the flight search tool.

For example, with the flat rate fare, 35,000 points will get you a round-trip ticket anywhere in Canada and the U.S., up to a value of $750.

If you choose to purchase that same $750 ticket with the flexible fare structure , you will need 75,000 points. So using the flexible fee schedule would be more of a disadvantage in this case. It’s up to you to make your calculations, depending on the number of points you have banked.

Redeem Avion Points for Any Trip

For even more flexibility, book your hotel, car rental, cruise or airline tickets as you wish on the Avion Rewards site to have your account credited.

Avion credit cardholders can redeem 100 Avion points to deduct $1 from this travel expense. For example, for a night at the hotel that cost $200, 20,000 points are required to bring the balance down to zero.

For ION and ION+ credit card holders, it’s different. They redeem their points using a conversion rate of 172 points = $1.

Buy Gift Cards

There are approximately 250 gift cards to purchase with Avion points. About ten of these geared towards travel. For example, buying a gift card for future stays at Fairmont or Best Western hotels. Or Tim Hortons, for roadtrips !

Generally, the cost is 1 cent per Avion point, so 5,000 points for a $50 gift card .

Uber is different, with 7,000 points for $50.

Transfer to Other Airline Loyalty Programs

Did you know that it is possible to transfer your Avion points to other airline loyalty programs? We explain how in our tutorial on this subject:

Another way of exchanging RBC points in the event of technical problems

Occasionally, the Avion Rewards site may experience technical difficulties or your flight may not appear in the search results.

During that time, call Avion Rewards Customer Service at 1-800-769-2512.

• Get an authorization number to book the flight you want;
• Book your own flight directly on the desired airline’s website;
• Send an e-mail to [email protected] with your authorization number obtained earlier from Customer Service, your name, the number of tickets reserved, proof of ticket purchase and itinerary details.

Avion Rewards will then deduct the required points from your RBC Rewards points account to credit the cost of your airline tickets, according to their fare structure.

Frequently asked questions about the Avion Rewards program

How many avion points are needed for a free airline ticket.

Depending on the destination, 15,000 to 100,000 Avion points are required.

Can I buy a ticket for another person?

Yes , make sure that the person’s personal information is written down perfectly at the time of booking.

What is the definition of a basic Avion Rewards account?

These are the people enrolled in the Value Program , who earn Avion Rewards points.

Where can I redeem my Avion Rewards points for travel?

Go to the site Avion Rewards or click on the Avion Rewards icon in your RBC Direct Banking session. Then go to the Travel section.

All posts by Caroline Tremblay

Suggested Reading

Sign In to Avion Rewards

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If you have a personal credit card or deposit account, you need to enrol in RBC Online Banking to enjoy Avion Rewards. It’s easy and secure.

Redeem your points for gift cards, merchandise, travel and more

All Avion Rewards members can use points to...

Use points to...

Redeem top brands

Use your points for a huge selection of merchandise and gift cards from top brands like Apple, Best Buy and more 1 .

Take that dream vacation

Use your points to book travel, including hotels, flights and package deals.

Donate to charity

Redeem your points wherever they matter most by donating to a charity of your choice.

Avion Premium and Elite members can also use points to...

Make payments online.

Use your points for Interac transfers, credit cards and bill payments and leave more in your wallet.

Save for the future

Use your points to contribute to investments such as mortgages and lines of credit.

See all membership levels and benefits

Join now to get all your personalized offers

Here are just a few examples of offers you’ll find to help you earn and save.

Avion Elite members can travel more for less

Avion Elite members can use fixed points pricing to book deals to top destinations – any airline, any flight, any time.

Do it all with points in the Avion Rewards app

The Avion Rewards app lets you access your account quickly and easily. Use your points for gift cards, merchandise, travel and more. Shop, earn, save and redeem – all in the app.

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Avion Rewards

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Sign in to check your points, shop and redeem.

Earn Cash Back and Points

• Use Your Points
• Access your Cash back and Points

Cash back, Points and Savings – Get it all with Avion Rewards

Avion Rewards, Canada’s largest bank-owned loyalty program, brings you more ways to shop, earn, save, and redeem every day. With 3 membership levels: Avion Select, Avion Premium and Avion Elite, it’s easy to get rewarded, no matter how you shop or where you bank.

Anyone can become a member for free! Once you join, you have access to amazing value and exclusive member experiences that are only available through the Avion Rewards program. 

How to join Avion Rewards

If you have an RBC product or account, you already have an Avion Rewards account. Sign in with your RBC online banking info.

Don’t have an RBC product or account?

Create an Avion Rewards account – it's quick, easy and you don’t have to bank with RBC

Apply for an Avion Rewards credit card and become a member on approval

All Avion Rewards members can get cash back at over 2,400 retailers and earn points on purchases. Plus, Avion Rewards members with an eligible RBC card get extra everyday value at our partners. 

Avion Rewards Credit Cards

• Start earning, get perks, have access to exclusive experiences, events and much more
• Choose from 9 Avion Rewards credit cards and get travel perks, fuel savings and more 1
• Earn points faster with everyday purchases like gas and travel using select cards 1

Shop More. Save More. Earn More

• Access special offers with points and savings at well-known brands
• Earn cash back and points. Shop over 2,400 retailers
• Get deals that pop while you shop with Avion Rewards ShopPlus browser extension – up to 40% cash back
• Get bonus Avion points on eligible purchases you make with an Avion Rewards credit card 1
• Get great savings on eligible purchases using select RBC credit and debit cards 1

Get More at Partners with a Linked RBC Card

• Save 3¢/L instantly at Petro-Canada , plus earn 20% more points 1
• Get 5X more Be Well points at Rexall
• Get $0 delivery fees with free DashPass – a savings of up to $120
• Save up to 10% on qualifying purchases at RONA

Use your Avion Points

When it comes to using your points, your options are nearly endless. From travelling the world to redeeming for your favourite brands, the Avion Rewards program offers something for everyone.

At this time, Avion Select members are unable to redeem points.

See the world

From weekend retreats to bucket-list experiences, it’s easier than ever to get there with your Avion points.

Flight + Hotel

Vacation Packages

Coming soon for Avion Select members!

Learn More about Travel

Check out these videos to see how easy it is to book a flight with points

Take Your Points Shopping

Whether it’s the latest tech or must-have kitchen gadgets, discover a world of rewards that you deserve. Coming soon for Avion Select members!

Merchandise

Bring home the latest Top Brands in Electronics, Accessories, Kitchen and more.

Get exclusive access to the latest Apple products the moment they hit the market 1

Shop everything Best Buy has to offer, plus enjoy exclusive features such as Reserve Online and pick up in store, free shipping, and more 1

Shop over 60 leading gift card brands like Amazon, Petro-Canada , Winners, Starbucks, The Keg and Indigo.

RBC Financial Rewards ®

Use your Avion points to save for retirement, contribute to your investments or children’s education fund, or pay down your loans:

• RBC Registered Rewards ®
• RBC Homeline Plan Reward™
• RBC Mortgage Reward™
• RBC Credit Line Reward™
• RBC Personal Loan Reward™
• Trade with Points™

Available to Avion Premium and Elite members. Avion Select members are not able to redeem for financial rewards.

Pay with Points

You can use your Avion points as cash!

Pay your Credit Card Balance

Pay down your balance with points 1 .

Pay In-Store

Use your points at your favourite retailers 1 for select transactions 1 , plus discover great promotions.

Pay your Bills

Use your points to pay your bills 1 .

Send an e-transfer

Put your points towards an Interac e-transfer.

Not all Avion Rewards cards are eligible for these services. For details, please refer to the Avion Rewards Terms and Conditions

Available to Avion Premium and Elite members with eligible RBC cards. Avion Select members are not able to pay with points.

Convert Avion Points

Convert your Avion points to a wide variety of partner loyalty programs that we designate from time to time 1 .

Some of our partners include:

American Airlines

British Airways

HBC Rewards

Not all Avion Rewards members are eligible to covert points to all partner loyalty programs.

Donate your Points to Charity

Help others by donating your Avion points to great charities like these:

Ronald McDonald House

Own the Podium

The David Foster Foundation

Access your Cash back and Avion Points

It’s easy to easy to track your cash back and points and redeem your points online or the Avion Rewards app.

Download the Avion Rewards app today

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How to redeem Avion Rewards points for financial rewards

When logged into RBC Rewards, if you look under the Shop & Redeem menu, you’ll see there’s an option to use your points for RBC financial rewards. Assuming you have financial products with RBC, you can use your points for the following:

• Add to your existing investments
• Mortgage payments
• Repayment to your line of credit.

It takes 12,000 RBC points to get $100 in financial products which gives you a value of .83 cents per point. At first glance that may seem like a lot, but think about the long term. With mortgage and line of credit payments, you’re basically paying off your loan earlier which you immediately save on the interest. If you’re adding to your investments, you can take advantage of  compound interest  which could make your redemption very valuable in the long run.

If you use your points for a financial reward that’s put towards your  RRSP , you could also get a tax break. Putting in your  TFSA  would allow you to invest with tax free gains. It’s a win-win situation, but you won’t see the reward for many many years.

Redeeming Avion Rewards points for merchandise, statement credits, and charitable donations

The final three redemption options for your RBC Rewards points are merchandise, statement credits, and charitable donations. Although the RBC Rewards merchandise catalogue is quite large and there are some quality products available, the number of additional points required for the value is not worth it at all. I would advise avoiding using your points for merchandise. That said, there are occasionally discounts on merchandise redemptions, so sometimes the transactions aren’t a terrible deal.

Using your points for a statement credit is an even lower value. It takes 17,200 points to get $100 off your statement. That means your points would be worth .58 cents per point. Unless you’re facing financial difficulties, you’re better off redeeming your points for anything else.

RBC Avion points   transfer partners

I love programs that let you convert points to other loyalty programs since it adds flexibility and value. Avion Rewards has one of the most extensive and valuable lists of conversion partners when it comes to Canada’s bank travel reward programs. American Express Membership Rewards is better, in my opinion, but RBC Rewards isn’t far behind.

Here is the list of programs you can convert Avion points to, but note that except WestJet Rewards, only Avion cardholders can transfer their points to the following partners:

• WestJet Rewards : 1,000 RBC points = $10 WestJet dollars
• Hudson’s Bay Rewards : 1,000 RBC points = 2,000 HBC Rewards points (worth $10 at Hudson’s Bay)

If you are an Avion cardholder you can also benefit from these conversion options:

• American Airlines : 10,000 RBC points = 7,000 AAdvantage miles
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles : 10,000 RBC Points = 10,000 Asia Miles
• British Airways : 10,000 RBC points = 10,000 Avios miles

It’s hard to put an exact value on airline miles since there are so many variables, but generally speaking, their value is around a minimum of 1.5¢ per mile for economy tickets. Often you can get double the value if you’re booking in business class. That said, WestJet Rewards uses a dollar system, so they have a fixed value.

It’s a good idea to log into RBC Rewards often since they have many redemption promotions throughout the year, which boost your points’ value. In addition, RBC Rewards had a few transfer bonuses (10% to 30% bonus points) for Westjet, Asia Miles, British Airways Avios Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage Miles. That meant you got extra value when transferring your points to a partner.

Of particular interest is how you can transfer your points to WestJet dollars. Nothing stops you from holding an RBC Avion card and the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard. Both cards come with good sign up bonuses so you could quickly rack up those WestJet dollars. For example, the RBC Avion card typically has a welcome bonus of 15,000 points which can be transferred to WestJet for $150 WestJet dollars. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard’s standard bonus is $250 and a companion voucher. When you combine the two, you’ll have $400 in WestJet dollars without having to spend much. No purchase is required to get the bonus with the Avion card, and you only need one purchase with the WestJet Card.

Do RBC Rewards points expire?

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about when RBC Rewards points expire. I have confirmed that  RBC Avion points don’t expire  as long as you have an active eligible RBC Royal Bank credit card. If you cancel your card, you have 90 days to redeem them before losing them. The first-in, first-out rule you may have read about online is an old outdated article. RBC really needs to delete that page. If you’re unsure when your points expire, you could always call customer service to confirm.

How RBC Avion compares to others

RBC Avion Rewards is easily one of the best travel loyalty programs of Canada’s big five banks. There are many reasons why I rank RBC Rewards so high, including:

• No blackout dates
• No minimum number of points to redeem
• A fixed points flight program
• Many transfer partners to convert points to
• Many promotions for redemptions
• Value of points

In my opinion, RBC Rewards is only second to  American Express Membership Rewards . American Express holds the first place because RBC Rewards lacks an option to book travel on your own (you can only book through their portal) and because RBC Rewards credit cards don’t really have any increased earn rates which limit how fast you can earn points. You can also read my reviews of  CIBC Rewards ,  BMO Rewards ,  TD Rewards  and  Scene+  to see how RBC Rewards compares.

How to earn RBC Avion Rewards

To earn RBC Rewards, you must have a credit card account that earns you RBC Rewards. As you can imagine, the easiest ways to earn points are via credit card sign up bonuses and everyday purchases you make on your RBC Rewards credit card. Currently, there are six personal credit cards and two business credit cards that will earn you RBC Rewards points. To make things a bit complicated, RBC Rewards has two tiers of RBC Rewards points: regular and Avion RBC Rewards points. Points from an Avion account have more redemption options, and these options are the most valuable ones. With this in mind, the RBC Visa Infinite Avion card is arguably the best card to earn Avion points and is one of the  best RBC credit cards .

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

• $120 annual fee
• 35,000 Avion points on approval
• 20,000 Bonus points when you spend $5,000 in the first 6 months
• Earn 1.25 Avion points for every $1 spent on travel purchases
• Earn 1 Avion point per $1 on all other purchases
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Mobile device insurance up to $1,500

The sign up bonus for new cardholders is typically 15,000 points which isn’t much compared to some of the  best travel credit cards in Canada . That said, the  RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card  often has promotions where the welcome bonus is 25,000 – 35,000 points, and the annual fee for the first year is waived. Whenever a promo like that comes around, it’s worth signing up for the card.

The earn rate of 1.25 points per $1 spent on travel is decent, while the 1 RBC Reward point earned per dollar spent on all other purchases, including bill payments, is pretty common. Here’s something that many people don’t realize. You don’t need to make any purchases to get the bonus. The terms and conditions say you get it after the first statement.

Another little-known trick is that you can  switch  from the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard to the RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card and vice versa. This is useful if you’re not able to maximize your points and want to try something new. That said, be sure to use up your points before you make any changes.

The RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card also provides good travel insurance when travelling outside Canada. Not only do you get travel medical, but you’ll also be covered for trip cancellation/interruption, delayed and lost baggage, hotel/motel burglary and more. Obviously, some exclusions apply, so read the certificate of insurance for complete terms.

Link to your Petro-Points card

RBC has a deal in place with Petro-Canada where you can save 3 cents per litre at Petr-Canada, 20% extra Petro-Points, and 20% extra RBC Rewards points.

To be eligible, you just need to add your Petro-Points number to your RBC online banking account. You would link your Petro-Points card to all of your eligible RBC debit or credit cards. 

Final thoughts

Avion Rewards is one of the  best bank travel rewards programs . The RBC Visa Infinite Avion card may not give you the best signup bonus or have the highest earn rate, but there’s no denying that once you have the points, they’re easy to use. There are no blackout dates and no minimum points required to make a redemption, so you’ll never run into any issues using your points. If you’re a fan of RBC, check out my  RBC InvestEase review  and find out how you can reduce your investment management fees.

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

97 Comments

Can you explain more on the comprehensive cancellation insurance for traveling? For flight

What I mean is you get travel medical, trip accident, trip cancellation, lost luggage, etc. You cAN READ THE FULL DETAILS HERE.

https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-visa-infinite-avion/rbc-visa-infinite-avion-certificate-of-insurance.pdf

Barry choi, What about outright flight cancellation by company with no booking possibility ? this happened to me 5 years ago and Avion card could not do anything!

When saying trip cancellation … talking from whom??

What do you mean by company with no booking possibility? With fight cancellation, it only applies to reasons that are outlined in your insurance policy.

When should I pay for a flight as opposed to redeeming points. I want to go to Vancouver – Honolulu -L.A. – Vancouver. Points 45000 plus $266 Cash $960 Plse advise and thx,Lawrence

45,000 Rewards points would be worth $450 + $266 for taxes = $716. Since the value of your redemption via the fixed travel program is $960, you come out ahead using the fixed program.

How much is 28906 rbcrewards point please

10,000 points = $100 so you have $289 at the base value. Your points are worth more if you use the RBC Rewards Air Travel Redemption Schedule

Hi. I have 10500 pts and I purchased my ticket for $2000 whose base fair is $1400. What’s the best way to go with the schedule?

You need 15,000 points to make a claim within or to an adjacent Province/Territory/U.S. State. That fare has a maximum base price of $350 so you can’t use the fixed redemption schedule.

you could just 10,000 points to redeem $100.

Sorry Barry. I have 105000 points. I missed a zero. Can you please update your response?

If you’ve already paid for your ticket, you can’t use the air redemption schedule. Assuming you didn’t 100K points gets you a flight from any major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East, Africa, South America

Hi Barry, thanks for the article and for all the Q&A work as well !!

I’m looking at making the switch to Amex. I have 160k reward points I’ve saved up over the years. Looking to cash out or use these points up somehow with the best value. Appears as tho 10,000 points for $100 value is about the best offer from RBC rewards? Also, do you know if these points expire if I got rid of my RBC Avion card?

Yup, 10K points for $100 is indeed the best value. You lose all your points if you cancel your card. Your best bet would be to transfer your points to WestJet Dollars or hotels.com giftcards as they have good value.

I product switched to the RBC British Airways Visa almost 4 months ago. My account has remained in good standing however, I haven’t received the welcome bonus of 15k points yet. I have called RBC multiple times and each time I have been told that BA awards the points but when I speak to BA, they say that RBC needs to award the points. Do you have any idea who should be awarding the points? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

In theory, it should be BA that actually issues the points but RBC would have to authorize it.

I would advise escalating the case with RBC first to see if that resolves anything.

If I wish to use my Avion Rewards points to pay off my credit card bill, is it straight 100 points/per every $1?

No, it takes 172 points to claim $1 in statement credit so you’re devaluing your points quite a bit if you were to go that route.

Is this card best to earn miles to book a points first class flight from Vancouver to Tokyo?

I just noticed RBC is offering 50% more points if converted to Avios, does the same offer ever happen with AA points?

The 50% bonus is quite rare. I’ve never seen it with AA.

Is it worth it to convert your Avion points to BA Avios given the 50% bonus on until Dec 15th? I live in Vancouver and typically fly to Hawaii in Winter and Europe in summer. Your insight is much appreciated.

If you plan on using those BA points, then yes, it’s a great deal. That said, I’m not sure which airlines you can use BA Avios points to get you from Vancouver to Hawaii.

Hi, is it worth buying the air Canada gift cards at a 10% discount? Are they easy to use and are there any hidden charges / rules to these we should know about?

Buying the gift cards gives you a guaranteed discount of 10%, but you might get better value if you used your points on the fixed travel program. It’s honestly a personal choice but I imagine you wouldn’t have any issues with using the gift cards. As far as I know there are no additional charges or rules, but read the fine print before you commit.

Do my RBC rewards expire at any point

Not as long as you have a credit card account that earns you RBC Rewards active with them that’s in good standing.

RBC Reward points expire after 3 years on a First In, First out basis.

That is incorrect. If you refer to handbook, the first page states that RBC points don’t expire.

https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-visa-platinum-avion/rbc-visa-platinum-avion-benefits-guide.pdf

The reference to points expiring after 3 years is old and should have been removed from the website.

my mistake, you are correct. I believe my knowledge was outdated.

I just logged into my RBC Rewards and I see that I have a – 69K point balance. How is it possible to end up with a negative reward points balance?? I have never even used my rewards and forgot that it was even available. Any help would be appreciated.

You’d have to check with RBC about that

Do you think it is worth keeping the RBC Infinite Avion card beyond the first year? Is it worth the $120 per annum annual fee considering that I am also paying fees for amex gold card and BMO cash back card?

Thanks for your insight

Hi Viviene,

I personally wouldn’t keep three credit cards with annual fees. Of the three cards you mentioned, I’d probably drop the BMO cash back card but that’s because I prefer travel points. Who do you bank with? Do they waive the fee for any cards?

I bank with BMO but it’s a joint account and the waiver goes towards my partner’s BMO MC world elite card. I figure the cashback we get each year more than pays for the annual fee.

What does RBC Avion offer that justifies its fee? It seems as if it would take a long time to build up any significant number of points.

Well it’s really for you to decide based on your spending. E.g. if you moved all the spending from your cash back card to the RBC card, you could more in points for flights than what the annual fee would cost you. I think the RBC Rewards fixed flight travel chart offers good value especially if you’re looking at short haul flights. However, that may be redundant since you have the Amex Gold which also has a fixed points program.

How would you compared the two fixed points program? I tend to focus on transferring my Amex points to Avios and haven’t really looked at the Amex fixed points program. I also feel that the Amex Gold has more to offer than the RBC card in terms of travel insurance and flexibility on how to use points. But I may be wrong….

Both programs have their sweet spots. Amex is arguably better since you have more transfer partners. The Amex Gold has a slightly higher earn rate on travel. but RBC Rewards has occasional promos where if you transfer your points to BA, you get 25 or 50% more points.

I do agree that the Gold Amex is a better overall card.

Is there anyway I can browse through options for say a vacation package, that would be qualified for if I had 150000 points? For example my 150000 points would allow me to go to Cayo Largo Cuba, or Puerto Plata Dominican Republic or Cozumel Mexico…you get the idea.

It doesn’t give you an option to search for results based on X points. All really allows you to do is search by price from low to high after you’ve selected a country.

I have always been a fan of the RBC Avion program until today when I tried to change a departing flight and was told that all the flights I chose were “not available” although there were clearly seats for sale on both the airline website AND Expedia. RBC only offered a few very poor flight options. I thought “any flight” meant “any flight”. I have never encountered this before. We ended up buying new flights from the airline after spending over 30 minutes on hold, suffering through a painfully frustrating conversation with an agent and draining the battery on my phone.

I’m going to bail on Avion after learning that they recognize an Air Canada fuel surcharge of 570$ per ticket to europe in a time of extended, sustained low fuel prices. It was going to cost me 1100$= in fees when flights can be purchased outright for just over 1600$.

Value lost due to poor decisions at Avion….. adios!

That’s Air Canada’s fault, not Avion.

How long does it take to convert RBC points into Asia Miles? Is it instantaneous or do you have to wait 6-8weeks?

It usually takes 4-5 days for the transfer to Asia Miles

I have around 200k in avion points. I am trying to figure out the best option for using them as we are moving to Europe for a year. I looked into the flights but almost 1/2 goes to the taxes, etc. I was wondering if it was best to use them while we are there for short trips. So, what would be the best value? (ie rental car, hotels, ?), anything else?

Points for flights to Europe are typically of low value due to the fees. Using them within Europe is also not a good value since you wouldn’t be able to use the fixed travel program. You could use the RBC travel portal when you’re abroad and book points at 10,000 points = $100 in travel.

Alternatively, you could convert your points to WestJet dollars at a 1:1 ratio. On occasion, there are promos where you can convert to hotels.com giftcards which can be a good value.

Hi Barry, we have ~250,000 RBC Avion points and I’m trying to maximize getting to FCO (Rome) this summer from YYZ (Toronto.) We also have 90,000 in Aeroplan.

Traveling with a 15 month old so really wanted to optimize for lie-down seats. But they are pricey. ($8000 for two seats on AC’s direct flights.)

Can you suggest a way to optimize our points to make it work?

Flying from Toronto to Europe is one of the worst redemptions regardless of the program due to high airport taxes. With Aeroplan, you need 110K points for a return business flight so that won’t really work.

For RBC, I don’t think you can use your points for business so that doesn’t really help.

The best value I can think of right now and this is honestly not the greatest solution is to consider transferring your points to WJD. If you have the WestJet World Elite Mastercard, you can use the companion voucher for premium economy. I just booked two flights from YYZ to LGW for $2400. Of course, you would still need to get a flight to Rome and you’d only be redeeming your points at a 1% value.

IMO, you’re better off paying cash for this route and saving your points for later.

Help. We have 175000 Avion points. Looking to use them from YVR to LHR. If I use the points for 3 fares return it looks like another $700 each on top !!!! With Aur Canada. Flights in September are approximately $700 each return. Can you give any advice. I have not checked if BA charges the same.

Flights to Europe are a terrible value due to the high taxes. You’re better off saving your points for a different redemption.

Is it possible to use Avion points to pay for an upgrade on an already booked flight? Is it worth it? Looking at this for a flight from Houston to Auckland on Air New Zealand.

You’d have to call and ask. You definitely can’t do upgrades via the RBC Travel portal.

Is there a time limit to redeem accumulated points? And I wld like to purchase a gift card for electronics?

Your points don’t expire as long as you have an active RBC credit card that’s in good standing.

I am a bit lost with car rental points… if my rental was $800.00 how many points would I need

That falls under travel so it would cost you 80,000 points.

Barry, Can RBC Avion Visa Infinite cardholders redeem for a Premium Economy class seat instead of Economy class? Thanks!

RBC Rewards is a full service travel agency so you can book premium economy, but it’ll cost you more points. It’s unlikely you’d be able to book premium under the Air Travel Redemption Schedule since the price would exceed the maximum base price.

Barry, RBC Avion Visa Infinite redemption schedule From Canada to Hong Kong: 100,000 points. Maximum ticket price: $2,000.

Normally the Air Canada Premium Economy ticket from Canada to Hong Kong costs close to (less than) $2,000. It’s not worth to redeem Economy class, which is about $1,000 or less. That’s why I would like to know whether I can redeem Premium Economy class or not.

As long as the base ticket price is below $2,000, you should be able to redeem a premium economy flight using your RBC Rewards points.

Hi Barry, I’m totally torn between Scotia Passport and RBC AVion? Which one do you really prefer if we plan on going US visits and Asian Countries as well?

Both cards a bit different. The Scotiabank card is a good all-in-one card since it has no forex fees, but the RBC Avion has a fixed points travel chart which can be of good value. Since you’re based in Canada, Air Canada/Aeroplan cards are good for US travel thanks to the new Buddy Pass. WestJet companion vouchers can also be handy.

Barry, early thanks for answering my question. I am contemplating on utilizing approx. 111,000 Avion points for Best Western gift cards. I presume the gift cards are in Canadian funds? Travel contemplated is in the U.S. once the ban is lifted. How is the difference in currency handled by U.S. based Best Westerns?

The gift cards are only worth it if you’re getting an equal value to your RBC Avion points. E.g. 1,000 points = $10. Yes, the cards would come in CAD. If you use them outside of Canada, you would be subject to the exchange rate at the hotel which will definitely have a markup.

Avion $350 air fare fee for interprovincial travel is useless to many Canadians outside the Upper / Lower Canada belt. Many interprovincial one way tickets are $350 or more. I’ve amassed nearly a million dollars over the years on my Avion card, and travel with my family of 6, using the points. I always have to wait for airlines to post sale prices before I can use the points, because their reward amount is set too low. Its not a cheap card either. I’ve never complained, but its been the same price system for over 10 years. Hello! Inflation!

Paying the taxes on flights is also a bummer. I’ve often just bought sale priced flights with cash, because the Avion rewards taxes where close to half the flight cash amount. Didn’t see the point in wasting them.

How do I book a business class seat? We’d like to go back to Europe next year and want to fly business class. I have over 300,000 points with Avion.

Two years ago we booked two business class seats after transferring points to British Airlines, What a nightmare!

I swore that I’d move to another point card to get better service, connections, etc.

Please help.

RBC has a travel rewards portal where you’d book your flights and then redeem your points.

Aeroplan is a lot easier these days, it’s worth considering switching to a card that earns you Aeroplan points.

We have 215000 points with RBC and travel to Mexico, US and are thinking of going from Edmonton to Amsterdam and returning to Edmonton from Rome. What are the best way to use our points. Is transferring points to Westjet a better deal than buying Westjet gift cards .

To maximize your value, you should use the RBC Air Trave Redemption schedule – https://www.rbcrewards.com/#!/travel/redemptionSchedule

It’ll cost 65,000 points to get to Europe with a max ticket value of $1,300. That works out to 2 cents a point which is double the normal value.

Ad for WJD, it’s a better value to transfer your points directly instead of buying gift cards

Any luck with product switching lately and receiving the welcome bonus of 15,000 points for Avion Infinite?

Darn. Seems to still work for WJ MC. Perhaps makes sense to PS to a no AF card and then cycle back.

I recently “purchased” airline tickets using Avion points. Unfortunately I mistakenly selected the Flexible Points Pricing and as a result ended up using roughly twice as many points as would have been needed under the Fixed Points Pricing. The difference is somewhere around 35,000 points. I requested that Avion reverse this mistake but was advised that it was their policy to not allow such a change. I requested to talk to a manager, but they basically advised that this wasn’t going to happen (they told me it would take 6 weeks). Any advice.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely they’ll reverse the charges. This happens with all points programs.

Hi Barry… I have over 1 Mil points… and on flight can I upgrade to Exec or 1st Class with my points ?? I don’t see it anywhere when i am looking at the booking … Any ideas. Thanks Mike

In the RBC Avion travel portal, you should be able to choose premium economy or business class seats for your flights.

What are the pros & cons of flex points vs flexible points booking w Avion? How do I know which we should use?

All rbc rewards and avion rewards points can be used on any travel purchase made through the RBC travel portal.

I have been reading your awesome feedback from Avion customers! I recently tried to receive information from the RBC Rewards program call centre and it was horrific – unprofessional and unknowledgeable agents, transferring me first to Expedia and then to Air Canada. They wore me down. I then went online and read reviews on the performance of the program – from what I saw, every customer who had to make a change on their travel booking experienced exactly the frustration I did.. Has this program gone down hill in recent years on their customer service assistance?

The program itself is fine, but I imagine every travel operator is experiencing customer service issues. I guess the real problem is knowing who to call. If you book travel through the Avion travel portal, technically speaking, you will go through them to make changes even if you booked an Air Canada flight.

Hi Barry, I’m unsure whether to use my avion infinite Visa card to pay a Europe bike tour purchase as the surcharge is 4 percent or pay with an e-transfer. The foreign currency rate I’m billed at was 1.49. I look forward to your response. Also, if I pay with an e-transfer will I have any travel protection? Thanks in advance! Barbara

Hey Barbara,

A 4% surcharge is quite a bit. That said, an e-transfer may come with fees too. I personally would just choose what’s cheaper. That said, if you don’t pay with your credit card, you don’t get any protection if you need to cancel your tour for a qualifying reason.

Hi Barry, Thank you for your responses. I really appreciate it! Barbara

Regarding financial rewards, more specifically applying a credit to an existing RBC mortgage: is the cash value going to be considered a lump sum payment or something else? I ask this because the options to pay down a mortgage faster are limited to double-up payments upon each scheduled payment, and one lump sum payment (aka prepayment) of up to 10% of the initial principal per year. I already used my yearly lump sum and I’m concerned that I wouldn’t be allowed to redeem my Avion points towards my mortgage or I may be allowed to do so, but I could be issued a penalty for not following the rules. I couldn’t find anything online about what the value of the points redeemed is considered to be.

Hey Stephanie,

If I had to guess, it would count as a prepayment. You’d have to call them to find out for sure.

Too old to travel. So thinking of using my Avion points to buy RBC merchandise. How can I see what is available if I don’t do any banking transactions on a computer?

You need to go to the RBC Avion website to see what items are available for redemption – https://www.avionrewards.com/index.html

On the web site that I see, the first thing that they want is your Visa number. And that is exactly why we don’t do money matters on line.

Avion Rewards is a credit card rewards program. Using your credit card number is how you log in.

Hello I redeemed 130,000 points for a flights to Barcelona from Toronto and had to cancel. What is the value of these points so that I can make a travel insurance claim

That’s a value of $1,300.

Hi Barry, Thought you might be interested in my experience being transitioned from HSBC World Elite MC to RBC Avion Visa. Since I don’t have anything that spells out the fees, conversion rate, etc. I called the RBC conversion team. They are waiving the $120 annual fee for the first year and that’s it. Although the HSBC card did not charge the 2.5% foreign conversion fee, the RBC card does. The extra points which HSBC gave for travel expenses are likewise not available with the RBC card. It seems to me that if I wanted this card I would be better off applying for it and getting the bonus. Very disappointing.

You should have received paperwork about the details of your new card. HSBC World Elite MC holders being switched the Avion Visa Infinite will still get no FX fees on their card.

You’re correct about losing the travel credit after the first year.

The Avion card is a clear downgrade, I mention a few other options in this article – https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-hsbc-clients-may-not-love-their-new-rbc-credit-cards-but-rbcs-avion/

Thanks Barry. I don’t subscribe to the Globe but I assume you suggested the Scotiabank Passport Visa as an alternative. I don’t want to take up your time with all this but I applied for the Scotia card and it developed into a real mess. I’m still trying to find out what happened, currently waiting to hear back from their Escalated Customer Concern team.

I suggested a few.

The Amex Cobalt for high earn rate, Rogers Mastercard for Costco (if you use Rogers), and Platinum for high end travel benefits. If you want no FX, the Scotiabank card is indeed good, but I like the EQ Bank card cuz it has no fees.

I’ll def check into the EQ card, thanks again.

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Redeeming RBC Avion Points for Premium Flights

RBC Avion points are versatile, since you can choose to redeem them in a variety of ways, such as transferring them to airline partners , using the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule , or redeeming them for flights booked on your own.

In This Post

Redeeming rbc avion points for business class and first class, tips and tricks for redeeming rbc avion points for business class and first class, is redeeming rbc avion points for business class flights worth it.

RBC Avion allows certain cardholders to redeem points for business class or First Class flights at a rate of 100 Avion points = $2. 

Recall that this is twice the standard value of 100 Avion points = $1 for redeeming Avion points for a statement credit on travel purchases.

As a bonus, the points can be used to not only pay the base fare, but also to pay all taxes, fees, and surcharges, and fees .

To access this redemption option, you’ll need to have one of the following four credit cards:

• RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege †
• RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Business
• RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege † for Private Banking
• RBC ® Commercial Avion Visa

As long as you have one of the above credit cards, you can book a business class or First Class flight by logging on to your Avion Rewards account and searching for your desired flight. Be sure to select “business class” or “First Class” as your desired class of service.

In the search results, the option to book “Business Class Pricing (100 points = $2)” will appear. Look through the list of options in the search results, and choose the flight that best suits your needs.

As long as you have enough points in your account, and assuming that you have one of the four eligible credit cards, you’ll get a value of 2 cents per point for your booking.

Keep in mind that the RBC Avion Rewards booking platform is powered by Expedia, so any flight that you can book through Expedia can be booked through RBC Avion Rewards.

However, if you find an available business class or First Class flight that doesn’t appear through the RBC Avion Rewards booking platform, you can call RBC Avion Rewards and get authorization‌ to book the flight on your own.

You’ll need to submit some information back to RBC, and you’ll then get a statement credit at a rate of 2 cents per point for your flights.

It’s always a good idea to cross-reference the flight cost you see in the RBC Avion Rewards portal with the price when booking directly with the airline, as you may find lower prices when booking direct.

Redeeming RBC Avion points for 2 cents each can offer a great redemption value, since you can book any business class or First Class flight you can find while using your points to cover the entire fare and the extra fees. In this sense, you’re truly getting a “free” ticket with your points.

While it’s certainly possible to get more value from your points by transferring them to partner programs and booking business class flights, finding award availability for specific flights can certainly be tricky.

Plus, if you don’t have flexibility, or if you don’t have time to search for available award space or learn about points programs, redeeming your points this way lets you get the flights you want without being subject to the many nuances associated with award redemptions.

You could also consider using the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule , with which you can get good value for your points. However, the points only cover the base fare up to a specified maximum, and you’ll still be on the hook for the taxes and fees.

Given this, redeeming Avion points at a rate of 2 cents per point for a business class or First Class seat can be an excellent option when you’re looking for a straightforward way to exchange your points for good value.

Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you navigate the RBC Avion  landscape and access some valuable redemptions.

Combine Avion Points

Although you need to have one of the four specific Avion credit cards mentioned above in order to redeem Avion points for business class and First Class flights at 2 cents per point, keep in mind that RBC lets members move Avion points freely from one card to another. 

This feature allows you to pool points from multiple credit cards to build up your balance.

This means that points earned on the RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite † , RBC ® Avion Visa Platinum † , RBC ® ION Visa , and RBC ® ION+ Visa can all be redeemed for business class or First Class flights at 2 cents per point as long as you also have an eligible card, such as the RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege † or the RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Business .

This becomes even more interesting when you look at the elevated earning rates on the RBC ® ION+ Visa, which are as follows:

• 3 Avion Premium points† per dollar spent on qualifying grocery, dining, food delivery, gas, rideshare, daily public transit, electric vehicle charging, streaming, digital gaming, and digital subscriptions†

That’s because both the RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege † and the RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Business have a baseline earning rate of 1.25 points per dollar spent on all purchases.

Therefore, if you have both the RBC ® ION+ Visa and an RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege † or RBC ® Avion Visa Infinite Business, you can take advantage of the elevated earning rates on the RBC ION+ Visa, as well as the heightened redemption rates on the latter two cards by pooling them together.

Use Google Flights

Perhaps the most convincing reason to book business class flights at 2 cents per point is the sheer flexibility available through this redemption option.

In fact, you can book any business class or First Class flight that you can find online, and redeem your RBC Avion points at a rate of 2 cents per point against the cost.

By and large, the best way to search for flights is through Google Flights .

With Google Flights, you can easily look for flights across multiple months at a time, helping you to pinpoint the cheapest fares for your desired route.

Additionally, if you have flexible travel dates, you can use the Google Flights Explore feature.

On the Explore page, enter the airport from which you want to depart, and select business class or First Class; you can now view all the business class flights within whatever timeframe you choose.

Notably, if the flight you find through Google Flights isn’t available through RBC Avion Rewards, you can simply call RBC directly and get authorization to book the flight on your own.

You’ll then apply your points as a statement credit afterwards at the same rate of 2 cents per point.

Booking Flights Directly with the Airline

Flights booked with points directly through RBC Avion Rewards usually don’t count towards earning status with the airline, and you won’t be able to earn any points when booking an award flight.

However, if your desired flight happens to only be bookable by calling RBC for authorization, you stand to benefit in a unique way.

If you find a flight that doesn’t appear through the RBC Avion Rewards search, and you get authorization to book it, you’ll gain the opportunity to earn qualifying status activity and miles or points from the airline.

Keep in mind that most flights will be bookable through RBC Avion Rewards, so this opportunity is less common. However, it’s still worth watching out for, as you can earn a decent number of miles/points when you fly business class, and the status-qualifying activity can also be quite significant.

Some cardholders have reported that they indeed earn points and status qualifying activity on flights booked through the RBC Avion Rewards portal. However, since there doesn’t appear to be any reliable pattern to this, it’s best not to count on it, and rather treat it as a bonus if it happens.

The Cheaper, the Better

Lastly, when it comes to redeeming RBC Avion points this way, the cheaper the flight, the better.

Throughout the year, some airlines may offer sales for business class flights, and in these situations, it may wind up being a much better deal than transferring points to a loyalty program.

For example, TAP Air Portugal is known to offer round-trip business class fares between Europe and North America for around $1,700 at least once per year.

During a sale like this, it’d only cost 85,000 RBC Avion points for round-trip business class flights to Europe, as you’d get 2 cents per point for a redemption. 

To put this in perspective, booking the same flights with Aeroplan might cost at least 120,000 points,  and you’d be on the hook for taxes and fees. Likewise, booking round-trip award flights to Europe with British Airways Executive Club might cost 160,000 Avios, plus $700 or more in taxes and fees.

Therefore, whenever a business class flight sale pops up, be sure to consider booking the flights and redeeming RBC Avion points for it, as it can wind up being an outstanding deal.

Just be sure to get an authorization prior to booking.

Whether or not it’s worth it to redeem RBC Avion points for business class flights will depend on your individual preferences.

While it’s possible to get more value out of your Avion points by transferring them to loyalty programs and booking business class flights, there’s certainly more freedom and flexibility with the option to redeem Avion points for any available business class or First Class flight, regardless of airline.

With this option, you won’t have to wait for award availability to show up, and you can easily compare all of the cheapest flight options through Google Flights .

Likewise, if you’re able to find a flight that’s not bookable through RBC Avion Rewards, you’ll have the additional opportunity to earn qualifying airline status activity and miles/points, which can help make your ‌business class redemption a whole lot more valuable.

The caveat is that cash fares for business class and First Class tickets tend to be very expensive.

For example, round-trip flights to Europe might cost $4,000–5,000, which means you’d need to have 200,000–250,000 RBC Avion points to cover the total cost.

That’s certainly a lot of points to use for a single trip, and if cash prices are this high, you’re likely better off transferring them to airline programs instead. 

However, if you can find a deal on business class flights, redeeming points this way can result in a better option than booking through loyalty programs.

Lastly, the standard earning rate on the cards eligible for redeeming Avion points for flights at 2 cents per point is 1.25 points per dollar spent. Without a category earning multiplier, it can take a long time to earn enough points for a business class flight booked this way.

In any event, having the ability to redeem Avion points for business class and First Class flights at 2 cents per point provides you with another option for getting good value, should you choose to make use of it. 

RBC Avion points are a useful currency to collect, due in large part to the flexible nature of the program. You can transfer points to partner airline loyalty programs, or you can redeem points for your own travel, either through the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule or booking flights on your own.

One of the best ways to redeem Avion points is for business class and First Class flights, offered with select RBC Avion credit cards.

If you hold one of the four RBC credit cards that give you access to this redemption option, you’ll certainly want to consider taking advantage of it, especially during flight sales.

• Earn up to 70,000 Avion points †
• Plus, earn 1.25x RBC Avion points † on all qualifying purchases
• Use your rewards for any business class flight with no restrictions on dates, seats, or airlines †
• Transfer points to one of four airline partners †
• DragonPass membership with six free lounge visits per year †
• Minimum income: $200,000 personal or household†
• Annual fee: $399 †

I’ve had the card for 2 years now and love it. My primary spending card and thus I earn a lot of Avion points for 2cpp redemptions (avion infinite privilege visa). Used it recently for flights between Tokyo to Seoul and Manila and also Toronto to Tunis Visa Frankfurt and Back.

Thanks TJ I cancelled my RBC infinite privilege avion card 6 months ago. When can I reapply for the same or different Avion card. PS Thanks for the previous Prince of Travel Consult. It was a great value.

While redeeming for business class flights at 2cpp with the Rbc VIP, is it possible to cover a part of the flight with redeeming the points at 2cpp and pay for the remaining or does the entire flight have to be covered with the Avion points at the rate of 2cpp

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