The flexibility of the RBC Avion program can be a great resource for Canadians who are looking to travel the world on points. 

As I’ve referenced numerous times on this blog, obtaining and leveraging high-end travel credit cards can result in thousands of dollars worth of savings over the year. 

When looking at the credit card market in Canada, the majority of credit cards you will come across are “co-branded” credit cards. What this means is that you will be able to earn and leverage points within a particular loyalty program. 

In the travel space, you will see branded credit cards for the following travel loyalty programs:

• Aeroplan
• WestJet
• British Airways 
• Cathay Pacific
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Best Western

If you regularly use these programs, I strongly encourage you to look at the branded credit cards associated with these programs. 

While co-branded credit cards can provide immense value to Canadians, they are limited in the sense that you can only leverage the points for that individual program or one of their transfer partners. 

For example, WestJet credit card holders earn points solely for the WestJet Rewards program. While that can provide immense value, there isn’t a lot of flexibility for those looking to redeem their points (you can only redeem them for WestJet products).

Some programs in Canada allow you to transfer your points to other loyalty programs. These programs can be immensely valuable to Canadians. You can combine high sign-up bonuses, with enhanced flexibility. It’s a win-win.

In this post, we’ll talk about one of the best rewards programs in Canada, RBC Avion Rewards.

What are RBC Avion Points

The RBC Avion program allows credit cardholders to earn points on their purchases, which can then be redeemed for various rewards such as travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.

Cardholders can accumulate Avion points by using eligible RBC Avion credit cards for their everyday spending. The number of points earned per dollar spent may vary depending on the specific credit card and promotional offers.

One of the notable features of RBC Avion points is their flexibility in redemption, particularly for travel-related rewards. Cardholders can use their points to book flights on any airline, with no blackout dates, and have the option to cover taxes and fees with points as well.

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Here are 4 Things You Need to Know About RBC Avion Points

RBC Avion Overview

How to Earn RBC Avion Rewards	RBC Avion credit cards: RBC Avion Visa Infinite RBC Avion Platinum RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege  RBC Avion Business RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business
How to Redeem RBC Avion Rewards	Transfer points to transfer partner Redeem flights within RBC’s travel portal
Value of RBC Avion Rewards	1 Avion Point = 1.9 cents

Earning RBC Avion Points

1. You Can Earn Avion Points Through RBC’s Branded Credit Cards

As mentioned earlier, the number of transfer partners available through RBC Avion Rewards makes it one of the top loyalty programs in the country. 

You can earn Avion points through several credit cards offered by RBC

Currently, the RBC Visa Infinite Avion is the easiest way to earn a large amount of Avion points

The $120 annual fee is offset by the following perks & benefits:

The RBC Visa Infinite is a great way to earn transferrable Avion points.

Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $120 annual fee is worth spending after year 1. It also should be noted that RBC allows you to rotate through different credit cards without a new credit check, continuously earning a modified signup bonus each time. 

Read >>> Our full review here

In Addition to the RBC Visa Infinite, several cards allow you to earn Avion points including: 

• RBC Avion Platinum
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege 
• RBC Avion Business
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business

Redeeming RBC Avion Points

2. RBC Avion Points are King Because of their Flexibility

One of, if not the best reason for you to start collecting Avoin points is that you can transfer those points to a bevy of transfer partners including: 

• WestJet Rewards (100:1 ratio)
• British Airways Executive Club (1:1 ratio)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
• American Airlines AAdvantage (1:07 ratio)

If you have 50,000 Avion points, you’d receive the following miles when transferring out your points:

Airline Partner	Conversion Rate
WestJet Rewards	50,000 Avion Points = 500 WestJet Dollars
American Airlines AAdvantage Miles	50,000 Avion Points = 35,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	50,000 Avion Points = 50,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
British Airways Avios Miles	50,000 Avion Points = 50,000 British Airways Avios Miles

The bottom line is, that regardless of where you’d like to take your vacation, Avoin Points can help you get there. 

Occasionally, RBC will offer “bonus transfers” on certain airline partners.  

How to Transfer Your RBC Avion Points

A. Click “Avion Rewards” on your banking homepage

B. Click on the “Transfer Points” tab at the top of the screen

C. Scroll down to the “Convert Points” section and click on “Convert Now”

D. Determine the amount you want to convert and confirm the transfer

3. You Can Redeem Avion Points Directly Through RBC’s Travel Portal

Redeeming Avion points for flights only covers the base fare. You will still have to pay taxes and fees (which can be in the hundreds of dollars). 

If you don’t want to transfer your points to the partners mentioned above, Avion points can be redeemed directly through RBC’s in-house travel portal. 

There is also a table for one-way flights, which is shown below

In most cases, Canadians will probably better off transferring out your Avion points to RBC’s transfer partners: 

• WestJet Rewards
• British Airways Executive Club 
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 
• American Airlines AAdvantage

If you are looking for a particular flight that cannot be attained through the aforementioned programs, striving for a redemption value of 2 cents per point (cpp) should be a target to strive for. 

Maximizing Your Avion Experience

4. Owners of any RBC Credit Card Can Save 3c/L at Petro Canada

It’s also worth noting that Petro Canada has a relationship with RBC that will allow you to save 3 cents/litre if you link your RBC debit or credit card with your Petro Points account. Needless to say, you should be taking this initial step if you own an RBC credit card. 

You can link your card here

Conclusion 

With their bevy of transfer partners, and the ability to earn a large amount of points through signup bonuses, RBC Avion points are a great rewards currency in the Canadian market. It may not have the earning capability of American Express Membership Rewards, but it stands head and shoulders when compared to the other big banks, primarily due to the flexible nature of the program. 

FAQ 

What is the value of 1 Avion Point?

Assuming you are transferring out your points to British Airways, Cathay Pacific, or WestJet Rewards you can expect to get a return of 1.9 cents per point of value. The occasional bonus transfer also gives the program added value.

Do Your Avion Points Expire?

As long as you’re an Avion cardholder, your points will not expire. If you cancel your Avion card, you’ll have 90 days to either use the points or transfer them out. 

4 Takeaways For Your Travels

1. RBC Avion credit cards provide you with great signup bonuses and high earnings on everyday spending. Having one of these cards in your portfolio is a recommendation (especially to use as a backup to your American Express, as some retailers don’t accept AMEX).

2. Transferring out your Avion points to RBC’s transfer partners provides you with the maximum return on investment.

3. If you currently own another RBC credit card and would like to transfer to the RBC Visa Avion, you can perform a credit card switch on the RBC banking page, or by calling their credit card hotline. Switching from one RBC credit card to another DOES NOT impact your credit score.

4.  If you hold an RBC credit card, link up your card to Petro Canada to provide increased savings at the pump.