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The Ultimate Guide to the Avion Rewards Program for Canadians

By Meagen Seatter | Published on 24 Jul 2023

When it comes to credit card reward programs aimed at travellers, Aeroplan is likely the first to pop into most Canadians’ minds. However, the Avion Rewards Program might be more attractive if you primarily travel within Canada. Avion points are easy to collect and redeem for travel rewards, merchandise and more. Members can even transfer their points to other airline loyalty programs.

Avion Rewards are exclusively available to RBC customers, so it’s not as well-known as Aeroplan or Air Miles. Here, we’ll break down how the Avion Rewards Program works, discuss point value, and reveal what kinds of rewards are available to point collectors.

What is the Avion Rewards Program?

The Avion Rewards Program is a reward program owned and operated by the Royal Bank of Canada. It is sometimes referred to as RBC Rewards, an RBC loyalty program previously offered to non-Avion credit cardholders but no longer exists. RBC Rewards was renamed ‘Avion Rewards’ on August 25, 2022.

Cardholders can join Avion Rewards if they hold a select RBC Avion credit card. Travel rewards, discounts at partner retail stores, and using your points to bank with RBC are just a few features that make RBC Avion credit cards a great choice for Canadians, especially those who love to travel.

The program has two tiers; Avion Premium and Avion Elite. RBC ION credit card holders are at the Premium level, while RBC Avion cardholders have access to the Elite level. For this article, we will focus on Avion Elite, which gives members the option of redeeming their points for travel rewards.

How The Avion Rewards Program Works

The major difference between the two tiers is how collectors can redeem their points. Cardholders of either tier can trade Avion Reward points in for WestJet Dollars or Hudson Bay Rewards . Avion Elite Rewards collectors, on the other hand, have access to the Avion Reward Travel Center. Here, members can cash in a set number of points for flights worldwide. Different regions require a different amount of points. For example, a quick trip to an adjacent province or state requires just 15,000 RBC Avion Reward points, while a getaway to a European destination requires 65,000 points. Holidays to far-flung destinations like Australia or the Pacific Islands cost 100,000 points.

Here’s a quick peek at RBC’s Air Travel Redemption Chart:

The number of points required to travel is set by region and covers a maximum base fare only. So, for example, if you want to travel from Alberta to British Columbia, you can cash in 15,000 points for a ticket that costs up to $350, excluding taxes and fees. If a ticket costs more than that, you’ll have to pay out of pocket or cash in more reward points. Also, taxes, surcharges, and other fees charged by the airline that are not included in the exchange rate will have to be paid either out of pocket or you can use the ‘Pay with Points’ option and cash in your Avion Rewards points at an exchange rate of 100 points = $1 CAD.

While on the surface, it may seem like the Avion program doesn’t provide good value (after all, your ticket from Alberta to B.C. costs 15,000 points even if it costs less than $350, too), one major advantage to the program is that it lets collectors travel on any airline, anytime. Unlike other reward programs that blackout peak travel times or place other limits on when you can use your travel rewards, with Avion Rewards, there are no black-out dates or seat or airline restrictions. Plus, rewards aren’t limited to airline tickets; you can use your points like cash to pay for any travel-related expenses, including hotels, car rentals, and even taxes and fees. Points are converted at a ratio of 100 points for $1 CAD. Avion points can also be converted to West Jet Dollars at the same conversion rate.

Are Avion Points Valuable?

The value of Avion Reward points depends on how you use them. If you can find a flight that falls within the sweet spot of Avion’s flight redemption schedule, points hold more value than if you were to convert them to West Jet Dollars or pay with points as cash. The flight redemption schedule can make Avion Reward points incredibly valuable – up to 2.33 cents per point if you can find a ticket that falls within the right price range – it can also have the opposite effect if you can’t find a reasonably priced ticket to where you want to go when you want to travel.

That brings us to the second, and arguably the most valuable, difference between Avion’s two tiers. Avion Elite members can also trade their Avion Reward points for points with 3 other frequent flyer programs:

• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles , and
• British Airways

This handy feature greatly expands the range of destinations collectors can visit with Avion Reward Points. That flexibility alone adds value to the program, even if transferring them gives them a lower monetary value than they have using the Avion grid.

Avion points can be traded for British Airways and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at a ratio of 1:1. The exchange rate for Avion Rewards to AAdvantage points is 10:7. Still, being able to transfer points to a different rewards system is a major advantage of the Avion Rewards Program, especially for Canadian travel hackers looking to stretch the value of a point as far as it can go.

The bottom line is that Avion points can be very valuable when leveraged correctly. However, their value changes depending on where you’re travelling. Long-haul flights within Canada typically yield the greatest return. For shorter flights, the value is almost on par with Avion’s travel purchase exchange rate of 1 cent per point. Collectors must do a little research before booking to get the highest value from their points.

How To Transfer Points

The flexibility to transfer points to other reward programs is one of the best features of the Avion Rewards Program. To complete a transfer, you’ll need to sign in to your RBC Online account. Underneath your account information, click ‘Avion Rewards’, and you’ll be taken to the Avion Rewards page.

At the top of the screen, you’ll see a row of options. Click ‘Transfer,’ and you’ll be shown a list of all of Avion’s available transfer partners. Simply click the program you want to transfer your points to and allow 4 weeks for the transfer to complete.

Ways to Collect Avion Points

The only way to accumulate Avion Reward points is with an RBC Avion credit card. For every $1 charged to your card, you’ll get between 1 and 1.25 Avion Reward points. Qualifying purchases earn extra points, and new cardholders will get bonus points just for being approved. There are 6 Avion Rewards cards available through RBC to choose from, but we’ve compared their best credit cards in the next section. All 3 are currently offering a welcome bonus of 35,000 welcome Avion Reward points.

Top 3 RBC Avion Credit Cards

Rbc avion visa infinite.

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card earns you 1.25 Avion points per dollar spent on all travel-related purchases and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. This card is by far the best travel credit card on the list. Although the annual fee of $120 is steep, the features (like 12 types of comprehensive insurance, including travel and mobile phone coverage) are well worth the cost, and it has reasonable income requirements.

RBC Avion Visa Platinum

The RBC Avion Visa Platinum credit card is very similar to the Avion Visa Infinite, but if you don’t make a lot of travel purchases, this one might be a better fit. It also doesn’t have any income requirements, so it’s a good option for part-time or freelance workers. With this card, you’ll earn 1 Avion point for every dollar spent on all purchases.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege card has the highest earning potential of the 3, with 1.25 points on all purchases. However, at $400 per year and a minimum income requirement of $100,000, it’s also the most expensive RBC Avion credit card on this list and slightly out of reach for the average Canadian. However, by shelling out for this card, you’ll be rewarded with some lofty perks like a free Priority Pass membership and 6 free airport lounge passes, dedicated parking at Canadian airports, priority service at airport security, and extensive insurance across a range of categories. You’ll also be able to redeem your Avion Reward points for travel expenses at a rate of 100 points = $2 CAD.

Ways to Redeem Avion Reward Points

There are a number of ways to redeem your Avion Reward points, including travel rewards, credits for travel-related expenses, banking, and shopping.

To redeem your points for travel, you’ll first need to sign into your RBC account. Navigate to the Avion Rewards tab to be taken to the Avion Rewards homepage, where you can redeem points for flights, hotels, vacation packages and more. You can also book travel through the Avion Rewards Travel call centre, but a $30 fee applies to all bookings.

If you want to convert your points and redeem them through a different reward program, you’ll need to navigate to the ‘transfer points’ section of the Avion Rewards home page. Follow the prompts to make the transfer to your selected airline program. After the conversion is complete (which can take up to 4 weeks), you’ll redeem points through the airline program’s website.

Avion Elite members can make credit card payments, pay back purchases with points, and use points to pay other eligible bills like the Internet and TV. Points can also be used to send Interac e-transfers, pay down loans and invest with RBC.

Using the Avion Rewards website, app, the RBC Rewards homepage, or the RBC Launch app, you can use your points to purchase products from brands such as Apple, Best Buy, Dyson, and more, either in-person or online. There is also a browser extension called Avion Rewards ShopPlus that automatically searches the web and finds deals suitable for you.

Additionally, you can use your points to purchase gift cards from partner retailers like Amazon, Petro-Canada and Lululemon or donate them for cash value to charities like Ronald McDonald House or the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

Meagen Seatter

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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 offer for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can earn 35,000 Avion points upon approval . No purchase necessary!

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

The current welcome offer, for example, gives you the equivalent of 35,000 British Airways Avios or 350 WestJet Dollars .

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

What’s more, you’ll benefit from a wide range of insurances: trip cancellation and interruption insurance, out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical care insurance, collision and damage insurance for rental vehicles, and 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

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The Best Ways to Redeem RBC Avion Points

RBC Avion is widely regarded as one of the leading transferrable points currency in Canada, second only to American Express Membership Rewards .

Avion points are easy to collect in large quantities over a short period of time, and are unique among the Big 5 banks’ points programs for being transferrable to a wide range of airline partners. 

While the redemption pathways for Amex MR points are generally focused on the two 1:1 transfer partners of Aeroplan and Avios , the optimal strategy for RBC Avion points is perhaps less clear-cut, and I often receive questions from readers who’ve collected a large amount of Avion points but are unsure how to optimally tailor those points to their travel goals. 

In this article, let’s compare the strengths and weaknesses of each of the possible uses of Avion points to see which redemption strategy might make sense for your specific situation. 

In This Post

Westjet rewards: ideal for domestic travel, british airways avios: short-haul flights or multi-carrier trip, cathay pacific asia miles: premium flights to asia, american aadvantage: limited use for canadians, redeeming avion points directly, putting it all together.

WestJet Rewards is an underrated program for travelling domestically, and converting your Avion points into WestJet Dollars (WSD) at a ratio of 100 points = 1 WSD can be a solid primary strategy for anyone whose travel patterns are primarily focused on North America.

The key to unlocking value is through WestJet’s Member Exclusive fares . Member Exclusive fares are similar to award tickets on other programs, and can be redeemed for a fixed price of 125 WestJet Dollars one-way for a flight within the continental North America on a space-available basis. 

I cover some more information on Member Exclusive fares in the latter half of this video:

As a general rule, WestJet tends to release at least four Member Exclusive seats per flight, which is great news for those of you who often travel as a larger family.

A flight like Vancouver–Toronto can easily cost $400–500 one-way in the peak of summer, so being able to snag that for 125 WestJet Dollars (equivalent to 12,500 RBC Avion points) plus taxes and fees can amount to significant savings, especially when you’re booking for multiple passengers.

Similarly, a round-trip from, say, Edmonton to Orlando for a DisneyWorld trip during Spring Break usually starts at around $600 and only goes up from there.

Booking four seats for your family for 250 WSD (equivalent to 25,000 Avion points) per person will leave you with plenty of room in the travel budget for memorable experiences on the ground. 

Combine this with the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard for free checked bags and wifi, and you can easily treat yourself and your family to an elevated travel experience even on domestic and transborder flights within North America.

And don’t forget that, should your WestJet Dollars balance be running low, you can always top-up by purchasing WestJet Dollars directly from Points.com at a rate very close to par.

In the past, we’ve seen conversion bonuses when transferring RBC Avion to WestJet; however, it’s my understanding that we are extremely unlikely to see these bonuses happen again in the future. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend waiting for a conversion bonus if you’re looking to convert Avion points into WestJet Dollars, because you could be waiting for a long time.

One of the most popular ways to redeem Avion points is by transferring them to British Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio for use on international flights with Oneworld carriers. Some of the most well-known sweet spots include Toronto–Dublin on Aer Lingus economy class for 13,000 Avios, Seattle–Hawaii on Alaska Airlines economy class for 13,000 Avios, or an Avios multi-carrier award visiting up to seven places around the world on a single trip.

The challenge with Avios, however, is that the sweet spots tend to be specific rather than general, especially from a Canadian standpoint.

If you live in a major city like Toronto or Vancouver, then you’d be well-positioned to take advantage of Oneworld flights that serve your city; however, if you live somewhere like Calgary, Winnipeg, or St. John’s, you’d need to catch a separate positioning flight before being able to hop on an Avios redemption, which reduces the value you’re getting.

In my view, transferring Avion points to Avios is ideally suited to two types of travellers:

Someone who likes to take extended trips to multiple destinations around the world, who can then take full advantage of the Avios multi-carrier award, as well as using Avios to book short-haul segments on Oneworld partners around the world for good value

Someone living in a major Canadian city who has their eye on a specific sweet spot on a direct route, like Toronto–Dublin, Seattle–Hawaii, or Montreal–Casablanca (since Avios tends to deliver higher value on direct routes vs. connecting routes due to the distance-based award chart)

If you don’t fit into either of these definitions, you might still get value out of Avios, but you’ll also want to weigh this option against some of the other options we’ll discuss below.

Historically, we’ve seen 30–50% conversion bonuses from Avion to Avios about twice per year. I get the sense that the usual spring conversion bonus won’t be offered in 2020 due to the challenging atmosphere in global travel, but there’s a chance it’ll return for the fall if you want to wait and get the best bang for your buck. 

Another competitive frequent flyer program where you can transfer your Avion points at a 1:1 ratio is Cathay Pacific Asia Miles . While the program recently underwent a devaluation by removing the ability to add stopovers on a one-way flight , it still has its fair share of sweet spots for premium international travel on Oneworld airlines.

An example might be a Toronto–Hong Kong–Sydney redemption on Cathay Pacific business class for 85,000 Asia Miles or Vancouver–Tokyo on Japan Airlines business class for 61,000 Asia Miles, both of which carry minimal fuel surcharges. 

Asia Miles can also access a significantly greater proportion of award availability on Cathay Pacific flights, compared to other partner programs like Alaska Mileage Plan . And while the “kinky one-way flights” have been kink-shamed into oblivion, there remain a few interesting quirks about the program, such as the mixed-cabin award pricing using a weighted average of the distance flown. 

If your travel goals are primarily focused on Asia and you’d like to get there in a comfortable business class seat, then Asia Miles may be a very attractive transfer option for your Avion points. Conversion bonuses have been few and far between, with the most recent 10% bonus coming from Asia Miles’s side rather than RBC’s.

Avion’s fourth and final airline partner is American Airlines AAdvantage, and you can convert Avion points into AAdvantage miles at a 1:0.7 ratio. Occasionally, there are 20% conversion bonuses along this axis, which bring the transfer ratio to 1:0.84. 

In the past, I’ve proposed that AAdvantage could be a worthy way to spend your Avion points, because it was one of the few programs that let you book the Etihad Airways A380 First Class Apartments at a compelling price – indeed, I personally had redeemed 62,500 AAdvantage miles per person for the Apartments on my Maldives trip , and a large chunk of those miles came from an RBC Avion transfer.

However, the recent announcement of an Aeroplan & Etihad Airways partnership has flipped that narrative entirely on its head. Aeroplan is now by far the easiest way to book the Etihad Apartments, and there’s very little reason to go via AAdvantage. 

With Aeroplan, you can redeem 110,000 miles for 27 hours of Apartments between New York and Sydney, via Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, due to their restrictive routing rules, American AAdvantage wouldn’t even let you book those two routes on the same award – you’d have to pay a total of 215,000 AAdvantage miles for two separate awards!

The other aspirational award that AAdvantage might unlock is Qatar Airways Qsuites , but hey, those can also be booked pretty easily via Asia Miles as well.

Overall, there just isn’t a compelling reason for most Canadians to transfer Avion points to AAdvantage these days, especially when the transfer ratio is clearly the weakest out of all four options. 

Besides the frequent flyer partners, we can also touch upon a few ways to redeem Avion points directly for travel, even though they generally do not provide as much value.

RBC themselves heavily advertise the Travel Redemption Schedule, which you can find published on the RBC Rewards website. This chart allows you to use the specified number of points towards a certain maximum ticket value of the “base fare” of your flight, which excludes things like airport improvement fees and government-imposed taxes that you’d have to pay separately. 

The value in these redemptions may be limited, especially when compared to going through WestJet’s Member Exclusive fares . For example, if you’re considering an “Explore North America” round-trip redemption for 35,000 Avion points plus taxes and fees, it’s quite likely that you’ll also be able to find Member Exclusive fare space for 250 WSD (equivalent to 25,000 Avion points) instead. 

For more luxury-minded travellers, don’t forget about the option of redeeming Avion points at 2cpp against revenue fares in business class and First Class. You’ll need an RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege or RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business to unlock this ability, but it can be quite a valuable way to diversify your redemptions away from the aforementioned frequent flyer programs and into the realm of favourably-priced cash fares as well.

Finally, if the current pandemic has you favouring cash-on-hand more than rewards points , then you can also redeem RBC Avion points against cash equivalents at mediocre rates (usually below 1cpp) for things like gift cards, statement credits, or TFSA deposits.

If you’re leaning in this direction, consider whether you might be open to taking some simple domestic trips over the next year or so, and whether transferring to WestJet Dollars to cover the cost of those trips might be a more sensible choice. 

For most Canadians, I’d say that a good starting point in deciding what to do with your Avion points would be to think about your proportion of domestic/transborder vs. international travel, and use that as a metric to allocate your Avion points towards WestJet Rewards and one of Avios or Asia Miles. 

For example, if roughly half of your trips per year are within continental North America, while the other half are to international destinations, then you might go with a 50/50 split. If it’s mostly domestic with the occasional overseas trip, you might earmark the points in an 80/20 split, and so on. 

If you prefer to bring your whole family on North American trips, while travelling solo or with your partner on the long-haul jaunts, then that proportion might swing more in favour of WestJet Rewards, since you’d need more WestJet Dollars to cover more people’s flights. 

Similarly, think about how Avion points fit into your wider points strategy: if most of your long-haul travel needs are already covered by miles earned in other currencies (like Amex MR points or Aeroplan miles ), then you might also have less of a need for Avios or Asia Miles.

When deciding between Avios or Asia Miles, consider whether you’re in the game more for the luxury globetrotting (in which case Avios’s sweet spots and multi-carrier award might appeal to you) or for the convenience and comfort of a one-stop routing to the Asia-Pacific (in which case Asia Miles would be right up your alley). 

And finally, don’t forget that each of the three best choices we’ve outlined here all have their own respective RBC co-branded credit cards as well: the WestJet World Elite , the British Airways Visa Infinite , and the Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum . Consider applying for or product-switching to these cards to further boost your balances.

RBC Avion is one of Canada’s most popular points programs and easily the most attractive program offered by a Big 5 bank, although the optimal strategies for redeeming Avion points for maximum value may not be so apparent at first glance.

The program caters to a wide variety of travel goals between cross-continent weekend getaways and seven-stop round-the-world trips, so I hope this analysis has been helpful in tailoring your Avion points holdings to the specific trips that you’d like to take. 

• Earn 35,000 RBC Avion points † upon approval†
• Plus, earn 1x 1.25x RBC Avion points †  on qualifying travel purchases
• Transfer RBC Avion points to British Airways Executive Club and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights †
• Redeem Avion points for flights with the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule †
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $120 †
• Supplementary card fee: $50

26 Comments

My wife’s father has about 162,000 Avion points and wants to give them to us. (he’s 96, travel days are over). We dont’ have an RBC card, do have Westjet dollars. Is the best way to use them to transfer to our Westjet dollars account. And can we!

Does Avios has an expiry date?

Hi Re: How to keep Avions points while waiting for a transfer bonus? My RBC Avion Visa Infinite is expiring this month. I have been waiting for a transfer promotion (to transfer avion to avios points) but none have appeared during the past year. If I change this card to the RBC no fee Rewards VISA, will my points transfer to the Rewards VISA and remain as Avion points (i.e. not sure if the Reward points are the same as Avion points?)? Just looking for a way to keep the Avion points until a bonus transfer appears. Any suggestions? Thank you! 🙂

I believe only Avion-level cards can transfer to British Airways Avios. However, you could downgrade this card to the no-fee Rewards Visa for now, and then upgrade back to Avion Visa Infinite in the future when there’s a transfer bonus. I’m pretty confident this would work.

Do you know if you can use the Avion Points from Europe to Asia?

My VISA Infinite Avion card is due for renewal at the end of this month, will I lose my points when I cancel? If so, are you aware of any upcoming conversion bonus offers?

Yes, unless you transfer out to a partner or combine with another RBC Rewards card. Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any upcoming transfer bonuses – we were hoping for an Avios one in November (similar to last year) but as of now that looks unlikely to materialize.

“transfer out to a partner or combine with another RBC Rewards card” How exactly does this work? I once tried to combine points with my spouse but they did not allow that.

Thank you Ricky! Can I transfer RBC reward points to WJ dollar to make the WJ dollar not expired?

You sure can.

Thanks for this update. Quick questions: 1. Is there an option to transfer Avion points from one account to another? For example, I want to pool all my points and my partner’s point in one account. 2. Can I convert Avion points into somebody else’s WJ account?

No and no, I believe.

How long does it take when converting from RBC to WSD to see the WSD in the account? An RBC agent told me up to 4 weeks !!%!

It’s usually much faster than that. Should be a few business days.

Great post Ricky. Hello everyone, newbie question. How do I go about transferring my BA Avios to Aer Lingus for the Dublin flight? Also is there a way to store my Avios in one central place so I can use it for any of the Avios airlines?

You wouldn’t transfer your Avios to Aer Lingus; you’d use Avios to book Aer Lingus. The challenge is that Aer Lingus flights don’t show up online, so you can use either ExpertFlyer or United.com to look for space before calling British Airways to book.

If you transfer Avion points to your Avios account, they’ll all be stored there and can be used to redeem towards any of the Avios partner airlines.

Hi Ricky, Thanks for the refresher!

Hey Ricky Thanks for another great post. I’m looking at product changing options while keeping a safe-haven for these points. Kinda like how the US everyday card is for many who play the game in the US. Do you know if the business Avion allows us to merge personal points? If so, do you recommend PSing WJ/BA/CP/Avion cards? or since applying for the card gives you more points going through that route?

You can use the RBC rewards visa card (no fee) to store your avion points will you pursue other interests.

RBC Business Avion cards are harder to get (I had to provide business documentation and got offered a secured CC), have lackluster bonuses and I had to call in to move / use points. In hindsight, I don’t think getting a business card was worth it.

New applications give more points than product changes (with bonuses that aren’t guaranteed), we’ve seen 20k, 25k, 30k and 35k with / without FYF on the Avion Visa Infinite card and also $350 with / without WestJet Silver Status previously which are all offers that can’t be obtained through a product change.

Which F class product is that in the first photo?

Has It been hard applying for RBC CC? Applied for RBC WJ yesterday and was denied. First time denied.

There’s been a few data points that RBC has tightened up with approvals compared to before due to the pandemic. Andrew offers some good advice in his comment for the reconsideration process.

Generally speaking, many issuers have implemented stricter lending conditions, including RBC and Amex, given the current circumstances. You could try to have RBC reconsider your application, but it often requires a visit to the branch and another hard pull. Wait for your letter from RBC and maybe try calling the phone number on the letter.

Will do. I’ve also had 4 hard pulls in the past 6 months. Not sure if that’s a factor. How long is the recommended wait time to re-apply for a card that one has been denied? Thank you guys…

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How to redeem Avion points

Find out how you can redeem your avion points quickly and easily with avion rewards. .

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In this guide

How to redeem Avion points for flights and other travel

• How to redeem Avion points for merchandise & gift cards

How to redeem Avion points for bill payments and other RBC financial products

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You can redeem Avion points with RBC through the Avion Rewards site, an online shopping platform that lets you use Avion points to pay for flights, merchandise, gift cards and more. You can also use points to pay bills through online banking.

Let’s walk through how the Avion Rewards program works and how to redeem your Avion points across various rewards categories.

• Log in to your account. Login to avionrewards.com or download the Avion Rewards app for Android or iOS. You’ll need your RBC Online Banking login credentials.
• Browse rewards. See available rewards including flights, travel packages, gift cards and merchandise. You can also convert Avion points into other types of loyalty points, pay down your credit card bill, donate to charity and more.
• Select your reward or transfer points. Once you choose the reward you want, select Pay with Rewards . Alternatively, you can select Transfer Points to aggregate your points across multiple RBC products.

When purchasing a flight on the RBC Avion website, you have the option to redeem Avion points when inputting your payment information during the checkout process.

You’ll also be able to convert your Avion points to partner airline loyalty programs such as American Airlines, Asia Miles, British Airways or WestJet Rewards using this online portal.

What makes flight redemptions so special?

Flight redemptions will usually give you the best value when you redeem Avion points. Other features that make flight redemptions unique to Avion include no blackout dates or restrictions and no booking fees.

Your points will also never expire and you’ll be able to use them to cover the taxes and fees on your flight. These are features that aren’t typically available with other frequent flyer programs like Aeroplan or Air Miles.

Who is most likely to be researching how to redeem Avion points?

Finder data suggests that men aged 25-34 are most likely to be researching this topic.

How to redeem Avion points for merchandise & gift cards

Shop for items and gift cards on the Avion Rewards website like you would on any other online marketplace—but pay with points instead of money.

If you want to redeem Avion points for merchandise or gift cards, you can visit RBC’s online rewards catalogue. There are over 100 brands available for gift cards, as well as thousands of consumer goods to purchase including electronics, kitchen appliances, fashion and much more.

You can easily search for the product or gift card you want and redeem your points using your online account. You can also use the portal to make a donation to the charity of your choice.

When paying bills online with RBC, select the “Avion Rewards” option on mobile or the “Pay with Avion Rewards Points” tab on desktop to redeem your Avion points.

You’ll be able to redeem Avion points to pay for a number of RBC’s financial products. You can use your points to pay off your credit card, contribute to your investment products, pay off your loans or pay your monthly bills. All you’ll have to do to redeem your points is sign into your RBC online banking account or the RBC Mobile banking app.

Avion is a bank-specific frequent flyer program operated by the Royal Bank of Canada (one of Canada’s Big Five banks). With this program, you’ll earn points whenever you spend money on your credit card.

There are several Avion credit cards that let you earn between 1 and 3 Avion points for every dollar spent , depending on the card you choose. Points can be redeemed for a wide variety of rewards.

You no longer need to have an RBC credit card to participate in the Avion Rewards program, but you will gain access to higher tiers and more Avion rewards if you do.

Avion points will be worth different amounts based on how and what you redeem the points for and whether or not you take advantage of a promotion. That said, the average value for each Avion point is approximately 1-2 cents per point.

As a rule of thumb, Avion points are worth more when you cash in those points for flights and other travel-related purchases. The value of Avion points are typically worth less when redeemed for items such as merchandise, gift cards and RBC financial products.

The number of points you can earn depends almost exclusively on how much money you spend on your Avion credit card. The average number of points you’ll need to take a short-haul flight between provinces or to some US states is 15,000 points (for a max ticket price of $350). Depending on the RBC Avion credit card, you’ll need to spend $5,000-$15,000 to earn these points.

If you’d prefer to earn points faster, you can check out RBC’s promotions page to see if there are opportunities for you to get more points for making certain purchases or spending money at specific stores.

You may want to pay more for a premium card so that you earn more points for every dollar you spend and get a bigger welcome bonus. It also helps to give additional cards to family members so you can earn points when they shop as well.

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.

It’s easy to earn points with the RBC Avion Rewards program as long as you use your Avion credit card on eligible purchases including daily expenses (like gas, groceries and drugstore purchases) along with bill payments and one-off purchases. Some cards offer 1 RBC point for every $1 you spend, while others like the RBC ION+ Visa offer up to 3 points for every $1 spent.

Most Avion credit cards will also give you a welcome bonus when you sign up. With this points surplus, you’ll usually be able to afford at least a short-haul flight anywhere in North America. You can also add this to the points you collect in your first year to redeem for many other rewards.

Another way to earn Avion points faster is to keep track of RBC promotions that allow you to earn more points during limited time promotions. You can also pay more for a premium RBC credit card that let’s you earn more points for every dollar spent — plus most RBC premium credit cards will offer a bigger welcome bonus.

Another easy option is to link your RBC Avion card to your Petro Canada account to earn 20% more points when you fill up on gas or purchase other products at Petro Canada stations across Canada.

Aeroplan and Avion are two popular frequent flyer programs in Canada. Both Avion and Aeroplan offer a good mix of travel rewards and benefits, and come with a number of program-affiliated credit cards. The main difference between Avion vs Aeroplan relates to how your membership in the program works:

• Aeroplan. Aeroplan is a standalone travel rewards program owned by Air Canada that isn’t affiliated with a particular bank. To earn Aeroplan Points (formerly called Aeroplan Miles), you have to sign up for a membership and shop with Aeroplan partners. You can also sign up for a program-affiliated credit card to earn extra points with partners and for making daily purchases.
• Avion. Avion works a bit differently than Aeroplan in that it’s operated by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and doesn’t require a membership to participate. Instead, you have to sign up for an Avion credit card to earn points for making everyday purchases. While you won’t earn points for spending money with partners, the selling feature of Avion is that the rewards are fairly flexible and RBC offers a decent customer service program.

How many points can I earn with Avion vs Aeroplan?

You’ll earn a different number of points with Avion vs Aeroplan depending on what kind of credit card you have and whether you can earn extra points with partners.

• Aeroplan. Aeroplan typically lets you earn one point for every dollar you spend with partners. You can also earn accelerated points when you shop at Aeroplan’s eStore or make purchases with your Aeroplan credit card. Depending on what kind of card you have, you’ll usually be able to earn between 1 and 3 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on everyday purchases.
• Avion. The number of points you can earn with Avion will depend on what type of Avion credit card you sign up for. Some cards offer 1 Avion Point for every dollar you spend, while others offer 3 points per dollar. It may take you a bit longer to accumulate points since Avion doesn’t have a network of partners, which makes Avion a less desirable option than Aeroplan for many Canadians.

Keep in mind that it’s not possible to transfer Aeroplan Miles to Avion Rewards, or vice versa. This is because the points have different values and there’s no system for bridging your Aeroplan Miles to Avion.

Summary of program differences: Avion vs Aeroplan

Aventura is CIBC’s rewards program that offers a series of credit cards that let you earn points for every dollar you spend. These cards include 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 pay for the annual fee. It’s also possible that you may be able to cash in on extra points by taking advantage of some of CIBC’s promotional offers.

Just like Avion points, many estimates place the value of Aventura Points at around 1 cent per point. You can redeem Aventura Points for hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, gift cards and bill payments.

There are no major differences between Avion vs Aventura other than which bank each program belongs to as well as what types of cards you can qualify for. Both programs are well-known for offering flexible rewards, no blackout dates on flights and points that don’t expire.

Related: How to redeem Aventura Points

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. Earn between 1 and 3 points for every $1 you spend.
• Welcome offers. You’ll get around 3,500 to 55,000 points when you sign up for an Avion credit card.
• Annual fee. The RBC ION Visa costs $0 per year, but more premium cards cost $48-$399 per year.
• Benefits. Each class of card has different benefits, with Visa Infinite cards offering the best bang for your buck.

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.

Avion can be worth the time and energy it takes to collect points, especially if you already bank with RBC. Depending on the reward type, you can redeem Avion points through the Avion Rewards website or RBC online banking.

That said, Avion doesn’t work with a network of partners and the points you earn are worth less on average than the miles you’ll accumulate with Aeroplan or Air Miles. The main benefit of Avion points is that you can exchange them for more flexible rewards than what you’ll be able to find with other frequent flyer programs. Avion offers a wider range of redemption options and special perks like no blackout dates and no booking fees when you redeem points for flights.

Are Avion Rewards and RBC Rewards the same?

Yes. On August 25, 2022, RBC Rewards points were renamed Avion Rewards points. RBC Rewards points balances were unaffected by the name change.

What sets Avion apart from other frequent flyer programs?

Avion is well-known for its flexible points systems, especially when it comes to flight redemptions. It also offers no blackout periods on travel, and you won't run into seat restrictions or other booking issues when you fly.

Do I need an RBC Avion Rewards credit card to earn 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.

How do I check my Avion points balance?

You can check your Avion points balance through the Avion Rewards app (available on Google Play and the Apple App Store) or by logging into RBC Online Banking. Go to Accounts Summary, then click on your credit card and you'll be able to see your rewards balance under Avion Rewards at the top of page.

What if I don't want to use my Avion Rewards with RBC?

You can convert your points to other loyalty programs including WestJet dollars and Hudson's Bay Rewards points.

Can I still earn Avion points even if I pay for part of the purchase by redeeming points?

Yes. If you redeem Avion points to pay for part of your purchase, you can still earn points by paying for the rest of the purchase with your card. But you'll only earn points for the portion of the purchase that wasn't covered by points.

Can I exchange my Avion points for cash back?

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.

Is it possible for my Avion Rewards to expire?

No. Your Avion points will never expire so you can use them whenever you want, even if it's years down the line.

Claire Horwood

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. See full profile

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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.

Avion Rewards members get exclusive access to contests and more for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Canada. The excitement continues right up until the Toronto and Vancouver shows, so be sure to check your email and follow us @AvionRewards on Facebook / Instagram and @Avion.Rewards on TikTok , so you don’t miss out.

Avion Rewards is proud to offer members exciting entertainment experiences, cash back deals, everyday savings and more. Keep your profile updated to get the most out of the program.

Not a member? Join today .

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour – FAQs

The contest is open to all Avion Rewards members. Those who are also WestJet Rewards members will receive one bonus contest entry. Not yet an Avion Rewards or WestJet Rewards member? Sign up for Avion Rewards at avionrewards.com and WestJet Rewards at westjet.com/rewards .

Yes, all winners (including those local to Toronto and Vancouver) will receive two (2) nights of hotel accommodations provided by RBC.

The contest is open to all Avion Rewards members. Avion Rewards members who are also WestJet Rewards members will receive one bonus contest entry. Winners local to Ontario and British Columbia will receive one (1) $350 WestJet travel voucher and two (2) nights of hotel accommodations.

As WestJet does not operate in the Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut, we are unable to provide flights from the regions. Please select the region closest to you.

The contest is only open to residents of Canada who are Avion Rewards members.

Eligible entrants will be selected by random draw from all eligible entries submitted and received in accordance with terms and conditions during the Contest Period. For the full terms and conditions, visit https://www.avionrewards.com/eras-tour-tickets/terms-and-conditions/index.html .

RBC has hundreds of tickets for surprises and giveaways, and we’ll be celebrating the countdown to Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour coming to Canada with moments for every era, throughout the year. Make sure you are signed up for Avion Rewards (open to all Canadians, regardless of where they bank!) and follow @RBC and @AvionRewards on Instagram to stay tuned.

You do not need an RBC product to enter. The contest is open to all Avion Rewards members. Avion Rewards is free and open to all Canadians, regardless of who you bank with.

At this time, the Ticketmaster and Avion Rewards Onsales for the Toronto and Vancouver shows remain closed.