Tired of guessing what the value of 1 RBC Avion point is? FinlyWealth's point calculator tool can estimate the value of your points when redeemed through various options in Canada.
Number of Points
Points
Loyalty Program
Every RBC Avion point is worth 1.4¢ on average using the most optimal redemption (Transfer to Airline Partners)
Every RBC Avion point is worth 1.19¢ on average if redeemed towards travel
Every RBC Avion point is worth 0.83¢ on average if redeemed towards financial products
Every RBC Avion point is worth 0.72¢ on average if redeemed towards gift cards
Every RBC Avion point is worth 0.7¢ on average if redeemed towards merchandise
Every RBC Avion point is worth 0.58¢ on average if redeemed towards statement credits (cash)
Best Credit Cards for the RBC Avion Loyalty Program
These credit cards will give you the most rewards and benefits to optimize for RBC Avion points
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
First Year Value:
$774.43
Annual Fee
$399
$0
first year waived
First Year Bonus Value
$770
Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement
Net Annual Rewards
$4.43
Annual fee deducted
35,000 Avion Points on approval*. 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months*. 15,000 one-time anniversary bonus points after 12 months of account opening*.
Rewards based on $2,000/month average spending. Estimates may be higher if you meet spend requirements for certain welcome bonuses. Click learn more on the card to calculate your rewards.
RBC Avion Program Breakdown
If you’re looking for yet another rewards program that specializes in travel redemptions (particularly transfers to airline partners), check out RBC Avion.
Beyond travel, you can also redeem points towards redemption categories like financial products – which might pique the interest of adventurous money-conscious cardholders as well.
So, whether you plan on investing your points in your finances or future trips abroad, this loyalty program is definitely worth considering.
How do you Earn RBC Avion Points?
The best way to earn RBC Avion points is to apply for an RBC Avion credit card.
These cards are equipped with rewards programs that allow you to earn RBC Avion points on specialized earn categories each time you tap for an eligible purchase.
Below, we’ve included the top two credit cards from this loyalty program.
This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.
Pros
Generous welcome bonus of up to 55,000 points.
High point value when redeemed through the Air Travel Redemption chart, with up to 2.33 cents per point.
Comprehensive insurance package (12 types), including travel medical and mobile device insurance.
Access to Petro-Canada savings (save 3 cents per litre on fuel) and earn 20% bonus Petro-Points.
Cons
Only 1 point per $1 spent on most purchases (travel earns 1.25 points).
Requires using the Air Travel Redemption chart to get the highest point value; other redemptions yield lower returns.
High income requirements: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household.
Rewards
1.25x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases
1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,500
Travel Accident
$500,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
3 days
Trip Interruption
$5,000
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2,500
Baggage Delay
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Flight Delay
$500
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Benefits
Details
Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Eligibility
Credit Score
Very Good
Annual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Starting with one of the best RBC travel credit cards, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card earns cardholders decent RBC Avion points on eligible travel purchases, then a standard base rate of points on all other purchases. This travel point-potential comes in handy when redeeming your RBC Avion points, as travel is one of the most valuable redemption categories.
To complement its travel-oriented rewards program, this card also comes with extensive travel insurance – everything from trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance to hotel burglary insurance and emergency medical coverages.
In contrast, the benefits are pretty basic, offering only a gas discount on fuel and bonus Petro-Points and Avion points at Petro-Canada, plus extra Be Well points for every dollar spent on eligible products at Rexall.
The annual fee is pretty reasonable, especially considering the extensive insurance coverage, but keep in mind that applicants will need to meet some annual income requirements for approval.
Overall, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a straight-forward points system, extensive coverage, and helpful benefits that provide bonus point-potential.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want premium travel perks and high-value rewards. The welcome bonus, insurance coverage, and airport benefits offer significant value for those who qualify. However, the high annual fee and income requirements may limit its accessibility, and the reward rate outside of the travel chart is less competitive.
Pros
High-value points when redeemed via the Air Travel Redemption chart, with up to 2.33 cents per point.
Extensive insurance coverage including emergency medical, trip cancellation, and mobile device insurance.
Access to airport perks, including fast-track security and lounge access.
Flexible rewards that can be transferred to airline partners like British Airways and Cathay Pacific.
Cons
High annual fee of $399.
Requires a high personal or household income of $200,000 to qualify.
Only 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases, which is lower compared to other premium cards.
Limited redemption value outside of the Air Travel Redemption chart.
Rewards*
1.25x Avion points per $1 spent on all eligible purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Purchase Protection
120 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 2 years
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,500
Travel Accident
$500,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
31 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
7 days
Trip Interruption
$5,000
Trip Cancellation
$2,500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$3,000
Baggage Delay
$750
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$2,500
Flight Delay
$1,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Benefits*
Details*
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Visa Airport Companion membership + 6 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Concierge Services
Connect to the Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge like having a personal assistant on call!
Priority Travel
Enjoy global airport lounge access, airport security fast track lanes, and dedicated airport parking at select Canadian airports
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Dining series and Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection offers with benefits like late check out and upgrades
Eligibility*
Credit Score
Good
Annual Income
$200,000 personal or $200,000 household
** This offer only applies to new applications for an RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege credit card approved by Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”) subject to the conditions below. Additional cardholders(s) (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) on the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege credit card account, as well as existing cardholders on any RBC Royal Bank personal credit card account transferring to an RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege credit card account during the Offer Period, are not eligible for the offer.
Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions. The Website may engage in affiliate marketing, which is done by embedding tracking links into The Website. If you click on a link for an affiliate partnership, a cookie will be placed on your browser to track any sales for purposes of commissions. Check here for full details and current product information.
Looking to level up? Luckily, high-earning big spenders can opt for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card instead – a premium alternative to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card.
This luxury card offers the same flat rate of Avion points per dollar spent on all eligible purchases – not limited to travel.
Speaking of travel, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card has even better travel coverage across most shared categories – like trip cancellation, lost or stolen baggage, and flight and baggage delay insurance.
To support your trips even further, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card also includes luxury travel-specific benefits, particularly Priority Travel perks for an expedited airport experience, concierge services for vacation planning and assistance, and a handful of complimentary Dragon Pass airport lounge visits per year.
Still, it’s worth noting that this top-tier contender comes with hefty annual fees and even bigger annual income requirements.
Ultimately then, you’d probably only pick the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card over the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card if you can meet the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card’s high annual income requirements and in turn afford the above-average annual fee. If you can, you’ll unlock a simple RBC Avion Rewards program alongside some luxurious perks.
How do you Redeem your RBC Avion Points?
Let’s say you’ve been approved for one of the above RBC Avion credit cards … Now what?
There are actually plenty of ways for you to trade in your Avion points for some exclusive travel arrangements, financial planning, products and more.
For a better idea of all of the redemption opportunities at your fingertips, we put together this redemption table:
Redemption Category
Redemption Options
Estimated Average Point Value
Convert Points
Transfer your Avion points to a variety of partner loyalty programs, specifically airlines.
1.4 cpp
Travel
Use your Avion points to fund your trip, covering costs like:
Flights
Hotel stays
Flight + hotel bundles
Car rentals
Vacation packages
cruises
1.19 cpp (depending on Avion membership tier and booking type)
Donations
Donate the value of your points to participating charitable organizations like:
Ronald McDonald House
Hope Air
Own the Podium
The David Foster Foundation
1 cpp
RBC Financial Rewards
Apply your Avion points to RBC savings or investment accounts, or use them to fund education costs and loan repayments.
0.83 cpp
Gift Cards
Redeem points for gift cards supplied by partner brands at varying values.
0.72 cpp
Merchandise
Purchase products from partnered brands using points.
0.7 cpp
Pay with Points
Cover multiple expenses with points, such as:
Your credit card balance
In-store shopping
Your bills
Interac e-transfer
0.58 cpp
Let’s breakdown those redemption categories even further:
Transfer Avion Points to Partner Loyalty Programs
Did you know you can take your RBC Avion points and convert them into loyalty points from select partner programs?
As of now, this type of conversion caters primarily to airlines such as:
American Airlines
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
British Airways
Westjet
To help you understand the value of these types of transfers, we’ve provided transfer rate estimates within the following table:
Transferable Loyalty Program
Estimated Transfer Rates
American Airlines
1 Avion Points = 0.7 AAdvantage Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1 Avion Point = 1 Asia Mile
British Airways
1 Avion Point = 1 Avios
WestJet
1 Avion Points = 0.1 WestJet Dollar
To make these transfers, members must:
Log into the Avion Rewards website or mobile app
Click or tap “Transfer”
Select your loyalty program of choice
Indicate how many Avion points you’d like to transfer
Use Points for Travel
Your Avion Points can also cover the cost of various travel bookings, anything from flights and hotel stays to car rentals and vacation packages to tours and experiences.
The actual cent-per-point value of your Avion points in this category is dependent on which Avion membership tier you belong to.
There are three Avion membership tiers available: Avion Select, Avion Premium, and Avion Elite.
Anyone can join Avion Select, as long as they are the age of the majority and live in Canada.
Avion Premium is free with an eligible RBC product. Eligible products include:
RBC Personal Credit Cards
RBC Business Credit Cards
RBC Personal Deposit Accounts
RBC Personal Investment Products
RBC Installment Loans, Lines of Credit and Home Equity Financing
Avion Elite is free with RBC Avion Visa cards, so if you're approved for either of the top RBC Avion credit cards we mentioned at the beginning of this post, you'll unlock this membership tier.
Here’s a closer look at what each membership tier is worth:
Avion Membership Tier
Point Value
Avion Elite
Avion Elite airfare offers: 2 cpp - 2.33 cpp
Other Avion Elite travel options: 1 cpp
Avion Premium
1 cpp
Avion Select
0.58 cpp
The unique aspect of Avion Elite airfare offers is the fact that their point value will vary based on the route type and flight type.
For example:
Route Type
One Way Point/Cost Rates
Round Trip Point/Cost Rates
Point Value
“Take a quick getaway”
(travelling within or to an adjacent Canadian province/territory or U.S. state)
7,000 Avion points/ $175 (max ticket price)
15,000 Avion points/ $350 (max ticket price)
2.33
“Explore North America”
(anywhere in Canada or the U.S. – excluding Hawaii and Alaska)
17,500 Avion Points/ $375 (max ticket price)
35,000 Avion points/ $750 (max ticket price)
2.14
“Enjoy scenic adventures”
(Western Canada or the U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska OR Eastern Canada to Bermuda, Central America or the Caribbean)
22,500 Avion points/ $450 (max ticket price)
45,000 Avion points/ $900 (max ticket price)
2
“Escape to the islands”
(Western Canada to Bermuda, Central American or the Caribbean OR Eastern Canada or the U.S. to Bermuda, Central America or the Caribbean)
27,500 Avion points/ $550 (max ticket price)
55,000 Avion points/ $1,100 (max ticket price)
2
“Vacation in Europe”
(Major Canada or U.S. gateway to Europe)
32,000 Avion points/ $650 (max ticket price)
65,000 Avion points/ $1,300 (max ticket price)
2
“See the world”
(Major Canada or U.S. gateway to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East, Africa or South America)
50,000 Avion points/ $1,000 (max ticket price)
100,000 Avion points/ $2,000 (max ticket price)
2
To make your travel point payments, simply:
Sign into your Avion Rewards account either online or through the mobile app
Click or tap “Travel” to browse and select your travel rewards
Opt to pay for eligible travel arrangements with points in full, or split the cost between points and cash
If your Avion Elite plane ticket cost ends up being higher than the maximum ticket price indicated in the table above, members will have to pay for any lingering costs in cash or with Avion Points at the standard rate of 1 cpp.
Pay it Forward with Points
The third most valuable way to redeem your Avion points is to be a little selfless with your earnings.
When RBC Avion cardholders choose to donate their Avion points to charity, the value of those points is effectively 1 cpp.
In fact, every 2,500 Avion points can be converted into a $25 donation towards one of the following charitable organizations:
Ronald McDonald House
Hope Air
Own the Podium
The David Foster Foundation
Sure, you don’t get to enjoy this value for yourself – but to someone who really needs it, your points and your generosity are priceless.
To make your donation
Log into your Avion Rewards account either online or through the mobile app
Click or tap “Redeem”
Select “Donations” to start the point transfer process
Apply Points to Financial Products
There’s no shame in looking out for yourself sometimes as well, especially these days. While some redemptions might go towards helping those in need, others might just go towards your future self and your financial security.
There are a few different ways that Avion Premium and Elite members can apply their Avion points towards financial support – everything from savings to investments to loan repayments.
When deciding where to tuck away rewards for safe-keeping, consider featured RBC financial reward programs like:
RBC Registered Rewards
RBC Homeline Plan Reward
RBC Mortgage Reward
RBC Credit Line Reward
RBC Personal Loan Reward
Trade with Points
Give Away Points Through Gift Cards
Maybe you’re interested in wrapping your points in a bow and gifting them to a loved one.
While fetching an actual bow will be up to you, your RBC Avion points have tons of gift card options covered.
Sift through over 60 brands, including:
Amazon
Petro-Canada
Winners
Starbucks
The Keg
Indigo and more
To calculate your cent-per-point value on a specific gift card selection, simply divide the value of the gift card by the amount of points required for the redemption, then multiply that result by 100.
To get started:
Log into your Avion Rewards account either online or through the mobile app
Click or tap “Redeem”
Open the gift card catalogue
Morph Points Into Merchandise
If a gift card is a bit too ambiguous for your taste, try redeeming for eligible merchandise instead.
Browse tons of branded products from categories like electronics, accessories, kitchen and more.
The exact cent-per-point value of your purchase will also depend on the product you're looking to redeem points towards.
To calculate your cent-per-point value on a specific product, simply divide the value of the product by the amount of points required for the redemption, then multiply that result by 100.
To make a purchase:
Log into your Avion Rewards account either online or through the mobile app
Click or tap “Redeem”
Select specific brands like “Apple” or “Best Buy” or simply open the merchandise catalogue to view product selections and point-prices
Pay with Points
Perhaps the most flexible (although generally least lucrative) way to redeem your Avion points is to “Pay with Points.”
This redemption program allows RBC Avion cardholders to cover multiple types of expenses with points.
Eligible expenses include:
Statement credits to your credit card balance: simply sign in, hit “Redeem”, and select “Pay Credit Card Now” or log into RBC Online Banking and tap “Pay with Points”
Select in-store shopping: open your Apple Wallet to use the new Avion Rewards Pay digital tool that allows you to swap cash, debit or credit for a simple Avion-point-spending mobile tap – good for coffee shops, movies, groceries and more
Bill payments: sign into your Avion Rewards account and select “Redeem” followed by “Pay Bills Now” or head to RBC Online Banking and click “Pay Bills and Transfer Funds” then “Pay with Avion Points”
Interac e-transfers: hit the “Transfers and Payments” tab on RBC Online Banking, then select “Send Interac e-Transfer” to pull funds from your Avion Rewards number which acts as the debited account.
So, What’s the Best Way to Optimize your RBC Avion Points?
As you’ll be able to see from the overall redemptions table, the best RBC Avion redemption categories tend to pertain to travel.
On average, transferring your points to Avion airline partners can give you the best cent-per-point value. In other cases, especially when booking airfare with Avion Elite status, using points for airfare is where you’ll get the most out of your Avion points.
Are RBC Avion Points Worth it?
Based on the above analysis, if you’re a frequent traveller (not to mention a frequent flyer and an Avion Elite member), then your Avion points will be extremely lucrative.
You also have a couple of options when it comes to RBC Avion credit cards. One suitable for the average spender and earner, and another for luxury high-earning adventurers.
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