The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is RBC’s flagship mid-tier travel credit card, earning RBC Avion points — one of Canada’s most flexible rewards currencies — on every purchase. Unlike Aeroplan-earning cards that are tied to Air Canada’s loyalty program, Avion points can be transferred to multiple airline loyalty programs, giving cardholders genuine flexibility in how they redeem for travel.
For a broader look at how Avion points work, see the RBC Avion Rewards program guide. For the full picture of RBC’s card lineup, see best RBC credit cards in Canada.
Card at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Supplementary card | $50 |
| Minimum income | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household |
| Network | Visa Infinite |
| Rewards program | RBC Avion Rewards |
| Purchase interest rate | 20.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
Welcome Bonus
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite typically offers a welcome bonus of 35,000 Avion points for new cardholders, sometimes with elevated promotional offers reaching 55,000 points. Always check the current offer on RBC’s website before applying — promotional periods vary.
At approximately 1.5 cents per point transferred to British Airways Avios for short-haul bookings, 35,000 points is worth approximately $525 in flights. Redeemed directly through RBC’s Air Travel Redemption Schedule, the same 35,000 points covers a return economy flight within North America.
Earn Rates
| Purchase category | Points per $1 |
|---|---|
| Eligible travel purchases | 1.25 points |
| All other purchases | 1 point |
The Avion Visa Infinite earns a flat rate on all purchases, which is simple but modest compared to category-accelerated cards like the Amex Cobalt (5× on dining) or Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite (4% on groceries). Avion’s value proposition comes from the points’ flexibility, not the earn rate — 1 point per dollar on a high-spending card still accumulates quickly.
For those spending $60,000/year on the card, you accumulate approximately 60,000–65,000 Avion points annually, enough for a round-trip transatlantic economy flight redeemed via Avios.
Transfer Partners
One of the Avion card’s key advantages is point transferability:
| Partner | Transfer ratio | Best redemptions |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways Executive Club (Avios) | 1:1 | Short-haul flights, Air Canada partners |
| WestJet Rewards | Variable | WestJet flights and vacation packages |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1:1 | American Airlines and Oneworld partners |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | Cathay Pacific and Oneworld partners |
The British Airways Avios partnership is the most compelling. Avios uses a distance-based chart, which means short-haul flights — such as Toronto to New York — require very few points compared to North American award charts. You can also book Air Canada flights through British Airways using Avios, often at better rates than Aeroplan.
Insurance Coverage
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite includes comprehensive travel insurance:
- Out-of-province/country emergency travel medical — up to $5,000,000, trips up to 15 days
- Trip cancellation/interruption — up to $1,500 per person cancellation, $5,000 interruption
- Flight delay — reimbursement after 4-hour delay, up to $500
- Baggage delay — up to $500 per person after 6-hour delay
- Lost or stolen baggage — up to $500 per person
- Auto rental collision/loss damage waiver — up to 48 consecutive days
- Mobile device insurance — up to $1,500
- Purchase security — 90-day coverage against theft and accidental damage
- Extended warranty — doubles manufacturer’s warranty, up to one year
The $5 million emergency travel medical coverage is generous relative to competing cards at this price point. For frequent travellers, this is a meaningful differentiator.
Who Should Get This Card
Best fit:
- RBC customers who want their travel card linked to their existing banking
- Canadians who want flexible points transferable to multiple airline programs
- Those who want the lowest annual fee among Visa Infinite travel cards with full insurance ($120 vs $139–$150 for many competitors)
- Frequent travellers to the UK or Europe who can leverage Avios for British Airways or partner bookings
Consider alternatives if:
- You fly Air Canada almost exclusively — a TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite earns Aeroplan directly and includes Air Canada-specific perks
- You spend heavily on groceries/dining — category-accelerated cards like Amex Cobalt offer far better earn rates in those categories
- You want unlimited lounge access — step up to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege ($399/year) for Priority Pass Unlimited
RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs Key Competitors
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Points flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | $120 | 1–1.25× | High (4 transfer partners) |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1–1.5× | Medium (Aeroplan only) |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1–1.5× | Medium (Aeroplan only) |
| Amex Cobalt | $156 | 1–5× | High (Aeroplan 1:1) |
| Scotia Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | 1–3× | Medium (Scene+ points) |
The Avion card’s $120 annual fee is the lowest among full-insurance Visa Infinite travel cards in Canada, making it a strong value proposition, especially for RBC customers who qualify through existing relationships.
Verdict
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is a versatile, moderately priced travel credit card that excels in flexibility. Its earn rate is unspectacular at 1 point per dollar, but Avion points’ ability to transfer to four airline programs — particularly British Airways Avios — gives cardholders access to some of Canada’s best flight redemption values.
For RBC customers, it is the obvious choice. For non-RBC customers, the flexibility of Avion points and the lower annual fee make it a strong alternative to Aeroplan-earning cards.
See also: RBC Avion Rewards program guide · best travel credit cards in Canada · best RBC credit cards