RBC Avion Rewards is Royal Bank of Canada’s flagship travel loyalty program, offering flexibility between in-house travel bookings and transfers to airline and hotel partners. For WestJet flyers and travelers willing to leverage British Airways Avios pricing, Avion can deliver solid value. This guide covers what Avion points are worth, the best and worst redemptions, and how to choose the right Avion card.
RBC Avion Rewards at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program name | RBC Avion Rewards |
| Best standard CPP | ~1.0 CPP (travel portal) |
| Best CPP (transfer) | 1.5–2.0+ CPP (British Airways Avios) |
| Transfer partners | British Airways, Cathay Pacific, WestJet, InterContinental Hotels |
| Does NOT transfer to | Aeroplan / Air Canada directly |
| Points expiry | Never while account is open |
| Main cards | RBC Avion Visa, RBC Avion Visa Infinite, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege |
What Are RBC Avion Points Worth?
| Redemption Method | CPP (Cents Per Point) |
|---|---|
| RBC Travel Portal | ~1.0 CPP |
| British Airways Avios (transfer) | 1.5–2.0+ CPP (short haul) |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (transfer) | Varies — 1.0–2.0+ CPP |
| WestJet Dollars (1:1) | 1.0 CPP |
| IHG Hotels (transfer) | ~0.5–0.8 CPP |
| Gift cards | ~0.5–0.7 CPP |
| Statement credits | ~0.5 CPP |
| Merchandise | 0.3–0.5 CPP |
Key rule: Transfer partners and the RBC travel portal offer best value. Never redeem Avion points for merchandise or cash.
Transfer Partners and Ratios
| Partner | Transfer Ratio | Typical Value |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways Avios | 1:1 | 1.5–2.0+ CPP on short haul |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | 1.0–2.0+ CPP on premium |
| WestJet Dollars | 100 pts = $1 WestJet | 1.0 CPP |
| IHG One Rewards | 1:1 | ~0.5–0.8 CPP |
Why British Airways Avios is Often the Best Avion Transfer
British Airways prices award flights by distance (Avios), not by cash price. This makes short-haul routes very cheap to book.
| Route (One-Way Economy) | Avios Cost | Cash Fare Equiv. |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto – Boston | 9,000 | $150–250 |
| Toronto – New York | 9,000 | $100–200 |
| Toronto – Chicago | 13,000 | $150–300 |
| London – Paris | 4,500 | £100–200 |
| London – Dublin | 4,500 | £60–150 |
If cash fares are high (which they often are on short notice), transferring Avion to Avios and booking through BA can deliver 2–3 CPP or more.
Caveat: British Airways charges significant carrier-imposed surcharges (fuel surcharges) on award bookings, especially for transatlantic routes. Calculate the full cost before transferring.
RBC Avion Credit Cards Compared
RBC Avion Visa (Entry)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Welcome bonus | ~15,000–25,000 Avion pts |
| Earn: all purchases | 1 pt per $1 |
| Bonus categories | None typically |
| Notable perks | Travel insurance, basic |
| Best for | Simple earn, basic travel |
RBC Avion Visa Infinite (Core Card)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Welcome bonus | ~15,000–55,000 Avion pts |
| Earn: all purchases | 1 pt per $1 |
| Bonus earn: travel | 1.25 pts per $1 |
| Min income | $60,000 individual / $100K household |
| Travel insurance | Comprehensive — up to $5M medical, 15 days |
| Airport lounge | No (Privilege only) |
| Best for | Most Avion cardholders |
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege (Premium)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $399 |
| Welcome bonus | ~40,000–90,000 Avion pts |
| Earn: all purchases | 1.25 pts per $1 |
| Earn: travel | 1.25 pts per $1 |
| Min income | $200,000 individual |
| Airport lounge | Yes — unlimited Priority Pass |
| Travel insurance | $5M medical up to 31 days |
| Best for | Heavy travelers, lounge access seekers |
RBC Business Avion Visa Infinite
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $175 |
| Welcome bonus | ~50,000–70,000 Avion pts |
| Earn: all | 1.25 pts per $1 |
| Best for | Self-employed, small business owners |
Welcome Bonus Value
| Card | Best Bonus | Travel Value (at 1.0 CPP) |
|---|---|---|
| Avion Visa Infinite | ~55,000 pts (promo) | $550 |
| Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | ~90,000 pts (promo) | $900 |
| Avion Visa Business | ~70,000 pts (promo) | $700 |
Best RBC promotions typically run November–January and April–May.
How to Earn RBC Avion Points Faster
| Strategy | Result |
|---|---|
| Use Avion card for all travel bookings | 1.25x earn on travel (Infinite) |
| Target welcome bonus | Fastest path to large redemption |
| Link to RBC Petro-Canada for gas | Extra Avion pts on fuel |
| RBC Offers in online banking | Bonus earn at select merchants |
| Refer friends/family | Referral bonus when approved |
How to Redeem RBC Avion Points
Method 1: RBC Travel Portal (Simplest)
Book any flight, hotel, or car through rbc.com/travel or the RBC mobile app. Points redeem at approximately 100 pts = $1 (1.0 CPP).
No restrictions on airlines, no blackout dates.
Method 2: Book Anywhere, Redeem Against Statement
Book flights directly (Air Canada, WestJet, etc.), then log into RBC and apply Avion points against the travel charge.
Value: approximately 100 pts = $1 (1.0 CPP on eligible travel charges).
Method 3: Transfer to British Airways Avios
- Call RBC Rewards or transfer online at rbcrewards.com
- Convert at 1:1 to Avios
- Book at ba.com/awardflights
Minimum transfer: typically 5,000–10,000 points.
Ideal for: Short North American hops, transatlantic business class (Avios offers strong J class options via partner airlines, though surcharges apply).
Method 4: WestJet Dollars
Transfer at 100 Avion = $1 WestJet Dollar. Use like cash on wesjet.com.
Simple, effective for WestJet flyers — no award chart, no blackout dates.
Method 5: Gift Cards / Cash Back (Avoid)
Gift cards: ~0.5–0.7 CPP. Statement credits: ~0.5 CPP. These are significantly below the travel redemption value and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
RBC Avion vs. Competing Programs
| Feature | RBC Avion | TD Rewards | Aeroplan | Amex MR (Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best CPP | 1.0–2.0+ | 0.5 CPP | 1.5–3+ CPP | 1.5–3+ CPP |
| Transfer to Aeroplan | No | No | N/A | Yes (1:1) |
| Transfer to BA Avios | Yes | No | No | No (US only) |
| Transfer to WestJet | Yes | No | No | No |
| Best card annual fee | $120 | $139 | $139 | $155 |
| Best for | WestJet, short haul, all-around | Simple travel portal | Air Canada flyers | Transfer maximizers |
Avion vs. Aeroplan: Head-to-Head
| Factor | RBC Avion | Aeroplan |
|---|---|---|
| Airline fit | WestJet, BA / Oneworld | Air Canada / Star Alliance |
| Max value possible | ~2.0+ CPP | 3.0+ CPP (business class) |
| Complexity | Low-medium | High (award chart mastery) |
| Flexibility | High (cash-like for travel) | Medium (partner restrictions) |
| Best use case | WestJet, Avios short haul | AC premium international |
| Program type | Bank points | Dedicated airline program |
Conclusion: For Air Canada frequent flyers, Aeroplan wins. For WestJet regulars or BA/Oneworld users, Avion competes well.
Common RBC Avion Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Redeeming for gift cards | Lose ~50% of value vs travel |
| Only using portal, never BA Avios | Missing 1.5–2.0 CPP opportunities |
| Ignoring WestJet partners | Great 1:1 conversion for WJ flyers |
| Cancelling instead of downgrading | Points forfeited on closure |
| Not comparing portal prices | Portal sometimes inflated vs direct |
| Forgetting fuel surcharges (BA) | Can negate Avios savings |
Related Resources
- Aeroplan Points Value Canada — How Aeroplan compares
- TD Rewards Program Guide — TD’s loyalty program comparison
- Amex Membership Rewards Canada — Transferable points with Aeroplan
- Points vs Cashback Credit Cards — Is rewards worth the complexity?
- Best Travel Credit Cards Canada — Top options compared
- WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard — Direct WestJet earn card