Best Avion Credit Cards

RBC’s Avion points program sounds fancy, but here’s the truth. Most people pick the wrong Avion card and end up redeeming points for toasters instead of trips to Tokyo. Not because they’re stupid, but because RBC makes this unnecessarily complicated.

Let me break it down. Avion isn’t just one program. It’s split into tiers with different redemption options, earning rates, and values. Pick the wrong tier and you’re basically collecting Monopoly money. Pick the right one? Free flights, hotel nights, and actual value from your everyday spending.

The Modern Spending Champion: RBC ION+ Visa

Forget what you think you know about rewards cards. The RBC ION+ Visa figured out how people actually spend money in 2025, not 1995.

This card earns 3x Avion points on stuff you’re already buying. Netflix? 3x points. Uber? 3x. Skip the Dishes? 3x. Groceries? 3x. That monthly Spotify subscription you forgot you had? Also 3x. It’s like RBC finally realized nobody under 40 books travel through a travel agent anymore.

The annual fee? $48. That’s four dollars a month. You spend more on that oat milk latte you pretend to enjoy. And if you have the right RBC banking package, they waive the fee entirely.

Here’s the catch though. This card earns Avion Premium points, not Avion Elite. Translation: you can’t use the Air Travel Redemption Schedule that gets you the best value. Your points are worth about 0.58 cents each for most redemptions. Not terrible, but not amazing either.

Who’s this perfect for? Young professionals living their entire life through apps. If DoorDash knows your order by heart and your screen time report makes you cry, this card turns your digital addiction into rewards points.

The Classic Traveler: RBC Avion Visa Infinite

This is RBC’s flagship Avion card, and it shows. The Avion Visa Infinite earns Elite tier points, which means access to that sweet Air Travel Redemption Schedule where flights start at 7,500 points one-way.

You earn 1 point per dollar on everything, plus 25% bonus on travel purchases. Not the highest earn rates, but here’s what matters: flexibility. Book any airline, any flight, anytime. No blackout dates, no seat restrictions. If there’s a seat for sale, you can book it with points.

The $120 annual fee often gets waived for the first year, and welcome bonuses regularly hit 35,000-55,000 points. That’s enough for multiple domestic flights or one long-haul trip if you play it right.

What makes this card special? The ability to transfer points to other programs. British Airways Avios, WestJet Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage. Sometimes transfer bonuses make these conversions ridiculously valuable. Like getting business class to Europe for the price of economy valuable.

The Premium Power Play: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

Want to feel important at airports? The Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is RBC’s answer to premium travel cards, and it doesn’t mess around.

You earn 1.25 points per dollar on everything. Not category-specific bonuses, just a flat multiplier on all spending. Spend $40,000 annually and that’s 50,000 points without thinking about bonus categories.

The perks justify the $400 annual fee for frequent travelers. Priority security lanes at major Canadian airports. Six airport lounge passes through Visa’s program. Comprehensive travel insurance that actually covers stuff. Even a companion rebate program if you spend enough.

But here’s what they don’t advertise loudly: preferred pricing on Avion flight redemptions. Your points go further than regular Avion cardholders. Same 7,500-point flight might cost someone else 10,000 points. Over time, that adds up to serious savings.

The Business Versions

Got a business? Even a side hustle? The Avion Visa Business and Avion Visa Infinite Business cards mirror their personal counterparts but with business-friendly features.

Higher credit limits, expense management tools, employee cards that earn points on your account. The earning structures are similar, but you’re running business expenses through them. That monthly software subscription for your business? Points. Client dinners? Points. Office supplies from Staples? Points.

The Infinite Business version gets you Elite tier points with the good redemption schedule. The basic Business card? Premium tier with lower redemption values. Choose based on your business spending volume, not the fancy name.

The Specialist Cards

RBC also slaps Avion points on co-branded cards, but they’re not really Avion cards. They’re loyalty cards that happen to earn Avion points.

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard earns WestJet Rewards, not transferable Avion points. Great if you’re married to WestJet, useless if you fly Air Canada.

The British Airways Visa Infinite earns Avios directly. Again, not true Avion points. Perfect for specific redemption goals, limiting for general travel.

These aren’t bad cards. They’re just not flexible Avion cards despite what RBC’s marketing suggests.

The Avion Points Reality Check

Time for uncomfortable truth. Avion points aren’t worth what RBC claims.

RBC says points are worth 1 cent each. Sometimes true, usually not. Redeeming for merchandise? You’re getting 0.5-0.7 cents per point. Gift cards? Maybe 0.8 cents. Statement credits? Don’t even ask.

The only good redemptions are travel, specifically flights through the Air Travel Redemption Schedule (Elite tier only) or transfers to airline partners. Everything else is a sucker’s game.

Also, Avion has dynamic pricing now. That 7,500-point short-haul flight? Only during off-peak times. Christmas travel? Could be 20,000 points for the same route. Plan accordingly.

The Banking Package Hack

RBC desperately wants you to bank with them, not just carry their credit card. So they offer deals.

Get the VIP Banking package and they’ll waive your Avion card’s annual fee. That’s $120-400 in savings depending on the card. The banking package costs money, but if you were paying for premium banking anyway, the credit card becomes free.

Some packages also boost your earning rates or give bonus points annually. It’s worth doing the math if you’re already an RBC customer or considering switching.

Choosing Your Avion Strategy

Stop looking at welcome bonuses. Start looking at your life.

Spend $30,000+ annually and travel regularly? Avion Visa Infinite or Infinite Privilege depending on budget.

Digital native with subscription everything? ION+ Visa captures modern spending perfectly.

Business owner with big expenses? Business versions multiply your earning potential.

Occasional spender who wants simplicity? Skip Avion entirely. RBC’s cashback cards are clearer value.

The mistake people make is choosing based on aspiration, not reality. That Infinite Privilege looks amazing, but if you spend $15,000 annually, you’re paying $400 for perks you’ll never maximize.

The Competition Problem

Here’s what RBC won’t tell you. Avion faces tough competition.

American Express Membership Rewards transfers to more partners with better ratios. TD Aeroplan cards get you better Air Canada perks. Scotia Amex Gold earns 5x points on groceries and dining.

Avion’s advantage? Acceptance and flexibility. RBC Visa cards work everywhere in Canada. The ability to book any airline matters if you’re not loyal to one carrier. And RBC’s size means better customer service and branch support when things go wrong.

Maximizing Avion Value

Want to squeeze maximum value from Avion? Here’s the playbook.

First, only redeem for flights through the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or transfer to partners. Everything else destroys value.

Second, book short-haul flights during off-peak times for best point values. Toronto to New York for 7,500 points beats paying $400 cash.

Third, watch for transfer bonuses. RBC occasionally offers 20-30% bonuses when converting to British Airways or WestJet. That’s free money if you were planning to transfer anyway.

Fourth, combine with RBC offers. They constantly run promos for bonus points at specific retailers. Stack these with category bonuses for multiplicative earnings.

The Application Game

Timing your Avion application matters more than you think.

RBC runs aggressive promos twice yearly, usually spring and fall. Welcome bonuses jump from 25,000 to 55,000 points. First-year fee waivers appear. Sometimes both happen simultaneously.

Already have an RBC card? You might not qualify for welcome bonuses on new Avion cards. But RBC offers product switches where you can change cards and sometimes get partial bonuses. Call and negotiate.

Credit score matters. Infinite cards want 650+, Privilege wants 700+. Below that? Start with ION+ or basic Avion Visa, build history, upgrade later.

Making the Final Call

The best Avion credit card isn’t about prestige or metal cards or lounge access. It’s about matching the card to your actual spending and travel patterns.

The ION+ Visa captures modern digital spending at a budget price point. Perfect for millennials and Gen Z living their subscription-based lives.

The Avion Visa Infinite remains the workhorse for regular travelers who value flexibility over specific airline loyalty.

The Infinite Privilege makes sense only for high spenders who’ll use every perk.

Business versions multiply value if you have legitimate business expenses.

Pick based on math, not marketing. Calculate your annual spending, multiply by earn rates, subtract annual fees. The card with the highest net value wins. Everything else is just noise designed to make you feel special while picking your pocket.

That’s the truth about Avion credit cards. Great program if you pick the right card and use it correctly. Expensive point collecting exercise if you don’t.

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