Overview
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is one of Canada's most popular travel credit cards — and for good reason. It combines a strong welcome bonus with genuine flexibility: you can book any flight, on any airline, at any time with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Unlike program-specific cards that lock you into one airline or alliance, the Avion card lets you choose how and where you travel.
The current welcome offer is up to 55,000 bonus Avion points, worth up to $1,100 in travel value — enough for up to 3 round-trip domestic flights. Beyond the signup bonus, the card's real strength is its flexibility: Avion points can be used to book flights on 500+ airlines, redeemed for hotels, car rentals, and experiences, or converted to partner airline loyalty programs. For a complete breakdown of how to get the most from your points, read our RBC Avion Points Guide.
Earning Avion Points
The card earns Avion points on every purchase:
- 1.25 Avion points per $1 spent on travel-related purchases (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.)
- 1 Avion point per $1 on all other eligible purchases
The 1.25x bonus on travel spend is a nice accelerator for a card at this price point. On $1,500/month in combined spending (with $300 in travel), you'd earn approximately 18,900 Avion points per year on top of any welcome bonus.
Avion Points Never Expire
One of the best features of the Avion program: your points never expire as long as your account remains open. There's no 36-month activity requirement like some other programs — your balance stays intact indefinitely.
What Are Avion Points Worth?
Avion points have variable value depending on how you redeem them (we cover this in depth in our RBC Avion Points Guide):
| Redemption Method | Value per Point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Redemption Schedule | ~2.0¢ | Fixed pricing, best value |
| Hotel, car rental, travel expenses | ~1.0¢ | 100 points = $1 |
| Statement credit | ~0.7¢ | Poorest value |
| Partner program transfer | Varies | Can exceed 2¢ depending on partner |
The Air Travel Redemption Schedule offers the best bang for your points with fixed pricing 365 days a year. This is where Avion points shine — you get predictable, competitive rates regardless of when you book. See our full guide to Avion redemptions for the complete Air Travel Redemption Schedule with all categories and max CPP values.
Transfer Partners
Avion points can be converted to several airline loyalty programs, unlocking premium redemption opportunities:
- British Airways Executive Club (Avios) — Oneworld alliance flights worldwide
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles — Premium cabin flights to Asia
- American Airlines AAdvantage — Domestic U.S. and international flights
- WestJet Rewards — Domestic Canadian and transborder flights
- And more — Check avionrewards.com for the full list of transfer partners
Transfer ratios vary by partner, but strategic transfers can unlock outsized value — especially for Business and First Class award flights on partner airlines. We break down exact transfer ratios and sweet spots in our Avion Points Guide.
Book Any Flight, Any Time
The headline benefit of the Avion card is its "any flight, any airline" booking flexibility:
- 500+ airlines available to book through the Avion travel portal
- No blackout dates — even during peak holiday and summer travel seasons
- No seat restrictions — if a seat is for sale, you can book it with points
- Fixed-point pricing via the Air Travel Redemption Schedule
This is a major differentiator from program-specific cards. With Aeroplan or Avios, you're subject to award availability and can find yourself shut out of popular routes. With Avion, if the flight exists, you can book it. Our RBC Avion Points Guide includes real-world booking examples showing exactly how fixed-point pricing works.
Insurance & Benefits
The Visa Infinite tier comes loaded with insurance — and the RBC Avion version stands out with one headline feature:
Unlimited Emergency Medical Insurance
Unlike most travel cards that cap emergency medical coverage at 15 or 21 days per trip, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite provides unlimited emergency medical insurance with no trip-length restriction. This is a rare and genuinely valuable benefit for extended travellers, snowbirds, or anyone taking longer vacations.
Full Insurance Package
- Unlimited travel emergency medical insurance — No trip-length cap
- Travel accident insurance — Coverage for accidental death or dismemberment while travelling
- Trip cancellation & interruption insurance — Reimbursement for pre-paid, non-refundable travel costs
- Mobile device insurance — Covers your smartphone against accidental damage and theft
- Car rental collision/loss damage waiver — Decline the rental company's coverage
- Purchase protection & extended warranty — 90 days of purchase protection plus extended warranty
- Baggage delay & loss insurance — Coverage for delayed, lost, or damaged baggage
Visa Infinite Benefits
As a Visa Infinite cardholder, you also get access to:
- Visa Infinite Hotel Collection — Free nights, room upgrades, and breakfast at 900+ luxury properties worldwide
- Visa Infinite Dining Series — Curated dining events at top Canadian restaurants
- Visa Infinite Wine Country — Complimentary tastings and discounted wine deliveries
- GigSky International Data — 1GB/15 days complimentary plan plus 20% off all plans in 175+ countries
- Visa Concierge — 24/7 personal concierge service for travel, dining, and gift recommendations
Partner Perks
The card includes ongoing savings with popular Canadian brands:
- Petro-Canada — Save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points when you link your card
- Rexall — Earn 50 Be Well™ points per $1 on eligible purchases
- Hertz — Up to 20% off rentals and 3x Avion points
- DoorDash — Free 12-month DashPass subscription
These partner perks add meaningful day-to-day value beyond the core travel benefits — especially the Petro-Canada fuel savings for road-tripping Canadians.
Drawbacks to Consider
Foreign Transaction Fee (2.5%)
Like most Canadian credit cards, the Avion Visa Infinite charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on non-CAD purchases. If you're travelling internationally — which this card is designed to support — you'll want to pair it with a no-FX-fee card (like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite or HSBC World Elite) for purchases made abroad.
No Airport Lounge Access
The standard Avion Visa Infinite does not include airport lounge access. If lounges are important to you, consider the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege ($399/year), which adds Priority Pass lounge access and other premium perks.
Base Earn Rate
At 1 Avion point per $1 on non-travel purchases, the base earn rate is average for a card at this price point. If most of your spending is on groceries and everyday purchases (not travel), you may earn points faster with a card that offers category bonuses on those categories.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs. Infinite Privilege
| Feature | Avion Visa Infinite | Avion Visa Infinite Privilege |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $120 | $399 |
| Additional Card | $50 | $99 |
| Base Earn Rate | 1 point per $1 | 1 point per $1 |
| Travel Earn Rate | 1.25x | 1.5x |
| Lounge Access | Priority Pass | |
| Emergency Medical | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Mobile Device Insurance |
If your travel spending is high and you value lounge access, the Privilege card may justify its higher fee. For most Canadians, the standard Infinite at $120/year offers excellent value.
Who Is This Card Best For?
This card is an excellent choice if you:
- Want maximum flexibility — book any flight on any airline, not just one program
- Value unlimited emergency medical insurance for longer trips
- Prefer a moderate annual fee ($120) with strong travel benefits
- Want to earn points that never expire with no activity requirements
- Like the option to transfer points to airline partners for premium cabin bookings
It's not the best choice if you:
- Spend frequently in foreign currencies and need to avoid FX fees
- Want airport lounge access bundled with your card
- Prefer a specific airline loyalty program (Aeroplan, Avios, etc.) over flexible points
- Are looking for the highest earn rates on everyday non-travel spending
Bottom Line
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is Canada's go-to flexible travel rewards card for a reason. With up to 55,000 bonus Avion points on signup, the ability to book any flight on 500+ airlines with no blackouts, unlimited emergency medical insurance, and points that never expire, it delivers outstanding value at its $120 annual fee.
The card's flexibility is its superpower — you're not locked into one airline or alliance, and you can always transfer to partners when a specific redemption makes sense. For Canadians who want a single travel card that covers all the bases without the complexity of managing multiple loyalty programs, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is hard to beat.
Ready to maximize your Avion points? Read our complete RBC Avion Points Guide for the full Air Travel Redemption Schedule, transfer partner strategies, and real-world redemption examples.
