Overview
The RBC Visa Platinum Avion is the entry-level card in RBC's Avion Rewards lineup — and it's a surprisingly strong option for Canadians who want flexible travel rewards without needing to meet an income requirement. While the Avion Visa Infinite and Infinite Privilege both require minimum personal income of $60,000+ or household income of $100,000+, the Platinum has no income requirement at all.
The current welcome offer is up to 55,000 bonus Avion points, worth up to $1,100 in travel value — the same welcome bonus as the Avion Visa Infinite. That's enough for up to 3 round-trip domestic flights. For a full breakdown of how to maximize Avion points, read our RBC Avion Points Guide.
Earning Avion Points
The Platinum card earns Avion points at a flat rate on all spending:
- 1 Avion point per $1 on all eligible purchases
Unlike the Avion Visa Infinite (which earns 1.25x on travel) or the Infinite Privilege (1.5x on travel), the Platinum card offers no bonus category — it's a straightforward 1x earn rate across the board. On $1,500/month in combined spending, you'd earn approximately 18,000 Avion points per year on top of any welcome bonus.
Avion Points Never Expire
Like all Avion cards, your points never expire as long as your account remains open. There's no 36-month activity requirement — 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. See our full guide to Avion redemptions for the complete schedule with all categories and max CPP values.
Transfer Partners
Just like the higher-tier Avion cards, the Platinum gives you access to the same transfer partners:
- 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
Transfer ratios vary by partner, but strategic transfers can unlock outsized value — especially for Business and First Class award flights. We break down exact transfer ratios and sweet spots in our Avion Points Guide.
Book Any Flight, Any Time
Like all Avion cards, the Platinum gives you the core "any flight, any airline" booking flexibility:
- 500+ airlines available to book through the Avion travel portal
- No blackout dates — even during peak 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 flexibility is the same across all Avion card tiers — the Platinum doesn't lose any booking capability compared to the Infinite or Infinite Privilege.
Insurance & Benefits
This is where the Platinum card notably differs from the Infinite tier. The Platinum provides "Broad" insurance coverage, which is a step below the Infinite card's "Extensive" package:
What's Included
- 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 — Protection for eligible purchases
What's Missing (vs. Avion Visa Infinite)
The most significant omission is unlimited emergency medical insurance — the Infinite card includes this with no trip-length cap, making it one of the best travel medical insurance benefits in Canada. The Platinum card does not include this feature, so you'll need to arrange separate travel medical insurance for trips.
The Platinum also doesn't include baggage delay/loss insurance that comes with the Infinite tier.
Partner Perks
The card includes the same ongoing partner savings as the other Avion cards:
- Petro-Canada — Save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points
- Rexall — Earn 50 Be Well™ points per $1 on eligible purchases
- Hertz — Up to 20% off rentals and 3x Avion points
- DoorDash — Free 6-month DashPass subscription (note: Infinite gets 12 months)
Drawbacks to Consider
Flat 1x Earn Rate
The biggest trade-off versus the Infinite card is the earn rate. At 1 Avion point per $1 on everything (no travel bonus), you'll earn fewer points on travel spending compared to the Infinite (1.25x) or Infinite Privilege (1.5x). Over a year with $6,000 in travel spending, that's 1,500 fewer points than the Infinite card — not a huge gap, but it adds up over time.
No Unlimited Emergency Medical Insurance
This is a significant gap for frequent travellers. The Infinite card's unlimited emergency medical insurance (with no trip-length restriction) is one of its standout features, and you don't get it on the Platinum.
Foreign Transaction Fee (2.5%)
Like all RBC cards, the 2.5% FX fee applies to non-CAD purchases. Pair this card with a no-FX-fee card for spending abroad.
No Airport Lounge Access
No lounge access at any tier below Infinite Privilege, so this isn't a differentiator.
RBC Avion Card Comparison
| Feature | Visa Platinum Avion | Avion Visa Infinite | Avion Visa Infinite Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $120 | $120 | $399 |
| Additional Card | $50 | $50 | $99 |
| Income Requirement | None | $60,000 / $100,000 | $80,000 / $150,000 |
| Base Earn Rate | 1x | 1x | 1x |
| Travel Earn Rate | 1x | 1.25x | 1.5x |
| Welcome Bonus | 55,000 pts | 55,000 pts | 70,000 pts |
| Travel Value | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,500 |
| Lounge Access | Priority Pass | ||
| Emergency Medical | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Mobile Device Insurance | |||
| DashPass | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months |
The Platinum and Infinite cards share the same $120 annual fee and the same 55,000-point welcome bonus. The key question is whether you meet the Infinite card's income requirement ($60,000 personal or $100,000 household). If you do, the Infinite is strictly better — you get the 1.25x travel earn rate, unlimited emergency medical insurance, and 12 months of DashPass at the same price.
Who Is This Card Best For?
This card is an excellent choice if you:
- Want access to Avion Rewards flexibility but don't meet Visa Infinite income requirements
- Are a younger earner, student, or new Canadian building your travel rewards strategy
- Value points that never expire with no activity requirements
- Want the option to transfer points to airline partners for premium cabin bookings
- Are looking for a same-price alternative to the Infinite when income is a barrier
It's not the best choice if you:
- Meet the Infinite income requirement — the Infinite is strictly better at the same $120 fee
- Need unlimited emergency medical insurance for extended travel
- Spend frequently in foreign currencies and need to avoid FX fees
- Want airport lounge access
- Prefer higher earn rates on travel spending
Bottom Line
The RBC Visa Platinum Avion occupies a unique niche: it offers the same welcome bonus and same annual fee as the Avion Visa Infinite, but with no income requirement. For Canadians who can't yet meet the $60,000/$100,000 income threshold, it's the most accessible way to get into the Avion Rewards ecosystem and start earning flexible travel points.
You give up the 1.25x travel earn rate and unlimited emergency medical insurance compared to the Infinite, but you get the same core value: 55,000 bonus points, 500+ airlines with no blackouts, points that never expire, and access to the full suite of transfer partners. If you're starting out and want a flexible travel card that grows with you, the Platinum Avion is a solid entry point — and you can always upgrade to Infinite when your income qualifies.
Want to make the most of 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.
