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RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card Review

RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card review

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2.0

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Welcome Offer

Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval

1 Avion point for every dollar you spend qualifying purchases, plus earn bonus points through purchases at selected retailers using your Avion Rewards credit card.

3 cents per litre savings on fuel and 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada gas stations

50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

20% savings and 2x the Avion points with Hertz rental cars.

$0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash with a DashPass subscription

$500,000 Travel accident insurance

48 consecutive days of rental car insurance for cars up to $65,000 MSRP

$1,000 of trip cancellation insurance for each covered person, up to an overall maximum of $5,000

$250 of flight delay insurance per covered person to a maximum of $500 total per occurrence.

$500 for delayed baggage insurance per occurrence for each covered person to a maximum of $25,000 per occurrence.

$2,500 for hotel/motel burglary insurance per occurrence.

1 year of manufacturer's extended warranty insurance

$50,000 purchase security insurance for loss or accidental physical damage to insured items purchase with your card for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase.

20.99% Purchase APR

3% Balance Transfer Rate

22.99% Cash Advance APR

$120 Annual Fee $50 for each additional card

2.5% Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN

Good Recommended Credit Score

2.0

RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card review

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Quick overview of the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card

The RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card is a flexible travel rewards card aimed at the frequent flyer who likes to travel often and easily. Its point system is simple, allowing cardholders to use their points on any airline, on any flight, at any time with no blackouts or seat restrictions, even during peak seasons.

With an extensive travel insurance package and fuel savings, the RBC Avion Platinum card has features that’ll appeal to the frequent flyer and driver alike. 

Who is the RBC Avion Visa Platinum for?

Are you interested in travel rewards but find all of the options confusing? This card might be for you. While other cards have tiered rewards structures that offer different amounts of points for different spending categories, the Platinum RBC Avion Visa keeps things super simple, offering 1 Avion point on all qualifying purchases. See? Nothing confusing here.

That philosophy carries over to how points are redeemed. While some cards only allow you to book on certain airlines at certain times of the year, the Avion card allows you to use your points for travel on any airline, for any seat, at any time of year – even during peak travel seasons.  Don’t be fooled by its simplicity, though. The card also comes with travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and interruption. However, if you’re looking for premium travel perks like no foreign exchange fees and lounge access, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Those features aren’t included with the RBC Avion Visa Platinum. 

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • Get up to 35,000 bonus points

  • The welcome bonus is simple and doesn’t require a minimum spend

  • Included travel insurance

  • Save 3 cents per litre on fuel at Petro Canada

Cons

Cons

  • No lounge access

  • Earn only 1 point per dollar spent

  • High-interest rates

RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card welcome bonus

  • Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval
  • Points will appear on your first statement following approval
  • That's enough points to fly you anywhere in Canada or the US, excluding Hawaii and Alaska

How to earn Avion points with the RBC Avion Visa Platinum card

When you open a RBC Avion Visa Platinum card, you’ll earn 35,000 pts right off the bat, just for opening the card – no minimum spend required. That little nest egg, valued at around $750, will get you started on your Avion point-earning journey. From there, you’ll earn 1 Avion point on all qualifying purchases, no matter where you shop. Groceries? Check. Gas? Check. Netflix, bar tab, new clothes? Check, check, check. It’s nice not to have to tailor your spending at specific retailers to earn points.

And, if you’d like to maximize your point-earning potential, you can link your Avion card to a free Petro Points card. You'll save 3 cents per litre savings on fuel and 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada gas stations. 

How to redeem Avion points

RBC makes it easy to redeem Avion points with its online portal. To redeem your points, visit the website and navigate to the redeem tab. Once there, you can use your points to pay some or all of your credit card balance, pay back purchases, pay bills, send Interac e-transfers, donate to charity, or shop. You can also use your points to book travel. RBC provides estimates to help you figure out how many points you might need to book specific flights. 

For example, 15,000 points can be used to book quick getaways within or to an adjacent province or state; 35,000 points can help you explore North America; 45,000 points can get you Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Bermuda, Central America, or the Caribbean; 55,000 points can pay for a full vacation to one of those destinations; 65,000 points can get you to Europe; and 100,000 points can take you far-flung destinations such as New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, or South America. 

Another way to redeem Avion points is to download the Avion Rewards app in the Apple or Google Play store.

RBC Avion Visa Platinum key benefits

  • Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval
  • Travel insurance
  • 3 cents per litre savings on fuel and 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada gas stations

RBC Avion Visa Platinum insurance coverage

  • Travel accident insurance: Coverage for accidental death or dismemberment. Maximum benefit: $500,000.
  • Auto rental collision/Loss damage insurance: Coverage for rental vehicles against damage or theft. Maximum rental period is 48 consecutive days; maximum benefit is the lesser of the vehicle's actual cash value or repair cost.
  • Trip interruption insurance: Coverage for eligible expenses if a covered trip is interrupted. Maximum benefit: $2,500 per insured person.
  • Emergency purchases insurance: Coverage for essential purchases in the event of delayed baggage. Maximum benefit: $500 per insured person.
  • Flight delay insurance: Reimbursement for necessary expenses due to flight delays. Coverage begins after a four-hour delay. Maximum benefit: $500 per insured person.
  • Travel emergency medical insurance: Coverage for emergency medical expenses during trips. Maximum benefit: $5 million per insured person for eligible medical emergency expenses. 
  • Hotel/motel burglary insurance: Coverage of up to $2,500 per occurrence.
  • Purchase security and extended warranty: Coverage of purchased items from loss or accidental damage for up to 90 days.

Extra benefits

  • Earn additional Be Well points when shopping at Rexall
  • Get 20% off at Hertz car rental and 2x the Avion points
  • Get $0 delivery fees with DoorDash for a year

What people have to say about this card

In a Reddit thread entitled “Is the RBC Avion credit card worth it?” one user questioned why the pricey card only offers 1 point for every dollar spent. Others replied, explaining the best ways to take advantage of the rewards.According to a few users, redeeming points toward an RBC investing account is a great way to maximise your rewards. Another user claimed the travel insurance makes up for the yearly cost, claiming it once saved them $3,000. In another Reddit thread entitled “Is the RBC Avion Visa Platinum worth it for travel?” users complemented its flexible rewards redemption. However, some noted you can get more points with other cards, such as the American Express Cobalt card. 

How RBC Avion Visa Platinum compares

RBC ION Visa

Apply now

2.3

3,500 pts

Welcome offer

Fair

Suggested credit score

Get 3,500 Avion points on approval with the RBC ION Visa Card^ Apply by January 15, 2025.

Apply now

Pros

  • No annual fee

  • Minimum redemption is only $10

  • DoorDash subscription worth $30

Cons

  • Miserly welcome bonus, valued at less than many cash back bonuses

  • Collects Avion ION points which are worth about half as much as traditional Avion points

  • Pretty “meh” on points collection through daily spending

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Fair

Pros

  • No annual fee

  • Minimum redemption is only $10

  • DoorDash subscription worth $30

Cons

  • Miserly welcome bonus, valued at less than many cash back bonuses

  • Collects Avion ION points which are worth about half as much as traditional Avion points

  • Pretty “meh” on points collection through daily spending

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Fair

Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, transportation (gas, rideshare, transit, EV charging), and streaming services and subscriptions

1.5x

Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases

1

year extension on manufacturer's warranty

1

of purchase security protection

90 days

savings at Petro-Canada

3¢/L

Be Well points at Rexall for every $1 spent

50

month DashPass subscription to enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees from DoorDash.

3

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$0

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

RBC Avion Visa Platinum vs. RBC ION Visa

The RBC ION Visa can be thought of as the RBC Avion light. It’ll earn you Avion points, but not as many right off the hop as the Platinum. While the Platinum offers 35,000 pts, the ION only provides 3,500 Avion points. The ION also lacks travel insurance, which you’ll get with the Platinum card.

However, the ION will earn you more points in several spending categories. It offers 1.5 points per dollar spent on groceries, ride-sharing, gas, streaming, subscriptions and digital gaming. It also has a $0 annual fee, compared to the Platinum’s yearly cost of $120.

American Express Cobalt® Card

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4.9

up to 15k pts

Welcome offer

Fair

Suggested credit score

Earn up to 15,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $150 in value.

Apply now

Pros

  • High earn rates (up to 5% return on spending!)

  • Flexible month-by-month fee structure

  • Free supplementary cards

  • 1:1 points transfer with selected hotels, airlines and frequent flyer programs

Cons

  • Accelerated earn rates only apply to purchases in Canada (not to purchases made abroad)

  • Amex has a more limited merchant acceptance rate than Visa and Mastercard

  • Slightly higher than average annual fee

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Fair

Required Annual Personal Income

$0

Required Annual Household Income

$0

Pros

  • High earn rates (up to 5% return on spending!)

  • Flexible month-by-month fee structure

  • Free supplementary cards

  • 1:1 points transfer with selected hotels, airlines and frequent flyer programs

Cons

  • Accelerated earn rates only apply to purchases in Canada (not to purchases made abroad)

  • Amex has a more limited merchant acceptance rate than Visa and Mastercard

  • Slightly higher than average annual fee

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Fair

Required Annual Personal Income

$0

Required Annual Household Income

$0

the points on eligible eats & drinks purchases in Canada

5x

the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada

3x

the points on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada

2x

the points on everything else

1x

additional Membership Rewards point for every $1 you charge on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel

1

Get up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities like dining, spa or other leisure facilities when charged to the room

$100 USD

Purchase APR

21.99%

Cash Advance APR

21.99%

Annual Fee

$155.88

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

RBC Avion Visa Platinum vs. American Express Cobalt

If you’re considering the RBC Avion Visa Platinum and American Express Cobalt, it might come down to the rewards program you prefer. The Avion is geared more toward travel rewards, whereas the Amex program is a more general rewards program. 

Both have a yearly fee ($120 for the Avion Visa and $155.88 , paid 12.99/month, for the Cobalt), come with travel insurance. When it comes to points, the Cobalt will earn you up to 5 points per dollar spent, which is much higher than the one point per dollar earned with the Avion card. The Visa Platinum will earn you more from the start, with a welcome bonus of 35,000 pts (compared to up to 15k pts with the Cobalt).

Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

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4.0

up to 40K pts

Welcome offer

Excellent

Suggested credit score

Earn up to $1,300 in value† including up to 40,000 Aeroplan points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 6, 2025.

Expires

Jan 6, 2025

Apply now

Pros

  • The card has a high earn rate for Aeroplan Points, generating 1.5 points† per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

  • Insurance offered includes coverage in the categories that travellers need, and is generally better than its Aeroplan peers at a similar annual fee level.

Cons

  • No airport lounge membership or free lounge access.

  • Aeroplan points can’t be redeemed for flights outside the Star Alliance network, nor can they be redeemed for cash credit. This makes them less flexible than some competing travel rewards programs.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Required Annual Personal Income

$60,000

Required Annual Household Income

$100,000

Pros

  • The card has a high earn rate for Aeroplan Points, generating 1.5 points† per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

  • Insurance offered includes coverage in the categories that travellers need, and is generally better than its Aeroplan peers at a similar annual fee level.

Cons

  • No airport lounge membership or free lounge access.

  • Aeroplan points can’t be redeemed for flights outside the Star Alliance network, nor can they be redeemed for cash credit. This makes them less flexible than some competing travel rewards programs.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Required Annual Personal Income

$60,000

Required Annual Household Income

$100,000

for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®)

1.5 points†

Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases

1 point†

Earn points twice with Aeroplan partner brands and on the Aeroplan eStore.

2x

Earn 50% more Aeroplan points at Starbucks when you link your card to your account. Conditions apply.

50%

NEXUS application fee rebate every 48 months†

1

checked bag free for you and up to 8 travel companions†

1st

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$139

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

RBC Avion Visa Platinum Vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

These two cards are quite similar. Sure, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite might cost a little more than the RBC Avion, but it’ll earn you a few more points for that extra cost. For everyday points earning, the Aeroplan card earns 1.5 points per dollar on gas, groceries and at Air Canada and 1 point for everything else.

Both cards come with travel insurance and have the same interest rates but Aeroplan will get you free checked bags. Of course, you’ll save on gas at the Petro Canada with the Avion card, though. 

So, either card is a great choice for the travel rewards earner. The one you choose might come down to whether you prefer Avion points or Aeroplan points.

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.  

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

†Terms and conditions apply.

Features RBC Visa Platinum RBC ION Visa American Express Cobalt TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Annual fee $120 $0 $155.88 $139
Welcome offer Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval

Get 3,500 Avion points on approval with the RBC ION Visa Card^ Apply by January 15, 2025.

 Earn up to 15,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $150 in value. Earn up to $1,300 in value† including up to 40,000 Aeroplan points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 6, 2025.
Travel Insurance Yes No Yes Yes
Benefits Earn 1 point per dollar spent.
Save 3 cents per litre savings on fuel and 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada gas stations.
Earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent on groceries, rides, gas, streaming, subscriptions, digital gaming.

Earn 5 points on every dollar spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (spend cap applies), 3 points on streaming subscriptions in Canada, 2 points on eligible travel and transit, and 1 point on everything else.
Mobile device insurance.
Earn 1.5 points on every dollar spent on groceries, gas, and through Air Canada and 1 point on everything else.
Free checked bags with Air Canada.

†Terms and conditions apply.

Is the RBC Avion Visa Platinum card worth it?

The RBC Avion Visa Platinum offers compelling benefits, making it worth considering for avid travellers. With a generous welcome bonus, flexible redemption options and comprehensive travel insurance coverage, it caters to diverse travel needs. 

The ability to earn points on everyday purchases enhances its value, particularly if you’re someone who wants to earn on every single purchase instead of just a few select retailers. However, the annual fee and interest rates should be weighed against the benefits. If you prioritise travel perks, including flight flexibility and insurance and are willing to manage associated costs responsibly, the RBC Avion Visa Platinum can be a valuable addition to your wallet.

Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

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FAQs

  • Does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum come with lounge access?

    +

    While it is a travel rewards card, the RBC Avion Visa Platinum does not come with lounge access.

  • Does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum have travel insurance?

    +

    The RBC Avion Visa Platinum does come with travel insurance. This includes: travel accident insurance, auto rental collision/loss damage insurance, trip interruption insurance, emergency purchases insurance, flight delay insurance, travel emergency medical insurance, and hotel/motel burglary insurance.

  • Does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum have a welcome bonus?

    +

    The RBC Avion Visa Platinum does have a welcome bonus, and a generous one at that. Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card disclaimer:

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.  

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

†Terms and conditions apply.

Justin da Rosa Freelance Writer

Justin is a writer and editor who has been covering personal finance for over 10 years. He's written for companies such as KOHO, Ratehub, BMO, Zoocasa, and Questrade, among others. Justin also created a course in Content Creation, which he taught at York University for four years. When not writing, Justin can be found at a live concert, on the golf course, riding a motorcycle, or sailing.

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