Best Canadian Travel Credit Cards vs RBC Avion Visa Infinite

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For Canadian travelers, the right credit card can mean cheaper flights, no foreign transaction fees, and built-in insurance that saves hundreds of dollars a year. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is one of the country’s best known travel cards, but it is far from the only option. Whether you are a budget-conscious backpacker or a frequent flyer chasing lounge access and flexible points, other Canadian cards can outperform Avion in specific situations. This guide compares the RBC Avion Visa Infinite to some of the best travel credit cards in Canada across a range of budgets and travel styles.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite at a Glance

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is a core flexible-points travel card in Canada. As of mid 2026, it typically carries a 120 dollar annual fee and earns 1 Avion point per dollar on most purchases, with occasional accelerator categories on specific partner offers and promotions. The current public offer from RBC gives up to 70,000 Avion points for new cardholders who apply during a limited-time window and meet a spending requirement, enough for roughly 1,500 dollars in advertised travel value when redeemed through certain promotions and the RBC travel portal. This scale makes it a strong starting point for many travelers who want flexibility rather than loyalty to one airline.

Redemption flexibility is where Avion stands out. Points can be redeemed at a fixed rate on the RBC travel portal, often at around 100 points per 1 dollar toward flights, hotels, or car rentals. For example, a 600 dollar flight from Toronto to Vancouver could be covered with about 60,000 points when booked at that rate. In addition, Avion points can sometimes be transferred to airline partners during bonus events, which can stretch value further if you know how to work award charts and seat sales.

The card includes a typical suite of premium travel insurance, such as emergency medical coverage for out-of-province trips, trip interruption and cancellation, flight delay, lost or delayed baggage, and car rental collision and damage protection, subject to detailed conditions and maximums. For a family flying from Calgary to London, the built-in emergency medical coverage alone may avoid the need for a separate policy that could cost 60 to 150 dollars per person for a two-week trip, depending on age and coverage levels.

On the downside, the Avion Visa Infinite charges the standard 2.5 percent foreign transaction fee on purchases in currencies other than Canadian dollars. If you spend 3,000 Canadian dollars equivalent on a two-week trip in Europe, this fee alone adds roughly 75 dollars to your costs. For travelers who regularly spend abroad or pay for U.S. subscriptions like streaming services and software, that foreign exchange markup can quietly eat into the value of the rewards.

Best Overall Flexible Travel Card Alternative

Travelers who like the idea of flexible points but want richer earn rates on everyday spending often look to cards like the American Express Cobalt and similar flexible rewards products. While Amex is not accepted absolutely everywhere, it offers elevated earn rates on categories like dining, groceries, and streaming, which can accelerate the pace at which points pile up compared to Avion’s largely flat earn structure. In many independent comparisons of 2026 travel cards, Amex Cobalt is frequently highlighted as a top flexible-points option for Canadian travelers because of its 5 times points on food and drink and strong transfer partners.

Imagine a Toronto-based traveler who spends 1,000 dollars a month between restaurants, bars, and groceries, plus 500 dollars in general purchases. On a flat 1 point per dollar card like Avion, that is 1,500 points per month. On a high-multiplier card, the same spending could generate several thousand flexible points monthly. Over a year, that difference can be enough for an extra round-trip to the Caribbean or at least a pair of domestic flights within Canada when booked on sale.

Where the RBC Avion Visa Infinite still competes well is in its broad acceptance as a Visa product and its ability to book any airline through the bank’s own travel portal. If a traveler in Halifax wants to fly with a smaller carrier or take advantage of a particular seat sale that is not linked directly to a loyalty program, being able to apply Avion points like cash toward the ticket is straightforward. The trade-off is that the earn rate is less aggressive than some rivals, meaning heavy spenders might maximize value faster with an alternative flexible card and then complement it with a no-fee backup Visa or Mastercard for places Amex is not accepted.

For travelers who want a single primary card and do not want to juggle multiple programs, the Avion Visa Infinite can work as a solid, middle-of-the-road solution. Its welcome bonus, consistent ability to book almost any flight, and familiar Visa acceptance make it less intimidating than some higher-maintenance strategies, even if it is not mathematically the highest-earning card on the market.

No-Foreign-Transaction-Fee Cards vs Avion for International Trips

One of the most important comparisons for Canadian travelers is between the RBC Avion Visa Infinite and true no-foreign-transaction-fee cards like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite. Most Canadian cards, including Avion, add about 2.5 percent on every foreign currency purchase, a cost that is easy to overlook until you add up a week’s worth of hotel, restaurant, and attraction charges. Cards such as the Passport Visa Infinite waive this fee and still provide rewards on each purchase, often around 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, plus a base rate elsewhere.

Take a realistic example: a couple from Ottawa spends 4,000 dollars equivalent on a two-week trip to Italy, including hotels, restaurant meals, local trains, and museum tickets. With Avion, they will earn points, but they will also pay about 100 dollars in foreign exchange fees. With a no-foreign-fee card, they avoid that extra cost. If their card also earns points that can be redeemed at a similar value, the fee savings alone might outweigh slightly lower sign-up bonuses or other perks over the course of several trips.

Some no-foreign-fee cards add further travel-friendly features. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, for instance, includes a package of airport lounge passes each year through a global lounge network. A traveler who passes through airports like Vancouver, Montreal, or London Heathrow multiple times annually might value those passes at 30 to 40 dollars per visit, especially when considering the price of meals and drinks in airport terminals. Over a year, using all the passes could easily add up to more than the annual fee in comfort and savings.

Compared to Avion, which still charges the foreign fee and often requires booking through the RBC travel portal for maximum value, a no-foreign-fee card is particularly compelling for frequent international travelers who book through online travel agencies, pay foreign hotel bills at checkout, or spend heavily on restaurants abroad. A common strategy is to use a card like Avion primarily for domestic spending and flight redemptions and to carry a no-foreign-fee card for all purchases in other currencies.

Airline-Specific Travel Cards vs Avion

Another major comparison category is airline co-branded cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, which are often recommended for Canadians who regularly fly with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners. These cards typically earn accelerated points on Air Canada purchases, groceries, and gas, often in the range of 1.5 points per dollar in bonus categories, and may include benefits such as free first checked bags on Air Canada flights for the cardholder and companions on the same booking. For a family of four flying from Winnipeg to Cancun once a year, free checked bags can save around 30 to 40 dollars per bag per direction, quickly adding up to 240 to 320 dollars per trip.

Welcome bonuses on Aeroplan cards can be substantial, sometimes reaching 40,000 to 70,000 points during special promotions. Those points are tied to the Aeroplan program rather than a flexible currency like Avion, but they can be extremely valuable if you know how to use award charts. For example, a traveler from Vancouver might book an economy round trip to Tokyo for around 75,000 Aeroplan points during a promotion, plus taxes and fees, which can be a strong value compared to paying full cash prices for those flights.

Though Avion can occasionally transfer to certain airlines during limited-time offers, it generally lacks permanent, high-value airline transfer partners in the same way Aeroplan co-branded cards do. This makes the RBC Avion Visa Infinite better suited to travelers who value simplicity and the ability to book on any airline, while airline cards work best for those who fly the same carrier several times a year. For someone who takes four or five Air Canada flights annually for business and leisure, lounge discounts, priority check-in, and free bags may deliver more day-to-day value than the more general perks Avion offers.

There is also the psychological advantage of seeing a single, airline-specific balance grow quickly. Some travelers find it easier to justify flights when they can see that their TD or CIBC Aeroplan points directly correspond to a specific redemption goal, such as a trip from Montreal to Paris in the spring. By contrast, Avion points feel more like a flexible currency, which can be split among flights, hotels, and other travel, sometimes making it less obvious when to pull the trigger on a big redemption.

Budget-Friendly Options: Low or No Annual Fee Alternatives

Not every traveler wants to pay a 120 to 150 dollar annual fee just to earn rewards. For those who travel only once every year or two or who prioritize keeping costs down, budget-friendly cards like the Rogers World Elite Mastercard or certain basic travel rewards Visas from major banks can make more sense. Many of these cards offer no annual fee and simple cash back or statement credit-style rewards that can still be used to offset flights or hotel costs.

For instance, a no-fee cash back card that effectively gives around 1.5 to 2 percent back on purchases can be surprisingly powerful for a light traveler. Spend 15,000 dollars annually on such a card and you might earn 225 to 300 dollars in cash back, enough for a budget flight within Canada during a seat sale or a couple of nights in a mid-range hotel in cities like Quebec City or Edmonton. You do not get the insurance extras, lounge passes, or transfer flexibility of Avion, but you also sidestep the annual fee and the pressure to extract maximum value from a rewards ecosystem.

Some budget-friendly cards also adjust their rewards for foreign spending. Certain versions of the Rogers World Elite Mastercard, for example, have historically offered higher earn rates on purchases in U.S. dollars, effectively offsetting foreign transaction costs for cross-border shoppers and snowbirds who spend heavily in the United States. If you regularly shop at U.S. retailers online or spend a few months each winter in Florida or Arizona, this structure can rival or beat Avion’s value for that specific type of spending, even if the card has fewer travel benefits overall.

For new graduates, young professionals, or people rebuilding credit, a classic no-fee rewards card paired with occasional seat sales and careful budgeting often works better than jumping directly into a premium product. In those cases, saving the 120 dollar annual fee that Avion charges and putting it toward a short-haul flight or an extra night in a hotel may feel more tangible than holding a suite of unused insurance benefits. As their income and travel frequency grow, these cardholders can always upgrade later to Avion or another premium travel product if the math starts to favour it.

Premium Travel Perks: When Higher Annual Fees Beat Avion

Above the Avion Visa Infinite tier, the Canadian market offers several premium cards that command annual fees of 150 to 700 dollars or more but deliver heavier benefits in return. Examples include high-end versions of the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, premium Aeroplan cards, and luxury products from other issuers. These often include unlimited or more generous airport lounge access, higher emergency medical coverage, richer earn rates on travel spending, and statement credits for airport parking, rideshares, or NEXUS application fees.

Consider a frequent business traveler based in Calgary who flies twice a month, often waiting several hours in airports like Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International. A premium card that offers unlimited lounge access, priority security lanes at certain airports, and strong insurance can dramatically improve the daily travel experience. If each lounge visit replaces a 25 dollar meal and drink in the terminal and the traveler visits lounges 20 times a year, that alone can be worth around 500 dollars, often exceeding even a high annual fee.

In this context, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite can feel like an entry-level premium card. It has solid insurance, decent earn rates, and good flexibility, but it typically offers only occasional or limited lounge-related perks, if any. For someone who travels internationally several times a year and highly values airport comfort and priority services, a higher-fee premium card is often the better choice, particularly when sign-up bonuses and annual credits are factored in.

That said, higher annual fees only make sense if you truly use the benefits. If you pass through an airport lounge twice a year and rarely take advantage of rental car coverage or trip interruption insurance, the gap between Avion and a top-tier premium card might not justify a 500 or 600 dollar fee. In that scenario, Avion can remain a sweet spot, providing a meaningful upgrade over no-fee cards without requiring the lifestyle and travel frequency that premium cards assume.

How to Choose the Right Card for Your Travel Style

Choosing between the RBC Avion Visa Infinite and other top Canadian travel credit cards starts with an honest look at your travel habits. If you fly once every couple of years, primarily within Canada, and most of your spending occurs at home, then maximizing every possible point might matter less than keeping fees low and having a straightforward way to offset the cost of the occasional trip. A simple no-fee or low-fee card, possibly supplemented by Avion during a strong sign-up bonus period, can be a sensible compromise.

If you regularly travel abroad, especially outside North America, cards with no foreign transaction fees deserve serious consideration. Take a Montreal-based remote worker who spends six weeks in Portugal each spring and four weeks in Mexico each winter. Between accommodations, restaurants, coworking spaces, and transportation, foreign spending can easily reach 10,000 to 15,000 dollars a year. Avoiding a 2.5 percent markup on that sum saves 250 to 375 dollars annually, which alone covers the annual fee on most no-foreign-fee cards and can significantly outperform Avion for this kind of user.

Frequent flyers who stick to a specific airline, whether for upgrades or elite status, often stand to gain the most from airline co-branded cards. If you live near an Air Canada hub such as Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal and routinely book economy or premium economy tickets on the same routes, the combination of accelerated earning, free checked bags, priority services, and targeted promotions frequently beats Avion’s generalist approach. In that case, using Avion as a secondary card for non-Air Canada travel and promotions can make sense, but it should not be your main workhorse.

Finally, travelers who value flexibility, book different airlines based on price, and do not want to track a complex mix of loyalty rules often find Avion appealing. They can accumulate points on daily spending, then wait for an attractive sale from any airline and pay with points through the RBC portal. This is particularly useful for families planning a big trip, such as a multi-city journey from Edmonton to Paris and then Rome, where different airlines and schedules may work better than sticking to one alliance. The key is to match the card’s strengths to your actual spending and travel patterns, not merely to chase the biggest headline welcome bonus.

The Takeaway

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite remains one of Canada’s most familiar and versatile travel credit cards, offering good insurance, flexible redemptions, and a strong welcome bonus that can cover substantial travel costs. For many Canadians who want a single, dependable travel card with broad acceptance, it delivers solid value, particularly when used strategically with limited-time point promotions and sales on the RBC travel portal.

At the same time, other cards can beat Avion in specific roles. No-foreign-transaction-fee cards are often superior for heavy international spenders, airline co-branded cards shine for loyal flyers on specific carriers, and premium cards with higher annual fees can transform the travel experience for those who live in airports. Budget-conscious travelers may be better off with low-fee or no-fee cards that provide simple cash back or modest rewards without the pressure to optimize every redemption.

The best approach is rarely to pick a card in isolation. Instead, consider where you travel, how often you go, and how much you spend in foreign currencies and on flights each year. With that picture in mind, compare the RBC Avion Visa Infinite directly to at least one no-foreign-fee card and one airline or premium card. In many cases, a small combination of two carefully chosen cards will cover more needs and save more money than relying on any single product, even one as established as Avion.

FAQ

Q1. Is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite worth the annual fee for occasional travelers?
For occasional travelers who take one trip every year or two, the Avion Visa Infinite can still be worth the annual fee if the welcome bonus and included insurance directly offset trip costs. For example, using Avion points to reduce the price of a single flight by a few hundred dollars and relying on the built-in emergency medical coverage instead of buying a separate policy can easily justify a 120 dollar annual fee, especially in the first year when bonuses are highest.

Q2. How does the RBC Avion Visa Infinite compare to no-foreign-transaction-fee cards for overseas trips?
For overseas trips, cards that waive the 2.5 percent foreign transaction fee usually provide better value on day-to-day spending abroad. If you spend 5,000 dollars equivalent in foreign currencies in a year, the standard markup costs about 125 dollars. A no-foreign-fee card saves that amount, which can exceed the annual fee on many of those products and often outweighs the difference in point earning compared with Avion, particularly for travelers who spend more abroad than at home on travel.

Q3. Are airline co-branded cards better than Avion for Air Canada flyers?
For frequent Air Canada flyers, Aeroplan co-branded cards from major banks typically outperform Avion because they offer accelerated earning on Air Canada purchases, free checked bags on many itineraries, and sometimes priority boarding or airport benefits. A family that checks several bags on each Air Canada vacation can save hundreds of dollars a year just from the baggage perks, something Avion does not usually provide, making airline cards more attractive for loyal flyers.

Q4. Can I use Avion points to book on any airline?
Yes, one of the core advantages of Avion points is that they can be used through the RBC travel portal to book flights on most major airlines, subject to availability. This means you can choose the carrier and route that best suits your schedule and budget, whether that is a low-cost airline for a quick hop from Toronto to New York or a full-service airline for a long-haul flight from Vancouver to London, and then apply Avion points to offset or fully cover the fare.

Q5. What kind of travel insurance does the RBC Avion Visa Infinite include?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite generally includes emergency medical coverage for out-of-province trips, trip interruption and cancellation under specified conditions, flight delay benefits, coverage for delayed or lost baggage, and rental car collision and damage protection when the rental is charged to the card. Coverage limits and eligibility vary, but for many travelers this package can replace a separately purchased policy for short vacations, saving the cost of standalone travel insurance.

Q6. Is it better to use a no-fee cash back card instead of Avion if I do not travel much?
If you rarely travel, a no-fee cash back card is often the better choice. Instead of paying a 120 dollar annual fee for Avion’s insurance and travel-focused perks, you can earn straightforward cash back on everyday purchases and apply that money however you like. For someone who travels every few years, building up a cash back balance that can be used toward any expense may feel more flexible and psychologically rewarding than managing a dedicated travel points program.

Q7. Can I carry both an Avion card and a no-foreign-transaction-fee card?
Yes, many Canadian travelers use a combination of cards. A common strategy is to hold the Avion Visa Infinite for domestic spending, welcome bonuses, and flexible flight redemptions, while also carrying a no-foreign-fee card for all purchases made in other currencies. This way, you still earn Avion points on everyday local spending but avoid foreign transaction fees on trips abroad or while paying for U.S.-dollar subscriptions and online shopping.

Q8. How do Avion points compare in value to Aeroplan points?
Avion and Aeroplan points operate differently, so their value depends on how you redeem them. Avion points are often easiest to value at around 1 cent per point when used through the RBC travel portal, making them fairly predictable. Aeroplan points can be worth more than that when redeemed for long-haul or premium-cabin flights, but they can also be worth less if used for low-value redemptions. Travelers who like predictable, cash-like value tend to prefer Avion, while those who enjoy hunting for high-value award flights often favour Aeroplan.

Q9. Do premium travel cards with higher annual fees really outperform Avion?
Premium travel cards with higher annual fees outperform Avion only if you use their perks consistently. If you travel frequently, visit airport lounges multiple times a year, and benefit from priority services and higher insurance limits, the cumulative value of those benefits can easily exceed a 300 to 600 dollar annual fee. However, if you only travel once or twice a year and rarely spend time in lounges, Avion or even a mid-tier card might deliver better value for the cost.

Q10. How should I decide which Canadian travel card is best for my budget?
Start by estimating your yearly travel and foreign spending, then compare how much each card’s fees, rewards, and benefits would affect that amount. Add up foreign transaction fees you would pay with a standard card, the value of sign-up bonuses and ongoing points, and any savings from included insurance or baggage perks. If a card’s annual fee is clearly outweighed by these benefits, it may fit your budget well. If not, a lower-fee or no-fee option, possibly combined with occasional promotions from cards like Avion, will likely serve you better.