How to Maximize Travel With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite

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If I were starting from scratch today and wanted a single, flexible Canadian travel credit card, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite would be near the top of my list. Its appeal is not flashy airport lounges or metal card aesthetics. The real power is in how easily Avion points can be turned into flights on almost any airline, plus the ability to transfer those points to major airline partners when you want outsized value. Used thoughtfully, one new card and a year of everyday spending can reasonably cover a round-trip flight from Toronto to Vancouver in economy, or a one-way business-class ticket to Europe during a good transfer promotion.

Why I Would Choose the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Today

The core reason I would pick the RBC Avion Visa Infinite right now is flexibility. Avion points are not locked into one airline. You can redeem them through the Avion Rewards travel portal at a straightforward 100 points to 1 Canadian dollar for flights, hotels and car rentals, or use the Air Travel Redemption Schedule for fixed-price economy flights where 10,000 points can be worth up to roughly 200 dollars in value on certain routes. On top of that, you can transfer points to airline programs like British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and American Airlines AAdvantage, which is where premium-cabin sweet spots often appear.

The card typically earns 1 Avion point per dollar on everyday purchases and a higher rate on travel spending. Several recent reviews and issuer materials indicate a 1.25 points per dollar rate on eligible travel purchases, though the exact categories and definitions are always worth confirming on the current product page when you apply. The annual fee is usually around 120 dollars, with no automatic first-year waiver, so you need to plan to comfortably extract more than that in value during your first 12 months.

At the time of writing, RBC is marketing welcome bonuses on the Avion Visa Infinite that can reach up to around 55,000 to 70,000 Avion points, depending on the promotion window and minimum spend structure. Offers change frequently, so I would only apply during a strong promo period and after reading the fine print on who qualifies as a “new” cardholder. Historically, additional cardholders or people downgrading or upgrading from certain other RBC cards have been excluded from the best bonuses, so pushing a product switch through customer service instead of a fresh application can easily cost you hundreds of dollars in lost value.

When I compare Avion to other Canadian travel programs, the consistent advantage is that I am not betting my entire strategy on one airline’s award chart or one bank’s travel portal. If Air Canada’s Aeroplan devalues or a specific flight through Avion Rewards becomes poor value at the cash-equivalent 1 cent level, I can simply hold my points or move them to another partner later. That optionality is a major reason I would build a travel plan around this card today.

How I Would Time My Application and Meet the Minimum Spend

The single most important decision with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is when you apply. Because welcome bonuses move between roughly 35,000 and 70,000 points, waiting a month or two for a high promotion can be worth the equivalent of a short-haul economy flight. I would aim for an offer that gives at least 35,000 points after my first purchase, with an additional chunk after spending a few thousand dollars in the first three to six months. Before submitting the application, I would map out exactly which expenses in that period I can comfortably put on the card without changing my lifestyle or carrying a balance.

In practical terms, that might look like a family in Vancouver planning ahead for recurring bills. Suppose the welcome offer requires 5,000 dollars of spending in the first three months to unlock the full bonus. Property tax installments, insurance premiums, utility bills, streaming services, and grocery spending can easily add up to that threshold if they are already in your budget. I would avoid manufactured spending tactics and instead use regular, predictable bills. For example, a couple who spends around 1,200 dollars a month at supermarkets and big-box stores, 250 dollars on mobile and internet, 200 dollars on fuel, and 500 dollars on insurance could hit 5,000 dollars in about three months without any strain.

Because interest rates on purchases are typically in the 20 percent range, I would also set up automatic full-balance payments from my chequing account before I make the first purchase. The welcome bonus only has value if you never pay interest. If I knew I had a large one-time expense coming, such as a home appliance purchase in the 2,000 to 3,000 dollar range, I would time my application about a month before that purchase to help meet the minimum spend quickly.

I would also think carefully about additional cardholders. RBC allows you to add extra users to your account so their spending earns Avion points for you, typically for an extra fee per card. If I shared finances with a partner who buys most of the family groceries and fuel, adding that partner as an authorized user could be worthwhile. However, since RBC’s fine print has often excluded additional cardholders from welcome bonus eligibility on their own future applications, I would avoid adding anyone who might want their own Avion Visa Infinite bonus later.

Building Everyday Points With Real-World Spending

Once the welcome bonus is secured, I would shift focus to building a steady stream of Avion points from everyday life. On the RBC Avion Visa Infinite, almost all regular purchases earn at least 1 point per dollar. That means a household that runs roughly 3,000 dollars a month through the card could generate about 36,000 points per year from base spending alone, not including travel-category bonuses or partner offers.

For example, imagine a Toronto-based traveler who commutes by GO Transit, shops at major supermarket chains and occasionally books WestJet or Air Canada flights for domestic trips. If that traveler charges 800 dollars a month in groceries, 400 dollars in transit and fuel, 600 dollars in dining and entertainment, and another 1,200 dollars in miscellaneous retail, they will roughly break the 3,000 dollar mark. Layer on two economy flights per year purchased directly from airlines, at perhaps 700 dollars total, and the travel-category earnings can add another several hundred points beyond the usual rate.

I would also take advantage of RBC’s merchant partnerships where they align with my existing habits. For instance, linking an eligible RBC credit card to a Petro-Canada account can provide both a cents-per-litre fuel discount and bonus Avion points on every fill-up. If I typically spend 150 dollars a month on fuel, those extra points can add up to another 3,000 or more Avion points per year without changing anything about my driving. I would periodically log into my RBC online banking to check for targeted offers, such as boosted earn rates at certain retailers or temporary bonuses on hotel and car rental bookings.

Because Avion points do not expire as long as the account is in good standing, I would feel comfortable letting the balance accumulate for a few years toward a big trip. The key is to treat the points as a travel budget, not as a speculative investment. If I notice a specific redemption where I can get better than 1 cent per point in real cash value on a flight I actually want to take, I would not hesitate to use them instead of chasing theoretical maximums.

Choosing Smart Redemptions: From Toronto to Vancouver and Beyond

To make this concrete, consider a traveler in Montreal who wants to visit Vancouver during late spring. A typical round-trip economy ticket on a major carrier might cost anywhere from 600 to 900 dollars depending on dates and sales. If my Avion account holds 70,000 points from a welcome bonus plus a year of spending, I have a few good options. Through the Avion Rewards portal, I can simply search the flights I want and apply points at 100 points to 1 dollar. If I find a nonstop flight priced at 650 dollars, I could redeem 65,000 points and pay only the remaining taxes and fees in cash.

Alternatively, I could look at the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, where a fixed number of points covers flights up to a certain maximum base fare. For long-haul flights within Canada and the continental United States, RBC has historically allowed a round-trip ticket up to about 750 dollars in base fare for 35,000 Avion points, plus taxes and fees. In years when base fares to Vancouver are low but surcharges and taxes remain moderate, that fixed chart can yield well over 2 cents per point in value. I might redeem 35,000 points to cover a 720 dollar base fare and then pay the taxes in cash, preserving another 35,000 points for a future trip.

In some cases, the most efficient move is to transfer Avion points to airline partners. For example, a one-way business-class flight from Toronto to London on a Oneworld carrier might cost between 80,000 and 90,000 Avios plus taxes when booked through British Airways Executive Club. If RBC is running a transfer bonus, such as a 30 percent boost to Avios, moving 70,000 Avion points could become 91,000 Avios. That can turn the same sign-up bonus that might otherwise fund a single domestic ticket into a lie-flat transatlantic seat worth several thousand dollars at retail prices.

However, I would only pursue these advanced partner strategies if I am comfortable with award search tools and can be flexible with dates. In many situations, especially for simple economy trips within North America, the fixed chart or portal redemptions at exactly 1 cent per point are easier and still deliver excellent value compared with a generic cash-back card.

Stacking RBC Ecosystem Perks to Go Further

To really maximize the Avion Visa Infinite, I would treat it as the anchor of a small ecosystem rather than an isolated card. RBC has several no-fee and low-fee credit cards that earn Avion or compatible points, and you can often move those points into the main Avion account linked to the Visa Infinite. For instance, some cardholders pair a high-earning everyday card like the RBC ION+ Visa, which offers elevated earn rates on categories such as groceries, gas and digital subscriptions, with the Avion Visa Infinite. They then automatically sweep those points each month into the Avion account where they can be redeemed for flights or transferred to airlines.

At the practical level, imagine holding both the Avion Visa Infinite and a points-rich everyday card under the same Avion profile. You might put large travel purchases, car rentals and hotel stays on the Avion Visa Infinite to benefit from its travel insurance package, while channeling routine supermarket and streaming expenses through the companion card if its category multipliers are stronger. Over a year, that combination can generate far more than the 36,000 points an average household might earn using only the Avion Visa Infinite alone.

There are also merchant-specific offers that stack on top of this. For example, RBC has periodically promoted extra Avion points or statement credits when booking rental cars through Hertz, or extra savings and accelerated earn rates at Petro-Canada locations. A British Columbia family driving the Coquihalla Highway several times each year could meaningfully cut fuel costs while pushing their Avion balance higher just by making sure every fill-up runs through a linked RBC card at participating stations.

The last element I would pay attention to in the RBC ecosystem is insurance and protection benefits. The Avion Visa Infinite typically includes trip interruption and cancellation coverage, travel medical insurance for out-of-province trips up to a set number of days, car rental collision damage waiver, and various purchase protections. While I would always read the official certificate of insurance before relying on them, these benefits can easily save hundreds of dollars per trip when they allow you to decline rental agency coverage or avoid buying separate insurance for a short cross-border getaway.

Using the Card Abroad Without Overspending

Many Canadian travelers use the RBC Avion Visa Infinite on international trips, even though foreign transaction fees usually apply at around 2.5 percent. I would still bring the card on overseas journeys for its insurance coverage and to keep my points strategy consolidated, but I would be selective about where I tap. For example, on a two-week trip to Portugal and Spain, I might rely on a no-foreign-transaction-fee card for most restaurant and local transport purchases, yet switch to the Avion Visa Infinite when checking into hotels, paying for car rentals, or buying larger train tickets where the built-in travel protections have clear value.

Suppose I book a 1,200 dollar hotel stay in Lisbon directly with the property in Canadian dollars or euros. Charging that amount to the Avion Visa Infinite might earn at least 1,200 Avion points, or more if it counts toward the travel bonus category, and simultaneously ensure that the stay is eligible for trip interruption or delay coverage if something goes wrong. The foreign transaction fee might effectively cost me around 30 dollars, but the insurance value and points earnings could still justify using this card rather than a no-fee alternative that offers no meaningful rewards or protections.

I would also use the Avion Visa Infinite sparingly at foreign ATMs, if at all. Cash advances incur higher interest rates immediately and often come with extra fees. Instead, I would withdraw local currency with a debit card that charges minimal fees, and reserve the Avion Visa Infinite for purchases where credit cards are expected, such as hotels, car rentals, intercity trains and airfare changes. This balance lets me continue building Avion points on the road without treating the card as a catch-all payment method.

Back home, I would carefully monitor my account after every international trip. Foreign merchants occasionally process delayed charges, and dynamic currency conversion can sneak in if I am not vigilant at the terminal. I would always choose to pay in the local currency at the point of sale, letting Visa handle the conversion instead of letting a hotel or restaurant apply a less favourable rate.

The Takeaway

Used casually, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is a competent general travel card that turns daily spending into flights and hotel stays at a straightforward 1 cent per point when redeemed through Avion Rewards. Used strategically, it can become a powerful engine for discounted and even premium-class travel, especially when you pair a strong welcome bonus with deliberate category spending and occasional transfers to airline partners during promotion periods.

If I were applying today, my playbook would be simple. First, wait for a strong welcome offer, then apply and meet the minimum spend entirely with regular bills and planned purchases. Second, run everyday spending through the card and any compatible companions, taking advantage of RBC merchant partnerships like Petro-Canada and occasional travel promotions. Third, focus redemptions on flights where I can comfortably achieve at least 1.5 cents per point in real value, either through the Air Travel Redemption Schedule for domestic trips or through partner transfers for international premium cabins.

For a Canadian traveler who wants flexibility and does not want to be locked into a single airline, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite still offers one of the most adaptable travel rewards ecosystems on the market. Treat the points as a travel budget, respect the interest rates by paying in full every month, and within a year or two you can realistically trade nothing more than your regular spending for memorable trips across Canada and beyond.

FAQ

Q1. Is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite worth the annual fee for an average traveler?
The card can be worth the annual fee if you capture a strong welcome bonus and redeem points for flights at or above roughly 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point. A household that comfortably spends a few thousand dollars per month on the card and takes at least one or two trips per year can often come out ahead compared with a simple cash-back card, especially when they lean on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or transfer points to airline partners.

Q2. How many Avion points do I realistically need for a round-trip flight within Canada?
For economy round-trips between major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, prices often land between 600 and 900 dollars. Through the Avion portal at 100 points to 1 dollar, that would require 60,000 to 90,000 points. Using the fixed Air Travel Redemption Schedule on a good fare, you might cover a similar route for around 35,000 points plus taxes and fees, which is why many Avion users try to redeem domestic flights via that chart when prices are favourable.

Q3. Do Avion points expire if I do not travel often?
Avion points typically do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. If you close the card without transferring or redeeming your points first, you can lose them, so I would always plan a redemption or a points transfer to an eligible airline partner before cancelling. For infrequent travelers, the ability to slowly build a balance over several years is one of the Avion program’s main strengths.

Q4. Can I transfer Avion points to airline programs at any time?
Yes, in general you can transfer Avion points to eligible airline partners whenever you choose, subject to minimum transfer amounts and occasional processing delays. The strategic move is to wait for limited-time transfer bonuses, when your Avion points might convert at a higher rate into programs like British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. That is often how people secure business-class and first-class seats at much lower effective costs than paying cash.

Q5. Should I use Avion points for hotels and car rentals or save them for flights?
Redeeming Avion points for hotels and car rentals through the travel portal at 100 points to 1 dollar is simple and can still be good value, especially if you do not fly frequently. However, flights often offer the highest cents-per-point returns, particularly when you use the fixed redemption chart or transfer to partner airlines. If your goal is to maximize value, I would usually prioritize flight redemptions and only book hotels or cars with points when a particular trip’s cash prices are very high.

Q6. What credit score do I generally need to qualify for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite?
RBC does not publish a specific minimum score, but Visa Infinite products in Canada are typically aimed at applicants with good to excellent credit and a stable income. In practical terms, that often means a score in at least the high 600s to 700s, no recent serious delinquencies, and the ability to meet any stated household income guidelines. Because each situation is unique, I would check my credit report and ensure my utilization is low before applying.

Q7. Can I hold other Avion cards at the same time as the Avion Visa Infinite?
Yes, many cardholders pair the Avion Visa Infinite with other RBC cards that earn compatible points, such as select no-fee or low-fee cards in the Avion or ION families. Points from those cards can often be pooled into your main Avion account, which allows you to use strong category earn rates on one card while still benefiting from the Avion Visa Infinite’s travel protections and flexible flight redemptions on another.

Q8. Is it better to apply for the card directly or switch from an existing RBC card?
From a points perspective, a fresh application during a strong welcome bonus promotion is usually better than switching from another RBC product, because internal product changes often do not qualify for the headline bonus. However, if you are primarily interested in simplifying your wallet and are less focused on maximizing sign-up points, a product switch can sometimes be more convenient. I would always confirm eligibility for the current welcome offer before deciding.

Q9. How does the Avion Visa Infinite compare with Aeroplan credit cards?
Aeroplan cards tend to earn points that are locked into Air Canada and its partners, which can be powerful if you frequently fly that network. Avion points, by contrast, are more flexible: they can be redeemed for almost any flight through the portal or moved into multiple airline programs. If you live near a major Air Canada hub and mostly fly that airline, an Aeroplan card might sometimes win. If you value flexibility across airlines and want a simpler, cash-like backup in the travel portal, Avion is a strong alternative.

Q10. What is the biggest mistake people make with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite?
The biggest mistake is treating it like an ordinary credit card and carrying a balance at high interest rates, which quickly erodes the value of any points earned. A close second is redeeming points at poor rates, such as low-value merchandise redemptions, instead of focusing on flights or good hotel deals. To truly benefit, I would always pay the balance in full every month and reserve my points for redemptions where I can clearly see at least 1 cent per point in real-world savings.