Avion Rewards is the loyalty program for RBC Royal Bank credit cards that allows members to earn rewards points on their everyday purchases. These Avion points can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards including flights, vacation packages, gift cards and more. With Avion Rewards, the opportunities to earn and use points are endless. Let’s take a look at the top ways Avion members can maximize the value of their points.
Earning Avion Points
The primary way to earn Avion points is by using an eligible RBC credit card for everyday purchases. RBC offers several Avion credit cards that allow you to earn points at different rates. The standard earnings rate is 1 Avion point per $1 spent using your card. However, some cards offer accelerated earn rates in certain spending categories like groceries, gas, travel, dining and more. This enables you to quickly rack up a high balance of points to redeem. Avion points earned on your credit card purchases are automatically added to your rewards account each month.
In addition to credit card spending, there are other ways to supplement your Avion earnings:
- Shop online through Avion eStore – Earn extra points for shopping at over 750 online retailers
- Convert RBC Rewards points – Convert points from an eligible RBC account at a 1:1 ratio
- Get bonus points for signing up – New cardholders can take advantage of welcome offers like earn 10,000 points after first purchase
- Limited time promotions – Seasonal offers provide opportunities to earn bonus Avion points
RBC also offers an Avion Multiplier feature which allows you to boost your earnings potential. When activated, you can earn 1.25 points per $1 on credit card purchases for a set period of time. The more Avion points you can earn, the more redemption options you’ll have access to.
Redeeming for Flights
One of the best uses of Avion points is redeeming for flights. RBC gives you the flexibility to book flights with any airline, to any destination worldwide. You can book flights through RBC’s online booking portal, over the phone or book directly with the airline. The redemption rates are based on where you are flying to:
- Short-haul economy flights (Canada and U.S.) – 15,000 Avion points for a one-way flight
- Long-haul economy flights (Europe and Asia) – 25,000 Avion points for a one-way flight
- Economy flights to Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Africa – 40,000 Avion points for a one-way flight
- Business class flights to Europe – 50,000 Avion points for a one-way flight
- Business class flights to Asia and South Pacific – 75,000 Avion for a one-way flight
The number of points required depends on where you are departing from and traveling to. You can also use points to book multi-city or roundtrip itineraries. Families can pool points from multiple accounts to book award flights for the whole family. This makes redeeming for flights extremely flexible and convenient.
Tips for Booking Award Flights
- Book early to access more award seat availability
- Consider booking one-way flights separately to maximize value
- Use points for expensive long-haul flights to get the most value
- Supplement points with cash if you don’t have enough for the full fare
- Take advantage of stopovers and open-jaws to see multiple destinations
Redeeming for Vacation Packages
If you prefer package vacations, Avion Rewards has you covered. You can redeem points toward complete vacation packages including flights, hotel, car rentals, activities and more. Packages are offered through leading travel providers including Expedia, Walt Disney Travel, Norwegian Cruise Lines and many others. Here are some sample redemption amounts for popular vacation packages:
Vacation Package | Avion Points Required |
---|---|
7-night Caribbean resort package | 50,000 points |
5-night Walt Disney World resort package | 75,000 points |
7-night European guided tour | 100,000 points |
7-night Hawaiian island-hopping package | 125,000 points |
You can browse packages based on your destination and travel dates. Many packages allow you to customize details like hotel category, room type, rental car, etc. Redeeming Avion points for complete vacations saves you time planning and can provide better overall value compared to booking individual components separately.
Tips for Booking Vacation Packages
- Look for packages during shoulder seasons for better redemption rates
- Add extra nights or upgrade hotels if you have excess points
- Consider airline-bundled packages to save on flights
- Pay attention to blackout dates and other restrictions
- Compare redemption rates across multiple providers such as Expedia, Air Canada Vacations and others
Other Travel Redemptions
In addition to flights and vacation packages, Avion Rewards offers a variety of other travel redemptions options:
- Hotels – Book hotel stays through Avion hotel rewards partners including Carlson Hotels, Fairmont Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and many others. Redemption rates start at 5,000 Avion points per night.
- Car Rentals – Redeem points for car rental certificates that can be used with rental companies like Avis, Budget, Hertz and Dollar Thrifty.
- Cruises – Use points for cruises with top cruise lines through Expedia CruiseShipCenters. Interior staterooms start at 50,000 Avion points.
- Rail Travel – Amtrak is an Avion rewards travel partner. You can use points for Amtrak rail passes and tickets.
- Attraction Tickets – Redeem for discounted attraction and theme park tickets through Viator.
- Magazine Subscriptions – Use just 5,000 Avion points for a 1-year magazine subscription through Magazines.com.
With numerous travel redemption options, you have the flexibility to create customized trips and vacations tailored to your preferences.
Shopping Rewards
For those who prefer earning points through shopping, Avion Rewards offers a selection of retail gift cards and merchandise that you can redeem your points for. Here are some of the most popular options:
Reward | Avion Points Required |
---|---|
$100 Walmart gift card | 10,000 points |
$50 Best Buy gift card | 5,000 points |
$25 Starbucks gift card | 2,500 points |
$100 Petro-Canada gas card | 8,500 points |
Bose SoundLink Speaker | 12,500 points |
Keurig Coffee Maker | 17,000 points |
There are well over 100 brand name retailers and merchants that you can choose from including popular stores, restaurants, gas stations and more. If you like earning points through shopping and prefer getting immediate gratification for your redemptions, gift cards are a great option.
Tips for Gift Card Redemptions
- Stack gift cards from your favorite retailers to save on future purchases
- Redeem for gas and grocery gift cards to earn points and save on essentials
- Use brand name gift cards as gifts for family and friends
- Compare point value to get the best return on your redemptions
- Take advantage of bonus redemption events to get limited time offers
Charitable Donations
If giving back is important to you, Avion Rewards allows members to redeem points towards making charitable donations. You can donate points to support respected organizations in Canada and around the world. Some of the popular causes and charities include:
- Canadian Red Cross
- World Wildlife Fund Canada
- United Way
- Mealshare
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
Donation amounts start at 10,000 Avion points. When you donate through Avion Rewards, 100% of your points go directly to the charity. There are no administrative fees taken out. Redeeming your Avion points for charitable giving is a great way to make a positive impact.
Tips for Charitable Redemptions
- Look for charities that match your personal interests and causes
- Donate points annually to support your favorite charities over time
- Maximize your impact by donating during campaign periods or fundraising drives
- Get friends and family involved by donating points as a group
- Ask your company if they provide donation matching programs
Financial Rewards
For those who prefer cash rewards, Avion Rewards offers a few options to redeem for financial rewards:
- RBC Financial Rewards – Transfer points to your RBC Rewards account where you can redeem for cash credits, account payments and more.
- RBC Credit Card Cash Back – Apply points as a payment toward your RBC credit card balance.
- Pay Bills – Make payments towards eligible bills and invoices through Avion Bill Payments.
- RBC Investments – Use points for self-directed RBC investment accounts including RRSPs, RESPs and TFSAs.
While the primary strength of Avion Rewards is the ability to earn valuable travel rewards, it’s nice to have the option to cash out your points when needed.
Tips for Financial Rewards
- Time redemptions to match larger bills or payments
- Use bill payment redemptions to maximize credit card rewards
- Take advantage of special offers like account bonuses or improved transfer rates
- Consider investing rewards for long term savings goals
- Evaluate if transferring to airline/hotel partners would provide more value
Exclusive Member Benefits
Along with the primary rewards you can redeem for, Avion Rewards also provides members with access to a collection of benefits and perks. These add even more value to the program and enhance your experience.
Some of the key member benefits include:
- Exclusive Rates – Get preferred pricing and rates when booking travel through Avion.
- Companion Vouchers – Earn a free companion ticket with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.
- Welcome Bonuses – New cardholders can earn up to 65,000 enrollment bonus points.
- Priority Rewards – First access to book newly released reward options.
- Member-only Contests – Chance to win experience rewards through contests.
Make sure to register for an Avion Rewards account to take full advantage of all the perks and bonuses you are eligible for as a cardholder.
Tips for Maximizing Benefits
- Review benefit terms so you don’t miss out on any perks
- Stack rewards and bonuses to increase your earnings
- Take advantage of any card anniversary bonuses
- Refer friends and family to earn bonus points
- Provide feedback through surveys to help improve the program
Conclusion
Avion Rewards provides exceptional flexibility, convenience and value when it comes to redeeming your hard earned points. With multiple redemption options including flights, hotels, vacation packages, retail rewards, gift cards, cash credits and more, you can choose rewards that perfectly match your travel and shopping preferences.
A key tip is to focus your Avion points towards redemptions that normally require larger cash outlays. Use points for flights, cruises, hotel stays, theme park packages and other big-ticket rewards to maximize your return. Avoid using points for lower cost items you could easily purchase out of pocket.
With a little planning and strategizing, you can unlock tremendous value from the Avion program. Check back frequently as new redemption options are added all the time. With the ability to earn points on everyday spending and redeem them towards virtually any type of travel or retail rewards you desire, Avion provides endless options and flexibility to make your points work for you.