Avion Rewards Guide (2026): Two Programmes, One Name
Avion runs two redemption systems under one name — a flat cent a point, and a fixed flight schedule worth up to 2.33 cents. The schedule is card-gated, and on a cheap fare it costs you more points than the flat rate.
CreditCardGuru Editorial Team
Rewards & Cards Research · October 9, 2026 · 8 min read
Avion runs two redemption systems under one name, and RBC's own FAQ asks the difference between them: the flat rate, where 100 points buys $1, and the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, where a fixed number of points buys a flight up to a capped ticket price. The schedule is worth up to 2.33 cents a point. The flat rate is worth exactly one. Which one you get depends on your fare — and on holding an RBC Avion Visa.
The trap is that the schedule is not always the better deal. Book a cheap fare on an expensive tier and you will pay more points than the flat rate would have cost.
The two rates
One cent a point everywhere, or a fixed points price per destination band.
Avion publishes the flat rate plainly — "100 pts=$1 CAD" for stays, rental cars and activities, which RBC itself calls the 1% redemption rate. The Air Travel Redemption Schedule works differently: a set number of points covers a return flight to a destination band, up to a maximum ticket price, excluding taxes, surcharges and fees.
| Points | Band | Example destinations | Max ticket price | Value at the cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | Quick getaways | Montreal, New York | $350 | 2.33¢ |
| 35,000 | Explore North America | Las Vegas, Miami | $750 | 2.14¢ |
| 45,000 | Vacation destinations | Cancun, Punta Cana | $900 | 2.00¢ |
| 55,000 | Unforgettable escapes | Honolulu, Fairbanks | $1,100 | 2.00¢ |
| 65,000 | Visit Europe | London, Paris | $1,300 | 2.00¢ |
| 100,000 | See the world | Tokyo, Bangkok | $2,000 | 2.00¢ |
Every band tops out at roughly double the flat rate. That is the whole appeal of the schedule, and it only materialises if your fare is actually near the cap.
When the schedule is worse than the flat rate
Multiply the points by one cent. If your fare is below that, use the flat rate instead.
| Band | Points | Break-even fare | Max ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick getaways | 15,000 | $150 | $350 |
| Explore North America | 35,000 | $350 | $750 |
| Vacation destinations | 45,000 | $450 | $900 |
| Unforgettable escapes | 55,000 | $550 | $1,100 |
| Visit Europe | 65,000 | $650 | $1,300 |
| See the world | 100,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
A $300 flight to Miami costs 35,000 points on the schedule and 30,000 at the flat rate. The schedule charges you 5,000 points for the privilege of using it. Nobody tells you this, because the schedule is marketed as the premium benefit.
The rule is simple enough to do at the gate: points × $0.01 is what the flat rate would charge. Above that number, take the schedule. Below it, book at 100 points per dollar.
If the fare exceeds the cap, you are not shut out — you pay the difference by card, or with more points at 100 per dollar. Taxes and fees work the same way. That matters, because every band excludes taxes, surcharges and fees from the cap.
Three membership levels, and only one gets the schedule
Avion Select is free to any Canadian adult. Avion Premium comes with eligible RBC products. Avion Elite requires an RBC Avion Visa.
Avion's own eligibility page states that to join Avion Select "you need to be the age of majority and live in Canada", that Premium is "Free with an eligible RBC product", and that Elite is "Free with RBC Avion Visa".
The Air Travel Redemption Schedule sits under the heading "Exclusive RBC Avion Visa card benefits". So the better of the two rates is a card benefit, not a programme benefit — and cancelling the card takes it with you.
Redemption rates also differ by membership level, and we could not confirm a single figure for each level from Avion's own pages. Check the rate shown against your own account before redeeming rather than relying on any published table, including this one.
Transferring points to airlines
Elite members can move points to several airline programmes. Premium members can only move them to WestJet.
Elite transfer partners include WestJet, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and Avion runs periodic transfer bonuses — a 15% bonus on Asia Miles conversions was live when we checked.
Two cautions. Transfers cannot be reversed, so a transfer made speculatively is a decision you cannot undo. And a transfer bonus is only worth taking if you already know what you will book — a 15% uplift on a currency you never spend is worth nothing.
What not to do
Do not buy Avion points. Purchased points have been priced around $40 per 1,000 plus tax, which is four cents a point against a programme that redeems at one to roughly two. Buying points to top up a redemption is paying double the best rate the programme offers.
Is Avion worth collecting?
Yes if you hold an RBC Avion Visa and fly fares near the band caps. Otherwise it is a one-cent programme.
Stripped of the schedule, Avion is a flat 1% travel currency, which is the same return as a 1% cash back card with a booking engine attached. The entire premium is the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, it is card-gated, and it rewards expensive fares specifically.
That makes the honest question not "is Avion good" but "will I book $750 flights to Miami or $300 ones". Compare the answer against a cash back card and the travel card field, and run your own numbers through the rewards calculator.
The redemption schedule, the flat rate and the membership criteria above all come from Avion Rewards' own travel and eligibility pages, read on 9 October 2026; the break-even column is our arithmetic on those published figures. Two things we have not asserted: the per-level redemption rates, which Avion's own pages did not state where we could reach them, and the current price of purchased points, which moves. See also our Aeroplan and TD Rewards guides for how the other Canadian travel currencies price.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Avion point worth?
One cent at the flat rate — Avion publishes 100 points per $1 for stays, rental cars and activities, which RBC calls its 1% redemption rate. On the Air Travel Redemption Schedule a point is worth up to 2.33 cents, but only if your fare is near that band's maximum ticket price.
What is the Air Travel Redemption Schedule?
A fixed points price per destination band, available to RBC Avion Visa cardholders. A return flight costs a set number of points — 15,000 for short hops, 100,000 for long haul — up to a maximum ticket price, excluding taxes, surcharges and fees. Above the cap you pay the difference.
Is the redemption schedule always better than the flat rate?
No. Multiply the band's points by one cent: that is what the flat rate would cost. A $300 Miami fare costs 35,000 points on the schedule and 30,000 at the flat rate, so the schedule is 5,000 points worse. Use the schedule only on expensive fares.
What are the Avion Rewards membership levels?
Three. Avion Select is free to anyone of the age of majority living in Canada. Avion Premium comes free with an eligible RBC product. Avion Elite comes free with an RBC Avion Visa credit card. The redemption schedule is listed under exclusive RBC Avion Visa card benefits.
What happens to Avion Elite status if I cancel my card?
You lose the benefits attached to it, including access to the fixed-points flight pricing that makes the programme worth more than one cent a point. Before cancelling an Avion card, consider whether you have a redemption you want to make at the schedule rate first.
Can I transfer Avion points to airlines?
Elite members can transfer to WestJet, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Premium members can transfer only to WestJet. Transfers cannot be reversed, so only move points when you already know the booking you intend to make.
Do Avion taxes and fees come out of the points price?
No. Every band in the Air Travel Redemption Schedule is quoted excluding taxes, surcharges and fees. You can pay those with a card or with additional points at the flat rate of 100 points per dollar, but they are not covered by the fixed points price.
Should I buy Avion points?
No. Purchased points have been priced around $40 per 1,000 plus applicable tax — four cents a point — against a programme that returns one cent at the flat rate and roughly two at best on the schedule. Buying points to complete a redemption costs more than the trip is worth in points.
What happens if my fare is above the maximum ticket price?
You can still book. Avion lets you cover the difference with your credit card or by redeeming additional points at the flat rate of 100 points per dollar. The fixed points price buys the fare up to the cap, and everything above it reverts to one cent a point.
Is Avion better than Aeroplan?
They price differently. Avion's flat rate is a guaranteed one cent with no award availability to chase, and its schedule caps out near two cents on expensive fares. Aeroplan has a published one-cent gift-card floor and dynamically priced flights that can run higher or lower.