Catherine F.Toronto, ON · Mar 2026
★★★★★
Banking + credit card under one roof. Concierge actually picked up at 11 PM during a Lisbon trip when our hotel cancelled. They had us in a new place within an hour. Worth every penny.
Overview
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is RBC's flagship premium travel card. At $399/year, it sits below the Amex Platinum ($799) but above most competitors' premium offerings, positioned as the value-for-money premium travel card for Canadians.
The Avion program is one of the most flexible in Canada. You can transfer points to Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and WestJet Rewards, or redeem directly for travel through Avion Rewards at fixed values. 1.25 points per dollar on all purchases, with 1.5 points on travel booked through the Avion travel portal.
The headline benefit is Visa Infinite Privilege concierge service — RBC's premium customer support that handles travel planning, restaurant reservations, ticket sourcing, and other concierge tasks 24/7. The card also includes 4 free Priority Pass lounge passes per year, $120 NEXUS application fee rebate every 4 years, and comprehensive travel + medical insurance.
Where Avion shines vs Amex Platinum: Visa acceptance is universal (no merchant gaps), no FX markup is offered on RBC's Avion Visa Infinite (not the Privilege tier — that one has 2.5%), and the integration with RBC banking is excellent for existing customers.
Where Avion loses: the 4 Priority Pass passes is far less generous than Amex Platinum's unlimited access. Hotel status benefits are weaker (no auto Marriott Gold). Travel credits exist but require booking through the Avion portal, limiting flexibility.
Welcome bonus
★ NEW CARDHOLDER OFFER
Earn 55,000 RBC Avion points
55,000 Avion points transferred to Aeroplan deliver roughly $825 in flight value at typical redemption rates (1.5¢/point). Easier hit than Amex Platinum: $1,667/month spend for 3 months. Free first year fee for new applicants in some promo periods.
55,000 pts
Spend $5,000 in first 3 months
≈ $825 in travel value
Rewards & earn rates
Here's exactly what you earn per dollar across every category — and where this card pulls ahead of the field.
1.5xx
Travel (via Avion travel)Flights, hotels, car rentals booked through Avion portal
1.25xx
All other purchasesStandard earn rate — no category caps
+25%x
Bonus point transferTransferring to Aeroplan gets 25% bonus through Sep 2026
Benefits & perks
Beyond the rewards, here are the perks worth knowing about.
🛋️4 Priority Pass passes/year
Lounge entries at 1,400+ airports worldwide. Less than Amex Platinum's unlimited but sufficient for 4-6 trips/year.
🛂$120 NEXUS rebate
Every 4 years, RBC reimburses your NEXUS application fee. Essentially free NEXUS for cardholders.
🚗Premium car rental status
Avis Preferred Plus + Hertz Gold Plus. Free upgrades, skip-the-counter.
🏨Marriott Bonvoy 5x boost
Earn 5 Avion pts per $1 at Marriott Bonvoy hotels (4x extra). Stacks with Marriott Bonvoy points if registered.
✈️Visa Infinite concierge
24/7 concierge for travel + restaurant + tickets. Reliable but less robust than Amex Platinum.
🛡️Travel insurance
Emergency medical ($5M, 31-day trips), trip cancel ($2,500/person), interruption ($25,000/person), lost baggage.
Fees & rates
The numbers that show up on your statement.
ANNUAL FEE$399Mid-tier premium pricing
SUPPLEMENTARY CARDS$75 eachUp to 9 supplementary cards
PURCHASE APR20.99%Lower than premium-card average
CASH ADVANCE APR22.99%Higher than purchase rate
FX MARKUP2.5%⚠ Not FX-free (Avion Visa Infinite non-Privilege has same)
MIN HOUSEHOLD INCOME$200,000Visa Infinite Privilege requires high income proof
Pros and cons
✓ PROS
- Strong Aeroplan + WestJet transfer integration (Canadian travellers prefer)
- Visa Infinite Privilege benefits package matches premium tier
- $120 NEXUS rebate is essentially free NEXUS for cardholders
- Universal Visa acceptance (vs Amex acceptance gaps)
- Avion travel portal has competitive flight pricing
- Multi-trip travel insurance covers up to 31 days
- Lower fee than Amex Platinum at $399 vs $799
✗ CONS
- Only 4 Priority Pass passes/year (Amex Platinum has unlimited)
- Earn rate of 1.25x is mediocre vs Cobalt's 5x on groceries/dining
- $200,000 household income requirement is steep
- No hotel elite status (Marriott Gold/Hilton Gold not included)
- Avion travel portal sometimes higher than direct booking
- 2.5% FX markup on foreign purchases
Who it's for
★ APPLY IF
- Aeroplan or WestJet Rewards loyalists who fly 4-6 times per year
- RBC Royal Bank existing customers (free banking + integration perks)
- Frequent NEXUS users (the $120 rebate is real money)
- Travellers who want premium concierge service at $399 vs Amex's $799
- Households with $200k+ income who want a premium Visa over Amex
✗ SKIP IF
- Light travellers (4 lounge passes is wasted on under 4 flights/year)
- Foodies who spend most on groceries + restaurants (use Cobalt instead)
- Frequent U.S. or international travellers (2.5% FX markup hurts)
- Income under $200,000 (Visa Infinite Privilege requirement)
- Households that prefer Marriott Gold status (Amex Platinum gives that auto)
How it compares
We pitted this card against its closest rivals.
Amex Platinum8.8/10
$799/year. Unlimited Priority Pass + Marriott Gold + $200 travel credit.
Amex wins on travel perksTD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege8.6/10
$599/year. Direct Aeroplan integration + 6 buddy passes.
TD better for Aeroplan pure-playScotia Passport Visa Infinite9.2/10
$150/year. FX-free + Priority Pass + 6 free guest passes.
Scotia wins on valueHow to apply
The eligibility checklist before you hit the application button.
MIN CREDIT SCORE760+ recommended
MIN INCOME$200,000 household income required
OTHER ELIGIBILITYCanadian resident · 18+ · existing RBC relationship preferred
DECISION TIME5-10 business days · card arrives 1-2 weeks
Editor's verdict
8.9/10
★★★★★
FINAL VERDICT
Canada's best Aeroplan card — and value-for-money premium travel.
The Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is the right card for Aeroplan + WestJet loyalists who want premium benefits without the Amex Platinum's $799 ticket price. 4 Priority Pass passes + $120 NEXUS rebate + Visa Infinite Privilege concierge for $399/year is solid value. Pair with a Cobalt for everyday spend and the combo delivers a complete Canadian wallet. Existing RBC customers get added integration benefits.
Apply for RBC Avion ↗User reviews
What current and former cardholders are saying. Aggregated from Trustpilot, Reddit (/r/PersonalFinanceCanada), and our own community comments.
4.3 / 5 ★
1,956 reviews
Vince R.Vancouver, BC · Feb 2026
★★★★★
NEXUS rebate is the underrated perk. Fly U.S. monthly for work, NEXUS line saves my life. Avion transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1 + 25% boost = serious value for biz class redemptions.
Devin H.Calgary, AB · Jan 2026
★★★★★
Solid premium card if you bank with RBC. Banking discounts + signature card discount + Avion together saved me $1,200 last year. Only ding: 1.25x earn is lazy when Cobalt does 5x.
Mia T.Montréal, QC · Dec 2025
★★★★★
Wanted to love it but the 4 lounge passes felt like a tease. Bumped me down to economy on a 12-hour layover because I'd used my quota. Switched to Amex Platinum for unlimited.