Our RBC VISA Points Strategy

As a Canadian, we have limited options on bank credit cards, which leaves with limited options for earning points, and limited options on the which points.

Don't worry though, in this article, I'm going to share with you fellow Canadians, whom are or trying to get started in the credit card point game, which are the best points to earn.

Ready????

Earning RBC Avion points in my mind are the best points you can earn when using a bank credit card in Canada.

However, earning RBC Avion points isn't talked about much in the credit card point universe.

So let's start first with which banks in Canada offer credit cards.

You have, as mentioned, RBC Royal Bank, where you can earn Avion points.

You have CIBC, where you can earn Aeroplan points and Aventura points.

You have BMO, where you can earn Air Miles.

You have TD, where you can also earn Aeroplan points and Reward points

And you have Scotia Bank where you can earn Scene+ points.

Those are the Big 5 banks that we always talk about in Canada.

These banks also offer cash back credit cards, and some other credit cards with points, such as RBC has a WestJet credit card and British Airways credit card that earns Avios, but I'm just trying to keep it simple.

Which brings us back then to the main topic of this article, why earn RBC Avion points over the others.

Now, nothing against CIBC or TD credit cards where you can earn Aeroplan points, as I love Aeroplan points, but I prefer earning RBC Avion points over these for 1 main reason!

Earning RBC Avion points allows you to convert them to Avios points where their are many more options for flights vs CIBC where you can only earn Aeroplan reward points and then you are stuck using just Aeroplan.

With Avios points you can transfer them to many different airline partners because Avios points are the frequent flyer currency of a group of airlines, such as British Airways, Qatar, Finnair, Iberia and Aer Lingus, as well as you can transfer Avion points to other airlines such as American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and West Jet.

This is why I personally prefer using an RBC credit card over a CIBC or TD credit card or other Canadian banks credit cards.

Now you might be thinking "hey, wait a minute, Aeroplan points get me access to way more airline partners, being that Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance, and you can use Aeroplan points to book all those partner airlines?"

And yes you'd be right, however, I have my reasons, and it might be different for you, but it really comes down to your overall credit card point strategy.

One reason I use my RBC VISA Credit card to earn Avion points is to diversify the points I collect, and I currently earn Aeroplan points when I use my TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card for my business purchases.

Secondly, I use American Express credit cards for most of my day to day purchases, when American Express is accepted, which I can then convert to Aeroplan points.

Lastly, with RBC Avion points, I still have the option of using them for travel, or to pay down my credit card, or for making purchases using Avion points via RBC's shopping portal.

So then, WHAT IS the best strategy when using RBC credit cards to earn Avion points?

Well, most of the cards don't have the best earning rates, meaning, m0st earn 1x Avion point for every $1 spent.

The higher fee credit cards such as the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege earn 1.25 pts for every dollar spent, but the $399 annual fee is crazy.

So then, what RBC card should you use then?

I've learned the best RBC credit card to use, as I mostly use Amex credit cards for spend, but when Amex isn't accepted, only VISA is, the RBC credit card I pull out for groceries and dining is the RBC ION+ Visa, which only has an annual fee of $48.

I like this card because it earns 3X Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, gas, dining, food delivery, rideshare, streaming services and more.

It's not as great as the 5x points you earn with the Amex Cobalt on groceries and dining, but the best you'll get in Canada when using a VISA.

However, there is a negative with this card.

WHAT????

Yes, unfortunately you can only convert Avion points earned on this card to Westjet Reward points!!!!!

I know, I know, it kinds of sucks, but don't worry their is a way to get around this.

You see RBC credit cards earn different types of Avion points!

What???

Yes, the RBC Ion+ VISA earns what they call premium Avion points which only allow you to convert them to West Jet Rewards.

The RBC VISA Infinite and Privilege credit cards earn what RBC calls elite Avion points, which will allow you to convert your points to Avios points, or American Airlines Rewards or Cathay Pacific Rewards points, which then allows you to use those now converted points towards the many different airline partners I mentioned earlier that accept Avios points as their reward points program.

I know what your asking, why then use the the RBC Ion+ VISA?

Well, because you get better earning rates, as mentioned earlier on dining and grocery purchases, which you can then convert the premium points you earned on your Ion+ VISA to elite points.

BUT how do you do that???

Well, I'm glad you asked, to do this, you will also need to have an RBC Avion VISA Infinite credit card!

Which means, yes, you will have to carry both credit cards, and have 2 annual fees, with the RBC Avion VISA Infinite credit cards annual fee being $120.

Yes I know, it kind of sucks because you will need to have 2 credit cards and pay 2 annual fees. But the fees will easily be made back when you convert your RBC points to Avios points and book that dream trip you've always wanted to take, using points!

What do you think about that!!??