Points Miles and Bling (blog) contains referral or affiliate links. The blog receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support. Credit Card issuers are not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information, and Terms and Conditions, click the link included.
When it comes to RBC credit cards, Avion is the name of the game. But not all Avion cards are built the same. In fact, there’s a strong case for holding two different RBC cards: one from the Ion family and one from the Avion family.
Why we love Avion: you can transfer Avion points to frequent flyer programs and book incredible premium cabin flights, such as Qatar Qsuites, Etihad A380 First Class Apartments, and Cathay Pacific First Class.
The Case for RBC Avion Cards
By Avion, I’m referring to points by the RBC Avion suite of cards:
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite
- RBC Avion Visa Platinum
- RBC Avion Visa Business
These cards are the only ones that let you transfer Avion points directly to frequent flyer programs. The beloved 55,000-point bonus on the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is also back after spending $5,000 in the first six months. That makes now a great time to apply.
However, the earn rate on the Avion cards is rather mundane at 1X-1.25X per dollar spent. That’s why PMB doesn’t recommend them for groceries, gas, or dining.
And that’s where the Ion+ card comes in.
The Case for the RBC Ion+ Visa
The RBC Ion+ Visa is fantastic for everyday spending. PMB ranks this among its top two cards for groceries, gas, and dining.
Just look at this extensive list for which this card earns 3X points. Also, as a card with an annual fee of only $48!
- Grocery, Dining & Food Delivery
- Rides (incl. daily public transit and rideshares), Gas & E.V. Charging
- Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions, and in-game purchases
Currently, there’s also a worthwhile sign-up bonus on offer: earn 21,000 points by spending $1,500 in your first 6 months.
On the topic of earn rates, even the no-fee RBC Ion Visa earns 1.5X on the same categories, which still beats out the RBC Avion Visa Infinite’s flat 1.25X on travel-related purchases and 1X otherwise.
The major downside is that you can’t transfer points earned on the RBC Ion+ Visa directly to frequent flyer programs, but there’s an easy workaround.
The Case for Holding Both
If you hold both the RBC Ion+ Visa and one of the Avion cards, you can transfer the points earned on the Ion+ to the Avion card and then transfer to frequent flyer programs that way.
Therefore, it makes total sense to hold both of these cards: the Avion card for the ability to transfer to airlines and book aspirational flights and the Ion+ card to rack up the Avion points needed for such endeavours.
Transfer your Avion points to Ameican Airlines AAdvantage to book Etihad A380 first class apartments
If you hold the RBC Ion+ Visa with either the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege or the RBC Avion Visa Business, you can also redeem your Avion points at a flat rate of 2 cents per point for business or first class flights. Simply head to the RBC travel portal and book directly. If the flight you want is not available on the portal (powered by Expedia), call RBC to manually approve the ticket and apply your points at 2 cents each.
Takeaway
You should strongly consider holding at least two RBC cards: an Avion card and the RBC Ion+ Visa. Rack up points with the 3X multiplier on the Ion+. Then move those points to the Avion card so they can now be transferred to frequent flyer programs and used to book premium cabin flights.
For the Avion card, we currently recommend the RBC Avion Visa Infinite for its high 55,000-point sign-up bonus. The RBC Ion+ Visa is also offering a generous 21,000 points after spending $1,500 in the first six months.
