This article has been updated from a previous version.
We put two of the top travel rewards cards “in the ring,” comparing the flexible travel rewards programs and generous welcome bonuses worth hundreds of dollars in savings. It may be a close match.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card go toe-to-toe in a friendly competition to determine the card that provides the best value and benefits.
Click on the categories, like “Welcome bonus” or “Insurance coverage,” to jump down to a particular section.
*The RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology assumes the cardholder spends an average of $2,000 a month on their card to determine the first-year value. The calculation includes all welcome bonuses and promotional offers at the time of publishing.
Both cards have the same annual fee. However, the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card charges $50 for each additional card, while the American Express Aeroplan Card does not charge an extra card fee.
Since the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card charges an annual fee for additional cardholders, it could actually cost more than the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card if you plan on purchasing multiple cards down the line.
Both cards offer significant savings in the first year alone.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card provides up to 50,000 Aeroplan points.
The welcome bonus on the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card is comparable, but more valuable, offering up to 55,000 points. Upon enrolment, 35,000 RBC Rewards points will appear on the cardholder’s first monthly credit card statement. And, if you spend $5,000 in your first six months with the card, you’ll get 20,000 bonus points. Points do not expire as long as the account is open and in good standing. Plus, for a limited time, after you’re approved for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card, receive a $150 cash bonus from RATESDOTCA* (expires March 31, 2023).
*Terms and Conditions Apply.
Because the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card offers $100 more upon signing up, not including RATESDOTCA’s special offer, it wins this round.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card is straightforward; earn one RBC Avion point for every $1 spent on the card. Earn an extra 25% or 1.25 Avion points for every $1 spent on eligible travel-related purchases. Plus, get instant savings at Petro-Canada when you link your card. Save three cents per litre on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points and RBC Avion points (1.2 points).
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card offers a few more accelerated earning categories. Earn two Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on eligible Air Canada and Air Canada vacations purchases, 1.5 Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada, and one Aeroplan point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. This card offers a boost for everyday essentials like dining out and food delivery that can add up.
While the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card offers excellent savings at Petro-Canada, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card provides a better value and more flexibility.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is partnered with the Aeroplan program and, in turn, Air Canada. That means cardholders can get flight rewards faster and share points and benefits with family members with Aeroplan Family Sharing (up to eight members) on flights originating with Air Canada. If one member has Aeroplan Elite Status, everyone can benefit from their preferred pricing.
Related read: 5 Simple Ways to Earn More With Aeroplan
As a cardholder, you’ll have access to one of Canada’s most popular travel rewards programs — Aeroplan. Redeem rewards for travel, activities, merchandise, and gift cards at an exceptional rate. Points are worth a travel redemption value of up to 0.02 each, whereas other programs like BMO Rewards and Scotia Rewards are equal to 0.01. Keep in mind that cash-equivalent options like gift cards are usually worth less.
While RBC Avion points hold the same value toward travel, cardholders can often benefit from higher cents per point (CPP) values upon redemption depending on what you’re redeeming. The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card also has a more flexible rewards program. Redeem rewards for travel on any airline and any flight at any time. You are not restricted to one airline and can transfer points accordingly. You can also redeem for merchandise, gift cards, and financial rewards. RBC Financial Rewards allows members to contribute to select investment products and pay down loans through the bank. Points are worth roughly 0.008 when choosing this option (12,000 RBC Avion points for a $100 value).
Having the ability to choose travel or financial redemption options makes the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card a great asset; however, Aeroplan offers more travel redemption options for hotels, Air Canada gift cards, and car rentals. So, the winner really depends on what you as a traveller value more when it comes to point redemption — flexibility or variety. This round is a draw.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card grants cardholders access to exclusive Visa Infinite Benefits:
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card also features The Avion Collection with travel, food, and wellness benefits. Get exclusive offers, including the Friday Friend Pass, which gives cardholders a free second Friday ski lift ticket when they buy the first on TheAvionCollection.com. Avioners can log in to their account to view all the current deals.
Avioners will also save three cents per litre on every tank at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more points when they link their RBC card to their Petro-Points.
Plus, cardholders will pay $0 delivery fees on orders of $12 or more with a complimentary 12-month DashPass subscription when they add their eligible RBC card to their DoorDash account.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card features Air Canada travel benefits. Primary cardholders and up to nine travel companions on the same reservation will get their first bag free (up to 23kg/50lbs) on flights originating with Air Canada.
While free bag check is enticing, there are more perks, experiences, and opportunities to save with the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card — which is why it wins this category. Get travel perks and additional savings year-round.
*Insurance coverage is subject to change. Refer to your insurance certificate or contact your credit card issuer for full terms and conditions.
While the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card has 12 types of travel insurance and purchase coverage, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card only has eight.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card includes trip interruption and cancellation insurance, which the AMEX card does not feature. It also provides $1,500 in mobile device insurance, one of the highest amounts of any card on the market — a beneficial feature considering the cost of smartphones these days.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card on the other hand has less coverage and skips out on key coverages like mobile device insurance, trip interruption and cancellation coverage, emergency medical, and has $2,000 less hotel burglary coverage. That’s why the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card swoops in for the win.
Both cards require a good credit score to be eligible. Therefore, the cards are comparable in this category, and the round is a draw.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card features a standard annual interest rate of 19.99% on purchases, while the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is a charge card, therefore the balance is to be paid in full each month. If no balance is carried over to the next month, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card can be a zero-interest card. Keep in mind, balances not paid in full each month are subject to a 30% annual interest rate, which is higher than the RBC Avion’s rate. One card is no better than the other here. This round is a draw.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card requires a minimum personal income of $60,000, equal to or less than many top-tier travel rewards cards. In terms of household income, $100,000 is also more reasonable than, say, the BMO CashBack World Elite* Mastercard*, requiring a minimum household income of $150,000 to be eligible. However, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card has no minimum personal or household income requirements. It wins this round.
*Based on the RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology.
Suppose a person spends an average of $2,000 a month on their credit card as they buy groceries, gas, and other miscellaneous purchases. In the first year, their credit card rewards would look something like this:
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian would earn $1,438 in the first year using the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card. This calculation includes the exceptional welcome bonus. In the following years, the cardholder would earn roughly $438 in Aeroplan points annually.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card would earn you $1,610 in the first year, more than its competitor. In the following years, cardholders would earn approximately $360 in RBC Avion points. That is a monetary value of $78 less than the AMEX card.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card and the RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card are two valuable cards, offering exclusive perks and everyday savings. Both cards also require a good credit score. When choosing between these two cards, both are clear winners. The decision comes down to whether you prefer flying one airline and having more travel redemption options or point flexibility and exclusive perks and experiences.
The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card currently offers a better welcome bonus and takes the lead in four categories. Earn up to 55,000 points, save on food delivery and fuel, and access the popular Visa Infinite Benefits program and the Avion Collection for exclusive offers and curated events. Plus, get 12 types of travel insurance and shopping coverage and redeem RBC Avion points for travel and financial rewards.
But don’t count the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card out — the winner of three categories. Get eight types of travel insurance and shopping coverage, including $500,000 in Travel Accident insurance. Save on baggage fees at the airport for up to nine people and redeem rewards through the popular Aeroplan travel program.
Rates, product information and reward estimates are subject to change at any time and do not constitute financial advice. This post was not sponsored. RATESDOTCA may receive a referral fee from our partners or affiliate links featured on the site; however, our editorial choices are objective and free from bias. The opinions expressed in this article are purely those of RATESDOTCA; thus, the credit card issuers and partners are not responsible for any editorials or reviews that may appear. Please visit the associated brand's website for complete and current terms and conditions on any product or service mentioned. The information in this article is accurate as of the date of this posting, February 15, 2023. Read our full disclaimer.