avion points redemption air travel

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How many points do you need to travel?

Avion Elite members get there sooner with exclusive fixed-points pricing on any airline, any flight, any time. No blackout dates or advance seating restrictions, even during peak periods. 

Quick Getaways

• Within or to an adjacent province/territory
• Within or to an adjacent U.S. state

Max Ticket Price* $350

Explore North America

• Anywhere in Canada/U.S. except Hawaii and Alaska

Max Ticket Price* $750

Holiday Destinations

• Western Canada/U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska
• Eastern Canada to Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean

Max Ticket Price* $900

Take a Vacation

• Eastern Canada/U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska
• Western Canada to Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean

Max Ticket Price* $1,100

Visit Europe

• Major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Europe

Max Ticket Price* $1,300

100,000 pts

See the World

• Major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East, Africa, South America

Max Ticket Price* $2,000

*Excluding any applicable taxes, surcharges and fees.

Max Ticket Price* $175

Max Ticket Price* $375

Max Ticket Price* $450

Max Ticket Price* $550

Max Ticket Price* $650

Max Ticket Price* $1,000

Avion Elite members can also redeem for hotel stays, car rentals and more, using this simple conversion:

You also have the flexibility to redeem for flights using this conversion, including paying taxes and fees * If you are an RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege for Private Banking, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business or RBC Commercial Avion Visa cardholder, you can redeem your points at the rate of 100 points = $2 CAD for first or business class air fare, including paying taxes and fees.

Still have questions? Visit our Travel FAQs page

Family vacations or bucket-list trips, eligible Avion Premium members 1 can redeem using this conversion:

Redeem a minimum of 1,000 points – the remaining balance can be paid with a credit card.

ION & ION+ credit card holders and Avion Rewards Core Accounts redeem using a conversion rate of 172 points = $1 (minimum 2,500 points)

Road trips, weekend getaways or vacations, Avion Select members can redeem travel using this conversion:

Redeem a minimum of 2,500 points – the remaining balance can be paid with a credit card.

Travel sooner 2 as an Avion Elite member

Get the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card to become an Avion Elite member and enjoy exclusive benefits to help you travel sooner 2 on points with any airline, any flight and anytime.

Convert points for travel

Avion Premium and Elite members can convert points to other loyalty or frequent flyer programs, so you can fly and earn your own way. 1

WestJet Rewards

American Airlines

British Airways

Cathay Pacific

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions? Check our Travel FAQs

Avion Rewards travel

Redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

How many Avion points do you need to travel?

Rbc avion visa credit card holders.

Choose any airline, any flight, any time. There are no blackout dates or advance booking restrictions, even during peak periods.

Avion credit card holders can also redeem for all type of travel, using this simple conversion:

Redeem points using this conversion rate for hotel stays, car rental, cruises, and more. You can also use it for flights when you don’t want to redeem from the Air Travel Redemption Grid above.

Want to travel sooner?

With an RBC Avion credit card, you could be travelling sooner with any airline, any flight, any time. Apply for an RBC Avion Visa Infinite card today and get.

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Redeeming Avion points for your travel needs is easy

Just use this conversion rate if you’re:

• redeeming for a flight not using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule;
• redeeming for a hotel stay, car rental, cruise or vacation package;
• paying any amount above the maximum dollar value within a category;
• paying taxes, surcharges and fees.

If you are an RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege for Private Banking, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business or RBC Commercial Avion Visa cardholder, you can redeem your points at the rate of 100 points = $2 CAD for first or business class air fare, including paying taxes and surcharges and fees.

Don’t forget, if you’re short a few points, you can always purchase travel by redeeming your points and using your credit card.

For more information, see our Avion Rewards Terms and Conditions .

How to book a flight with RBC Avion Rewards points

One of the options for redeeming Avion Rewards credit cards is to use your points towards airfare anywhere in the world. Here’s how this works for a fixed-point exchange .

RBC Avion Rewards Points

There are several RBC Avion Rewards credit cards. The one used for this example is the RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card .

With this offer for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can earn 35,000 Avion points upon approval . No purchase necessary!

You can use your Avion Rewards points for travel or redeem them with other loyalty programs such as :

• American Airlines AAdvantage
• British Airways Executive Club (and Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• WestJet Rewards

The current welcome offer, for example, gives you the equivalent of 35,000 British Airways Avios or 350 WestJet Dollars .

With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you earn 1 point per dollar and 1.25 points for travel purchases.

What’s more, you’ll benefit from a wide range of insurances: trip cancellation and interruption insurance, out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical care insurance, collision and damage insurance for rental vehicles, and mobile device insurance.

RBC Avion Rewards points can be used to travel anywhere in the world with a round-trip ticket. A one-way trip requires half as many Avion points. Here is the airfare table for a round-trip flight:

On average this equals about 2 cents per Avion point .

How to Book an Airline Ticket with RBC Avion Rewards Points

With 35,000 Avion points, I could afford a plane ticket to Canada or the United States.

From your RBC Online Banking profile, click on the blue Avion Rewards button.

Then, on the Trips page, click on Book a Trip .

Avion Rewards acts like a travel agency. Generally, the prices are the same as the ones found on the sites of the carriers and tour operators.

Its search tool allows you to use RBC Avion Rewards points to book :

• A car rental
• Hotel stays
• Or Vacation Packages

After entering your desired dates and destinations, the results will be displayed. On the left, there is a filter for options.

In this example, the non-stop and no change fee options are selected.

35,000 points can be redeemed on a flight costing up to $750.

In this example, I have chosen a higher class. This exceeds the $750, the remaining balance is added to the taxes and fees.

In my case, the same flight cost about $1,000 on the Air Canada website. This equates to 2.14 cents per point , ($750 divided by 35,000 points) which is excellent!

On the checkout page, RBC shows the points required to book this airline ticket. Any remaining point balance can be used to reduce the tax and fee balance.

For example, 90 points were used to lower the balance by 90 cents. The rest is to be paid with a credit card.

Enter the traveler’s information and make the payment.

An email from RBC Avion Rewards will be sent moments later to confirm. A few minutes later (or a few hours for some), the airline will send confirmation in a separate email. All the details will be there, including the reservation number.

How to Manage an Airline Ticket Purchased with RBC Avion Rewards Points

The booked trip can be found in the My Trips section of the RBC Avion Rewards portal. A link redirects you to the airline’s website.

You will be able to link this reservation to your frequent flyer profile. Here I entered my Aeroplan membership number.

Since I had taken the Comfort fare on Air Canada, I was able to choose a Prefered seat at no charge. This must be done directly on the Air Canada website.

Please note that to change or cancel a flight purchased through the RBC Avion Rewards portal, you must call the RBC Travel Centre directly at 1-877-636-2870.

The airline will not be able to do anything on their end and they will refer you to RBC. Any changes have a cost of $25 for each ticket .

There is also the option to chat with a virtual agent on the RBC site in the Help section.

In addition, if you have eUpgrades with Air Canada, you have the option to apply them at check-in 24 hours prior to your flight.

When your flight is completed, points and qualifications are deposited into your account based on the fare booked.

For example, the Comfort rate booked through RBC gave :

• Aeroplan Points

This counts towards your Aeroplan Status .

Here are other ways to use RBC Avion points .

Another way to redeem RBC Avion Rewards points for travel

Occasionally, the Avion Rewards site may experience technical difficulties or your flight may not appear in the search results.

At that time, call Avion Rewards Customer Service at 1-800-769-2512.

• Get an authorization number to book the flight you want (mandatory);
• Book your own flight directly on the desired airline’s website;
• Send an e-mail to [email protected] with your authorization number obtained earlier from Customer Service, your name, the number of tickets reserved, proof of purchase and itinerary details.

Avion Rewards will then deduct the required points from your RBC Rewards points account to credit the cost of your airline tickets, according to their airfare table.

All posts by Caroline Tremblay

Suggested Reading

• Find a Branch
• Call 1-800-769-2511

Redeem Points

Do more with your avion points.

Pay bills, save for the future or donate to a great charity – use your points where they’re needed most.

Pay it with points

Pay credit card with points

Pay down your eligible RBC * credit card balance with your Avion points and leave more in your wallet.

Pay back purchases with points

Redeem your points towards eligible past purchases and receive a statement credit.

Pay bills with points

Use your points to pay for household bills like internet, TV and more.

More ways to use your points

Send interac e-transfers.

Redeem your points to send Interac e-transfers from one bank account to another.

Save for the future

Use your points to help pay down loans or contribute to investments.

Your points can be redeemed for:

• RBC Registered Rewards ®
• RBC Homeline Reward ™
• RBC Mortgage Reward ™
• Royal Credit Line Reward ™
• RBC Personal Loan Reward ™
• Trade With Points ™ with RBC Direct Investing

Donate to charity

Donate your points to support worthy causes like Tree Canada, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, Hope Air and Canadian Olympic Foundation.

Use your points for a huge selection of items from top brands like Apple, Best Buy and more.

Do it all with points in the Avion Rewards app

The Avion Rewards app lets you access your account quickly and easily. Use your points for bill payments, credit card payments, Interac e-transfers and more. Shop, earn, save and redeem – all in the app.

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How to Earn and Redeem Avion Points for Flights, Hotels, and More

Key Takeaways:

• Avion points are the rewards currency of RBC Avion credit cards, which can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
• Avion points have different values depending on how you redeem them, with travel offering the highest value of up to 2.33 cents per point.
• Avion points can be redeemed for flights using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, which offers fixed points rates for different destinations, or the conversion rate, which allows you to book any flight at any time.
• Avion points can also be transferred to other airline loyalty programs, such as WestJet Rewards, British Airways Executive Club, and American Airlines AAdvantage.
• Avion points can be earned by spending on RBC Avion credit cards, which offer bonus points on travel purchases and access to exclusive benefits and perks.

If you are looking for a flexible and rewarding travel credit card, you might want to consider the RBC Avion credit cards. These cards allow you to earn Avion points, which can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more with any airline, any time. You can also transfer your Avion points to other airline loyalty programs, giving you more options and value for your travel plans.

In this article, we will explain how to earn and redeem Avion points, how to use the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or the conversion rate to book your flights, and how to get the best value for your points. We will also compare the different RBC Avion credit cards and help you choose the best one for your needs.

Table of Contents

How to earn Avion points

The easiest and fastest way to earn Avion points is by spending on RBC Avion credit cards. There are five credit cards that fall under the Avion Elite membership, which offer the highest value and flexibility for your points:

• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
• RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card
• RBC Avion Visa Business Card

Each of these cards earn Avion Elite points, which can be transferred to all of RBC’s airline partners and redeemed for high value towards airfare via the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule. They also offer airport lounge access, travel and shopping coverage, and other benefits and perks.

All non-Elite credit cards that earn Avion points fall under the Avion Premium membership level. This includes, but is not limited to:

• RBC ION+ Visa
• RBC ION Visa
• RBC Rewards+ Visa Signature
• RBC Rewards Visa
• RBC Rewards Visa Preferred
• RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold
• RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business

Avion Premium points earned with these credit cards are worth up to 1 cent each. They cannot be transferred to RBC’s full list of partners and they cannot be redeemed for airfare via the Air Travel Redemption Schedule. However, you can transfer your Avion Premium points to a card that earns Avion Elite points and redeem them for higher value.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Aeroplan vs AIR MILES: Which Travel Rewards Program Offers More Value and Flexibility?
• Unlocking Maximum Value: A Guide to Optimizing Your Spending and Earning with Aeroplan, Air Miles, and Avion
• How to Calculate Point Value: Aeroplan, Air Miles, and Avion
• How to Choose and Use the Best Travel Rewards Program in Canada: Aeroplan, Air Miles, or Avion?

How to redeem Avion points

Avion points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, such as travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more. You can also use your points to pay for your credit card balance, bills, investments, or charitable donations. The value of your points will vary depending on how you redeem them, so you will want to choose the option that gives you the most bang for your buck.

Redeeming Avion points for travel

Travel is the most popular and valuable redemption option for Avion points. You can use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages with any airline, any time. There are two ways to redeem your points for travel: using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or the conversion rate.

Air Travel Redemption Schedule

The Air Travel Redemption Schedule is a chart that shows how many Avion Elite points you need to redeem for a one-way or round-trip flight between different destinations around the world. The chart is divided into six zones, each with a fixed points rate and a maximum ticket price. The zones are:

• Zone 1: Quick Getaways – Within or to an adjacent province/territory or U.S. state
• Zone 2: Explore North America – Anywhere in Canada/U.S. except Hawaii and Alaska
• Zone 3: Holiday Destinations – Western Canada/U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska; Eastern Canada to Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean
• Zone 4: Take a Vacation – Eastern Canada/U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska; Western Canada to Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean
• Zone 5: Visit Europe – Major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Europe
• Zone 6: See the World – Major gateway in Canada/U.S. to destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East, Africa, South America

The Air Travel Redemption Schedule offers up to 2.33 cents per point in value, but that’s only if your flight matches the max ticket price or is over the max ticket price for the zone. For example, if you redeem 15,000 points for a round-trip flight within Zone 1 that costs $350, you are getting 2.33 cents per point ($350 / 15,000 = 0.0233). However, if your flight costs less than the max ticket price, you are getting less value per point. For example, if you redeem 15,000 points for a round-trip flight within Zone 1 that costs $250, you are getting 1.67 cents per point ($250 / 15,000 = 0.0167).

If your flight costs more than the max ticket price, you can either pay the difference with your credit card or use the conversion rate to cover the extra cost with more points. For example, if you redeem 15,000 points for a round-trip flight within Zone 1 that costs $400, you can either pay $50 with your credit card or use 5,000 more points (at a rate of 100 points = $1) to cover the difference.

To redeem your Avion Elite points for travel using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you need to follow these steps:

• Visit avionrewards.com/travel or call 1-877-636-2870 to book your flight. You can choose any airline, any flight, any time. There are no blackout dates or advance booking restrictions, even during peak periods.
• Select the zone that matches your destination and check the availability and price of your flight. Make sure it matches the zone and does not exceed the max ticket price. If it does, you can either pay the difference or use more points.
• Confirm your booking and pay any taxes, fees, or surcharges with your credit card or points. You will receive an e-ticket confirmation by email.

Conversion rate

The conversion rate is another way to redeem your Avion Elite points for travel. It allows you to book any flight at any time, without any restrictions or limitations. The conversion rate is 100 points = $1, which means you can use your points to pay for the full or partial cost of your flight, including taxes, fees, and surcharges.

The conversion rate offers a flat value of 1 cent per point, which is lower than the Air Travel Redemption Schedule. However, it gives you more flexibility and choice, especially if you want to book a flight that is not covered by the schedule, such as a last-minute deal, a low-cost carrier, or a complex itinerary.

To redeem your Avion Elite points for travel using the conversion rate, you need to follow these steps:

• Select the conversion rate option and enter the number of points you want to use. You can use as many or as few points as you want, as long as you have enough to cover the minimum redemption amount of $50 (5,000 points).
• Confirm your booking and pay any remaining balance with your credit card or points. You will receive an e-ticket confirmation by email.

Redeeming Avion points for other rewards

Besides travel, you can also redeem your Avion points for other rewards, such as merchandise, gift cards, and more. You can browse and shop for thousands of items from various categories, such as electronics, home and garden, fashion, health and beauty, and more. You can also choose from hundreds of gift cards from popular retailers, restaurants, and services.

To redeem your Avion points for other rewards, you need to follow these steps:

• Visit avionrewards.com/rewards or call 1-877-636-2870 to browse and shop for your desired items or gift cards. You can filter by category, brand, price, or points range.
• Select the item or gift card you want and add it to your cart. You can use your points to pay for the full or partial cost of your reward, as long as you have enough to cover the minimum redemption amount of $25 (2,500 points).
• Confirm your order and pay any taxes, fees, or shipping charges with your credit card or points. You will receive an order confirmation by email and your reward will be delivered to your address within 4-6 weeks.

Transferring Avion points to other programs

Another way to use your Avion points is to transfer them to other loyalty programs, such as airline, hotel, or retail partners. This can give you more options and value for your points, especially if you are loyal to a specific brand or program. You can also take advantage of promotions and bonuses that may offer higher transfer rates or extra rewards.

Some of the most popular programs that you can transfer your Avion points to are:

• WestJet Rewards: You can transfer your Avion points to WestJet dollars at a 1:1 ratio, which means 1 Avion point = 1 WestJet dollar. WestJet dollars can be used to pay for the base fare of any WestJet flight or vacation package, with no blackout dates or restrictions. You can also enjoy benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access with WestJet Rewards tiers.
• British Airways Executive Club: You can transfer your Avion points to Avios at a 1:1 ratio, which means 1 Avion point = 1 Avios. Avios can be used to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more with British Airways and its oneworld partners, such as American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. You can also enjoy benefits such as priority check-in, seat selection, and lounge access with British Airways Executive Club tiers.
• American Airlines AAdvantage: You can transfer your Avion points to AAdvantage miles at a 1:0.7 ratio, which means 1 Avion point = 0.7 AAdvantage mile. AAdvantage miles can be used to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more with American Airlines and its oneworld partners, such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. You can also enjoy benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access with AAdvantage tiers.

To transfer your Avion points to other programs, you need to follow these steps:

• Visit avionrewards.com/transfer or call 1-877-636-2870 to choose your desired program and enter the number of points you want to transfer. You can transfer as many or as few points as you want, as long as you have enough to cover the minimum transfer amount of 10,000 points.
• Confirm your transfer and enter your program membership number and details. You will receive a confirmation by email and your points will be transferred to your program account within 2-4 business days.

How to get the best value for your Avion points

As you can see, Avion points have different values depending on how you use them. To get the most out of your points, you will want to follow these tips and tricks:

• Redeem your points for travel using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule whenever possible, as it offers the highest value of up to 2.33 cents per point. Try to find flights that match or exceed the max ticket price for the zone, or pay the difference with your credit card or points if they are slightly over.
• Use the conversion rate only if you cannot find a flight that fits the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, or if you want more flexibility and choice for your travel plans. The conversion rate offers a flat value of 1 cent per point, which is lower than the schedule, but still decent for travel rewards.
• Transfer your points to other programs only if you are loyal to a specific brand or program, or if you can take advantage of promotions and bonuses that may offer higher transfer rates or extra rewards. Otherwise, you may lose value by transferring your points, as some programs have lower redemption rates or higher fees and surcharges than Avion.
• Compare the value of your points with the cash price of your reward before you redeem them. Sometimes, it may be better to pay with cash and save your points for a higher value redemption in the future. A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 1.5 cents per point in value, which is the average value of Avion points.
• Earn more points by spending on RBC Avion credit cards, especially on travel purchases, which offer bonus points. You can also earn more points by taking advantage of sign-up bonuses, referral bonuses, and promotional offers from RBC and its partners.
• Choose the best RBC Avion credit card for your needs, based on your spending habits, preferences, and goals. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card offers the highest earning rate and the most benefits and perks, but it also has the highest annual fee. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a good balance of value and features, while the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card offers a lower annual fee and a simpler earning structure.
• The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card and the RBC Avion Visa Business Card are ideal for business owners who want to earn and redeem Avion points for their business expenses. The RBC ION+ Visa and the RBC ION Visa are great for everyday spending, as they offer high earning rates on groceries, gas, and transit. The RBC Rewards+ Visa Signature, the RBC Rewards Visa, the RBC Rewards Visa Preferred, the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold, and the RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business are good options for low or no annual fee cards that still earn Avion points.

Avion points are one of the most flexible and rewarding travel currencies in Canada. They can be earned and redeemed with RBC Avion credit cards, which offer a variety of options and benefits for different types of travelers. Avion points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more with any airline, any time, using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or the conversion rate. They can also be transferred to other loyalty programs, such as WestJet Rewards, British Airways Executive Club, and American Airlines AAdvantage. Avion points have different values depending on how you use them, so you will want to choose the option that gives you the most bang for your buck.

We hope this article has helped you understand how to earn and redeem Avion points, how to use the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or the conversion rate to book your flights, and how to get the best value for your points. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy travels, Hustlers! 🛫

Source: (1) RBC Rewards – Redeem Points – RBC Royal Bank.  https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/rbcrewards/redeem-points/index.html . (2) Book Flights, Hotels, and More On Points – Avion Rewards.  https://www.avionrewards.com/travel/index.html . (3) Your RBC Avion Visa Infinite – RBC Royal Bank.  https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-visa-infinite-avion/rbc-visa-infinite-avion-benefits-guide.pdf . (4) Fly On Any Airline, Any Flight, Anytime. – RBC Royal Bank.  https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-visa-platinum-avion/rbc-visa-platinum-avion-benefits-guide.pdf . (5) Calculator: What’s The Value of RBC Avion Points? – The Point Calculator.  https://www.thepointcalculator.com/ca/travel/rbc/rbc-avion-points-value . (6) See How Many Points You Need To Travel – Avion Rewards.  https://www.avionrewards.com/travel/redemptionSchedule.html .

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. The information and opinions expressed in this article are based on the author’s research and experience and may not reflect the current or accurate situation of the Avion points program or the RBC Avion credit cards. The author is not affiliated with RBC or any of its partners and does not receive any compensation or endorsement from them. The author is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or losses that may result from the use of or reliance on the information in this article. Readers are advised to do their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions regarding their Avion points or RBC Avion credit cards. Readers should also do their due diligence and verify the information and offers from the official sources before applying for any credit cards or redeeming any rewards.

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How I Booked a Year’s Worth of Travel on Points

Sometimes, the most challenging part of travelling on points is what to do after you’ve gone through the trouble of earning them.

If you travel as a family or in a group, you’ll need to start off by planning in advance, especially if you’re looking for several award seats.

My family takes several trips a year, and I typically start planning our trips one or two years in advance. Two years gives me enough time to earn the points I need, and then I start booking approximately 11 months out from my travel date, especially on high-demand routes.

In this article, I’d like to highlight the trips I’ve planned out for the year, and how I’ve used my credit cards and award points to offset the costs.

In This Post

Big island, hawaii, hong kong and japan, san diego and national parks, new zealand.

Hawaii is a popular destination for North Americans, and the cost of flights can quickly add up, especially during peak travel holidays.

Luckily, there are many ways to redeem points for travel to Hawaii, and a bit of planning in advance can help you get there for less.

For our flight going to Kona from Toronto, we booked using WestJet dollars and the annual companion voucher that comes with our WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercards .

Normally, it’d make sense to book a round-trip flight if you’re using a companion voucher, as there’s usually a $399 fee for the companion to use the voucher to Hawaii.

However, a couple of years ago, WestJet ran a promotion in which they offered a special companion voucher with a $0 base fare for a second passenger. All I had to pay were the taxes and fees for the companion ticket, and there was no cost for the base fare.

In the end, our redemption for Toronto to Kona for five passengers looked like this:

• Two companion vouchers
• 439 WestJet dollars × 3 passengers (we chose the EconoFlex fare just in case we needed to make changes)
• $117.10–157.10 (CAD) taxes and fees × 5 passengers

In other words, by making use of our companion vouchers and WestJet dollars, the total out-of-pocket cost for five people was less than $800 (CAD), which is pretty good.

Coming home from Kona to Toronto, we redeemed $1,560 (USD) from our United Travel Banks to cover our United Airlines flights back.

The biggest takeaway from booking this trip: take advantage of promotions whenever they come up, as they can wind up paying dividends down the line.

My grandma is turning 90 this year, so our family will be heading back to Hong Kong to celebrate with her. Although there are many options to get to Asia, for convenience, I wanted a direct flight there.

In the past, I would have booked Cathay Pacific through Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan; however, Cathay Pacific hasn’t been reliably releasing any long-haul award space to any of its airline partners for the past few years.

The only reliable way to book Cathay Pacific award flights these days is through Cathay Pacific Asia Miles , its own award program.

Asia Miles can be acquired through transferring RBC Avion points at a 1:1 ratio, which I earned with my RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† , or by transferring American Express Membership Rewards points at a less favourable 1:0.75 ratio, which I earned mainly from my American Express Cobalt Card .

Knowing I had this trip coming up, my husband and I both signed up for the new Cathay World Elite Mastercard – powered by Neo , which came with a welcome bonus of 45,000 Asia Miles.

Then, for our flight from Toronto to Hong Kong, we redeemed the following:

• 38,000 Asia Miles for economy class × 3 for the kids
• 75,000 Asia Miles for premium economy class × 2 for my husband and me
• $224.50 (CAD)  taxes and fees x 5 passengers

Coming back, we booked a direct Air Canada flight from Tokyo to Toronto using Aeroplan points.

Between the two of us, we were able to use eUpgrades to get the whole family into Air Canada business class using the Latitude Attitude .

For this leg of the trip, we redeemed the following:

• 74,800 Aeroplan points   × 5 passengers
• 13 eUpgrades × 5 passengers
• $36.40 (CAD)  taxes and fees × 5 passengers  

I haven’t booked our flights from Hong Kong to Tokyo yet, but likely we’ll be paying cash for this, in the range of $300 (CAD) per person.

Round-trip tickets right now on Cathay Pacific are pricing out at $2,700–3,100 (CAD) in economy class, so I feel that we get an excellent deal by using points.

The biggest takeaway from booking this trip: working in two-player mode and having flexible points gives you the best options for booking trips on competitive routes.

In the summer, we’re heading to California for a bit of time with extended family.

Friends are always telling us what a great family destination San Diego is, and since our trip to Zion National Park in Utah, we’ve also been wanting to explore more national parks, so we decided to cross both off our list.

We booked our flights flying into Los Angeles from Toronto, and plan on driving up to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

From there, we’ll catch a short flight back to San Diego, and spend some time there before heading back up to Toronto.

For our flight from Toronto to Los Angeles, we booked a direct flight in economy using Aeroplan points, for the following costs:

• 9,400 Aeroplan points × 5 passengers
• $107.20 (CAD) taxes and fees × 5 passengers

For our flight coming back from San Diego to Toronto, we booked a direct flight in economy using Aeroplan points, for the following costs:

• 12,400 Aeroplan points   × 5 passengers
• $76.30 (CAD) taxes and fees × 5 passengers

At the time of writing, this itinerary is pricing out at $699 (CAD) per person, which means I’m getting a value of 2.23 cents per Aeroplan point, which I mostly earned from my American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card .

For our short flight from Fresno, the closest airport to Sequoia, to San Diego, it’ll cost $125 (CAD) per person.

For this, I plan on booking through Expedia® for TD and cashing out my TD Rewards Points earned through my TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card . 

The biggest takeaway from booking this trip: booking in economy can still result in great value for your points, and having fixed-value points comes in handy for offsetting other travel expenses.

My husband and I had a work conference pencilled in for New Zealand later this year.

As luck would have it, Air New Zealand, which is a notoriously difficult airline to book on points, decided to release a bunch of award seats a few months ago that happened to coincide with our travel dates.

Air New Zealand is a Star Alliance airline, and I was able to secure our flights there using Aeroplan points.

However, I also managed to book the return flights through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club , leveraging the separate partnership between the two airlines.

Air New Zealand doesn’t fly to Toronto, and I had to book from Houston to Auckland and back.

For our flight from Houston to Auckland, we redeemed the following:

• 75,000 Aeroplan points for Air New Zealand business class × 2 passengers
• $132.90 (CAD) taxes and fees × 2 passengers

For our flight from Auckland to Houston, we redeemed the following:

• 62,500 Virgin Points for Air New Zealand business class × 2 passengers
• $61.99 (CAD) taxes and fees × 2 passengers

If you’re wondering how I accumulated my Virgin Points, it was once again through my Amex US cards.

In the last couple of years, there have been a couple of 30% transfer bonuses from Amex US Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which I took advantage of. 

Initially, the intent was to use them to book an ANA First Class flight, but that didn’t work out, so I jumped at the opportunity to use them for Air New Zealand instead.

Factoring in the transfer bonus, my business class redemption was only 48,077 Amex US MR points per ticket, which is outstanding.

Without taking into consideration the short positioning flight I still need to book from Toronto to Houston and back, we scored an astronomical value from our credit card points for this redemption.

The biggest takeaway from booking this trip: leverage transfer bonuses whenever you can, and keep an eye out for award availability with airlines that are difficult to book.

For our final big trip of the year, we’re going to Morocco. This is a couples’ trip we had planned before the pandemic happened, and was cancelled because of it. Needless to say, I’m glad we can finally go.

Initially, the plan was to use our Aeroplan points for the redemption. Air Canada offers direct flights from Montreal to Casablanca, and flying back, we’d fly TAP Air Portugal from Marrakech to Toronto, with a short layover in Lisbon.

For our flight from Toronto to Casablanca via Montreal, we redeemed the following:

• 57,800 Aeroplan points for business class × 1 passenger
• 64,300 Aeroplan points for premium economy × 1 passenger
• 11 eUpgrades × 1 passenger
• $65 (CAD) taxes and fees × 2 passengers

Unfortunately, while waiting for our friends to accumulate enough points for the return flight, the TAP Air Portugal award seats disappeared on the dates we needed.

Luckily, we found a flight on British Airways that worked on our dates, with several seats available.

The rates from British Airways Executive Club weren’t great, so instead, we used American Airlines AAdvantage miles to make the redemption.

Unfortunately, the taxes and fees were hefty, since we were going through London, but overall it was still good value for a business class redemption, and it allowed us all to travel together.

We acquired the AAdvantage miles through transferring our RBC Avion Rewards earned from our RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† cards at a 1:0.7 ratio. 

For our flight from Marrakech to Toronto via London, we redeemed the following:

• 57,500 AAdvantage miles for business class × 2 passengers
• $484.70 (CAD) taxes and fees  × 2 passengers

The cheapest flights for our dates were more than $4,500 round-trip, which gave us a value of over 3 cents per point in either currency.

The biggest takeaway from booking this trip: even with high taxes and fees and less-than-ideal transfer ratios, booking premium flights can still result in great value for your points.

Hopefully, this article has helped to highlight how holding different Canadian and American credit cards, as well as earning different point currencies, can be used for various trips near and far.

Keep in mind these are just a few examples of the countless possibilities of where your redemptions can take you.

For our trips this year, we redeemed a grand total of just over 1.2 million points and miles, two WestJet companion vouchers, 76 Air Canada eUpgrades, plus other reward points and credits from our credit cards to make it all happen.

Having multiple points currencies and booking early are keys to giving you the most flexibility and the greatest success in making the flight redemptions you want.

While Canadian credit cards will cover a majority of your travel plans, US credit cards will give you greater access to other airline programs that can allow you to book similar flights for an even better value.

Here’s to happy travel planning for 2024 and beyond!

• Earn 35,000 RBC Avion points † upon approval†
• Plus, earn 1x 1.25x RBC Avion points †  on qualifying travel purchases
• Transfer RBC Avion points to British Airways Executive Club and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights †
• Redeem Avion points for flights with the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule †
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $120 †
• Supplementary card fee: $50

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Business Platinum Card from American Express

120,000 MR points

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100,000 MR points

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†

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