Bank CurrencyRBC

RBC Avion Rewards

Flexible bank points with strong airline transfer options

~1¢

Avg value/pt

2¢

Best value/pt

Transfer partners

3/5

Flexibility

RBC Avion Rewards is a bank points currency that offers reasonable flexibility through its airline transfer partners and the Avion travel portal. Unlike Amex MR, Avion's earn rates are more modest (1x–1.25x), but the program shines for RBC banking clients who want a simple path to WestJet, British Airways Avios, or American Airlines.

Transfer Partners

All transfers are one-way and typically irreversible. Verify ratios with the program before transferring.

Airline Partners (5)

Partner	Ratio	Transfer Time	Best For
WestJet Rewards Independent	1:1	Up to 3 business days	Domestic Canadian flights and sun destinations on WestJet WestJet Dollars are dollar-denominated — simple and transparent.
British Airways Avios Oneworld	1:1	3–5 business days	Short-haul American Airlines flights within North America Avios distance-based pricing rewards short flights heavily.
American Airlines AAdvantage Oneworld	1:1	3–5 business days	Oneworld business class on AA, Cathay Pacific, and Finnair AA partner awards can be booked by calling AAdvantage.
Air France / KLM Flying Blue SkyTeam	1:1	3–5 business days	Monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards to Europe Check monthly promo awards for 25–50% discounts.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Oneworld	1:1	Up to 5 business days	Cathay Pacific premium cabin to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia

Best Redemptions (Sweet Spots)

Short-haul via British Airways Avios

Intermediate

Transfer Avion to BA Avios and book American Airlines domestic US flights. Under 650 miles costs just 7,500 Avios in economy — outstanding per-point value.

Points needed

7,500–15,000 Avios one-way

Cash value

$150–$400

Value/point

~2¢

Pro tip: AA flights on short US routes — NYC to Boston, Miami, Charlotte — offer top Avios value.

Domestic WestJet via WestJet Dollars

Beginner

Transfer Avion to WestJet Dollars at 1:1. WestJet Dollars offset any WestJet flight at face value. Simple, flexible, no award chart needed.

Points needed

Variable (1 WestJet $ = $1 off)

Cash value

Face value

Value/point

~1¢

Pro tip: Great for last-minute domestic bookings when cash prices are high.

Flying Blue Promo Awards to Europe

Intermediate

Transfer Avion to Flying Blue and catch monthly promo awards — up to 50% off economy and business class to Europe from Canada.

Points needed

25,000–40,000 pts one-way

Cash value

$800–$1,500

Value/point

~2.5¢

Pro tip: Promos refresh monthly. Plan 1–2 months ahead when a good promo appears.

Pros

Strong airline transfer partner network (WestJet, Avios, AA, Flying Blue)
WestJet transfer is simple and predictable for domestic travel
Works well for RBC banking clients already in the ecosystem
Avion travel portal for straightforward booking without transfers

Cons

Lower earn rate (1x base) than Amex MR or TD Aeroplan cards
No Aeroplan transfer option — major gap for AC-focused travellers
Portal booking value (~1¢/pt) is mediocre
Transfer times are 3–5 days — not instant

Strategy Tips

1Unless you're booking through the Avion portal, transfers to airline partners offer the best value.
2The British Airways Avios path is the best use of Avion points for most travellers.
3Consider using the RBC Avion card as a secondary card — it pairs well with a higher-earn primary card.
4For WestJet loyalists, the WestJet transfer is unbeatable for simplicity.

Points values are estimates based on typical real-world redemptions and may vary. Transfer partner ratios are accurate as of the last updated date but are subject to change by the program operator. Always verify current transfer ratios and availability with the program before transferring points.