RBC Avion Visa Platinum review
Best for: Avion collectors who want one flat earn rate on all their personal spending.
- Rewards rate
- 1x points
- Annual fee
- $120
- Interest rates
- 20.99% / 22.99% Purchase / cash advance
- FX fee
- 2.5%
The bottom line
The RBC Avion Visa Platinum earns 1 Avion point per dollar on everything, with no categories to manage. A welcome offer may be available, so check RBC’s current terms. Beyond that, the $120 fee buys a fairly basic earn rate, and RBC’s Avion Visa Infinite costs the same while earning 1.25x on travel.
Rewards & earn rates
You earn points in RBC Avion Rewards.
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| All Purchases | 1x |
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $120 |
|---|---|
| Monthly equivalent | $10.00 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Purchase interest rate | 20.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
| Network | Visa |
Eligibility
- Recommended credit score
- 720+ (excellent)
- Minimum personal income
- None stated
- Minimum household income
- None stated
Pros & cons
Pros
- 1 Avion point per dollar on every purchase
- Earns Avion points, like RBC’s ION and Avion Visa Infinite cards
- No bonus categories to track
Cons
- $120 annual fee for a flat 1x earn rate
- 2.5% foreign transaction fee
- The Avion Visa Infinite costs the same and earns 1.25x on travel
Our detailed review
How the Avion Visa Platinum earns points
Every purchase on the Avion Visa Platinum earns 1 Avion point per dollar. Groceries, gas, travel and bills all earn the same rate, so you never need to think about which card to use at the till.
For example, a household that puts $2,500 a month on the card earns 2,500 points a month, or 30,000 points a year. The trade-off for that simplicity is that no part of your spending earns more than 1 point per dollar. There’s also nothing to optimize: a $40 grocery run and a $40 dinner earn exactly the same 40 points.
The welcome offer
A welcome offer may be available on this card, but the number of points, the spending required and the deadline aren’t confirmed here. Check the current offer terms on RBC’s website before you apply.
Whatever the offer, the flat earn rate is what you’ll live with from year two onward, so judge the card mainly on whether 1 point per dollar on everything fits the way you spend.
Keeping the card after the first year
After the first year, the question is whether 1 point per dollar justifies $120 a year. At $2,500 a month, you earn 30,000 points a year for that fee; at $1,000 a month, it’s 12,000 points.
Before you renew, compare that with what the same spending would earn on a no-fee card or one with bonus categories that match your budget. If most of your spending is on groceries, for example, a grocery-focused Avion card may earn more points for a lower fee.
Fees, interest and the fine print
The annual fee is $120, or $10 a month. Purchases are charged 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%, so the points are only worth collecting if you pay the full statement balance each month.
Purchases in a foreign currency carry a 2.5% fee, adding about $25 to every $1,000 spent abroad or with US online stores. Ask RBC what insurance and perks come with the card before you apply, since those can change how much the card is worth to you.
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
The card suits people who want Avion points with no categories to track, and who put enough of their spending on one card for a flat rate to add up.
If your spending leans toward groceries or travel, a card with bonus categories will usually earn more per dollar. And if you shop often in US dollars, the 2.5% fee adds up quickly. It’s also less useful as a second card, since $120 is a lot to pay for 1 point per dollar on leftover spending.
How it compares
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite has the same $120 annual fee, earns 1.25x on travel and comes with a welcome offer of up to 55,000 Avion points. If you qualify for both, compare them closely, since the Infinite earns more on travel for the same fee.
For less, the RBC ION+ Visa costs $48 a year, earns 3x on groceries and offers up to 14,000 Avion points. It suits grocery-heavy households that still want to collect Avion points without paying $120.
Both alternatives also earn Avion points, so you stay in the same program whichever way you go.
Before you apply
The recommended credit score is 720 or higher, and RBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. The welcome offer and fees can change, so confirm the current terms on RBC’s website before you apply.
How it compares
- 56 of the 105 credit cards we track cost less per year, and 37 cost more.
- Charges the same 2.5% foreign transaction fee as 94 other cards we track.
- Spending $1,000 in a foreign currency adds about $25 in FX fees, or $125 on $5,000.
Side by side with similar picks
| RBC Avion Visa Platinum |  American Express Aeroplan Card |  American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card |  BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $120 | $120 | $120 |
| FX fee | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Rewards rate | 1x | 1x - 2x | 2x - 5x | 1% - 5% |
| Purchase interest | 20.99% | 20.99% | 21.99% | 20.99% |
| Welcome bonus | — | — | Up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | Up to $260 cash back |
| Offered by | RBC | American Express | American Express | BMO |
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Frequently asked questions
Does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum have an annual fee?
Yes. The RBC Avion Visa Platinum has an annual fee of $120, about $10.00 a month.
Does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. The RBC Avion Visa Platinum charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases in currencies other than Canadian dollars.
How much does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum earn?
1x on all purchases. Rewards are earned in RBC Avion Rewards.
What is the interest rate on the RBC Avion Visa Platinum?
20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances. You can avoid purchase interest by paying your full statement balance by the due date.
What credit score do you need for the RBC Avion Visa Platinum?
The recommended credit score for the RBC Avion Visa Platinum is 720+ (excellent). RBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile.
Should you get the RBC Avion Visa Platinum or the Avion Visa Infinite?
Both cost $120 a year. The Avion Visa Infinite earns 1.25x on travel, while the Platinum earns 1x on everything. If you qualify for both, compare the current welcome offers and how much you spend on travel.
Is the RBC Avion Visa Platinum worth keeping after the first year?
Only if your spending is high enough that 1 point per dollar justifies $120 a year. A household spending $2,500 a month earns 30,000 points a year on the card; one spending $1,000 a month earns 12,000.
Does the RBC Avion Visa Platinum work as a second card?
It’s a weak fit as a second card. Paying $120 a year for 1 point per dollar on leftover spending is hard to justify when the no-fee RBC ION Visa earns 1.5 points per dollar on groceries, gas, transit and streaming. The Platinum makes more sense as the one card you put most of your spending on.
Who offers the RBC Avion Visa Platinum?
The RBC Avion Visa Platinum is offered by RBC. Applications are reviewed and approved by RBC, not by CreditLab.
Rates, fees and offers come from RBC’s published terms and can change at any time. Confirm the current terms with RBC before applying. CreditLab may earn a commission from partner links; this never changes the facts we show. See our methodology.