"Do RBC Avion points expire?"

"Avion points do not expire as long as you hold an active eligible RBC Avion credit card. There is no inactivity timer — your points remain valid indefinitely while your card account is open and in good standing. If you close your RBC Avion card, any unredeemed points may be forfeited."

"What happens to my Avion points if I cancel my RBC card?"

"If you cancel your RBC Avion credit card, any unused Avion points in your account may be forfeited. Before closing an Avion card, redeem or transfer your points. You can transfer to British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, or the RBC travel portal before cancelling."

"Can I keep my Avion points by downgrading instead of cancelling?"

"Downgrading to another eligible RBC Avion card (for example, from the Avion Visa Infinite Privilege to the Avion Visa Platinum) typically preserves your points balance as long as the new card is still an Avion-earning product. Confirm with RBC before downgrading that your points will be retained."

"How do Avion points compare to Aeroplan on expiry?"

"Avion points do not expire while your card is active — there is no inactivity requirement. Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity (no earn or redemption activity). Scene+ points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Avion is the most forgiving of the three for occasional collectors."

Avion Points Expiry Rules Canada 2026

Good news for Avion collectors: RBC Avion points do not expire as long as you hold an active eligible RBC Avion credit card. There is no 12-month, 18-month, or 24-month inactivity clock — unlike Aeroplan (18 months) or Scene+ (24 months).

This makes Avion one of the most forgiving programmes in Canada for occasional travellers who accumulate slowly and redeem infrequently.

The Core Expiry Rule

Avion points are valid indefinitely while your RBC Avion card account remains open and in good standing.

There is no requirement to earn or redeem points within any set period to keep them active. A cardholder who earns points in January and doesn’t redeem until three years later faces no expiry risk, provided their card account remains active.

What Causes Avion Points to Expire or Be Forfeited

Situation	Impact on Points
Card account open and in good standing	Points never expire
Card account closed (cancelled by cardholder)	Points may be forfeited
Card account closed (by RBC for default or fraud)	Points likely forfeited
Downgrade to another Avion-tier card	Points typically retained (confirm with RBC)
Downgrade to a non-Avion RBC card	Points may be forfeited

Before You Cancel Your RBC Avion Card

If you plan to cancel your Avion credit card, take one of these steps first:

Transfer to British Airways Avios. Points transferred to Avios live in your BA Executive Club account indefinitely (Avios have their own expiry rules — 36 months of inactivity).
Transfer to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Asia Miles transferred live in your Asia Miles account (also their own expiry: 18 months of inactivity unless reactivated by earning).
Book travel through the RBC portal. Use your points on a future trip before the account closes.
Downgrade instead of cancelling. If you want to avoid the annual fee, ask RBC about downgrade options to a no-fee Avion card that preserves your balance.

Avion vs. Aeroplan vs. Scene+: Expiry Comparison

Programme	Expiry Rule	Inactivity Clock	Best for Occasional Earners?
Avion Rewards	No expiry while card is active	None	✅ Yes
Aeroplan	18 months of inactivity	18 months	Moderate — need activity every 18 mo.
Scene+	24 months of inactivity	24 months	Good — 24 months is generous

For Canadians who earn slowly and redeem infrequently, Avion’s no-inactivity-clock policy is a genuine advantage. There is no need to make a token purchase or redemption to reset a timer.

Avios Expiry (After Transfer)

Once you transfer Avion points to British Airways Avios, those points fall under the British Airways Executive Club expiry rules — not Avion’s rules:

Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity (no earn or redemption in the BA Executive Club account)
Any earn or redemption activity (including earning Avios via shopping through the BA shop or a BA flight purchase) resets the 36-month clock

For most active travellers, 36 months is a generous window. If you’ve transferred Avion points to Avios and don’t have a redemption planned, make sure to earn at least one Avios every 36 months to keep the balance alive.

Programme terms are subject to change. Verify current expiry rules directly with RBC Avion Rewards before making decisions based on point expiry. See our Advertiser Disclosure.