The ability to transfer to airline programmes is what separates Avion Rewards from bank points programmes like TD Rewards or BMO Rewards. Rather than being confined to a travel portal at a fixed value, Avion holders can convert their points to airline currency and book premium cabin awards at values that can be two to five times greater than the portal rate.
Here is a complete guide to Avion’s transfer partners and how to use each one.
Avion Transfer Partners at a Glance
| Partner | Transfer Ratio | Alliance | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways Avios | 1:1 | Oneworld | Short-haul Oneworld, Qatar Qsuites, Iberia |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | Oneworld | Business class to Asia via Cathay; Cathay Pacific & partners |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1:1 | Oneworld | Oneworld partner bookings from North America |
| WestJet Dollars | Variable | N/A | WestJet flights; simple, no award search needed |
Transfer ratios and programme availability are subject to change. Verify at rbcroyalbank.com before initiating a transfer.
British Airways Avios — The Primary Avion Transfer
British Airways Avios is the most versatile Avion transfer for most Canadians. Avios can be used to book flights on British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines — a wide network of Oneworld carriers — as well as Qatar Airways.
Short-Haul Avios Redemptions
Avios prices short-haul flights on a distance-based chart. This is its primary advantage over Aeroplan: a short one-way flight on an Oneworld partner can cost as few as 6,000–13,000 Avios, depending on distance.
| Distance Band | Economy (one-way) | Business (one-way) |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1: 1–650 miles | 6,000 Avios | 12,000 Avios |
| Zone 2: 651–1,151 miles | 9,000 Avios | 18,000 Avios |
| Zone 3: 1,152–2,000 miles | 13,000 Avios | 26,000 Avios |
Award pricing shown is for partner airline flights. BA’s own flights moved to dynamic pricing. Partner pricing remains distance-based.
These rates make Avios particularly useful for:
- Short domestic US flights on American Airlines (bookable with Avios)
- Ireland and UK short-haul on Aer Lingus or British Airways
- Japan domestic flights on Japan Airlines
Qatar Airways Qsuites via Avios
Qatar Airways is a Oneworld partner, and British Airways Avios can book Qatar flights, including Qsuites — widely considered the best business class product in the world, featuring fully closing doors, a double bed, and suite-like privacy.
A one-way Qsuite business class flight from North America to Doha typically costs around 70,000–85,000 Avios plus taxes. Cash fares for the same route routinely exceed $8,000–$15,000. This remains one of the highest-value award redemptions available to Canadian cardholders.
To use this strategy:
- Earn Avion points on RBC cards (the Ion Plus earns 3x on groceries and everyday spend)
- Transfer Avion points to British Airways Avios at 1:1
- Search award availability at ba.com or through the British Airways contact centre
- Book Qatar Qsuites on a North America → Doha route
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is Avion’s second-best transfer partner. Asia Miles can book Cathay Pacific flights (including business and first class) as well as partner airline flights across the oneworld alliance and beyond.
Best uses of Asia Miles for Canadians:
- Cathay Pacific business class from Canada (Vancouver, Toronto) to Hong Kong and onward to Asia
- Cathay First Class where available (limited seats; high value)
- Oneworld partner business class to Europe, Middle East, or Australia
| Route | Asia Miles (business class, one-way) |
|---|---|
| North America → Hong Kong (Cathay) | ~70,000–85,000 |
| North America → London (Oneworld partner) | ~55,000–85,000 |
| Hong Kong → Sydney (Cathay) | ~35,000–45,000 |
Award pricing is approximate and subject to change. Check cathaypacific.com for current rates.
Cathay Pacific has a strong Vancouver presence with direct flights to Hong Kong, making it particularly relevant for British Columbia residents and those routing through YVR.
American Airlines AAdvantage
American Airlines AAdvantage can be useful for booking Oneworld partner flights from North America, particularly on routes where American itself flies or where partner carrier space is available.
Note: AAdvantage moved to dynamic pricing for many routes in recent years, which has reduced its value for some redemptions. British Airways Avios generally provides better access to the same Oneworld network at more predictable pricing. AAdvantage is a useful backup when Avios space is unavailable.
WestJet Dollars
WestJet Dollars (WestJet’s rewards currency) can be earned via Avion transfer. WestJet Dollars offer approximately 1 cent of WestJet flight value each. This is simple and does not require award search expertise, but the value (roughly 1:1 with the portal) does not justify transferring unless you already have a WestJet redemption planned.
Transfer Strategy: When to Transfer vs. Use the Portal
| Scenario | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Booking any flight, hotel, car rental | Use RBC travel portal (1.0–1.1¢/pt; simple) |
| Flying business class to Asia, Middle East, or UK | Transfer to Avios or Asia Miles |
| Short domestic US/Caribbean Oneworld flight | Transfer to Avios |
| Qatar Qsuites from North America | Transfer to Avios → book Qatar |
| WestJet flight | Transfer to WestJet Dollars OR use portal |
| Unsure of plans | Hold points in Avion; do not transfer yet |
Golden rule: never transfer points speculatively. Only transfer after confirming award availability. Transfers are one-way — they cannot be returned to Avion once sent.
Related Articles
- Best Avion Sweet Spots for Canadians
- What Are Avion Points Worth?
- How Avion Rewards Works
- Avios Guide for Canadian Travellers
Transfer ratios, award pricing, and programme terms are subject to change. Verify with RBC and the relevant airline programme before transferring. See our Advertiser Disclosure.