The RBC Avion travel portal is the simplest way to redeem Avion points. No award chart research, no transfer waiting periods, no blackout dates — just search for a flight or hotel and pay with points.
The trade-off: the portal rate of approximately 1.0–1.1 cents per point is the lowest value you can get from Avion (excluding gift cards and merchandise). For experienced travellers, the portal is a convenience baseline rather than the target. For everyone else, it’s perfectly practical.
How the Portal Works
- Log in to RBC Online Banking and navigate to the Avion Rewards section (or access via the RBC app).
- Search for flights, hotels, or car rentals using the integrated travel booking tool.
- Select your booking and choose “Pay with Points” at checkout.
- Points are deducted from your Avion balance at approximately 1 cent per point.
- Booking confirmation is issued just like any travel booking.
There is no need to call RBC or work through a travel agent. The portal is self-serve and available 24/7.
What You Can Book Through the Portal
| Category | Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (any airline) | ✅ Yes | Any airline with available inventory |
| Hotels | ✅ Yes | Wide selection worldwide |
| Car rentals | ✅ Yes | Major rental companies |
| Vacation packages | ✅ Yes | Some options available |
| Cruises | Varies | Check current portal for availability |
Unlike airline-specific loyalty programmes, the RBC travel portal has no airline restrictions. You can book Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Porter, or any international carrier.
Portal Value vs. Transfer Value
| Redemption Method | Value per Point | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| RBC travel portal | ~1.0–1.1¢ | Simple — any flight, any hotel |
| British Airways Avios (short-haul) | 1.5–2.5¢ | Moderate — must find partner award space |
| British Airways Avios (business class) | 2.5–4.0¢ | Higher — research required |
| Qatar Qsuites via Avios | 3.0–5.0¢ | Higher — limited availability |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (business) | 2.0–3.5¢ | Moderate |
The portal is best when:
- You want to book immediately without waiting for a transfer to process
- The specific flight or route has no partner award availability
- You’re booking economy class where the math doesn’t favour a transfer
- You don’t have enough points for a premium transfer redemption
Transfers are better when:
- You’re booking business or first class on a Oneworld carrier
- You have enough points for a Qatar Qsuites or Cathay Pacific redemption
- You’re comfortable with the award search and transfer process
Portal Booking Example
Scenario: Toronto to London, economy class, return.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cash fare | $900 return |
| Points required (at 1¢/pt) | ~90,000 Avion points |
| Alternative (Avios, business) | 85,000–120,000 Avios for a business class one-way |
In this case, the portal makes sense for economy (90,000 points for a return trip). If you’re aiming for business class, transferring to Avios and booking a one-way business class seat gives significantly better value per point.
Partial Redemptions
The RBC travel portal also supports partial point payments — you can pay some of your travel cost with points and the remainder on your RBC credit card. This is useful if your point balance doesn’t cover the full cost of a booking.
When Not to Use the Portal
Avoid the portal if you have enough points for a premium transfer redemption and the route is available. Paying 90,000 Avion points for a $900 economy ticket (1¢/pt) is reasonable, but spending 90,000 Avion points on a business class ticket costing $3,000 (0.33¢/pt) is poor value — you’d be better served transferring to Avios or Asia Miles for a premium redemption.
Related Articles
- Avion Transfer Partners: Avios, Asia Miles & More
- Best Avion Sweet Spots for Canadians
- What Are Avion Points Worth?
- How Avion Rewards Works
Portal features, redemption rates, and available travel inventory are subject to change. Verify at rbcroyalbank.com. See our Advertiser Disclosure.