"Is Avion Rewards or Aeroplan better?"

"Aeroplan is better for most Canadians because it can be earned from multiple issuers (TD, CIBC, Amex), has a larger partner network including Star Alliance, and is easier to accumulate in quantity. Avion is better if you specifically want Oneworld business class travel — particularly Qatar Airways Qsuites via British Airways Avios — or if you prefer RBC as your bank."

"Can I have both Avion and Aeroplan?"

"Yes. You can hold an RBC Avion credit card (earning Avion points) alongside an Aeroplan card from TD, CIBC, or Amex. Many Canadian travellers use both programmes strategically — Aeroplan for Air Canada and Star Alliance flights, Avion for Oneworld redemptions via Avios."

"Which has better transfer partners — Avion or Aeroplan?"

"They transfer to different ecosystems. Avion transfers to British Airways Avios (1:1), Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1), and American Airlines AAdvantage — giving access to Oneworld and Qatar. Aeroplan transfers to Air France/KLM Flying Blue, United MileagePlus, and Marriott Bonvoy — giving access to Star Alliance and hotel redemptions. Neither is universally superior; Avion's Oneworld access is better for Qatar Qsuites, while Aeroplan's Star Alliance access is better for business class on Lufthansa, ANA, and United."

"Is it harder to earn Avion or Aeroplan points?"

"Aeroplan is easier to earn in large quantities because multiple banks issue Aeroplan cards (TD, CIBC, Amex) and because Aeroplan has many non-credit-card earn partners (Air Canada flights, Aeroplan eStore, AMEX transfer). Avion is RBC-only. A dedicated Aeroplan earner using the Amex Cobalt (transferring MR to Aeroplan) plus a TD or CIBC Aeroplan card can accumulate significantly faster than an Avion earner."

Avion vs. Aeroplan: Which Rewards Programme Is Better for Canadians 2026?

Avion Rewards and Aeroplan are Canada’s two leading flexible points programmes that offer genuine value through airline transfer partners. Both programmes are worth holding — but they suit different travel styles and priorities.

At a Glance

Factor	Avion Rewards	Aeroplan
Issuer(s)	RBC only	TD, CIBC, Amex
Alliance access	Oneworld (via Avios)	Star Alliance
Key sweet spot	Qatar Qsuites via Avios	Star Alliance business class (ANA, Lufthansa)
Transfer partners	Avios, Asia Miles, AAdvantage	Flying Blue, United, Emirates, Marriott
Best everyday card	RBC Ion Plus (3x, $48/yr)	Amex Cobalt (5x dining/grocery, transfers to Aeroplan)
Points expiry	No expiry while card active	18 months inactivity
Can transfer to each other?	No	No

Earning Avion vs. Aeroplan

Avion Earn Options

Avion is RBC-exclusive. Your earn opportunities are:

RBC Ion Plus Visa ($48/yr): 3x on grocery, gas, transit, streaming
RBC Avion Visa Infinite ($120/yr): 1.25x on travel, 1x everywhere
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege ($399/yr): 1.5x on travel, 1.25x everywhere

There is no way to earn Avion points outside of RBC credit cards (unlike Aeroplan, which partners with Air Canada flights, hotel partners, and the Aeroplan eStore).

Aeroplan Earn Options

Aeroplan can be earned from multiple sources:

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139/yr): Up to 3x on grocery, gas, Air Canada
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139/yr): Similar to TD
Amex Cobalt ($155.88/yr): 5x on dining/grocery → transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1
Air Canada flights: Earn Aeroplan on every Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and partner flight
Aeroplan eStore & partners: Earn on online shopping, hotels, car rentals

Advantage: Aeroplan — more issuers, more earning opportunities, and the Amex Cobalt-to-Aeroplan pipeline is the best earning setup in Canada.

Transfer Partners Compared

Avion Transfer Partners (Oneworld)

British Airways Avios (1:1) — access to Qatar Qsuites, short-haul Oneworld, Iberia, Aer Lingus
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1) — business class to Asia on Cathay Pacific
American Airlines AAdvantage (1:1) — Oneworld partner bookings from North America
WestJet Dollars — simple WestJet redemptions

Aeroplan Transfer Partners (Star Alliance + More)

Air France/KLM Flying Blue — Star Alliance and SkyTeam flights
United MileagePlus — Star Alliance, particularly useful for United routes
Emirates Skywards — first and business class to/from the Middle East
Marriott Bonvoy — hotel rewards (3:1 transfer ratio)

Bottom line: Avion is better for Oneworld (Qatar, BA, Iberia, Cathay). Aeroplan is better for Star Alliance (Lufthansa, ANA, Swiss, United) and SkyTeam via Flying Blue. If you fly Air Canada, Aeroplan is clearly superior — points can be used directly on Air Canada without a transfer step.

Best Redemptions: Avion vs. Aeroplan

Redemption	Best Programme	Notes
Qatar Airways Qsuites	Avion → Avios	Avios can book Qsuites; Aeroplan cannot
ANA business class (Japan)	Aeroplan	ANA is a Star Alliance member
Lufthansa business class	Aeroplan	Lufthansa is Star Alliance
Air Canada flights	Aeroplan	Use Aeroplan directly; no transfer needed
Short-haul Oneworld (domestic US)	Avion → Avios	Partner distance chart = low Avios cost
Cathay Pacific business class	Avion → Asia Miles	Better rates than buying with cash
Straightforward travel spending	Aeroplan or Avion	Both portals offer ~1¢/point

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Aeroplan if:

You fly Air Canada regularly
You want to earn points from multiple credit card issuers
Star Alliance (Lufthansa, ANA, Swiss, United) is your premium cabin target
You want the largest earning network (MR transfers, eStore, flight earn)

Choose Avion if:

You bank with RBC and want a single-issuer programme
Qatar Airways Qsuites or Cathay Pacific business class is your travel aspiration
You prefer Oneworld airlines (British Airways, Iberia, American, Japan Airlines)
You like the simplicity of no expiry while your card is active

Hold both if:

You have meaningful spend on both RBC (Ion Plus for 3x grocery) and Amex (Cobalt for 5x dining)
You travel on both Star Alliance and Oneworld carriers
You want to accumulate enough of each for separate award redemptions

Programme details, earn rates, and transfer ratios are subject to change. Verify with RBC and Air Canada before making decisions. See our Advertiser Disclosure.