RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

Overview

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is RBC Royal Bank's top-tier Avion travel card — a Visa Infinite Privilege product earning 1.25 Avion points per $1 on all purchases, with six complimentary airport lounge passes per year. Avion points are transferable to British Airways Avios, American Airlines AAdvantage, WestJet Rewards, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, making this one of the more flexible premium travel cards in Canada. At $399 CAD annually, it's positioned for high-earning travellers who want a single premium card with broad airline optionality and built-in lounge access. The income requirement is $200,000 CAD individual or household.

Who this card is for

You need $200,000 CAD individual or household income to qualify. The ideal cardholder is a high-earner who travels several times per year, values flexibility across airlines rather than committing to Air Canada or WestJet exclusively, and uses airport lounges regularly enough to extract value from six annual visits. It's a particularly strong fit for business travellers who take transatlantic or transpacific routes and want access to oneworld carriers (British Airways, Cathay Pacific) through Avios and Asia Miles transfers alongside WestJet for domestic Canadian travel.

Key benefits

The flat 1.25 Avion points per $1 on all purchases is the headline — you don't need to remember category bonuses or limit certain spend to a particular card. On $4,000 CAD per month in total spending, you're accumulating 60,000 Avion points annually, which can transfer to meaningful Avios redemptions on British Airways or oneworld partner flights.

Six complimentary lounge visits per year are included through the Visa Airport Companion Program, covering 1,200+ global lounges. Visa Infinite Privilege concierge service rounds out the premium experience. Travel insurance is comprehensive at this tier, covering emergency medical, trip cancellation, flight delay, lost baggage, and car rental protection.

Welcome bonus offers have appeared at elevated Avion point levels for this card; check RBC's site for the current promotion before applying.

Potential drawbacks

The $399 CAD fee is substantial — recovering value requires both the lounge visits and meaningful Avion point accumulation. The 1.25x flat rate, while consistent, doesn't have the category spikes (5x food, 3x dining) that some mid-tier cards offer, meaning the per-dollar earn rate on, say, grocery spending is lower than you'd get on a focused everyday card. Transfer ratios to partner programs are not always 1:1, so verify conversion rates before you plan a specific redemption.

How it compares

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege charges $599 CAD and earns Aeroplan directly with Maple Leaf Lounge access — a stronger option for Air Canada loyalists. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite costs $120 CAD and earns 1.25x on travel and 1x everywhere else — if lounge access isn't a priority, the $279 CAD fee savings may outweigh the Privilege benefits. For high spenders who want unlimited lounge access rather than six passes, the American Express Platinum at $799 CAD offers Centurion Lounge access and a broader premium perk set.

Bottom line

A compelling option for high-earning multi-airline travellers who want consistent flat-rate Avion accumulation, lounge access, and the flexibility to redeem across British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and WestJet from one card.