Who this card is for
A good fit if you…
- Travellers who want transferable Avion points on a Visa they can actually get approved for, without the personal or household income figures Infinite currently asks for.
- People who will put flights and hotels on this card so any travel bonus rate in the detailed features has somewhere to fire.
- Applicants who do not already hold this Platinum product if they care about the welcome path, and who already bank at RBC.
- Households that pay the statement in full. Avion is not compensation for carrying a balance at the purchase rate.
Skip it if you…
- Applicants who already meet Visa Infinite income and want the Infinite welcome and Infinite extras. That is Avion Visa Infinite.
- High spenders who want 1.25x on every purchase. That is Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, at a much higher fee and income bar.
- WestJet-only flyers. Avion can book travel, but the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard credits the airline you actually use.
- People who mainly want 3x groceries and dining in Avion. RBC ION+ currently lists that everyday mix at a much lower fee.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Avion is a bank currency you can hold until a trip appears, rather than a pile of WestJet or Aeroplan that only feels useful on one airline.
- The eligibility terms currently position Platinum as easier to access than Avion Infinite on income, which is the reason this card still exists in the lineup.
- The current welcome path pays a chunk of points on approval, then a second chunk after a first-six-months spend — useful if you have a trip already planned.
- Visa Platinum acceptance is straightforward at Canadian merchants that still skip American Express.
- RBC customers can keep the card, Avion, and a chequing account in one login, then product-change later if income and spend grow into Infinite.
Cons
- The card’s features line currently says 1 Avion point on travel-related purchases and 1 point on everything else, while the detailed feature list says 1.25x on travel. Confirm the live travel rate on RBC’s page; both figures cannot be true.
- Supplementary cards currently carry their own annual fee, so a family of four is not a rounding error.
- Avion redemptions through RBC’s travel portal or as a statement credit can be worth less than transferring to an airline partner — you have to choose the better door.
- No insurance coverage is listed, so do not assume travel medical coverage from the Platinum name. Read RBC’s certificate before you fly on this card alone.
- The welcome-bonus estimate is a travel-value figure. Cheap domestic tickets and first-class seats are not the same dollar-per-point.
Fees and value: is the annual fee worth it?
First-year snapshot (estimate)
- Annual fee
- $120
- Estimated welcome bonus value
- $1,100
- Bonus minus fee (estimate)
- $980
This is a simple comparison of the estimated welcome-bonus value against the annual fee. It ignores rewards on spending, credits you have to remember to use, and interest if you carry a balance. Offers change — verify with the issuer.
Use the fee table above. The headline annual fee and the detail line currently agree at a $120-class Platinum card, which is cleaner than some RBC premium cards.
Set that fee beside the estimated welcome-bonus value. Year one can look attractive if you are a new Platinum applicant who also hits the first-six-months spend, because a large share of the advertised Avion arrives early.
Year two is the fee versus 1x (or 1.25x travel, if the detailed feature list is the live rate) — a weaker story unless you value Avion well above a 1% cash-back card. Additional cards are extra.
Offers change; eligibility currently says you must not already hold this Platinum card, so do not assume a product-change from ION pays.
Rewards and earn rates explained
Rewards program: Avion
This card earns RBC Avion points. The detailed features currently describe 1.25 Avion points per dollar on travel-related purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases — the same travel bump Avion Infinite advertises.
The shorter features line on this card currently says 1x on travel and 1x on everything else. Until RBC’s page clears this up, assume Platinum is the accessible Avion earner and verify the travel multiplier.
Groceries, gas, and restaurants are not a bonus category here; that everyday mix lives on ION and ION+. Avion can typically be used for flights and hotels through RBC, converted toward other rewards, or moved toward airline programs.
Transferring is usually how Avion earns its reputation; cashing out is how it disappoints. If you already know you will fly WestJet this year, compare this against the WestJet RBC World Elite rather than assuming flexibility is free.
Welcome bonus: how to unlock it
Get up to 55,000 Avion points
The current offer is two steps, not one: a welcome deposit of Avion points on approval, then a second deposit if you post a listed amount of qualifying spend in the first six months. You need both to match the “up to” point total and the estimated dollar value.
Eligibility currently says applicants must not already have the RBC Avion Visa Platinum card. Transfers from another RBC personal card, and extra cardholders on the account, are the usual exclusions on RBC travel cards — confirm the live terms rather than assuming you can product-change from Infinite or ION into this bonus.
Do not invent spend to clear the hurdle if that is not already in the budget.
Welcome bonus eligibility: Applicants must not currently have the RBC Avion Visa Platinum card
FAQ
Is the RBC Avion Visa Platinum worth it in 2026?
It is worth it when you want Avion on a Visa without Infinite income, will use the welcome spend, and will actually redeem points for travel. It is not worth it as a grocery earner, an Air Canada cobrand substitute, or a card you plan to revolve.
Avion Platinum vs Avion Visa Infinite?
Infinite currently lists a higher fee, Visa Infinite income, and the same 1.25x travel / 1x else story in its review, with Infinite extras. Platinum is the accessible Avion door. Choose Infinite if you already clear that income bar and want the Infinite welcome. Choose Platinum if Infinite would decline you on income.
Avion Platinum vs RBC ION+ Visa?
ION+ currently lists 3x Avion on groceries, dining, gas, and similar everyday categories at a much lower fee. Platinum is a travel-card Avion earner with a $120-class fee. Choose ION+ if grocery and restaurants are the spend. Choose Platinum if you want the Avion travel product and will book trips on it.
What income do I need for Avion Platinum?
The current eligibility text says Platinum often has no strict minimum income requirement, unlike Avion Infinite, with a good-to-excellent credit score and permanent-resident wording. That is the product positioning. Approval is still a credit decision. Confirm the live RBC application.
Does this card charge foreign-exchange fees?
Most Canadian Visa Platinum cards add a foreign-conversion fee on foreign-currency purchases. This Avion card is not marketed as a no-FX product. For trip spend, compare Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, and confirm RBC’s current FX rate in the cardmember agreement.
Compare related cards and guides
More Canadian credit card lists that match this product, plus a few cards people usually compare it with.
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite review · RBC · $120 annual fee
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege review · RBC · $399 annual fee
- RBC ION+ Visa review · RBC · $48 annual fee
