RBC Avion: How to Use Your Points Without Traveling
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RBC Avion Rewards points aren’t just for booking a flight or a hotel. Depending on your membership tier, you can also use them to pay a bill, send an Interac transfer, contribute to an RRSP or a TFSA, make a charitable donation, or simply shop. Here’s a complete overview of these other ways to use your RBC Avion points, to complement our guides on travel, transferring to partners, and Ticketmaster tickets.
Before choosing an option, check our best credit cards page to see which RBC Avion card best fits your spending habits.
Shopping and gift cards
All members, regardless of tier, can redeem their points for items and gift cards from major brands, directly in the Avion Rewards online store. The “Shop with your points” section groups five families: Apple, Best Buy, gift cards, merchandise, and Ticketmaster.
The merchandise catalogue (excluding gift cards) alone tops 2,000 products, spread across eight categories: home goods, kitchen and dining, entertainment, kids and toys, fashion and travel, computers and office, health and wellness, and sports and leisure. Comparing the points required to the real retail price of several items (Herschel bag, Ninja pizza oven, Ninja ice cream maker), the value works out to roughly 0.55 to 0.85 cents per point. That’s less than the flexible travel chart for flights (1 cent per point), and up to three times less than the fixed chart, which can be worth close to 2 cents per point (see the comparison further down).
Keep an eye on temporary sales too: the store regularly lowers the points price on hundreds of items, for example on outdoor gear in summer. Always check the end date shown before redeeming, since the item then goes back to its regular price.
To see whether these redemptions are really worth it, I compared the points required to the real retail price of several catalogue items, at their regular points price, found on Amazon.ca or from the manufacturer:
| Item | Points required | Real retail price | Value per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray-Ban Justin sunglasses | 21,400 | ≈ $296 (Amazon.ca) | ≈ 1.38 ¢ |
| Herschel Novel 45L duffle bag | 21,400 | $180 (Herschel.ca) | ≈ 0.84 ¢ |
| Ninja Artisan outdoor pizza oven | 50,200 | $300 to $400 (SharkNinja / Home Depot) | ≈ 0.60 to 0.80 ¢ |
| Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker | 55,000 | ≈ $300 (SharkNinja, comparable model) | ≈ 0.55 ¢ |
Except for the Ray-Ban sunglasses (a listed price rarely paid in full), most items deliver less than 1 cent per point once compared to the real retail price, confirming that shopping remains the least rewarding redemption in the program.
For gift cards tied to travel (hotels, airlines) and their exact redemption rate, check the gift card section of our travel guide, where these rates are detailed.
Online payments: bills, loans, and Interac
Paying a bill or a card balance
Premium and Elite members can use their points to pay down their RBC credit card balance or pay a regular bill (phone, electricity, etc.). The number of points required is calculated based on the exact transaction amount, directly in your account at the time of redemption.
Paying off a loan, line of credit, or mortgage
In addition to bills, these same members can apply their points toward paying off a personal loan, a line of credit, or even an RBC mortgage. It’s an interesting option for those who have built up a lot of points but don’t travel often.
Sending an Interac transfer
Another little-known option: convert points into cash sent by Interac transfer, directly from the “Online payments” section of the Avion Rewards account. It’s the most flexible way to use points, since the money received can be used for anything.
Contributing to an RRSP or TFSA
Still reserved for Premium and Elite members, this option lets you turn RBC Avion points into a contribution to an RBC Direct Investing account. The list of eligible accounts goes beyond the RRSP: RBC also accepts the TFSA, the FHSA, the RESP, and non-registered cash or margin accounts.
The current rate is 12,000 points for a $100 contribution, or about 0.83 cent per point. You can also use your points to cover a trade commission instead of contributing: RBC estimates about 1,200 points for a $9.95 equity trade.
My take on this option: at about 0.83 cent per point, the redemption stays below the fixed travel chart for flights, which can approach 2 cents. It becomes relevant if you don’t travel and your points have been sitting idle for months: locking in 0.83 cent per point then beats most catalogue items, which return 0.55 to 0.85 cent.
If you travel, keep your points for the fixed chart or for a transfer to an airline partner instead.
Making a charitable donation
You can also turn your points into a donation to a charity, such as Ronald McDonald House, Hope Air, or the David Foster Foundation. You choose the charity from a list offered on the Avion Rewards site, and your points are converted into a donation directly. Like online payments, this option is currently reserved for Premium and Elite members: RBC lists it as “coming soon” for Avion Select members.
Comparing all your options
Here’s a summary of all the ways to use your RBC Avion points, with the tier required for each:
| Option | Tier required | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping and gift cards | All tiers | Avion Rewards online store |
| Paying a bill or a card balance | Premium or Elite | “Online payments” section |
| Paying off a loan, line of credit, or mortgage | Premium or Elite | “Online payments” section |
| Interac transfer | Premium or Elite | “Online payments” section |
| RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, or RESP contribution | Premium or Elite | “Registered savings” section |
| Charitable donation | Premium or Elite | “Donations” section |
| Travel (flights, hotels, packages) | All tiers | See our travel guide |
| Transfer to partners (Triangle included) | Premium or Elite (some partners: Elite only) | See our transfer guide |
| Ticketmaster tickets | All tiers | See our Ticketmaster article |
Which option gives the most value?
Not all ways of using your RBC Avion points are equal. Here’s the approximate value per point for each option, for the same balance of 50,000 points:
| Use | Approximate value per point | What 50,000 points gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping and gift cards | ≈ 0.55 to 0.85 cent | ≈ $275 to $425 in value |
| RBC Direct Investing contribution | ≈ 0.83 cent | ≈ $417 |
| Bill, card balance, or Interac transfer | Not publicly confirmed | Varies by transaction |
| Flexible travel chart (flights, 100 points = $1) | ≈ 1 cent | ≈ $500 off a flight |
| Fixed travel chart (flights) | Up to ≈ 2 cents | Round-trip Canada or US to Europe (value up to $1,300) |
| Transfer to a partner airline program | Variable, often 2 cents and up | Optimized flight, sometimes in business class |
In other words, for an equal number of points, the fixed travel chart for flights is generally worth two to three times more than an item or a gift card. Shopping remains a convenient option for spending a small points balance or for things that don’t translate into travel, but to maximize the value of your RBC Avion points, prioritize the fixed travel chart or a transfer to an airline partner. Check our complete guide to RBC Avion travel rewards for all the details.
Key takeaway
RBC Avion Rewards points offer far more flexibility than travel alone. That said, the most versatile options, online payments and registered savings, remain reserved for Premium and Elite members. Before choosing, always compare the value obtained (about 0.55 to 0.85 cent per point for shopping) with that of a flight on the fixed travel chart or a transfer to an airline partner, which can be worth two to three times more.
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- Annual fee
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- Welcome offer35,000 points after approval; 20,000 after $5,000 in eligible transactions within 6 months; 15,000 credited 12–16 weeks after the first account anniversary. Eligible account must remain open and in good standing; offer terms and posting times apply.
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Frequently asked questions about RBC Avion points
Can all members pay a bill with their points?
No. This option is reserved for Premium and Elite members. Avion Select members don’t have access to it.
Can I send an Interac transfer with my Avion points?
Yes, in the “Online payments” section of your account, if you’re a Premium or Elite member. Points are converted into cash sent by Interac.
Is it worth contributing to an RRSP with your points?
It depends on your goals. The current rate is 12,000 points for a $100 contribution, or about 0.83 cent per point. Even at that rate, a flight on the fixed travel chart or a transfer to an airline partner remains more rewarding. The RRSP option mainly suits those who don’t travel and want to put unused points to work.
How do I make a charitable donation with my RBC Avion points?
Charitable donations are made directly on the Avion Rewards site, in the section designed for it. You choose the organization from a proposed list. For now, RBC reserves this option for Premium and Elite members: it’s listed as “coming soon” for Avion Select members.
What’s the difference between Avion Select, Premium, and Elite?
The Select tier is free for everyone, but limits access to online payments and registered savings. Premium and Elite unlock these options, notably through an RBC account or an eligible Avion Visa credit card. Here’s the full breakdown of membership levels.
Is the redemption rate the same for all options?
No. Each option (bills, shopping, donations, travel) has its own calculation, shown directly in your account at the time of the transaction. Travel and transfers to partners generally remain the most advantageous redemptions.