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RBC Avion: How to Use Your Points Without Traveling

RBC Avion: How to Use Your Points Without Traveling
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Founder of Milesopedia and an expert in rewards programs since 2015, I tell our readers this often: 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 0.6 to 0.9 cents per point. That’s less than the fixed 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).

As of July 2026, an « Outdoor Gear Sale » promotion reduced the points price on hundreds of items through August 1, 2026. This kind of temporary discount comes back regularly, so always check the end date shown before redeeming.

ItemPoints (July 2026 discount)Regular points
Ray-Ban Justin sunglasses19,26021,400
Herschel Novel 45L duffle bag19,68821,400
Ninja Artisan outdoor pizza oven47,69050,200
Weber Master-Touch 22″ grill49,50055,000
Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker49,50055,000

To see whether these redemptions are really worth it, I compared the points required to the real retail price of these same items, found on Amazon.ca or from the manufacturer:

ItemPoints requiredReal retail priceValue per point
Ray-Ban Justin sunglasses19,260≈ $296 (Amazon.ca)≈ 1.54 ¢
Herschel Novel 45L duffle bag19,688$180 (Herschel.ca)≈ 0.91 ¢
Ninja Artisan outdoor pizza oven47,690$300 to $400 (SharkNinja / Home Depot)≈ 0.63 to 0.84 ¢
Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker49,500≈ $300 (SharkNinja, comparable model)≈ 0.61 ¢

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

Distinction 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 Distinction and Elite members, this option lets you turn RBC Avion points into a contribution to an RBC Direct Investing RRSP or TFSA. It’s an original way to put dormant points to work, rather than letting them pile up without a clear purpose.

Making a charitable donation

Unlike the previous options, charitable donation is available to all tiers, including Avion Select. You choose the charity from a list offered on the Avion Rewards site, and your points are converted into a donation directly.

Comparing all your options

Here’s a summary of all the ways to use your RBC Avion points, with the tier required for each:

OptionTier requiredDetails
Shopping and gift cardsAll tiersAvion Rewards online store
Paying a bill or a card balanceDistinction or Elite« Online payments » section
Paying off a loan, line of credit, or mortgageDistinction or Elite« Online payments » section
Interac transferDistinction or Elite« Online payments » section
RRSP or TFSA contributionDistinction or Elite« Registered savings » section
Charitable donationAll tiers« Donations » section
Travel (flights, hotels, packages)All tiersSee our travel guide
Transfer to partners (Triangle included)All tiersSee our transfer guide
Ticketmaster ticketsAll tiersSee 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:

UseApproximate value per pointWhat 50,000 points gets you
Shopping and gift cards≈ 0.6 to 0.9 cent≈ $300 to $450 in value
Bill, Interac, RRSP or TFSANot publicly confirmedVaries by transaction
Flexible travel chart (flights, 100 points = $1)≈ 1 cent≈ $500 off a flight
Fixed travel chart (flights)Up to ≈ 2 centsRound-trip Canada or US to Europe (value up to $1,300)
Transfer to a partner airline programVariable, often 2 cents and upOptimized 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 Distinction and Elite members. Before choosing, always compare the value obtained (about 0.6 to 0.9 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.

To receive our analyses on the best ways to use your points every week, subscribe to our newsletter.

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$1,050

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Total$1,050Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points

Ends Nov 25, 2026

Apply Now

on RBC's website

For a limited time, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, worth up to $1,500 in travel.

  • 35,000 points upon approval of your application
  • 20,000 points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your account within the first six months
  • 15,000 points on the first anniversary of your account

You can redeem your Avion points for flights with more than 500 airlines, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions, or transfer them to partner programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage, The British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and WestJet Rewards.

The card earns you 1.25 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all your other eligible purchases. It also includes extensive insurance coverage: emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, collision coverage for rental vehicles, and mobile devices.

The annual fee is $120.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.25xTravel
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,369
2nd Year Value$271

Transfer partners

  • American Airlines AAdvantageAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • WestJet RewardsAirline

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Frequently asked questions about RBC Avion points

Can all members pay a bill with their points?

No. This option is reserved for Distinction 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 Distinction 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. In general, using your points for a flight or a transfer to a partner remains the most rewarding redemption. 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, regardless of your membership tier.

What’s the difference between Avion Select, Distinction, and Elite?

The Select tier is free for everyone, but limits access to online payments and registered savings. Distinction 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.

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