Following RBC’s purchase of HSBC, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is now discontinued and cardholders will soon have to transition to a similar RBC product. For dates and the latest information on this transition, make sure to read our guide. This comparison is for information purposes only, to help you make informed choices during this transition.
RBC and HSBC each offer a travel rewards credit card:
But which one is the most advantageous?
Let’s look at each of their features in detail, to distinguish these two credit cards.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card does not offer benefits.
Each year of membership, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® cardholder has a total of $100 available to apply to travel expenses.
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is the only one to offer an annual travel credit. In fact, for each year of membership, $100 can be deducted from the account through a travel expense. This could be a flight, baggage fee or airport lounge fee.
With some partners, credit cards offer more points or attractive discounts for everyday purchases.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has exclusive benefits for Visa Infinite cardholders.
With this card, you are also entitled to :
Because it is a World Elite Mastercard, the cardholder has access to privileges and experiences that are out of the ordinary with Priceless:
This card also gives :
For both its travel benefits and offers and its everyday life, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card wins this round.
Having access to an airport lounge before a flight is convenient.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card does not offer membership or airport lounge access.
This card provides a free membership to DragonPass, but does not provide free access to airport lounges.
You have the option of purchasing your DragonPass network lounge admission for $32 USD.
Although it doesn’t offer free access to airport lounges, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® still has the merit of offering membership.
One trick is to pay the $32 USD access fee to a lounge, then have it refunded via the $100 travel credit.
What about using these credit cards abroad (or for your Internet purchases in foreign currency)?
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card you pay a 2.5% conversion fee on each foreign currency transaction.
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, there are no conversion fees for foreign currency transactions.
A rare benefit offered by a handful of credit cards in Canada is the absence of foreign currency conversion fees.
This is the case with the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, unlike the card offered by RBC.
Both credit cards offer purchase categories that allow you to earn more rewards points.
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you earn 1.25 Avion point per dollar for travel purchases.
This has a value of 1.25%.
With the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, you can earn 6 points per dollar (or 3%) for travel purchases and 4 points per dollar (or 2%) for purchases in:
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is the winner of this game: not only does it earn you the equivalent of 3% on your travel purchases, it also earns you the equivalent of 2% on your grocery, gas and drugstore purchases.
Outside these accelerated accumulation purchase categories, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® offer a basic accumulation rate.
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
This is a 1% value.
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, you can earn 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Both the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card earn 1% on all other purchases.
However, if you are a Costco customer, you should know that you can use the HSBC credit card in the warehouse since it is a Mastercard credit card (unlike the RBC card which is a Visa credit card).
Both cards are reward point cards, mainly for travel.
However, the loyalty programs are completely different:
This means that the ways you can redeem your points are different.
You can use the points from both credit cards for travel.
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can apply your points to travel purchases.
The redemption rate is:
Or, via the Avion Rewards website, which acts as a travel agency, choose the airline, the one-way or round-trip flight and the date of your choice. There are no blackout periods or reservations imposed, even in high season.
15,000 points
Flight within a province or neighbouring state. Maximum ticket price: $350
35,000 points
Fly anywhere in Canada or the United States (except Hawaii and Alaska). Maximum ticket price: $750
45,000 points
Western Canada or the United States to Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska. Eastern Canada to Bermuda, Central America or the Caribbean. Maximum ticket price: $900
55,000 points
Eastern Canada or the United States to Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska. Western Canada to Bermuda, Central America or the Caribbean. Maximum ticket price: $1,100
65,000 points
Flight from Canada or United States to Europe. Maximum ticket price: $1,300
100,000 points
Fly from Canada or United States to … anywhere in the world! Maximum ticket price: $2,000
So this equates to about 2 cents per point ($350 divided by 15,000 points) on average.
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, you can apply your points to travel purchases charged to the card.
You must apply at least 25,000 points (or a minimum of $125), thereafter it will be in increments of 10,000 points (or $50). For example, it will be :
So, this is equivalent to 0.5 cents per point. ($125 divided by 25,000 points)
For the best redemption rate, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has a higher value when using its Avion Rewards portal.
Both the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card allow points to be used for other rewards: everyday purchases, gift cards, products, investments.
But we do not recommend these uses because of the low value.
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can contribute to an RRSP, TFSA, line of credit or mortgage: 12,000 points = $100.
You can also:
Finally, you can apply your points to everyday purchases: 4,300 points = $25
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, you can pay off your mortgage: 25,000 points = $100
You can contribute to an RRSP or TFSA: 25,000 points = $75.
You can apply your points to everyday purchases: 25,000 points = $75.
Finally, you can use 33,400 points for a $100 gift card.
It’s hard to tell the difference between the two cards on this aspect: the usage rate is bad on both sides. Better to use the points for travel!
However, depending on your situation, it can be practical for your needs. It is up to you to analyze whether you use these financial institutions in your daily operations.
Being able to transfer your points to another program is a strength.
Avion points can be transferred to RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card points can be transferred to :
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, you can transfer your travel points into miles of airline programs.
HSBC Rewards partners with 3 airline loyalty programs:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has more transfer partners.
It should be noted that a few times during the year, these two cards have transfer bonuses. This is very interesting to increase the value of the points of each.
Both credit cards have roughly similar annual fees.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has an annual fee of $120. It is rare to have an annual fee rebate promotion for this card.
The HSBC World EliteMD Mastercard® has an annual fee of $149.
However, this card offers a $100 annual Travel Privilege credit, so it only costs $49 per year!
And if you have an HSBC Premier account, you get an additional $50 rebate.
Using the $100 annual travel credit, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® has a net annual fee of $49.
Both credit cards offer extensive insurance.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has extensive insurance coverage. View the complete insurance booklet here:
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® offers a range of insurances. View the insurance summary here:
With its more generous medical insurance cover, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is the best!
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card requires :
To be a cardholder of the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® you must meet one of the following criteria:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is easier to obtain than its competitor.
So? Which Card is the winner?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has an excellent value, especially with its welcome offer. In addition, it is better for :
But the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® also has some remarkable upsides:
Savings are here:
