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Here are two Visa Infinite credit cards that earn two different kinds of points:
Their names are very similar! These point-connected cards both give us a passport to low-cost travel, but their characteristics are different. Let’s see which one is the best.
We will base our analysis on the major differences between these credit cards regarding:
The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies depending on the promotions. However, there are some important differences between the two.
With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card, you can get up to $1,500 in rewards and savings in the first year, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points:
By signing up for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can currently earn up to 55,000 points, for a value of up to $1,100.
When you get the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you’ll receive 35,000 Avion points upon approval of your credit card, and an extra 20,000 points when you spend just $5,000 within six months, which is much less than the competition!
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card each offer different levels of point earning.
With the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card, you earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar (or 3%) for purchases at:
Then you earn:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, has a rate of 1.25 Avion points / $1 spent, for travel purchases charged to the card:
“Travel” expenses include the following:
This has a value of 1.25%.
After that, you earn 1 point per dollar for all other purchases. This is a 1% value.
The Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card is the best between the two! It pays twice as much on everyday purchases and the biggest budget items, such as groceries, entertainment, travel and restaurants.
The two cards are linked to different loyalty programs, and the ways of redeeming them are different.
Scene+ points and travel:
You can apply them to travel purchases in two ways, thanks to the fixed redemption rate where 10,000 points = $100 credit:
It also lets you apply your points to everyday purchases.
You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount at the IGA/Sobeys checkout.
Points can also be used to purchase gift cards on the Scotiabank/Scene+ website, from 1,000 to 1,400 points for a $10 discount.
Scene+ points can also be redeemed for:
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can apply your points to travel purchases.
The redemption rate is:
Avion Rewards acts as a travel agency when purchasing an airline ticket. There are no blackout periods or reservations imposed, even during high season. Here is the fixed number of points required for a flight reservation:
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 equals to about 2 cents per point ($350 divided by 15,000 points) on average.
Or you can use your points for something else:
The Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card wins this round. Scene+ points are more diversified and have a stable value of 1,000 points for $10 off, for both grocery needs or small pleasures when travelling.
What’s more, you can use them in any way you like, by booking any travel expense and then taking your Scene+ points to get reimbursed.
Accumulate your Scene+ points throughout the year and indulge in a big grocery basket for a festive feast during the holidays. Or keep them to pay for a plane ticket or a hotel.
But if you are aiming for an airline ticket to a specific destination, the fixed points table of Avion Rewards and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card are the best.
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite*+ Card has an annual fee of $150.
If you have the Scotiabank Ultimate Package, you’ll get the annual fee waived. Learn more about this here.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has an annual fee of $120.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has a lower annual fee.
But if you have a Scotia Ultimate Package, the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card wins because its annual fees are then fully reimbursed.
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite*+ Card requires:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card requires:
It’s all the same, because a Visa Infinite card requires the same conditions for all financial institutions.
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite*+ Card offers various insurances. The certificate of insurance can be found here:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers various insurances and its insurance certificate can be found here:
Some insurance amounts of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card are slightly higher than its competitor for certain coverages.
If this is important to you, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is even better because it is the only one between the two to have mobile device insurance. This comes in handy if you have an unfortunate accident with your phone or tablet.
Please note that at least 75% or 100% of the cost of the trip or tickets must be charged to these two cards for certain insurances to apply. We strongly advise you to read each insurance brochure carefully, to find out which one is best for your situation.
The Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card offers various benefits:
In addition to the above benefits, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers other advantages:
Exclusive benefits for Visa Infinite cardholders.
The Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card has a significant lead for travel benefits as it allows access to VIP airport lounges with 6 free passes and avoids the 2.5% foreign transaction fees outside Canada.
Conversely, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card provides better benefits for everyday life. What’s more, the great flexibility of its points gives you the opportunity to transfer your Avion points to other programs, something its competitor can’t do.
So? Which card wins this duel?
For people who want a simple and uncomplicated card, it’s the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card!
It stands out for:
In contrast, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card will be perfect for people who travel a lot thanks to:
What’s more, these are 2 cards that we recommend in several of our rankings:
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.
The Scotia Passport Visa Infinite currently leads with up to 60,000 Scene+ points ($1,500 in value at 1:1 redemption with travel partners), versus the RBC Avion Visa Infinite at up to 55,000 Avion points ($1,100 in first-year value). Scotia’s bonus is unlocked across tiered spending thresholds, while RBC requires $5,000 in 6 months for the second tranche. Both bonuses are realistic for households with modest spend, but Scotia takes the headline value crown.
The Scotia Passport wins decisively. It is one of the only Canadian Visa Infinite cards that charges 0% foreign currency conversion fees. The RBC Avion charges the standard 2.5% FX fee on all non-CAD transactions. On $5,000 in international spend a year, that gap saves a Scotia cardholder $125 annually. For travellers, online shoppers buying from U.S. retailers, or Canadians with U.S.-based subscriptions, this single benefit usually tips the decision toward Scotia.
Scotia Passport offers richer category bonuses: 3 points per $1 at partner grocers, 2 points per $1 on dining, entertainment, groceries and travel, and 1 point elsewhere. RBC Avion offers 1.25 points per $1 on travel and 1 point on everything else, but Avion points are worth more per point (1.5 to 2 cents when transferred to British Airways). Scotia wins for households heavy on groceries and dining; RBC wins if you redeem strategically through transfer partners.
Scotia Passport includes 6 complimentary VIP lounge visits per year via Priority Pass and charges a $150 annual fee (waived with the Scotiabank Ultimate Package). RBC Avion Visa Infinite does not include any lounge access at all and costs $120 per year. For travellers who pass through airports more than twice a year, the Scotia card pays for itself on lounge value alone (each pay-as-you-go visit costs around $35 USD). RBC Avion makes more sense for non-flyers focused on point transfers.
Savings this way:
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