RBC's takeover of HSBC got the final rubber stamp early in January of 2024.
And there are rumours on reddit about the first change that's coming: a transition from the HSBC World Elite Mastercard to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite.
There's a lot to unpack in the reddit thread. Here's what's being said.
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Current HSBC World Elite Mastercards may be changing products
According to a reddit thread started by user cannotthinkofusrname, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard may be transitioning to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite. Some users suggest that this might happen on March 29, 2024, though RBC has neither confirmed the card transition nor the date.
Here’s what’s different between the cards:
- No foreign transaction fees: This is a big perk of the HSBC World Elite but would only exist on a modified version of the RBC card.
- Annual travel enhancement credit bonus: When you make a booking of at least $200 through Avion Rewards, you'll be able to use any leftover credit – plus another $100. This will continue for one year after the transition, according to the thread.
- Points transfer: Reddit user elorank commented that RBC might convert points using the comparative value and they would be available for use one week after migration. There will be more details to come on this topic.
It's important to note that RBC has not released specifics, so this is all speculation. We'll share the details once RBC releases them.
What the RBC Avion Visa Infinite offers
New to this card? Here's what the RBC Avion Visa Infinite offers.
All Avion cards are part of the Elite tier within Avion Rewards, giving you the full suite of travel redemptions.
First, here's what you'll earn for points on your purchases:
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on travel
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
It may not seem like a lot of points, but they're quite valuable. Depending on how you use them, these points are worth up to 2.33 cents each.
Here are the ways you can use them for travel, and what each point is worth.
| Redemption | Value of 1 point |
|---|---|
| Airline travel redemption chart | Up to 2.33 cents |
| Transfer points 1:1 to British Airways and Cathay Pacific | Up to 1.75 cents |
| Transfer points 10:7 to American Airlines | Up to 0.012 cents |
| Transfer points 100:1 to WestJet | 1 cent |
| Redeem for any travel through RBC | 1 cent |
Learn more: How to use your RBC Avion rewards
Insurance won’t be included in the package you currently have, but it's still quite good. Here's what it includes:
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,500 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 3 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $2,500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
This card has an annual fee of $120.
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RBC is likely making some changes now that this merger is moving ahead.
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