Shopping for travel or loyalty credit cards can feel overwhelming. Almost every bank or company seems to be offering a credit card that promises exciting rewards or generous discounts.
If you’ve narrowed your options to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, we’re here to help you pick a winner! We’ll dig into each card’s features while pointing out potential drawbacks so you can feel confident in picking the best card for you.
Key Takeaways
- The RBC Avion Visa Infinite earns Avion points while the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite earns Aeroplan points.
- The RBC Avion has a slightly higher rate of return and lower annual fee.
- The TD Aeroplan Visa is the best credit card for Air Canada travel.
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RBC Avion Visa Infinite RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card at a glance
These loyalty cards have a lot in common (pretty similar earn rates and insurance, for instance), but there are differences.
| Feature | RBC Avion Visa Infinite | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $139 |
| Welcome bonus |  $100 GeniusCash + 55,000 bonus points (terms) | Up to 45,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Maximum rewards | 1.25 points per $1 | 1.5 points per $1 |
| Highest earning categories | Travel (airlines, accommodations, tours, cruises, travel agencies, and rental cars) | Gas, groceries, and travel with Air Canada |
| Insurance types included | 12 types of coverage | 12 types of coverage |
| Special feature | * 2 for 1 ski passes * No blackout or seat restrictions when booking travel | * Partial NEXUS rebate every 48 months |
| Best for | People who want the most flexible redemption options | People who frequently fly with Air Canada |
| Get started | Apply now | Apply now |
These cards are comparable in numerous ways, including their comprehensive insurance packages and generous welcome bonuses. Both cards also come with Visa Infinite benefits, which include:
- Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Visa Infinite Dining Series
- Visa Infinite Complimentary Concierge
- Priority Pass membership (no free passes)
- Additional insurance coverage
What we love about the RBC Avion Visa Infinite
×1 Award winner 
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1x Award winner Pros:
- Save 3 cents per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada
- Earn 50 Be Well Points per $1 spent at Rexall
- Ability to convert Avion points to other loyalty programs
Cons:
- Additional cards cost $50
- Income requirements of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is no stranger to our "best of" lists; this card made it onto our best travel credit card list and was named the top Visa credit card in Canada. We love the card’s generous welcome bonus, everyday discounts, and flexibility when it comes to redeeming points.
Unlike the TD Aeroplan VI, which is most valuable when you book travel through Air Canada, the Avion Rewards program gives you more chances to use your points without sacrificing value. For instance, you can transfer points to a different loyalty program, use points for travel, donate them to charity, buy gift cards or merchandise, and more.
Rewards:
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on travel
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
What we love about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Pros:
- Annual fee waived with a TD All-Inclusive Banking Plans
- Free first checked bags on Air Canada
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards
- Partial NEXUS fee rebate every 48 months
Cons:
- Only high value reward is redeeming for Air Canada flights
- Income requirements of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is most notable for earning Air Canada points and the fact that it comes with a NEXUS fee rebate of up to $100 every 48 months. You’ll also enjoy preferred pricing and free first checked bags for you and up to 8 others on the same reservation when flying Air Canada.
If you tend to spend a lot on essentials like gas and groceries, this card will give you a higher earn rate than the Avion VI.
Rewards:
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
How do the RBC Avion Visa Infinite and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card compare?
As we mentioned, both cards come with Visa Infinite benefits, but the cards differ when it comes to things like perks, rewards, and annual fees.
Best benefits: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
TD offers you a NEXUS rebate of $100 every 48 months and delivers lots of Air Canada-specific benefits, including free first checked bags and preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards. It also gives you 50% more Stars at Starbucks when you link your account and provides discounts on rental cars through Avis and Budget.
On the other hand, the RBC Avion VI gives you 3 cents off per litre at Petro-Canada, 5x the Be Well points at Rexall, reward points at Moi, and a free Doordash pass.
Overall, the best card for you depends on whether you’d use the NEXUS rebate (and you love Starbucks) or whether you’d prefer the perks that come from shopping and fuelling up.
Best insurance: tie
These cards come with almost identical insurance coverage, with a couple of very minor differences. First, here’s the coverage you’ll get with both cards:
- Extended warranty: 1 year
- Purchase protection: 90 days
- Travel accident: $500,000
- Trip cancellation: $1,500
- Trip interruption: $5,000
- Flight delay: $500
- Hotel burglary: $2,500
- Rental car theft and damage
The RBC card comes with more mobile device coverage but less emergency medical and baggage delay coverage than the Aeroplan VI.
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile device | $1,500 | $1,000 |
| Emergency medical term | 15 days | 21 days |
| Emergency medical over 65 | 3 days | 4 days |
| Baggage delay, plus lost or stolen baggage | $500 | $1,000 |
Best welcome bonus: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card offers a superb welcome bonus to new cardholders: up to 45,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in the first 6 months and $12,000 in the first year. With Aeroplan points valued at an average of 2 cents per point, this alone delivers up to $800 in value. Plus, you’ll get the first year free.
The Avion card offers more points (55,000 Avion points) but less value for those points. Each one is worth an average of just over 1.5 cents per point when used for travel and the card doesn’t come with a first-year fee waiver, which gives the TD Aeroplan VI the edge here.
Best rewards: RBC Avion Visa Infinite
Avion and Aeroplan are entirely different rewards programs so it’s difficult to make a fair comparison.
If you’re looking strictly at value, we have to give the win to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite; Avion points give you a 2.36% return on spending compared to Aeroplan’s 2.28% return.
That said, if you’re looking for the highest earn rate regardless of value, you’ll probably want to go with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. You’ll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on Air Canada travel, gas, and groceries, and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else. The Avion VI earns a flat 1 point per $1 spent with a 25% bonus on travel-related purchases.
Highest acceptance: tie
You shouldn’t have any issues getting merchants to accept either Visa card. Visa is accepted in 200+ countries around the world and handles more than $4.6 billion in global payments.
Interest fees: tie
Both the RBC Avion and TD Aeroplan VI cards charge the same interest rate for purchases, cash, advances, and balance transfers. These interest rates are on par with the majority of Canadian credit cards.
| Interest rates | |
|---|---|
| Purchases | 20.99% |
| Cash advances | 22.99% |
| Balance transfers | 22.99% |
Lowest annual fee: RBC Avion Visa Infinite
While both cards have fairly standard fees for premium offerings, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite comes in at a slightly lower $120 vs. TD’s $139.
Both cards offer fee waivers when you hold premium bank accounts, though. If you have a TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan or RBC VIP Banking Account, you won’t pay an annual fee for these cards for each year that you hold the account.
Lowest eligibility requirements: tie
As Visa Infinite credit cards, both require at least $60,000 in personal income or $100,000 in household income. Remember that simply meeting the income requirements doesn’t guarantee approval for the card; RBC and TD also consider your credit score and other factors when assessing your application.
The winner: RBC Avion Visa Infinite
It’s no secret that the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is one of our favourite cards. Sure, there’s an annual fee, but the comprehensive insurance package, ability to quickly earn points, multiple ways to redeem points for high value, and nice welcome bonus definitely make it worthwhile.
That said, if you’re a dedicated Air Canada traveller, you’ll probably find exactly what you need in the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
FAQ
Which card is better, Aeroplan or Avion?
We’d recommend the RBC Avion as the better Visa Infinite card; however, if you’re a loyal Air Canada flyer or you have a TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan, it might make more sense to get the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
Is RBC Avion a good travel credit card?
Yes, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite made our list of best travel credit cards and Avion points will give you the highest value if you redeem them using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule or transfer them to partner airlines for flights.
Are Avion points the same as Aeroplan points?
No, Avion points are not the same as Aeroplan points. Avion points are associated with the RBC Avion Rewards program and Aeroplan points are earned through Air Canada’s loyalty program. The points can’t be used interchangeably.
Does the RBC Avion Visa Infinite give you lounge access?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite doesn’t come with lounge access but the super-premium RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege comes with 6 free lounge passes per year.
What is the income requirement for RBC Avion Visa Infinite?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite requires $60,000 per year in personal income or $100,000 in household income, which is standard across Visa Infinite credit cards.
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