RBC VISA Infinite Avion - worth it?

sports1 wrote: ↑ Yes.

Is the mail card targeted with some code? Or a generic offer?

akaManny wrote: ↑ There is an Invitation Code and an Access Code. "Yes" to which question - taxes covered in the 15,000 / 35,000 redemption?

Kiraly wrote: ↑ I got this card a few months ago for the same 25,000 point welcome bonus and FYF. There was a promo on Hotels.com gift cards, I got $325 worth for 24,375 points. That was a superb bonus. I'd say go for it.

As for keeping the card—$120/year for a card that earns 1% across the board? Forget it. I only ever spent about $15 on the card and won't spend any more before canceling it soon.

HermanH wrote: ↑ The trouble with the Avion Infinite card imo isn't the program itself but rather the earn rate for purchases. 1% (1.25% on travel purchases) is rather poor.

HermanH wrote: ↑ The trouble with the Avion Infinite card imo isn't the program itself but rather the earn rate for purchases. 1% (1.25% on travel purchases) is rather poor.

The RBC Rewards program I don't mind - easy to use, ways to earn bonus points through the e-mall, etc. I don't usually book more than a few days in advance so I don't qualify for the fixed rate rewards, but the standard flight and hotel rewards at 1 RBC point = 1 cent are simple and straightforward. The problem is that low earn rate. If it was 1.50 Avion points earned per $1 spent, and 2 Avion points for travel per $1 spent, and 1 Rewards point = 1 cent, it would be a pretty good program to earn in. As it is, other bank cards give better value through their higher earn rates. BMO W.E. is 1.43% per $1 on base, and 2.14% on travel AND dining AND entertainment (and this after the devaluation BMO did). RBC's 1% base and 1.25% travel doesn't compete well for straight up purchases of last minute hotels and flights. HSBC's 1.50% earn base and 3% on travel also gives more. RBC's earn rate hasn't adjusted over the years to match the newer crop of rewards cards - it was a good earn rate in the mid-1990s, but not so much now.

One possible exception is if one uses the card to transfer points to frequent flyer program such as BA. If one uses the bonus points transfer offers, one gets 1.3 BA Avios points per $1 of spend base, and 1.62 BA Avios points per $1 of travel spend. If one can find a use for BA Avios at high value, the RBC Avion Infinite earn rate when used for BA points transfers during bonus periods is decent.

coolintheshade wrote: ↑
So assuming the rep I talked to is correct, only flights are eligible for the 0.25% bonus.
Lame.

akaManny wrote: ↑ I received this in the mail - 25,000 Welcome Points for the RBC Visa Infinite Avion card, $120 annual fee waived first year. I assume that this is different than the RBC Avion Infinite Privilege card, for which there is a thread on RFD. What is this offer really worth? The brochure indicates 15,000 points for a flight with maximum ticket price of $350, 35,000 for a flight with maximum $750.

So for example, I can find a round trip flight Air Canada YYZ to YVR for $288 and on another day, $390. Are there extra charges for taxes, etc., or are they covered in the 15,000 / 35,000 redemption? Does this mean that the $390 (or a $351) flight will require 35,000 points? The mailing also mentions Trip Cancellation, Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance, etc. I already have a 'travel' credit card that covers these, but that card may not be free when the first year is up. Does anyone have experience with this card, or have any other comments?

coolintheshade wrote: ↑ Not to mention, there is no definition of “travel” on the website, or anything that came with the card.
I’ve booked a Swoop flight with this card for a family member, and did not get the bonus for it.
When I called in to inquire on what is defined as “travel” to get bonus points, I was told “flights”.
I’m like, ok well I booked a flight and didn’t get any bonus points.
So she looked into it, came back on the line and said she needed to transfer me to RBC Rewards so they can make an adjustment.
I was on hold for 10-15 minutes when I gave up and hung up.
The 0.25% extra on $700 wasn’t worth it to me to spend whatever amount of time on the phone.
So assuming the rep I talked to is correct, only flights are eligible for the 0.25% bonus.
Lame.

EdisonL299 wrote: ↑ This card is so dumb, even worse than the regular Rogers/Fido MC. RBC earns big money on this card from people who know nothing about credit cards.

coolintheshade wrote: ↑ [/b]
Yeah, and not just RBC.

coolintheshade wrote: ↑ Not to mention, there is no definition of “travel” on the website, or anything that came with the card.
I’ve booked a Swoop flight with this card for a family member, and did not get the bonus for it.
When I called in to inquire on what is defined as “travel” to get bonus points, I was told “flights”.
I’m like, ok well I booked a flight and didn’t get any bonus points.
So she looked into it, came back on the line and said she needed to transfer me to RBC Rewards so they can make an adjustment.
I was on hold for 10-15 minutes when I gave up and hung up.
The 0.25% extra on $700 wasn’t worth it to me to spend whatever amount of time on the phone.
So assuming the rep I talked to is correct, only flights are eligible for the 0.25% bonus.
Lame.

EdisonL299 wrote: ↑ Well I don’t see another premium card that is so bad from big 5. People should really churn this card as hard as possible until RBC realizes the shit card they made.

coolintheshade wrote: ↑ What I meant is other banks are also making huge money off people using a 0.50% return credit card (C1 Costco) at say, a grocery store, when there is a wide selection of no fee cards that pay 2% in that category.
It happens so often, it drives me crazy