RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

The draw here is points you can book on any airline with no blackout dates, which beats co-branded Qantas or Aeroplan cards when award seats are scarce. Earn is modest though: 1.25 points per dollar on travel and 1 elsewhere, so on CAD 30,000 of mixed spend you're looking at roughly 32,000 points a year before the welcome bonus. If you only fly one airline, a dedicated co-brand card usually stretches points further; check RBC's site for the current bonus and the CAD 120 fee.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card at a glance

Rewards & perks

• Collect 1.25 Avion points for every CAD1 spent on travel
• Redeem on any airline and any seat, free of blackout dates
• Move points to a selection of airline loyalty partners
• Includes wide-ranging travel insurance

Pros

• Points redeem with a lot of flexibility
• Flight bookings come with no blackout dates
• Comes with a strong travel insurance package

Cons

• Carries an annual fee
• Charges 2.5% on foreign currency purchases
• Approval depends on meeting an income threshold

Who should apply

• Live in Canada and meet your province's age of majority
• Earn at least CAD 60,000 personally or CAD 100,000 as a household
• Hold a good to excellent credit record
• Clear RBC's application review

Before you apply: card terms change often. Confirm the current annual fee, APR, welcome offer and rewards on the official Royal Bank of Canada site. CreditCardCompare is an independent comparison resource, not the card issuer, and this is not financial advice.