RBC Avion vs. CIBC Aeroplan vs. TD Aeroplan: Which Travel Visa Wins?

If you are building a Canadian travel wallet, three cards come up in almost every conversation: the RBC Avion Visa Infinite, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. All three charge a similar annual fee and all three promise big travel value -- but they are not interchangeable. The right one depends entirely on how loyal you are to Air Canada.

The Short Answer

If you fly Air Canada regularly, CIBC and TD Aeroplan cards earn Aeroplan points directly and usually win on value. If you want flexibility across airlines -- or you are not sure yet -- RBC Avion points can move to Aeroplan, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and several other partners, which makes Avion the safer default for undecided flyers.

Side-by-Side Comparison

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

Avion points are the most flexible currency of the three. You earn a flat rate on every purchase, and points transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan (plus a range of other airline and hotel partners), so you are not locked into one airline's route map. The tradeoff is that Avion's own fixed-rate travel redemption chart is mediocre -- the real value only shows up once you transfer out to a partner program.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite

This card earns Aeroplan points directly, so there is no transfer step and no transfer ratio to worry about. It bundles a companion 50%-off certificate on Air Canada flights, priority check-in, and a free first checked bag -- perks that alone can be worth more than the annual fee for a household that flies Air Canada even once or twice a year.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Nearly a mirror of the CIBC card -- direct Aeroplan earning, a companion voucher, and Air Canada travel perks -- but with TD's own welcome bonus structure and insurance package. The two are close enough that the deciding factor is usually which bank already holds your day-to-day banking, since TD and CIBC periodically run different promotional bonuses.

Who Should Get Which Card

• Loyal Air Canada flyer, checks bags often: CIBC or TD Aeroplan -- the companion voucher and free bag pay for the annual fee almost by themselves.
• Undecided or split across airlines/alliances: RBC Avion -- keep your options open and transfer out once you know where you are flying.
• Want both flexibility and Air Canada perks: Some churners carry an Avion card for flexible earning and a direct-Aeroplan card for the companion voucher and checked-bag benefit. Two-player households can split these across partners to double up on companion passes.

The Bottom Line

There is no universal winner here -- only a better fit for your travel pattern. If you already know you are an Air Canada household, go direct with CIBC or TD Aeroplan. If you are keeping your options open, RBC Avion buys you flexibility at the cost of some redemption value. Either way, the annual fee on all three is easy to justify once you are using the travel perks, not just the points.