Question
10,000 plus 2 times miles until Spring 2005, for NEW applications only
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353131&page=1&pp=15
Answer
Has anyone taken advantage of this offer?
Answer
I am a complete newbie to both this forum, collecting frequent flyer miles, and reward/loyalty credit card programs. I have been following with interest the postings on the new Avion promotion. This is my question. Last week, I was speaking to my banker, and she was suggesting I apply for the CIBC AeroGold VISA card. She said it was the most popular reward credit card in Canada (or maybe she meant "most popular Aeroplan card in Canada" - no matter). Anyway, she was comparing this card with the CIBC Adventura credit card, and then mentioned more or less in passing that there was no competitor in Canada except for Royal Bank's Avion card. Now I have been doing as much research as I can in recent days comparing different credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AExpress, etc). Didn't look at TD and didn't even look at RBC until about 45 minutes ago. After viewing the RBC site, even though I have limited knowledge in this domain, I am struck at how good this promotion is. Given that I have never been an RBC cardholder, is there ANY reason why, given the sign-up bonus and double-points offer, that I would NOT sign up for an Avion card. Annual fee and supplement card fee are = to the Aerogold VISA, and I am apparently NOT limited to Aeroplan (Air Canada). Is there something I'm missing. I suppose I'm seeking an opinion, esp for all those who are current RBC clients, if you were NOT an RBC cardholder, would you jump at the AVION card?
Answer
....to further add to your research - Starwood is launching a Canadian Mastercard on October 5th. Details are sketchy, and the benefit is that Starwood points can be converted to Aeroplan / most major airlines at 1:1. Move 20,000 Starwood points in one transaction and you get a 5000 point bonus.
Answer
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3261598#post3261598
Answer
Urban Hiker,
I was a new RBC customer when I applied for the Avion card a few months ago. The bank is probably stricter than any other since you have to pretty much give them your life history and sign off paperwork in person at the branch. However, once you have done this and get the card, you will get the 10K bonus within a month or two. Combine this with the double miles promo and it's a deal that's pretty tough to beat - the best I've seen so far in Canada.
Answer
I just received my new RBC Avion card two weeks ago. I received my first statement yesterday. It was for the annual fee of $120 CAD. It also stated my balance of points, which was set at 10,000. So the 10,000 point bonus offer applies to the first statement.
I made a purchase too, but it was not on that statement yet, so I have yet to see if the points post in double.
I plan on converting my points to AA miles. from what I understand in their litterature, this must be done in chunks of 10,00 points.
I also have the RBC Gold Visa for American Airlines, which gives 1 AA mile per $ CAD of purchases each month, and double AA miles on purcashes of AA tickets.
Answer
Further to my adventure, I just picked up a pair of RBC Avion cards. What is REALLY interesting is that I was assured they would arrive Friday, and if they did not, they would credit all of my applicable purchases over the weekend (at double the points, as per the going offer). So I picked up my 2 cards today (Monday), and they credited me with 1900 points, plus the 10,000 point signup bonus, true to their word. It just strikes me as a bit above the ordinary, since they certainly did NOT have to make this offer. So far, service from RBC looks promising! New mantra = CHARGE IT!
Answer
I threatened to cut up my current Avion card and they offered me double the points on my current card!
Answer
I'be been using Avion recently to take advantage of the 2 points per dollar offer and BA/AA transfer. Received some markting stuff from them this week and noticed a couple of items. Not sure if these are new or not but I hadn't seen them before (apologies if its old news).
1) you can now transfer Esso points to RBC points and v.v. (Esso seems to be working with everyone)
2) if you book revenue travel through the RBC travel centre (or any CWT travel agency) you get double points - so I assume a total of 3 points per dollar.
Still not as good as TD visa with its awesome 5 points per dollar for revenue travel booked through their travel centre but may be of interest to some.
Answer
The Avion card is awesome. It is mega flexible and .the service is great, unlike with CIBC. Someone mentioned transfers are made in chunks of 10,000 pts. This is not true. The minimum is 10,000, after that anything goes. I transferred exactly as many as I needed to get to 70,000 for 2 Hawaii tickets next Christmas, it was like 54,957 or something! Not a problem at all and miles were there in 2 days. Oh, and of course I got the tickets which would be a major miracle on Air Canada and CIBC!!
You can also TF to BA which has the fall 50% bonus promo pretty much as a regular feature. BA offers one way awards at 50% the cost of a return which can be very useful in Europe on certain routes. The also offer many partner options.
Also, you can use Avion's chart to redeem for a revenue ticket. Levels are a bit higher but then you get miles on the ticket you get so not a bad deal. Only Y on this offer. Again, for domestic travel AC's availability can be horrid, especially on trunk routes and particularily at peak times. Here you get a revenue ticket and you are off! It can be on any airline as well.
OR you can redeem for merchandise. This is not a good use of pts but it is there.
I am a huge fan of this card and mention it to people ALL the time. The insurance is decent too and includes extended warranty and purchase security which CIBC does not offer on its Aerogold cards!
Answer
I received my RBC Avion Visa statement today and it says that effective Oct 31 2006, they will no longer allow conversion to AA miles!
Answer
I received my RBC Avion Visa statement today and it says that effective Oct 31 2006, they will no longer allow conversion to AA miles!
Yeah, that's true. Their agreement with AA is expiring and they've decided not to renew it, although I don't know whether it's a mutual thing or if just one of the parties decided to back out.
Still the best Visa card in Canada though, IMHO.
Answer
Also, you can use Avion's chart to redeem for a revenue ticket. Levels are a bit higher but then you get miles on the ticket you get so not a bad deal. Only Y on this offer. Again, for domestic travel AC's availability can be horrid, especially on trunk routes and particularily at peak times. Here you get a revenue ticket and you are off! It can be on any airline as well.
I need clarification here...
Are you saying than you can collect Aeroplan miles on a seat that your purchased using Avion points? I always wondering why this was not so, as you are using it 'as cash' but for some reason assumed it was not.
Can someone please clarify?
Thanks