RBC ION Visa vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: Which one is better?
RBC ION Visa
2.7
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
3.3
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$258.39
RBC ION Avion
First Year Bonus Value
$35
RBC ION Avion
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$293.39
$258.39 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$541.37
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
$1,050
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
First Year Value
$1,452.37
$402.37 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$500,000
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2,500
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Trip Interruption
$2,000Flight Delay
$500
Extra Benefits
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Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Extra Benefits
Gas Discount
save up to 10¢/L on fuel at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations
Car Rental Discount
Get up to 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide.
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Exclusive offers
Discount
Primary cardholders can often book flight rewards for even fewer points.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible purchases made on your card.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy a free first checked bag for you, authorized users and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$60,000
Min Household Income:
$100,000
Welcome Bonus
Get 6,000 Avion points upon approval
Welcome Bonus
10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase. 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 or more during the first 4 statements periods. 20,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $15,000 in net purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods.
Rewards Rate
- 1.5 points for every dollar in grocery, rides, gas, electric vehicle charging, streaming, digital gaming, subscriptions and more
- 1 point for all other purchases
Rewards Rate
- 1.5 Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly, including through Air Canada Vacations®
- 1 Aeroplan® point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Merchandise
0.7¢ / point
Travel
0.6¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.58¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Travel
0.825¢ / pointMerchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMost Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / pointCar Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
We actually don't like this card. It neither offers great benefits nor rewards, even for a free card. It's a very average card with many better and worse alternatives, both paid and free.
Is this card worth it?
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is great for Air Canada travelers who want to rack up Aeroplan points and enjoy perks like free checked bags and preferred pricing on flight redemptions. With solid reward rates in key spending categories like gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, this card offers decent returns. Additionally, the first-year annual fee waiver and comprehensive travel insurance make it a solid option for those looking for value without the upfront cost. However, its highest value is for people who frequently travel with Air Canada and make use of Aeroplan rewards, especially for flights.
Pros
- Good savings on gas if you are a regular petro-Canada gas customer.
Pros
- Generous Welcome Bonus: 40,000 Aeroplan points upon meeting the initial spending requirements.
- High Reward Rates: Earn up to 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, and Air Canada purchases.
- Air Canada Perks: Free checked bags for you and up to 8 companions when flying Air Canada.
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan Flights: Get access to better Aeroplan point redemption rates for Air Canada flights.
Cons
- Insurance coverage is the most basic.
- Reward categories are not the best.
- Avion reward points are generally less valuable.
- Many other cards with no annual fee are available that are all-around better cards than ION Visa.
Cons
- Income Requirements: Requires either a $60,000 personal income or a $100,000 household income to qualify.
- Limited Redemption Value: The highest value for points is found when redeeming for Air Canada flights, limiting flexibility if you prefer other types of rewards.
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card