What Makes These Premium Travel Cards Different?
Premium travel credit cards offer more than just a way to pay for purchases—they provide a comprehensive package of benefits designed to enhance your travel experiences. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite and BMO World Elite Mastercard represent two distinct approaches to travel rewards, each with its own strengths and ideal user profile. Understanding these differences helps you select the card that aligns with your spending habits and travel preferences.
These cards differ primarily in their rewards structures, redemption flexibility, and additional perks. The RBC Avion card emphasizes flexibility in flight redemptions without blackout dates, while the BMO World Elite focuses on accelerated earning in everyday spending categories. Their annual fees, income requirements, and insurance coverages also vary in ways that might make one more suitable for your specific needs.
Travel enthusiasts should consider how frequently they fly, which airlines they prefer, and what types of purchases make up the majority of their monthly spending. Your answers to these questions will guide you toward the card that offers the best value for your lifestyle.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite: Flexibility First
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card has built its reputation on offering unparalleled flexibility for travelers who value freedom in their redemption options. This card allows you to book flights on any airline without worrying about blackout dates or seat restrictions. The straightforward points system makes it easy to understand exactly what value you're getting from your rewards.
RBC's proprietary Avion rewards program provides a consistent earning structure where cardholders typically earn one Avion point per dollar spent on regular purchases. Some versions of the card offer bonus points for travel-related spending, particularly when booking directly with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners. This consistency appeals to travelers who prefer simplicity over tracking multiple bonus categories.
The card requires a personal income of approximately CAD 60,000 or a household income of CAD 100,000, making it accessible to a broader range of Canadians compared to some ultra-premium alternatives. With an annual fee ranging from CAD 120-139, the card positions itself as a mid-tier premium option with high-end benefits.
BMO World Elite Mastercard: Category Bonuses
BMO's flagship travel card takes a different approach by rewarding cardholders with accelerated points in popular spending categories. This strategy appeals to consumers who spend heavily on dining, groceries, and recurring bill payments. The BMO Rewards program allows points to be redeemed for travel through various channels, with options to even deposit rewards directly into BMO investment accounts.
The card typically comes with complimentary airport lounge access through the Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. Most versions include four free visits annually, which can significantly enhance your airport experience before flights. These tangible perks provide immediate value that helps offset the slightly higher annual fee of around CAD 150.
BMO sets a higher income threshold for eligibility, generally requiring a personal income of approximately CAD 80,000 or a household income of CAD 150,000. This higher requirement reflects the additional benefits and potentially higher earn rates in premium categories that come with the card.
Rewards Structure: Earning and Redeeming Points
The core value proposition of any rewards credit card lies in how quickly you can earn points and what those points are worth when redeemed. Both cards offer compelling but distinctly different approaches to rewards accumulation and redemption. Your spending patterns will largely determine which card provides better value for your lifestyle.
The RBC Avion card offers a straightforward earning structure with consistent value across all purchases, while BMO's card provides accelerated earning in specific categories. Understanding these differences helps you maximize your points accumulation based on your typical monthly expenses.
Redemption options also differ significantly between the two programs, with Avion focusing on flight flexibility and BMO offering a broader range of redemption choices. These differences can substantially impact the real-world value you receive from your accumulated points.
Earning Potential: Points Accumulation
The earning structure of your credit card determines how quickly your rewards balance grows with everyday spending:
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite points earning:
- Standard purchases: 1 Avion point per dollar spent on most transactions
- Travel purchases: Some versions offer bonus points on travel bookings
- Special promotions: Occasional limited-time offers for accelerated earning
- BMO World Elite Mastercard points earning:
- Dining and entertainment: Accelerated points (typically 3-5 points) per dollar
- Groceries and recurring bills: Enhanced earn rates in these everyday categories
- Standard purchases: Base earn rate on all other transactions
- Welcome bonus: Often includes substantial points after meeting minimum spend requirements
Your optimal card depends largely on your spending distribution across these categories. Consumers who spend heavily on dining and groceries might accumulate rewards faster with the BMO card, while those with more generalized spending patterns might prefer the consistency of the RBC Avion card.
Redemption Value: Getting the Most From Your Points
Earning points is only half the equation—how much those points are worth when redeemed determines the true value of your rewards program. Both cards offer multiple redemption options with varying values:
The RBC Avion program is renowned for its Air Travel Redemption Schedule, which provides fixed-point redemptions for flights to specific regions. This system can deliver exceptional value, especially for premium economy or business class tickets during peak travel seasons. The ability to book any seat on any airline without blackout dates represents significant value for travelers with specific timing requirements.
BMO Rewards points can be redeemed through the BMO Rewards travel portal or as statement credits against travel purchases. The program offers flexibility in redemption options, including merchandise, gift cards, and even contributions to investment accounts. However, some users report that BMO points may deliver slightly lower value per point compared to Avion points when used for certain redemptions.
Both programs allow points transfers to select airline loyalty programs, which can sometimes provide outsized value for savvy travelers. These transfer options require more planning but can significantly increase the effective value of your points.
Travel Benefits: Beyond Points and Miles
Premium travel cards distinguish themselves through additional benefits that enhance your journey beyond just earning rewards. These perks can significantly impact your travel experience and provide tangible value that helps justify the annual fee. From airport lounges to hotel upgrades, these benefits often represent the most visible advantages of holding a premium card.
Both cards offer impressive travel benefits packages, though they emphasize different aspects of the travel experience. The RBC card focuses on flight-related perks and comprehensive insurance, while the BMO card provides strong airport lounge access and lifestyle benefits through the Mastercard network.
Understanding these differences helps you prioritize the benefits that matter most for your travel style and preferences. For frequent international travelers, insurance coverage might be paramount, while domestic travelers might place higher value on airport lounge access.
Airport Experience: Lounges and Priority Services
Airport benefits can transform stressful travel days into comfortable, productive experiences:
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite airport benefits:
- Lounge access options: Available through enrollment in lounge programs (additional fees may apply)
- Priority boarding: Available on select airlines through Visa Infinite benefits
- Free checked baggage: Sometimes available depending on status and airline partnerships
- BMO World Elite Mastercard airport benefits:
- Complimentary lounge visits: Typically includes four free visits annually through Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass
- Additional visits: Available at approximately USD 32 per visit after complimentary passes are used
- Airport services: Various perks through the Mastercard World Elite program
The BMO card generally offers more straightforward lounge access with its included complimentary visits, making it attractive for travelers who fly 2-4 times per year. The RBC card may require additional enrollment or fees for lounge access but could provide more value through other flight-related perks depending on your travel patterns.
Insurance Coverage: Protection When You Need It
Comprehensive travel insurance represents one of the most valuable but often overlooked benefits of premium travel cards. Both cards offer robust insurance packages that can save you thousands in the event of travel disruptions or emergencies.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite includes emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, flight delay insurance, and rental car coverage. These protections activate when you charge the full cost of your travel arrangements to your card, providing peace of mind during your journeys.
BMO's World Elite Mastercard offers similar coverage, with some versions providing higher limits on certain protections like rental car insurance. The specific details of coverage limits, exclusions, and claim procedures vary between the cards and may change over time, so reviewing the current insurance certificates is essential before relying on these benefits.
Both cards provide coverage that would cost hundreds of dollars if purchased separately, representing significant value for frequent travelers. This insurance coverage alone can justify the annual fee for many cardholders, especially those who travel internationally multiple times per year.
Lifestyle Perks: Enhancing Your Daily Experience
Premium credit cards extend their value proposition beyond travel to enhance your everyday experiences. These lifestyle benefits can add significant value for cardholders who take advantage of them regularly. From exclusive dining events to concierge services, these perks represent the "premium" aspect of these cards.
Both RBC and BMO offer compelling lifestyle benefits through their respective card networks. The Visa Infinite program associated with the RBC card provides access to curated dining and wine events, while Mastercard's Priceless Cities program offers exclusive experiences across various categories.
These benefits often receive less attention than points earning or travel perks but can provide memorable experiences and significant value for cardholders who actively use them. Taking full advantage of these offerings helps maximize the overall value proposition of your premium card.
Dining and Entertainment: Exclusive Experiences
Both cards offer special access to dining and entertainment opportunities:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite provides access to the Visa Infinite Dining Series, featuring exclusive dining events at top restaurants across Canada. These events often include special menus, interaction with renowned chefs, and wine pairings not available to the general public. The card also offers access to wine tastings and culinary workshops through the Visa Infinite program.
BMO's World Elite Mastercard provides access to the Priceless Cities program, which includes a broader range of experiences across dining, entertainment, sports, and cultural events. While less focused specifically on dining than the Visa Infinite program, Priceless Cities offers a wider variety of experience types across multiple categories.
These programs provide opportunities to enjoy memorable experiences that might otherwise be unavailable, representing significant value for cardholders who appreciate fine dining and unique entertainment options. The relative value depends largely on your personal interests and how actively you participate in these programs.
Concierge Services: Your Personal Assistant
Both cards offer concierge services designed to simplify your life by handling time-consuming tasks:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite includes access to the Visa Infinite Concierge, a 24/7 service that can assist with travel planning, dining reservations, ticket procurement, and gift recommendations. This service acts as a personal assistant, helping you navigate complex arrangements or secure hard-to-get reservations.
BMO's World Elite Mastercard provides the Mastercard Concierge service, offering similar assistance with travel, dining, entertainment, and shopping requests. The service can help with everything from booking restaurant tables to finding last-minute gifts in unfamiliar cities.
These concierge services provide particular value when traveling to unfamiliar destinations or attempting to secure reservations at popular venues. While the quality of service can vary, many cardholders report significant time savings and access to otherwise unavailable opportunities through these services.
Costs and Requirements: Understanding the Fine Print
Premium benefits come with corresponding costs and eligibility requirements. Understanding these factors helps you determine whether a particular card represents good value for your situation. Both cards charge annual fees and have income requirements that reflect their premium positioning in the market.
The annual fee represents a fixed cost that must be offset by the value you receive from the card's benefits and rewards. Income requirements ensure that cardholders can manage the financial responsibilities associated with premium cards. Foreign transaction fees affect the card's value for international purchases.
Comparing these costs against the benefits you'll actually use provides a clearer picture of each card's value proposition for your specific situation. A card with a higher annual fee might still represent better value if its benefits align more closely with your spending patterns and travel habits.
Annual Fees and Income Requirements
The financial aspects of premium cards include both costs and eligibility criteria:
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite costs and requirements:
- Annual fee: Typically CAD 120-139
- Personal income requirement: Approximately CAD 60,000
- Household income alternative: Approximately CAD 100,000
- Additional cards: Fees vary for authorized users
- BMO World Elite Mastercard costs and requirements:
- Annual fee: Approximately CAD 150 (often waived for the first year)
- Personal income requirement: Approximately CAD 80,000
- Household income alternative: Approximately CAD 150,000
- Additional cards: May include bonus points for adding authorized users
Both cards occasionally offer promotions that waive the first year's annual fee or provide enhanced welcome bonuses that can offset several years of annual fees. These promotions can significantly enhance the initial value proposition when first applying for the card.
Foreign Transaction Fees and Other Charges
Both cards charge the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in currencies other than Canadian dollars. This fee applies to both in-person purchases while traveling and online purchases from international merchants.
For frequent international travelers or those who regularly make purchases from foreign websites, this fee can add significant costs over time. Neither card waives foreign transaction fees as part of their standard benefits package, unlike some specialized travel cards that specifically target international travelers.
Additional fees may apply for cash advances, balance transfers, or exceeding your credit limit. These fees are generally similar between the two cards and reflect industry standards for premium credit products.
Maximizing Your Card Benefits: Strategic Approaches
Getting the most value from your premium credit card requires strategic planning and consistent usage patterns. By understanding how to optimize your card's benefits, you can significantly increase the effective return on your annual fee investment. Both cards offer substantial value when used strategically.
The key to maximizing value lies in aligning your card choice with your spending patterns and travel habits. A card that offers bonus points in categories where you spend heavily will naturally provide better returns than one with benefits you rarely use.
Following these strategic approaches helps ensure you're extracting maximum value from whichever card you choose. With thoughtful planning, either card can provide returns that substantially exceed the annual fee.
Optimizing Points Earning and Redemption
Follow these numbered strategies to maximize your rewards value:
- Concentrate spending in bonus categories that align with your card's strengths, such as travel bookings for RBC Avion or dining and groceries for BMO World Elite.
- Time major purchases to coincide with promotional periods offering bonus points or special redemption values to amplify your returns.
- Calculate the effective cents-per-point value before redeeming to ensure you're getting maximum value from your points balance.
- Consider transferring points to airline partners during promotional transfer bonuses, which can increase your effective redemption value by 20-30%.
- Combine points from multiple sources within the same program by adding authorized users or linking accounts where possible.
- Monitor limited-time redemption opportunities that offer enhanced value for specific destinations or travel periods.
- Maintain awareness of points expiration policies and redemption minimums to avoid losing value through oversight.
These strategies require some planning but can substantially increase the effective return on your card spending. The difference between strategic and casual card usage can amount to hundreds of dollars in additional value annually.
Leveraging Insurance and Travel Benefits
Your premium card's insurance and travel benefits often represent its most valuable features when used properly:
- Insurance optimization strategies:
- Trip coverage activation: Always charge the full cost of travel arrangements to your card to ensure coverage applies
- Rental car insurance: Decline the rental company's coverage to avoid paying for redundant protection
- Documentation: Keep detailed records of purchases and travel arrangements to streamline claims if needed
- Coverage limits: Understand policy maximums and consider supplemental insurance for high-value trips
- Travel benefits maximization:
- Lounge visit planning: Schedule longer layovers at airports with accessible lounges to maximize comfort
- Concierge pre-planning: Contact concierge services well in advance for hard-to-secure reservations
- Hotel benefits: Request available upgrades and amenities explicitly when booking through preferred programs
- Event access: Monitor exclusive event announcements to secure limited-availability experiences
Taking full advantage of these benefits requires proactive planning and awareness of what's available through your card. Many cardholders leave substantial value untapped by failing to utilize these less visible benefits.
Which Card Suits Your Lifestyle: Making Your Choice
Selecting between these premium travel cards ultimately depends on your personal spending patterns, travel preferences, and lifestyle priorities. Neither card is universally superior—each offers distinct advantages for different types of cardholders. Making an informed choice requires honest assessment of your habits and priorities.
Consider tracking your spending across major categories for several months to determine where you spend most frequently. This data provides concrete evidence of which card's rewards structure would benefit you most. Similarly, reviewing your travel patterns helps identify which card's benefits package aligns with your typical journeys.
Remember that your optimal card may change over time as your lifestyle evolves. Many experienced travelers eventually maintain multiple premium cards to maximize different benefits, though this strategy requires careful management of annual fees and minimum spending requirements.
Ideal Profiles: Who Benefits Most From Each Card
Understanding which type of consumer benefits most from each card helps clarify your decision:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite typically provides maximum value for travelers who:
- Prefer flexibility in airline choice and travel dates without blackout restrictions
- Travel primarily with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners
- Value straightforward points earning without tracking multiple bonus categories
- Appreciate the Visa Infinite dining and wine experiences
- Meet the income requirements but prefer a slightly lower annual fee
The BMO World Elite Mastercard generally offers better value for consumers who:
- Spend heavily in bonus categories like dining, groceries, and recurring bills
- Value complimentary airport lounge access included with the card
- Appreciate the diverse experiences available through Priceless Cities
- Can meet the higher income requirements
- Travel 2-4 times annually, making good use of the included lounge visits
Your spending distribution across these categories largely determines which card will provide better overall value for your specific situation. Neither card is inherently superior—they simply target different consumer profiles.
Decision Factors: Questions to Consider
Ask yourself these questions when deciding between these premium cards:
- Where do you spend most frequently? If dining and groceries dominate your budget, BMO's accelerated earning in these categories may provide better value.
- How do you prefer to redeem rewards? If flight flexibility without blackout dates is paramount, RBC Avion offers advantages in this area.
- How often do you visit airport lounges? If you typically use lounges 2-4 times annually, BMO's included passes provide immediate value.
- Which additional benefits align with your interests? Consider whether Visa Infinite's dining focus or Mastercard's broader Priceless experiences better match your preferences.
- What is your income level? If you're near the minimum threshold, RBC's lower requirements may be determinative.
- Do you frequently travel internationally? Consider which card's insurance package better addresses your typical travel patterns.
Answering these questions honestly helps clarify which card better aligns with your specific needs and preferences. The best card for you provides maximum value for your actual spending patterns and travel habits, not theoretical benefits you're unlikely to use.
Elevate Your Travel Experience With the Right Card
Choosing between the RBC Avion Visa Infinite and BMO World Elite Mastercard represents more than just selecting a payment method—it's about enhancing your entire travel journey while maximizing rewards on everyday spending. Both cards offer compelling benefits packages that can transform ordinary purchases into extraordinary experiences when used strategically. Your optimal choice depends on understanding your own spending patterns, travel preferences, and lifestyle priorities.
The RBC Avion card excels in flight redemption flexibility and straightforward rewards earning, making it ideal for travelers who value simplicity and freedom from restrictions. The BMO World Elite card offers accelerated earning in popular spending categories and included lounge access, appealing to those who spend heavily in bonus categories and appreciate tangible travel perks.
Whichever card you choose, maximizing its value requires strategic usage and awareness of all available benefits. By aligning your card selection with your actual spending patterns and travel habits, you can enjoy premium experiences while earning valuable rewards that enhance your lifestyle for years to come.
