To the point
Let's compare two travel-friendly credit cards: the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite* Card.
Here are two Visa Infinite credit cards that earn different types of points.
Their names are very similar! These point-connected cards both give us a passport to low-cost travel, but their characteristics are different. Let’s see which one is the best!
We will base our analysis on the major differences between these credit cards regarding :
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies according to promotions. However, there are some important differences between the two.
With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 35,000 Scene+ points:
- 25,000 Scene+ points with total purchases of $1,000 or more in the first three months (value of 250 $)
- 10,000 additional points with $40,000 in purchases during the first year with the card (value of 100 $)
When you sign up for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you’ll earn 55,000 Avion points, worth up to $825:
- 35,000 Avion points on approval (no minimum purchase) ($525 value) ;
- 20,000 Avion points when you charge $5,000 to the card within 6 months of approval ( $300 value)
Advantage: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you earn 35,000 Avion points as soon as your credit card is approved, with no minimum spending. It’s easy!
Earning points
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite Card each offer different levels of point accumulation.
Earnings levels
With the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar (i.e. 3%) on purchases at:
- IGA
- Rachelle Béry
- Les Marchés Tradition
- Voià by IGA / Safeway / Sobeys
- Sobeys and Safeway
- Foodland and Thrifty Foods
- FreshCo and Chalo! FreshCo
Then you earn :
- 2 Scene+ points / $1 purchase at restaurants, entertainment, grocery stores and travel (2%)
- 2 Scene+ points / $1 purchase in restaurants, entertainment, grocery stores and travel outside Canada (2%)
- 1 Scene+ point / $1 purchase remainder (1%)
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has a earning of 1.25 Avion points / $1 purchase, for travel purchases charged to the card:
“Travel” expenses include the following:
- Airline ;
- Hotel ;
- Tour operator, cruise line or travel agency;
- Car rental company.
This has a value of 1.25%.
After that, you earn 1 point per dollar for all other purchases. This is a 1% value.
Advantage: Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is the best of the two! It pays twice as much on everyday purchases and the biggest budget items, such as groceries, entertainment, travel and restaurants.
Redeeming points
The two cards are linked to different loyalty programs, and the ways of redeeming them are not the same.
Scene+ points and travel:
You can apply them to travel purchases in two ways, thanks to the fixed redemption rate where 10,000 points = $100 credit:
- Redeem points directly when booking travel with Scene+ Travel, administered by Expedia.
- Make your own travel arrangements and use your points to pay off the balance on the card
It also lets you apply your points to everyday purchases.
You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount at the IGA/Sobeys checkout.
Points can also be used to purchase gift cards on the Scotiabank/Scene+ website, from 1,000 to 1,400 points for a $10 discount.
Scene+ points can also be redeemed:
- 500 points for a $5 discount at selected restaurants (Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, etc.);
- 100 points for $1 off movie tickets at Cineplex ;
- 500 points for $5 off food and beverages at Cineplex, Rec Room and chips at Playdium ;
- At least 3,000 points for an account credit of between $6.67 and $8 on any card charge.
With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can apply your points to travel purchases.
The redemption rate is:
- 100 points = $1 towards purchases of your choice on the Avion Rewards website, including hotels, airline tickets, cruises, car rentals and more.
Avion Rewards acts like a travel agency when you buy an airline ticket. There are no blackout periods or reservations imposed, even in high season. Here is the fixed number of points required for a flight reservation:
|
15,000 points Flight within a province or neighbouring state. Maximum ticket price: $350 |
35,000 points Fly anywhere in Canada or the United States (except Hawaii and Alaska). Maximum ticket price: $750 |
45,000 points Western Canada or the United States to Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska. Eastern Canada to Bermuda, Central America or the Caribbean. Maximum ticket price: $900 |
|
55,000 points Eastern Canada or the United States to Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska. Western Canada to Bermuda, Central America or the Caribbean. Maximum ticket price: $1,100 |
65,000 points Flight from Canada or United States to Europe. Maximum ticket price: $1,300 |
100,000 points Fly from Canada or United States to … anywhere in the world! Maximum ticket price: $2,000 |
So this equates to about 2 cents per point ($350 divided by 15,000 points) on average.
Or you can use your points for something else:
- 12,000 points for $100 (0.83 cent per point) on a contribution to an RRSP, TFSA, line of credit or mortgage;
- 12,000 to 14,000 points for a $100 gift card (0.71 to 0.83 cents per point) ;
- Make a donation (1 cent per point) ;
- 4,300 points = $25 (0.58 cent per point) you can apply an account credit to everyday purchases.
Advantage: Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card wins this round. Scene+ points are more diversified and have a stable value of 1,000 points for $10 off, for both grocery needs or small pleasures when traveling.
What’s more, you can use them in any way you like, by booking any travel expense and then taking your Scene+ points to get reimbursed.
Earn Scene+ points all year round and buy yourself a huge grocery store for a real holiday feast. Or keep them to pay for a plane ticket or hotel.
But if you’re aiming for a plane ticket to a specific destination, the Avion Rewards fixed points chart and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card are the best way to go.
Annual fee
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $150.
And if you have a Scotiabank Ultimate Plan, you’ll get the annual fee waived. Learn more about this here.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has an annual fee of $120.
Advantage: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has a lower annual fee.
But if you have a Scotiabank Ultimate Package, the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card wins out because its annual fee is then fully refunded.
Minimum income
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card requires :
- $60,000 (individual income)
- or $100,000 (household income)
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card requires :
- 60,000 individual income ;
- or $100,000 household income.
Advantage: Tie
It’s all the same, because a Visa Infinite card requires the same conditions for all financial institutions.
Insurance
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card offers a range of insurance options. The certificate of insurance can be found here:
| Worldwide Travel Medical Emergency Insurance | $ 2,000,000 and 25 days (age 64 and under) |
| Baggage Delay or Loss insurance | Up to $1,000 per trip. 4-hour delay. |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $500 per insured person, for a 4-hour delay. |
| Trip cancellation and interruption insurance | Up to $1,500 (cancellation) and $2,500 (interruption) per insured person |
| Vehicle rental insurance | Up to 48 days, maximum $65,000 |
| Hotel/motel theft insurance | up to $1,000 |
| Public transit accident insurance | Up to $500,000 per insured person |
| Purchase insurance | 90 days |
| Extended warranty insurance | Up to one additional year |
| Mobile device insurance | — |
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers various types of insurance, and its certificate of insurance can be found here:
| Worldwide travel medical emergency insurance | Unlimited up to 15 consecutive days |
| Baggage delay or loss insurance | Up to $500, for a 4-hour delay. |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $250, for a 4-hour delay |
| Trip cancellation and interruption insurance | Up to $1,500 (cancellation) and $5,000 (interruption) per insured person |
| Vehicle rental insurance | Up to 48 consecutive days, up to $65,000 |
| Hotel/motel theft insurance | up to $2,500 |
| Public transit accident insurance | Up to $500,000 per person |
| Purchase insurance | 90 days |
| Extended warranty insurance | Up to one additional year |
| Mobile Device Insurance | up to $1,500 |
Advantage: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
Some RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card insurance amounts are slightly higher than those of its competitor for certain coverages.
If this is important to you, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is even better, as it’s the only one between the two to have mobile device insurance. This comes in handy if you have an unfortunate accident with your phone or tablet.
Please note thatat least 75% or 100% of the cost of the trip or tickets must be charged to these two cards for certain insurances to apply. We strongly advise you to read each insurance brochure carefully, to find out which one is best for your situation.
The Benefits
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card offers a number of advantages:
- No conversion fees for purchases in foreign currencies;
- 2 points/$1 spent abroad at restaurants, for entertainment, groceries and travel ;
- Six complimentary visits to VIP airport lounges per year;
- Earn double Scene+ points with your Scene+ membership card at their partners;
- Exclusive benefits for Visa Infinite cardholders.
In addition to the above benefits, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers other advantages:
- Savings of 3 cents per liter and 20% more Petro-Points and Avion points at Petro-Canada ;
- Link this card to get 50 Be Well points / $1 at Rexall ;
- Free 12-month subscription to Doordash DashPass ;
- Free deliveries with Doordash on orders of $15 or more when paid with this card;
- Tons of points offers and discounts at various retailers with RBC offers;
- Avion points can be transferred to :
- WestJet Rewards
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Asia Miles
- Hudson’s Bay Reward Points
- Exclusive benefits for Visa Infinite cardholders.
Advantage: Tie
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card has a big head start on travel perks, as it allows you to lounge in airport VIP lounges with 6 free accesses and avoid the 2.5% conversion fee outside Canada.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, on the other hand, offers better benefits for everyday life. What’s more, the great flexibility of its points gives you the opportunity to transfer your Avion points to other programs, something its competitor can’t do.
Bottom Line
So? Which card wins this duel?
For those who want a simple, uncomplicated card, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is for you!
It stands out for:
- Its welcome offer points is easy to earn;
- The possibility of investing in an investment or reducing your mortgage with Avion points;
- Everyday savings at Petro-Canada, Rexall or Doordash ;
- Transfer points to other programs ;
- Its excellent mobile device and travel insurance.
Opposite it, the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card will be perfect for people who travel a lot thanks to:
- Faster accumulation for groceries, restaurants, travel and entertainment;
- 6 free airport lounges a year;
- The elimination of the 2.5% foreign exchange conversion charge on purchases in foreign currencies;
- To the opportunity to have the annual card fee refunded in the first year with the current welcome offer, which is rare;
- To the possibilities of simply paying for groceries with your points at IGA, Sobeys, etc.
What’s more, these are 2 cards that we recommend in several of our rankings:
