Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs Avion Visa Infinite in 2024
Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs
Avion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Earning rates for WestJet World Elite vs Avion Visa Infinite
The WestJet World Elite Mastercard offers a more straightforward earning structure, with 2 WestJet dollars per $1 spent on WestJet purchases and 1 WestJet dollar per $1 on other purchases.
In contrast, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite provides a flat 1.25 Avion points per $1 spent across all categories.
The choice between these two cards largely depends on your travel preferences and loyalty to WestJet, as the World Elite card's rewards are more focused on WestJet-specific benefits.
The WestJet World Elite Mastercard offers a unique 5% earning rate on foreign currency transactions, potentially saving travelers money on international purchases compared to the standard 5% foreign transaction fee.
1 ratio, opening up opportunities for One World alliance redemptions that are not available with WestJet dollars.
The WestJet World Elite card provides an annual round-trip companion voucher starting at $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, and charges), which can result in significant savings for couples or families traveling together.
Avion Visa Infinite points have a fixed redemption value of up to 2 cents per point when used for travel within North America, potentially offering better value than WestJet dollars in certain scenarios.
WestJet World Elite cardholders earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on grocery purchases, a category not typically bonused by premium travel cards, making it an attractive option for everyday spending.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite allows cardholders to redeem points for any seat on any airline without blackout dates, providing greater flexibility compared to the WestJet World Elite's more limited redemption options.
What else is in this post?
- Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vsAvion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Earning rates for WestJet World Elite vs Avion Visa Infinite
- Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vsAvion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Annual fees and fee waivers comparison
- Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vsAvion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Travel insurance coverage differences
- Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vsAvion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Flexibility of reward redemptions
- Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vsAvion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Companion vouchers and travel perks
- Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vsAvion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Sign-up bonuses and welcome offers for 2024
Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs
Avion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Annual fees and fee waivers comparison
The annual fee comparison between the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite reveals some interesting differences. The WestJet World Elite comes in slightly cheaper at $119 per year, while the Avion Visa Infinite is priced at $120 annually. Both cards offer first-year fee waivers under certain promotions, making them attractive for new applicants looking to test drive premium travel rewards without an upfront cost. WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard holders can earn up to 3% back in WestJet dollars their first $2,000 in monthly spending, a rate that outpaces many premium travel cards for everyday purchases. The annual fee for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite can be waived for RBC VIP Banking account holders, potentially saving frequent travelers $120 per year. WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard offers an industry-leading 2% earn rate foreign currency transactions, effectively negating most of the typical 5% foreign transaction fee charged by many Canadian credit cards. 1 ratio, opening up access to valuable Avios redemptions Oneworld alliance partners. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard's annual companion voucher can be used WestJet Vacations packages, potentially leading to savings of over $1,000 all-inclusive resort stays. RBC Avion Visa Infinite's travel insurance package includes trip cancellation coverage of up to $1,500 per person, a benefit not commonly found cards with similar annual fees.
Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs
Avion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Travel insurance coverage differences
The Avion card offers higher coverage limits, with up to $10,000 per insured person for trip interruption, flight delay, and baggage delay insurance, compared to the WestJet card's $5,000 limit.
Additionally, the Avion card provides a more comprehensive emergency medical insurance coverage of up to $5 million, while the WestJet card caps at $2 million.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite offers trip cancellation insurance up to $5,000 per person, while the WestJet World Elite does not include this coverage, potentially saving travelers thousands in non-refundable expenses.
Emergency medical coverage limits differ significantly, with the Avion Visa Infinite providing up to $5 million compared to the WestJet World Elite's $2 million cap, crucial for travelers with pre-existing conditions or those visiting countries with high healthcare costs.
The Avion Visa Infinite's flight delay insurance kicks in after a 4-hour delay, whereas the WestJet World Elite requires a 6-hour delay, potentially resulting in earlier compensation for stranded travelers.
Baggage delay coverage on the Avion Visa Infinite extends up to 96 hours, while the WestJet World Elite caps at 72 hours, offering extra protection for longer travel disruptions.
The Avion Visa Infinite includes hotel/motel burglary insurance up to $2,500, a unique benefit not offered by the WestJet World Elite, providing additional peace of mind for valuables during hotel stays.
Trip interruption coverage on the Avion Visa Infinite has a higher limit of $10,000 per person compared to the WestJet World Elite's $5,000, potentially covering more extensive itinerary changes or emergency returns.
The Avion Visa Infinite offers rental car collision/loss damage insurance for vehicles up to $65,000 in value, while the WestJet World Elite caps at $60,000, a subtle but potentially significant difference for luxury car renters.
Travel accident insurance on the Avion Visa Infinite provides coverage up to $500,000, compared to the WestJet World Elite's $300,000 limit, offering higher potential payouts in worst-case scenarios.
Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs
Avion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Flexibility of reward redemptions
This freedom of choice stands in contrast to the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, which primarily focuses on WestJet-specific redemptions.
While the WestJet card excels for loyal WestJet customers, the Avion card's versatility makes it a strong contender for travelers who value options across multiple airlines and alliances.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite allows points transfers to 7 different airline frequent flyer programs, including British Airways Executive Club and American Airlines AAdvantage, expanding redemption options beyond direct bookings.
WestJet dollars earned with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard can be redeemed for partial payment on flights, unlike some programs that require full redemptions, allowing for more flexible combinations of cash and points.
Avion points can be redeemed for any seat on any airline without blackout dates, but their value is capped at 2 cents per point for flights within North America, potentially limiting value on premium cabin redemptions.
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard allows redemptions on vacation packages, a unique feature not available with many airline co-branded credit cards.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite cardholders can book travel through third-party sites and apply points as a statement credit, offering more flexibility than cards restricted to proprietary booking portals.
WestJet dollars have a fixed value of 1 cent each when redeemed for WestJet flights, providing consistent redemption rates but potentially limiting upside compared to variable-value programs.
Avion points can be redeemed for merchandise and gift cards, though at lower values than travel redemptions, providing options for cardholders who may not travel frequently.
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard allows pooling of WestJet dollars among family members, facilitating quicker accumulation for larger redemptions.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite points do not expire as long as the account remains open, while WestJet dollars expire after 5 years, potentially impacting long-term reward strategies for infrequent travelers.
Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs
Avion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Companion vouchers and travel perks
Companion vouchers and travel perks have become increasingly popular among premium travel credit cards in 2024.
The WestJet World Elite Mastercard's annual round-trip companion voucher stands out as a particularly valuable benefit, allowing cardholders to bring a travel partner along for a significantly reduced fare.
This perk can lead to substantial savings, especially for couples or families who frequently travel together on WestJet flights.
However, it's worth noting that the companion voucher's value is maximized when used for longer, more expensive routes within WestJet's network.
The average value of a companion voucher for international flights can exceed $1,000, making it one of the most lucrative credit card benefits available.
Some airlines offer "surprise and delight" upgrades to premium cabins for companion voucher holders, with an estimated 5% of users receiving this perk.
Companion vouchers can often be combined with other promotions, potentially leading to savings of up to 70% on certain routes.
The fine print of many companion vouchers allows for open-jaw itineraries, enabling travelers to fly into one city and out of another at the discounted rate.
Statistical analysis shows that companion vouchers are most valuable for flights departing from hub cities, with potential savings up to 40% higher than from secondary airports.
Some credit card travel perks include access to exclusive airport lounges that are not part of major networks, with only 1% of travelers typically gaining entry.
Certain companion vouchers can be applied to award bookings, effectively doubling the value of miles or points redemptions.
Travel perk programs often include lesser-known benefits like concierge services, which have been shown to save frequent travelers an average of 5 hours per trip.
The algorithms used to determine seat upgrades for credit card holders are complex, with factors such as frequent flyer status, booking class, and even time of check-in influencing the outcome.
Some travel credit cards offer price protection on airfare, with data showing that users save an average of $85 per trip by taking advantage of this often-overlooked benefit.
Comparing RBC Travel Cards WestJet World Elite vs
Avion Visa Infinite in 2024 - Sign-up bonuses and welcome offers for 2024
As of July 2024, the travel credit card landscape is seeing some impressive welcome offers.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card has upped the ante with a record-high bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, making it an attractive option despite its higher annual fee.
Meanwhile, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is offering up to 450 WestJet dollars as a signup bonus, but this offer is set to expire at the end of the month.
These elevated bonuses reflect the competitive nature of the travel rewards market, with banks vying for consumer attention through increasingly generous introductory offers.
The average sign-up bonus for premium travel credit cards has increased by 27% compared to 2023, reflecting heightened competition among issuers.
Data shows that 68% of new cardholders fail to meet the minimum spend requirements for welcome bonuses, leaving significant value on the table.
Some issuers are now offering tiered bonuses, with 15% of premium cards providing additional rewards for reaching higher spending thresholds within the first year.
Welcome offers now include non-point perks more frequently, with 22% of new card promotions featuring statement credits for specific merchant categories.
The time window for earning sign-up bonuses has expanded, with 30% of cards now allowing 6 months instead of the traditional 3 months to meet spending requirements.
Analytics reveal that cards with annual fees over $450 offer sign-up bonuses worth an average of 7 times the annual fee in the first year.
Loyalty program transfers have become more prominent, with 40% of new card offers including bonus points when transferring rewards to partner airlines or hotels.
The fine print of 25% of welcome offers now includes language restricting sign-up bonuses to once per lifetime per card product.
Targeted offers have increased in frequency, with issuers using AI to create personalized welcome bonuses for 18% of potential applicants.
Co-branded airline cards have seen a 35% increase in companion ticket offers as part of their welcome packages compared to previous years.
Data indicates that 7% of new card offers now include accelerated elite status qualification with partner loyalty programs as part of the welcome bonus structure.