RBC Changes Earning Rates on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†

RBC has implemented some changes to the earning rates on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†, effective April 15, 2024.

We’ve seen a boost the earning rate for purchases with British Airways and British Airways Holidays, as well as the introduction of a category earning rate for grocery, dining, and food delivery purchases.

Improved Earning Rates on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†

RBC has made some changes to the earning rates on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†.

Up until now, the card had the following earning structure:

• Earn 2 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on British Airways and British Airways Holidays
• Earn 1 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on all other eligible purchases

Effective April 15, 2024, the earning rate on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† has a 3-2-1 earning structure, outlined as follows:

• Earn 3 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on British Airways and British Airways Holidays†
• Earn 2 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on eligible dining, grocery, and food delivery purchases†
• Earn 1 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on all other qualifying purchases†

With the changes to the earning rates, you’ll get a further boost to any of your spending with British Airways compared to before, and you’ll also now earn more Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on dining, grocery, and food delivery purchases.

Aside from these changes, the card’s welcome bonus, perks & benefits, and insurance coverage remain the same as before.

As a reminder, British Airways improved the Companion Award eVoucher in July 2023, which was when the last changes to the card were implemented. As a cardholder, you can earn a Companion Award eVoucher each year by making at least $30,000 (CAD) in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year.†

Previously, the Companion Award eVoucher was only valid for waiving the cost in Avios for a second passenger on an eligible British Airways Avios booking. Ever since July 2023, it can also be used to reduce the cost in Avios by 50% when applied to a solo booking.

The RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† is the only card in Canada that directly earns Avios on day-to-day spending. However, it’s worth noting that you can also access British Airways Executive Club through Canada’s two transferrable points currencies: American Express Membership Rewards and RBC Avion Rewards.

For Whom Is The RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† Best Suited?

If you often fly with British Airways on revenue fares, the new earning rate of 3 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent† is an excellent return on your spending.

We value British Airways Avios at 2 cents per point (CAD), and using this value, we’d estimate an approximate 6% return. However, you can also get more or less value from an Avios redemption, depending on what you use them for.

Plus, the Avios you earn on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† will stack with the Avios you earn from your revenue fare, which ranges from 6–9 Avios per £1 spent, depending on your status with British Airways.

This combination works best in your favour if you tend to book premium fares with British Airways, since the earning structure rewards those who spend more on flights than those who look for the best deal.

Keep in mind that you’ll also get 10% off British Airways round-trip flights originating in and returning to Canada† by paying for them with your RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†. This perk has been extended for flights booked through to December 31, 2024, for travel through to December 15, 2025.

To benefit from the 10% discount, you need to book flights using your RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† on a dedicated landing page on the British Airways website, as outlined in the terms and conditions:

10% off British Airways flights round-trip flights originating in and returning to Canada when you book on ba.com/RBC10 and pay with your RBC BA Visa Infinite card. In order to take part in the 10% promotion, RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† cardholders must log in at ba.com/RBC10 using their Executive Club username and PIN and make a round-trip booking now through December 31, 2024 and enter the promotion code CARDOFFERC in the marked box on the Price Quote page of the booking process.

With the introduction of the 2x earning rate for eligible dining, grocery, and food delivery purchases, the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† is in line with or better than other airline co-branded cards in Canada when it comes to earning points in these categories.

However, it’s worth noting that the American Express Cobalt Card still offers the best return for dining, grocery, and food delivery purchases, as it earns 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 (CAD) spent. Plus, you can transfer them to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 ratio, or sometimes at a heightened rate with a transfer bonus applied.

It’s great to see improved earning rates added to the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†, as prior to now, it’s only accelerated earning rate applied to British Airways flights and British Airways Holidays. Even then, you could get the same rate of return with another card that earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel. 

The RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite† is a great card to add to your wallet if you fly with British Airways on revenue flights, especially with the new enhanced earning rate and if you spend $30,000 on the card each year to earn a Companion Award eVoucher.†

Conclusion

RBC has made improvements to the earning rates on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite†. 

As a cardholder, you’ll now earn 3 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on British Airways and British Airways Holidays,† 2 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on dining, grocery, and food delivery purchases,† and 1 Avios per $1 (CAD) spent on all other qualifying purchases.†

If you’re someone who books a lot of revenue flights with British Airways, be sure to get this card for an unmatched return on British Airways flights, as well as a 10% discount on flights.

† Terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the RBC website for up-to-date information.