RBC has finalized its acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada, and the transition of HSBC Canada customers into RBC products and services is now also complete. You can now begin using your new RBC credit cards, and you’ll soon be able to redeem RBC Avion Rewards.
Importantly, we now have more insight into the conversion rates RBC has used to transition customers from HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion Rewards, which was not previously disclosed.
RBC’s Conversion of HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion Rewards
As part of RBC’s acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada, balances of HSBC Rewards are being converted into RBC Avion Rewards.
RBC did not disclose the rates at which it would convert HSBC Rewards into RBC Avion Rewards prior to the conversion taking place, and only indicated that the converted points would have “equal or higher value in the flexible travel redemption category in the same way they book their travel today.”
On April 1, 2024, previous HSBC Bank Canada clients began receiving emails about the conversion rate RBC used. While the conversion is slated to be complete by April 5, 2024, we now have insight into the actual conversion rates being applied.
It’s worth noting that RBC has made personalized conversion rates for every customer, and the observations below may not apply to every case. Therefore, be sure to reference the communication sent directly to you for information as it pertains to your unique situation.
Many previous cardholders of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard who were transitioned to the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† are having their HSBC Rewards points converted into Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.36 ratio. In other words, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, you’d get 36,000 RBC Avion (Elite) points.
While this conversion rate is lower than the 2:1 ratio we had originally predicted, RBC’s statement of converted points having equal or higher value in the flexible redemption category holds true, since you can redeem these RBC Avion (Elite) points at a rate of 100 RBC Avion (Elite) points = $1.50 (all figures in CAD).
Importantly, this redemption rate is higher than what’s available for cardholders of the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite† who weren’t transitioned from an HSBC World Elite Mastercard, who have a redemption rate of 100 RBC Avion (Elite) points = $1 for flexible travel bookings.
(We’ll do an analysis of who stands to gain and who stands to lose from this transfer ratio in the following section of this article).
In the Prince of Travel Elites Facebook Group and in our membership community, we’ve also seen reports of a 1:0.34 ratio, which appears to be for previous cardholders of the HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard who have been transferred to the RBC® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege†.
For those being transitioned to an RBC® ION Visa, which earns RBC Avion (Premium) points, we’ve seen reports of a 1:0.88 ratio. In other words, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, you’d get 88,000 RBC Avion (Premium) points. This opens up some unique possibilities, which we’ll discuss in detail below.
As a reminder, you can no longer use your HSBC Canada credit card products as of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 1, 2024. You’ll now need to activate and use your RBC credit card, which will earn RBC Avion points.
If you held an HSBC credit card with a travel credit, you’ll soon be able to view and redeem your credit.
You’ll first need to activate the credit on or after April 4, 2024, by logging into your Avion Rewards account, locating your travel credit on the Offers page, and then clicking “Load Offer”.
Once that’s done, you’ll need to make an eligible car rental or hotel booking through the Avion Rewards Travel platform between April 4, 2024 and April 5, 2025 to receive your one-time statement credit.
Analyzing RBC’s Conversion of HSBC Rewards Points
Depending on how you choose to redeem your points, you may wind up getting more or less overall value from your new RBC Avion points at the Elite or Premium tiers.
Previous HSBC World Elite Mastercard Cardholders
If you were a previous cardholder of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard and had your HSBC Rewards points converted into RBC Avion (Elite) points, you should get slightly better value from RBC Avion Rewards if you choose to redeem points for travel purchases.
For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points prior to the acquisition, you could have redeemed them for $500 worth of travel.
With a 1:0.36 ratio, you’d wind up with 36,000 RBC Avion (Elite) points, which you can now redeem for $540, since you have a higher-than-usual redemption rate of 100 RBC Avion (Elite) points = $1.50.
However, you’ll only get this elevated rate if you book flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises through the Avion Rewards Travel platform. In this sense, your points aren’t as flexible as they were with HSBC Rewards, since you could book travel directly with any vendor and simply redeem points for a statement credit.
Plus, your booking on Avion Rewards Travel may not be eligible for earning status with hotels or airlines, since it won’t be made directly with the vendor.
If you planned on converting your points into British Airways Executive Club, you’ll wind up with fewer Avios with points converted at a 1:0.36 transfer ratio than at the 25:10 ratio through HSBC Rewards.
For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, you could previously have converted them into 40,000 British Airways Avios at a 25:10 ratio.
Since RBC Avion points transfer to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 ratio, a converted balance of 36,000 RBC Avion points would equal 36,000 Avios, or 4,000 fewer (10% less) than what you’d have gotten through HSBC Rewards.
If you planned on transferring your points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, you’ll get slightly more Asia Miles with a 1:0.36 transfer ratio from HSBC Rewards to RBC Avion than through HSBC Rewards.
For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards, you could previously have converted them into 32,000 Asia Miles with the 25:8 transfer ratio. Since RBC Avion (Elite) points convert to Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio, you’d now wind up with 36,000 Asia Miles, assuming you received a 1:0.36 conversion.
It’s worth noting that RBC Avion typically offers transfer bonuses to both programs throughout the year, which would theoretically boost your Executive Club or Asia Miles balance beyond what was possible through HSBC Rewards (assuming no transfer bonus was available.)
While you’re no longer able to transfer points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer with the loss of HSBC Rewards, you can now transfer RBC Avion (Elite) points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 1:0.7 ratio. RBC Avion (Elite) points also transfer to WestJet Rewards at a 100:1 ratio, though you’ll likely get better value from the other airline partners.
Plus, if you redeem points for flights using the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you can squeeze more value out of your points, since you can get up to 2.33 cents per point for a redemption.
If you redeem points this way, you’d wind up with a higher value than what you’d have received for travel bookings with HSBC Rewards.
Previous HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard Cardholders
If you had HSBC Rewards points transferred to RBC Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.34 ratio, you’d still wind up with greater value if redeemed at 1.5 cents per point for flexible travel bookings. However, the overall possible value is less than what members who had a 1:0.36 transfer ratio would receive.
For example, if you had 100,000 HSBC Rewards points, those would be converted into 34,000 Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.34 ratio. With HSBC, you could redeem them for $500, whereas with RBC, you’ll be able to redeem them for $510 for travel booked through Avion Rewards Travel at 1.5 cents per point.
However, as an RBC® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege† cardholder, you can redeem RBC Avion (Elite) points at a rate of 2 cents per point for business class and First Class fares. If you redeem them this way, you’ll wind up with more value ($680) than what you could get through flexible redemptions with HSBC Rewards ($500).
You’ll wind up with even fewer British Airways Avios than you would through conversions from HSBC Rewards, unless you hold out for a transfer bonus event.
For example, if you converted 100,000 HSBC Rewards to British Airways Executive Club at a 25:10 ratio, you’d have wound up with 40,000 Avios. With a 1:0.34 conversion ratio, you’d now wind up with just 34,000 Avios, assuming there’s no transfer bonus at stake.
You’ll still wind up coming out ahead with Asia Miles (34,000 vs 32,000) with your points converted to RBC Avion (Elite) points at a 1:0.34 ratio.
Previous HSBC Rewards+ & HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard Cardholders
If your HSBC Rewards points were converted to RBC Avion (Premium) points at a 1:0.88 ratio, an intriguing opportunity presents itself.
With HSBC Rewards, you could redeem 100,000 points for a $500 statement credit for travel purchases. With 88,000 RBC Avion (Premium) points, you can redeem them for $511 worth of travel (172 RBC Avion (Premium) points = $100).
However, recall that RBC Avion (Premium) points can be converted into RBC Avion (Elite) points at at a 1:1 ratio if you have an eligible RBC Avion credit card.
Therefore, if you’ve been transitioned to an RBC® ION Visa or an RBC ION+ Visa, consider adding an RBC Avion credit card to your portfolio in the near future, since you’d then be able to move your RBC Avion points at the Premium tier into points at the Elite tier.
Credit Card Best Offer Value 
Up to 70,000 RBC Avion points† $801 Apply Now 
35,000 RBC Avion points $700 Apply Now 
35,000 RBC Avion points† $580 Apply Now 
35,000 RBC Avion points $580 Apply Now 
35,000 RBC Avion points† $580 Apply Now
Then, you could then transfer to British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, or American Airlines AAdvantage, or redeem them using the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule, for much greater value.
It’s worth noting that you can transfer RBC Avion (Premium) points to WestJet Rewards, too.
Conclusion
RBC’s acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada is now complete, and you can no longer use HSBC Bank Canada products.
If you had a balance of HSBC Rewards points, it is in the process of being converted into RBC Avion points at various membership tiers. Depending on how you choose to redeem your points, you could wind up with greater or lesser value than you did before.
Your new batch of RBC Avion points will be available to use as of April 5, 2024, so be sure to get your online accounts set up before then so you can begin to redeem points at your leisure.
†Terms and conditions apply. Refer to the card issuer’s website for complete, up-to-date information.