Aeroplan vs Avion vs Scene+: Which Rewards Program Wins for You

Choosing a rewards program in Canada usually comes down to three of the biggest names: Air Canada's Aeroplan, RBC's Avion Rewards, and Scotiabank's Scene+. Each rewards a different kind of spender. This guide compares how you earn, how you redeem, how flexible each program is, the typical value per point, and who each one suits best. Figures below are framed as estimates and cited from official program pages and recognized valuation sources.

How You Earn

Aeroplan is built around travel. You earn on Air Canada flights (roughly 1 point per dollar on base fares, with multipliers for elite members), through 11 co-branded credit cards from TD, CIBC, and American Express, and via the Aeroplan eStore and partners like Uber, Starbucks, and the LCBO. A standout is that American Express Membership Rewards transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, instantly and free, which makes cards like the Amex Cobalt a fast way to build a balance (Prince of Travel).

RBC Avion earns through RBC credit cards, with standard cards at about 1 point per dollar and premium cards around 1.25 points per dollar, plus higher multipliers on eligible travel. A wide partner ecosystem adds points at Petro-Canada, Rexall, and through more than 2,000 partner brands on the Avion Rewards site (Milesopedia).

Scene+ is the everyday-spend champion. Through Scotiabank cards you earn up to 6 points per dollar at Empire-owned grocers such as Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, and Foodland, plus elevated rates on dining and at Cineplex. A base Scene+ Visa earns 2 points per dollar at those grocers and 1 point per dollar elsewhere (Scotiabank).

How You Redeem

Aeroplan redemptions use dynamic pricing on Air Canada flights and fixed distance-based pricing on Star Alliance partners when an award seat is available. A short-haul economy flight like Toronto to Vancouver can start around 12,500 points. Points and cash options let you stretch a balance further (Prince of Travel).

RBC Avion's most valuable redemption is its fixed-rate flight schedule, where tiered point amounts cover flights up to a set dollar cap (for example, North America trips around 35,000 points up to roughly $750 in value). You can also transfer to airline partners or cash out for gift cards, bill payments, or even RRSP and TFSA contributions (Milesopedia).

Scene+ keeps it simple: 1,000 points equals $10. You can apply that to groceries at Empire stores, Cineplex tickets and concessions, dining, Home Hardware, or travel booked through Scene+ Travel powered by Expedia at 100 points per $1 (Scotiabank). One nuance worth knowing: redeeming Scene+ points as a statement credit can return less than full value, so grocery, Cineplex, and travel redemptions are usually the smarter play. Because every eligible redemption draws down the same flat rate, you never have to weigh one option against another the way you do with award charts.

Flexibility and Typical Value

Program	How you earn	Best redemption	Typical value (estimate)	Flexibility
Aeroplan	Air Canada flights, co-branded cards, Amex MR transfers	Star Alliance and Air Canada award flights	~2.0 cents/point CAD	High for travel, transfer-friendly
RBC Avion	RBC cards, travel multipliers, partner ecosystem	Fixed flight schedule, airline transfers	~2.0 cents/point CAD	High, multiple cash and transfer paths
Scene+	Empire grocers, dining, Cineplex, Scotia cards	Flat $10 per 1,000 points	~1.0 cent/point CAD	Very simple, predictable

Both Aeroplan and Avion are valued by Prince of Travel at roughly 2.0 cents per point in CAD when redeemed well, while Scene+ sits at about 1.0 cent per point (Prince of Travel). The catch: Aeroplan and Avion only reach that ceiling on strong flight redemptions, and Avion value drops sharply on lower-tier cards or flexible cash-style redemptions. Scene+ delivers its full value on almost any redemption, which makes it far more predictable. See our points valuations page for the full picture.

Who Each Program Suits Best

The frequent flyer: Aeroplan. If you fly Air Canada or Star Alliance regularly, Aeroplan offers the deepest award chart, partner reach, and outsized value on premium-cabin redemptions. Pairing a co-branded card with Amex Membership Rewards transfers builds balances quickly. Start with our best Aeroplan cards.

The flexible traveller who wants choice: RBC Avion. Avion suits people who want travel value without committing to one airline. The fixed flight schedule is easy to reason about, and transfer partners plus cash-out options add escape hatches. It rewards staying in the RBC ecosystem. Compare picks on our best Avion cards page.

The grocery spender and the simple-is-better crowd: Scene+. If most of your spending is groceries, dining, and movies, Scene+ likely beats both travel programs in real value because you earn elevated rates where you already shop and redeem at a flat, no-surprises rate. It is also the easiest program to use with zero award-chart homework. See our best Scene+ cards.

The Bottom Line

There is no single winner. Aeroplan wins on travel ceiling and flexibility for Air Canada flyers, Avion wins for travellers who want simple flight math plus transfer options, and Scene+ wins for everyday Canadian spending and ease of use. Many Canadians do well holding a Scene+ card for groceries alongside a travel card for trips. Match the program to where your money actually goes, and the right choice usually becomes obvious.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Program rates, valuations, and terms change frequently; confirm current details on the official program pages before applying or redeeming.