Aeroplan vs Avion vs Aventura vs TD Rewards vs Scene+: which travel program wins?

If you are choosing between Canada's big bank travel programs, the short answer is that they split into two camps. Aeroplan is a frequent-flyer program with airline transfer partners and dynamic pricing, so it can deliver outsized value but takes work. RBC Avion, CIBC Aventura, TD Rewards, and Scene+ are bank programs that lean on fixed or chart-based redemption, so they trade peak value for predictability and the freedom to book any seat on any airline.

Nothing here is financial advice. Confirm current rates, charts, and rules on each official program page before you book.

How each program lets you earn

All five earn points through co-branded credit card spending, with category accelerators on the better cards. Aeroplan adds flying: members earn 1 point per dollar as a base flyer and elite members can earn up to 6 points per dollar on Air Canada fares. Scene+ earns 1 point per dollar on most eligible Scotiabank credit card purchases, with accelerators of 2X to 6X on select categories, plus everyday earning on a Scene+ debit card. RBC Avion, CIBC Aventura, and TD Rewards all earn on their respective bank credit cards with bonus categories that vary by card. For how to value a sign-up offer across programs, see our welcome bonus guide.

How each program lets you redeem

This is where the programs diverge most.

• Aeroplan uses a hybrid model. Partner flights on a standard award chart price by region and distance, while Air Canada's own flights and select partners such as United, Emirates, and Etihad price dynamically, so costs can swing day to day. You book at aircanada.com or in the Air Canada app.
• RBC Avion offers an Air Travel Redemption Schedule: a fixed number of points buys a flight on any airline up to a capped ticket value, with no blackout dates. Non-flight redemptions convert at 100 points equals 1 dollar CAD, and there are also fixed travel credits and gift cards.
• CIBC Aventura uses an Airline Rewards Chart with five distance categories for round-trip economy flights booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre. You must redeem at least 80 percent of the required points and can top up the rest with a card charge. Aventura points also redeem at a set 1 cent per point for any travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Travel Centre.
• TD Rewards is the simplest: every 200 points is worth 1 dollar off travel on Expedia for TD, redeemed in 200-point increments, on flights, hotels, cars, and attractions with no blackout dates.
• Scene+ redeems toward travel at 100 points for 1 dollar (1 cent per point) when the purchase is on a linked Scotiabank card, applied as a statement credit. Points also redeem for groceries, dining, entertainment, and merchandise.

Program comparison at a glance

Program	Redemption model	Any airline / any seat	Transfer partners	Typical estimated value
Aeroplan	Award chart plus dynamic pricing	Air Canada plus 45+ partners	N/A (it is the airline program)	Highest ceiling, variable
RBC Avion	Fixed schedule plus 1 cent credits	Yes, up to capped fare	British Airways, Cathay, AAdvantage, WestJet (Elite)	Up to ~2.3 cents per point (estimate)
CIBC Aventura	Distance chart plus 1 cent travel	Yes, economy via chart	Aeroplan, others on some cards	Up to ~2.29 cents per point (estimate)
TD Rewards	Flat ~0.5 cent on Expedia for TD	Yes, any seat	None	~0.5 cent per point
Scene+	Flat 1 cent toward travel	Yes, any seat	None	~1 cent per point

Per-point values labelled "estimate" are recognized estimates published by points sites such as Prince of Travel and Milesopedia, not guaranteed amounts. Actual value depends on the fare you book. See our point values guide for how we apply these in rankings.

Flexibility and transfer partners

Flexibility is the real dividing line. TD Rewards and Scene+ are the easiest to use because the rate is flat and you can book any flight or hotel without award-seat hunting, but the trade-off is a hard cap on value. RBC Avion and CIBC Aventura sit in the middle: their charts can stretch each point further than a flat rate, and both also offer a plain 1 cent fallback so points never feel stuck.

For transfers, RBC Avion stands out among the bank programs. Avion Elite members can move points 1:1 to British Airways, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and WestJet Rewards, and at a 1:0.7 ratio to American Airlines AAdvantage. CIBC Aventura can transfer to Aeroplan on certain cards. TD Rewards and Scene+ do not transfer to airlines. Aeroplan is the airline program itself, with the widest partner network of any frequent-flyer scheme, so it is the value play if you are willing to learn dynamic pricing and chase award space.

Who each program is best for

• Aeroplan: frequent flyers, premium-cabin seekers, and anyone willing to work for top value on Air Canada and 45+ partners.
• RBC Avion: travellers who want flexibility plus a high ceiling, especially Avion Elite members who can transfer to airlines or redeem at 100 points equals 2 dollars on premium fares.
• CIBC Aventura: people who want chart value on economy flights with a simple 1 cent fallback and possible Aeroplan transfers.
• TD Rewards: set-it-and-forget-it travellers who value any-airline booking and predictability over squeezing maximum value.
• Scene+: Scotiabank customers and anyone who wants travel plus everyday redemptions (groceries, dining, entertainment) at a clean 1 cent rate.

How to choose

Start with how you actually travel. If you fly often, value business class, and enjoy optimizing, Aeroplan rewards the effort. If you want to book any seat with zero blackout dates, a fixed-value program is less stress. RBC Avion and CIBC Aventura are the best compromise between value and ease, while TD Rewards and Scene+ win on pure simplicity.

If you are not sure points are even the right path, compare against flat earning in our cash back vs points guide. When you are ready to pick a card, see our best travel cards and best rewards cards, run a head-to-head on the compare tool, or browse all cards.