Points Pulse for April 6, 2026: Avion travel gets a rebuild, while rewards trips get pricier
In this edition of NerdWallet Canada’s Points Pulse series:
RBC gives Avion travel a Hopper-powered reboot
RBC is rebuilding Avion Rewards Travel with Hopper Technology Solutions. A new booking portal, which will cover flights, hotels, car rentals, activities and packages, is set to launch later in 2026 for all Avion Rewards members.
Avion members will still get fixed-points flight pricing on any airline, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. RBC says the new setup will also add fare tracking and more flexible booking tools.
Bank travel portals are often clunky enough to make cash back feel like the more attractive option. If this relaunch actually makes Avion redemptions easier, those points will feel more usable for regular travellers.
Nerdy takeaway: A shinier portal is nice, but the real test is value. When the new platform launches, compare the redemption math against booking direct or redeeming another way. Convenience helps, but cents per point is your benchmark.
Travel rewards are feeling the fuel-price squeeze
Fuel surcharges are driving up the cost of travel, including some fixed-value perks:
WestJet companion voucher bookings will carry a temporary $60 fuel surcharge starting April 8, 2026.
Air Canada Vacations is adding a $50 per-passenger surcharge to new sun package bookings with a flight component starting April 6.
Porter has also added a temporary peak surcharge to new VIPorter reward bookings made from March 23, applied per passenger, each way.
There are a couple of lessons here. First, your rewards are never a buffer against rising airline costs. Second, Canada really needs more airlines.
Nerdy takeaway: Price the trip, not just the perk. When a voucher or redemption picks up a surcharge, the best deal may be the least glamorous one with the lowest final total.
Scene+ is making movie night a little less rewarding
Scene+ members will earn fewer points on many Cineplex purchases starting May 13, 2026. Cineplex and Scene+ have published notice that earn rates are changing for tickets, food and beverages, merchandise and gaming.
The earn rate on standard movie tickets, for example, is dropping to 3 Scene+ points per $1 from 5 points per $1.
Cineplex has long been one of the easiest, most visible ways to collect Scene+ points without trying very hard. When the casual earn rate slips, the program loses a little of its everyday charm. While some premium categories are getting higher earn rates, the average moviegoer will lose out.
Nerdy takeaway: If Cineplex is where most of your Scene+ points come from, this change will make the program less rewarding. That puts even more pressure on the rest of the earn-and-redeem ecosystem to do the heavy lifting.
Chexy finally opens the door to Canadian Mastercards
Chexy began accepting Canadian-issued Mastercard credit cards on April 1, expanding beyond Visa and American Express. Mastercard can now be used for rent, taxes, utilities and tuition. For personal accounts, the fee remains 1.75%. The platform also added more flexible payment scheduling, support for up to five cards on one account and a downloadable activity dashboard.
The Mastercard expansion means more Canadians can turn large, dull expenses into rewards-earning purchases. (Some Mastercards may be especially useful for recurring bills or welcome-bonus spending.) But the Chexy’s 1.75% fee can quietly eat your rewards.
Nerdy takeaway: Chexy might be more interesting for Mastercard holders, but not necessarily more valuable. Use it when the rewards rate or welcome bonus justifies the fee. Otherwise, you’re paying cash to manufacture points, and that math may not add up.
Want to test Chexy’s new Mastercard option? The Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard could be a great fit. You can earn 2% unlimited cash back on recurring bill payments, pay no annual fee, and get a welcome bonus of up to $120. Chexy may also help you reach the $1,500 minimum spend in your first 3 months needed to qualify for the bonus more easily. It’s a strong no-fee card choice, especially since it offers more cash-back categories to choose from than most no-annual-fee credit cards. (Terms and conditions apply.) Tap 'Apply Now' for more details.
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Shannon Terrell
