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CIBC Aventura Rewards guide

CIBC Aventura rewards guide: Earn, redeem and fly sooner

Sandra MacGregor Freelance Contributor

Fact checked by Amy Tokic

Updated Jan 17, 2025

Explore CIBC Aventura Rewards - earn points, redeem for travel and compare with other programs. Your comprehensive guide to maximize rewards.

While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.

What is the CIBC Aventura Rewards program and is it worth considering?

CIBC Aventura Rewards (also known as the CIBC Rewards program) is a travel rewards loyalty program offered by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), that gives cardholders the chance to earn and redeem points for various perks, including travel-related benefits. 

You earn Aventura Points, the program's currency, by using Aventura-branded credit cards for everyday purchases. Points can be redeemed for numerous travel rewards, including flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. The program offers flexibility, allowing cardholders to book flights on any airline without blackout dates. Additionally, unlike some other loyalty travel rewards programs, you can use your Aventura Points to cover the entire cost of the airfare, including taxes and fees. Furthermore, Aventura points are not just for travelers, they can also be used for statement credits, donations to charity, financial products, gift cards and merchandise. 

CIBC provides a range of personal and business Aventura credit cards, each with unique benefits and earning structures to cater to different spending habits. Picking the credit card that aligns with your spending is the best way to ensure you get the most from your Aventura points. 

How to earn Aventura points fast

There are a couple of smart strategies to accumulate Aventura Points faster.

One of the most effective methods is to leverage the welcome bonuses offered by CIBC Aventura credit cards (note that not all of CIBC’s cards are Aventura cards so be sure to select a card linked to the rewards program).

These bonuses often provide a substantial number of points when cardholders meet specified spending requirements within the first few months of card ownership. This influx of points can be a significant boost to your Aventura balance, meaning you’ll earn flights and rewards faster.

The specific bonus you’ll earn and what you’ll need to spend to earn it will depend on the specific card you apply for. Also note that a good general rule of thumb is that the more premium the card, the bigger the bonus. 

Keep in mind that while welcome bonuses are exciting and certainly accelerate earnings, they are a one-off way to earn a big point payoff. A better long-term strategy is to take advantage of higher earn rates with your credit card.

Different Aventura credit cards offer varying points-per-dollar ratios for different spending categories.

Choosing a card that aligns with your regular expenses, such as groceries, gas or travel, can result in more points earned for every purchase. By strategically using cards with elevated earn rates, you can optimize your point accumulation and thus get closer to your desired travel reward redemption.

up to 10k pts

Welcome Bonus

$355

First Year Value

$305

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get up to 10,000 Aventura Points (up to $100 in travel value)†

Learn More Apply Now On CIBC's Secure Site

†Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available in Quebec.

The information for the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

up to $1,350 value†

Welcome Bonus

$1,492

First Year Value

$692

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get a total of up to 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in travel value†) during your first year

Learn More Apply Now On CIBC's Secure Site

†Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.

The information for the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

up to $1,350

Welcome Bonus

$1,281

First Year Value

$481

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get a total of up to 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in travel value†) during your first year.

Learn More Apply Now On CIBC's Secure Site

†Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.

The information for the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

up to 80K pts

Welcome Bonus

$2,181

First Year Value

$581

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get a total of up to 80,000 Aventura Points† (up to $1,600 in travel value) during your first year.

Learn More Apply Now On CIBC's Secure Site

†Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available in Quebec.

The information for the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

How to redeem CIBC Aventura rewards

To redeem points, log in to your CIBC Aventura account on the CIBC Rewards Centre website or app, select the "Travel" tab and enter your travel details. The search results will display flights eligible for points redemption.

You’ll have the choice of going with either the Flex Travel option or the Flight Rewards (aka chart) option. It’s always wise to compare which of the two options gives you the most value for your points. While the chart will usually offer the best deal, it’s smart to spend a few minutes to compare.

When you’ve found the flight you like, just click “Continue” to be taken to the passenger information and payment site. This is where you'll be required to provide details for each passenger and complete the necessary payment information. Carefully review the flight details and the summary of costs, including taxes and fees. 

Why you want to use the CIBC Rewards Travel chart

While there are a variety of ways to redeem your Adventura points aside from travel  — merchandise, gift cards and more — you’ll always get the best value when you redeem your points for travel. When redeemed for travel your points have a value of anywhere between 1 to 2.29. Whereas, outside of a promotion, you’ll only get an approximate value of .83 when you redeem points for statement credits or financial products or as low as .71 for gift cards and merchandise.

That being said, it’s important to note that, when redeeming for travel, your best bet is to go with the chart (the Flight Rewards option when you search) rather than just using your points to pay for a flight (called Flex Travel). Booking using the chart offers the best value and, depending on your flight, could get you a point value as high as 2.29 cents (and as low as 1.6) each whereas booking any flight at CIBC Rewards only gives you a max value of 1 cent per point. 

Other ways to use your Aventura rewards

In addition to using your Aventura points for travel, there are several other ways you can redeem them for various benefits and financial products:

  1. 1.

    CIBC financial products: Aventura points can be used toward a variety of CIBC financial products, including mortgage payments, Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Tax-Free Savings Accounts, Investor's Edge accounts, personal loans, lines of credit and even as statement credits on your CIBC credit card.

  2. 2.

    Gift cards: You have the option to redeem your Aventura points for gift cards from a selection of retailers, like Amazon and Best Buy. 

  3. 3.

    Products: Aventura points can also be redeemed for a variety of products available through the rewards program. This might include electronics, merchandise or other items depending on the current offerings within the program.

CIBC Aventura travel insurance

There is no standard set of travel insurance that comes with a CIBC Aventura card. The type of CIBC Aventura travel insurance coverage you’ll receive will depend entirely on the card you go with. In general, the more premium the card, the more coverage you’ll get. For example, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card features hotel burglary insurance, whereas the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business does not. So it’s always important to read the fine print to see exactly what insurance your card comes with. With that in mind, the CIBC Aventura travel insurance that may come with your card includes: emergency travel medical insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, auto rental insurance, $500,000 common carrier accident insurance, mobile device and hotel burglary insurance.

Aventura vs. TD Rewards

Feature CIBC Aventura TD Rewards
Point value .71 cents to as high as 2.29 cents when using the flight chart. .25 cents up to as much as .5 cents when using Expedia for TD redemptions. This is a much lower point value than CIBC Aventura. Of course, keep in mind that a TD credit card with high earn rates could possibly make up for a lower point value.
Welcome offers Aventura often features competitive welcome offers, with bonus points ranging from 2,500 to 80,000 or more. TD Rewards also offers attractive welcome bonuses, ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 TD Rewards points.
Points expiry Aventura points do not expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. TD Rewards points do not expire as long as the account is open and in good standing.
Points transferability Aventura points can’t be transferred to other loyalty programs or airlines. TD Rewards points are not transferable to other loyalty programs or airline partners.
Points for travel You can use a travel chart or just use your points toward any flight you choose. You can redeem for a range of travel expenses, like flights, hotels and car rentals. Value from 1 cent up to 2.29 cents for travel. Book travel with Expedia for TD or book travel through any provider and then redeem points to pay for the purchase. Travel points are valued at .04 to .05 cents.
Redemption flexibility Flexible: Redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, financial products, statement credits and more. Flexible: Redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, education, statement credits and more.

Aventura vs. Aeroplan

Features CIBC Aventura Aeroplan
Point value Aventura points are valued at anywhere from .71 to 2.29 cents, depending on what you redeem them for. Aeroplan points are valued at approximately 0.71 to 2 cents each, with the highest value when redeemed for flights.
Welcome offers Aventura often features competitive welcome offers, with bonus points ranging from 2,500 to 80,000 or more. Various Aeroplan credit cards offer widely different welcome bonuses because they are offered by financial institutions. American Express currently offers as much as a 90,000 bonus.
Points expiry Aventura points don’t expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. Aeroplan points don't expire as long as there is account activity every 18 months.
Points transferability Aventura points can’t be transferred to other loyalty programs or airlines. Aeroplan has one of the best transfer programs among all loyalty programs in Canada. You can transfer Aeroplan points to American Express Membership Rewards and certain hotel rewards programs.
Points for travel With Aventura you can use a travel chart or just use your points toward any flight you choose. You can redeem for a range of travel expenses, like flights, hotels and car rentals. Value from 1 cent up to 2.29 cents. You can redeem Aeroplan points for flights, vacations, car rentals and more with Air Canada and partner airlines. Value per point ranges from .82 cents for hotels up to as high as 2 cents.
Redemption flexibility Flexible: Redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, financial products, statement credits and more. Flexible: Redeem for flights, gift cards, car rentals, hotels and merchandise.

Aventura vs. Scene+

Feature CIBC Aventura Scene+ (Scotiabank)
Point value Aventura points are valued at anywhere from .71 to 2.29 cents depending on what you redeem them for. 1 cent for travel (as well as groceries, movies and more) to as low as 0.74 cents for gift cards.
Welcome offers Aventura often features competitive welcome offers, with bonus points ranging from 2,500 to 80,000 or more. A variety of credit cards come with up to 60,000 Scene+ points.
Points expiry Aventura points don’t expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. Expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Points transferability Aventura points cannot be transferred to other loyalty programs or airlines. Points can’t be transferred to other loyalty programs.
Points for travel With Aventura you can use a travel chart or just use your points toward any flight you choose. You can redeem for a range of travel expenses, like flights, hotels and car rentals. Value from 1 cent up to 2.29 cents. Book flights, vacations, hotels and car rentals with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia. Or redeem points for travel booked with any provider. Either way the value is 1 cent per point.
Redemption flexibility Flexible: Redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, financial products, statement credits and more. Flexible: Redeem for movies, travel, statement credits, gift cards, donations, merchandise, groceries and more.

Aventura vs. Avion

Feature CIBC Aventura RBC Avion
Point value Aventura points are valued at anywhere from .71 to 2.29 cents depending on what you redeem them for. Avion points can net as much as much as 2.3 cents when using the Avion chart or as low as .58 cents for a statement credit.
Welcome offers Aventura often features competitive welcome offers, with bonus points ranging from 2,500 to 80,000 or more. Up to 35,000 Avion points.
Points expiry Aventura points don’t expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. Never expire, as long as the account is in good standing.
Points transferability Aventura points cannot be transferred to other loyalty programs or airlines. Transfer points to WestJet, Cathay Pacific, British Airways and American Airlines.
Points for travel With Aventura you can use a travel chart or just use your points toward any flight you choose. You can redeem for a range of travel expenses, like flights, hotels and car rentals. Value from 1 cent up to 2.29 cents. Offers a special flight chart (Avion Grid) and the flexibility to redeem points for any travel expense. Value of 2.3 cents with grid or 1 cent for other travel.
Redemption flexibility Flexible: Redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, financial products, statement credits and more. Flexible: Travel, merchandise, gift cards, RBC financial products, statement credits and charity.

Aventura vs. AIR MILES

Feature CIBC Aventura AIR MILES
Point value Aventura points are valued at anywhere from .71 to 2.29 cents depending on what you redeem them for. As high as 12.7 cents for rental cars, 10.5 cents for flights to as low as 9.5 cents for merchandise.
Welcome offers Aventura often features competitive welcome offers, with bonus points ranging from 2,500 to 80,000 or more. BMO offers AIR MILES credit cards with bonuses as high as 3,000 AIR MILES.
Points expiry Aventura points don't expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. Miles expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Points transferability Aventura points can’t be transferred to other loyalty programs or airlines. No.
Points for travel You can use a travel chart or just use your points toward any flight you choose. You can redeem for a range of travel expenses, like flights, hotels and car rentals. Value from 1 cent up to 2.29 cents. You can book travel with any partner you want on the AIR MILES website. Values range from 12.7 cents for rental cars to 9.8 cents for hotels.
Redemption flexibility Flexible: Redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, financial products, statement credits and more. Flexible: Two types of miles (Dream Miles and Cash Miles) with redemption options, including travel, merchandise and cash rewards

FAQs

  • How much is 10,000 Aventura points worth?

    +

    The value of 10,000 Aventura points depends on what you redeem them for. If you use the chart for travel, you could get a value of as much as $229 (based on a max value of 2.29 per point). However, if you redeem the 10,000 points for merchandise or a gift certificate, you’ll only get a value of $71.

  • How many Aventura points do you need to travel?

    +

    How many points you’ll need to travel depends entirely on what method of redemption you use. Using the rewards chart you would need:

    10,000-20,000 for short haul flights in Canada and US

    25,000-35,000 for long haul flights in Canada and US (not including Alaska and Hawaii)

    40,000-60,000 for Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean and Central America

    50,000-70,000 for Europe

    75,000-125,000 for destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East or South America

  • How do I book a flight with CIBC Aventura points?

    +

    To book a flight with CIBC Aventura points, log in to your account on the CIBC Rewards Centre website or app. Navigate to the "Travel" tab, select flights, choose the Flex Travel or Flight Reward option (aka the chart) and enter your travel details.

  • Can you convert Aventura points to Aeroplan?

    +

    Unfortunately there is no way to transfer Aventura points to Aeroplan.

Sandra MacGregor Freelance Contributor

Sandra MacGregor has been writing about finance and travel for nearly a decade. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications like the New York Times, the UK Telegraph, the Washington Post, Forbes.com and the Toronto Star.

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