Esso to Aeroplan v. Esso Extra to RBC Avion to BA/AA
 

Got an RBC mailer last week.

Begining May 1, you can transfer Esso Extra to RBC points (and vice versa)
2500 Esso Extra = 1500 RBC points

If one was to purchase $25 in gas each week and swipe your Aeroplan card, in one year, you would accumulate 416 AP miles

If you purchase that same $25 and swiped your Esso Extra card, you would receive 1300 Esso Extra points.

Over two years, you would have 832 AP miles or 2600 Esso Extra points.

You could turn 2500 Esso Extra points into 1500 RBC points which then can be transfered 1:1 to either BA or AA (with an Avion card)

It gets better if you buy premium gasoline as you get double the Esso Extra points, so in effect you could get 1500 BA or AA miles in one year v. 416 AP miles. There is no bonus AP miles for buying premium gasoline

It gets even better if BA repeats their 50% RBC bonus to BA miles event. That would convert to 2250 BA miles vs 416 AP miles in one year of gas (premium) purchases.

Seems like a lot of swiping and having to be very loyal for a minimal return.

I still like the CIBC Aerogold Visa, rack 'em and spend 'em.

Thanks for the comparison, Lounger. ^ It's made me rethink dumping Esso into AP as I also participate with RBC and tranfer usually once a year into BA EC.

That's assuming you can spend 'em... on something else other than toasters... ;)

Is fueling up with bad gas even worth the 2250 BA miles let alone the 400ish AP miles?

For many people they might have a CIBC or Amex Aeroplan credit card. Factor in the extra 1300 aeroplan points and it doesn't look much better. You could also get a better return on the 2600 Esso points by just using a RBC Avion card and get 2600 avion points instead of only 1500 with the transfer.

This also doesn't factor the extra hassel of carrying an extra credit card that you need to pay each month.

you do not need to use the esso credit card to earn esso points. therefore if you paid $2500 in gas using your avion card and transferred the esso points to avion you would end up with 4000 avion points.

Nice analysis CL. For those of us with Avion cards it makes a lot of sense to direct those Esso points towards BA/AA rather than AE. Plus AA and BA even have readily available reward seats :eek:

even better, I have the esso speedpass, which automatically bills to my avion visa card, and I drive a lot of km a year with premium gas. I fill my 70 litre tank as often as 3 times a week with premium, getting points on the avion visa and double esso points, all to be transferred to BA and hopefully with the 50% bonus if history repeats...

Was just revisiting this subject to remind myself of the exchange ratio and noticed this 50 Esso Extra point bonus:

https://www.essoextra.com/members/do_login.en

Once you enter your Esso Extra card number, click onto the RBC rewards site and on the left hand side you'll see the bonus. Can't miss it. Thought it worth sharing as every point counts. :)

ha ha, if your fueling your company car. .
also there's a promotion where it will earn 2x your esso points each time Team Canada wins in the olympics.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=502729

P.S. the Olympics are over. ;)