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Converting Esso Extra to Airline Miles

You probably see a lot of advertisement about the Esso Extra program. Lots of hype goes into the Esso Privileges card. However, there is actually a pretty net way of converting your Esso Extra points into airline miles and get more value. It requires a 2 step process though.

Step 1 – Convert to RBC Rewards

You need to convert a minimum of 2,500 Esso Extra points for 1,500 RBC Rewards points. Thereafter, you need to exchang blocks of 500 Esso Extra points for 300 RBC Rewards points.

Step 2 – Convert to Airline Miles

With RBC Reward points, you have the option of converting to:

  • American Airlines, AAdvantage
  • British Airways, Executive Club, Avios
  • Cathay Pacific, Asia Miles
  • WestJet, WestJet Rewards, WestJet dollars

Keep in mind that you get even more value when you take advantage of conversion bonuses, as I will explain below.

Worth of Esso Extra Points

I value Esso Extra points at 0.6 cents a piece. I think one of the best Esso Extra redemptions is the Reload of $0.25 per litre for 200 litres (8,200 points). If you want to calculate the value of the Reload card, as well as cents per point, this is how it would work:

  • $0.25 x 200 = $50
  • If 8,200 points = $50, that would be 8,200 / 50 = 0.6 cents per point

Using this valuation for Esso Extra points, let’s calculate the value when converted to airline miles.

American Airlines, AAdvantage

RBC Rewards converts at a 1:1 ratio to AAdvantage, with a minimum requirement of 5,000 RBC points for 5,000 AAdvantage points. There have been 20% or 30% transfer bonuses, but not since 2013. I value AAdvantage miles at 1.7 cent a piece.

Assuming we do not see any more transfer bonuses, let’s say you convert:

  • 8,500 Esso Extra points = 5,100 RBC points = 5,100 AAdvatange miles
  • 8,500 Esso Extra points x 0.6 cents would have given you $51 in value.
  • 5,100 AAdvantage miles x 1.7 cents would give you $86.70 in value.

This shows that AAdvantage miles are better value than keeping Esso Extra points, closing at 70% more in value.

British Airways, Executive Club, Avios

RBC Rewards converts at a 1:1 ratio to to Executive Club, with a minimum of 10,000 RBC points for 10,000 Avios. We have scene 30% and 50% transfer bonuses. I value Avios points at 1.7 cent a piece. Let’s do both calculations, for 30% and 50%.

Assuming we do not see any more transfer bonuses, let’s say you convert:

  • 17,000 Esso Extra points = 10,200 RBC points = 13,260 Avios (on 30% bonus) or 15,300 Avios (on 50% bonus)
  • 17,000 Esso Extra points x 0.6 cents would have given you $102 in value.
  • 13,260 Avios x 1.7 cents would give you $225.42 in value.
  • 15,300 Avios x 1.7 cents would give you $260.10 in value.

It is fairly clear that you get a lot more value with Avios than with Esso Extra. With the 30% conversion bonus you are getting 121% more value. While with the 50% conversion bonus, you are getting 155% more value.

Cathay Pacific, Asia Miles

RBC Rewards converts at a 1:1 ratio to to Asia Miles, with a minimum of 10,000 RBC points for 10,000 Avios. We have scene 20% transfer bonuses. If we value Asia Miles at 1.7 cent a piece, this is how the calculations would look:

  • 17,000 Esso Extra points = 10,200 RBC points = 12,240 Asia Miles (on 20% bonus)
  • 17,000 Esso Extra points x 0.6 cents would have given you $102 in value.
  • 12,240 Asia Miles x 1.7 cents would give you $208.08 in value.

Again, we are getting 104% more value with Asia Miles than Esso Extra points.

WestJet, WestJet Rewards, WestJet dollars

Lastly, RBC Rewards points convert at a 100:1 ratio with WestJet Rewards, with a minimum of 1,000 RBC points for 10 WestJet dollars. We usually see a 25% transfer bonus to WestJet.

  • 2,500 Esso Extra = 1,500 RBC points = 18.75 WestJet Dollars
  • 2,500 Esso Extra points x 0.6 cents would have given you $15 in value.

This one is a slim margin of 25% more in value when comparing $15 versus $18.75.

Conclusion

I know I keep saying that we can get better value elsewhere with Esso Extra. As a result, Esso Extra is a loyalty program that actually holds a lot of value if leveraged accordingly. As usual, always do the calculations first, before deciding what to do with your miles and points.

10 Comments

  1. Matthew,
    I’m puzzled by your valuation of Avios. Most Avios redemptions come at significantly greater cost. Surcharges, taxes are often higher than equivalent redemptions using AAdvantage. So, shouldn’t that make Avios less valuable? If I have 25,000 RBC Rewards points, I’m more inclined to convert to AAdvantage for this reason. The Transfer Bonuses offered by Avios are sometimes still not enough to change this preference.

    Am I missing something in your use of the term “value”?

    1. Hi Denbigh, the valuation of Avios is based on redeeming with other Oneworld alliance members, not with British Airways only, as they do have high taxes and fuel surcharges are you correctly indicated. You can redeem your Avios for AA flights.

  2. Hi Matthew,
    I really enjoy your blog posts – thanks and keep it up. On Esso Extra points I have done the opposite – I converted airline miles (Aeroplan) to Esso Extra to use for car washes. I agree that almost all of the redemptions at Esso give you a value around 0.6 cents per point but there is sweet spot when using Esso Extra points for car washes that gives you a value of over 2 cents per point.

  3. Matthew,
    Where can I apply for Esso card and Rbc card. I don’t know , I am interested to learn this stuff . Thank you

  4. I thought that you can only convert RBC rewards points to Avios points if you have an Avion card. Can you do the conversion if you have a no fee RBC cards which earns RBC rewards points?

    1. Yes you are correct, you need an An RBC Avion card to be able to convert. But if you have the RBC Gold Rewards card you can still earn RBC Rewards, but you can’t convert your points. But if you switch your card to an Avion card they will transfer your points over so that you can convert.

  5. Hi, how do I transfer my Esso Extra points to Avion points? I am on points.com and I found the Esso Extra program, but not the Avion program.
    Thanks, Trevor

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