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.

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