CIBC Aventura VISA INFINITE Card Consumer Reviews

Don’t waste your time with CIBC. The main bank system and the rewards department cannot figure out who does what. You make any change to your details you need to wait 3-5 days to do book a trip. Then after that they still can’t help you because their systems just don’t update or work together correctly. I wasted over a week and many hours trying to get help. No one knows what they are doing. Wanted to book airline tickets for my family trip to BC this Christmas and there is an error in their system that no one that no why’s or can fix it. Was told sorry it may take weeks to fix and you can use your points for airline tickets. This is after waiting a week for their systems and by that time prices of tickets went up by 1K and flights I wanted was no longer available. Told me nothing they could do. They said I can put a complaint in and only way to maybe get a call back is to then escalate the complaint. Otherwise they just sit in a database. Lol. So no care about your complaint and no care that now I could not afford the trip for the family because I was banking on using those points.

Literally talked to about 10 people and most people didn’t know what to do or how to do it. If it’s not on a script then they can’t help you. Will just waste your time sending your call to mother departments.
So angry at the service and knowledge that I’m thinking of changing banks altogether.
Horrible experience. Don’t waste your time. You will not get the service you expect. There are other cards out there you can count on in terms of using your points.

After spending 2 hours on the phone with numerous staff, downloading the Dragon Pass app, and researching lounge locations, I discovered that this card no longer provides free access to lounges in most major international cities, as it did in the past. CIBC was not transparent about these changes. Dragon Pass became their new service provider in July 2022, (they appear to be located in Taiwan and do not have a 1 800 # for contact). If CIBC is deceptive about this change to the card, what does this mean for other important benefits?

I compared one ticket YUL-HAN/SGN-YUL via NRT on Oct.05 and return on Oct.29 with Air Canada and ANA and CIBC rewards offer to me for +1800 Cad and with the same flights, I check with expedia.ca the price is +1300 so there is different of 500 for the same ticket! Something wrong with CIBC rewards. Also, the system offers me to pay +1200 plus approx. 60,000 points or pay +1800 for the ticket. Crazy!

If you book a flight through CIBC rewards and it gets cancelled, be prepared to spend 3 hours on hold for them to tell you that they will not refund your points and that you are stuck with an airline credit that expires in 6 months time.

My experience with CIBC Rewards Centre has been horrible. To book a trip on the phone, the waiting time is 1,5h or more and you still don't get on hold of anyone to help you.
Another problem I had is when I exchanged my points for some Save on Food gift cards. I realized this chain of supermarkets is not available in Toronto, so I called the Rewards Centre the right way to cancel the order. They said they would try to help, but it wasn't guaranteed. How come? I called only 1 hour later after my purchase. It doesn't make sense the operator can't do anything. I don't know why, but I do believe the system should be more flexible when it comes to orders and cancellations. My overall experience with the CIBC Rewards Centre has been terrible. Don't recommend it to anyone.

To book a trip its 234,000 points or some lower trios 60,000 points plus 1,400$ . These prices are way more than on the travel websites. It will take 10+ years to get to 234,000 points if you spend 2,000 a month. Given that the fee is $129 a year, you're pretty much paying for the trip yourself. Other cards are way better.

We purchased a long-haul flight for my niece who flew home to a different destination in Canada than the rest of the family after our vacation in California. We booked her seat at check-in the day before when we called to speak with an agent but when we went to the airport the next day, we were told the flight was oversold. She now did not have a seat and they kept saying she would not get on the flight we booked or likely the one the next day. Air Canada did not say when she would get home nor offer us any flights on an alternate airline or food or a hotel. The economy ticket you purchase with your points is fine with airlines who do not oversell their flights, e.g. WestJet, and we are fine if we do not sit together on a flight if you select your seat at check-in. We just want to get on the flight we chose and paid for with points and cash. We will never fly with Air Canada again whether it is using this reward program or paying for it ourselves. Otherwise, have been happy with the benefits (Lounge Pass, extra insurance) and previous rewards.

Customer service is ok but the points are worth nothing, the priority pass that comes with the card is totally useless. You'll only end up paying $120 annual fee.