Head-to-Head: American Express Aeroplan Card vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

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American Express Aeroplan Card vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
To the point Here's our comparison of two very similar cards: the American Express Aeroplan Card and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.

TD and American Express Canada offer two Aeroplan credit cards for travellers:

Welcome bonus

The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.

Here is how the current offer is structured:

With this welcome offer for the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points, with no annual fee for the first year.

Here’s how:

  • 10,000 Aeroplan points after first purchase ;
  • 15,000 Aeroplan points if you spend $7,500 within 180 days of account opening;
  • 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of account opening.

Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this Welcome Bonus is worth approximately $1,000.

With this welcome offer, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points.

Here’s how:

  • 30,000 Aeroplan points after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months ;
  • 20,000 Aeroplan Points after $1,000 in purchases in the 13th month following enrolment.

Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this Welcome Bonus is worth approximately $1,000.

Benefit: American Express Aeroplan Card

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you could earn 30,000 points by spending $3,000. Plus, if you spend an additional $1,000 during the 13th month, you’ll earn an additional 20,000 Aeroplan Points.

Whereas on the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card side , you’ll have to spend a lot more, $7,500 over six months to earn fewer points(25,000 points).

Minimum Income

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires an annual personal household income of $60,000 or $100,000.

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card does not require a minimum income.

Advantage: American Express

Like the vast majority of American Express cards, this Aeroplan card requires no minimum income. If this is important to you, this card is much easier to get.

Whereas the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a higher income.

Annual Fees

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $139.

But with the current promotion, it’s free for the first year!

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card has an annual fee of $120.

Advantage: TD

The TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card is free for the first year! That’s one step ahead of its competitor.

Standard earning rate

The two cards offer different point earning rates.

Earning rates

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you get different levels:

  • 1.5 points per dollar on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn:

  • 2 points per dollar on eligible Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
  • 1.5 points per dollar on restaurant, bar and home delivery purchases
  • 1 point per dollar on everything else
Advantage: TD

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card restricts its highest earning rate to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. If you do a lot of spending with these companies, this will benefit you.

With restaurant expenses, you earn 1.5 points per dollar with the American Express Card. Thus, you will get more points with it than with the 1 point of the TD card.

But the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins the battle. Since the biggest budget items are groceries and gas, this card is more advantageous: 1.5 points per dollar. It’s better than American Express.

Finally, the game is tied for the other purchases: 1 point per dollar with both cards.

Redeeming points

Both cards are designed for travellers who earn Aeroplan points.

These points are used to book airline tickets with Air Canada, Star Alliance and partner airlines. Browse the Aeroplan flight rewards chart.

You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel reservations, car rentals or vacation packages with Air Canada Vacations.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn Aeroplan points only.

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn Aeroplan points only.

It's a tie !

Since both are used to earn Aeroplan points and both are co-branded Aeroplan cards, there is no one card that is better than the other.

Each month, both card transfer points to the cardholder’s Aeroplan account a few days after the statement is issued.

Once Aeroplan Points are in the Aeroplan account, there is no way out: you must use them only within the Aeroplan program. Then, as long as you hold either of these card , your Aeroplan points do not expire.

The Benefits

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you’ll have:

  • Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases
  • $100 account credit every 48 months for NEXUS membership or renewal fees
  • Access to Visa Infinite benefits (concierge, luxury hotel collection, vineyard tours, additional travel benefits)
  • Many promotions with Aeroplan (Aeroplan points rebates, discounts on flights, credits or Aeroplan points to the account, link your account with Starbucks)

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you receive the following benefits:

  • Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases
  • American Express Experiences allows you to purchase tickets to popular events (concerts, plays and special events) before anyone else
  • Wide variety of American Express promotional offers (statement credits on a variety of purchases made at many retailers)
It's a tie !

Because the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has more advantages in terms of numbers, it would be a winner.

But it is interesting to analyze those of the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card. In fact, some of these offers are not limited to Air Canada or Aeroplan. They affect many different retailers (1Password, Marriott Bonvoy, Quickbooks, TurboTax, Columbia, Kinton Ramen, etc.).

The choice is yours on this point, as your lifestyle will determine this winner.

Insurance

Insurance Td Visa Infinite Aeroplan New Amex Aeroplan New
Trip Cancellation Insurance up to $1,500 No
Trip interruption insurance up to $5,000 No
Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance Up to $2,000,000
21 days
No
Flight delay insurance Up to $500
after 4 hours
Up to $500
after 4 hours
Misdirected Baggage Insurance Up to $1,000
after 6 hours
Up to $500
after 4 hours
Baggage loss or theft insurance up to $1,000 up to $500
Hotel burglary insurance up to $2,500 up to $500
Rental car theft and damage insurance up to $65,000 up to $85,000
Travel accident insurance 500 000 $ 500 000 $
Purchase Protection 1 additional year 1 additional year
Purchase Guarantee Up to $1,000
90 days
Up to $1,000
90 days
Advantage: TD

The insurance offered by the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is superior. It offers cancellation, trip interruption and emergency medical expenses, which its counterpart does not have at all.

Bottom Line

So? Who is the big winner?

For all its features, and thanks to better insurance, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins the match!

However, if the $60,000 minimum income requirement is too much for you, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is an excellent replacement.

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card stands out thanks to:

  • Its high accumulation rate
  • Superior travel insurance
  • Annual fee reimbursed in the first year

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card stands out thanks to:

  • No minimum income
  • Promotional offers partly offsetting the cost of the annual fee
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine
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