Which card has the better welcome bonus, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or BMO VIPorter World Elite?

On paper, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard offers more value: up to 70,000 VIPorter points worth around $1,249 plus a companion flight voucher, versus the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite's up to 45,000 Aeroplan points worth around $900. However, BMO VIPorter requires $18,000 in annual spending to unlock all 70,000 points, while TD Aeroplan unlocks the full 45,000 with $12,000 spend over 12 months plus a first-purchase bonus. For light spenders, TD ends up with the more achievable bonus.

Which is better for Air Canada flyers, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or BMO VIPorter?

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the obvious winner for Air Canada flyers: it earns 1.5X Aeroplan points on groceries, gas, and Air Canada purchases, points transfer to 50+ Star Alliance partners (Lufthansa, ANA, United, Singapore Airlines), and cardholders get free first checked bag plus priority check-in on Air Canada flights. The BMO VIPorter card is locked into the Porter Airlines, Air Transat, and Alaska Airlines redemption ecosystem with no Air Canada or Star Alliance access, making TD the dramatically better choice for travelers based around Toronto Pearson, Montreal, or Vancouver hubs.

Is the BMO VIPorter companion pass worth the $50,000 spend requirement?

The BMO VIPorter World Elite annual companion flight voucher unlocks at $50,000 in net annual spending, which is realistic only for very heavy spenders or business owners running personal expenses through the card. The companion pass typically saves $300 to $700 on a Porter round-trip booking. For someone already hitting $50,000 annual spend, the voucher plus 70,000 welcome points plus 3X Porter earnings can deliver $2,000+ first-year value. For households spending under $30,000 per year, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite at $139 fee usually delivers better all-around value.

What are the income requirements for TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite vs BMO VIPorter World Elite?

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income, in line with most Visa Infinite cards in Canada. The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard requires the higher World Elite tier of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income, plus a stronger credit profile (typically 720+ Equifax score). For households between $60,000 and $80,000 income, the TD Aeroplan card is the only approvable option of the two. Both cards waive the first-year annual fee as part of the standard welcome offer.