TD and American Express Canada offer two Aeroplan credit cards for travellers:
In terms of design, gray color and features, they are very similar. Let’s analyze the small details to see the differences.
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:
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
The TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card is free for the first year! That’s one step ahead of its competitor.
The two cards offer different point earning rates.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you get different levels:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn:
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.
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.
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.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you’ll have:
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you receive the following benefits:
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.
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.
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:
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card stands out thanks to:
Savings are here: