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

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Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
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American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
To the point Here's our comparison of two very similar cards: the American Express Aeroplan Card and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.

Welcome Bonus

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

Here’s how the current offer is structured:

With this welcome offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 45,000 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 $3,000 within 90 days of account opening
  • 20,000 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 $900.

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

Here’s how:

  • 30,000 Aeroplan points after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months;
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points after $1,000 in purchases in the 13th month following your membership.

Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $800.

Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Card

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you could earn 30,000 points by spending $3,000. In addition, if you spend an extra $1,000 during the 13th month, you will receive an additional bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points.

Whereas with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, the requirement is now higher: you must reach $15,000 in spending during the first 12 months to earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan 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 requires no minimum income.

Advantage: American Express

Like most American Express cards, this Aeroplan card requires no minimum income. If this is important to you, this card is much easier to obtain.

While the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card demands a higher income.

Annual Fee

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 TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is free for the first year! It’s a step ahead of its competitor.

Standard earning rate

The two cards offer different point earning rates.

The Accumulation Level

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 purchases
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

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

  • 2 points per dollar on eligible purchases with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
  • 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 business with these companies, this will be to your advantage.

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 match is drawn for 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. Here is the Flight Reward Chart for the Aeroplan program.

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 only get Aeroplan points.

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

It's a tie !

Since both are used to collect Aeroplan points and are co-branded Aeroplan cards, neither card is better than the other.

Both cards transfer points to the cardholder’s Aeroplan account every month, a few days after the statement is issued.

Once you have Aeroplan points in your Aeroplan account, there is no way out: you can only use them in the Aeroplan program. Then, as long as you hold one or both of these cards, your Aeroplan points will not expire.

The Benefits

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

  • Free first checked bag free 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 statement credit every 48 months for NEXUS membership or renewal fees
  • Access to Visa Infinite benefits (concierge, luxury hotel collection, vineyard tours, additional travel privileges)
  • Various promotions with Aeroplan (Aeroplan points back, discounts on flights, credits or points Aeroplan to the account, link your account with Starbucks)

With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you benefit from the following advantages:

  • Free first checked bag free 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 lets you buy tickets to popular events (concerts, plays and special events) before anyone else.
  • A wide range of American Express promotional offers (Statement credits on a multitude of purchases made in a variety of stores)
It's a tie !

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

But analyzing those of the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is interesting. Some of its 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 None
Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance Up to $2,000,000
21 days
None
Flight delay insurance Up to $500
after 4 hours
Up to $500
after 4 hours
Delayed 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 Loss/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 are superior. It offers cancellation, trip interruption and emergency medical expenses, which its opposite number doesn’t 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 minimum income requirement of $60,000 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 earning 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 is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine
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