Head-to-Head: American Express Aeroplan Reserve vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
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TD and American Express Canada offer two Aeroplan credit cards for frequent travellers:
Both their black colour and their privileged, prestigious features make them very similar. Let’s analyze the small details to see the differences.
In short: as of October 2026, both cards cost $599 a year. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card offers up to 100,000 Aeroplan points, requires $150,000 in personal income ($200,000 household) and covers emergency medical care for 31 days. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card offers up to 85,000 points, has no minimum income and earns 3 points per dollar at Air Canada. For other match-ups, use our credit card comparison tool.
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,000Total$2,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,000
- Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,200Total$1,200Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,200
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months
- Up to 85,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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 TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card you can earn up to 100,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 20,000 Aeroplan points after first purchase
- 30,000 Aeroplan points after $12,000 in purchases within 180 days of account opening
- 50,000 Aeroplan points as a one-time anniversary bonus when you spend $24,000 in the 12 months following account opening
Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this welcome bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $2,000.
With this welcome offer for the American Express® Aeroplan Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 60,000 Aeroplan points after charging $7,500 to your Card in the first 3 months
- 25,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in the 13th month
Based on our Aeroplan points valuation (2 cents per point), this Welcome Bonus corresponds to an approximate value of $1,700.
Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
The American Express® Aeroplan Reserve Card offer is much easier to obtain, with less outlay required.
Minimum Income
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card requires an individual annual income of $150,000 or a family income of $200,000.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card requires no minimum income.
Advantage: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
Like the vast majority of American Express cards, this Card requires no minimum income.
If this is important to you, the American Express Card is easier to obtain than the TD card, which requires much more.
Annual Fee
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card has an annual fee of $599.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card has an annual fee of $599.
It's a tie !
There is no argument on this subject! The annual fees are exactly the same.
Earning Points
The two cards offer different point accumulation rates.
The Accumulation Level
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card you get different levels:
- 2 points per dollar for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
- 1.5 points per dollar on eligible gas, grocery, travel and restaurant purchases
- 1.25 points per $1 on all other purchases
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you earn:
- 3 points per dollar on eligible Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
- 2 points per dollar on restaurant, bar and home delivery purchases
- 1.25 points per dollar on everything else
Advantage: TD
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card restricts its highest accumulation rate to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. If you do a lot of business with these companies, this will be to your advantage.
Restaurant spending at 2 points per dollar also gives this card an edge. Therefore, you will get more points with it than with the 1.5 points of the TD card.
However, the most important budget items, such as groceries, gas and travel (hotels, etc.), earn 1.5 points per dollar with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card. That’s better than American Express. Especially since you’ll be able to use it in more grocery stores like Provigo.
Finally, there’s no match for basic accumulation, as you’ll earn the same number of points with both cards throughout the year. Their accumulation rate is similar: 1.25 points per dollar.
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 Privilege* Card you get Aeroplan points.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you 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. If you prefer a high-end card with greater flexibility, look to the American Express Platinum Card®.
The Benefits
Access to airport lounges
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card offers free, unlimited access to all Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the United States. It also includes international Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the U.S., when travelling on an international itinerary.
In addition, it offers free membership of the DragonPass program and 6 free visits to these lounges per membership year.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, access to all Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the United States is free and unlimited. It also includes international Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the U.S., when traveling on an international itinerary.
In addition, there is a free subscription to Priority Pass. However, you will have to pay for each access.
Advantage: TD
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card offers free unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges and 6 additional DragonPass lounges. Perfect if you’re travelling in an airport lounge area not served by Air Canada.
Other Benefits
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card you will have:
- $100 statement credit every 4 years for NEXUS membership or renewal fees
- Free first checked bag free for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
- Priority check-in and boarding at the airport when flying with Air Canada
- Priority baggage handling and upgrades with Air Canada
- Annual Companion Pass if you make $25,000 in purchases during the year
- eUpgrades rollover to the following year
- Rapid passage through international and domestic security checkpoints (Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal-Trudeau)
- Metal Card
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card you benefit from the following advantages:
- $100 statement credit every 4 years for NEXUS membership or renewal fees
- Free first checked bag free for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
- Priority check-in and boarding at the airport when flying with Air Canada
- Priority baggage handling and upgrades with Air Canada
- Annual Companion Pass if you make $25,000 in purchases during the year
- eUpgrades rollover to the following year
- Access to priority security screening at Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Metal Card
Advantage: TD
The benefits of both card are virtually identical.
The only difference is that the TD Card has access to priority security screening at the country’s biggest airports. The American Express Card has access to the same security screening but only in Toronto.
Promotional Offers
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card holders were able to take advantage of certain promotional offers:
- Earn credit or points Aeroplan on your account
- Link your account with Starbucks
- Various promotions with Aeroplan for Aeroplan points back or discounts on flights
American Express is known for its promotional offers.
For example, with American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve cardholders have been able to take advantage of a number of promotional offers over the past year, including:
- $100 credit on $100 in restaurant purchase
- $10 credit for purchases on Amazon
- $20 credit towards purchases at lululemon
- Various Shop Small events
Advantage: American Express
Due to its wide range of promotional offers, the Reserve’s offers are the best.
They are not limited to Air Canada or Aeroplan. They involve many different types of businesses (1Password, Marriott Bonvoy, Quickbooks, TurboTax, Columbia, Kinton Ramen, etc).
Insurance
| Insurance |  |  |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | up to $2,500 | Up to $1,500 |
| Trip interruption insurance | up to $5,000 | up to $1,500 |
| Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance | Up to $5,000,000 31 days | Up to $5,000,000 15 days |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $1,000 after 4 hours | Up to $1,000 after 4 hours |
| Misdirected Baggage Insurance | Up to $1,000 after 4 hours | Up to $1,000 after 6 hours |
| Baggage loss or theft insurance | up to $2,500 | up to $1,000 |
| Hotel burglary insurance | up to $2,500 | up to $1,000 |
| Rental car theft and damage insurance | up to $65,000 | up to $85,000 |
| Travel accident insurance | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Purchase Protection | 2 additional years | 1 additional year |
| Purchase Guarantee | Up to $1,000 120 days | Up to $1,000 90 days |
Advantage: TD
The insurance offered by TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is superior. Especially for trip cancellation and interruption, and for the duration of emergency medical expenses.
In addition, it offers 4-day, $5,000,000 medical coverage for those 65 years of age and older. While the Reserve card offers nothing for this age group.
Bottom Line
So? Which Card is the winner?
For all its features, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card wins the match! Its only flaw is its high minimum income requirement.
If this is a drag for you, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is an excellent replacement.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card stands out thanks to:
- Its advantageous accumulation rate;
- Acceptance in more shops;
- Greater access to airport lounges;
- Superior travel insurance.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card stands out thanks to:
- Its welcome offer is easier to obtain;
- Its lack of minimum income;
- Its higher accumulation rate for purchases with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations;
- Promotional offers throughout the year to help offset annual fees.
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,000Total$2,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,000
- Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,200Total$1,200Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,200
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months
- Up to 85,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Frequently Asked Questions about the head-to-head between the Amex Aeroplan Reserve and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.
Which card has the easier welcome bonus to unlock?
Both cards run on the same Aeroplan program and carry the same $599 annual fee, but their welcome bonuses are no longer equal. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege now reaches 100,000 points, against 85,000 for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve. The gap is paid for in spending: TD asks for $24,000 over twelve months to unlock its largest tier, where Amex stops at $7,500 in three months. For an applicant who cannot move $24,000 through a single card in a year, the Amex offer remains the more realistic way to capture a full bonus.
Which card offers better Maple Leaf Lounge access?
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege provides unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access when flying Air Canada or Star Alliance partners on eligible same-day departures, plus 6 DragonPass airport lounge visits annually for non-Air Canada travel. The Amex Aeroplan Reserve includes Priority Pass enrollment but charges a per-visit fee for actual lounge entry, which dilutes the benefit for frequent travelers. If you fly Air Canada more than 4-5 times per year, TD’s unlimited access alone justifies the income hurdle.
Both cards charge $599 annually. Which is the better value?
The cards tie on annual fee but diverge on income requirements: TD demands $150,000 personal or $200,000 household income, while Amex has no minimum income test. For applicants who qualify for both, TD edges out on lounge access and travel insurance ceilings (up to $5M emergency medical, $5,000 trip interruption versus Amex’s $1,500). Applicants who can’t meet TD’s income requirement should grab the Amex Aeroplan Reserve, which delivers nearly identical Air Canada perks plus easier welcome bonus targets.
Can I hold both cards at the same time to maximize Aeroplan earning?
Yes, and this is a popular strategy among aggressive points collectors. Air Canada allows multiple co-brand cards to all funnel points into the same Aeroplan account, and the cards complement each other: TD’s 1.5x on groceries, gas, travel and dining covers everyday spending, while Amex’s 3x on Air Canada covers airfare. The combined annual fee runs $1,198, but the dual welcome bonuses (185,000 Aeroplan points if both are timed correctly) plus dual buddy passes/companion benefits often deliver $3,000+ in first-year value for households who travel frequently.
How much does the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege really cost with a TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan?
TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan customers get an annual fee rebate on one eligible TD credit card per calendar year, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is on the list. As of October 2026, the numbers work out as follows:
- Annual fee, primary cardholder: $599, minus a rebate of up to $139, so $460 net
- First additional card: $199, minus a rebate of up to $75, so $124 net
- Banking plan: $30.95 per month, waived for any month in which you keep at least $6,000 in the account at the end of each day
- American Express Aeroplan Reserve, for comparison: $599 per year
The rebate only pays off if you would keep the All-Inclusive plan anyway, or can hold the $6,000 daily balance. Otherwise the monthly fee adds up to $371.40 a year and wipes out the saving. The rebate lowers the cost, not the benefits: the rest of this comparison still applies. Current terms are on TD's All-Inclusive Banking Plan page.