American Express Canada and TD Canada Trust each offer a credit card that can be used to earn Aeroplan points directly or indirectly:
These are two basic cards that we often recommend, when a person wants to get points easily.
So, we will analyze what are the main differences between these credit cards on:
The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies according to promotions. However, there are differences to be aware of between the two credit cards.
When you subscribe to the American Express CobaltMD Card, you can earn up to 15,000 points:
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 the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card, you earn up to 25,000 Aeroplan points after 6 months by spending $7,500.
To get the full American Express CobaltMD Card welcome bonus, you need to spend $9,000 in the first year($750 per month x 12 months to get the 15,000 points).
The American Express CobaltMD Card requires no minimum income.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum personal income of $60,000 or $100,000 annual household income.
The American Express CobaltMD Card requires no minimum income, unlike the TDMD Visa Infinite* Card AéroplanMD.
The American Express CobaltMD Card has a monthly fee of $12.99, charged on each monthly statement. At the end of 12 months, the total is $155.88.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $139. What’s more, the current promotion fully refunds these costs in the first year. So you’re way ahead of the competition!
The TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card annual fee is lower (especially in the first year) than the CobaltMD American Express Card.
The American Express CobaltMD Card and the TDMD Visa Infinite* Card AéroplanMD each offer different levels of point accumulation.
With the American Express CobaltMD Card, you can earn 5 points per dollar in purchases for:
3 points per dollar of purchases for streaming services (Apple TV+, Apple Music, Crave, Disney+, Netflix, RDS, TSN, etc)
2 points per dollar of purchases in :
1 point per dollar for the rest.
With the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card, the maximum points earned are 1.5 points per dollar for purchases:
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
It’s easy: the American Express CobaltMD Card beats most other credit cards with its 5 points-per-dollar grocery earning.
Don’t forget the possibility of buying gift cards at CircleK convenience stores with it: you earn 5 points per dollar, even for Walmart, Amazon, Sports Experts, Canadian Tire, etc. gift cards!
Even for travel and gas purchases, it is the best with 2 points per dollar.
These American Express CobaltMD Card Membership Rewards points can be transferred 1:1 into Aeroplan points.
Both cards are part of different loyalty programs:
Thus, the ways of using the points are different.
With the American Express CobaltMD Card, you can apply Membership Rewards points to travel purchases charged to the card.
The redeeming rate is 1,000 points = $10.
It is necessary to redeem at least 1,000 points (minimum $10); after that, it will be in increments of 1 cent per point.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, it’s different. Each month, Aeroplan Points earned on purchases are automatically credited to the cardholder’s Aeroplan account.
According to Aeroplan rules, Aeroplan points cannot be transferred to other reward programs. They remain in the Aeroplan account.
Then, to use your Aeroplan points, you must book your flight on the Air Canada website.
Thanks to the great flexibility of the American Express CobaltMD Card and Membership Rewards points, they can be used in a variety of ways. Points can be used for travel purchased on the card:
With the American Express CobaltMD Card, you can apply Membership Rewards points to everyday purchases charged to the card.
You need to redeem a minimum of 1,000 points (i.e., a minimum of $10).
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, Aeroplan points cannot be used to pay for everyday purchases.
Another way would be to use Aeroplan points to buy gift cards (Costco, Petro-Canada, The Bay, Walmart) on the Aeroplan eStore. However, for someone who wants to maximize their points, this is not an ideal choice.
The American Express CobaltMD Card ‘s flexible Membership Rewards points are simply the best use of both cards.
With the American Express CobaltMD Card, you can use its points:
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, Aeroplan points remain in the Aeroplan program. Therefore, they cannot be transferred.
With the American Express CobaltMD Card you can also enjoy :
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you’ll get the following benefits:
For its wide range of travel benefits, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is unbeatable in this respect. For a person travelling with Air Canada, the benefits are saving and making the annual fee more cost-effective each year.
With the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card, you benefit from additional or more generous cover than with the CobaltMD American Express Card.
What’s more, it requires 75% of travel purchases to be charged to the card, whereas the American Express CobaltMD Card requires the entire trip to have been charged to it.
If you want a credit card that covers your travel, even when a tiny fraction of it has been charged to it, I advise you in this article: The Best Credit Cards for Travel Insurance with Rewards Points.
So? Who is the winning card?
The American Express CobaltMD Card is the perfect way to do whatever you want with your points without breaking the bank! In addition, it stands out with:
While the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card stands out thanks to:
Savings are here:
