Sometimes, the right travel credit card is all you need to help you save for that dream vacation and get treated like royalty along the way. For high spenders, the premiere choices in Canada are the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card and American Express Platinum Card – but if you want our opinion, the TD Aeroplan VIP does luxury travel better.
Key Takeaways
- The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege adds premium Air Canada perks to the Visa Infinite Privilege package of benefits.
- The American Express Platinum Card is packed with a wide range of travelling, shopping, and dining benefits.
- The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege provides the better combination of perks and rewards.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege vs. Amex Platinum overview
The best travel credit cards promise better insurance, luxury travel perks, and rewards that take you around the world. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card and American Express Platinum Card are certainly no exception.
| Feature | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card | American Express Platinum Card |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Credit card | Charge card |
| Annual fee | $599 | $799 |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 85,000 bonus points (terms) | Up to 100,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Rewards | Up to 2 Aeroplan points per $1 spent | Up to 3 Amex Membership Rewards points per $1 spent |
| Highest earning categories | Air Canada travel | American Express Online Travel |
| Metal card | ✅ | ✅ |
| Airport lounge access | 6 free visits to the DragonPass network | Unlimited visits to the Amex Global Lounge Collection |
| Insurance types included | 12 | 11 |
| Special features | Air Canada and Visa Infinite Privilege benefits | $200 annual dining credit and $200 annual travel credit |
| Income requirements | $150K personal or $200K household income | None |
| Best for | Frequent Air Canada travellers | Frequent luxury travellers |
| Get started | Apply now | Apply now |
Although they cater to the same crowd, these two credit cards have very little in common, except for Aeroplan rewards, some travel insurance, and their metal appearance.
Aeroplan rewards
The Aeroplan Rewards program is owned and operated by Air Canada. In terms of value, it’s one of the best rewards programs in Canada; redeeming Aeroplan points for domestic or international air travel can yield 2 – 4 cents per point (CPP).
Value of reward in CAD / cost in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)
Although only the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card collects Aeroplan points, the American Express Platinum Card can convert its points to the Aeroplan program on a 1:1 ratio. For the rest of this article, we’ll use the average value of an Aeroplan point, 2 CPP, to evaluate the returns for both cards.
Travel insurance
Credit card travel insurance is a great deal. It covers a large range of situations, applies to multiple trips per year, and the annual fee often costs less than a yearly insurance plan. The TD Aeroplan VIP and Amex Platinum share 11 types of credit card insurance, although their coverage limits vary:
| Insurance | TD Aeroplan VIP coverage limit | Amex Platinum coverage limit | Estimated value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended warranty | 2 years | 1 year | $72 – $144 |
| Purchase protection | 120 days | 120 days | $48 |
| Travel accident | $500,000 | $500,000 | $10 |
| Emergency medical term | 31 days | 15 days | $133 – $136 |
| Trip cancellation | $2,500 | $1,500 | $50 |
| Trip interruption | $5,000 | $2,500 | $28 – $31 |
| Flight delay | $1,000 | $1,000 | $7 |
| Baggage delay | $1,000 | $1,000 | $9 |
| Lost or stolen baggage | $2,500 | $1,000 | $2 |
| Hotel burglary | $2,500 | $1,000 | $2 – $3 |
| Theft and damage rental car insurance | 118 days | 118 days | $140 |
We’ll look more closely at the worth of specific plans later; for now, just know you can count on an estimated credit card insurance value of at least $500 no matter which card you choose.
Metal credit cards
The TD Aeroplan VIP and Amex Platinum are both issued in stainless steel. You have the choice between dark and stormy grey and shiny silver – but we recommend taking a closer look at the differences between the two cards before you make your decision.
What we love about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
Pros:
- Air Canada benefits
- Average interest rates
- Lower annual fee
- More insurance coverage
- Slightly higher returns
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
- Visa Infinite Privilege benefits
Cons:
- Limited airport lounge access
- Requires $150,000 of personal income or $200,000 of household income
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card is the best credit card TD Canada Trust has to offer. We named it the best official Aeroplan credit card in Canada for its superior rewards, varied benefits, and comprehensive insurance coverage.
More rewards
- 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel & transit and dining
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The TD Aeroplan VIP collects the most points on Air Canada purchases, which include airline tickets, car rentals, vacation packages, duty-free boutique purchases, and in-flight services. The next-highest earning rate applies to gas, groceries, and non-Air Canada travel, which makes for an average return rate of 2.78% (based on $24,000 of typical spending in one year).
Rewards earned in CAD / money spent in CAD x 100 = return rate in %
The TD Aeroplan VIP also has the advantage of global acceptance; you can collect points on purchases in over 170 countries and territories and there are few businesses in Canada that don’t take Visa.
There’s just one catch: you can only earn 2X and 1.5X the points on up to $100,000 of eligible spending combined per year. Once you pass the threshold, your rewards will drop to 1 point per $1 spent until next year.
Air Canada and Visa Infinite Privilege benefits
TD credit cardholders are entitled to only 2 exclusive benefits: 600 bonus Starbucks Stars and a 10% discount on Avis and Budget base car rentals in Canada and the US, which drops to 5% internationally.
The bulk of the TD Aeroplan VIP’s best credit card benefits are divided between the Air Canada and Visa Infinite Privilege program. To start, you’ll get a $100 NEXUS rebate every 4 years and 10 VIP benefits:
- 24/7 Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge services
- A complimentary Dragonpass membership and 6 free passes per year with the Visa Airport Companion
- Automatic Diamond status at 60+ Sandman and Sutton Place hotels courtesy of Visa RSVP Rewards
- Automatic Platinum Status in Troon Rewards
- Complimentary room upgrades, daily breakfast, and a VIP welcome at 200+ Relais & Châteaux
- Complimentary tastings, tours, and other benefits courtesy of Visa Infinite Wine Country
- Preferred pricing, complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and in-room WiFi at 900+ properties in the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Primetime reservations and access to exclusive in-person dining events through the Visa Infinite Dining Series
- Priority security lanes at Toronto-Billy Bishop (YTZ), Vancouver (YVR), Montreal (YUL), and Ottawa (YOW)
- Special perks at the Toronto International Film Festival through the Visa Infinite Screening Series
As a premium Aeroplan credit cardholder, your points never expire, you can roll unused miles over to the next year, and you get 1 extra year to use your eUpgrades. You’ll receive 1,000 miles and 1 flight towards Aeroplan Elite Status membership per $5,000 spent, automatic enrollment in the Avis President’s Club, and 1 free night’s stay whenever you book 3 nights entirely in Aeroplan points.
Lastly, you’ll receive the following whenever you fly Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge:
- Access to Maple Leaf Lounges for the primary cardholder and 1 guest
- Free first checked bags for you and up to 8 travelling companions
- Preferred pricing on base airfare
- Priority check-ins, baggage handling, and boarding for you and up to 8 travelling companions (plus priority airport standby and flight class upgrade requests)
We estimate the value of the credit card benefits included with the TD Aeroplan VIP to be $5,000. The single most valuable benefit you’ll receive is an airline companion voucher that lets you take a single travelling companion on one discounted, round-trip flight per year.
You must spend at least $25,000 in one year to qualify for your yearly voucher, but you can save up to $1,601 depending on where you fly:
| Destination | Voucher price | Average base airfare | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada and the continental US | $99 | $250 | $151 |
| Central America and the Caribbean | $299 | $500 | $201 |
| Europe, Africa, and the Middle East | $599 | $2,000 | $1,401 |
| Asia | $599 | $2,200 | $1,601 |
More insurance
The TD Aeroplan VIP provides higher coverage limits than the Amex Platinum, but its most valuable coverage actually pertains to shopping. We estimate you can save about $375 with:
- $1,500 of cellphone insurance
- 2 years of extended warranty
- 120 days of purchase protection
- 4 days of emergency medical travel insurance for seniors over the age of 65
The TD Aeroplan VIP’s insurance package totals an estimated $830 compared to $500 for the Amex Platinum. It’s a pretty great deal considering it also carries a lower annual fee!
TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
| Extended Warranty | 2 years |
| Purchase Protection | 120 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,500 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 31 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $5,000,000 |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 4 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $2,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $1,000 |
| Baggage Delay | $1,000 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $2,500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $2,500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
What we love about the American Express Platinum Card
×2 Award winner 
Pros:
- 2 free supplementary Gold Rewards cards
- Cheap supplementary Platinum card fees
- No income requirements
- Platinum Card benefits
- Unlimited airport lounge access
Cons:
- Complicated payment structure
- Less insurance coverage
- Higher annual fee
- Lower acceptance of American Express
- No airline benefits
- Slightly lower returns
The American Express Platinum Card is the best perks and benefits credit card in Canada, hands down. While the TD Aeroplan VIP provides an excellent travel experience, the Amex Platinum’s benefits touch on every part of everyday life, from airport lounge access to shopping, golfing, and fine dining. And while it may earn slightly fewer points than its rival, it offers many more ways to use them.
More flexible rewards
- 2 points per $1 spent on restaurants and travel
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
American Express credit cardholders get 1 extra point per $1 whenever they book a car or hotel on Amex Travel Online. This brings the Amex Platinum’s maximum return rate to 6%, the same as the TD Aeroplan VIP’s – and with no limit on the amount of spending that qualifies for 3X and 2X the points. The average return, though, is 2.45%.
If you don’t feel like travelling, the Platinum Card gives you more options than its rival. We’ve already discussed how American Express Membership Rewards points can be converted to Aeroplan points, but Amex has 7 other points conversion partners, including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
Keeping your points within Amex gives you the option to use the Amex Fixed Points Travel program for 2 CPP or to redeem them on gift cards, merch, or statement credits for 0.91 – 1.1 CPP.
More flexible benefits
If any credit card can rival the TD Aeroplan VIP’s long list of benefits, it’s the American Express Platinum Card.
This card provides a $100 NEXUS credit every 4 years, as well as a $200 annual dining credit and a $200 annual travel credit, plus unlimited complimentary access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection. Not only does it include the Priority Pass and Centurion Lounge networks, but also some of the best airport lounges in the world.
Your standard Amex benefits include:
- A $100 USD credit, complimentary room upgrade, early check-in, and late check-out at 600+ properties within The Hotel Collection
- A complimentary daily breakfast for 2 and unique benefits totalling $600 USD value at 1,500+ Fine Hotels + Resorts
- Access to special dining, rewards, and shopping rebates worth $200 or more through Amex and Member Offers
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Early access to in-demand event tickets, reserved seating, and curated experiences through Amex Front Of The Line, Presale Tickets, Reserved Tickets, and By Invitation Only
- Exclusive access to curated dining, entertainment, shopping, and wellness benefits and events through American Express Experiences
Plus the following Platinum Card exclusives:
- 24/7 complimentary assistance with restaurant reservations, travel plans, and travel emergencies through Platinum Care concierge services
- Access to specially reserved tables at fine dining establishments in the Global Dining Collection
- Complimentary upgrades, preferred pricing, and advanced loyalty status with Avis and Hertz car rentals
- Discounted Premium Economy, Business, and First Class flights through the International Airline Program
- Premium airport transfers when you book a round-trip Business or First Class flight with a 1+ night’s stay through the Platinum Card Travel Service
- Priority security, parking discounts, and complimentary value services at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
In our study, we estimated the Amex Platinum provided $2,500 of value in credit card benefits, or half as much as the TD Aeroplan VIP – but that’s because we focused on airline benefits. In reality, the Amex Platinum likely has far more to offer, just be prepared to do a lot of travelling, shopping, and fine dining to get your money’s worth.
How do the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and Amex Platinum compare?
Before we take you to the finish line, let’s see which of our competitors has pulled ahead in the most important points of comparison.
Best benefits: Tie
The TD Aeroplan VIP and Amex Platinum both offer a partial NEXUS credit and comparable dining, hotel, car rental, and member benefits. You can break the tie by asking yourself a single question: "Do you like to fly Air Canada?"
If yes, the TD Aeroplan VIP can offer you a superior travel experience and value courtesy of its annual companion voucher. If not, you’re better off using the Amex Platinum’s flexible discount airfare program and $400 worth of annual credits with no strings attached.
Best insurance: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
The TD Aeroplan VIP’s superior coverage and claim limits make it the best choice for peace of mind, whether you’re shopping or travelling.
Best rewards: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
Although Amex points are more flexible, the TD Aeroplan VIP earns more points at more places around the world thanks to Visa’s widespread acceptance.
Highest acceptance: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
While American Express still struggles to find acceptance outside of high-end retailers and major chains, Visa is the world’s leading payment network, giving you a way to pay in 170+ countries and territories worldwide.
Interest fees: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
If you’ve held a credit card before, you should be familiar with the TD Aeroplan VIP’s payment setup. You’ll pay 21.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, and 22.99% on balance transfers.
The Amex Platinum is a little more tricky. Charge cards must be paid off in full each and every month or you’ll get hit with a 30% interest fee. You can carry a balance for 21.99%, but if you miss 2 payments within a year, it’ll increase to 25.99% (or 28.99% if you miss 3).
And while the Platinum Card doesn’t have a set spending limit, what you spend is still subject to approval by American Express. For the sake of simplicity, we think the TD Aeroplan VIP is a better spending tool.
Lowest annual fee: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
The TD Aeroplan VIP charges $599 per year versus $799 for the Amex Platinum. Its supplementary card fees are also cheaper ($199 vs. $250) but the Amex Platinum provides up to 2 no fee Gold Rewards cards with basic Amex and Hertz car rental benefits.
Lowest eligibility requirements: American Express Platinum Card
As long as you have a credit score of 660 – 724, it’s easier to qualify for the Amex Platinum than the TD Aeroplan VIP. The Platinum Card has no formal income requirements while all Visa Infinite Privilege cards demand proof of at least $150,000 of personal income or $200,000 of household income.
The winner: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card collects Aeroplan points while treating cardholders to the finer things in life, courtesy of its partnership with Visa and Air Canada. You’ll enjoy tons of value in the air and on the ground with access to exclusive dining, golfing, entertainment, and hotel perks – but you’ll be flying Air Canada for life.
Top alternative
If you’d like the chance to collect 1 extra point per $1 spent on Air Canada travel, look no further than the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. It provides the full complement of Air Canada travel perks, basic Amex benefits, and easier eligibility requirements compared to the TD Aeroplan VIP.
FAQ
Does the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card get lounge access?
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card provides unlimited, complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges for the cardholder and one guest, plus a Visa Airport Companion membership and 6 free visits.
Does the Infinite Privilege card get you any status with Aeroplan?
Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards don’t provide automatic membership status in the Aeroplan program, but they add 1,000 miles and 1 flight to your progress per $5,000 spent.
Is Visa Infinite Privilege hard to get?
Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards require a good credit score and hard proof of at least $150,000 of personal income or $200,000 of household income.
How do I get to Aeroplan 100k status?
To qualify for Aeroplan Super Elite status, you’ll need to spend at least $20,000 on qualifying flights and fly at least 100,000 miles (or 100 flights) in a single calendar year. You can achieve 100K status faster by using an official Aeroplan credit card and flying Air Canada.
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