Showdowns between different rewards cards are always interesting, especially when you see just how similar the cards are. We took a look at the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, which participates in the Aeroplan rewards program, and the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®*, which operates through Air Miles.
Before we launch into what makes these cards so special, we recommend taking a moment to think about your travel habits since your loyalty and airline preferences are a big factor in finding the best credit card for you.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card vs. BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard at a glance
If you want to quickly scan the differences between these cards, take a look at how they compare:
| Feature | TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $139, first year free | $120, first year free |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 40,000 points | Up to 7,000 miles |
| Maximum rewards | 1.5 points per $1 | 3x the miles |
| Highest earning categories | * Gas * Electric vehicle charging * Groceries * Air Canada purchases | * Air Miles partners |
| Insurance | 12 types | 14 types |
| Special features | * Free checked bags on Air Canada flights * Earn up to 15,000 with a one-time anniversary bonus * Partial NEXUS rebate every 48 months | * Membership in Mastercard Travel Pass * Annual 25% discount on the number of miles needed for 1 Air Miles reward flight * Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell |
| Best for | Loyal Air Canada travellers | Frequent travellers of different airlines |
| Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now |
What we love about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Pros:
- Free checked bags on Air Canada
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards
- $100 NEXUS rebate every 48 months
- Annual fee rebate for the first year
Cons:
- High income requirements of either $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
- Only high-value reward is redeeming for Air Canada flights
There’s a lot to love about the
When you fly Air Canada, there are no worries about paying for your first checked bag, and you enjoy preferred pricing on your reward flights. If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll earn an additional 1,000 Elite Status qualifying miles for every $10,000 you spend every year.
That’s the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card in a nutshell, but here’s how it really sets itself apart from the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard:
Visa Infinite benefits
With a Visa Infinite card, you’ll get premium benefits like access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection and Visa Infinite Dining Series, which could score you seats to exclusive restaurants and dining opportunities. Plus, you can use the free 24/7 concierge to get assistance when travelling.
Visa Infinite benefits also include:
- Visa Infinite Wine Country Program
- Visa Infinite Entertainment Access
- Visa Infinite Troon Golf
Lower income requirements
TD Aeroplan only requires a minimum of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household to get this Visa (compared to $80,000 personal or $150,000 for the BMO Mastercard). So, if you don’t quite meet the income requirements for the Air Miles card, the Aeroplan Visa could be a viable option.
What we love about the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard
×1 Award winner 
$150 GeniusCash + Up to 9,000 bonus AIR MILES + 3x the AIR MILES at partners.*
GC: $150
1x Award winner Pros:
- Annual 25% discount on 1 AIR MILES reward flight booking
- Automatic AIR MILES Onyx status
- Includes 14 types of insurance
- Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell
Cons:
- Low rewards compared to other premium cards
- High income requirements of either $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
If you’re not tied to Air Canada, you may be looking for a more flexible rewards program. The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard lets you earn Dream Miles or Cash Miles that hold their value when you redeem them in several ways.
This card earns 1 mile for every $12 you spend, plus 3x the miles at participating Air Miles partners, and 2x the miles at grocery stores (even at Costco!). While the miles and rewards are valuable, we also like the fact that you get automatic Onyx elite status in the Air Miles program and a 25% discount on reward flights.
The card also has some distinctions that the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card doesn’t include:
World Elite Mastercard benefits
The best credit card reward programs make you feel like their star cardholder. World Elite Mastercard benefits will do just that, allowing you to score access to Mastercard Priceless Events and Cities, 24/7 concierge service, and personalized deals and discounts for travel and everyday shopping.
Mastercard Travel Pass
If you love spending airport downtime in a lounge, you’re in luck. The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard gives you a membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass with access to over 1,300 partner lounges around the world. The membership is free, but you will have to pay a $32 entry fee for each visit.
How do the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard compare?
Now that we’ve gushed about the best features of both cards, let’s compare them directly based on important factors: benefits, fees (including interest rates), insurance, and rewards.
Best benefits: tie
This category was tough to compare, mainly because the TD card’s top benefits are tailored to flying with Air Canada. In fact, the best benefits are preferred pricing on reward flights, a free checked bag (which also extends to your travel companions), and elite status.
On the other hand, the BMO card has more benefits for people not wedded to the top airline. Instead, BMO’s Air Miles card gives a solid discount on a single booking each year (which includes international locations) and an everyday 15% discount on reward flights (with any carrier).
Best for low fees: tie
We’re really splitting hairs when it comes to card fees, so the best one for you will come down to whether or not you want to get cash advances, make balance transfers, or add an extra card to your account.
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $139, first year waived | $120, first year waived |
| Purchase interest rate | 21.99% | 20.95% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% | 23.99% |
| Balance transfer rate | 22.99% | 23.99% |
| Extra card fee | $75 | $50 |
Important note: The income requirements for these cards are dramatically different. The TD card requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income, while the BMO requires $80,000 personal or $150,000 household.
Best insurance: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Although both cards offer extensive credit card insurance – they’re almost identical. Here’s what tips the scales in TD’s favour:
- 6 extra days of emergency medical coverage
- +$3,000 in trip interruption insurance
- +$800 in baggage delay coverage
- +$250 in lost or stolen baggage coverage
- +$2,000 in hotel burglary coverage
- Emergency medical coverage over age 65: 4 days
Sure, the BMO card also includes rental car accident and personal effects coverage, but overall, the TD card's coverage limits are much better.
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,000 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 21 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 4 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $1,000 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary | $2,500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Best rewards: BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard
First, consider the welcome bonus. You’ll earn up to 7,000 bonus miles (worth $800) with the BMO card, but TD gives you the opportunity to earn up to 40,000 (worth $735). This might make TD seem like a straightforward winner, until you consider the other offers.
For a limited time, we’re offering an additional $150 in GeniusCash with a $25 GeniusCash boost on the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard. Add that to the card’s original bonus value to get a $860 welcome bonus – better than the TD option.
Always check out current offers for any credit card you’re considering. Welcome bonuses and offers often change every few months.
The winner: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Clearly, we have some intriguing options on our hands, with both offering great rewards and benefits. But if we had to make a choice, we'd go with Aeroplan Visa Infinite cards.
While these two cards are very similar in many respects (like interest rates and the free first year), from a strictly rewards standpoint, the TD offers more. And getting extra benefits with Air Canada is icing on the cake.
But if you're a big Air Miles collector, the
FAQ
Is the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard worth it?
If you meet the income requirements and value a flexible airline reward program, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard can be an excellent, valuable addition to your wallet. It doubles your return at grocery stores and gas stations, plus more benefits.
Does the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard have airport lounge access?
Yes, it does offer lounge access. Cardholders get a Mastercard Travel Pass membership, operated by DragonPass, which provides access to over 1,300 global airport lounges. Although membership is free, you do have to pay $32 per lounge visit.
Does the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card have lounge access?
Yes, you get six free lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion Program, managed by DragonPass. You must enroll in Visa Infinite Privilege benefits to get the free passes loaded onto your card.
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