There are many details to consider when comparing the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite vs. BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard, but the Aeroplan card ultimately comes out on top. In fact, it's one of the top Aeroplan credit cards available.
For those who prefer to stay away from Aeroplan, though, the Blue Rewards card still provides plenty of benefits, including a free roadside assistance membership.
This article lays out a detailed comparison of these cards, feature-by-feature, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Key Takeaways
- In the end, the TD Aeroplan is the better card as it provides better insurance and overall rewards.
- Both the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard waive the annual fee for the first year, giving you a chance to see if the card is working for you.
- The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns Aeroplan points, which can offer more value than the rewards earned with the BMO card.
- The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard is one of BMO’s newest credit cards that gives BMO Blue Rewards points.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card vs. BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard at a glance
| Feature | TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | BMO Blue Rewards World Elite®* Mastercard®* |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $139 | $150 |
| Welcome Bonus | Up to 50,000 bonus points (terms) |  $150 GC Boost + Up to 100,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) |
| Rewards Program | Aeroplan | Blue Rewards |
| Maximum Rewards | 1.5 points per $1 | 10 points per $1 |
| Highest Earning Categories | * Gas * EV charging * Groceries * Air Canada purchases | * Blue Rewards partners |
| Insurance Coverage | 12 types | 12 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 with 4 free lounge passes * Includes roadside assistance * Full NEXUS rebate |
| Best For… | Loyal Air Canada travellers | Frequent travellers of different airlines |
| Learn More | Learn more | Learn more |
What we love about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
×2 Award winner 
Pros:
- Free checked bags on Air Canada
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards
- $100 NEXUS rebate every 48 months
- First year's annual fee waived
Cons:
- The best redemption value is limited to Air Canada flights
There's a lot to love about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, especially if you're a loyal Air Canada traveller. While the earn rate is pretty straightforward, the travel benefits set this card apart.
When you fly Air Canada, you and up to 8 travelling companions will get free checked bags, and you'll get Preferred Pricing on your reward flights. If you're a frequent flyer, you'll earn an additional 1,000 Elite Status qualifying credits for every $20,000 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 Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard:
Visa Infinite benefits
With the TD Aeroplan 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 Troon Golf and Entertainment access.
Lower income requirements
TD Aeroplan only requires a minimum of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income, compared to $80,000 personal or $150,000 household for the BMO Mastercard. So, if you're not eligible for the Blue Rewards card, the Aeroplan Visa could be a viable option.
What we love about the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard
GC: $100 + $50
Pros:
- Free roadside assistance
- Includes 4 free airport lounge passes annually
- Earn up to 10 points per $1 with Blue Rewards partners
- First year's annual fee waived
Cons:
- Low rewards compared to similar premium cards
If you're not tied to Air Canada, you may be looking for a more flexible rewards program. The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard allows you to earn BMO Blue Rewards points that you can redeem primarily for travel. You'll earn the most points (10 points per $1) when shopping with Blue Rewards partners, which include big names like Amazon, Apple, and Best Buy.
Otherwise, your World Elite Mastercard earns 2 points per $1 spent on groceries, gas, EV charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases (Costco hauls, anyone?). All other purchases earn you 1 point per $1 spent.
The card also has a few distinctions that the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card doesn't include:
World Elite Mastercard benefits
World Elite Mastercard benefits can vary by card, and the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard comes with a few excellent ones. Cardholders enjoy discounts on Cirque du Soleil tickets and savings on FlexiRoam data plans, to start with. They also get Mastercard Insider Benefits at various sporting events, which include exclusive ticket access and discounts on concessions and retail purchases.
Mastercard Travel Pass
If you love spending airport downtime in a lounge, you're in luck. The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard gives you a membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass with access to over 1,400 partner lounges around the world. In addition to free membership, the BMO card gives you 4 free lounge passes every year.
How do the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard compare?
The best way to determine which card is best for you is to compare the 2 options side by side, feature by feature. While there are a few categories where the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite vs. BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard are tied, TD comes out ahead with insurance and overall 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. 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, with BMO, you can earn and redeem Blue Rewards points for travel powered by Expedia, so you can book with a wide range of airlines. The card also includes rental car coverage and airport lounge access.
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 Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $139, first year waived | $150, first year waived |
| Purchase Interest Rate | 21.99% | 20.95% |
| Cash Advance Rate | 22.99% | 23.99% |
| Balance Transfer Rate | 22.99% | 23.99% |
| Supplemental 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, there are some important differences in coverage. Here's what tips the scales in TD's favour:
- $1,000 in mobile device coverage
- 21 days of emergency medical coverage
- $5,000 in trip interruption insurance
- $1,000 in baggage delay coverage
- $1,000 in lost or stolen baggage coverage
- $2,500 in hotel burglary coverage
Sure, the BMO card 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 Maximum Coverage | $2,000,000 |
| 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.
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite®* Mastercard®*
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $2,000,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $2,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $200 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $750 |
| Personal Effects | $750 |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Best rewards: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
We realize that the welcome bonus opportunities give a very slight advantage to the BMO credit card, but we're only talking a difference of around $30. Considering that a welcome bonus is a one-time thing, we also prioritize a card's reward value.
We look at the average rate of return on rewards based on $3,000 a month in spending. With this in mind, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is the clear winner. You'll get a nice 1.86% back, compared to only 1.16%, with the BMO card.
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
These 2 cards are an interesting comparison, with one being a Visa Infinite card and the other a World Elite Mastercard. If we had to pick 1, we'd choose the Aeroplan card. It offers valuable Air Canada perks, more valuable points than BMO Rewards, and an easier path to approval.
But if you're primarily looking for a credit card with airport lounge access or rental car discounts, you might consider BMO's new card, especially if you frequently shop with Blue Rewards partners.
FAQ
Is it worth getting the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card?
Given that this TD card has lower income requirements and a lower annual fee that's waived for the first year, we think it's worth getting the card. The higher rate of return also means that you'll continue to get more value from the card.
Do I get lounge access with Aeroplan Visa Infinite?
You might think you would get Maple Leaf Lounge access with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, but you'd be mistaken. Although the Visa Infinite Privilege version of the card gives lounge access, you won't get it with this Visa Infinite product.
Is the BMO World Elite Mastercard worth it?
The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard is a pretty new credit card – so we're a little disappointed with the value of BMO's Blue Rewards points. We'd expect more competitive benefits from a World Elite Mastercard that has high income requirements and a higher annual fee.
Which card is better, Visa Infinite or Mastercard World Elite?
The better card depends on the actual cards being compared and what you're specifically looking for from a credit card. Visa Infinite is considered to be a mid-tier Visa card, while World Elite is the top-tier card issued by Mastercard.
Can you earn Air Miles with TD?
No, Canadians can no longer earn Air Miles with any credit card. BMO retired its Air Miles program and replaced it with the new Blue Rewards program. You can earn Blue Rewards points by using a BMO Blue Rewards credit card or shopping with participating Blue Rewards partners after signing up.
Is there a BMO Aeroplan credit card?
No, BMO doesn't partner with Aeroplan to issue co-branded credit cards. If you're looking for an Aeroplan credit card, you can choose between a TD- or CIBC-issued card, or select an American Express card so you can transfer points to Aeroplan.
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