Aeroplan credit cards enable you to save for vacation by collecting Aeroplan points on your everyday spending. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and American Express Aeroplan Card provide excellent value for money, but the TD Aeroplan VI delivers the best benefits and rewards.
Key Takeaways
- The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite combines Air Canada and Visa Infinite benefits.
- The American Express Aeroplan Card offers core Air Canada and Amex perks.
- Thanks to its widespread acceptance and the Visa Infinite program, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite makes a solid and affordable travel credit card.
Never miss an amazing deal again + get our bonus 250+ page eBook for FREE. Join 50,000 other Canadians who receive our weekly newsletter – learn more.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card vs. American Express Aeroplan Card overview
There’s a travel credit card for every kind of traveller and spender, including Canadians who love a good deal. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and American Express Aeroplan Card offer decent perks and insurance for a moderate annual fee:
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | American Express Aeroplan Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Credit card | Charge card |
| Annual fee | $139 | $120 |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 45,000 bonus points (terms) | Up to 40,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Rewards | Up to 1.5 points per $1 spent | Up to 2 points per $1 spent |
| Highest earning categories | Gas, groceries, and Air Canada | Air Canada |
| Insurance types included | 12 | 8 |
| Special features | Visa Infinite benefits and a $100 NEXUS credit every 4 years | American Express benefits |
| Income requirements | $60K personal or $100K household income | None |
| Best for | Frequent Air Canada travellers | Frequent Air Canada travellers |
| Get started | Apply now | Apply now |
As "core" Aeroplan credit cards, the TD Aeroplan VI and Amex Aeroplan have more similarities than differences, including their rewards, benefits, and travel insurance.
Aeroplan rewards
Air Canada’s Aeroplan program rewards frequent and loyal fliers with points to spend on future travel, vacation packages, and merchandise. It’s one of the best rewards programs in Canada provided you redeem your Aeroplan points on air travel, which is worth 2 – 4 Cents Per Point (CPP).
Value of reward in CAD / Cost in points x 100 = Value in Cents Per Point (CPP)
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.
Air Canada benefits
Although some credit cards earn Aeroplan rewards faster than the official cards, the TD Aeroplan VI and Amex Aeroplan provide access to exclusive Air Canada perks.
For starters, your Aeroplan points will never expire, you’ll receive preferred pricing on flight rewards, and you’ll be 1,000 miles and 1 flight closer to Elite Status membership per $10,000 spent. Aeroplan credit cardholders also receive 1 free night whenever they book 3 nights entirely in Aeroplan points (or 2 free nights if they book 6) and automatic Avis Preferred Plus status, which entitles you to a complimentary rental car class upgrade.
Finally, you and up to 8 travelling companions on the same reservation will receive a free first checked bag whenever you fly Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express.
Travel insurance
The TD Aeroplan VI and Amex Aeroplan have 8 types of credit card insurance in common, although their coverage limits vary slightly:
| Insurance | TD Aeroplan VI coverage limit | Amex Aeroplan coverage limit | Estimated value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended warranty | 1 year | 1 year | $72 |
| Purchase protection | 90 days | 90 days | $48 |
| Travel accident | $500,000 | $500,000 | $10 |
| Flight delay | $500 | $500 | $6 |
| Baggage delay | $1,000 | $500 | $9 |
| Lost or stolen baggage | $1,000 | $500 | $2 |
| Hotel burglary | $2,500 | $500 | $2 – $3 |
| Theft and damage rental car insurance | 48 days | 48 days | $140 |
Credit card shopping and travel insurance eliminates the need to buy separate policies and covers multiple purchases and trips per year with a single annual fee. The TD Aeroplan VI offers more coverage, but for now, just know you can count on an estimated $289 worth of insurance with either card.
What we love about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Pros:
- Air Canada benefits
- First annual fee waiver
- More insurance coverage
- More spending categories
- Standard interest fees
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- Requires $60,000 of personal income or $100,000 of household income
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is among the best TD credit cards in Canada, featuring steady rewards, decent benefits, and comprehensive insurance coverage. It’s the perfect spending tool for Canadians looking to sample the perks of a premium credit card without spending more than $150 per year.
Fewer rewards, more spending categories
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Both the TD Aeroplan VI and Amex Aeroplan earn the most points on Air Canada purchases, which encompass airline tickets, car rentals, vacation packages, and in-flight services. However, the TD Aeroplan adds gas and groceries to the mix; you’ll earn 0.5 points less per $1, but you can collect points on more types of purchases.
We estimated how many rewards the TD Aeroplan VI could earn on a typical yearly spend of $24,000 and came up with an average return rate of 2.28%. That’s $2.28 in rewards for every $100 spent, or $0.11 more than the Amex Aeroplan Card. Not to mention, a Visa credit card generally gives you more opportunities to collect rewards than an Amex.
Air Canada and Visa Infinite benefits
TD customers receive 3 exclusive benefits with their credit card: a $100 NEXUS credit every 4 years, 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.
Not bad, but the Visa Infinite program provides far more exciting credit card benefits, including:
- 24/7 Visa Infinite Concierge services
- Automatic Platinum status at 60+ Sandman and Sutton Place hotels courtesy of Visa RSVP Rewards
- Automatic Silver Status in Troon Rewards
- 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
- Special perks at the Toronto International Film Festival through the Visa Infinite Screening Series
The estimated value of the benefits provided by the TD Aeroplan VI totals $2,500+, about $600 more than the perks included with the Amex Aeroplan. In addition, its benefits extend to additional cardholders even when the primary cardholder is not travelling with them.
More travel insurance
The TD Aeroplan VI provides more than twice the amount of insurance as the Amex Aeroplan, totalling about $660 worth of coverage. Not only are its coverage limits higher, but it also adds 5 valuable policies:
- $1,000 of cellphone insurance (worth an estimated $50)
- 21 days of emergency medical coverage (worth an estimated $135)
- 4 days of emergency medical travel insurance for seniors over the age of 65 (worth an estimated $180)
- $1,500 of trip cancellation insurance (worth an estimated $40)
- $5,000 of trip interruption insurance (worth an estimated $31)
While we hope you never have to use the insurance bundled with either credit card, it’s worth considering the extra peace of mind provided by the TD Aeroplan VI.
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 | $1,000,000 |
| 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.
What we love about the American Express Aeroplan Card
Pros:
- Air Canada benefits
- American Express benefits
- Lower annual fee
- No income requirements
- No preset spending limit
- Slightly higher rewards
Cons:
- Fewer benefits
- Fewer spending categories
- Less insurance coverage
- Lower acceptance for American Express
- Must be paid in full each month
The American Express Aeroplan Card doesn’t earn as many rewards as we’ve come to expect from American Express, but it presents a good opportunity to combine your favourite Amex benefits with Air Canada perks. With no preset spending limits or formal income requirements, this generous spending tool can help kickstart your vacation fund.
Did you know? Credit cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points can transfer them to Aeroplan for free at a 1:1 ratio.
Higher rewards, fewer spending categories
- 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on restaurants
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Like the TD Aeroplan VI, the Amex Aeroplan Card reserves its best earning rate for Air Canada purchases. Purchasing food at restaurants – which include coffee, takeout, fast food, and food delivery businesses – earns half a point less per $1 spent.
On average, we estimate the Amex Aeroplan Card provides slightly lower returns per year than its rival, but your air mileage may vary. The only limit to the Amex Aeroplan’s rewards is how much you spend on the Air Canada website, including car rentals, hotel stays, vacation packages, and more.
American Express benefits
The Amex Aeroplan Card doesn’t enjoy any exclusive Air Canada perks, but it does provide 2 standard American Express benefits:
- Early access to in-demand event tickets, reserved seating, and curated experiences through Amex Front Of The Line, Presale Tickets, and Reserved Tickets
- Exclusive access to dining, entertainment, shopping, and wellness benefits and events through American Express Experiences
If you’re extroverted and always in search of something fun to do, the Amex Aeroplan Card may offer better value than the Visa Infinite perks package.
How do the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and Amex Aeroplan 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 rewards: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Although the American Express Aeroplan Card earns more points on Air Canada purchases, the TD Aeroplan VI rewards more purchase categories and enjoys more acceptance in Canada and around the world.
Best benefits: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Although they share the same Air Canada benefits, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card provides more perks than the American Express Aeroplan Card. The long list of benefits included in the Visa Infinite program touches on everything from fine dining to hotel stays, creating an extra special travel experience.
Best insurance: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card’s superior insurance coverage and claim limits provide better shopping and travelling protection – especially if you’re over the age of 65.
Highest acceptance: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Visa is the world’s leading payment network, enabling you to use the TD Aeroplan VI in more than 170 countries and territories.
Interest fees: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD Aeroplan VI offers a familiar payment setup: 21.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, and 22.99% on balance transfers. As a charge card, the Amex Aeroplan must be paid in full every month lest you incur a 30% interest fee.
Lowest annual fee: Tie
The Amex Aeroplan Card’s $120 annual fee may be lower, but the TD Aeroplan VI provides a $139 waiver for your first year. You can also snag an annual fee rebate every subsequent year by opening a TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan for about $30 per month.
It costs $75 per year to add an authorized cardholder for the TD Aeroplan VI, versus $50 per year for the Amex Aeroplan.
Lowest eligibility requirements: American Express Aeroplan Card
Assuming you have a good credit score, it’s easier to qualify for the Amex Aeroplan Card than the TD Aeroplan VI. The former has no income requirements; the latter trades more benefits and insurance for hard proof of at least $60,000 of personal or $100,000 of household income per year.
The winner: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card provides a ton of extra value and flexibility. You can take it anywhere in the world and enjoy free checked bags, steady rewards, and Visa Infinite benefits along the way – not to mention a comprehensive set of travel insurance should things go wrong.
Top alternative
×8 Award winner 
$100 GeniusCash + Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
GC: $100
8x Award winner The American Express Cobalt Card is the best non-official Aeroplan credit card by virtue of its stellar return rate. If you can do without a few luxury travel, dining, and golfing benefits, you’ll reap plenty of flexible rewards points to spend on travel, merchandise, and more – you can even transfer them to Aeroplan!
FAQ
Does the TD Aeroplan card have lounge access?
The only TD Aeroplan credit cards to provide airport lounge access are Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Business Cards.
Is it worth it to transfer Amex points to Aeroplan?
If you want to fly internationally to a quiet destination, the Aeroplan rewards program can yield fantastic value. However, the Amex Fixed Points Travel Program provides an easier way to get similar value out of popular, short-haul routes.
What is the income requirement for the Amex Aeroplan?
The American Express Aeroplan Card has no income requirements.
Can Aeroplan members use the Maple Leaf Lounge?
Complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge access is available for Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite status members, their partner, one guest, and up to 5 dependent children. Premium Aeroplan credit cardholders may also access the lounge for free with one travelling companion.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 226 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 226 cards is for you.
GC: 
Comments
Leave a comment
Required fields are marked with *. Your email address will not be published.