Comparing the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card can be tricky, but after a close, detailed comparison, the Aeroplan card comes out on top. This may not be a surprise for some since it is, after all, one of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada.
But Aeroplan isn't the right choice for everyone, and this First Class card holds its own as a fierce competitor. In fact, our own user reviews provide the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card with a higher rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, vs. the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card's 2.9 out of 5.
In this article, we compare these cards head-to-head, comparing everything from welcome bonuses to interest rates, to help you find the better fit.
Key Takeaways
- The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is the more valuable of the two cards, but the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card still has plenty to offer.
- Both the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card cost $139 per year and come with extensive insurance packages.
- The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card earns you TD Rewards points, while the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns Aeroplan rewards.
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 First Class Travel vs. Aeroplan Visa Infinite
| Feature | TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $139 (first year waived) | $139 (first year waived) |
| Welcome bonus |  $40 GeniusCash + Up to 165,000 bonus points (terms) | Up to 45,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Maximum rewards | 8 points per $1 | 1.5 points per $1 |
| Highest earning categories | Travel booked through Expedia For TD | Gas, groceries, and travel with Air Canada |
| Insurance types included | 12 types of coverage | 12 types of coverage |
| Special feature | * 4 airport lounge passes * Access to TD payment plans * Discounts on Avis and Budget car rentals | * First checked bag is free with Air Canada flights * Aeroplan points don't expire as long as you're a cardholder * Get a NEXUS rebate every 48 months |
| Best for | People who frequently book travel through Expedia or want more flexible reward options | People who frequently fly with Air Canada |
Both cards offer an optional TD Auto Club Membership, but you'll need to purchase this as an add-on. The only TD credit card that currently offers a complimentary membership is the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card.
What we love about the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card
GC: $40
Pros:
- Reasonable annual fee, waived for the first year
- 12 types of insurance included
- Annual $100 travel credit
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Annual birthday bonus
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Points worth just 0.5 cents each
As one of TD's premium travel rewards cards, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card has steep income requirements, but this isn't unusual. And if you meet them, you'll get a credit card that makes travel much easier. For instance, this Visa card comes with a Visa Airport Companion membership (which provides global access to airport lounges) and 4 free lounge passes.
We also love the generous insurance package, which includes 12 types of travel insurance. Want concierge service and discounts on car rentals? No problem.
As for earn rates, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card shines:
- 8 points per $1 spent on travel booked online through Expedia For TD
- 6 points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, and public transit
- 4 points per $1 spent on recurring bill payments, streaming, digital gaming, and media
- 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
To redeem your points, you can book travel using the Expedia For TD platform, or use another booking site – just select "cash back statement credits" to book, no matter which travel site you choose. You can also use your points at Amazon, shop the TD Rewards catalogue, or get gift cards.
What we love about the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
×2 Award winner 
Pros:
- Reasonable annual fee, waived for the first year
- Free first checked bag with Air Canada
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards
- Partial NEXUS rebate every 48 months
- Earn double points when paying with your card and providing your Aeroplan number (at Aeroplan partners)
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Only high-value reward redemption option is for Air Canada flights
While the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card prioritizes flexibility, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card rewards loyalty – specifically, loyalty to Air Canada. The card starts by giving you the opportunity to earn a nice 45,000-point bonus, and those with the TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan get the first year's annual fee waived, too. After that, you'll get 1.5 points per $1 spent on Air Canada travel (along with gas and grocery purchases) and 1 point per $1 on other spending. You can boost your point earnings when making purchases with Aeroplan retail partners, too.
With the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, your points will never expire, which is handy for infrequent travellers. Plus, Aeroplan's Preferred Pricing can be very convenient and very valuable. And when you do fly with Air Canada, you'll earn status faster and get a free checked bag.
There are other travel perks, too, such as car rental discounts and the option to purchase a TD Auto Club Membership. Swinging by a Starbucks to fuel up for your trip? You'll earn 50% more reward stars by using the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
How do the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card compare?
These travel reward cards share some similarities – like annual fees and interest rates – but there's plenty to set them apart.
Best benefits: TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
It's a close call, but the First Class Travel card has a few advantages over the Aeroplan card. For one thing, you'll get an annual birthday bonus of 10% of what you earned over the past year (up to a bonus of 10,000 points). You'll also get an annual $100 travel credit that you can use to book hotels and vacation packages totalling at least $500 through Expedia For TD.
While it's not quite enough to cover the full fee, the Aeroplan card offers a NEXUS rebate valued at $100 CAD. You'll also have access to free first checked bags and preferred pricing on Air Canada flights. Travel with airlines outside of Air Canada, though, and the perks aren't nearly as plentiful.
Both cards include Visa Infinite benefits. This means you'll enjoy access to luxury hotels, exclusive dining opportunities, and complimentary concierge services.
Best insurance: tie
If accompanying credit card insurance is important to you, you'll be pleased to learn that both cards come with the same impressive insurance package. Here's what you'll get from both cards:
TD First Class Travel® 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.
Best rewards: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
An average $3,000 monthly spend will earn you more per year with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card than the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card. According to our calculations, the Aeroplan card will earn you an average of $837 in annual rewards while the First Class competitor comes in a bit short at $698.
Ultimately, though, you'll want to consider which reward program you'd rather participate in. TD Rewards gives you more redemption options, while Aeroplan offers high value and perks when redeeming points for Air Canada travel.
You can try out our handy Aeroplan points calculator or TD Rewards calculator to determine your own points value.
Highest acceptance: tie
As Visa cards, you shouldn't have any trouble using either card anywhere credit cards are accepted.
Highest welcome bonus: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card comes with a generous welcome bonus: the ability to earn up to 165,000 TD Rewards points, plus a waived annual fee for the first year. This puts the card's welcome bonus value around $825, plus $139 to account for the free first year.
That said, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card offers even more to new cardholders: up to 45,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months and $12,000 in the first year. This gives the welcome bonus a value of about $900, plus another $139 for the annual fee waiver in the first year.
Interest fees: tie
Although neither TD offering is considered a low-interest credit card, the interest rates for purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers are pretty standard:
Lowest annual fee: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Although the cards are completely equal in their annual fee amount, read the fine print, and you'll see the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card has a slight advantage.
Sure, the annual fee for the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is waived for the first year, but it's only waived for the first year. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card not only waives the fee for the first year, but gives you the opportunity to waive it every year that you have a TD All-Inclusive Banking Plan.
Lowest eligibility requirements: tie
Both cards require $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income, which could be a sticking point for some Canadians.
Pro Tip: If you don't meet the eligibility requirements for the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, consider the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card instead. If you don't meet the eligibility requirements for the Aeroplan VI, check out the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card.
The winner: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
While there's no doubt that the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is a versatile travel card with high earn rates, we have to give the crown to the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card offers higher annual rewards and excellent perks when you're travelling with Air Canada. Plus, you'll get a head start on earning those Aeroplan points with a generous welcome bonus, which all ends up in your pocket thanks to that first year free.
Here's what cardholders have to say
We checked out what cardholders on forums and social media had to say about these cards and found familiar sentiments, with people claiming the Aeroplan card is good for those who prefer flying with Air Canada.
This Facebook user agrees that choosing between the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card depends on whether you prefer to fly only with Air Canada and Aeroplan:
Commenting on a different feature, this Red Flag Deals user points out that the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card's annual fee is easily offset by its value:
Interestingly, if you look at our product pages for the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, you'll notice that the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card has more user reviews and, surprisingly, a higher rating.
FAQ
What is the difference between TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card?
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card have a few important differences, mostly related to their individual perks and benefits. Since one card earns Aeroplan rewards and the other TD rewards, you'll find more Air Canada perks with one, and enjoy the benefits of Expedia For TD with the other.
Is a TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card worth it?
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card can be an excellent card if you know you want a credit card that rewards your travel spending and gives you flexibility when you redeem your points. If you're not particularly partial to Aeroplan and prefer to fly with whichever airline is most convenient on Expedia, this can be a good choice.
Is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card a good card?
Yes, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is an excellent travel card and one of the top 3 Aeroplan cards available to Canadians. Air Canada loyalists appreciate the free checked bag, preferred pricing on reward flights, and accelerated Aeroplan earn rates. Oh, and an additional 1,000 Elite Status Miles per $10,000 spent doesn't hurt either.
Which TD card is best for travel points?
The best TD card for travel points really depends on which rewards program you prefer. If you know you want to maximize Aeroplan rewards, you'll definitely want to go with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. On the other hand, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card allows you to earn valuable TD Rewards via Expedia For TD.
Do you get lounge access with TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card?
Yes, TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card cardholders enjoy airport lounge access worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion program. This membership alone is worth $99 – $290 USD, and TD provides its First Class cardholders with 4 free lounge passes, which bumps up the value even further.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 238 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 238 cards is for you.
GC: 
Comments
Leave a comment
Required fields are marked with *. Your email address will not be published.