The TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is the talk of the town among the travel-savvy and high-flyers.
Yes, itās one of the best travel credit cards, and itās also your ticket to a lavish journey with an incredible earn rate on AeroplanĀ® points. While the āprivilegeā cards bring a host of luxury travel perks, its annual fee is $599, making it a high-roller in the world of travel credit cards. If youāre a jet-setter who fancies the finer aspects of travel, this fee is but a small fare to a realm of upscale travel benefits (think Airport lounges, priority check-ins) and substantial insurance coverage. The TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* is also crafted in metal.
For those whose heart beats for extraordinary travel experiences, (and who meet the $150,000 minimum personal income eligibility criteria), the TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is like holding a VIP pass to a world of exquisite travel adventures.
TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card pros and cons
Pros
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Welcome bonus up to 85,000 AeroplanĀ® points (up to $2,900 in value)
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Complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge access and six worldwide lounge visits annually
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Priority Boarding and Baggage Handling
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High AeroplanĀ® earn rates, double points on eligible Air Canada purchases
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Extensive travel insurance benefits
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Free checked bags on Air Canada
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Preferred Pricing on AeroplanĀ® flight rewards
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Visa Infinite Privilege* designation perks (e.g. DragonPass membership)
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$100 CAD NEXUS credit
Cons
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Steep annual fee of $599
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High eligibility requirements ($150,000 personal or $200,000 household income)
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Additional cardholder fee of $199
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High-value rewards mainly for Air Canada flights
Welcome bonus
Earn up to $2,900 in valueā including up to 85,000 Aeroplan pointsā . Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
- Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new cardā
- Earn an additional 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 180 days of Account openingā
- Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 within 12 months of Account openingā
Earn rate
- Earn two points for every $1 spent on direct Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada VacationsĀ®.
- Accrue 1.5 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, travel, groceries and dining purchases.
- Earn 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Double the points when paying with your card and providing your AeroplanĀ® number at over 150 partner brands and over 200 online retailers via the AeroplanĀ® eStore.
Airport benefits
- Unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges within North America, including complementary access for one guest.
- Through the Visa infinite Privilege* program, you get up to six complimentary DragonPass Airport lounge visits per year (over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide).
- Priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and airport standby on Air Canada flights (for you and up to eight travelers on the same reservation).
- Priority benefits like valet parking and fast track through security at Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Torontoās Billy Bishop airports.
- $100 NEXUS credit towards your application fee every 48 months.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card: Insurance coverage
- Travel medical coverage: Up to $5 million for the first 31 days of your trip (four days if youāre over 65)
- Travel accident insurance: Up to $500,000
- Trip cancellation insurance: $2,500
- Trip interruption insurance: $5,000
- Flight delay insurance: $1,000
- Baggage delay insurance: $1,000
- Lost or stolen baggage insurance: $2,500
- Rental car insurance against theft and damages up to $85,000 for 48 consecutive days (Plus save 10% when you rent with Avis or Budget)
- Double the manufacturerās warranty period on eligible purchases, up to 24 months in total.
- Emergency cash advances up to $5,000.
- Protection against damage or theft on eligible items purchased with your card for up to 120 days.
- Hotel burglary insurance up to $2,500 for eligible personal items stolen belonging to the primary cardholder or eligible family members traveling with them.
Extras
- Unlock an annual worldwide companion pass from $99 after spending $25,000 or more on net purchases.
- Access to the complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge, available 24/7.
- Save a minimum of 10% on car rentals in the U.S. and Canada through Avis and Budget.
- Receive instant fraud alerts via mobile with TD Fraud Alerts.
- Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment towards Aeroplan Elite Status for every $5,000 spent (minus any returns/credits).
- Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collectionā : Receive seven exclusive benefits when booking through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, with an additional eighth benefit at over 200 properties, exclusively for Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders.
- Enjoy 50% more pointsāand 50% more Starbucks Rewardsāat participating Starbucks locations when reloading your card.
- Earn one point for every $4 spent plus bonus points at the LCBO at checkout or online through the LCBO mobile app.
- Link your Aeroplan card with Uber and Uber Eats accounts and earn one point per $1 spent on eligible rides and food orders.
- Get gas discounts at Ultramar, Chevron and Pioneer.
Offer not available to residents of Quebec.
ā Terms and conditions apply.
TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Rewards
How to earn TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* points
At its basic level, the TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card earns points in the following ways:
- 2 points per dollar on every direct purchase with Air Canada, including Air Canada VacationsĀ®.
- 1.5 points per dollar on gas, dining, travel, and grocery purchases.
- 1.25 points per dollar on everything else.
When you put this card against other Aeroplan contenders, the TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* card accelerates your point accumulation, especially on those everyday buys like gas and groceries.
There's a bit of a catch, though. There's a ceiling of $100,000 annually across all spending categories. Once you hit that, the earning rate takes a small dip to 1.25 points on all purchases. Yet, that base rate isn't too shabby, all things considered.
How to redeem your hard-earned Aeroplan points
To maximize your points value, itās best to redeem points with Air Canada or on AeroplanĀ®ās website.
You have many options from flights, flight upgrades (think first-class), hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages. You can use a combination of points and cash to get you on the right flight with the comforts you desire (e.g. high cabin class, in-flight Wi-Fi). Note there are no cash surcharges on flight rewards with Air Canada, but there may be taxes and third-party fees (e.g. airport fees) and you can use your points to cover those.
You can book a flight reward on another airline (such as United, Lufthansa and Singapore), but there is a flat āPartner Booking Feeā of $39 per ticket (which you can pay with points).
Know that AeroplanĀ® doesnāt stick to a fixed dollar value in flight redemptions. Your pointsā worth sways with market value, distance and demand. So if youāre looking to squeeze out every ounce of value, thereās some number crunching involved.
Alternatively, you can also donate points to a charity of your choice. For more, read the Money.ca Aeroplan Points Guide.
TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* benefits
- After spending $25,000, you unlock a round-trip companion pass for only $99.
- Get priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling and airport standby for you and up to eight companions.
- Comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency medical coverage up to $5 million and travel accident insurance up to $500,000.
TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* reviews: What people are saying about this card
The most common question asked is if this card is worth the $599 annual fee. Reddit user, Limp-toe-179, says itās the Visa equivalent to the Amex Platinum, so if you have a good sign up bonus, consistently fly Air Canada and appreciate lounge access and insurance perks, this card could be right for you.
However, Redditor ādeltatixā says at this tier level, the Amex AeroplanĀ® Reserve card may make more sense. Itās no longer about pure earnings, but more so the special privileges and premium lounge access. Keep in mind, you can do a 1:1 transfer of AMEX MR points to Aeroplan.
Finally, Reddit user "heatfromfirefromheat" offers a recommendation of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard. This card has no foreign exchange fees, unlimited lounge passes with DragonPass and much less expensive. Qualifying for this card, though, requires you to be a HSBC premier/private banking client.
How the TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Compares
TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* vs. American ExpressĀ® AeroplanĀ® Reserve Card
The TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* and the American ExpressĀ® AeroplanĀ® Reserve cards are tailored for the frequent flyer, with a tilt towards Air Canada loyalists. Both cards have a hefty annual fee of $599, which they attempt to justify with a suite of travel-oriented perks.
When it comes to cozy travel experiences, both cards extend priority services like early boarding and baggage handling on Air Canada flights, alongside Maple Leaf Lounge access. Yet, the Amex card takes the luxury a notch higher with unlimited Priority Pass lounge access (subject to a usage fee), compared to the TD card's six passes.
Additionally, the card gives you a $100 NEXUS fee rebate and an annual worldwide companion pass after a $25,000 annual spend, though TD charges you $99 for it.
TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* vs. American ExpressĀ® AmexĀ® Platinum
The TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* and American ExpressĀ® AmexĀ® Platinum cater to different audiences: the former to AeroplanĀ® members and frequent Air Canada flyers with perks like priority boarding, while the latter appeals to broader travel enthusiasts with extensive lounge access and hotel upgrades. TD's card excels in earning AeroplanĀ® points on Air Canada purchases, whereas AmexĀ®'s card shines with a generous welcome bonus, a $200 annual travel credit, and global luxury travel benefits. Both cards provide robust insurance, but Amex has a slight advantage with a more comprehensive coverage, mirroring its broader travel benefits approach compared to TD's brand-specific focus.
The Amex Platinum has an annual fee of $799, but its $200 annual travel credit and $200 annual dining credit brings it down to $399. Both cards offer welcome bonuses that require a card renewal to fully unlock.
If luxury perks like hotel upgrades (e.g. room upgrades, daily breakfast, late check out, etc.) at Hilton, Marriott and Radisson are what you desire most, the AmexĀ® wins. And the Priority Pass membership with unlimited free entries, nearly $600 CAD in value, and you can bring a guest at no extra charge.
Money.caās final verdict on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
The TDĀ® AeroplanĀ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is a luxury, travel-focused card designed for high-income individuals. With its impressive welcome bonus, comprehensive travel benefits, and premium perks, it offers undeniable value for those who can leverage its features.
While the annual fee is steep, frequent travelers can easily offset this cost through the card's rich rewards structure and additional travel benefits. In short, if you're looking for a card that can provide luxury travel experiences and a high points earn rate, this may be the card for you.
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