TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Review

I recently got the new TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card to take advantage of the sign up bonus.  Even though travel is basically halted right now, it doesn’t hurt to start hoarding your points and save up for that big trip that we will all be taking when COVID is over.  Here’s my TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite review.

I think this is probably my 4th time having this card.  TD uses Equifax credit bureau for reporting.

Because we have chequing account with TD that we keep a minimum balance on for no fee banking, we can have the annual fee waived for this card on a yearly basis (and not just the first year free).

Prior to this, we had the TD First Class Travel Visa.  We enjoyed a trip to Whistler (one night hotel stay at a luxurious feeling Hilton before the lockdown) and a the local PNE Winter Lights drive thru show using our points, it was great!

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite has been one of my favourite cards.  Late last fall in 2020, Aeroplan did a huge revamp and changed how points are redeemed.  Even their logo looks different now.  Aeroplan also changed the credit card partner offerings and bonuses too.

Here are some of the changes.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Annual Fee

First of all, they increased the annual fee for this credit card to from $120 to $139 per year with the new Aeroplan TD Visa Infinite.

However, right now it is free for your first year (the annual fee is rebated to your credit card statement within the first two statements).

It’s also free for the first additional cardholder too.

As mentioned, you can sign up for a premium banking package (and have the minimum amount) to avoid an annual fee after the first year is over- if you’re new to TD bank, and you sign up for a banking packing, you can even get a $300 cash bonus too!

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Eligibility

To be eligible for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, you have to have an annual income of $60,000 or a $100,000 annual household income at a minimum.

TD AEROPLAN VISA INFINITE SIGN UP BONUS

The sign up bonuses are the best part of well, signing up for credit cards (and admittedly the main reason why I sign up for credit cards).

Ending in May 31 2021 there is a sign up bonus for 10,000 Aeroplan points on your first purchase.

Also, if you are spending $1000 net within the first 90 days, you are eligible to have a Buddy Pass applied to your account as part of their sign up bonus AND you get another 10,000 Aeroplan points.

What’s a Buddy Pass?  If you purchase an Air Canada ticket, you get one free ($0 base fare, you just pay taxes and fees) for a companion for anywhere Air Canada flies in North America, and this includes Hawaii and Mexico.

How long does it take for the sign up bonuses like the bonus Aeroplan points and the Buddy Pass to be applied?  It takes up to 8 weeks for both of these bonuses to be applied once you meet the eligibility.

Finally you can earn another 10,000 TD Aeroplan points for applying for a TD Select Chequing Account, you just need to keep it open for 90 days.  Here’s info on this TD Bank Aeroplan promotion ending May 31, 2021.

Yes, that’s 30,000 Aeroplan points!

Features of the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Here are some of the features of the card, there were a few changes including extra points with Starbucks, a free NEXUS rebate every four years, and a waiver for a lot of baggage fees.

• You earn 1.5 Aeroplan miles at eligible grocery, gas and Air Canada purchases (up to a maximum of $80,000 annual amount)
• Until November 7 2021, you can earn 1.5 Aeroplan miles at Starbucks locations for every $1 spent
• You earn 1 Aeroplan mile everywhere else
• 1 Aeroplan point for every $1 for recurring bill payments
• You can also earn your Aeroplan miles twice when you shop on the eportal, the Aeroplan eStore
• Your Aeroplan points won’t expire accidentally since you have an Aeroplan credit card open
• One big (positive) change is that baggage fees are waived.  Primary card holders and up to eight travel companions traveling on the same trip can have their first checked bag free if travel starts on an Air Canada flight (that’s like 9 people total).  Baggage fees are expensive!  Usually $25-30 for a bag, so this is a huge perk.
• Another positive is free NEXUS every 4 years (48  months).  TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite will rebate your NEXUS fee (up to $100 CAD) and this includes a rebate for additional card holders too.  NEXUS is worth it, though not so much now that the borders are closed
• It looks like they took away the Maple Leaf Lounge access from previous years.

TD Visa Infinite Insurance

The insurance offerings from the TD Visa Infinite seems to be about the same, though there is added insurance, such as Mobile Device Insurance and Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance.

• Auto Rental Collision/ Loss Damage Insurance – have confidence declining that collision damage waiver next time you rent a car. for up to 48 days (in a row).  Though this wouldn’t work for a non-commercial car rental company like Turo.
• Travel Medical Insurance $1 million of medical coverage for the first 21 days.  If you are over the age of 65, you are covered for the first 4 days of your trip.  Their insurance provider is Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Company.
• Trip cancellation insurance of $1500 up to $5000 per insured person and up to $25,000 in total.
• Lost Baggage and Delay insurance of up to $1000 if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours or lost.  This is provided by TD Home and Auto Insurance.
• Flight/Delay trip insurance of $500 (if delayed for more than 4 hours)
• Hotel/ Motel Burglary Insurance– Up to $2500 of coverage for items stolen from your hotel or motel for yourself and family members you are traveling with.  This is a new type of insurance for this card.
• Another new insurance for this card is Mobile Device Insurance.  You are covered for up to $1000 for loss, theft, accidental damage, or mechanical breakdown for your mobile device (though it has to be purchased on this card).

My TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Review

I am a fan, there are lots of perks and given that it is free, I say why not?

If I had to pay, then I wouldn’t sign up for the card… just because I hate paying an annual fee for credit cards!

The return on your dollars spent is better than many cash back cards (even a better cash back card like the MBNA World Elite Mastercard is only about a 1.5% cash back) especially if you can redeem flights for them.

10,000 Aeroplan points is nothing to sneeze at.  Right now, let’s say a flight from YVR to HNL (Honolulu) in November 2021 (will COVID be over by then??) is 22,000 Aeroplan points plus $130 in taxes a fees.  10,000 Aeroplan points is half of a return ticket anyway.

A full fare ticket is $386 including taxes, and a Buddy Pass would make that ticket about $193 each.  A family of four would be $772 if you are just using the Buddy Pass promotion (and signed up “Player 2” which is your spouse).

In the recent past, I’ve redeemed free flights for Hawaii (except we had to pay $75 in taxes each ticket) and our trip to LA/San Diego/Mexico.

The other major perk for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the travel medical insurance.  This is huge! 21 days of travel medical insurance if you are under the age of 65?  That is unheard of.  Good thing I have work health benefits to cover my travel medical insurance, but if I didn’t I would definitely keep this card all the time when I travel.

We had a $10,000 USD expense for a less than 24 hour stay in a US hospital.  It was thankfully covered by my work benefits, but they did ask for a credit card to see if insurance costs could be shared with them.

Readers, what is your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Review?