TD has a great set of Aeroplan co-branded cards. I’ve talked plenty about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, which currently has a 30,000 mile bonus, the highest it’s ever been. However, TD has just launched a new campaign featuring an improved offer on their TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, which is their top-tier card intended to compete with the AMEX Platinum.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Offer Details
The new offer for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is 65,000 miles, broken down into the following categories:
- 25,000 Miles for Opening the Account
- 25,000 Miles for Keeping the Card active for 90 days
- 5,000 Miles for Adding an Authorized User
- 10,000 Miles for as an Anniversary Bonus
This is the highest non-American Express credit card offer I’ve seen in Canada, ever. I have never seen an offer this high for a Visa in Canada. TD has this promotion until December 2. I highly suspect that this generous welcome offer will be lowered after, so if you’ve thought about this card, it’s worth picking up NOW.
As this card is the main super premium co-branded credit card with Aeroplan, the features are really rich. For starters, you’re earning 1.25 Aeroplan per dollars spent on everyday purchases. That’s 25% more than any regular Visa Infinite card, and comparable with 1.25 Membership Rewards points with the American Express Platinum card. You also earn 1.5 Aeroplan miles per dollar spent on gas, grocery, drugstore, and Aircanada.com purchases. That matches the category bonus for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Benefits
As well, the following travel benefits on Air Canada apply, which are exclusive to the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege:
- One complimentary first-checked bag
- Priority check-in and priority boarding
- 50% Discount on a Companion Ticket – once a year, when you purchase from Air Canada two eligible Business Class (Flexible) fares (classes J, C and D)
These privileges extend not only on Aeroplan redemptions, but also on paid flights operated by Air Canada or Rouge. If you fly Air Canada frequently, but not enough to get elite status, these benefits could potentially be worth hundreds of dollars. The 50% discount on a companion ticket is quite interesting, as the ticket can originate from any destination as long as Air Canada/Express/Rouge operates all flights. Therefore, the next time there’s a heavily discounted mistake sale fare from a cheap origin city (e.g. Cairo, Colombo, etc.) the discount could be quite valuable if you’re travelling with someone.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege also offers airport lounge access benefits:
- Four annual One-Time Guest Access Benefits to an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge when you travel using an Aeroplan flight reward redeemed using miles from your Aeroplan account
- Priority Pass membership including 6 free lounge visits per year for you and your travel companions
These are kind of dull compared to an unlimited access Priority Pass and Centurion Lounges with the American Express Platinum Card, but still offer some value.
There are two other insurance benefits I’d like to mention – the first is trip delay. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege covers you for up to $1000 CAD in expenses after a four hour (or longer) delay. While this is similar with the AMEX Platinum cards, this policy to my knowledge covers Aeroplan Awards redeemed from your account while the American Express cards do not, as the full fare of the ticket must be charged to the card. That’s quite valuable if you do a lot of Aeroplan redemptions with tight connections.
As well, this card also has Extended Warranty protection, tripling the warranty for a maximum of two years. That’s the best in the Canadian market, and is better than American Express which only doubles the warranty. If you buy a lot of electronics, this is a great card to get because of this coverage.
Where’s the Value?
Right off the bat, you can get 55,000 miles just for opening the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege with just a single purchase. That’s really good for those who aren’t able to meet significant minimum spend requirements. I value Aeroplan at 1.6 cents apiece, so the signup bonus is worth at least $880.
Next, the insurance and travel benefits could be worth upwards of hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on if you fly paid coach with Air Canada often, or if you utilize the travel and purchase warranties heavily. The key is maximizing the benefits from the card.
TD does do pro-rated refunds, so the $399 annual fee becomes only $125 if you hold it for three months. That’s not bad if you decide to get the card, but end up cancelling or changing the product because you don’t find the card right for you. You’re always free to swap to the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite later, which is the gold standard for a non-AMEX Canadian credit card, in my opinion.
Keep in mind, by that time you’ve already earned 55,000 miles, which is enough for a one-way business class trip to Europe, fuel surcharge free on airlines like Swiss, Turkish, or Scandinavian.
Swiss Business Class
Am I Eligible for this Card?
TD’s policy on getting a card multiple times is that you will not receive the bonus if you’ve opened the same product within the last six months. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and Aeroplan Visa Infinite are different products. That means if you’ve opened a TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite earlier this year, you won’t be eligible for the 30,000 mile bonus if you get it again – however, this does not preclude you from picking up the Visa Infinite Privilege.
The minimum income to apply for this card is $200,000 in household income. Oddly enough, the application does not specify a minimum personal income. As always, never lie on your credit card applications because that is illegal. However, it’d be extremely difficult to prove household income – not to mention the definition of household can be quite varied.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the TD All-Inclusive account waives the fee $120 annual fee for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. I’m sure if that that if you had a good relationship with a TD Banker, there might be something that could be done in regards to the annual fee on this card.
Conclusion
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege currently has a great welcome offer. It is the highest signup bonus in Canadian history for a non-American Express Card. That being said, there are plenty of other cards to pick up as well right now, all with great bonuses. I do believe that this card is not for everyone. However, with such a great signup bonus, you’ll never know until you actually try it out. You might end up getting much more value from the card benefits than you expect!
Apply for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege here.
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Do you have to be a Canadian resident to get this? (There’s a TD bank around the corner from me in the U.S., for example).
I’m not sure if you need to be a Canadian resident, but you need to have a Canadian credit file and SIN to my knowledge.
I was just chatting with a service rep who said the annual fee is not prorated.
I’m not sure they’d be right… let me check with my contact with TD and I’ll get an official response.
Here’s the response I got from TD:
“The short answer is that we don’t refund annual fees when a customer closes their account. The customer would have already been issued the Welcome Bonus (usually, if first purchase was made).
That said, if the customer calls in and asks to change products, the associate may credit the annual fee. However, if the customer has already been issued the 15k welcome bonus. I would assume they would not be issued back the fee.”
Hope that helps.
What if I opened an account 12 months ago, and closed it 1 month ago before renewal? Do I still qualify for the bonus?
You should – the term and conditions state: “If you have opened an Account in the last 6 months, you will not be eligible for these offers.” They do not mention anything about the time of account closure.
I’m about to call TD regarding the minimum personal income. What’s the lowest claimed personal income anyone has ever successfully applied with? Eg. Would 150k be close enough? Could I just apply with 150k personal + 50k household, or would they ask for household proof? Thanks!
Let me ask my TD contact about that as well.
Just got my answer from TD:
“Household income simply outlines the total income that all people in the household make. So if the husband makes 150k and wife makes 50k then they’re good to go. Never hurts to apply if they really want the card.”
Hope this helps!
I unfortunately wouldn’t have that answer for you. Let us know!
It is 50,000 points for $399. Not 65,000 points. The extra 5,000 is for authorized user (+$99 – not worth it for 5,000 points), and the extra 10,000 points are after one year anniversary (+$399 – not worth it for 10,000 points).
Note that CIBC is also offering a 50k AP bonus on signup for their Privilege card.
https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-banking/credit-cards/travel-rewards-cards/aerogold-visa-infinite-privilege.html
Hey Jeff,
Appreciate the detailed post, card looks pretty impressive.
Is the consensus then that the annual fee IS in fact $399 if you keep the card open for the full 12 months to maximize the points bonus?
In your mind is it still worth it even with that $400 bonus (valuing AE points at 1.6 cents a piece, in my mind it still would be a good deal?)
Cheers,
– Mike
Yes, the annual fee would be $399. However, pro-rata refunds with a product change info is still inconclusive – you’d have to try to know. I would in a worst case scenario, if you did hold the card for 12 months, you earn 65,000 Aeroplan – which is worth quite a lot, especially if you’re looking to top up your account.
Hi,
I just wanted to say that you mentioned that the 1st checked bag isn’t specific to aeroplan redemption.. which is false. I tried to use that perk in Dec, and was specifically told that it only applies to reward tickets. The same as the lounge pass.
It is for reward tickets for the Visa Infinite, but not the Visa Infinite Privilege.