td travel elite

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card Review

Last Updated on March 5, 2024

Rewards Canada's review of TD's flagship travel rewards credit card!

The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card is a veteran in the Canadian credit card scene and is TD's flagship proprietary travel rewards credit card. The card, which has been in the market for quite a long time has actually never had a complete review here on Rewards Canada, just a lot of separate articles about it! So here it is, our review of the mainstay card from TD.

The review of the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is broken down into the following sections:

• Costs & Sign Up Features
• Features & Benefits

What is good about this card

What is not so good about this card, who should get this card.

The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card was revamped in 2022 and with those changes it regained a spot in our Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings. Here at Rewards Canada we rank it as the fifth best Travel Points Card with an annual fee and consider it the 14th best card overall in Canada.

It is a relatively strong travel rewards card thanks to its accelerated earn rate categories and good to really good redemption value in those points that are earned. It also features a very valuable welcome bonus with no annual fee in the first year so you can test drive it for the first 12 months to see if the card meets your needs.

Costs & Sign up Features

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card has an annual fee of $139 which is now considered the standard for premium cards like this one. Many competing cards also charge $139 annually however others in this same category range from $120 to $150. Additional or supplementary cards are $50 annually per card. You can have the annual fee waived every year if you have a TD All Inclusive Account or Unlimited Chequing Account.

The standard welcome bonus on the card offers 40,000 TD Rewards Points however the card frequently has limited time increased welcome bonus offers.

Right now the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card has an increased limited time welcome bonus offer of up to 100,000 TD Rewards points! The bonus is awarded as 20,000 points when you make your first purchase with the card and then you can earn 80,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $5,000 or more dollars in the first 180 days of account opening. You can also earn up to a 10,000 points more as a birthday bonus. On top of the bonus points their is a first year annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder and the first authorized users. The 100,000 points is worth $500 when you redeem them for travel via Expedia for TD. This offer is available until June 3, 24 (This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here .)

The interest rate on the card is 20.99% and annual income requirements are $60,000 Personal or $100,000 Household .

The card earns TD Rewards Points as follows:

• 8 Points per dollar spent when you book travel through Expedia® For TD.
• 6 Points per dollar spent on Groceries and Restaurants
• 4 Points per dollar spent on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account
• 2 Points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Plus earn an annual Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points. This bonus is equal to 10% of the total number of TD Rewards Points earned over the 12 months preceding the Primary Cardholder’s birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus of 10,000 TD Rewards Points.

Point Valuation Chart

With the birthday bonus:

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card participates in the TD Rewards program which provides numerous rewards options for your points. The primary and most valuable is redeeming your points for travel that is booked via Expedia for TD. You can also redeem points for any travel you book on your own or for that matter, any purchase you make on the card. Other redemption options include educational payments, merchandise and gift cards.

We'll start off by looking at the Expedia for TD redemption option. This redemption option is pretty simple. Simply login to Expedia for TD and search for the travel you would like to book or call in to Expedia for TD to book your travel. After you are done searching for Flights, hotels, vacation packages and so on and have selected what you would like to book you'll be given the option to redeem points against that booking. You can redeem points for a partial payment or cover the whole amount - it is up to you and how many points you have in your account. The redemption is 200 points for $1 so if you have 2,000 points you can use them to get $10 of your booking or if you have 200,000 points you can use them to take $1,000 off the cost of your booking.

The next travel redemption option is being able to redeem points for any travel you book on your own. What this means is that you can book a flight directly with Air Canada, WestJet or any other airline, book any hotel, car rental etc. and when that charge shows up on your account you can redeem your points against that charge. This redemption option starts is 250 points for a $1 credit for the first $1,200 of a travel booking and 200 points for $1 for any portion above $1,200. So if you purchase $1,500 of flights and you have enough points to cover it all, the first $1,200 will be covered as 250 to $1 (300,000 points) and the remaining $300 would be 60,000 points. Just like the Expedia option you can choose to do a partial or complete redemption for these purchases. With this option you have up to 90 days after the charge posts to your account to redeem against it. This is a perfect option for those booking travel on the fly (ie buying a train ticket right at the train station)

After travel you have several other redemption options via TD Rewards. You can choose to pay your credit card with points (Basically a cash back option) which requires 400 points for a $1 statement credit. Points can also be redeemed for education credits with HigherEdPoints at a rate of 62,500 points for $250 to pay tuition or student loans. You can also redeem points for merchandise via TD Rewards' merchandise catalog, Amazon Pay with Points or you can redeem them for dozens of different gift card options.

Features and Benefits

The card comes with some additional features and benefits but does lack in this department compared to some other Visa Infinite Cards. The primary benefit is an annual travel credit for select Expedia for TD bookings. On top of that benefit the card has a decent insurance package and your standard Visa Infinite card benefits. There are also partner benefits that are exclusive to TD which are outlined below.

Annual $100 Travel Credit

Each year you will receive a $100 travel credit that can be used on an eligible purchase made with Expedia For TD An Eligible Travel Credit Purchase means: • A Hotel, Motel, Lodging, or Vacation Rental Purchase of $500.00 CAD or more made with Expedia For TD; or • A Vacation Package Purchase of $500.00 CAD or more made with Expedia For TD, that includes a Hotel, Motel, Lodging or Vacation Rental booking packaged with a transportation booking.

Visa Infinite benefits

• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection provides benefits like room upgrades, complimentary Wi-Fi and breakfast, late checkout, and so much more at over 900 Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection properties around the world.
• Visa Infinite Dining Series - Each event includes multi-course meals, drink pairings and an interactive experience. You'll get to taste dishes from some of the country's top chefs and restaurants as they guide you through each course.
• Wine country benefit from wineries across Ontario and British Columbia including complimentary tastings and tours. You can also get access to online offers like complimentary shipping and savings on wine purchases.
• Get golf perks with Troon Rewards® through your Visa Infinite card and automatically receive Silver Status. You’ll save 10% on golf fees, merchandise, and lessons at over 150 courses around the world.
• Access to private movie events and at-home offers as part of the Visa Infinite Screening Series. In the fall, get special perks at the Toronto International Film Festival®.
• Visa Infinite card includes a Complimentary Concierge service that can offer help with anything like the perfect travel itinerary, restaurant recommendations, finding the perfect birthday gift, and more

Partner Benefits

Starbucks rewards.

Earn 50% more TD Rewards Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks stores when you link your TD First Class Travel Visa Card to your Starbucks Rewards account.

The TD First Class Visa Infinite Card comes with a very strong insurance package that includes the following:

• Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance (21 days under age 65, 4 days for 65+)
• Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Trip Interruption Insurance
• Flight Delay Insurance
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
• Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
• Hotel Burglary Insurance
• $500,000 Travel Accident Insurance
• Purchase Security Insurance
• Extended Warranty Insurance
• Mobile Device Insurance

The accelerated earn rates when coupled with the birthday bonus are great. They provide up to a 4.4% return when you do use your points via Expedia for TD and that makes this card very competitive in that regard.

The range of flexible rewards options are good with this card. Your best value is to book via Expedia For TD but the fact you have the other options for any travel bookings, education payments, and more make the card's points quite versatile. And compared to this card's two biggest competitors, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Cards and RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, the any travel any time rewards options and value are great.

The welcome bonus is one of the better ones you'll find in the market for proprietary credit card reward programs. To be able to earn up to 135,000 points in the first year and pay no annual fee is a great deal.

If you take Expedia For TD redemptions out of the equation, the base earn rate is not good. We've stated in the past that no premium cards should have a base earn rate below 1% and this card kind of falls into that category. The Expedia option keeps the base earn rate at 1% but for those who love to book travel on their own you don't get that rate. For example, some people like to book directly with a hotel so they can earn points and receive status benefits, then that base earn rate of 0.8 to 0.88% isn't good if you redeem those points towards that hotel charge.

There is no lounge access benefit with this card. You would think with the name "First Class Travel" the card would at the very least have an annual lounge membership benefit where you still pay to enter the lounge. That isn't the case however with this card which is too bad as many of its competitors do offer lounge access programs.

No conversion options. I really wouldn't call this a 'not so good thing' about the card but it is more of wish on Rewards Canada's part. Before TD revamped this card in 2022 we called for it to be overhauled the year prior and one of the items we had suggested was a conversion option to Aeroplan. Seeing that TD is the primary issuer of Aeroplan co-brand cards it should be able to add a TD Rewards points to Aeroplan conversion. If they did this it would make this card even more appealing and definitely move it into the top 10 cards in Canada.

• Consumers who bank at TD and want to keep all financial products with one bank (especially if your account gives you a discount or rebate on your annual fee)
• Consumers who like having multiple redemption options with their points
• Consumers who can or do have significant spending with Expedia For TD, on groceries, restaurants and/or on recurring bills.

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is a popular travel rewards credit card that is popular with TD and non-TD customers alike. Its overhaul in 2022 help the card regain some traction as a strong option in our very c ompetitive credit card market. By having accelerated earn rates coupled with a variety of redemption options, the card ranks in the top 15 of all travel cards in Canada. The biggest drawback to the card is the lack of additional benefits that are seen on other similar cards in Canada. If you don't need lounge access, travel enhancement credits or something like No Foreign Transaction Fees this card is definitely one to consider.

Apply for this card here

Latest card details:

TD First Class Travel ® Visa Infinite* Card

Earn up to $800 in value†, including up to 100,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year† Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024

Annual Fee: $139 | Additional Cards: $50 † | Annual interest rate 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on funds advances | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income

Terms & Conditions apply

Card details

• Earn a welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†.
• Earn 80,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Earn a Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†
• Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD.
• Get an Annual Fee Rebate for the first year†.
• To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening. To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder by June 4, 2024.
• Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†
• Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants†.
• Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†
• Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card† plus earn an annual Birthday Bonus† of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points
• Your TD Points don’t expire as long as you are a TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* Cardholder
• An annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD.
• TD Rewards Birthday bonus† that helps you celebrate in style.
• An extensive suite of travel insurance coverages which helps you travel prepared
• No travel blackouts†, no seat restrictions† and no expiry† for your TD Rewards Points as long as your account is open and in good standing.
• Redeem your TD Rewards Points towards making purchases at Amazon.ca with Amazon Shop with Points. Conditions apply. See more details.
• Click here to apply for TD First Class Visa Infinite Card

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here .

† Terms and Conditions apply . Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.

Other cards to consider if you are looking at this card:

• American Express Cobalt® Card
• CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
• Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard
• HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®
• MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
• National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
• Scotia Gold American Express Card
• Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card

Talk to us!

Tell us what you think of this card and/or review in the comments section below or join the conversation in our Facebook Group and on Twitter !

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TD First Class Travel vs TD Aeroplan: How to Choose

The main difference between TD First Class Travel and TD Aeroplan is the rewards system.  Aeroplan is Air Canada’s reward program, while the TD First Class Travel card is tied to TD Rewards Points. Thinking about where you shop and how you like to redeem your points can help you decide which of these cards is the better fit.

What is TD Aeroplan?

What is td first class travel.

• TD First Class Travel vs. TD Aeroplan: Which is better?
• TD First Class Travel cards
• TD Aeroplan cards

TD Aeroplan is the name given to a group of TD credit cards that earn Aeroplan points . You can use the points to buy things like flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, merchandise and more via Air Canada’s Aeroplan redemption platform.

TD offers four Aeroplan credit cards:

• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite .
• TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum.
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege.
• TD Aeroplan Visa Business.

Did you know? TD isn’t the only issuer that works with Aeroplan. American Express and CIBC also offer Aeroplan credit cards with their own earn rates and perks.

Aeroplan rewards

Each of the four Aeroplan credit cards offered by TD have slightly different earn rates and reward categories. Learn more about each card’s earn rates and spending categories below: 

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• 1.5x Aeroplan points on eligible gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases. 
• 1x Aeroplan points on everything else.
• Double the points earned when you shop with partner brands and through the Aeroplan eStore. 
• 50% more Aeroplan points when you shop at Starbucks (card must be linked to your Starbucks Rewards account). 

TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card

• 1 Aeroplan point per $1.00 spent on eligible gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases.
• 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent on everything else.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

• 2x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases. 
• 1.5x Aeroplan points on eligible gas, groceries, travel and dining purchases.
• 1.25x Aeroplan points on everything else. 

TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card

• 1.5x Aeroplan points on eligible travel, dining and business purchases. 
• 1x Aeroplan points on everything else. 

TD Aeroplan card earn rates and categories accurate as of June 22, 2023.

Pros of TD Aeroplan

• Range of cards to choose from.
• Business card available. 
• Most cards include travel insurance, such as medical, baggage delay and flight cancellation.

Cons of TD Aeroplan

• The redemption program focuses mainly on Air Canada. 
• Lower earn rates than similar cards, including the TD First Class Travel card.

TD First Class Travel is another name for one of TD’s rewards cards: the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card. It’s the only card from TD with the name First Class Travel, but not the only card that earns TD Rewards Points. The TD Platinum Travel Visa, TD Travel Rewards Visa and TD Business Travel Visa also earn TD Rewards Points.

TD First Class Travel rewards

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card earns between two and eight TD Rewards Points per CAD spent, depending on the purchase category.

• 8x TD Rewards Points on travel bookings made via the Expedia for TD platform.
• 6x TD Rewards Points on groceries and restaurants.
• 4x TD Rewards Points on recurring bill payments.
• 2x TD Rewards Points on everything else. 

Pros of TD First Class Travel

• High reward earn rates compared to TD Aeroplan cards.
• Travel TD Rewards Points can be redeemed with multiple booking platforms.
• Includes travel insurance, such as medical, baggage delay and flight cancellation.  

Cons of TD First Class Travel

• Only one First Class Travel card to choose from.
• Highest earn rate is only for Expedia purchases.

TD First Class Travel vs TD Aeroplan: Which is better?

TD Aeroplan beats out First Class Travel when it comes to points value. Based on NerdWallet analysis, the average value of 1 Aeroplan point is worth 2.23 cents. To compare, you can expect to get around 0.25-0.5 cents per TD Rewards Point, according to NerdWallet analysis. These values depend on the redemption method you choose.  

That’s not to say TD Aeroplan cards are better than the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card. If you don’t fly with Air Canada, for example, Aeroplan points may not be as practical. Look at features like annual fees , reward categories, redemption options, interest rates and insurance perks when making your decision.

TD First Class Travel and TD Aeroplan cards

Td first class travel® visa infinite* card.

• Annual Fee $139 To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening. To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder by June 4, 2024. Waived first year
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 22.99% 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 2x-8x Points Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†. Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants†. Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†. Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card†.
• Intro Offer Up to 100,000 Points Earn up to 100,000 TD Rewards Points†: Earn a welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†. Earn 80,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†. Earn a Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn up to $800 in value†, including up to 100,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†.
• Earn 80,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Earn a Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†.
• To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening.
• To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder by June 4, 2024.
• Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†.
• Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants†.
• Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†.
• Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card† plus earn an annual Birthday Bonus† of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points.
• No travel blackouts†, no seat restrictions† and no expiry† for your TD Rewards Points as long as your account is open and in good standing.
• Each year, you will receive one $100.00 TD Travel Credit on your first Eligible Travel Credit Purchase of $500.00 or more made with Expedia For TD and posted to the Account in a calendar year.
• Interest Rates: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.
• Go Places on Points: Your Points are worth more when you redeem through Expedia® For TD: Search over a million flights, hotels, packages and more! When you’re ready to book, you can redeem† your TD Rewards Points towards your travel purchase right away.
• Redeem your TD Rewards Points towards making purchases at Amazon.ca with Amazon Shop with Points. Conditions apply.
• Shop online through TDRewards.com Redeem your TD Rewards Points for great deals on a wide selection of merchandise and gift cards.
• Option to purchase TD Auto Club Membership†: and be covered 24 hours a day for emergency roadside assistance services in case something goes wrong when you are out on the road.
• Travel Medical Insurance†: Up to $2 million of coverage for the first 21 days. If you or your spouse is aged 65 or older, you are covered for the first 4 days of your trip. Additional top-up coverage is available.
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance†: For Trip Cancellation, up to $1,500 of coverage per insured person, with a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons, and for Trip Interruption, up to $5,000 of coverage per insured person, with a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
• To be eligible, $60,000 (individual) or $100,000 (household) annual income is required. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
• †Terms and conditions apply.
• This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
• The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

• Annual Fee $139
• Rewards Rate 1x-1.5x Points Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Earn 1 point† for every $1 spent on all other Purchases made with your Card.
• Intro Offer Up to 50,000 Points Earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points†: Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†. Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening†. Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of Account opening†. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn up to $1,200 in value†, including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† (enough for a round trip to New York City†), and additional travel benefits. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†.
• Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of Account opening†.
• Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card.
• Earn 1 point† for every $1 spent on all other Purchases made with your Card.
• Earn points twice when you pay with your Card and provide your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and at 170+ online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore (www.aeroplan.com/estore).
• Earn big rewards on the little things: Earn 50% more Aeroplan Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® stores. Simply link your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card to your Starbucks® Rewards account. Conditions apply.
• Your Aeroplan Points do not expire as long as you are a TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Cardholder in good standing.
• Travel lightly through the airport and save on baggage fees†: Primary Cardholders, Additional Cardholders, and travel companions (up to eight) travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lbs) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight.
• Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge†: On-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Visa Infinite Concierge can help with any Cardholder request — big or small, to help you get the most out of life whenever you travel, shop and use your Card.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection†: Receive seven exclusive benefits when you book your stay through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 of the world’s most intriguing properties.
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance†: For Trip Cancellation coverage of up to $1,500 per insured person, with a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons, and for Trip Interruption coverage of up to $5,000 per insured person, with a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
• To be eligible, a $60,000 annual personal income or $100,000 household annual income is required. You must also be a Canadian resident and be the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card

• Annual Fee $89 To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders by September 4, 2024. Waived first year
• Rewards Rate 0.67x-1x Points Earn 1 point† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Earn 1 point† for every $1.50 spent on all other eligible purchases† made with your Card.
• Intro Offer Up to 20,000 Points Earn up to 20,000 Aeroplan points: Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†. Earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of Account opening†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by September 3, 2024.
• Earn up to $500 in value† including up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† and no annual fee for the first year. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by September 3, 2024.
• To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders by September 4, 2024.
• Earn 1 point† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card.
• Earn 1 point† for every $1.50 spent on all other eligible purchases† made with your Card.
• Your Aeroplan Points do not expire as long as you are a TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Cardholder.
• Flight/Trip Delay Insurance†: Up to $500 in coverage per insured person if your flight/trip is delayed for over 4 hours.
• Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance†: Up to $1,000 overall coverage per insured person toward the purchase of essentials such as clothes and toiletries if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours or lost.
• Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance†: Up to $500,000 of coverage for covered losses while travelling on a common carrier (for example, a bus, ferry, plane, train or auto rental).
• Emergency Travel Assistance Services†: Help is just a call away. Toll-free access to help in the event of a personal emergency while travelling.
• To be eligible, you must be a Canadian resident and be of the age of majority in your province/territory of residence.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card

• Annual Fee $599
• Rewards Rate 1.25x-2x Points Earn 2 points† for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®). Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, travel and dining purchases. Earn 1.25 points† for every $1 spent on all other purchases made with your Card.
• Intro Offer Up to 85,000 Points Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points: Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†. Earn an additional 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 180 days of Account opening†. Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 within 12 months of Account opening†. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn up to $2,900 in value† including up to 85,000 Aeroplan points (enough for a round trip to Honolulu†) and additional travel benefits. 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 card†.
• Earn an additional 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 within 12 months of Account opening†.
• Earn 2 points† for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®).
• Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, travel and dining purchases.
• Earn 1.25 points† for every $1 spent on all other purchases made with your Card.
• Earn points twice when you pay with your Card and provide your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and at 170+ online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore.
• Global Airport Lounge Access†: Receive a complimentary membership to the Visa Airport Companion† Program hosted by Dragonpass International Ltd. and take advantage of six lounge visits included for each Cardholder per membership year at over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. Enroll through the Visa Airport Companion App or through visaairportcompanion.ca
• Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge† : On-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Visa Infinite Concierge can help with any Cardholder request — big or small, to help you get the most out of life whenever you travel, shop and use your Card.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection†: Receive seven exclusive benefits when you book your stay through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 of the world’s most intriguing properties. Enjoy an additional 8th benefit at over 200 properties, exclusively for Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders.
• Travel Medical Insurance†: Up to $5 million of coverage for the first 31 days. If you or your spouse is aged 65 or older, you are covered for the first 4 days of your trip. Additional top-up coverage is available.
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance†: For Trip Cancellation coverage of up to $2,500 per insured person, with a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons, and for Trip Interruption coverage of up to $5,000 per insured person, with a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
• Flight/Trip Delay Insurance†: Up to $1,000 in coverage per insured person if your flight/trip is delayed for over 4 hours.
• Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance†: For delayed baggage over 4 hours, up to $1,000 of coverage per insured person for the purchase of essentials, such as clothing and toiletries. For lost baggage, up to $2,500 of coverage per insured person.
• Save time at the border with NEXUS: Enroll for a NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate (up to $100 CAD)†. Additional Cardholders can also take advantage of this NEXUS rebate.
• To be eligible, $150,000 annual personal income or $200,000 household annual income is required. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card

• Annual Fee $149 Waived first year
• Interest Rates 14.99% / 22.99% 14.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Points 2x on Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations. 1.5x on travel, dining and select business categories, such as shipping, internet, cable and phone services. 1x on everything else.
• Intro Offer Up to 60,000 Points Earn up to 60,000 Points: Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Plus, earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases each month for the first 12 months of Account opening. Plus, earn up to 5,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $250 on eligible mobile wallet Purchases within 90 days of Account opening. Account must be opened by June 3, 2024.
• Earn up to 60,000 Aeroplan points¹, with no Annual Fee in the first year¹. Conditions Apply. Account must be opened by June 3, 2024.
• Earn 2 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada, including Air Canada Vacations.
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on eligible travel, dining and select business categories, such as shipping, internet, cable and phone services.
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn points twice when paying with a TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card and providing an Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and more than 170 online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore.
• Points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, merchandise, gift cards and more. They can also be used to pay down the card’s balance.
• Linked cards earn 50% more Aeroplan points and Stars at participating Starbucks stores.
• $149 annual fee — rebated in the first year.
• Free first checked bag for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada flights.
• One free one-time guest pass to Maple Leaf Lounges for every $10,000 in net purchases. Maximum of 4 passes a year.
• Reach Aeroplan Elite Status more quickly by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in net purchases.
• Access online reporting, review business expenses, managing existing credit limits and apply spend controls through the TD Card Management Tool.
• Visa SavingsEdge program: save up to 25% on eligible business purchases.
• Travel benefits: travel medical insurance (up to $2 million in coverage for the first 15 days for those under 65; coverage lasts for 4 days for those 65 and older); common carrier travel accident insurance (up to $500,000 for covered losses), trip cancellation insurance (up to $1,500 per insured person; maximum of $5,000), trip interruption insurance (up to $5,000 per insured person; maximum of $25,000), flight/trip delay insurance (up to $500 if a flight or trip is delayed for longer than 4 hours), delayed and lost baggage insurance (up to $1,000 of overall coverage per insured person), auto rental collision/loss damage insurance (covers the full cost of a car rental for up to 48 days), hotel/motel burglary insurance (up to $2,500), mobile device insurance (up to $1,000 in coverage).
• Toll-free emergency travel assistance services.
• Receive a rebate of up to $100 on NEXUS enrolment application/renewal fee costs once every 48 months.
• Save a minimum of 10% on the lowest available base rates in Canada and the U.S., and a minimum of 5% on the lowest base rates internationally on qualifying car rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations.
• Visa Zero Liability protection, Verified by Visa and instant alerts to prevent fraudulent card use.
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection.
• Minimum credit limit of $1,000.
• Interest rates: 14.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.

About the Author

Georgia Rose is a lead writer on the international team at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Independent and The Associated…

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• Credit Cards
• TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Review: One of the Best Credit Cards for Expedia Loyalists

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TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Review 2024

Updated: Mar 5, 2024, 12:47pm

The TD Platinum Travel Visa has plenty to offer, like no annual fee the first year, the ability to earn TD Rewards Points on purchases and a generous welcome bonus . However, when you look a little closer, there are some drawbacks, like conditions and caveats aplenty. Still, within the landscape of travel cards , the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card shines, but not nearly as bright as the competition. The main reason? Its affiliation with Expedia, both the card’s greatest strength and, paradoxically, its biggest limitation. That’s because the card’s offers are largely confined to Expedia getaways, demanding loyalty you may not want to give so readily.

• Generous welcome bonus.
• Better rewards program than most TD cards .
• Similarly-priced cards have better travel perks

Table of Contents

Introduction, quick facts, td platinum travel visa* card rewards, td platinum travel visa* card benefits, how the td platinum travel visa* card stacks up, methodology, is the td platinum travel visa* card right for you.

• Advertiser's Disclosure

Featured Partner Offers

TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card

On TD’s Secure Website

Welcome Bonus

Up to $500 in value†

$139 (rebated in the first year, account must approved by June 3, 2024)

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

20.99% / 22.99%

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card

$89 (first year of annual fee rebated)

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†

Travel rewards for a low annual fee? Get the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card.

On TD’s Website

• Earn up to $370 in value†, including up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points†. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by September 3, 2024.
• Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†.
• 35,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of Account opening†.
• Pay no annual fee for the first year
• To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders by September 4, 2024.
• Earn up to 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 spent on Expedia ®  for TD †  
• Earn 4.5 TD Rewards Points on every $1 you spend at your favourite eateries and grocery stores
• Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 of your recurring bill payments
• Earn 1.5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on everything else
• Includes travel insurance coverage
• Benefit from no travel blackouts, no seat restrictions and no expiry for your TD Rewards Points (as long as your account is open and in good standing)
• This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
• † Terms and conditions apply.

When you think about a credit card that ties its perks to a popular online travel agency, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card immediately comes to mind. It’s almost as if TD had a tête-à-tête with Expedia and, together, they concocted an array of credit card benefits suited for the travel-savvy cardholder. If you’ve got a penchant for frequently booking through Expedia, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card isn’t just an option—it’s one of the best options. The world of travel rewards credit cards is vast, and in that sea TD Platinum Travel Visa stands out like a beacon for travellers anchored to Expedia.

Yet, while this card seems bespoke to a specific audience, what about the travellers who don’t necessarily pledge allegiance to Expedia? Here’s where things get a bit murky.

Do we love the fact that there’s no annual fee for the first year, a juicy introductory perk that could see you pocketing up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points? Absolutely. Is it phenomenal that you can bag 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on bookings through Expedia and up to 4.5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on everything else? Again, a resounding yes.

But, in the larger landscape of travel cards, where some offer travel perks like lounge access or extravagant concierge services, TD’s card feels a tad limited. Avid globe-trotters might find themselves yearning for a few more travel-related luxuries.

Would we recommend the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card? If Expedia is your go-to travel companion, yes, without any hesitation. But if you’re an indiscriminate traveller who casts a wider net to find the best deal, this might not be your catch of the day.

• Annual fee: Waived for the first year, then it’s $89 per year
• Reward rate: Ranging from 1.5 to 6 TD Rewards Points across diverse spend categories
• Flexibility: Points can be used for travel, merchandise or bill payments
• Introduction offer: Up to $370 in value and 50,000 TD Rewards Points, with certain conditions
• Insurance coverage: Comprehensive travel insurance included

Earning Rewards

Jumping into the rewards scene Collecting rewards with the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card can feel like striking gold. Each bite at a restaurant or grocery run puts 4.5 TD Rewards Points in your pocket. Your recurring bills? A nifty 3 points for each $1 you spend. And every other purchase earns you a steady 1.5 points. In the bustling world of reward credit cards, this one can hold its own. Plus, the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card offers a distinct Expedia advantage, turning everyday expenses into potential travel adventures.

Redeeming Rewards

With the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card’, you can convert your hard-earned points into exciting getaways on Expedia, choosing from a plethora of destinations. TD and Expedia have made redeeming points easy, so you can harness the full potential of your rewards on Expedia® For TD. You can also use your accumulated points to splurge on merchandise, even Amazon purchases. Plus, you can use TD Rewards Points to lower your credit card balance. While some cards make you jump through hoops for redemptions, TD’s portal makes redeeming your TD Rewards Points a breeze.

Rewards Potential

Savvy spenders who harness the card’s earning potential could pocket an impressive number of points towards travel, merchandise and more. Based on how Canadians typically spend, Forbes Advisor Canada estimates that cardholders can see an annual return of $312.42 worth of points, with the annual fee factored in, when you book travel with Expedia. When you book travel elsewhere, the annual return drops to $292.82 worth of points, with the annual fee factored in.

• First-year perks: No annual fee and up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points (Up to $370 in value)
• Dine and dash to points: Enjoy 4.5 TD Rewards Points on every $1 you spend at restaurants and grocery stores
• Expedia euphoria: Be the traveller that gets 6x TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on Expedia bookings, ensuring every trip, big or small, becomes a rewarding journey
• Security and peace of mind: Rest easy with comprehensive travel insurance that ensures that your voyages remain hiccup-free

Interest Rates

• Regular APR Min: 20.99%
• Cash Advance APR: 22.99%
• Balance Transfer APR: 22.99%
• Cash Advance fee: 1% ($3.50 minimum and $10 maximum)
• Balance Transfer fee: 3% maximum
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
• Annual Fee: $89 (Get an annual fee rebate in the first year; account must be approved by September 3, 2024)
• Over Limit Fee: $29.00
• Late Payment Fee: $0

When evaluating the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card against some of its competitors, namely the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum , American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, it’s clear that each has its unique strengths. While they may cater to different traveller preferences, from Expedia loyalists to Air Canada aficionados, picking the most suitable one for you depends on your travel habits, reward preferences and fee comfort levels.

TD Platinum Travel Visa Card vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card

At face value, both cards come with an identical annual fee and APR, and both are generous with their first-year annual fee rebates. Yet, they’re tailored to different travellers. If Expedia is your go-to for travel bookings, the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card’s 6-point-per-$1 earn rate is unmatched. That said, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card offers a hearty welcome in the form of 50,000 TD Rewards Points, while TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum welcomes new cardholders with a 20,000 Aeroplan Point offer. But here’s the twist: TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card’s potential $500 value, along with the versatility of earning points in multiple ways, may out-woo the frequent traveller. However, for the everyday spender leaning into travel, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card’s reward structure, especially with groceries and dining , holds an edge.

TD Platinum Travel Visa Card vs. American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

When deciding between the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card and American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, travellers have a lot to unpack. TD Platinum Travel Visa Card offers an attractive welcome bonus and a more affordable annual fee, especially with the first-year waiver. It’s also the perfect choice for dedicated Expedia customers looking to earn more rewards, faster than ever, on their getaways. On the flip side, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card offers a superior range of travel benefits, from lounge access to comprehensive insurance. But, with its higher annual fee, it’s geared towards frequent Air Canada travellers who’ll make the most of its perks. For the budget-conscious, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card takes the lead, but American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is unrivalled when it comes to premium Air Canada perks.

TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card vs. CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Pitting the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card against the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is an exercise in balance. Both cards offer strong travel rewards, but they cater to slightly different demographics. TD Platinum Travel Visa Card, with its Expedia tie-in, is a dream for the site’s loyalists. Its annual fee is also modest, which is appealing for cardholders who balk at high yearly charges. Conversely, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card leans heavily into its Air Canada affiliation, granting perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. The card’s insurance coverage is also commendable. If you’re after broader travel flexibility and a cheaper fee, TD Platinum Travel Visa Card is your go-to. But, for frequent Air Canada flyers, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card stands out.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With rewards, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, rewards rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other benefits and features. Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

In short, the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card is a stellar choice for cardholders who frequently use Expedia. If you’re looking to cash in on a generous welcome bonus without a hefty annual fee, this is the card for you. It’s particularly suited to users who dine out or spend heavily on groceries , given the rewards rate. However, if you’re a travel enthusiast in search of comprehensive travel perks and insurance , you might find other similarly priced cards more appealing. While the TD Platinum offers decent protection features, there are more competitive options out there.

Related: Best Credit Cards To Use in Canada

Advertiser's Disclosure

Our partners are not responsible for anything reported by Forbes Advisor. To the best of our knowledge, everything is accurate at the time of publishing as of the date posted. For full information and details, please visit the advertiser’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the first-year annual fee really waived for the td platinum travel visa card.

Yes, as long as you activate your card and make your first purchase within the first three months of opening your account.

How do I earn the maximum welcome bonus for the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card?

To earn up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points, you must be approved by September 3, 2024. Once approved, activate your card and make your first purchase within the first three months. Also, remember to add any additional cardholders by September 4, 2024.

How does the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card's rewards program benefit frequent Expedia customers?

You earn 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book your travel through Expedia For TD, making it a rewarding choice for cardholders who frequently use this platform.

What’s the earning rate for the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card on everyday purchases?

You earn 1.5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on everyday purchases. Plus, you can rack up 4.5 TD Rewards Points on every $1 you spend at restaurants and grocery stores.

Is the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card offer available to residents of Quebec?

Unfortunately, this offer isn’t available to Quebec residents.

Kevin Nishmas is an expert financial content writer with a long and successful history of working with Canada's largest financial institutions. His knack (and passion) for transforming complex personal finance information into clear, compelling content has landed him in leading business publications such as Report on Business, Advisor’s Edge, Benefits Canada and Investor's Digest of Canada.

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• $799 annual fee
• Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $10,000 in the first 3 months
• 30,000 additional points when making any purchase in months 14 – 17
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining and travel, and 1 point on all other purchases
• $200 annual travel credit
• $200 annual dining credit (per calendar year)
• Unlimited airport lounge access
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

Anyone who frequently travels or is looking for luxury travel perks should get the  American Express Platinum Card . The primary cardholder and a guest get unlimited access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, hotel status upgrades (Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors), a NEXUS rebate (includes global entry and TSA precheck), and a comprehensive travel insurance package that covers travel medical and trip cancellation.

While some people will instantly pass when they see the $799 annual fee, you can get the card for just $199 for the first year. You get a $200 dining credit benefit each calendar year. That means you can use it twice before your second annual fee posts. You also get a $200 travel credit once every year of your cardmembership. All in, you can get up to $600 in credits in the first year. That effectively makes your annual fee for the first year just $199. This assumes you can use the dining credit.

Another reason this card is worth it for all types of travellers is the welcome bonus. When you sign up with a referral link, your welcome offer is typically worth 80,000 to 100,000  American Express Membership Rewards  points. That has a minimum value of $800 to $1,000. However, if you transfer your points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, you could easily double the value of your points. In other words, the welcome offer could be worth $1,600 to $2,000.

If you’re a frequent traveller, this card is worth holding long term for the travel benefits. Even if you don’t travel often, signing up for the welcome bonus and benefits is worth it for the first year.

Eligibility : There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 740 is recommended before applying. Welcome bonus : Typically worth 80,000 to 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when using a referral link. The minimum spending requirement is usually $5,000 to $10,000.

Best travel card for overall spending

American express cobalt card.

• $12.99 Monthly fee ($155.88 yearly)
• 1,250 monthly Membership Rewards points after charging $750 in purchases each month for a year (15,000 points total)
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on eats and drinks
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on streaming services
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on travel
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

When it comes to travel rewards, sometimes you need a card that earns you a lot of points on your daily spending. The  American Express Cobalt Card ’s earning rate is 5 points per $1 spent on eats and drinks (including grocery stores), 3 points on select streaming services, 2 points on travel and transit, and 1 point on everything else. That’s a lot of bonus categories, but note that there is a monthly spending cap of $2,500 for each category. Once you reach it, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent.

Remember, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Since Aeroplan points can easily have a value of 2 cents per point, your earning rate on eats and drinks can be as high as 10%. There’s no other card that gives you that high of a return.

The downside of this card is that you don’t get many travel benefits. However, you do get mobile device insurance, and the welcome bonus has been consistent.

Eligibility : There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 700 is recommended before applying. Welcome bonus : Typically, you’ll earn 2,500 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend $500 monthly for the first 12 months. That’s 30,000 bonus American Express Membership Rewards points you can earn in the first year. The offer has also been as low as 1,250 monthly points for 12 months, with a minimum spend of $750 each month.

Best travel card for the welcome bonus

American express business gold rewards card.

• $199 annual fee
• Up to 115,000 Membership Rewards points welcome bonus when using a referral link
• Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 10,000 points when you charge $20,000 each quarter (yearly benefit)
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases
• Mobile device insurance

Although the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card doesn’t have the highest welcome bonus, it gives you the best bang for your buck. You’ll get 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of cardmembership. This is an incredible offer since it’s a straight spend instead of spending a minimum each month for multiple months.

Since this is a business credit card, most of the benefits are focused on business owners. You get 55 interest free days, expense management reports, and employee abuse protection. You also get some travel insurance, but it doesn’t include travel medical.

Even though this is a business credit card, many consumers will apply for the card because of the welcome bonus. I’m not telling you to lie. I’m just reporting what I’ve heard.

Eligibility : There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 700 is recommended before applying. Welcome bonus : Typically worth 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when spending $5,000 in the first three months.

Best travel card for all-in-one-travel

Scotiabank passport™ visa infinite* card.

• $150 annual fee
• 30,000 Scene+ points when spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
• 10,000 points when spending $40,000 in the first year
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Empire owned supermarkets
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Visa Airport Companion Program membership + 6 passes per year
• No foreign transaction fees

When looking at this list of the best travel credit cards in Canada, you’ll quickly realize that many cards excel in one area, but not all. With the  Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card , you get a travel credit card with a decent earning rate and good travel benefits. It’s ideal for people who don’t want to carry multiple credit cards, as you can use it at home or abroad.

The earning rate for this card is 3 Scene+ points at Empire-owned grocery stores (IGA, Safeway, Sobeys supermarkets), 2 points on all other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and transit purchases, and all other purchases get you 1 point. While this isn’t the best earning rate, it’s decent.

What really sets this card apart is the overall travel benefits. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you’ll save 2.5% on purchases made in foreign currencies. You also get a free Visa Airport Companion Program with six complimentary annual passes. Plus, a comprehensive travel insurance package is included. 

Eligibility : A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 or at least $250,000 in assets under management. A credit score of 700 is also recommended. Welcome bonus : You’ll typically get 35,000 to 50,000 Scene+ points as the welcome offer. In most cases, you’ll need to spend a minimum amount in the first three months and another in the first 12 months for the full bonus.

Best travel card for Aeroplan rewards

Td aeroplan visa infinite card.

• $139 annual fee
• 10,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• 20,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 in the first 180 days
• 20,000 Aeroplan points on your anniversary when you spend $10,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• First bag checked free on Air Canada flights

Since Air Canada is the country’s top airline, it’s natural that many people will want to earn Aeroplan points, Air Canada’s loyalty program. For most people in this situation, the best travel credit card would be the  TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card . The earning rate is 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases. All other purchases earn you 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent. In other words, you can earn Aeroplan points on every purchase.

Another reason this card is worth getting is the included free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight travelling companions. Since checked luggage normally costs $30 to $50 each way, this can be a valuable benefit. Other benefits you get include a NEXUS rebate and travel insurance.

It’s worth noting that Aeroplan has many retailer partners, so you can double dip on the points. All you need to do is shop via the Aeroplan eStore and then pay with your Aeroplan credit card. It’s that simple.

Eligibility : A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 is required. It’s also recommended that you have a credit score of at least 700. Welcome bonus : New cardholders typically get between 40,000 to 70,000 Aeroplan bonus points. This intro offer is usually divided into multiple parts with different minimum spending requirements.

Best travel card for premium Air Canada benefits

Td aeroplan visa infinite privilege card.

• $599 annual fee
• Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• Earn 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 in the first 180 days
• Earn 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 in the first year
• Earn 2 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points on gas, and groceries, and 1 point on all other purchases
• First bag checked free, priority check-in & boarding on Air Canada flights
• Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America
• DragonPass airport lounge access + 6 free annual passes

Normally, I wouldn’t have two recommendations for Aeroplan, but the extra benefits of the  TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card  deserve its own category. Besides the free first checked bag, you also get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and a guest, six free passes to airport lounges that are part of the  Visa Airport Companion Program, priority boarding (zone 2), priority baggage handling, priority airport services, and priority airport standby and upgrades.

The annual fee for this card is $599, but as you can see, you get tons of benefits. Having Maple Leaf Lounge access and priority boarding can significantly impact your comfort when travelling. The earning rate is 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points on gas, groceries, travel, and dining purchases, and 1 point on everything else.

Some travellers will apply for this card during a busy travel year to take advantage of all the benefits. When their anniversary is about to come up, they’ll downgrade to the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. This allows them to earn two welcome bonuses, which can easily be more than 150,000 total points.

Eligibility : A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 is required. It’s also recommended that you have a credit score of at least 700. Welcome bonus : Typically worth between 50,000 to 70,000 Aeroplan points. This bonus is usually divided into multiple parts with different minimum spending requirements.

Best travel card for WestJet flyers

Westjet rbc world elite mastercard.

• $119 annual fee
• 450 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
• Earn 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Receive a round-trip companion voucher – every year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC)
• Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation

In the last year or so, WestJet has changed its strategy and is now focused mainly on Alberta. As a result, the  WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard  is now only good for people who fly WestJet regularly. Compare this to the past when WestJet had decent lift across Canada. Now they’re more of a niche airline.

With this card, you’ll earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet purchases and 1.5% on all other purchases. This is a decent earning rate since most cards only give you 1% back in rewards on all other purchases. That said, since WestJet Rewards is essentially a cash back rewards program. Although you’ll be able to use your points to offset the cost of your airfare, you won’t be able to get aspirational flights for cheap, like Aeroplan.

The real advantage of this card is the WestJet benefits. The primary cardholder and up to eight guests travelling on the same itinerary get their first checked bag free. In addition, you get a yearly  companion voucher , which allows a guest to pay a lower base fare when they’re travelling with the primary cardholder. This benefit alone can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Eligibility : Minimum personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. Welcome bonus : Usually up to 4450 WestJet dollars. You’re given 250 WestJet dollars after your first purchase and another 200 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first three months. There have been occasional offers of up to 700 WestJet dollars.

Best travel card for hotel stays

Marriott bonvoy american express card.

• $120 annual fee
• 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you charge $3,000 in the first 3 months with a referral link
• Earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent at participating Marriott properties
• Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent at gas and travel purchases for the first 6 months (up to 15,000 points) – Offer ends May 6, 2024
• Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy points for per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points

So far, the list of the best travel credit cards in Canada has focused on airline rewards. However, many people just want to save on hotel stays or get free nights. That’s where the  Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card  excels. Marriott International has more than 8,500 properties in 130+ countries. That means you’ll be able to use your points in most parts of the world.

The earning rate is 5  Marriott Bonvoy  points per $1 spent at Marriott properties and 2 points on all other purchases. Since one Marriott Bonvoy point has a value of about .9 cents each, you’re getting a decent return.

To be realistic, anyone who likes to travel should have this card. That’s because you get a free annual night certificate worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That certificate can easily have a value of at least $300, which is clearly more than the $120 annual fee that this card charges. Another perk with this card is Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, which gives you priority late checkout and 10% bonus points on stays. Some travel insurance is also included.

Eligibility : No listed income requirement. A credit score of at least 700 is recommended. Welcome bonus : Typically worth 50,000 – 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of card membership.

Best travel card with no annual fee

Cibc aeroplan visa card.

• No annual fee
• 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase
• Earn 1 Aeorplan point per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases

Unfortunately, most of the best travel credit cards in Canada come with an annual fee, but not the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card . The earning rate is 1 Aeroplan per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases. For every other eligible purchase, you’ll get 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent. 

Since this is a no fee card, the main benefits you get are purchase security and extended warranty. With purchase security, your purchases are protected from loss, theft, and damage for 90 days. The extended warranty doubles your manufacturer’s warranty for up to one additional year.

Some people will sign up for this card just for the welcome bonus of 10,000 points. They do this because you get the bonus after you make your first purchase. It’s that easy.

Eligibility : Minimum income of $15,000. A credit score of at least 640 is recommended. Welcome bonus : Typically 10,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase.

Best travel card for travel insurance

National bank world elite mastercard.

• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on grocery and restaurant purchases up to $2,500 per month. Then earn 2 points per $1 spent
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills and à la carte Travel
• Unlimited access to National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport
• Annual $150 travel credit

Whenever you travel outside of your home province, it’s highly recommended that you get travel medical and extended travel insurance. Fortunately, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard covers 60 days if you’re under 55, 31 days for those aged 55 – 64, and 15 days for those aged 65 – 75.

As for the coverage, you get $5,000,000 for travel medical expenses. The extended travel insurance includes trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, and car rental theft/damage insurance. You must charge the entire trip cost to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard for your insurance to apply.

Other benefits include a $150 travel credit, unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport for the primary cardholder, plus one guest, mobile device insurance, purchase protection (180 days), and extended warranty (up to two additional years).

Eligibility : Personal income requirement of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. A credit score of 700 is recommended. Welcome bonus : The welcome bonus has been anywhere from 0 to 50,000 points.

Best travel card for no foreign transaction fees

Eq bank card.

• $20 referral bonus (must fund account with $100 within 30 days)
• No monthly fees
• 0.5% cash back on all purchases
• Free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada
• Earn 2.50% interest until you spend

I have a detailed list of the  best no foreign transaction fee credit cards in Canada , but the one I recommend the most is the EQ Bank Card. This is a prepaid card, so you need to preload funds before you can use it. This can easily be done via your  EQ Bank account  or an e-transfer. Once you make a purchase in any currency that’s not Canadian dollars, you’ll save on the 2.5% fee that’s normally charged.

I prefer this card to others because you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees when making ATM withdrawals. Most major banks now charge a 3.5% exchange fee when using foreign ATMs so these fees can add up quickly. Note that when you do use a foreign ATM, the operator may charge you a one-time fee. EQ Bank does not charge you a separate fee. If you use the card within Canada, EQ Bank will reimburse you for any ATM fees.

As for your spending, you’ll earn 0.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, and any funds you have deposited to your card will continue to earn you interest. 

Eligibility : Must have an EQ Bank account. No income or credit history is required. Welcome bonus : You get a $20 cash bonus when signing up with a  referral link  and funding your account with $100 within 30 days of account opening.

Best travel card for multi-currency

Cibc ac conversion card.

• No load or conversion fees
• Load up to 10 currencies with no fees
• 1% cash back on all eligible purchases (until October 31, 2023)

You may have to deal with various currencies whenever you travel to different countries. Instead of exchanging cash in advance, you could use the  CIBC AC Conversion Card  since it allows you to load up to 10 different currencies. That means you can use one card in 40 different countries.

The currencies available are Canadian dollars, United States dollars, Euros, Great Britain pounds, Mexican pesos, Hong Kong dollars, Australian dollars, Japanese Yen, Turkish Lira, and Swiss Francs.

This card is good for people who don’t want to deal with currency fluctuations. However, note that you only get one free foreign ATM withdrawal each month. On a positive note, this card has no fee.

Eligibility : No income or minimum credit score required. Welcome bonus : $20 when signing up with my  exclusive referral link .

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards will either earn you points/miles with its in-house travel rewards program or a con-branded major loyalty program such as Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. Although general travel rewards programs give you flexibility, co-branded loyalty programs can be more valuable depending on your redemption.

Types of travel credit cards

There are three types of travel rewards credit cards. Understanding how they all work lets you decide which is best for you. That said, frequent travellers will often get more than one type of travel credit card in Canada since it allows them to earn different points. This can be useful if you have different travel goals in mind.

Airline Rewards credit cards

Airline cards are often popular due to their brand recognition. For example, Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada. If you have an  Aeroplan credit card , you’ll earn Aeroplan points. Those points can later be redeemed for any available seat on Air Canada and its partners.

Other Airline rewards credit cards available include  WestJet Rewards  and  Air Miles . With WestJet Rewards, the dollars earned can be applied to WestJet flights. Air Miles is technically a general travel rewards program, but since you earn miles and they use dynamic pricing for redemptions, I lump them together with airline rewards.

Obviously, airline rewards credit cards are aimed at people loyal to specific brands. Some premium cards will come with specific airline benefits such as free checked bags, priority services, and airport lounge access to entice them to sign up.

General travel rewards credit cards

General travel rewards credit cards are designed for people who aren’t loyal to a specific airline. With these types of rewards, you earn points, which can then be redeemed for any flight on any airline. In addition, you can use your points on hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and even cruises.

How you redeem your points will depend on the program. Some general travel rewards programs allow you to redeem your points on any travel purchase you make to your card. On the other hand, some cards require you to book through its online travel portal. Obviously, the ability to book anything on your own is much more flexible since it allows you to find the lowest price and claim any status benefits you may have.

Hotel rewards credit cards

While flying for free is appealing, some people like earning points for resorts and hotel stays instead. Canada’s most popular hotel rewards credit card is the  Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card . It’s appealing because Marriott has more than 8,000 properties in 150+ countries. The only other co-branded hotel credit card in Canada is Best Western.

Hotel credit cards will include benefits that can be used at most properties within their network, but it’s typically tied to your status tier. Generally, the basic benefits are early check-in, late check-out, and high speed WiFi. Once you hit the higher tiers, you’ll get a welcome gift, free breakfast, and room upgrades.

What are the best travel credit card programs in Canada?

Every bank in Canada has its own travel rewards program, but none of them are the same. They offer different ways to redeem your points, but some give you more options. I’ve  ranked and detailed them all in this article , but here’s a quick ranking from best to worst. Each link goes to my detailed reviews so you can learn more about the programs.

***I will turn these into H3s so don’t worry about things here

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards  is ranked number one because you have the most options with your points. You can transfer your points to various loyalty programs and hotel partners, including Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. In addition, you can use your points on any travel purchase or through the Fixed Points Travel program.

RBC Avion Rewards

RBC recently rebranded their points  Avion Rewards . You can redeem your Avion Rewards points with the fixed travel program or through the travel portal. There are also a few airline transfer partners in WestJet and British Airways.

Although  Scene+  is a pretty straightforward loyalty program, but they rank higher because they have credit cards with high earning rates and lots of partners where you can earn additional points. For travel redemptions, you can book through the travel portal or on your own.  When redeeming points for travel booked on your own, there’s a 50,000-point minimum. 

CIBC Rewards

CIBC Rewards  ranks right in the middle of the pack for bank loyalty programs. It’s pretty basic, but it does have a fixed travel program, which allows you to get more value out of your points. The credit cards they offer are decent, but none are exceptional. That’s why you won’t find any CIBC cards that earn Aventura points on my list of the best travel credit cards.

HSBC Rewards

While some people love  HSBC Rewards , I don’t rank it very high. Although you can redeem your points for any travel purchases charged to your card, there is a minimum redemption of 25,000 points ($125). The ability to transfer your points to airline partners such as Asia Miles, Singapore Krisflyer Miles, and British Airways Avios, but for most Canadians, they won’t be useful.

TD Rewards  will likely be fine for the average traveller since they use Expedia to power their travel bookings. That means you can book just about anything since Expedia is so big. The reason I rank TD Rewards so low is that its credit card offerings are not impressive and you get no airline travel partners.

BMO Rewards

BMO Rewards  ranks on my list mainly because it takes 150 BMO Rewards points to redeem $1 in travel. That means 1 BMO Reward point is worth .67 cents. Since BMO Rewards credit cards typically earn you 1 BMO Reward point on all other purchases, you’re getting a very poor earning rate.

What are the best frequent flyer programs in Canada?

The best frequent flyer programs in Canada are a bit subjective as it comes down to who you fly the most with. That said, there are three main frequent flyer programs to be aware of. Remember that enrollment into these programs is automatic if you apply for a co-branded credit card. Alternatively, when signing up, you can input your membership number if you’re already enrolled.

I personally think Aeroplan is the best frequent flyer program in Canada since it’s the easiest one to earn and redeem your points. As you’ve quickly learned above, multiple credit cards allow you to earn Aeroplan points. In addition, many of the co-branded credit cards come with perks such as insurance coverage, no baggage fees, and an annual fee rebate.

When redeeming your points, Aeroplan allows you to use your points on any available seat on Air Canada flights. That said, they use dynamic pricing, so the number of points required for a flight can change quite a bit. On a positive note, Aeroplan also has partners where the cost of a free flight is a fixed price. Read my  Aeroplan Rewards  guide for a comprehensive breakdown.

Westjet Rewards

As you’ve likely guessed,  WestJet Rewards  is the loyalty program for WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline. Unlike Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards uses a cash back rewards system instead of points. You’ll literally earn WestJet dollars as the loyalty program.

While I like the simplicity of WestJet Rewards, it has its limitations. The earn rate and sign-up bonuses with co-branded credit cards aren’t that attractive. In addition, you can only use your WestJet dollars on the base fare. As in, you can’t use your hard-earned WestJet dollars on additional charges, seat selection, or even baggage fees.

Air Miles  is one of Canada’s most popular loyalty programs, but it doesn’t have as much punch as the other programs. Even though Air Miles now has more redemption options, it can be challenging to get good value out of the program compared to Aeroplan. That said, Air Miles does have a few sweet spots, and BMO recently acquired them, so I expect some positive changes.

The other major issue with Air Miles is that it can be hard to earn bonus miles. You could get a co-branded Air Miles credit card, but the spending requirement to earn points is a bit high. That said, they do have bonus offers that target members. You can also use your Cash Miles for gift cards.

How to redeem travel credit card rewards

Now that you know how to calculate the value of your points, you can start looking at the different ways to redeem your rewards. Every loyalty program will have different redemption options, but not all will be equal. Generally speaking, the type of rewards you earn with your travel credit card will yield you the most value. For example, airline redemptions would be best for an airline credit card.

While value is important, you need to know how to make your redemptions to maximize your value.

Through the loyalty program

If you’re collecting points from a branded loyalty program, you’ll have to book through their website. For example, Marriott Bonvoy points can only be redeemed via the Marriott website. This makes perfect sense since the loyalty program wants to keep everything central.

Travel portal

Bank travel rewards programs often have a travel portal that you must use to redeem your points. Some travel portals are partnered with a major brand, such as Expedia for TD, while others have their own search engine. What’s annoying about travel portals is that there’s no guarantee you’ll find the lowest price there. In addition, some loyalty programs require you to book directly for your status to be recognized. If you book through a travel portal, you might not be entitled to your hard-earned benefits.

Book on your own

Instead of having a travel portal, some bank rewards programs allow you to use your points on any travel purchase charged to your credit card. Once the purchase has been posted, you can redeem as many points as possible to offset your costs. This is a great option since it allows you to search for the lowest prices while getting your status recognized. After the purchase posts, you can usually go into your online cards to use your points for a statement credit.

Transfer partners

American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Rewards, and HSBC Rewards have travel loyalty program   partners that allow for point transfers . This can be beneficial if you’re looking to maximize your points. For example, with American Express Membership Rewards, you can claim 1,000 points for $10 in travel. That’s a value of 1CPP. However, you can also transfer your points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Since I value Aeroplan points at 2 cents each, I’d be doubling the value of my points by making the transfer.

Benefits that may come with travel cards

Now that you know how points work with the best travel credit cards in Canada, you need to understand the additional benefits you get. You won’t get the following benefits with every card. In addition, many of these perks only come with premium credit cards with a high annual household income requirement. Focus on a few perks that matter most to you and then see which cards offer them.

• Travel insurance –  I’ll go into further details about travel insurance below, but travel insurance would cover things such as medical, trip cancellation, delayed luggage, car rental insurance, etc.
• Free checked bags –  Premium airline credit cards typically give the primary cardholder and up to 8 passengers on the same itinerary their first checked bag free. You can save a lot since checked bags typically cost $30 – $60 each way.
• Airport lounge access –  Many travel cards now come with airport lounge access. Some will give you a set number of visits a year, while others provide unlimited access. The type of lounge you get access to will depend on your credit card.
• Priority airport services –  Priority boarding, check-in, and security may be included with some credit cards. This can be handy since it means less time spent in lines. These benefits are usually only available at specific airports.
• Travel credits –  A few credit cards provide yearly travel credits. These credits can be used to book new travel or on travel services such as seat selection and checked baggage.
• Nexus rebate –  Nexus  is a program between Canada and the U.S. that allows travellers to cross the border quickly. While getting an interview will take time, once you’ve been approved, you’ll spend less time at security and customs.
• No foreign transaction fees –  Most credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% when you make a purchase not in Canadian dollars. To avoid this fee, get a  credit card without foreign transaction fees .
• Extended warranty –  Although this is almost a standard benefit, extended warranty will double the manufacturer’s warranty for up to one additional year.
• Purchase protection –  This is another standard benefit of travel credit cards. With purchase protection, your purchases are covered from loss, theft, and damage for 90 days.

Travel credit card earn rates

The earn rate on travel credit cards refers to how many points or miles you’ll earn on all your purchases. Generally speaking, most cards offer an enhanced earning rate on a few categories, such as groceries and gas stations. All other purchases would earn you a base earn rate. That said, some travel credit cards also have a flat earn rate where the points or miles you earn would be the same regardless of where you make your purchases.

What’s interesting is that earning rates can vary quite a bit. For example, more than ten Aeroplan credit cards are available, but they all have different earning rates. If you want an Aeroplan credit card, you should look for one that offers an accelerated earning rate on the categories where you already spend the most.

Co-branded credit cards will always give you a higher earn rate with the brand. For example, a Marriott Bonvoy credit card will give you an enhanced earning rate at Marriott properties.

How to calculate the value of travel credit card points

While earning points is important, redeeming them is equally essential. General travel rewards programs typically have a fixed value for their points. For example, 1,000 American Express Membership Rewards points = $10 in travel. That works out to a value of 1 cent per point.

Figuring out the value of airline and hotel loyalty program redemptions is more complicated since the value can change quite a bit. That said, you can use a standard formula to calculate the value per point.

(Cash value of redemption – taxes & fees) x 100 / number of points required = Cost per point

For example, let’s say you’ve found a roundtrip flight from Toronto to Los Angeles for 29,000 Aeroplan points, plus $81 in taxes, or $650 cash. You would use the following formula to calculate your cost per point.

($695 – $81) X 100 / 29,000 = 2.12CPP

You should always calculate the value of your redemptions to quickly determine how much value you’re getting. I value Aeroplan points at 2 CPP, so the above redemption is a good value.

How to choose a travel rewards credit card

With so many travel credit cards to choose from, there are a lot of factors to consider before you click apply. It’s not as simple as just picking the card that gives you the most points or credit card rewards. You need to think about your goals, how you will use the card and what benefits you want. Here are some things to consider.

If you want to redeem a business class flight via Aeroplan or stay for free at a luxury Marriott property, you should apply for cards that earn you Aeroplan points or Marriott Bonvoy points. Remember, American Express credit cards allow you to transfer points to both programs.

Do your travel plans include your partner? If so, you should both be accumulating miles and points together. You can earn additional points using the American Express  Refer A Friend program . Use my links above to get started, then start referring your friends.

Welcome bonus

The quickest way to earn travel rewards points is through the welcome or sign-up bonus.   Be sure to read the conditions of the sign up bonus. Some cards require only one purchase, while others may require you to spend $3,000 – $5,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. Try to time your credit card applications around when you have a major purchase coming up.

Annual fees can add up, so cards offering the first year free (either waived or by reimbursement) are worthwhile. If the card does have an annual fee, look at the sign up bonus and included benefits. Many travel cards, especially the top-tier options, have high annual fees, but quite often, what you get every year is worth more than the annual fee.

Take a look at how many points you’ll earn for specific categories. Some of the best travel credit cards in Canada will give you more points when you spend on travel, groceries, gas, etc. This is known as an enhanced   earn rate or reward rate. All other purchases would fall under the base earn rate.

Flexibility of rewards

The ability to use your points for different travel redemptions is incredibly valuable. The ability to transfer your points or to use them on a fixed travel program can sometimes double the value of your points. If you’re going to use a co-branded credit card with a specific program, make sure it still gives you some flexibility. For example, don’t collect miles if finding a flight that benefits you is difficult. Research blackout dates, seat availability and taxes.

Additional benefits

The actual benefits you get with your travel rewards card are also important. If you travel frequently, free checked bags, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees can go a long way. Premium travel cards can even give you enhanced benefits that may be worth more than your card’s annual fee.

How to apply for ones of best travel credit cards in Canada?

Applying for travel credit cards in Canada follows the same process as applying for other credit cards. You can apply in person at the branch of the credit card issuer if that is an option, but most people choose to apply for their new card online from the comfort of their home. It’s fast and easy. 

• Compare the credit cards above and decide which option is best for you. Make sure that you qualify before you apply to avoid disappointment. Many of Canada’s best travel credit cards have minimum income and  credit score requirements  that are often higher than other credit cards. 
• Collect all the information you need to apply for your new credit card. This includes personal information such as name, address, and contact information. You will also require information about your income and employment status. You may also need your social insurance number, so have it handy.
• Once you have decided, click the “apply now” button for one of the cards above. Alternatively, you can do so from the bank’s website or in a branch.
• Fill out the online application as directed. You will be presented with further information on the credit card, including interest rates and small print details. Take the time to read this through and understand the ins and outs of your credit card. If you are happy, continue on until you have finished the form and click apply or submit to the representative at the bank.
• Wait for approval and your new card. Many online applications are instant, but even then the card may take a week or two to get to you, at which time you can activate it. 

Are travel credit cards worth it?

If you are a frequent traveller or looking for rewards you can put towards a vacation, then absolutely yes. Travel credit cards have some of the best perks and benefits on the market from lounge access to car rental discounts and insurance. Plus, the rewards programs can be incredibly lucrative if you book wisely. After all, who doesn’t want the possibility of earning a free flight?

That being said, if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy travelling or travels very rarely then a travel credit card might not be the best option. You might get more value from a cash back card. 

What is the best travel rewards credit card in Canada?

Canada has many options for travel cards, and what is best will be determined by how you want to use the card. If you are looking to maximize hotel stays and frequently stay in Marriott brand hotels, then the Marriott Bonvoy American Express might be the best pick. If you are a frequent flyer and typically book through either Air Canada or WestJet, look at the airline co-branded credit cards. Not picky about brands? The American Express Platinum card is incredibly flexible and packed with benefits and perks. If you want a card with no foreign transaction fees, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite might be your card. 

Consider your wants and spending habits when choosing your travel rewards card to ensure you pick the best option that will be the most lucrative for you.

Do travel rewards points expire?

Most travel loyalty points will expire after 12 – 18 months of inactivity. However, any activity resets that clock. Let’s say you have a travel rewards credit card and earn points every month, then your points never expire.

Now, let’s say you’ve cancelled your card and are no longer actively earning any points. Redemptions also count as activity, so that can reset your clock too. Keep in mind that many things qualify as points activity, such as donating some points or earning points through a contest. These are easy ways to extend the life of your loyalty points.

The key thing to understand is that there’s typically not much flexibility if you let your points expire. The loyalty programs will rarely reinstate any lost points. Make sure you check your email regularly, as they will inform you if your points are about to expire.

What credit score do I need to get a travel rewards credit card?

Travel credit cards tend to be some of the most lucrative on the market in terms of rewards program as well as added perks and benefits. This means that generally speaking, you will need to have a good credit score. You’ll want a credit score of at least 700 for mid-tier cards. For one of the high-end cards you’ll be aiming for a credit score of at least 740. Note that these are just suggestions.

Keep in mind that on top of the higher credit score requirements, travel credit cards tend to come with higher annual fees. This is especially true for the top-tier cards like the American Express Platinum Card or American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.

How does credit card travel insurance work?

With travel medical insurance, your insurance coverage applies regardless if you charge your travel expenses to your credit card or not. Travel medical is essential whenever you leave the country as it’ll cover you for trips to the doctor or hospital. It also usually covers travel emergency events such as ambulance rides or helicopter evacuations.

Basically, you should never travel without travel medical insurance. To be clear, you need travel medical insurance even if you’re travelling outside of your province of residence or taking a short road trip across the border. That’s because your provincial healthcare may not cover you.

Besides travel medical insurance, many travel rewards cards offer an expanded suite of insurance. That said, you’ll need to charge a percentage or all of your relevant travel expenses to your credit card for your insurance policy to apply. Be sure to read your certificate insurance to find out exactly what the eligibility requirements are.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

With trip cancellation/interruption, you can be refunded up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for qualifying reasons. A qualifying reason would be a family death, job loss, or natural disaster. You can’t just claim the insurance because you no longer want to travel. Trip cancellation insurance usually has a cap per person, and for the entire trip. For example, $1,500 per person, up to $6,000. For most people, that won’t cover all their expenses, so you could be out of pocket some cash even with a successful claim.

Flight delay insurance

When your flight is delayed (usually 4 or 6 hours), your flight delay insurance will allow you to claim reasonable expenses. Eligible expenses could include meals, entertainment, spa treatments, or even a hotel room. This is the policy you want to avoid sleeping on hotel floors.

Lost/delayed baggage insurance

Lost/delayed baggage insurance allows you to purchase qualifying items if your bags are delayed or lost (usually 4 or 6 hours). What items you would be able to claim depends on your situation. For example, if you had a business meeting the next morning and then a casual event, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to be able to claim the cost of a suit and casual clothes. Now, if you were to buy 10 pairs of shoes, you’d probably be denied.

Rental car collision/loss damage insurance

As the name implies, rental car collision/loss damage insurance covers you from collision or loss damage when renting a car. To qualify for this insurance, you must turn down any insurance your car rental agency offers. Note that this insurance does not cover third-party liability insurance. That’s where someone sues you for personal injury. That said, if you have auto insurance at home, you’ll likely get liability insurance included when renting a car.

Hotel/motel burglary insurance

If your accommodations are broken into while you’re travelling, and your personal items are stolen or damaged, your hotel/motel burglary insurance will cover the costs to replace your things up to a certain amount.

Travel accident insurance

Travel accident insurance pays you a lump sum if you lose a body part or your life. How much you’ll get paid depends on what you’re losing. A finger will get you some money while losing a leg will get you more. You obviously never want to cash in on this insurance policy.

Are there other travel credit cards worth considering?

The best travel cards I’ve listed above are for each specific category. That said, there are still other credit cards worth considering, such as the following:

• TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
• American Express Gold Rewards Card
• Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Admittedly, a few of these cards would be ideal for many travellers. Each one comes with different perks and benefits, so you would need to read each review individually and then compare it to my best travel credit cards in Canada list to see what’s best for you.

How do travel credit cards affect your credit score?

Every time you apply for a best credit card, your  credit score  will take a hit of 5 to 10 points. This is normal as the credit card provider will check your credit score hard to see if you’re creditworthy. After a few months, it’ll return to normal.

Getting additional credit can sometimes benefit you since it increases your credit utilization ratio. Your ratio is the amount of credit you use relative to how much you have access to. That means someone who normally carries a balance of $1,000 but has access to $10,000 in credit has a credit utilization ratio of 10%.

Finally, paying your bills on time will help your credit score. Always pay your bills on time and in full. You can  check your credit score for free with ClearScore .

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

92 Comments

I vouch for the Scotiabank Infinite Visa card. I use it for everything!

And it’s great to know about that No Foreign Exchange fee credit card! I couldn’t find one back when I was looking for one. I’m surprised Amazon offers a credit card…

4% back on certain categories can make the fee tolerable, it’s definitely one of the best card.

Thanks for the wealth of info. Does AMEX run promos where they waive the annual fee? I am asking specifically for the Cobalt.

Amex has never offered a rebate on the Cobalt monthly fee.

If you live in Alberta for instance Westjet is a prominent carrier. And with a special bonus on now of $350 westjet dollars after first spend its hard to beat. And a companion ticket once a year, free luggage checkin which quickly covers your annual fee. No blackouts, a buck is a buck, the simplicity is my highlight.

As a thought, the Capital One Aspire Travel MasterCard just took away all their annoying tiers for rewards redemption, just received an e-mail on it today. I was considering other credit cards, and still will for the future, but it makes my large rewards balance on the card much more usable for 2016 when I hope to have a nice 25th Anniversary vacation away. What used to be a great card is still a decent card, and now with the tiers gone it goes back to being a good card. Time will tell if it become a top level card again.

Pastorash1,

Good eye! The Capital One Aspire Travel MasterCard will soon be offering a 40K bonus miles when you signup instantly making it arguably the best travel card available. I’ve updated my list to include it.

I’m a big fan of the capital one aspire travel card and how they eliminated the tiers for the rewards. I actually just redeemed some earlier this morning. It was very easy to do. I’m glad I got it when they still had an annual fee of $120 (with 10,000 bonus rewards annually, essentially making the annual fee $20)

Our Big Fat Wallet,

I missed out since I was too cheap to pay the yearly fee. I should have done the math, at $20 a year, that’s totally worth it.

Typo – “when you spend $1,00 in the first 90 days”, should say “$1000” 🙂 and I’d wait for the BMO World Elite First Year Free + 30K offer when it comes back

Thanks for the catch. FYF + 30K signup offer is pretty good. The flexibility of the BMO card is one of the best.

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if you travel more than one time a year then the best is Scotia AMEX Gold. For $99, it gives the best coverage for all travel (inc cancellation insurance), good cash back and much more. Just the travel insurance coverage for you and your partner will cost more than $99 per year.

Yes, the Scotia AMEX GOld is indeed an excellent card.

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Hi Barry…I have both the HSBC world elite and the President’s Choice world elite MasterCard’s. Do you know if both the travel insurances are in effect or just one policy when I travel?

Both would be in effect but you can only make claims through one of your insurance providers.

The HSBC card has much better insurance overall but note that besides travel medical, all other travel insurance only applies if you purchased your flights and hotels with your HSBC card.

I am curious about the Van City Visa Card where I get a dollar value returned to me when requested. Do you have any comments about it?

I’m not as familiar with Vancity. From what I understand, they’re a credit union out in BC. I believe the card you’re talking about is a cash back card which you should compare to the following list before you decide to sign up.

https://www.moneywehave.com/best-cash-back-credit-cards-in-canada/

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What are your noughts on he Avion Visa Infinite for travel rewards.? Does it rank anywhere in the top

Avion is a decent program, but the card is nothing special and WestJet is their only transfer partner. That being said, every so often there’s a special promotion where you can get 25K bonus points when you sign up and the first year is free which is a good deal.

Not sure why the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite is flagged with a “This card is no longer offered by the provider” message when I click on the link for it above. I still have one and the CIBC website still advertises the card at the front of their list of credit cards. I was going to share my experience with this card, in particular the CIBC Rewards program where you would redeem the Aventura points you earn with the card. Not sure where/if I should leave my comments now.

Good catch. Not sure why RateHub is showing that as the card is still clearly being offered. I’m going to change the link now. Feel free to share your experience with the card om this page or on my review of the card https://www.moneywehave.com/cibc-aventura-visa-infinite-review/

Hey Barry, my main card is the Scotia Infinite Momentum. With my spending partners this card earns me approx $900/yr. If I were to add one travel card to the mix just to get the sign-up bonus, which would you suggest and why? I typically travel once or twice a year. Are you able to cancel a card prior to uaing the points you’ve earned. Thank you

Since your main goal is the sign up bonus, you should just pick a card that works for you. American Express cards have the most flexibility since you can transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott and then cancel your account without losing any points. I also like the Scotiabank PAssport Visa Infinite card since you get 6 lounge passes, a $300 sign up bonus, and no forex fees. However, if you cancel your card before using your points, you lose them. You could transfer those points to SCENE or as a statement credit, but the value is lower compared to using them for travel.

Is there any way to get the fees reduced on the Amex Platinum? $700 is a lot of money just to buy yourself some perks

Unfortunately not. You do get an annual travel credit of $200 so it brings the fee down to $499

Interesting reading. I guess you don’t think much of RBC’s AVION cards, seeing as you have no mention of them. What is it about them that caused them not to make your list?

The card has a few decent promos now and then, but right now it doesn’t which is why it’s not on the list.

What are your thoughts on the following? Good information on here!

RBC® Avion® Visa Infinite Privilege‡ or RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege for Private Banking

It’s okay, but I sort of prefer the Amex Personal Platinum card more. The Amex card has a higher annual fee of $699 but you also get an annual travel credit of $200 and additional travel benefits such as hotel status upgrades. Amex points also allow you to book any type of travel and you can also transfer your points.

Thanks! Do you have any feedback on the VIP security fast track lane at select Canadian Airports?

It just puts you in the priority line at select airports which is definitely a nice feature. The AMex Platinum card has that benefit but only at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

looked at a sample of return flights from Vancouver and or Bellingham to Phoenix as an example on WestJet, Allegiant and Alaska….WestJet is the most expensive at about $465 (6 hours travel time from Van) followed by Alaska at $260 USD (4 hour travel time from Bellingham) then Allegiant $140 USD (2 hour travel time from Bellingham). Reward points and fees are only part of what should be considered.

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What are your thoughts on the Scotiabank Gold Amex card?

The Scotiabank Gold AMex is a fantastic card, it just doesn’t have a generous signup bonus compared to the ones on my list here. It also lacks lounge access compared to the Scotiabank Passport credit card but it does have higher multipliers for some categories.

Any idea if you get the bonus sign up on the Amex platinum card if you had one in the past and then downgraded to the gold amex.

Technically speaking, all Amex bonuses are once per lifetime. That being said, if you had the Platinum years ago, you’d likely get the signup bonus again. Of course, Amex is perfectly within their rights to deny you the bonus. Calling in advance to see if you would get the bonus would only ensure you don’t since you’d essentially be flagging yourself.

What about the TD Travel First Class Card?

That card currently has a great sign up bonus as a good rate of return when booking on Expedia for TD. It’s got no lounge access though.

Hi Barry, Just from perks perspective, Amex Platinum has everything that I want the most: 1. Trip cancellation (which usually comes with trip interruption, but not the other way around) 2. Rewards that can be converted into different program, aeroplan/avios in this case 3. Hotel status benefit

But, I still can’t justified paying the annual fee, plus, in order to maximized points, I want my wife to use the same card and it will cost me another $175, which bring the total annual fee of $874. Granted, there is cheaper additional card alternative with Gold card, but, I still have to pay $50 for that, which bring total annual fee of $749. Granted, there is $200 travel credit, but, that still make me paying $674 for platinum additional card or $549 for gold card. Not to mention the fact that the $200 travel credit only useful if we travel. What if I don’t travel every year?

Any recommendation of what credit card should I be getting which provide perks as close as Amex Platinum?

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, Amex Platinum is the only card providing hotel status benefit, correct?

One thing that I want to the most but missing from Amex Platinum, no foreign transaction fee.

That said, assuming that Amex Platinum is the only card with hotel status benefit and I’m willing to not have this benefit, any card you can recommend which provide: 1. Trip cancellation 2. Rewards that can be converted into different programs 3. No foreign transaction fee

The Amex Platinum card has a high annual fee because it comes with all those perks, it’s really aimed at people who love to travel. Unfortunately, there’s no card that comes anywhere close to the Platinum card. RBC has WestJet and Avios as transfer partners but no lounge access. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card gives you 6 lounge passes trip cancellation, has no forex fees but it has no transfer partners. The Scotiabank card is probably the closest to what you want.

Hi Barry, What if my requirements for credit card just the following 2 benefits: 1. Trip Cancellation 2. Rewards that can be converted into different programs

I would think, this is the core benefits that I really needed. What’s the best card?

I would recommend taking a look at the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard and the RBC Visa Infinite Avion card

https://www.moneywehave.com/hsbc-premier-world-elite-mastercard-review/

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“To get your RSVP code, all you need to do is launch the app, you don’t actually have to be a member.”

Thanks for all the insight. This is very helpful. I currently just upgraded to the TD Travel Visa but it’s looking like it may not be the best option. More importantly, I’m looking for an affordable way to withdraw cash in countries throughout both Europe and SE Asia. It looks like STACK might be the best option for that? Can you (or anyone on this board) offer any additional insights on that one? Any additional info would be great!

STACK is my go to card for getting cash since it has no forex fees. I wrote a review which you can check out – https://www.moneywehave.com/stack-mastercard-review/

[…] you can lower your costs by taking advantage of the huge signup bonuses that some of the best travel credit cards in Canada offer. The welcome points you get could easily be worth $250 – $1,000 so it’s worth […]

Hi Barry, What would you suggest as the best option for my daughter to take with her to Hawaii next month? From what I have read Stacks looks like it might fit best for her? Also, mu husband and I are taking our first trip to the US in Feb. Since we already bought cancellation insurance would it be pointless to apply for the Scotia Passport Infinite? We havent done any travelling and not sure if we will be doing any anytime soon after this trip. I would appreciate any advice I can get:) Thank you

STACK is great due to low fees using it as a credit card and withdrawing funds from ATM as long as you’ve loaded funds in advance. The card had delivery issues in the past, so I would check with them to ensure you would get the card before then.

From an insurance standpoint, the Scotiabank card would indeed be useless, but you do get 6 lounge passes and a nice sign up bonus which is worth more than the $139 fee so that’s wort considering. Scotiabank delivers their cards quite fast so you wouldn’t have any issues getting it before your daughter departs.

Thanks Barry for responding so quickly:)

I looked into getting the meridian cash back card with $99 annual fee. The application alarmed me tho as they are asking for every single bit of security information I possess. If their system was breached I would be SOL Any comments. Do all credit unions ask for this much security info?

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I have had the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard for the past few years, but they have just cut rewards from 2% on all purchases down to 1.5%. So, now I am looking for a better replacement. It seems the HSBC World Elite Mastercard may be a slightly better option.

The HSBC World Elite Mastercard is indeed a great card, but I believe there’s a minimum points requirement if you’re going to redeem for travel.

When I click on your referral link for Amex gold, I get

Sorry, there was an error in accessing the application. Please try again using the link provided in your original offer.

Is link working or I have to do something?

Same with Cobalt

I’m looking at this now and it seems lie Amex has removed all of their referral links for users. It’s not showing up in my account or app anymore.

I found the updated links online. Gold and Cobalt links should be working now. I still need to fix the Platinum links. Thanks for flagging!

if you would choose between Amex Gold and Cobalt, which one would you choose ?

If you spend a lot on food, the Cobalt has a better earn rate but note that your points can’t be transferred to Aeroplan.

The Gold Rewards Card is a quick way to earn up to 30,000 points with minimal spending and you can transfer your points to Aeroplan.

You forgot Revolut. Which is now available in Canada. It is amazing for travel. No fees.

Thanks again for all this great info. I used it to do a spreadsheet comparison between my HSBC Travel Elite MC and the Scotiabank Gold Amex/Amex Cobalt. Really interesting. Based on my actual spending for 2021 and factoring in that not all the retailers I use take Amex, the higher earn rate on food and dining added enough points to cover the cost of the Amex card but that was about it. It finally dawned on me that these point levels are really designed to pay off if you are buying for two or more, in other words, these rates aren’t that effective for single users unless you’re a really big spender. Has this ever been a factor in your analysis? Just wondering:-) Stay safe and have a peaceful holiday season.

You also have a great analysis. Here are my two cents. I personally think the best credit card / points are the ones that naturally line up with your spending. So yeah, if most of the merchants where you shop accept Amex, then Amex is the way to go. I also personally value one Amex point at 2 cents each since I can transfer them to Aeroplan. That’s double the value of Scotiabank and even HSBC. SO even though Amex may not be accepted in as many places, the points are still worth more even if I’m earning less. It’s also worth noting that the Amex welcome bonuses are usually more valuable compared to others.

Hi Barry, I get what you’re saying about the Aeroplan points. I like the point value I get on the HSBC card for travel expenses and for everyday expenses it’s not bad either. Think I will aim for Aeroplan points on my second, one year cards. Laura

If you’re happy with the HSBC as your main card, then stick with it. You’re definitely on the right track about using Aeroplan cards as your secondary/one year cards. Get the bonus, and then cancel at the end of the year / repeat.

Thanks Barry for great read with very helpful tips. I have a few questions regarding these travel cards. Say, I book a flight through a travel agent instead of me directly on the airline’s website, will I still get all these benefits of WestJet dollars, sign-up bonus, and rewards like the annual companion voucher, etc with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard which I have? The reason I want to book with the travel agent is that there is no direct flight between Canada and the destination country I want to fly to. The agent can book all the connecting flights on one single ticket which is a big plus. So, if I pay with my WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, but book the flights with the travel agent, will I get all these rewards, etc? Or I have to book the flights myself on their airline’s website to get all these rewards, etc??

I guess it’s the same rule if I book my flights with Air Canada and use my Aeroplan points program that I have with Air Canada, ie. will I get all these rewards, etc with Air Canada if I book the flights with the travel agent, instead of me booking the flights directly on Air Canada’s website???

Thank you Barry and thanks a lot for your valuable advice.

Yes, if you’re booking through a travel agent, the benefits that come with your WestJet Mastercard apply. That said, if you book directly with WestJet, you would get a slightly higher earn rate (2% vs. 1.5%). The rewards are you get are based on your spending, so it doesn’t really matter how you pay for it.

As for the other benefits like free checked bags, it would apply to WestJet flights and potentially their partners.

Just be sure to provide the travel agent with your WestJet Rewards #.

Hi Barry, As always, thanks for putting this information together. HSBC will soon be defunct so I’m looking for a new primary card. Since I tend to travel via tours, I’m looking for a card with a higher earn rate for actual travel expenses, one of the HSBC features I liked. Can’t seem to find that feature in other cards but perhaps I’m missing something. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

It sort of depends on what you’re looking for. A good daily card is the Amex Cobalt Card since it earns you 5X the points on eats and drinks, 3 X on streaming services, 2 X on travel and transit, and 1X on everything else. Amex Membership Rewards are highly flexible and can be redeemed for any type of travel. That said, the card does charge FX fees on foreign transactions.

https://www.moneywehave.com/american-express-cobalt-review/ https://www.moneywehave.com/american-express-membership-rewards/

If no FX is important, consider the EQ Bank Card. You need an EQ Bank account, but it’s a prepaid card that uses the Mastercard network. There are no FX fees for purchases or ATM withdrawals.

Thanks for the pointers.

Sorry, one more question. RBC is offering to waive the foreign transaction fee on the Visa Avion Infinite as part of the transition from HSBC. Have you heard any rumours about how long they will do this? I’m assuming they’ll revert at some point. Thanks.

Based on the terms and conditions, it’s a permanent benefit. However, the $100 travel credit is only good for one year.

Thanks I wasn’t sure about that.

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• Credit cards

Head-To-Head: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card Vs WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard

This post is also available in: FR

TD and Royal Bank of Canada ( RBC ) each offer a credit card that lets you earn points to purchase flights with Canadian airlines:

• TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card

WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard

We’ll now look at the main differences between these credit cards in terms of:

Welcome bonus

Minimum income, earning points.

• Using points
• Travel Insurance

The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies according to promotions. However, there are differences to be aware of between the two credit cards.

With this welcome offer for the TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card , you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points .

Here’s how:

• 10,000 Aeroplan points after first purchase
• 20,000 Aeroplan points , if you spend $6,000 within 180 days of account opening
• 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of account opening

Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this Welcome Bonus is worth approximately $1,000 .

With the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard , you can earn up to $700 WestJet dollars :

• 300 WestJet dollars on your first eligible purchase
• 300 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first three months
• 100 WestJet dollars as a one-time birthday bonus

This is the most generous offer ever made by RBC for this WestJet credit card!

Advantage: Draw

We obtain roughly the same point value in the first year for a similar spending amount ($5,000 and $6,000).

30,000 Aeroplan points are worth $600 , according to Milesopedia’s estimate of the value of points .

While 600 WestJet dollars are worth $600 with the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard . However, with the TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card, you have 6 months to reach the minimum spend versus 3 months on the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard side.

But the WestJet credit card has an added bonus: the travel companion voucher ! This allows you to buy a flight and get the second one for as little as $119. Depending on your destination, you could save an additional $500 on average.

The ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum personal income of $60,000 or $100,000 annual household income.

The ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard requires a minimum individual income of $80,000 per year or an annual family income of $150,000.

Advantage: TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card

The ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card is less demanding in terms of minimum income than its competitor.

The ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $139. However, with the current offer, you get an annual fee rebate for the first year † .

The ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $119.

The annual fee for the ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card is higher than for the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">Westjet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard .

The ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard and ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card each offer different levels of points accumulation.

With the ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card, the maximum points earned are 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar for purchases:

• Grocery purchases
• Gas purchases
• With Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations

1 Aeroplan point per dollar on all other purchases.

With the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard , you earn WestJet dollars on the following purchases:

• 1.5% cash back in Westjet dollars on all regular purchases
• 2% cash back in WestJet dollars on flights with WestJet or WestJet Vacations

WestJet dollars and Aeroplan points are two different kinds of points, each with a different value:

• 1 WestJet dollar = $1
• 1 Aeroplan point = $0.02

So, you have to do a bit of math to figure out which earns the most value between the two. Take the following examples:

According to Milesopedia, Aeroplan points are more valuable than WestJet dollars.

Redeeming points

As these two credit cards are part of different loyalty programs, the ways in which points are used are also different!

Each month, Aeroplan points earned on ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card purchases are automatically transferred to the cardholder’s Aeroplan account.

Then, to use your Aeroplan points, book your flight on the Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations website. These Aeroplan points can be used to get a less expensive vacation package or a flight from some fifty partners, members of the Star Alliance network, such as:

• United Airlines , Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific ;
• Egyptair, Emirates , Etihad , Lufthansa , Singapore Airlines ;
• Swiss , TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines , etc.

WestJet dollars earned with the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard are credited to the WestJet Rewards membership account.

The WestJet member can then redeem these WestJet dollars to deduct all or part of the cost:

• A vacation package with WestJet Vacations ;
• The basic fare for a flight with WestJet ;
• A flight with its partners ( Air France , Delta Air Lines and Qantas Airways), with whom it has a codeshare agreement.

Thanks to the flexibility of Aeroplan points, they can be used in many ways such as:

• Merchandise;
• A hotel room or car rental;
• Gift cards;
• Book a vacation package with Air Canada Vacations ;
• AC upgrade or free Wi-Fi on board.

Other benefits

With the ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card , you’ll get the following benefits:

• Complimentary first-checked baggage for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation;
• Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases;
• $100 statement credit every 4 years for NEXUS program enrolment or renewal fees;
• Access to Visa Infinite Benefits (concierge, luxury hotel collection, vineyard tours, additional travel benefits) ;
• Optional TD Auto Club membership (roadside assistance);
• Various promotions with Aeroplan ( Aeroplan points rebates , discounts on flights , credits or Aeroplan points to the account, link your account with Starbucks ).

With the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard you can also enjoy several other benefits:

• $119 for travel in Canada and the United States (except Hawaii)
• $399 for all other WestJet flights
• Redeem your companion voucher for four complimentary admissions to WestJet partner airport lounges ;
• Link the RBC card to the Petro-Points program to save 3¢ / litre on gas;
• Earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada ;
• Receive a $500 Status Lift to other WestJet status levels for every $15,000 in net purchases;
• Earn 50 Be Well points / dollar of eligible purchases at Rexall when paying with the card;
• Free Wi-Fi Boingo with Mastercard Travel Pass;
• Free 12-month subscription to DoorDash DashPass, with unlimited free shipping on orders of $15 or more, paid with the card.

Both cards are excellent for their wide range of travel benefits, but the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard stands out. Especially for the very advantageous companion voucher to save an average of $500 on a second plane ticket yearly .

For Air Canada travellers, the benefits of Air Canada are to save money and make the annual fee more cost-effective.

The ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card offers equal or more generous coverage than its competitor. What’s more, it requires that only 75% of travel purchases be charged to the card.

Conversely, the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard requires that the trip be fully charged to the card. What’s more, it has no cancellation insurance .

If you want a credit card that covers your travels, even when a small portion of the expenses has been charged, I recommend this article: The best credit cards for travel insurance with rewards points .

Bottom Line

So? Which card is the winner?

The ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/td-aeroplan-visa-infinite-card/" rel="noindex">TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card offers great flexibility thanks to Aeroplan points and the ability to depart from anywhere in the world:

• Robust travel insurance;
• The accumulation and highest value of its points;
• Advantageous promotions with Aeroplan ;
• Its lowest minimum income requirements.

While the ® World Elite Mastercard" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/westjet-world-elite-mastercard-rbc/" rel="noindex">WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard makes a strong case for:

• The opportunity to earn 1.5% cash back in WestJet dollars at Costco
• WestJet’s most recent and valuable welcome offer of 700 WestJet Dollars
• The travel companion voucher allows you to save an average of $500 on a plane ticket for your travel companion.

• Credit Card - Comparisons

All posts by Caroline Tremblay

Suggested Reading

• Book Travel
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Best ways to earn:

Best ways to redeem:.

TD Rewards Points are the primary currency touted by the largest bank in Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank. TD Rewards are a proprietary currency, belonging solely to TD and tied exclusively to TD credit cards .

TD Rewards is a fixed-value points currency, meaning that points can be redeemed in a number of ways at a fixed value. TD Rewards Points are particularly useful to offset the cost of incidental travel purchases, such as independent hotels, short-term rentals, and vacations, to further minimize your out-of-pocket travel expenses.

Earning Points via Signup Bonuses

The only way to earn TD Rewards is from the bank itself, via its suite of personal TD Rewards-earning credit cards.

• The TD Rewards Visa* Card is the no-fee card, which typically comes with a small signup bonus.
• The TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card is the entry-level product among the TD Rewards cards. The card frequently puts on first-year annual fee rebate promotions along with a modest welcome bonus, which typically ranges between 15,000–50,000 TD Rewards Points.
• The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card is the flagship TD Rewards product from TD. The card frequently offers first-year annual fee rebates, along with a sizeable welcome bonus of 20,000–135,000 TD Rewards Points.

Earning Points via Daily Spending

Beyond signup offers, you can earn TD Rewards Points through daily spending on the above credit cards. The earning rates are as follows:

• 4 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible Expedia® for TD purchases†
• 3 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible groceries and dining purchases†
• 2 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments set up on your account†
• 1 TD Rewards Point† per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
• 6 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible Expedia® for TD†
• 4.5 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible groceries and dining†
• 3 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments set up on your account†
• 1.5 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
• 8 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible travel booked through Expedia® for TD†
• 6 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible groceries and restaurant purchases†
• 4 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments set up on your account†
• 2 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†

Purely from an earning perspective, the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card stands out as the strongest card.

This is especially true for anyone who books a significant component of their trips on Expedia, as you can earn an effective 4% return on your purchases.

Redeeming TD Rewards Points

The TD Rewards program offers various redemption possibilities, with different levels of value attached to each one.

Expedia® for TD

The best redemption value for TD Rewards comes by redeeming them on the dedicated redemption portal Expedia® for TD. By redeeming points this way, you’ll get 0.5 cents per point (cpp), which is the best way to use TD Rewards Points.

Expedia® for TD is essentially the same platform as the regular Expedia, except you log in with your TD credentials so you can redeem points.

Simply sign in to your TD Rewards account, click “Expedia for TD” under the “Redeem” tab, and then click through to the Expedia for TD portal.

As with regular Expedia purchases, you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel purchases. Importantly, Expedia also offers cruises, tours, and Disney tickets, among other things.

As these travel expenses are typically quite difficult to book with points, using TD Rewards Points at a fixed value of 0.5 cents per point is an excellent redemption opportunity, and could end up saving you a significant amount of cash out-of-pocket.

The minimum redemption is 200 points ($1), and you can choose to redeem your points in $50 increments. You’re able to make purchases in any combination of points and cash.

Once you’ve chosen your desired purchase on Expedia for TD, look for “Use your TD Points” on the checkout page. Just select the number of points you’d like to redeem at 0.5cpp, and then proceed with your purchase.

The credit posts in three to five days after the purchase, so be patient and keep an eye on your account.

If you’re using your TD Rewards Points on Expedia® For TD to redeem for hotels, or car rentals, the usual warnings of using an online travel agency apply.

You won’t earn any hotel status benefits or accrue elite qualifying nights at hotels. For car rentals, you won’t earn things like Hertz points or free rentals through National Free Days.

This doesn’t apply to airfare, though, as you’ll still accrue the same amount of elite qualifying miles, segments, and dollars. As long as you have your frequent flyer number attached to your booking or add it in at the check-in counter, your travel should count towards elite status qualification.

One major thing to note about using Expedia to book airfare is that any and all changes and cancellations must be pursued through the third-party booking agency, and can’t be done through the airline.

Book Any Way

The second-best way to redeem TD points is for non-Expedia travel, where you can redeem at a respectable 0.4 cents per point. The minimum redemption is 250 points ($1).

This ratio is maintained for the first $1,200 of a single travel purchase, and will be 0.5 cents per point (200 points = $1) thereafter.

Booking non-Expedia travel using TD points is called “Book Any Way Travel” and can be booked by using the TD Rewards website or by calling 1-800-983-8472.

Calling has a few distinct advantages, such as the ability to redeem your points for non-conventional travel items, such as gas, attractions, various hotel expenses, RV rentals, and even Airbnbs.

To redeem TD Rewards points through “Book Any Way Travel”, select “Book Any Way Travel” from the “Redeem” tab on the TD Rewards website.

On the next screen, fill in the information about the transaction against which you’d like to redeem points. Note that you can only redeem TD Rewards points for “Book Any Way Travel”  after the purchase has posted on your account.

You’ll need to note down the transaction date, its description, and the amount before proceeding. You can submit multiple transactions at once.

Higher Education

Using TD Rewards Points towards higher education is also a decent option, at a redemption value of 0.4 cents per point (250 points = $1). You’re able to use your TD Rewards Points to pay for tuition and/or student loans, in increments of $250 (62,500 points).

First, check if your institution participates on the TD website , and then you can buy HigherEdPoints Education Credits with your TD Rewards Points.

If you want to use your TD Rewards Points towards shopping expenses, you can redeem your points towards gift cards at a flat value of 0.25 cents per point (400 points = $1).

This is objectively a lower-value redemption than travel; however, as long as you’re redeeming points for higher value than your costs (which is usually the annual fee), you’re keeping cash in your pocket.

Gift Cards & Merchandise

There are sometimes discounts which offer gift cards for 25% off, so you can redeem at 0.33 cents per point. If you plan on redeeming TD Rewards for gift cards, it’s best to wait for one of these promotions prior to doing so.

The same value of 0.25 cents per point is offered for merchandise purchases, which are listed on the TD Rewards website . As with gift cards, there are sometimes sales where you can redeem for up to 0.3–0.4 cents per point.

As always, check if the item you’re redeeming for is on sale for a lower price on another platform to calculate your redemption value.

There’s also the option of redeeming TD Rewards Points at 0.33 cents per point through a partnership with Amazon.ca.

First, you’ll have to enroll by linking your TD Rewards-earning credit card with your Amazon account. Once you’ve done this, you can apply TD Rewards Points.

At the check-out page on Amazon, change the payment method to your linked TD Rewards credit card, where you’ll see the balance of points available. You can cover the rest of the purchase with your credit card.

Statement Credit

Finally, the last way to use your TD Rewards Points is to redeem for statement credit directly, also at a rate of 0.25 cents per point.

It sounds like the same rate as gift cards and merchandise, but keep in mind that those have occasional sales, while statement credits always remain at 0.25 cents per point.

This makes it the lowest-value way of redeeming your TD Rewards Points, and if you plan to use your points towards a statement credit, you’re better off with a cash back card .

Without a doubt, using Expedia® For TD at a rate of 0.5 cents per point (200 points = $1) is the best value redemption for TD Rewards Points.

For most travellers, this should suffice just fine, as Expedia offers tours, Disney park tickets, and a plethora of other travel possibilities aside from the usual flights, hotels, and car rentals.

TD Rewards Points are a great way to save money on miscellaneous travel expenses, and the regular high signup bonuses and respectable earning rates make it quite easy to rack up the points.

† Terms and conditions apply. Refer to the TD website for the most current information.

Hi, is it possible to sell my TD points to someone in exchange for cash? I am getting older and I doubt I will ever use it for travel. I have a lot of points. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi Judy. I don’t think TD points are transferable to other people, however you CAN redeem them for a cash (statement credit). You will get 0.25 cents per point, so for example if you have 100,000 TD points, that should be a credit of $250 . You may also be able to redeem them for non-travel rewards that will give you more value for your points. If you do decide on the statement credit, this can be done from TD Easyweb when viewing your TD Visa details. You might have to sign up or sign-in to ‘TD Rewards’ for the other options. Hope this helps!

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By Sandra MacGregor

Updated: January 29, 2024

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   min read

Visa Infinite vs. World Elite Mastercard: Which offers the best perks?

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Experienced credit card users know that one of the ways to ensure you get top-tier benefits from a premium card in Canada is to be on the lookout for credit cards that have “Visa Infinite” or “World Elite Mastercard” in the name.

Both major processing networks,  Mastercard and Visa , have unique premium benefit programs that give cardholders perks above and beyond the benefits offered by individual credit card issuers. Each program has a standard set of extras that range from airport lounge access to exclusive bucket list experiences. To help you select the perks program that best matches your needs, we’ll compare the benefits offered by each of the two programs head-to-head.

It’s important to note that each benefit program has two levels. For Visa, there’s Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege. For Mastercard, there are the World and World Elite levels. For the purposes of this article, we’ll only be comparing Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard as they are the most alike.

At a glance: Visa Infinite vs. World Elite Mastercard

Airport lounge access.

For frequent fliers, a  credit card with included airport lounge access  can be a huge selling point. Some cards that are part of  the Visa Infinite program  offer Priority Pass Memberships, which gives the cardholder access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Note that a membership does not mean you actually get free lounge access, rather it saves you from buying a membership that retails at $99 USD. Unless your membership includes free passes, you’ll still have to pay $32 USD per person per lounge visit. The best airport lounge access cards in Canada generally include anywhere from four to six lounge visits a year on top of free membership. For example, the  Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card  comes with a free Priority Pass membership and six complimentary visits per year, which is the highest amount of free lounge passes among any premium card in Canada with an annual fee of less than $200.

World Elite Mastercards have a similar airport lounge access perk. The Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass* gives members access to 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Select World Elite cards offer a  complimentary membership but may or may not also include any free passes. If not, you’ll pay $32 USD per visit. Among World Elite Mastercards, the  BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*  offers the most amount of free airport lounge visits with four free visits annually*.

Bottom line:  If your credit card doesn’t include complimentary passes, you pay an additional $32 USD per visit with either Visa Infinite’s Priority Pass and World Elite Mastercard’s LoungeKey, even with a free membership. Priority Pass gives you access to more airport lounges. Furthermore, among premium credit cards with annual fees under $200 per year, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card features the most free passes.

Winner: Visa Infinite

Hotel benefits

With Visa Infinite cards, you have access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection. This is a collection of over 900 hotels worldwide where you can take advantage of a total of seven impressive perks. Perks include:

• Best available rate guarantee
• Automatic room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, when available
• Complimentary breakfast for two
• A $25 USD food or beverage credit
• VIP Guest status
• Late check-out upon request, when available

On top of these seven standard hotel perks, Visa Infinite also features a list of extra limited-time hotel benefits, including hotel discounts, one-off hotel dining credits, free stay deals, and special packages.

Unlike Visa Infinite, the World Elite Mastercard benefit program doesn’t have a specific perk program related exclusively to hotels. While you can get some special offers for hotel stays that include things like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades, those benefits fall under the World Elite Mastercard Priceless Cities program (which is a program that offers a wide variety of extras related to hotels, city tours, and culinary experiences). With World Elite Mastercard credit cards, hotel benefits vary widely and there is no set of hotel perks that you can expect to receive every time you stay at an eligible property. Rather, you have to go to the Priceless Cities program homepage and do a specific search for hotel benefits.

Bottom Line:  Visa Infinite has a special section of its benefits program that’s completely dedicated to hotels and there’s a reliable standard list of seven benefits that Visa Infinite cardholders are always eligible to receive. World Elite Mastercard does not have a clearly delineated hotel benefit program and cardholders have to spend time searching for potential benefits.

Food and wine benefits

Visa Infinite has a lot to offer foodies and oenophiles alike. Within the Visa Infinite benefit program, there are two separate programs dedicated to all things culinary and wine called the Visa Infinite Dining Series and the Visa Infinite Wine Country Program. Programs are updated with new events regularly each season. Each program is specifically designed for a Canadian audience (so you don’t have to sift through a ton of international events to find ones in Canada, though some international dining and food events are also available). Each program features a carefully curated lineup of events in major Canadian cities and wine regions. Events include special chef-led meals at Canada’s best restaurants, wine tastings and cocktail-making lessons.

I was impressed to find that currently due to COVID, both of Visa Infinite’s food and wine programs have been updated so that many of the events can be done at home but still remain incredibly interactive. With Visa Infinite’s new Dining Series @ Home experience, cardholders can actually get a gourmet four-course meal, along with canapés, cocktails and wine delivered to their door. They will then be able to access a private link that features a pre-recorded video about the meal, or they can connect to a live stream presentation with some of Canada’s most acclaimed chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers.

The World Elite Mastercard program does not have a dedicated food and wine program but does offer special food and drink-related events under their Priceless Cities program. You have to search to find out what potential restaurant or winery offerings might be available in your location. The website is not designed just for a Canadian audience (unlike Visa Infinite, which has a dedicated Canadian site for food and wine event offerings). When I did a search for Canada, there were only two food events being currently offered by World Elite Mastercard and both were non-interactive cooking videos.

Bottom Line:  The Visa Infinite food and wine experiences were plentiful and designed with a great deal of thought regarding how to make events interactive despite current COVID restrictions. It also has a website specially designed for a Canadian audience with an array of food and wine offerings in major wine regions and cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and more.

Experience benefits

Aside from a few entertainment-related experiences like private movie events , Visa Infinite doesn’t appear to offer many other kinds of other experiences.

As discussed previously, Mastercard World Elite has an experience program called Priceless Cities. It gives cardholders access to an incredibly huge variety of all sorts of experiences (over 2000 different experiences are available). On top of food, wine and hotel experiences, the program features a little bit of everything, with experiences like:

• An online magic lesson from experienced magicians
• Watch a video on cheesemaking
• An online weight class with a fitness influencer
• Learn the art of printmaking

The Priceless Cities program also features a truly original and engaging series of city experiences that offer a unique way to tap into a destination without ever leaving your armchair. Some destination experiences include:

• A virtual cable car experience of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
• Take a tour of Paris street art with an artist
• A virtual tour of Jaipur’s vibrant markets and karkhana workshops

Bottom line:  When it comes to unique adventures and experiences outside of food and wine-related events, World Elite Mastercard has a seemingly endless array to choose from that really cater to a wide spectrum of tastes and interests.

Winner: World Elite Mastercard

Additional perks

There are a number of other great perks offered by each card. Some perks are similar in both cards, such as the  24/7 concierge service  that can help you with things like travel itineraries, getting tickets, and making restaurant reservations. However, there are a number of other perks that are unique to each card.

Visa Infinite offers several extra benefits:

• Shopping offers:  Limited time shopping offers, such as 30% off regular price items at adidas.ca or 35% off any photo print and gift products from Fujifilm.
• Golf perks:  Use your Visa Infinite card to sign up for Troon Rewards and get 10% off golf fees, merchandise and golf instruction at over 95 courses around the world.
• Entertainment offers:  As a cardholder, you periodically get access to private movie events, Toronto International Film offers and more as part of the Visa Infinite Screening Series.

World Elite Mastercard has many attractive additional perks:

• Special Cirque du Soleil benefits:  Cardholders can enjoy exclusive benefits like backstage access, preferred seating, invitations to special Cirque du Soleil events, 15% discount on shows in Canada, discounts at Las Vegas shows and more.
• Free Wi-Fi Access:  Free Boingo Wi-Fi at over 1 million hotspots worldwide and no added fees or roaming charges.
• Mastercard Preferred Program:  Earn a 2% rebate on purchases at select retailers given in the form of a statement credit.
• Travel rewards:  Pay with your registered Mastercard to get automatic cashback offers online and in-store from eligible merchants.
• Entertainment offers:  Via the Priceless Cities program, you can attend a Broadway show, take part in an exclusive live concert experience and more.

Bottom Line:  While there are cardholders who would greatly covet Visa Infinite’s golf benefit, overall, World Elite Mastercard has a wider variety of extra perks.

Insurance benefits

Insurance benefits between the two programs are hard to definitively quantify as insurance offerings depend much more on the particular credit card issuer than on what Mastercard or Visa benefit program they belong to.

While both programs offer various types of travel insurance, such as emergency medical, trip cancellation, and lost or stolen baggage, Mastercard World Elite has a slight edge by offering more car rental insurance options.

Both programs also offer purchase insurance in the form of a one-year extended warranty and 90-day purchase protection.

It’s important to note that the specific insurance terms might depend on your card’s provider, so coverage may differ from card to card.

Bottom Line:  World Elite Mastercard appears to have more reliable standard insurance offers than Visa Infinite, though what insurance you get with your credit card depends almost entirely on the individual issuer.

Annual income needed

To successfully apply for a Visa Infinite card, you need a personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000.

For a World Elite Mastercard, you need a personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000.

Bottom Line:  With lower income requirements, Visa Infinite cards are easier to successfully apply for.

Visa Infinite vs World Elite: Side-by-side comparison

In order to get a better picture of the value of each program and the differences between them, we’ve compared two cards offered by BMO.

Keep in mind that any features of every credit card are set by the provider, not the program. So things like annual fees, welcome bonuses, earn rates, insurance policies, and even some perks can differ from card to card, even if they’re in the same program.

Final thoughts

Overall, Visa Infinite is the winner when it comes to credit card benefits programs. The company’s perks for things like airport lounge access, food and wine exclusive events, and hotel benefits are second to none. Furthermore, the effort Visa Infinite seems to have put into creating a Canadian-centric website for their food and wine experiences, as well as developing interactive COVID-friendly food events (that aren’t just pre-filmed videos) is pretty impressive and shows the company really puts thought into the program.

Above all, however, it’s vital to keep in mind that by and large, specific details like exact types of insurance, how many free airport lounge visits you get a year (if any) come down to your specific credit card issuer and not Visa or Mastercard. Because of this, it’s always best to select a credit card based on the overall package it offers and not just what premium benefits program it’s affiliated with.

*Terms and conditions apply

BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

Read:   World Mastercard or World Elite Mastercard - which is better?

About our author

Sandra MacGregor has been writing about finance and travel for nearly a decade. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications like the New York Times, the UK Telegraph, the Washington Post, Forbes.com and the Toronto Star. She spends her free time travelling, and has lived around the globe, including in Paris, South Korea and Cape Town.

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NV obtains new photos and videos of the elimination of traitorous ex-MP Ilya Kyva near Moscow

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Photos and videos of the elimination of pro-Russian ex-MP Ilya Kyva in a Moscow suburb were obtained by NV from sources in Ukraine’s SBU Security Service on Dec. 11.

This special operation was meticulously planned and successfully executed, the SBU informant confirmed.

Read also: “Surrender for your own safety” advises Ukrainian intelligence to traitors

In one imgae, Kyva's lifeless body can be seen in the snow surrounded by bloodstains. The location where “deserved punishment awaited the traitor” is near the place that Kyva filmed many anti-Ukrainian videos, sources say.

Kyva was a high-priority target, SBU said. His daily routines, movements, and habits were extensively studied in the operation. Despite strong security, the SBU managed to eliminate him just outside Moscow.

“This [Kyva’s elimination] serves as a signal to all traitors and military criminals who have sided with the enemy. Remember: Russia will not protect you. Death is the only prospect awaiting enemies of Ukraine,” SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk said.

Ukraine’s SBU eliminated Kyva in a special operation in Moscow Oblast on Dec. 6, said NV sources in the intelligence service.

Kyva's “bloodied body”, discovered with a shot through the head, was found in the park of an elite club hotel in the Moscow region on Dec.6, Russian propaganda Telegram channels reported.

Read also: Former Ukrainian MP and traitor Illia Kyva found dead in Moscow Oblast – NV sources

Kyva was shot with an unidentified firearm and died from the injuries on the scene, the Russian Investigative Committee claimed.

Kyva had fled to Spain ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He then appeared in Russian propaganda broadcasts in Moscow, actively spreading lies about Ukraine. Kyva also sought “political asylum” and citizenship from the enemy aggressor.

The Ukrainian parliament stripped Kyva of his MP status in March 2022, charging him with treason. He was additionally charged with publicly calling for a violent change in the constitutional order and propaganda on behalf of the aggressor state in Aug. 2023.

We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron !

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine

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Understanding the Travel Benefits Your Credit Card Offers

Whether you’re travelling for work or play, there is a possibility of risk when venturing away from home. From losing luggage or scratching the rental vehicle, to injuring yourself or falling sick, the travel benefits included with your TD credit card can help you travel prepared.

How Credit Card Travel Benefits can help you

Travel prepared with the travel benefits on your TD credit card. Depending on the TD credit card, travel benefits could include:

• Travel Medical Insurance 1
• Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance 2
• Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance 3
• Flight/Trip Delay Insurance 3
• Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance 4
• Auto Rental Collision / Lost Damage Insurance 5
• Emergency Travel Assistance Services 6
• Hotel / Motel Burglary Insurance 7

How do the travel benefits on my credit card work?

Credit card travel benefits can work in many ways. For example, they may:

Provide insurance for travel expenses Depending on the travel benefits included with your TD credit card, you may be insured for certain travel related expenses (i.e. car rentals) and you could also be insured in certain situations (i.e. medical emergencies).

Come with additional Travel Medical Insurance Timeframes vary depending on your age, the length of the trip and the type of credit card.

Make it easier to make a claim In the event of a claim, you’ll want to contact our claims administrator to initiate your claim. It helps to have all your receipts available during this process.

What coverage do I have with my credit card travel benefits?

Depending on the credit card you have, you could be eligible for a range of coverages, from trip cancellations, to lost baggage, to car rental accidents. Check your TD credit card travel insurance benefits  here . It is important to read your  certificate of insurance  to understand which coverages you have with your credit card.

Benefits of having Credit card travel Insurance

There are a number of scenarios when having travel benefits on your credit card may be beneficial.

Your family vacation

It’s your first family trip, your flight’s been cancelled, and you’ve missed your connection. Fortunately, Trip Cancellation Insurance 2  may provide coverage for the cost of your required hotel room.

Lost luggage? No worries.

Imagine finally being able to travel only to then lose your luggage. Thankfully, Delayed and Lost Baggage insurance 3  can help cover a portion of the loss.

Your business trip

While driving to your annual sales meeting, you get into a minor collision and damage the rental vehicle. Thankfully, your Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance 5  could help you get back on your way.

How to get started

If you love to travel the world and experience new places and cultures, a TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Credit Card might be for you.

• Travel Rewards

TD Travel Rewards Cards let you earn points on everyday purchases that can be redeemed for flights, hotels and much more.

Earn cash back on purchases, which can be redeemed whenever you want – for what is most essential to you.

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1  Underwritten by TD Life Insurance Company. Medical and claims assistance, claims payment and administrative services are provided by our Administrator. Benefits, features and coverages are subject to conditions, limitations and exclusions, including a pre-existing condition exclusion, that are fully described in the Certificates of Insurance included with your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement. Note that this insurance offers different benefits, with different terms and conditions, then the optional Travel Medical Insurance that may be medically underwritten and is available for purchase to all TD customers, which you may be eligible to top up with. The day of departure from and the day of return to your province or territory of residence each count as one full day.

2  Underwritten by TD Life Insurance Company (for medical covered causes) and TD Home and Auto Insurance Company (for non-medical covered causes). To be eligible for this insurance, at least 75% of your trip cost must be paid for using your TD Credit Card and/or Aeroplan points. Benefits, features and coverages are subject to conditions, limitations and exclusions, including a pre-existing condition exclusion, that are fully described in the Certificate of Insurance included with your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement. Note that this insurance offers different benefits, with different terms and conditions, than the optional Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance that is available to all TD customers.

3  Underwritten by TD Home and Auto Insurance Company. To be eligible for this coverage, at least 75% of your trip cost must be paid for using your TD Credit Card and/or associated Aeroplan points. Benefits, features and coverages are subject to conditions, limitations and exclusions that are fully described in the Certificate of Insurance included with your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement.

4  Underwritten by TD Life Insurance Company. To be eligible for this coverage, your trip must be paid for in full using your TD Credit Card and/or Aeroplan points. Benefits, features and coverages are subject to conditions, limitations and exclusions that are fully described in the Certificate of Insurance included with your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement.

5  Underwritten by TD Home and Auto Insurance Company. Car rentals must be charged in full to the Card and/or associated Aeroplan points, cannot exceed 48 consecutive days and the rental agency’s Collision Damage Waiver(CDW) coverage must be declined by the Cardholder. Please note, in some jurisdictions, rental agencies may require you to purchase the CDW coverage from them — it is important to call before booking your car rental to confirm their insurance requirements. Refer to the Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance section of your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement for rental exclusions and further details.

6  Provided by our Administrator under a service agreement with TD Life Insurance Company. This is not an insurance benefit but assistance services only.

7  Insurance coverages are underwritten by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida (ABIC) under Group Policy TDA112020. Benefits, features and coverages are subject to conditions, limitations and exclusions that are fully described in the Certificates of Insurance included with your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement. ABIC, its subsidiaries, and affiliates carry on business in Canada under the name of Assurant ®. ®Assurant is a registered trademark of Assurant, Inc.

See Air Canada and Aeroplan trade-mark ownership details.

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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