American Express Cobalt® Card vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: Which one is better?
American Express Cobalt® Card
5
TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
3.2
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$1,096
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus
$315
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
$155.8
First Year Value
$1,255.2
$940.2 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$541.37
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus
$840
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
$139
First Year Value
$1,381.37
$402.37 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
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Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$250,000
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Flight Delay
$500
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$500,000
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2500
Emergency Out of province Medical
21 days
Flight Delay
$500
Emergency Medical Over 65
4 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Trip Interruption
$5,000
Extra Benefits*
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Travel Credit
Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Extra Benefits
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Trip and legal Assistance
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Concierge Services
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Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 of net purchases
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Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on Aircanada flights and up to 8 guests
Extra points
Earn 50% more Stars and 50% more Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 every 4 years
Golf Benefit
Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Annual Fee*
$155.8
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$60,000
Min Household Income:
$100,000
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year
Welcome Bonus
Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan® points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Earn 15,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of Account opening. Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening.
Rewards Rate*
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Rate
- 1.5x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada vacations (maximum 120,000 points annually)
- 1x Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options*
Gift Cards
0.765¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / point
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.
Is this card worth it?
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card* is an excellent choice for frequent Air Canada travelers looking to maximize their rewards with Aeroplan points. With perks like free checked bags, Preferred Pricing, and a first-year fee waiver, it’s ideal for users who value Air Canada-specific benefits. However, the card’s high income requirement and limited non-Air Canada redemption options may not appeal to everyone.
Pros
- Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Pros
- Earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points (welcome bonus offer ends January 6, 2025).
- 1.5 points per $1 on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases.
- Free checked bags and Preferred Pricing on Air Canada rewards flights.
- Extensive insurance coverage with 12 types of insurance.
Cons
- Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
- Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Cons
- The rewards rate on this card is not that high. There are non-Aeroplan cards with much better reward programs, and their points can later be transferred to this card, making them better options if you are looking to gather Aeroplan points.
- You lose the flexibility to use other airlines if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this card.
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American Express Cobalt® Card vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
The American Express Cobalt® Card and the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card have comparable annual fees, with the Cobalt® Card being slightly higher. However, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum personal or household income, which could limit accessibility for some applicants. The Cobalt® Card has no specific income requirements, making it more broadly accessible to a wider range of users.
Rewards Comparison
The American Express Cobalt® Card shines in everyday spending categories such as dining, groceries, and streaming services, offering a more consistent rewards rate year-round. In contrast, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card delivers higher rewards when used for Air Canada purchases and Aeroplan partners, which is ideal for frequent flyers. Both cards offer strong welcome bonuses, with the TD Aeroplan® card providing a larger initial bonus, although its ongoing rewards may not match the Cobalt® Card for general spending.
Reward Redemption Options
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card allows users to redeem points primarily through the Aeroplan program, offering excellent value for Air Canada flights and partner airlines. The American Express Cobalt Card provides more flexibility with redemption options, including transferring points to various airline and hotel partners, using points for travel through Amex Travel, or redeeming them for statement credits. This flexibility makes the Cobalt Card more versatile for users who value multiple redemption avenues.
Benefits and Insurance
Both cards come with extensive insurance coverage, including travel-related protections and purchase assurances. However, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card stands out with additional travel benefits like a free checked bag on Air Canada flights, a Nexus application rebate, and the ability to earn Aeroplan Elite™ Status faster through the Status Lift feature. The American Express Cobalt® Card, while slightly less travel-focused, offers unique perks such as access to American Express Experiences, which may appeal to those interested in exclusive events and offers.
Conclusion
For most users, the American Express Cobalt® Card is the better option due to its excellent rewards on everyday purchases and lack of income restrictions. However, frequent Air Canada travelers or those invested in the Aeroplan program may prefer the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card for its specific travel benefits, such as the Nexus rebate, free checked bags, and faster path to Aeroplan Elite™ Status.
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