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Earn 50,000 Miles with TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card (expired)

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is offering a very interesting 50,000 sign up bonus Aeroplan miles. Let’s take a look at how this promotion works, but first, here are the highlights of this credit card:

  • $399 annual fee
  • $99 annual fee for supplemental cardholders
  • Earn 50,000 sign up bonus Aeroplan miles (25,000 after your first purchase and another 25,000 after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days if you apply before October 31, 2015)
  • Earn 1.5 Aeroplan mile for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, drug store, Air Canada purchases (excluding Air Canada Vacation packages)
  • Earn 1.25 Aeroplan mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Receive 1st checked bag free on Air Canada flights (primary cardholder only)
  • Receive 4 Maple Leaf Lounge one-time guest passes per calendar year (when travelling on an Aeroplan reward flight operated by Air Canada)
  • Receive 1 annual 50% discount on companion tickets for eligible business class fares on Air Canada flights
  • Concierge service
  • Priority Check-In and Priority Boarding

The $399 annual fee may seem steep, but if you take a closer look at all the perks of this credit card, you may find a lot of value if you can take advantage of all its benefits.

First of all, having the increased sign up bonus to 50,000, up from its usual 25,000, it takes a lot of sting out of the first year annual fee. I value 1 Aeroplan mile at 1.7 cents a piece, which equates to $850 (50,000 x 1.7 cents), which isn’t too shabby.

The question is whether the $399 annual fee is worth it beyond the first year though. The earning ratios are pretty standard, though the 1.25 Aeroplan mile for all other purchases is a nice increase. Most cards earn 1 Aeroplan mile for $1 spent on all other purchases, so the 25% bump is valuable.

If you travel frequently enough, receiving a complimentary first checked bag on Air Canada flights can come in handy. There is a limit of 23kg or 50lbs.

You will receive 4 free Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Access Benefits every calendar year. It must be noted that these passes are only good on Aeroplan flight reward (Fixed Mileage Flight Reward or Market Fare Flight Rewards) with miles from their Aeroplan account. You cannot carry-forward any unused lounge passes to the following year.

I believe that the 50% discount on companion tickets is probably the most valuable perk. Keep in mind that the companion discount is only valid on Business Class (Flexible) fares. Two tickets need to be purchases, one for the primary cardholder and another for the companion (booking classes J and C only) on flights operated by Air Canada only. The companion ticket will be eligible for a 50% discount.

The Concierge service is available 24 hours a day, 7days a week, to act as your own personal assistant for travel bookings, restaurant recommendations, etc.

Having priority check-in and priority boarding may not give you any monetary value, but it does save you time and lets you on the plane sooner if you value this benefit.

The benefits associated with this credit card can cover the $399 annual fee if leveraged well. Unfortunately, the benefits are mostly only applicable to Air Canada flights. But if you already fly Air Canada often enough (about once a month or more) on your own dime, then I would strongly considering getting this credit card. This credit card is probably not as valuable for people who travel for work and have their expenses paid for.

3 Comments

  1. Unfortunately TD is so out of touch with their salary requirement – $200,000 household.

    I could get my head around 50,000 pts for $400 but the benefits are so bleak. It would be a card that would be put away after the minimum was reached.

    1. Yes. Definitely tough to justify keeping beyond the first year unless the cardholder is a big Air Canada user.

      If not enough people sign up because of the income requirement hopefully it will trigger a change.

  2. Business class fully flexible fares are usually quite a bit more than the lowest J fare. For example: yyz-nrt, lowest around $6K, flexible $15K !!!

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