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On this version of Head-to-Head, we’ll check out two of the first mass-consumer bank cards for Air Canada and WestJet: the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard.
Regardless of the cardboard similarities between the flagship co-branded bank cards of Canada’s two largest airways, we’ll additionally take a look at the essential variations to find out which card finally comes out on prime.
TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card vs. WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard
Card Fundamentals
1. Welcome Bonuses
Some of the compelling elements when deciding between two bank cards is the signup bonus.
The present provide for the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is for as much as 50,000 Aeroplan factors,† together with an annual charge rebate for the primary yr.† This provide is on the market till January 4, 2024.
In the meantime, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard at present gives a record-high welcome bonus of as much as 700 WestJet {Dollars} (WSD),† till March 14, 2024.†
It’s essential to understand that WestJet {Dollars} primarily have a hard and fast worth equal to 1 greenback (nominal reductions by way of Member Unique fares however), whereas Aeroplan factors have a variable worth based mostly in your eventual redemption.
Certainly, we worth Aeroplan factors at 2.1 cents per level (cpp), and WestJet {Dollars} at $1.02 per WSD.
Utilizing these valuations, we’d peg the overall worth of the welcome bonuses at $1,050 (CAD) for the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, and $714 (CAD) for the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard.
Nonetheless, these values don’t think about the playing cards’ annual charges, or any factors earned by means of the minimal spending necessities.
As for the construction of the welcome bonus, each playing cards have three parts to unlock the complete allotment.
To earn the complete welcome bonus of as much as 700 WestJet {Dollars} on the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, you’ll want to finish the next:
Earn 300 WSD upon making your first buy†
Earn 300 WSD upon spending $5,000 within the first three months†
Earn 100 WSD as a one-time anniversary bonus†
In the meantime, the welcome bonus of as much as 50,000 Aeroplan factors on the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is structured as follows:
Earn 10,000 Aeroplan factors upon first buy†
Earn 25,000 Aeroplan factors upon spending $5,000 within the first 180 days†
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan factors on renewal after spending $7,500 within the first yr†
Each playing cards provide a lift upon making your first buy, and a second swath upon spending $5,000 within the first three months as a cardholder.
Moreover, each playing cards provide a 3rd portion awarded within the second yr as a cardholder; nonetheless, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card’s is paired with a complete spending requirement of $7,500 within the first yr, whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard’s is awarded with none such measure.
Verdict: Whereas each playing cards have a powerful welcome bonus, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins this class, as Aeroplan factors provide the potential to get outsized worth from redemptions.
2. Annual Price
Each the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard cost an annual charge upfront. Nonetheless, you’ll obtain an annual charge rebate within the first yr as a TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* cardholder,† whilst you received’t with the present provide on the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard.
After that , the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card comes with an annual charge of $139,† whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard continues to levy an annual charge of $119.
Verdict: General, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard has the extra beneficial annual charge, because it’s cheaper by $20. Nonetheless, the first-year annual charge rebate† on the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card’s present provide ideas the scales in its favour.
3. Incomes Charges
The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard has an incomes construction of two% again on WestJet flights and WestJet Holidays, and 1.5% again on all different purchases, paid out in WestJet {Dollars}.†
In the meantime, the TD Aeroplan card gives 1.5 Aeroplan factors per greenback spent on eligible groceries, gasoline, and direct by means of Air Canada® purchases, together with Air Canada Holidays®, and 1 Aeroplan level† per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.†
Verdict: In nominal phrases, it seems that the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard does higher on most purchases, whereas the 2 playing cards are tied for eligible grocery and gasoline purchases. Nonetheless, as talked about beforehand, we worth Aeroplan factors a lot larger than WestJet {Dollars}.
Certainly, as soon as we consider our valuations, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite® Card earns the equal of a minimal 2.1% return, which edges out the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard’s most 2.04% return.
As soon as once more, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card scores a victory, because of the inherent power of Aeroplan factors and the worth that lies inside.
4. Ease of Redeeming
You possibly can apply WestJet {Dollars} in the direction of the bottom fare of a WestJet flight so long as you’ve gotten a minimal of 15 WestJet {Dollars} in your account. For WestJet Holidays packages, a minimal of fifty WestJet {Dollars} per reserving applies.
Observe that for flights bought with a Member Unique Fare, the complete base fare for all visitors on the reserving should be paid with WestJet {Dollars}.
Redeeming Aeroplan factors can be versatile, particularly with Factors + Money redemptions; nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless want 60% of the required Aeroplan factors value with a purpose to lock in a redemption.
Verdict: WestJet wins on this class, as a result of simplicity of its redemption construction and the decrease minimal quantity required to redeem.
5. International Transaction Charges
Each the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard have a 2.5% international transaction charge,† so it’s a transparent tie on this division.
Verdict: Each playing cards are equally disappointing in that they’re geared in the direction of travellers however nonetheless levy international transaction charges. Whichever issuer makes the primary transfer in providing no international alternate charges would certainly earn a powerful benefit on this comparability.
Perks and Advantages
Premium journey playing cards sometimes justify their annual charges by means of added journey perks, so let’s see how Aeroplan and WestJet’s flagship playing cards stack up towards one another on this division.
1. Free Checked Baggage
Each bank cards provide free checked baggage for the first cardholder and as much as eight extra visitors who’re travelling on the identical reservation.†
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card additionally extends this profit to supplementary cardholders,† whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard doesn’t – giving the TD card a slight edge.†
2. Companion Voucher
The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard gives a companion voucher as an ongoing annual profit,† which is essential to consider when evaluating the playing cards over the long-term.
When used strategically, the companion voucher can provide stable financial savings, particularly when reserving journey throughout peak intervals, larger fares, or premium cabins.
Presently, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card doesn’t provide a companion voucher, both as a part of its welcome bonus or as a profit earned by means of spending.
It’s price noting that this card used to come back with a Buddy Go; nonetheless, it’s been a very long time because it was supplied, and there’s no telling if it’ll ever make a return.
Verdict: It’s a transparent win for the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard right here, since there’s at present no companion voucher related to the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card.
3. Lounge Entry
On the floor, neither card comes with complimentary lounge entry as an ongoing cardholder profit.
Nonetheless, with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, you’ll be able to convert a companion voucher into 4 lounge passes if you want, marking one other win for WestJet when it comes to optionality.†
This function is especially helpful for anybody who isn’t in a position to make use of their companion voucher, and particularly those that can go to the airline’s flagship lounge in Calgary.
4. Onboard Wi-Fi
The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard gives free Boingo Wi-Fi on WestJet flights and different airways that use Boingo.† As a cardholder, you get 12 complimentary 90-minute in-flight Wi-Fi classes, in addition to limitless entry to Boingo hotspots on the bottom the world over.†
Then again, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card doesn’t provide any free Wi-Fi advantages. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that cardholders are often supplied with complimentary Wi-Fi vouchers for Air Canada flights.
Verdict: With 12 free 90-minute in-flight Wi-Fi classes obtainable every year, that is one other clear win for the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard.†
5. Elite Standing by way of Spending
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card earns Standing Qualifying Miles (SQM) and Standing Qualifying Segments (SQS) to contribute to Aeroplan Elite Standing. For each $10,000 spent on the cardboard, the cardholder earns 1,000 SQM and 1 SQS to get them nearer to the subsequent tier of elite standing.†
In the meantime, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard options the “Standing Elevate” profit. For each $15,000 spent on the cardboard, the cardholder earns $500 in qualifying spend in the direction of the next stage of WestJet Rewards standing, as much as a most of $45,000 spent and $1,500 in qualifying spend earned.†
On the floor, WestJet’s Standing Elevate gives a extra significant enhance in elite-qualifying standards for a similar stage of spending – in spite of everything, $1,500 in status-qualifying spend is 50% of the $3,000 required to earn WestJet Silver standing, whereas a corresponding $45,000 in spending would solely earn you 4,000 SQM or 4 SQS in the direction of Aeroplan Elite Standing.
Nonetheless, this comparability is flipped on its head once we take into account one key extra element: spending on the TD Aeroplan card may get you nearer to entry-level Aeroplan 25K standing by incomes 100,000 Aeroplan factors by means of eligible sources by way of On a regular basis Standing Qualification, whereas the WestJet Rewards program consists of no such choice to earn standing completely based mostly on spending.
5. Different Advantages
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card offers most popular pricing and reductions on Aeroplan flight redemptions,† whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard doesn’t provide any sort of most popular pricing mannequin for cardholders when reserving WestJet flights.
Different Components
1. Supplementary Playing cards
TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Cardholders might add a further cardholder for $75, whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard permits a further cardholder for $59.
Beneath the present welcome bonuses, the TD Aeroplan® card features a First Yr Free provide on the primary approved person as properly,† so long as it’s added on the time of software.
Verdict: Whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elit Mastercard has a decrease approved person charge, it’s price noting that the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card extends extra advantages, such because the free first checked bag, to the approved person as properly.†
Which one you favor will rely on whether or not you’re including a further card for the comfort of getting a shared account, or the upside of sharing cardholder advantages.
2. Journey Insurance coverage
Each bank cards provide a aggressive bundle of journey insurance coverage, however there are a couple of key variations.
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card supplies longer journey medical protection for as much as 21 days on out-of-province journeys, or 4 days when you’re 65 or older.†
In the meantime, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard solely covers you for the primary 15 days or three days if 65 and older.†
The TD card consists of cellular system insurance coverage,† whereas WestJet doesn’t. Moreover, each playing cards provide as much as $5,000 per individual in journey interruption insurance coverage, though the TD Aeroplan® additionally consists of journey cancellation interruption whereas the WestJet card doesn’t.†
Within the case of misplaced or delayed baggage, WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard solely covers $500 in emergency purchases after a four-hour delay,† whereas the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card covers the next $1,000 most, though solely after a six-hour delay.† Observe that you just may be lined below the Montreal Conference on a global flight.
Each playing cards’ insurance coverage insurance policies additionally apply on journeys booked by means of their respective loyalty currencies: flights booked on Aeroplan factors while you pay for the taxes and costs with the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card,† and flights booked utilizing WestJet {Dollars} within the case of the WestJet card.†
Verdict: On stability, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card’s insurance coverage bundle is barely stronger, with an extended interval of medical insurance coverage protection and a wider vary of insurance coverage sorts.
3. Ease of Getting Accredited
As a Visa Infinite product, annual earnings necessities for the TD Aeroplan card are set at $60,000 for a person and $100,000 as a family.†
In the meantime, as a World Elite Mastercard, the WestJet RBC bank card has the next minimal earnings stage of $80,000 per particular person or $150,000 as a family. †
Verdict: Whereas TD has a decrease printed earnings requirement, some candidates have reported challenges with TD’s system, and being denied for playing cards regardless of assembly all printed standards and sustaining glorious credit score scores.
This strict approval course of on TD’s half leaves this criterion as a tie between each playing cards.
4. Visible Look
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card contains a extra minimalistic design. The 16-digit card quantity has been faraway from the entrance of the cardboard, making a modern, higher-end look in comparison with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard.
Verdict: TD’s fashionable design offers it a a lot snazzier look.
Conclusion
Regardless of some significant benefits within the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‘s favour, akin to an ongoing companion go profit, free Wi-Fi, and convertible lounge vouchers, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card holds the sting when it comes to the general worth proposition resulting from its superior journey insurance coverage protection, stronger cardholder engagement, and finally the far more helpful nature of Aeroplan factors vs. WestJet {Dollars}.
Having stated that, there’s a powerful case to be made for having each playing cards in your pockets, particularly when you dwell in a metropolis served by each of Canada’s two largest airways and wish to benefit from each of their choices in your home and worldwide travels.
† Phrases and circumstances apply.
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