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‡.
Whereas each are flagship co-branded bank cards from Canada’s largest airways, there are key variations to discover to find out which card in the end comes out on prime.
TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card vs. WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard
Card Fundamentals
When evaluating bank cards, it’s important to begin with the basics. Let’s begin by evaluating key elements reminiscent of welcome bonuses, annual charges, and incomes charges to assist decide which card offers the most effective total worth.
1. Welcome Bonuses
One of the compelling components when deciding between two bank cards is the signup bonus.
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card at the moment presents as much as 45,000 Aeroplan factors,† together with a first-year annual price rebate.† Traditionally, TD’s presents fall within the 40,000–50,000 level vary, with occasional bumps throughout seasonal promotions.
In the meantime, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ is at the moment providing as much as 70,000 WestJet factors,† which represents the upper finish of its typical provide construction. As a baseline, WestJet’s welcome bonuses usually sit round 45,000 WestJet factors, with promotional spikes to 70,000 factors—much like the present provide.
It’s essential to spotlight the distinction in factors worth. Aeroplan factors have variable worth, relying on how strategically you redeem them, particularly for premium cabins. In distinction, WestJet factors have a hard and fast worth of 1 cent per level, apart from getting barely higher fare by way of Member Unique fares.
Certainly, we worth Aeroplan factors at 2.1 cents per level (cpp), and WestJet factors at 1 cent per level.
Utilizing these valuations, we’d peg the full worth of the welcome bonuses at $945 (CAD) for the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, and $700 (CAD) for the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡.
Nevertheless, these values don’t think about the playing cards’ annual charges, or any factors earned via the minimal spending necessities.
As for the construction of the welcome bonus, each playing cards have three elements to unlock the total allotment.
To earn the total welcome bonus of as much as 70,000 WestJet factors on the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡, you’ll want to finish the next:
- Earn 30,000 WestJet factors upon making your first buy†
- Earn 30,000 WestJet factors upon spending $5,000 within the first three months†
- Earn 10,000 WestJet factors after first yr anniversary†
In the meantime, the welcome bonus of as much as 45,000 Aeroplan factors on the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is structured as follows:
- Earn 10,000 Aeroplan factors upon first buy†
- Earn 15,000 Aeroplan factors upon spending $7,500 within the first 180 days†
- Earn 20,000 Aeroplan factors on renewal after spending $12,000 within the first yr†
Each playing cards use a three-part bonus construction, awarded in phases as you meet milestones.
Verdict: whereas each bonuses are structured equally, Aeroplan’s increased redemption worth helps the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card come out forward for travellers seeking to maximize long-term worth.
2. Annual Payment
Each the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ cost the identical annual price of $139.
Nevertheless, TD continues to supply a first-year annual price rebate for the first cardholder (and sometimes the primary supplementary cardholder),† whereas WestJet does not at the moment provide a first-year price waiver.
Verdict: Regardless that the continued annual price is similar at $139, TD wins this spherical because of its first-year rebate, making it the extra inexpensive alternative in yr one.
3. Incomes Charges
Each playing cards provide elevated earn charges in helpful classes, however the construction — and in the end the worth — differs significantly between the 2.
With the up to date program, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ now earns:
- 2 WestJet factors per greenback on eligible WestJet flights, WestJet Holidays, and Sunwing Holidays†
- 2 WestJet factors per greenback on groceries, fuel, EV charging, public transit, and rideshares†
- 1.5 WestJet factors per greenback on all different eligible purchases†
Since WestJet factors have a hard and fast worth of 1 cent per level, these charges successfully translate to:
- 1.5% return on all the things else
- 2% return on WestJet/Sunwing purchases
- 2% return on groceries, fuel, transit, and rideshares
Alternatively, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card earns:
- 1.5 Aeroplan factors per greenback on eligible fuel, groceries, and direct Air Canada® purchases (together with Air Canada Holidays®)†
- 1 Aeroplan level per greenback on all different purchases†
Utilizing our valuation of 2.1 cents per Aeroplan level, your efficient return turns into:
- 3.15% return on fuel, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
- 2.1% return on all different eligible spending
Whereas Aeroplan requires extra technique to maximise, the upside is difficult to disregard.
Verdict: The up to date WestJet card lastly brings robust incomes energy to on a regular basis classes like groceries and fuel — making it much better than earlier than. Nevertheless, as soon as we account for Aeroplan’s increased redemption worth, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card nonetheless comes out forward*, delivering increased returns on each its bonus classes and base earn fee.
4. Ease of Redeeming
WestJet retains issues very simple. With fixed-value factors, what you see is what you get.
- WestJet factors are price 1 cent every, utilized instantly towards the bottom fare of WestJet flights.
- Minimal redemption is extraordinarily low (successfully 50 factors per route).
- Factors will also be used on WestJet Holidays and even some associate flights, although worth continues to be tied to 1 cent per level.
- For Member Unique Fares, you could cowl the total base fare with factors.
There aren’t any blackout dates, no routing guidelines, and no award charts to review. The draw back, after all, is that you simply’ll by no means get outsized worth — however you’ll additionally by no means waste a day looking for an award seat.
Aeroplan presents way more flexibility and alternative, however at the price of a steeper studying curve.
- Entry to 45+ associate airways, together with among the world’s finest premium cabins
- Capability so as to add stopovers for five,000 factors
- Mounted and dynamic pricing relying on airline and route
- Optionally available Factors + Money for extra flexibility
- Capability to stretch your factors dramatically additional with candy spots (when yow will discover them)
The system is highly effective, however it does take time, endurance, and a bit technique to get the most effective worth. Not each traveller desires to show right into a part-time award-search detective — although the payoff will be large if you happen to do.
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% overseas transaction price,† 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 overseas transaction charges. Whichever issuer makes the primary transfer in providing no overseas trade charges would absolutely earn a robust benefit on this comparability.
Perks and Advantages
Premium journey playing cards sometimes justify their annual charges via added journey perks, so let’s see how Aeroplan and WestJet’s flagship playing cards stack up in opposition to one another on this division.
1. Free Checked Luggage
Each playing cards promote a free checked bag, however how the profit works in follow could be very completely different — and the hole has widened with WestJet’s current modifications.
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card continues to be the extra versatile choice. The first cardholder receives a complimentary first checked bag, and the profit additionally extends to as much as eight companions travelling on the identical reservation.
Supplementary cardholders obtain the perk as effectively, even when travelling independently of the first cardholder. Most significantly, TD does not require you to pay on your airfare with the cardboard to set off the profit.
So long as your Aeroplan quantity is hooked up to the reserving, the free bag applies. This implies the perk works seamlessly whether or not you’re travelling on an employer-paid ticket, reserving via a company or third-party portal, redeeming Aeroplan factors, or utilizing versatile currencies like TD Rewards, Scene+, or Amex Membership Rewards.
WestJet’s model of the perk seems related at first look, for the reason that major cardholder and as much as eight companions are additionally eligible for a free checked bag.
Nevertheless, the perk doesn’t prolong to supplementary card holders. Furthermore, following WestJet’s current program replace, the profit solely prompts if the airfare is paid for utilizing the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ.
This restriction considerably reduces the perk’s real-world usefulness. In case your flight is booked via your office, bought via a journey agent, redeemed with versatile financial institution factors, or paid for by another person, the free checked bag merely doesn’t apply.
For a lot of travellers, this introduces an inconvenient dependency on how and thru whom the ticket is issued.
Verdict: This class decisively goes to TD. The Aeroplan card’s bag profit works robotically throughout just about all reserving channels, whereas the WestJet model now comes with a strict “should pay with the cardboard” rule that limits its practicality for anybody who doesn’t all the time ebook airfare instantly with their very own bank card.
2. Companion Voucher
The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ presents a companion voucher as an ongoing annual profit,† which is essential to think about when evaluating the playing cards over the long-term.
When used strategically, the companion voucher can provide strong financial savings, particularly when reserving journey throughout peak intervals, increased 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 via spending.
It’s price noting that this card used to come back with a Buddy Go; nevertheless, 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 the moment 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.
Nevertheless, with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡, you may convert a companion voucher into two lounge passes if you want, marking one other win for WestJet when it comes to optionality.†
This characteristic is especially helpful for anybody who isn’t capable of make use of their companion voucher, and particularly those that can go to the airline’s flagship lounge in Calgary.
Verdict: WestJet comes out forward right here. Whereas neither card presents conventional lounge entry as a part of the core advantages, the choice to rework the companion voucher into 4 lounge passes provides the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ a transparent edge when it comes to optionality and total journey consolation.
4. Onboard Wi-Fi
Each Air Canada and WestJet are in the midst of a Wi-Fi glow-up, and your expertise within the air more and more relies on which plane and route you occur to be on.
WestJet has introduced that it will likely be introducing complimentary Wi-Fi throughout its fleet utilizing Starlink expertise, which ought to ultimately imply quick, dependable web entry for all visitors as soon as the rollout is full.
For now, although, availability can fluctuate by plane and route, and it’s finest regarded as a piece in progress moderately than a assured profit on each flight.
Air Canada can also be shifting in the direction of Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on choose plane, whereas persevering with to supply paid connectivity on a lot of its current fleet.
The important thing benefit on the Air Canada aspect is that Aeroplan members get pleasure from complimentary in-flight messaging, which lets you keep linked via widespread messaging apps even while you don’t spring for a full Wi-Fi bundle.
Verdict:
Each airways are clearly heading towards sooner, higher Wi-Fi with Starlink, however the expertise continues to be in transition. Within the meantime, Air Canada has the sting for on a regular basis usability because of free messaging for Aeroplan members, whereas WestJet’s promise of complimentary full Wi-Fi turns into extra compelling because the rollout matures.
5. Elite Standing by way of Spending
Each playing cards will help you climb the elite standing ladder with their respective airways, however they achieve this in very alternative ways – and one clearly presents a extra versatile path than the opposite.
On the Aeroplan aspect, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card will proceed to play a direct function in incomes standing beneath Air Canada’s new Standing Qualifying Forex (SQC) framework, which launches in January 2026.
With this card, you earn 1,000 SQC for each $20,000 in eligible purchases. For anybody placing critical annual spend via the cardboard, that SQC can meaningfully prime up your progress towards Aeroplan Elite Standing, particularly when mixed with SQC earned from flying.
On prime of that, Aeroplan retains its On a regular basis Standing Qualification (EDQ) mechanism, which is the place issues get actually fascinating. In case you earn 100,000 EDQ in a calendar yr, you unlock Aeroplan 25K standing with out ever setting foot on a aircraft.
Since base earn on the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is 1 Aeroplan level per greenback on non-bonus spending, a member who runs $100,000 of spend on the base incomes fee via the cardboard would generate 100,000 factors and, in flip, sufficient EDQ to qualify for 25K standing purely from on a regular basis exercise.
That’s not an informal spending degree, however it does create a real “standing with out flying” path that merely doesn’t exist with most airline applications.
WestJet’s strategy with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ is constructed round Standing Elevate, which bolsters your tier-qualifying spend as you employ the cardboard.
Each time you hit $5,000 in on a regular basis bank card spend, you obtain a $200 increase to your tier qualifying spend, and you may earn as much as 50 Lifts per yr, for a most of $10,000 in tier qualifying spend credited from the cardboard alone.
WestJet illustrates this properly with examples reminiscent of reaching Silver by combining, say, $25,000 in card spend (price $1,000 in tier qualifying spend) with a smaller quantity of precise flight spend. In follow, that is very useful if you happen to already fly WestJet considerably commonly and simply want a push over the road to achieve or keep a tier.
The important thing distinction is that WestJet’s Standing Elevate is basically a top-up to a flight-based standing system, whereas Aeroplan provides you each a SQC increase from card spend and a totally separate On a regular basis Standing observe that may get you to 25K with no flying in any respect in case your spend is excessive sufficient.
Verdict: Each playing cards reward heavy spending with progress towards elite standing, however Aeroplan’s setup is clearly extra versatile. With 1,000 SQC for each $20,000 in card spend plus the power to earn 25K standing via 100,000 EDQ, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card presents a number of viable paths to standing, together with a pure “spend-only” route. WestJet’s Standing Elevate is a robust enhancement for loyal flyers, however it’s in the end a complement – not a standalone path in the identical approach.
6. Different Advantages
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card provides most well-liked pricing and reductions on Aeroplan flight redemptions,† whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ doesn’t provide any sort of most well-liked pricing mannequin for cardholders when reserving WestJet flights.
Moreover, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card presents a $100 (CAD) NEXUS software price rebate of as much as $100 each 48 months, which isn’t supplied on the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡.
Different Elements
1. Supplementary Playing cards
TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Cardholders could add an extra cardholder for $75, whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ permits an extra cardholder for $59.
Below the present welcome bonuses, the TD Aeroplan® card features a First Yr Free provide on the primary licensed consumer as effectively,† so long as it’s added on the time of software.
Verdict: Whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ has a decrease licensed consumer price, it’s price noting that the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card extends extra advantages, such because the free first checked bag, to the licensed consumer as effectively.†
Which one you like will depend upon whether or not you’re including an extra 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 robust suite of journey insurance coverage, with each pulling forward in numerous areas.†
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card offers extra beneficiant emergency medical protection, with safety for out-of-province journeys of as much as 21 days if you happen to’re beneath 65, or 4 days if you happen to’re 65 or older.† In distinction, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ covers the primary 15 days of a visit, or three days if you happen to’re 65 or older.†
Each playing cards embody journey cancellation and journey interruption insurance coverage, with related most protection limits per individual and per journey, which will help shield you if you must name off or reduce brief a journey for an eligible cause.†
In the case of delays and baggage, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card presents as much as $1,000 per individual for delayed or misplaced baggage after a qualifying delay, in addition to separate flight delay protection.†
With the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡, you’ll sometimes have as much as $500 in protection per incidence for eligible delayed baggage or flight delay bills, shared throughout all coated travellers on the identical journey.†
Each playing cards now characteristic cell system insurance coverage. The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card covers eligible units as much as $1,000,† whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ presents protection as much as $1,500 per declare, topic to depreciation and different circumstances.†
Lastly, each playing cards’ insurance coverage applies while you ebook flights with their respective loyalty currencies: Aeroplan factors bookings are coated while you cost the taxes and charges to your TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card,† and journeys paid with WestJet factors are eligible when charged to your WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡.†
Verdict: Total, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card nonetheless comes out barely forward for longer journeys and stronger delay and baggage protection, whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ now largely matches the core advantages and even wins on cell system insurance coverage.
3. Ease of Getting Accepted
As a Visa Infinite product, annual revenue 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 a better minimal revenue degree of $80,000 per particular person or $150,000 as a family. †
Verdict: Whereas TD has a decrease revealed revenue requirement, some candidates have reported challenges with TD’s system, and being denied for playing cards regardless of assembly all revealed 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 incorporates a extra minimalistic design. The 16-digit card quantity has been faraway from the entrance of the cardboard, making a glossy, higher-end look in comparison with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡.
Verdict: TD’s fashionable design provides it a a lot snazzier look.
Conclusion
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ each deliver robust worth to Canadian travellers, however they’re in the end constructed for 2 very various kinds of flyers.
In case you choose flexibility, commonly chase premium cabins, or need entry to a deeper rewards ecosystem, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card pulls forward with increased incomes potential, stronger journey insurance coverage, higher free checked bag mechanics, and a number of pathways towards elite standing.
Alternatively, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ shines for travellers who worth simplicity. Its fixed-value factors, companion voucher, and the power to transform that voucher into lounge entry make it a sensible alternative—particularly for loyal WestJet flyers or households who respect predictable financial savings.
Selecting between the 2 comes right down to your journey fashion. In case you’re prepared to place in a little bit of effort to unlock outsized worth, Aeroplan is difficult to beat. If you would like one thing easy with dependable returns and significant perks, WestJet delivers. Both approach, each playing cards proceed to carry their place as Canada’s prime airline-co-branded choices.
† Phrases and circumstances apply.
