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 points equivalent to welcome bonuses, annual charges, and incomes charges to assist decide which card offers the perfect general worth.
1. Welcome Bonuses
One of the vital compelling elements when deciding between two bank cards is the signup bonus.
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card at present provides as much as 45,000 Aeroplan factors,† together with a first-year annual price rebate.† Traditionally, TD’s provides 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 present 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 typically sit round 45,000 WestJet factors, with promotional spikes to 70,000 factors—much like the present provide.
It’s necessary 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, aside 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 whole 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 take into accounts the playing cards’ annual charges, or any factors earned by the minimal spending necessities.
As for the construction of the welcome bonus, each playing cards have three elements to unlock the complete allotment.
To earn the complete 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 levels 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 similar 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 present provide a first-year price waiver.
Verdict: Regardless that the continuing annual price is equivalent at $139, TD wins this spherical because of its first-year rebate, making it the extra reasonably priced selection 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, gasoline, 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 the whole lot else
- 2% return on WestJet/Sunwing purchases
- 2% return on groceries, gasoline, transit, and rideshares
Alternatively, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card earns:
- 1.5 Aeroplan factors per greenback on eligible gasoline, 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 gasoline, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
- 2.1% return on all different eligible spending
Whereas Aeroplan requires extra technique to maximise, the upside is tough to disregard.
Verdict: The up to date WestJet card lastly brings sturdy incomes energy to on a regular basis classes like groceries and gasoline — 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 charge.
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 immediately towards the bottom fare of WestJet flights.
- Minimal redemption is extraordinarily low (successfully 50 factors per path).
- Factors can be used on WestJet Holidays and even some accomplice flights, although worth remains to be tied to 1 cent per level.
- For Member Unique Fares, you will need to cowl the complete base fare with factors.
There aren’t any blackout dates, no routing guidelines, and no award charts to check. The draw back, after all, is that you just’ll by no means get outsized worth — however you’ll additionally by no means waste a day trying to find an award seat.
Aeroplan provides way more flexibility and alternative, however at the price of a steeper studying curve.
- Entry to 45+ accomplice airways, together with a few of the world’s finest premium cabins
- Potential so as to add stopovers for five,000 factors
- Fastened and dynamic pricing relying on airline and route
- Optionally available Factors + Money for extra flexibility
- Potential to stretch your factors dramatically additional with candy spots (when yow will discover them)
The system is highly effective, nevertheless it does take time, endurance, and a bit of technique to get the perfect worth. Not each traveller needs to show right into a part-time award-search detective — although the payoff could be big should you do.
Verdict: WestJet wins on this class, because of the 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 price,† so it’s a transparent tie on this division.
Verdict: Each playing cards are equally disappointing in that they’re geared in direction of travellers however nonetheless levy international transaction charges. Whichever issuer makes the primary transfer in providing no international trade charges would certainly earn a powerful benefit on this comparability.
Perks and Advantages
Premium journey playing cards sometimes justify their annual charges by 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 apply may be very totally different — and the hole has widened with WestJet’s latest adjustments.
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 nicely, 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 connected 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 by 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 comparable at first look, because the main cardholder and as much as eight companions are additionally eligible for a free checked bag.
Nevertheless, the perk doesn’t lengthen to supplementary card holders. Furthermore, following WestJet’s latest 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 by your office, bought by 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 nearly 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 at all times guide airfare immediately with their very own bank card.
2. Companion Voucher
The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ provides a companion voucher as an ongoing annual profit,† which is necessary to consider 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 durations, 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 by spending.
It’s price noting that this card used to come back with a Buddy Cross; nonetheless, it’s been a very long time because it was provided, 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.
Nevertheless, with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡, you’ll be able to 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 provides conventional lounge entry as a part of the core advantages, the choice to rework the companion voucher into 4 lounge passes offers the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ a transparent edge when it comes to optionality and general journey consolation.
4. Onboard Wi-Fi
Each Air Canada and WestJet are in the course 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 is going to be introducing complimentary Wi-Fi throughout its fleet utilizing Starlink know-how, which ought to finally imply quick, dependable web entry for all friends as soon as the rollout is full.
For now, although, availability can differ by plane and route, and it’s finest regarded as a piece in progress quite than a assured profit on each flight.
Air Canada can also be shifting in direction of Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on choose plane, whereas persevering with to supply paid connectivity on a lot of its present fleet.
The important thing benefit on the Air Canada facet is that Aeroplan members get pleasure from complimentary in-flight messaging, which lets you keep linked by common messaging apps even whenever you don’t spring for a full Wi-Fi package deal.
Verdict:
Each airways are clearly heading towards quicker, higher Wi-Fi with Starlink, however the expertise remains 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 may also help you climb the elite standing ladder with their respective airways, however they achieve this in very alternative ways – and one clearly provides a extra versatile path than the opposite.
On the Aeroplan facet, 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 by 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 attention-grabbing. For those who earn 100,000 EDQ in a calendar yr, you unlock Aeroplan 25K standing with out ever setting foot on a airplane.
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 charge by 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 stage, nevertheless 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 enhance to your tier qualifying spend, and you’ll 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 equivalent to 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 apply, that is very useful should you already fly WestJet considerably usually and simply want a push over the road to succeed in or keep a tier.
The important thing distinction is that WestJet’s Standing Elevate is essentially a top-up to a flight-based standing system, whereas Aeroplan offers you each a SQC enhance from card spend and a totally separate On a regular basis Standing monitor 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 by 100,000 EDQ, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card provides a number of viable paths to standing, together with a pure “spend-only” route. WestJet’s Standing Elevate is a powerful enhancement for loyal flyers, nevertheless it’s in the end a complement – not a standalone path in the identical means.
6. Different Advantages
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card offers 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 provides a $100 (CAD) NEXUS software price rebate of as much as $100 each 48 months, which isn’t provided on the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡.
Different Components
1. Supplementary Playing cards
TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Cardholders might add an extra cardholder for $75, whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ permits an extra cardholder for $59.
Beneath the present welcome bonuses, the TD Aeroplan® card features a First Yr Free provide on the primary licensed person as nicely,† so long as it’s added on the time of software.
Verdict: Whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ has a decrease licensed person 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 person as nicely.†
Which one you favor 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 powerful suite of journey insurance coverage, with every one 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 should you’re beneath 65, or 4 days should you’re 65 or older.† In distinction, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ covers the primary 15 days of a visit, or three days should you’re 65 or older.†
Each playing cards embody journey cancellation and journey interruption insurance coverage, with comparable most protection limits per individual and per journey, which may also help defend you if you have to name off or reduce quick a journey for an eligible cause.†
Relating to delays and baggage, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card provides 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 lined travellers on the identical journey.†
Each playing cards now characteristic cellular gadget insurance coverage. The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card covers eligible units as much as $1,000,† whereas the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ provides protection as much as $1,500 per declare, topic to depreciation and different situations.†
Lastly, each playing cards’ insurance coverage applies whenever you guide flights with their respective loyalty currencies: Aeroplan factors bookings are lined whenever you cost the taxes and costs 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 cellular gadget insurance coverage.
3. Ease of Getting Authorized
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 the next minimal revenue stage 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 wonderful 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 smooth, higher-end look in comparison with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡.
Verdict: TD’s trendy design offers it a a lot snazzier look.
Conclusion
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ each deliver sturdy worth to Canadian travellers, however they’re in the end constructed for 2 very several types of flyers.
For those who desire flexibility, usually 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 selection—particularly for loyal WestJet flyers or households who respect predictable financial savings.
Selecting between the 2 comes right down to your journey model. For those who’re keen to place in a little bit of effort to unlock outsized worth, Aeroplan is tough to beat. If you would like one thing easy with dependable returns and significant perks, WestJet delivers. Both means, each playing cards proceed to carry their place as Canada’s prime airline-co-branded choices.
† Phrases and situations apply.
