TD Aeroplan vs CIBC Aeroplan: Which Card Should You Get?

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite are so similar that most reviews struggle to differentiate them. They have the same annual fee, nearly the same earn rates, the same free checked bag perk, and nearly the same welcome bonus structure.

So which one should you get? Probably both.

Side-by-side comparison

| Feature | TD Aeroplan VI | CIBC Aeroplan VI | |---|---|---| | Annual fee | $139 (FYF) | $139 (FYF) | | Welcome bonus | 45,000 pts | 45,000 pts | | MSR | $3,000 / 90 days | Tiered over 12 months | | Earn on Air Canada | 2x | 2x | | Earn on dining/travel/grocery | 1.5x | 1.5x | | Earn everywhere else | 1.25x | 1x | | Free checked bag | Yes (cardholder + 8) | Yes (cardholder + 8) | | Lounge access | 6 Visa Airport Companion visits | Unlimited Maple Leaf Lounges | | Best portal | GCR or FF ($50) | FF ($50) |

The key differences

Lounge access is the biggest practical difference. CIBC gives you unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access across North America, which is a meaningful perk if you fly Air Canada domestically or to the US regularly. TD gives you 6 Visa Airport Companion visits per year, which works at a broader range of airports but with a cap.

MSR structure differs. TD requires $3,000 in 90 days — the typical sprint model. CIBC's bonus is tiered over 12 months, which is easier to hit if your spending is lower but means you collect the full bonus more slowly.

Earn rate everywhere else — TD edges out CIBC at 1.25x vs 1x on general purchases. Minor, but notable for high spenders.

Why most churners get both

TD and CIBC are separate issuers. There's no rule against holding both cards simultaneously. This means you can collect:

45,000 points from TD after hitting their MSR
45,000 points from CIBC after hitting their MSR
Total: 90,000 Aeroplan points — enough for a one-way business class flight to Europe

Both cards are first-year free, so the combined cost in year one is $0. You're getting 90,000 Aeroplan points (worth ~$1,350) for free.

The only constraint is managing two MSRs. If you have enough spending to hit both within the required timeframe, this is one of the best double-dip moves in Canadian churning.

Which to apply for first

Apply for TD first if you want to hit a quick MSR and get your bonus faster. The 90-day window is a more focused sprint.

Apply for CIBC first if you want lounge access sooner (especially Maple Leaf Lounges) or if the 12-month MSR structure is more realistic for your spending level.

Most people apply for both within the same month. Credit inquiries from multiple cards in a short window are treated more leniently by the bureaus than separate applications months apart (this is sometimes called "app-o-rama" strategy).

After year one

Both cards charge $139 after the first year. At that point, evaluate:

Do you use the free checked bag? (Saves $35+ each way on Air Canada)
Do you use the lounge access?
Is the earn rate valuable given your spending?

If the free bag alone gets used 2 roundtrips per year, that's $140 in value — essentially paying for the card. Many Aeroplan loyalists keep one of these cards long-term for that reason.

If not, cancel before month 11 and move on to the next welcome bonus.

Verdict: Get both. The combined 90,000-point bonus is one of the best deals in Canadian churning and costs nothing in year one.

Check current portal rates on PointsBinder before applying.