By
Patrick Sojka - Rewards Canada  I
occasionally get asked the question: "Which credit card can you earn
the most Aeroplan miles with?" You would think that Aeroplan's primary
and obviously number one credit card partner, TD (and CIBC) would offer credit
cards that earn the most Aeroplan miles. Low and behold they actually
do not despite advertisements that may lead some to believe otherwise.
I have also heard arguments that the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card
is the best for Aeroplan miles because of their 5,000 mile bonus when
you transfer Starpoints in 20,000 point increments while I have preached
that the American Express Gold Rewards Card is the best Aeroplan earner
out of them. Well to put them all to the test I have created the following
charts based on various spending levels with the cards and certain percentages
of those spending levels going to extra mile/points categories like Gas,
Groceries, Drug Store and Travel purchases. I have decided to not bore
you with all the calculations behind the numbers but rather just the total
number of Aeroplan miles you would earn in each scenario. What follows should confirm what I have stated all along but should also be an eye-opener to those hard-core Aeroplan mile via Credit Card purchase earners who may have thought they were getting the best deal. Outside of the TD, CIBC and American Express cards I have included the three other hotel credit cards in Canada as they have Aeroplan conversion options* but I would seriously not consider those cards if your primary goal is Aeroplan miles. I do want to stress however, like I do with most of my specialized comparison charts that choosing a credit card should not solely be based on the rewards earned but also on insurances, benefits, costs, spending habits and overall acceptance.  All the spending scenarios:
|
| -- | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | |||||||||
Scenario #1: $20,000 yearly spend on card (30%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 8% on Travel) |
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned | 23,000 |
26,500 |
23,000 |
25,000 |
22,500 |
27,600 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
6,000 |
4,000 |
|
| Rank | 6 |
2 |
6 | 3 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #2: $40,000 yearly spend on card (30%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 8% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
46,000
|
53,000 |
46,000 |
53,750
|
47,500
|
55,200
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
12,000
|
8,000
|
|
| Rank |
6
|
3 |
6 |
2
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Scenario #3: $40,000 yearly spend on card (40%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 10% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
48,000
|
54,000 |
48,000 |
53,750
|
47,500
|
60,000
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
12,000
|
8,000
|
|
| Rank | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #4: $60,000 yearly spend on card (30%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 8% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
69,000
|
79,500 |
69,000 |
83,750
|
72,500
|
82,800
|
75,000
|
75,000
|
18,000
|
12,000
|
|
| Rank | 7 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #5: $60,000 yearly spend on card (40%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 10% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
72,000
|
81,000 |
72,000 |
83,750
|
72,500
|
90,000
|
75,000
|
75,000
|
18,000
|
12,000
|
|
| Rank |
7
|
3 |
7 |
2
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
| -- | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | |||||||||
|
Scenario #6: $80,000 yearly spend on card (30%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 8% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
92,000
|
106,000 |
92,000 |
113,750
|
97,500
|
110,400
|
100,000
|
100,000
|
24,000
|
16,000
|
|
| Rank |
7
|
3 |
7 |
1
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #7: $80,000 yearly spend on card (40%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 10% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
96,000
|
108,000 |
96,000 |
113,750
|
97,500
|
120,000
|
100,000
|
100,000
|
24,000
|
16,000
|
|
| Rank | 7 |
3 |
7 |
2
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #8: $100,000 yearly spend on card (30%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 8% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
115,000
|
132,500 |
115,000 |
143,750
|
122,500
|
138,000
|
125,000
|
125,000
|
30,000
|
20,000
|
|
| Rank | 7 |
3 |
7 |
1
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #9: $100,000 yearly spend on card (40%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 10% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
120,000
|
135,000 |
120,000 |
143,750
|
122,500
|
150,000
|
125,000
|
125,000
|
30,000
|
20,000
|
|
| Rank | 7 |
3 |
7 |
2
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
| -- | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | |||||||||
|
Scenario #10: $120,000 yearly spend on card (30%
on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 8% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
138,000
|
159,000 |
138,000 |
173,750
|
147,500
|
165,600
|
150,000
|
150,000
|
36,000
|
24,000
|
|
| Rank | 7 |
3 |
7 |
1
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
|
Scenario #10: $120,000 yearly spend on card
(40% on Gas, Groceries, Drug Store; 10% on Travel)
|
|||||||||||
| Total Aeroplan Miles Earned |
144,000
|
162,000 |
144,000 |
173,750
|
147,500
|
180,000
|
150,000
|
150,000
|
36,000
|
24,000
|
|
| Rank | 7 |
3 |
7 |
2
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
10 |
11 |
|
As you can see, depending on your Gas/Grocery/Drug
Store/Travel spend, three cards take the top spot in all the scenarios.
If your Gas/Grocery/Drug Store/Travel spend tends to be lower, the
card that will earn the most Aeroplan miles is the American Express
Aeroplan Plus Platinum or the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card and if your spend in those categories
is higher, the American Express Gold Rewards card is your best bet.
Have any questions? comments? Please feel free to leave your message
on our associated blog post here.
Links to the cards
CIBC
Aerogold Cards
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
American
Express Aeroplan Plus Platinum
American
Express Aeroplan Plus Gold
American
Express Gold Rewards Card
Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card
The
Platinum Card from American Express
MBNA
Best Western Rewards Mastercard
* Some of the hotel programs may only let you convert to Aeroplan
miles if you have earned points from other means (ie Hotel stays)
in addition to the credit card earnings.
