First Posted Apr 19, 2012
Last updated on Apr 9, 2014 |
By
Patrick Sojka - Rewards Canada
This post has been kept for archival purposes
 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 |
|
|
