TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card Review

Is it me or is TD throwing benefits at you with this card? The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* credit card has an aggressive offer of up to 135,000 points and an easy earn rate that includes Starbucks. Yes, I invoked the name of that coffee chain and I meant it. Want to know something else? TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* earns TD points that you can redeem on Amazon.ca. So, is this credit card a hot-cup-of-goodness or just lukewarm at best? Let’s find out.

Welcome Offer

• Up to 135,000 bonus TD Rewards Points
• Annual fee rebated for the first year

The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Welcome Offer is really good. You can earn up to $1,100 worth of welcome offers in the first year, including 135,000 bonus points, the annual fee rebated and travel benefits. Here’s how:

TD gives you 20,000 points when you make your first purchase on the card in the first 3 months of opening the account. Next, you can earn another 115,000 points if you spend $5,000 on the card within the first 180 days of opening the account. Then, you could earn a birthday bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points. You also get an annual TD Travel Credit of $100 when you book at Expedia for TD. Finally, you get a free 12 month† Uber One membership worth $120. As always, terms and conditions apply. To get the annual fee rebated for the first year, you must make a purchase on the card within the first 3 months of opening the account.

The annual fee is usually $139 for the primary cardholder, $50 for the first additional cardholder and $0 for subsequent cardholders. You have to have a minimum personal annual income of $60,000 or an annual household income of at least $100,000 to qualify.

TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* interest rates

Actually, these rates are pretty standard. You need to remember that this is a travel perks card and not a low-interest credit card. Nearly all credit card interest rates are in the 19.99% to 23.99% range. Plus, most cards have different interest rates for cash advances. If you live in Quebec, you may be subject to different rates. Of course, the best choice is to pay off your credit card balance each month and to pay back any cash advance even faster. 

The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* points calculator

Inflation is not your friend, but it can help you make better spending decisions. In that same vein, the TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* has a points calculator to help you decide if your spending and this credit card are good for your situation. 

Let’s set the scene. You are an average Canadian family who might spend $14,000 on groceries this year, or $1,166.66 a month. You might also fill up at least one car once a week. According to StatsCan, the Canadian average fuel price for unleaded gas at a self-service station was $1.616 at the beginning of Summer 2023. If you fill up your car once a week, you spend $419.84 a month on gas for a 60 L fuel tank. How many points would you earn with the TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite*?

With the average spending on gas and groceries alone, you could earn 194,245 points in the first year including the welcome offer. That is $971 in travel dollars. Plus, you only ate and gassed up the car. If you have other expenses on the card, your first-year points total can be higher.

Remember, the spending amounts and points earned are for demonstration purposes only. Actual points accrual depends on your individual shopping habits. Use the TD points calculator to estimate how many points you could earn in the first year. 

Earn points on the little things

• 8 TD points/$1 Expedia for TD bookings
• 6 TD points/$1 on groceries & restaurants
• 4 TD ponts/$1 on recurring bill payments
• 2 TD points/$1 on all other card purchases 

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* lets you earn 2 TD points for every $1 spent. It’s a nice ratio. If you book travel with your card through Expedia for TD, you earn 8 TD points for every dollar spent. Then, you earn 6 TD points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants and 4 TD points on recurring bill payments on your account. 

If you use your card at Starbucks, you earn 50% more TD points and 50% more Stars at Starbucks. This feature is about lifestyle. Even if you don’t want to travel yet and don’t always get Starbucks, the card lives up to its slogan of ‘Earn points on the little things.’ Plus, your points do not expire so you can save them for all things big and small.

Redeeming your TD points

Thankfully, your TD points are redeemable in really extensive ways. You can use the points to buy gift cards or merchandise off of TD Rewards. They have weekly deals where you can get merchandise for less points. If you want a financial reward, you can use your points to pay off some or all of your TD credit credit card balance. Also, you can use your points to book travel with Expedia for TD.

TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* is your Canadian Amazon credit card

• Redeem TD Points on Amazon.ca with Amazon Shop with Points

You don’t need to get the Amazon credit card, because you can use your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* card on Amazon and redeem your TD points for merchandise. That is right, the Amazon points you’ve always wanted are TD points. Of course, there are more details, but you can exchange your points on Amazon for free stuff. 

What is Expedia for TD?

• Earn & redeem TD Points on Expedia for TD
• No blackout dates

Finally! Expedia for TD is a travel booking site that allows travellers to use their TD Rewards points with an Expedia-like experience. It is exclusive to TD credit card holders and the site often has exclusive deals. Plus, it is a great way to spend and earn TD points simultaneously. You earn 8 TD Points/$1 when you book travel through Expedia for TD. There are no blackout dates and you can modify your plans easily.

TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* insurances

If you read Hardbacon credit card reviews, you know that we take a deep look at the insurances you get with your card. The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* is a travel affinity card, so it should stand out for all-things travel-related. In terms of insurance, it has the requisite ones. Let’s take a look: 

• Travel medical insurance
• Trip cancellation/interruption
• Flight/trip delay
• Delayed or lost baggage
• Common carrier accident 
• Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance

And that is on top of their Emergency Travel Assistance Services and a $100 Travel Credit on your first Eligible Travel Credit Purchase of $500.00 or more made with Expedia For TD and posted to the Account in a calendar year.

First, a word about TD’s online travel insurance tool

TD and its online tools are outmaneuvering the competition. This is the first time I’ve found an online tool that shows me my credit card insurance coverage based on the card I use, the number of people I am travelling with, and the duration of the trip. It makes it easier for me to decide if I need extra travel insurance or if I should split my trip costs over different TD credit cards.

Travel emergency medical insurance

TD offers a solid but average emergency medical insurance policy. If I travel with my spouse or dependents, each one of us is eligible for $2,000,000 per trip. Of course, not every procedure is guaranteed a payout. As with every medical insurance plan, it covers eligible procedures and services. You have to check what is accepted before agreeing to the treatment. Your coverage is good for 21 days as long as you or any of the other travellers is under age 65. If you travel with someone over age 65 and they are a spouse, child, or the primary cardholder, they are only covered with TD’s emergency medical insurance for only the first 4 days.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance and flight/trip delay

That handy online tool shows that you can have up to 5 travellers in your party and that your trip cancellation insurance is a maximum of $5,000. Per person, there is a $1,500 coverage. However, your maximum trip coverage is $5,000. If you are more than 5 people travelling and you are paying with one card, you might want to buy extra cancellation insurance.

Trip interruption insurance is slightly more generous. Each person has a $5,000 interruption policy. Again, the maximum for the trip for all persons combined is $25,000. Yet another instance of checking what is best for you and maybe buying extra travel interruption coverage.

Your flight/trip delay insurance covers up to $500 per insured person if your flight/trip is delayed for over 4 hours.

Delayed or lost baggage insurance

It’s true that not every credit card offers this type of coverage. TD First Class Travel^®Visa Infinite* cardholders have $1,000 in insurance coverage per person if their baggage is delayed more than 6 hours or if it is lost. Again, this is OK coverage.

Common carrier accident insurance

This is a terrible what-if scenario. If you are or one of your dependents is on a common carrier like a bus, train, ferry, rented car, cruise ship, limousine, or plane and it is involved in an accident, you are covered. You are eligible for up to $500,000 of coverage for covered losses. The amount depends on your injuries. 

TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* and auto rentals

If you book your auto rental with your TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* credit card, you are covered for 48 consecutive days. If you are in an accident, the driver must not be legally intoxicated and there must have been no violation of the rental agreement by the primary cardholder.

You also benefit from a great rate through Avis auto rentals. When you use your TD First Class Travel^®Visa Infinite* credit card, you save a minimum of 10% off the lowest available base rates in Canada and the U.S. If you rent a car outside of Canada and the US, the minimum is 5% off the lowest base rate available at participating Avis or Budget locations.

TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite*’s other benefits

Other than everything listed already, having a TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* credit card means that you can do the following as well:

• Sign up for TD Auto Club membership, where you get 24-hour road assistance
• Purchase security and extended warranty protections
• Instant fraud alerts
• Mobile device insurance up to $1,000
• Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance up to $2,500
• Access to the TD app
• Click to pay
• Optional balance protection insurance
• The choice to set up structured payment plans

The most interesting thing to me is the click-to-pay feature and instant fraud alerts. It keeps pace with how customers expect banks to use technology to enable easy transactions but also immediate contact if fraud is suspected. Basically, it is a sign of good service.

Who is the TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* credit card good for? 

The base earn rate of the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite is a decent 2 points per $1 spent, with more aggressive points for grocers, restaurants, travel and recurring bills. The insurance is decent, too. 

OK, but the real advantages kick in if you use the card to book travel. You redeem fewer points for travel if you do it through Expedia for TD, a site exclusive to TD credit card customers. Plus, if you book travel with your TD card, you have access to excellent online tools to calculate how much insurance you have from your card. 

Furthermore, using your card for everyday purchases stretches your dollar on two key sites: Amazon.ca and Starbucks. Hear me out: Amazon is a retail behemoth in Canada, and Starbucks is also a near-daily retail destination. 

Amazon lets you use TD points for Amazon purchases. The same goes for Starbucks, but in reverse. You earn 50% more points when you buy Starbucks with your credit card. 

This card makes good in its promise to earn points on the little things. If you want to travel and don’t want to use Aeroplan, this travel card is a good choice. If you are interested in Amazon purchases and love your Starbucks, this is the only card for you.

TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Rating

Benefits and perks of the TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite*

• Redeem TD points on Amazon.ca
• Earn 50% more TD points when you use your card at Starbucks
• Accelerate points earning for travel with Expedia for TD, food, and recurring bills
• 2 points for every $1 spent on everyday purchases
• Points never expire
• No travel blackout dates
• Welcome Offer up to 135,000 TD Rewards points
• Annual fee for the primary card rebated for the first year
• Decent purchase interest rate and cash advance interest rates
• Comprehensive travel insurances including emergency medical, trip interruption, and trip cancellation
• Fantastic online tools to estimate points calculation as well as travel insurance coverage

For complete and current information about any product, please visit the provider’s website. Terms and conditions apply.