[PROMOTION] TD Aeroplan 2-for-1 Short-Haul (expired on May 9, 2014)

TD has been offering a 2-for-1 short-haul Aeroplan promotion on two of its credit cards that expires on May 9, 2014. Below are the highlights of the two credit cards:

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

• $399 annual fee
• Earn 25,000 bonus points after your first purchase
• Earn a 2-for-1 Aeroplan flight reward (if you get approved before May 9, 2014)
• Earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, drug store and on Air Canada purchases (excluding Air Canada Vacation packages)
• Earn 1.25 miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• 1st Checked Bag Free on Air Canada Flights (primary cardholder only)
• Priority Check-in on Air Canada flights (primary cardholder only)
• Priority Boarding on Air Canada flights (primary cardholder only)
• Earn 4 annual Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Passes when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada
• Earn 1 annual 50% Discount on Companion Tickets for eligible Business Class fares on Air Canada Flights

You can read more analysis here.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• $120 annual fee
• Earn 15,000 bonus points after your first purchase
• Earn a 2-for-1 Aeroplan flight reward (if you get approved before May 9, 2014)
• Earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, drug store and on Air Canada purchases (excluding Air Canada Vacation packages)
• Earn 1.25 miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• 1st Checked Bag Free on Air Canada Flights (primary cardholder only)
• Priority Check-in on Air Canada flights (primary cardholder only)
• Priority Boarding on Air Canada flights (primary cardholder only)
• Earn 1 annual Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Passes when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada

You can read more analysis here.

Both annual fees are quite steep, but there is an opportunity to make the annual fees worth it, especially with the 2-for-1 short-haul promotion. You will need to apply for one of the two credit cards and be approved before May 9, 2014.

When you redeem your Aeroplan points for a short-haul reward flight, you will get a second ticket on the same itinerary for free (you will still need to pay the taxes, fees and surcharges). Your reward flight needs to be an Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada rouge flight, in either Economy Class or Business Class. The 2-for-1 reward ticket will need to be redeemed by December 31, 2014.

If you have a reward redemption in mind, then one of these two credit cards can give you a lot of value. The main different between the Infinite Privilege and Infinite card is the additional lounge access and the 50% Discount on Companion Tickets for eligible Business Class fares on Air Canada Flights, as well as the additional 10,000 sign up points. If you cannot take advantage of these added perks, then I would just go with the Infinite card, because the earning ratios are still the same.