Overview
The TD Platinum Travel Visa Card is TD's mid-tier flexible travel rewards card — sitting between the no-fee TD Rewards Visa and the premium First Class Travel Visa Infinite. At $89/year (waived the first year), it offers strong everyday earning power with the same flexible TD Rewards Points that can be redeemed for any travel, cash credits, or purchases at Amazon.ca and Starbucks.
The current welcome offer delivers up to $370 in total value, including up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points and a first-year annual fee rebate. If you want solid travel rewards and comprehensive insurance without the $139 price tag of the First Class card, this is a compelling sweet spot.
Earning TD Rewards Points
The card features four earning tiers on everyday spending:
- 6 TD Rewards Points per $1 on Expedia For TD travel bookings
- 4.5 TD Rewards Points per $1 on groceries, dining, and public transit
- 3 TD Rewards Points per $1 on recurring bill payments, streaming, digital gaming, and media
- 1.5 TD Rewards Points per $1 on all other purchases
The 4.5x grocery, dining, and transit category covers a significant portion of daily Canadian spending. On $2,000/month in combined spending, you'd earn approximately 96,000 TD Rewards Points per year — worth roughly $480 in travel value through Expedia For TD.
Spend Caps
The bonus categories have a $15,000 annual spend cap each — groceries, dining, and transit share one $15,000 cap, while bill payments, streaming, and media share another $15,000 cap. Spending beyond those caps earns at the base 1.5x rate.
Points Never Expire
Your TD Rewards Points never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. No activity requirements, no expiry clocks.
What Are TD Rewards Points Worth?
TD Rewards Points have variable value depending on how you redeem them:
| Redemption Method | Value per Point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expedia For TD travel | ~0.5¢ | Best value — redeem for flights, hotels, car rentals |
| Travel purchases on card | ~0.5¢ | Cover any travel purchase charged to your card |
| Amazon.ca | ~0.4¢ | Convenient but lower value |
| Starbucks | Variable | Convert to Stars |
| Cash credits, merchandise | ~0.3–0.4¢ | Poorest value — avoid if possible |
At the best redemption value (~0.5¢/point), earning 4.5x on groceries effectively gives you a 2.25% return on grocery spending.
Welcome Bonus Breakdown
The welcome offer is structured in two tiers:
| Tier | Requirement | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 1st purchase | Make any purchase with your new card | 15,000 TD Rewards Points |
| $1,000 spend | Spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening | 35,000 TD Rewards Points |
| Total | 50,000 TD Rewards Points |
Plus, the first-year annual fee is waived when you activate your card and make your first purchase within 3 months of account opening. At ~0.5¢/point, the 50,000 points are worth approximately $250 in travel — plus the $89 fee waiver brings total first-year value to around $370.
Insurance & Benefits
The Platinum tier comes with a solid travel insurance package:
- Travel emergency medical insurance — Coverage for medical emergencies while travelling
- Trip cancellation & interruption insurance — Reimbursement for pre-paid, non-refundable travel costs
- Flight delay & baggage insurance — Coverage for delays, lost, or damaged baggage
- Car rental collision/loss damage waiver — Decline the rental company's coverage
- Purchase protection & extended warranty — Protection on eligible purchases
Partner Perks
- Starbucks — Link your card to earn 50% more TD Rewards Points and Stars
- Amazon.ca — Redeem TD Rewards Points directly at checkout
- Expedia For TD — Exclusive travel deals and 6x earning
- TD Offers — Exclusive perks from TD and participating merchants
TD Rewards Card Comparison
| Feature | TD Rewards Visa ($0) | Platinum Travel ($89) | First Class Infinite ($139) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $89 (1st yr free) | $139 (1st yr free) |
| Expedia For TD earn | 4x | 6x | 8x |
| Grocery/dining/transit | 3x | 4.5x | 6x |
| Bill payments/streaming | 2x | 3x | 4x |
| All other purchases | 1x | 1.5x | 2x |
| Bonus category cap | $5,000 each | $15,000 each | $25,000 each |
| Lounge access | 4 visits/year | ||
| Travel credit | $100/year | ||
| Birthday bonus | Up to 10K points | ||
| Travel insurance | |||
| Mobile device insurance |
The Platinum Travel sits in a sweet spot for moderate spenders who want solid earning and travel insurance without the $139 Infinite price tag. If you spend enough to justify the higher fee, the First Class Infinite's lounge access, travel credit, and birthday bonus add significant value.
Drawbacks to Consider
Foreign Transaction Fee (2.5%)
Like most Canadian credit cards, this card charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on non-CAD purchases. For international travel, pair it with a no-FX-fee card.
No Airport Lounge Access
Unlike the First Class Travel Visa Infinite, this card does not include airport lounge visits. If lounges are important to you, consider upgrading to the Infinite tier.
Lower Per-Point Value
TD Rewards Points are worth roughly 0.5¢ each at best — significantly less than Aeroplan points (~1.0–3.0¢). The higher earn multipliers compensate, but you need many more points for the same dollar value.
No Mobile Device Insurance
Unlike both the TD Rewards Visa (no fee) and the First Class Infinite, the Platinum Travel does not include mobile device insurance — a notable gap.
Spend Caps on Bonus Categories
The $15,000 annual cap on each bonus category group is lower than the Infinite's $25,000 cap. High-spending households may hit the ceiling.
Who Is This Card Best For?
This card is an excellent choice if you:
- Want flexible travel rewards not tied to a specific airline
- Spend moderately on groceries, dining, and transit and want 4.5x points
- Value comprehensive travel insurance at a mid-range annual fee
- Want to try the TD Rewards ecosystem risk-free with the first-year fee waiver
- Prefer a lower annual fee than the $139 First Class card but still want meaningful earn rates
- Don't meet the income requirements for Visa Infinite cards
It's not the best choice if you:
- Spend enough to justify the First Class Infinite ($139) with its lounge access and $100 travel credit
- Want mobile device insurance (get the no-fee TD Rewards Visa or the First Class Infinite instead)
- Fly Air Canada frequently and want airline-specific perks
- Spend frequently in foreign currencies
- Spend over $15,000/year in bonus categories
Bottom Line
The TD Platinum Travel Visa Card occupies a strong middle ground in TD's flexible rewards lineup. With 6x on Expedia For TD, 4.5x on groceries, dining, and transit, comprehensive travel insurance, and a first-year fee waiver — all for $89/year — it delivers excellent value for moderate spenders who want travel rewards without premium card pricing.
The 50,000 point welcome bonus and fee waiver make it an easy risk-free card to try. If you find yourself wanting lounge access or the $100 travel credit, you can always upgrade to the First Class Infinite. For now, the Platinum Travel gets you 75% of the value at 64% of the price.
