How I Am Flying to Greece for $128
The TD Aeroplan card strategy that turned everyday spending into a transatlantic flight — every detail, every link, every tip.
$1,270
💰 A quick note on how I fund this trip-planning obsession: Some links in this post are affiliate links — meaning if you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I’d actually use myself (or already have). Full details in my Disclosure Statement.
When I tell people my return flight from Montreal to Athens cost me $128, the reaction is always the same. First disbelief. Then curiosity. Then: “Okay, how?”
The answer isn’t a glitch, a mistake, or a secret travel hack only insiders know about. It’s a credit card I applied for in March 2025, a year of everyday spending, and a deliberate points strategy that turned my morning coffee, gas fill-ups, and takeout orders into a transatlantic flight.
Two of my travel companions paid $1,196 and $1,270 respectively for the exact same flight. I paid $128 in taxes.
This is exactly how I did it — every detail, every link, every tip — so you can replicate it for your own dream trip.
The Card: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the foundation of this entire strategy. Here’s why I chose it over every other Canadian travel card:
Aeroplan Points — Air Canada’s Currency
Redeemable for flights to over 1,300 destinations worldwide through Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners.
First Year Annual Fee Waived
The card normally costs $139/year — but new cardholders pay nothing in year one. That means you get all the points and insurance benefits completely free to start.
Travel Insurance Worth More Than the Fee
Trip cancellation, travel medical, baggage, rental car — bundled in. I’ll break down exactly what this is worth below.
The Points Breakdown — How 40,000 Points Add Up
When I applied in March 2025, the welcome package looked like this:
| Bonus | Points | How to Earn |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 10,000 | Awarded on approval |
| New card spending bonus | 15,000 | Spend $3,000 within first 3 months |
| One-time anniversary bonus | 15,000 | Awarded after $12,000 spend within 12 months |
| Total welcome package | 40,000 pts | ≈ $800 in flight value |
The welcome package structure is still up to 40,000 points as of this update: 10,000 on your first purchase, 15,000 after $3,000 spend in 90 days, and the 15,000-point anniversary bonus after $12,000 spend in your first year. Always check the current offer before applying as promotions change regularly.
What Are 40,000 Aeroplan Points Actually Worth?
At approximately 2 cents per point in flight value, 40,000 points represents roughly $800 in travel value before you’ve earned a single point from everyday spending. That’s the annual fee paid back more than five times over — in year one alone.
The $3,000 Spending Threshold — Easier Than You Think
The 15,000 point spending bonus requires $3,000 in purchases within your first 3 months. That’s $1,000 per month — which for most Canadian households is simply groceries, gas, and bills.
Stop paying for everyday expenses with debit or cash and put everything on the card instead. You’re spending that money anyway. You might as well earn points for it.
How I Maximized Points Beyond the Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus gets you started. What gets you to a transatlantic flight is building a points ecosystem around your everyday life. Here’s every earning stream I set up:
1. Journie Rewards — Earn at the Gas Station
Download the Journie app and link your Aeroplan account. Every fill-up at a participating station earns 1 Journie point per litre. At 300 points they automatically convert to 300 Aeroplan points. You also earn 2 Journie points per $1 spent inside the convenience store.
Participating stations: Pioneer · Fas Gas · Ultramar · Chevron · On the Run
300 Aeroplan pts ≈ $6 in flights vs. $3.50 gas discount — always choose points2. Starbucks — Earn on Your Daily Coffee
Link your Aeroplan and Starbucks Rewards accounts at aircanada.com/starbucks. Earn 100 Aeroplan points for every $75 loaded to your digital Starbucks Card, plus a 500 point welcome bonus when you make a purchase within 7 days of linking.
Linked members are automatically eligible for seasonal bonus campaigns including the annual Sip-tember to Remember promotion each fall.
500 bonus points just for linking3. Uber & Uber Eats — Earn on Rides and Delivery
Link your Aeroplan account through the Uber or Uber Eats app and earn:
· 1 pt per $1 on Uber Eats orders of $40+
· 1 pt per $1 on Uber rides
· 2 pts per $1 on Uber Premium airport rides
· $20 Air Canada flight credit every 10 rides
4. LCBO — Earn on Every Wine Run
Scan your physical or digital Aeroplan card at LCBO checkout — in store, online, or through the app. No account linking required. Points accumulate automatically on spending you were already doing.
Entirely passive earning — just scan your cardThe Travel Insurance — Where the Card Truly Pays for Itself
Here’s the piece most Canadians overlook entirely: the travel insurance benefits bundled with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. In year one you’re getting all of this for free.
- Trip cancellation insurance — up to $1,500 per insured person for covered cancellations before departure
- Trip interruption insurance — coverage if your trip is cut short due to illness or emergency
- Travel medical emergency insurance — coverage for unexpected medical expenses outside your home province
- Flight and trip delay insurance — meals and accommodation if your flight is significantly delayed
- Baggage delay insurance — coverage for essentials if your checked bags are delayed
- Lost or stolen baggage insurance — reimbursement if luggage is lost or stolen
- Auto rental collision and loss damage waiver — saves $20–$30 per day in rental counter insurance fees when you pay with the card
The trip cancellation coverage is capped at $1,500 per person. For longer or more expensive trips, you can purchase a top-up directly through the card’s benefit provider.
My Timeline — From Card Application to Greece
The Honest Math — What Points Did I Actually Need?
I spent 101,000 Aeroplan points for direct return flights from Montreal to Athens. It could have cost fewer points — but we wanted direct flights both ways. Non-negotiable.
A return economy flight from Montreal to Athens on Aeroplan points typically requires 55,000–75,000 points depending on season, routing, and availability. If you’re flexible on routing, you can pay fewer points. We weren’t — and I have zero regrets.
Between the welcome bonus (40,000 points) and 12 months of everyday earning across Journie, Starbucks, Uber Eats, LCBO, and regular card spending, accumulating enough points for a transatlantic return flight in one year is entirely achievable for most Canadian households. The key is simply activating every earning stream and being consistent.
Is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Worth It After Year One?
This is the honest question every finance-minded traveller should ask. After the first year fee waiver expires, is $139/year justified? My answer: yes — but only if you travel at least once internationally per year and actively use the partner earning ecosystem.
Here’s the breakdown — and importantly, why each number is real:
Annual Value vs. $139 Fee
Every number below represents money you either earn in points or money you don’t have to spend elsewhere.
Your first year also comes with a one-time 15,000-point anniversary bonus (worth roughly $300 at 2¢/point) once you spend $12,000 within 12 months of opening the card. It’s a nice bump on top of everything above — but it’s a year-one perk, not something that repeats annually, so it’s not counted in the recurring value math above.
For active users the card pays for itself 3–6 times over every year. For someone who travels once internationally and uses even half the partner programs — it’s a straightforward yes.
Ready to Start Earning?
Apply through my link below — the first year annual fee is waived and the current welcome package is up to 40,000 points (10,000 on first purchase, 15,000 after $3,000 spend in 90 days, and 15,000 more after $12,000 spend in your first year). Always verify current terms directly with TD before applying.
Apply for TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite →The Bottom Line
I applied for this card with one goal: fly to Greece for as little as possible. Nineteen months later I’m boarding a return flight to Athens for $128.
My travel companions paid over $1,200 each for the same seats.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite didn’t require me to change my lifestyle. It just required me to stop leaving points on the table — at the gas station, at Starbucks, at the LCBO, and every time I ordered through Uber Eats. Small earning streams that individually feel insignificant but collectively built a transatlantic flight in twelve months.
That’s not a travel hack. That’s just paying attention.
Ready to see exactly where those points took me? Read my full Greece trip breakdown — every dollar spent across 15 nights in Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos, and Paros. The total will surprise you.
