Originally Posted by
Ancien Maestro
Not bad. A 7.2% return assuming you keep exactly $5,000 in the account. I didn't read what the interest return was on top, but I'm assuming close to 0%.
A thought just occurred to me.. What do you guys think?
If you sign up for this limited offer 2 for 1 flight redemption for either Privilege and/or Infinite, the second and subsequent years you keep the card, do you receive the 2 for 1 shorthaul vouchers every year?
Sounds like they'll take this offer off later, and this is the inaugural confederation special for those who sign up now. The 2 for 1 shorthaul, more than covers the fee on a go forward. My wife has a CIBC Infinite card, and staying at CIBC. Signing her up, she may just keep the TD Infinite card on a go forward if the 2 for 1 shorthaul stays as a benefit.
I still remain to be convinced the 2-4-1 is anything but marketing talk. An Amex Platinum gets you 60K points, which is 90K Avios if transferred at a bonus, and all the 2-4-1 eligible destinations are 4,500 Avios each way. At 9K and about $70 of tax return, it's almost half of Aeroplan (which gleefully charges a $27 fuel surcharge since you're conveniently locked into AC flights), so a return trip is 15,000 points and $170. A 2-4-1 results in 15,000 points and $340 of tax. An Amex Platinum, in the meantime, would be 12K MR during a transfer bonus and no more than $150 of tax for two; even ignoring the transfer bonus, 18K+$150, so you're spending 3,000 more points for about $200 of return - which is a no-brainer. There tends to be significantly more availability on AA than AC, too, and now that US is joining OW, there'll be even more.
of course, all of the above goes out the window if you need to fly a non-AA route like YUL-BOS.