Hi everyone! I'm new here, but I've been reading for a while...I think this is probably the most appropriate place to ask my questions/get advice, but if there's a better thread, please let me know .

So, I'm one of those CIBC Aerogold people who is being switched over to TD. I'm not impressed with the way it is going, particularly because I have been given the TD Platinum instead of the TD Infinite.

I understand that I will continue to pay 120$/yr for the same benefits as I had with CIBC. What irks me is that TD's 120$ product (Infinite) is superior to the Platinum card, but if I want the Platinum card, I have to reapply and take the credit check hit. If I'd wanted to do that, I would have done it while I could get the FYF and bonus point promos. But they only told me that I'd be getting the Platinum instead of the Infinite after the deadline for the promos. Editted to add that I also just got billed last week by CIBC for my 120$ AF!

So if I'm going to go through the hassle of reapplying, changing all of my pre-authorized payments, and taking the hard credit check, I figured I'd shop around for a new card that better suits my needs.

- I currently charge about 50k to my card/yr; I estimate about 18k in groceries/gas, 5-10k in travel, the rest is restaurants, merchandise, services.

- My priority is getting the best travel insurance.

- My next priority would be rewards; they don't need to be Aeroplan, as I don't usually redeem for actual flights (they just don't work for me - I travel with my kids, and since none of them can fly alone, I'd need enough points for all of us). I'm open to cash back or hybrid cards...

- I have found that there is not really one single card that can do it all well. I am open to using 3-4 cards to cover my wants, but will start with 1, then add others later. I don't want too many hard hits on my credit file, and I need it to be impeccable in 2 years.

So here is what I have come up with for now:

National Bank World Mastercard
pro's
- By far the best insurance coverage out there - it covers Travel medical for trips up to 60 days if under 55yrs, 31 days 55-64yrs, and 15 days 65-74 yrs; Trip cancellation $2500pp no max; Trip Interruption $5000pp no max; Flight delay, bag delay; triple warranty; purchase insurance 180 days.
- 1.5 pts/$1 spent up to 20k, then 2 pts/$ from 20-30k
- redeem points for statement credit 11k pts =100$; 50k=$500; easy process
- $125 yearly fee, 2nd card free
- estimated savings if I put everything on this card: 80k pts = about 680$/yr after AF
- estimated savings if only 33K in non-grocery/gas: about $380/yr after AF
- extra bonus is the National Bank World lounge access at Montreal airport - I work there and often have 3-4 hr breaks at the airport.

Con's:
- no promotions - no bonus points, FYF, GCR etc. Nothing.
- only lounge access is the one in Montreal
- no travel accident insurance (common carrier), but honestly, the odds of getting killed in a plane crash, on a purchased ticket, are slim. And even then, I'd be covered by personal life insurance and AD&D coverage, and the airline's own compensation.
- don't know why this card isn't more popular??
- I'm looking for stories of real-life experience with insurance claims - there's no point in getting this card for the improved insurance if it is going to be a battle every time.

Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite
- great cash back 4% on groceries/gas; 2% on pharmacy and recurring bills 1% everything else.
- 99$/yr, 2nd card 30$/yr; FYF for both cards; 100$ gift card through GCR
- while it does have some insurance, it doesn't have the more important Trip Cancellation that I am looking for.
- savings if I only charge 18k/yr groceries and gas = $620 after AF
- if this card had an expanded travel insurance product, I wouldn't need any other card

Amex
- I'm thinking of adding an Amex product, mainly for the bonus points and to use for groceries/gas at Costco. But which one? I'd use the points for Aeroplan, either collecting into Aeroplan directly, or converting 1:1
- I would be churning this one
- I checked the insurance benefits, and there's nothing there that seems to improve on the NB World, other than having high satisfaction when claiming.

Chase Amazon
- I do a lot of travelling to the US and it would be nice to avoid foreign transaction fees.
- For now I have an RBC account in the US and use a visa debit card for purchases. I fund the account through XE.com or CanadianForex.com (which just reduced it's minimum transactions to 1000$. I could look into getting the credit card that goes with this acct.

Have I missed any significant options?
Is there a card in here that I should apply for first?
Which Amex card would you recommend?
And will churning the Amex cards affect my credit score?

Thanks so much!