In this post, I’ll show you how to use TD Rewards points for flights, when TD Rewards are worth using, when another points program is better, and how I find the cheap economy fares that make this strategy work.
How TD Rewards Points Work for Flights
Before getting into the six trips, you need to understand what makes TD Rewards different from programs like Aeroplan.
TD Rewards is a fixed-value points program.
That means every point has a predictable value. When you redeem through Expedia for TD, TD Rewards points are worth approximately 0.5 cents each because 200 points covers $1 in travel. If you book eligible travel with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeem after, the value is slightly lower because it takes 225 points to cover $1.
The math looks like this:
- 10,000 TD Rewards points = about $50 in travel value
- 50,000 TD Rewards points = about $250 in travel value
- 100,000 TD Rewards points = about $500 in travel value
- 200,000 TD Rewards points = about $1,000 in travel value
There is no award chart. There are no airline partners to search. There is no transfer process. You find a flight through Expedia for TD, apply your points at checkout, and the cost comes down.
If you redeem against eligible travel after booking with the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite, the value is slightly lower:
- 10,000 TD Rewards points = about $44.44 in travel value
- 50,000 TD Rewards points = about $222.22 in travel value
- 100,000 TD Rewards points = about $444.44 in travel value
- 200,000 TD Rewards points = about $888.89 in travel value
That simplicity is the benefit.
The downside is that the value is fixed. Unlike Aeroplan, where a smart redemption can sometimes get you outsized value on a long-haul business class flight, TD Rewards points are not going to suddenly become worth 5x more because you booked a better seat.
You are not unlocking luxury travel sweet spots with TD Rewards.
You are offsetting a real cash cost at a predictable rate.
And that can still be very valuable when you use the points for the right kind of trip.
How to Use TD Rewards Points for Flights Through Expedia for TD
The easiest way to redeem TD Rewards points for flights is through Expedia for TD.
The process is simple:
- Log in to Expedia for TD.
- Search for your flight the way you normally would.
- Compare the fare against Google Flights or the airline’s website.
- Check the airline’s baggage rules separately.
- Choose the flight you want.
- Apply your TD Rewards points at checkout.
- Pay any remaining balance with your eligible TD card.
- Save your confirmation.
Step 4 is a must, especially if you are booking with a discount airline that charges extra for things like carry-on bags, checked luggage, seat selection, or even onboard drinks.
But this is not just a discount airline issue anymore. I have seen more non-discount carriers charging separately for things that used to be included in the ticket price, so you should always check what your fare actually includes before booking.
A cheap fare is only cheap if it still works for your actual trip. If you need a carry-on, checked bag, seat selection, or flexibility, those costs can change the math fast.
Most of the flights I booked with TD Rewards went through Expedia for TD. But not all of them did, which brings me to one of the most useful parts of the program.
Do You Have to Book Through Expedia for TD?
No, not always.
Most of my flights were booked through Expedia for TD because that is the simplest way to apply TD Rewards points directly at checkout.
But my Miami to Atlanta flight was different.
That flight was $69 on Frontier, and I could not find the exact fare I wanted through Expedia for TD. So I booked it directly with my TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and used TD Rewards points after the fact.
The tradeoff is that Expedia for TD usually gives you the better travel redemption rate:
200 points per $1. When you book eligible travel with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeem after, it takes
225 points per $1. I still think that can be worth it if the fare is meaningfully cheaper outside Expedia for TD, but you need to compare the math.
In this case, because the Frontier flight was only $69, the difference was small enough that I did not care. I would rather use a few extra points than miss a fare that cheap.
That flexibility matters because sometimes the best cheap fare is not showing up where you expect it to.
This is why I do not treat Expedia for TD as the only place to search. I still use Google Flights, airline websites, and nearby airport searches to find the best economy fare first. Then I decide whether to book through Expedia for TD or use the eligible travel purchase redemption option after.
There is also one important tradeoff with booking through Expedia for TD: it is an online travel agency. Some people do not like booking flights through OTAs because if your flight is cancelled or changed, getting support can be harder than dealing directly with the airline.
I have personally never had a problem with my Expedia for TD bookings, and for cheap economy fares, I am usually willing to take that chance. But there are horror stories, so it is worth knowing the tradeoff before you book.
If you are newer to points, this is one reason TD Rewards can feel less intimidating than airline programs. You do not need to understand award charts or transfer partners before getting your first win.
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card I Used
The card I used for this strategy is the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite.
This card earns TD Rewards points on everyday spending, with bonus categories that can help build your balance faster. But the biggest reason I used it for this strategy was the welcome bonus.
A strong welcome bonus can give you a meaningful TD Rewards balance before you have earned all of those points through regular spending. That is what made it possible for me to cover multiple flights.
I have personally earned TD Rewards welcome bonuses more than once. At the time of writing, TD’s terms may allow some people to qualify again if they have not opened, activated, or closed the same TD First Class Travel Visa account within the previous 12 months.
But this is not guaranteed.
Terms change. TD can limit repeat bonuses. Eligibility depends on the offer terms at the time you apply. Always read the current terms and conditions yourself before applying for any credit card.
This is education based on my experience, not a guarantee that you will qualify for the same offer.
If you are still learning how welcome bonuses work, I explain the bigger strategy in
the breakdown on Canadian credit card sign up bonuses.
Real Flight Costs I Covered With TD Rewards
The whole reason this strategy worked is because I was not trying to use TD Rewards points for expensive premium flights.
I was using them for cheap economy fares.
Here are some of the real flight costs from this strategy:
- Turks and Caicos on WestJet: $504.96
- Charlotte / North Carolina on American Airlines: $353.38
- Edmonton on Flair: $301
- Buffalo to Miami on Southwest: $101
- Miami to Atlanta on Frontier: $69 one-way
- Atlanta to Toronto on American Airlines: $316 one-way
Every one of these redemptions covered the taxes and fees fully.
That is one of the reasons I like TD Rewards for this kind of booking. With Aeroplan, you can cover taxes and fees with points too, but you usually pay a premium to do it. Unless you are swimming in points, I do not usually think that math makes sense.
With TD Rewards, the points are simply offsetting the travel purchase at a fixed value. It is not glamorous, but it is useful.
My TD Rewards Rule for Flights
My rule is simple:
Use TD Rewards when the cash price is low and another points program would not give me a meaningfully better experience.
That means TD Rewards can make sense for:
- Cheap economy flights
- Short to medium-haul routes
- Domestic flights
- U.S. domestic flights
- Budget airline fares where the total cost still makes sense
- Narrow-body aircraft with no premium cabin worth chasing
- Last-minute trips where a cheap fare still exists
- Flights where I want to preserve Aeroplan, Amex, or Avion points
I would not use TD Rewards for:
- Business class flights
- First class flights
- Long-haul premium cabin redemptions
- Expensive flights where another points program gives better value
- Flights where I would rather transfer points to an airline program
TD Rewards is not the program I use for dream redemptions.
It is the program I use for practical redemptions.
The Six Flights and Why Each One Made Sense
Turks and Caicos on WestJet
Turks and Caicos was the cleanest example of this strategy working exactly as intended.
The flight was $504.96 on WestJet. I used TD Rewards points to cover the full cost, including taxes and fees.
This was the right program to use because my friends were booking WestJet, and my Aeroplan points were not useful for that route in the same way. I could have looked at other transferable points options, but the flight was already cheap enough that TD Rewards made the most sense.
I also did not want to waste Aeroplan points on an economy flight when I could preserve them for business or first class later.
That is the whole strategy.
TD Rewards covered the practical trip. My more valuable points stayed untouched for a redemption where they could do more.
Mexico With My Partner
That is why Mexico followed the same logic as Turks and Caicos. I found a roundtrip flight from Toronto to Cancun on Flair for
$357, which was exactly the kind of short to medium-haul economy fare where TD Rewards makes sense.
It was not the kind of route where I was trying to chase a premium cabin. I would rather use TD Rewards to wipe out a $357 economy fare and save my airline points for a long-haul flight where comfort matters more.
For a twelve-hour overnight flight, that is a completely different calculation.
Aeroplan matters more for my health and comfort, especially because I travel with migraines and chronic pain.
Buffalo to Miami for a Friend’s Birthday
This is probably my favorite example because it shows what having points actually does for your life.
My friend’s birthday trip was happening in Miami. It was last-minute, the next week, and someone mentioned that flights were really cheap out of Buffalo.
The flight was $101 on Southwest.
I live close enough to make Buffalo possible, so we drove about two hours to the airport and split gas costs. That part matters. A cheap U.S. flight is only worth it if you factor in the extra driving time, gas, parking, border crossing, and whether you are traveling with other people.
In this case, it was absolutely worth it.
A lot of trips die in the group chat because people hesitate, budgets get tight, or everyone waits too long. Having TD Rewards points meant I could say yes and show up for my friend.
That is the real value of points to me.
Not just saving money. Showing up for people.
Miami to Atlanta on Frontier
After Miami, I flew to Atlanta for a creator retreat.
The Miami to Atlanta flight was only $69 on Frontier, booked last-minute. I have found that flights within the U.S. can often be much cheaper than flights within Canada, especially if you are flexible and know where to search.
This was the one flight I did not book through Expedia for TD because I could not find the exact fare there. I booked it with my TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and used TD Rewards points after.
That is a good example of why you should not only search one place.
If I had only looked inside one portal, I might have missed the better fare.
Atlanta to Toronto on American Airlines
My Atlanta to Toronto flight was $316 one-way on American Airlines.
This was not as cheap as the $69 Frontier flight, obviously, but it still fit the strategy. It was an economy flight, it got me home, and using TD Rewards meant I did not have to touch points I would rather save for premium travel.
The Atlanta trip also had a business purpose. I got to meet content creators and people I had connected with online, including someone who had been my business coach. We had built a relationship online, but meeting in person strengthened that connection in a completely different way.
Points helped turn an online relationship into a real one.
North Carolina / Charlotte on American Airlines
The Charlotte flight was $353.38 on American Airlines, and it helped me show up for another friend’s birthday.
This was someone I had talked to online for years, and she was surprised and happy that I actually came.
Again, this is where points become more than math.
A $353 flight is not necessarily outrageous, but when every trip has to come directly out of your bank account, it is easier to talk yourself out of going. TD Rewards made it easier to say yes.
Edmonton on Flair
The Edmonton flight was
$301 on Flair, and this one needs a big caveat.
Yes, the fare was cheap. Yes, TD Rewards helped cover it. But with Flair, you have to consider the true cost of the ticket.
That means factoring in:
- Carry-on bag fees
- Checked luggage fees
- Seat selection
- Strict baggage sizing
- Delays
- Cancellations
- Customer service issues
- Whether you are okay paying for everything onboard, including water
I have had horrendous experiences with Flair. For one short weekend trip, I missed half the trip because my flight was delayed/cancelled, and I found out after Ubering to the airport.
Reimbursement was not quick or easy, and I felt like I had to jump through so many hoops that I eventually stopped fighting for it.
Air Canada has been much better for me in those situations.
That does not mean I would never book Flair. It means I weigh the risk.
For a longer trip, a cheap Flair fare might be worth it. For a short weekend where a delay could ruin half the trip, I would think much harder before booking.
In Total, TD Rewards Covered Over $2,000 in Flights
Across these trips, TD Rewards helped cover
$2,002.34 in flight costs.
And that number is actually more impressive when you understand what it represents.
This was not one overpriced flight where I burned a massive amount of points and called it a win. This was multiple real trips: Mexico, Turks and Caicos, North Carolina, Alberta, Miami, and Atlanta.
Four of those were roundtrip flights. The Miami and Atlanta routing was a little different because I flew from Buffalo to Miami, then Miami to Atlanta, then Atlanta back to Toronto. But even with that different routing, the result was the same: I got to go to so many places in 2023 using TD Rewards points instead of cash.
And the reason the total worked so well is because I found cheap economy fares first.
That is the part I want people to understand. TD Rewards points are fixed-value points, so the cheaper the flight, the fewer points you need. The strategy is not just “have TD Rewards points.” The strategy is knowing how to find the kind of cheap economy flights that make TD Rewards worth using.
I walk through some of the exact tactics I use to find cheap economy flights in this YouTube video:
If you want to see how I actually search for cheap economy flights before deciding whether to use points, I walk through that process in this video.
Once you know how to find low cash fares, TD Rewards becomes much more useful. A $69 flight, a $101 flight, or a $301 flight is the kind of redemption where fixed-value points can feel amazing because you are not trying to force them to do something they are not built for.
How I Find Flights Worth Using TD Rewards Points On
TD Rewards works best when you are good at finding cheap economy fares.
That is an important piece of the strategy!
The points have a fixed value, so the lower the cash price, the fewer points you need. A $150 flight needs about 30,000 TD Rewards points. A $500 flight needs about 100,000 points.
Here is how I find flights that are actually worth using TD Rewards on.
I Search Nearby U.S. Airports
If you live near the U.S. border, this can be a huge advantage.
For me, flying from Buffalo can sometimes be much cheaper than flying from Toronto. That is how I found the $101 Southwest flight to Miami.
But you have to factor in the real cost:
- Gas
- Parking
- Driving time
- Border crossing time
- Whether you are splitting costs with friends
- Whether the savings are worth the inconvenience
Driving two hours to Buffalo made sense for a $101 last-minute Miami flight with friends.
It would not make sense for every trip.
I Use Google Flights First
Google Flights is one of my favorite tools for finding cheap economy fares because you can compare dates, airports, one-way options, and nearby destinations quickly.
This is where I usually start before deciding how to book.
Once I know the cheapest realistic fare, then I check whether I can book it through Expedia for TD or whether it makes more sense to book another way and redeem after.
I also walk through how I search for cheap economy fares in this YouTube video, which pairs perfectly with this TD Rewards strategy.
I Compare Budget Airlines Carefully
Budget airlines can make this strategy work really well, but only if the total cost still makes sense.
A $69 fare is not really $69 if you need a carry-on, checked bag, paid seat, and flexibility.
I will still book discount carriers sometimes, but I am much more careful now. I ask myself whether the trip can survive a delay or cancellation. If missing half the trip would ruin the entire purpose, I may pay more for a more reliable option.
I Watch for Error Fares, But I Am Cautious
Error fares are real, and email lists like Secret Flying can help you find them.
But I am cautious with them because they can be cancelled. I personally have not gone through with an error fare booking because I do not like the uncertainty of not knowing whether the ticket will stick.
If you book an error fare, I would avoid locking in non-refundable hotels, tours, or plans until you are confident the ticket is confirmed.
I Do Not Obsess Over Off-Peak Travel
Going off-peak can help, but I do not think it matters as much as booking smart and knowing how to search.
For this strategy, I care more about finding the right cheap economy fare than forcing every trip into a perfect off-peak window.
Quick TD Rewards Points Calculator for Flights
Because TD Rewards points have a fixed value, the math is straightforward.
Use this formula:
If booking through Expedia for TD, use this formula:
Cash price × 200 = TD Rewards points needed
If booking eligible travel with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeeming after, use:
Cash price × 225 = TD Rewards points needed
Examples:
- $69 flight = about 13,800 TD Rewards points
- $101 flight = about 20,200 TD Rewards points
- $150 flight = about 30,000 TD Rewards points
- $301 flight = about 60,200 TD Rewards points
- $353 flight = about 70,600 TD Rewards points
- $500 flight = about 100,000 TD Rewards points
If booked with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeemed after:
- $69 flight = about 15,525 TD Rewards points
- $101 flight = about 22,725 TD Rewards points
- $150 flight = about 33,750 TD Rewards points
- $301 flight = about 67,725 TD Rewards points
- $353 flight = about 79,425 TD Rewards points
- $500 flight = about 112,500 TD Rewards points
This is why cheap flights are so powerful with TD Rewards.
A $69 or $101 fare barely touches your points balance compared to trying to cover an expensive international ticket.
TD Rewards vs Aeroplan: Which Points Should You Use?
This is the real lesson underneath the whole post.
A good points strategy is not about declaring one program “good” and another program “bad.” It is about knowing which points to use for which trip.
I use TD Rewards for practical economy travel when I can find a cheap cash fare.
I use Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, Amex, Avion, and other transferable points when I want outsized value or when cash prices are so high that booking with points makes more sense.
For example, I would much rather save Aeroplan or transferable points for a $5,000 business class ticket to Germany or a $10,000 roundtrip premium cabin redemption to Singapore than burn them on a cheap economy fare I could cover with TD Rewards or cash.
That is how TD Rewards preserves my better points.
It handles the trips where I do not need anything fancy and where the cash fare is low enough that a fixed-value program still makes sense.
But there is one important exception: if I cannot find a cheap economy flight and the cash prices are astronomical, I will absolutely check Aeroplan or WestJet Rewards.
I have had times where a short flight was pricing at $1,000+ in cash, and in that situation, using airline points for economy can make sense — especially if you have a little flexibility with your dates and can find a reasonably priced award flight.
So the decision is not “TD Rewards for economy, Aeroplan for business class” every single time.
It is more like this:
- Cheap economy cash fare? TD Rewards or cash.
- Expensive economy cash fare but reasonable award pricing? Check Aeroplan or WestJet Rewards.
- Long-haul flight where comfort matters? Aeroplan or another airline program.
- Premium cabin redemption with a huge cash price? Save your transferable points for that.
Then my more flexible points are still available when the flight is long, expensive, uncomfortable, or worth upgrading.
If you are trying to figure out when premium cabins are actually worth it, I break down the aircraft and route strategy in
how to fly business class with points in Canada.
Are TD Rewards Points Bad Value?
TD Rewards points can be bad value if you use them for the wrong thing.
If you are redeeming TD Rewards points for blenders, mugs, sunglasses, or random merchandise, then yes, you may feel like the value is underwhelming.
But that is not how I use them.
I use TD Rewards as a fixed-value travel offset for flights, hotels, car rentals, and travel costs I would otherwise pay cash for.
TD Rewards are not bad because they are fixed value.
They are bad when you expect them to behave like Aeroplan.
This is not the program for aspirational business class redemptions. It is not the program I would use to try to cover a $6,000 international flight. At 0.5 cents per point, you would need around 1,200,000 TD Rewards points to cover that. If you booked eligible travel with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeemed after, you would need around 1,350,000 points. Either way, that is not where TD Rewards is going to be extremely helpful if the goal is premium travel.
The goal is using TD Rewards points where they actually make sense: cheap travel costs, simple redemptions, and economy flights you want wiped off your credit card statement.
What I Saw People Misunderstand About Travel Credit Cards
Before using TD Rewards this way as a consumer, I also worked as a former TD Canada Trust Investment Consultant.
One thing I saw constantly was that people would immediately dismiss credit cards with annual fees without doing the math.
They would see a $120 annual fee and decide the card was not worth it, even if the card came with a welcome bonus, travel credit, stronger earn rate, or account package that could waive the fee.
I understand why people react that way. Credit cards can be overwhelming. There is a lot of fine print. People often rely on what their friends are doing instead of learning how the program works for their own situation.
But the annual fee alone does not tell you whether a card is worth it.
You have to look at:
- The welcome bonus
- The annual fee
- Any travel credits
- Whether your bank account waives the fee
- The earn rate
- How you will actually use the points
- Whether the redemption options match your travel style
That is why I like teaching points through real examples. It is easier to understand the value when you can see exactly how a card helped cover a trip.
Which TD Rewards Card Should You Consider?
For this specific strategy, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite is the card I would look at first if you qualify and the current welcome bonus is strong.
It makes the most sense for someone who:
- Wants a simple travel rewards card
- Likes Expedia for TD redemptions
- Wants to cover flights, hotels, car rentals, or travel purchases
- Can qualify for the card
- Will actually use the welcome bonus strategically
- Wants a beginner-friendly points win before learning more complex airline programs
This is the card I used for this strategy: the
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite. I like it most for Canadian travelers who qualify for the welcome bonus and want simple, flexible travel redemptions without learning airline award charts right away.
Check the current
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite offer and terms here before applying.
If you do not qualify for the Infinite version, the
TD Rewards Platinum may still be worth comparing depending on the current welcome bonus and eligibility terms. The bonus is usually smaller, but it can still have a place depending on your situation.
I would generally skip the lowest-tier TD Rewards card unless you are a student, have lower income, or cannot qualify for the stronger cards yet. For most people trying to build a real travel points strategy, the lower-tier card is not where I would focus.
If you are comparing TD Rewards against other Canadian travel cards, I go deeper into the broader strategy in
the best travel credit cards in Canada.
Can You Use TD Rewards Points for Hotels Too?
Yes, and I have.
One of my first memorable TD Rewards redemptions was actually a hotel stay in Niagara at the DoubleTree. I was young, and I remember how good it felt to have the hotel covered with points instead of paying cash.
That feeling is still one of the reasons I care so much about points.
Flights are usually the travel cost I feel first, which is why this post focuses on airfare. But hotels can become just as expensive, especially if you are traveling for longer than a weekend.
TD Rewards can help offset hotels, car rentals, and other travel costs too. The key is knowing when fixed-value points make sense and when another hotel strategy would be stronger.
If your next question is how to cover the hotel too, that is exactly what I teach inside
Hotel Points Vault.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use TD Rewards points for flights?
The easiest way to use TD Rewards points for flights is to book through Expedia for TD. Search for your flight, choose the fare you want, and apply your TD Rewards points at checkout. You can also book eligible travel with your TD card and redeem points after, depending on the redemption option and current program terms.
How much are TD Rewards points worth?
TD Rewards points are worth approximately 0.5 cents per point when redeemed through Expedia for TD. That means 10,000 points is worth about $50 in travel value, and 100,000 points is worth about $500 in travel value.
If you book eligible travel with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeem after, it takes 225 points to cover $1, so the value is slightly lower. You can also redeem points against other purchases at 400 points per $1, but I do not think that is a good-value use of TD Rewards points.
How many TD Rewards points do I need for a flight?
If you book through Expedia for TD, multiply the flight cost by 200. A $200 flight would need about 40,000 TD Rewards points, while a $500 flight would need about 100,000 TD Rewards points. If you book eligible travel with your TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and redeem after, multiply the cost by 225 instead.
The lower the cash fare, the fewer points you need.
Can TD Rewards points cover taxes and fees?
Yes, TD Rewards points can cover taxes and fees when applied to eligible travel costs. In my case, all of the flight redemptions in this post covered the taxes and fees fully.
Is TD Rewards better than Aeroplan?
TD Rewards and Aeroplan are useful for different things.
TD Rewards is better for simple, fixed-value travel redemptions, especially cheap economy flights, hotels, car rentals, and travel costs you want to offset.
Aeroplan is usually better for long-haul international flights, premium cabins, and redemptions where you can get outsized value from your points.
That said, Aeroplan can also make sense for economy flights when cash prices are unusually high but award pricing is still reasonable, especially if you have flexibility with your travel dates.
Can I use TD Rewards points for any flight?
You can use TD Rewards points for flights available through Expedia for TD, and you may also be able to redeem against eligible travel purchases depending on the current TD Rewards rules. Always check the current redemption terms before booking.
Are TD Rewards points worth collecting?
TD Rewards points are worth collecting if you understand their role. They are not my first choice for luxury travel, but they are very useful for covering practical travel costs, especially cheap economy flights and hotels.
They work best as part of a broader points strategy, not as your only travel rewards program.
The Bottom Line
TD Rewards is not the most exciting part of my points strategy.
It does not get me lie-flat seats. It does not unlock luxury airline lounges. It does not create those dramatic “I booked a $10,000 flight for points” moments.
But it helped me cover flights to Turks and Caicos, Mexico, Miami, Atlanta, North Carolina, and Alberta without paying cash out of pocket.
That matters.
Those trips helped me show up for friends, meet my partner’s family, connect with creators, rest, build relationships, and say yes to opportunities I might have otherwise talked myself out of.
That is what TD Rewards is good for.
Not dream redemptions. Real-life travel.
My strategy is simple: earn TD Rewards points through welcome bonuses and regular spending, find cheap economy flights, apply points where the math makes sense, and preserve my Aeroplan, Amex, and Avion points for the redemptions where they can do more.
Knowing which points to use and when is what separates someone with a lot of points from someone who actually travels.
If you want to see how TD Rewards fits into the bigger Canadian points picture, start with
how TD Rewards fits into the four types of travel rewards in Canada.
And if you are ready to cover more than just flights,
Hotel Points Vault
will show you how to use points to cover hotel stays too.