Check out these new offers on the British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus cards
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
People may not be traveling all that much right now, but this is still a great time to start planning the dream getaway you’ll take as soon as travel is once again fully safe and accessible. And what better way to get a jump on an amazing redemption than taking advantage of sign-up bonuses across travel credit cards?
Chase is now offering increased earning rates across its three cobranded airline cards that earn Avios: the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card and Iberia Visa Signature® Card. Starting Feb. 3, 2021, new cardholders will earn 5x Avios on all British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia flights within the first 12 months from account opening (3x after), 3x on all hotel stays booked directly with the hotel within the first 12 months from account opening (2x after) and 1x on all other purchases.
Additionally, the British Airways Visa Signature Card now has a new sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus Avios after spending $5,000 in the first three months with the card.
Want more credit card news and advice from TPG? Sign up for our daily newsletter
All three cards boast similar benefits. Here’s a quick look at each:
British Airways Visa Signature® card
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: New cardholders will earn 100,000 bonus Avios after spending $5,000 in the first three months with the card.
Earning rate: Earn 5x Avios on all British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia flights within the first 12 months from account opening (3x after), 3x on all hotel stays booked directly within the first 12 months from account opening (2x after) and 1x on all other purchases
Other benefits:
- 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. (must book through the site provided in your welcome materials)
- Get $100 statement credits ($200 for business and first-class seats) up to three times a year when you book a reward flight to London on British Airways and pay for your taxes and fees with your card
Check out the full card review
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® card
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: New cardholders will earn 50,000 bonus Avios after spending $3,000 in the first three months with the card, plus you’ll earn an additional 50,000 Avios after you spend $20,000 total within the first year of account opening
Earning rate: Earn 5x Avios on all British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia flights within the first 12 months from account opening (3x after), 3x on all hotel stays booked directly within the first 12 months from account opening (2x after) and 1x on all other purchases
Other benefits:
- Earn a companion ticket when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year (although it’s only valid on ticket between the U.S. and Ireland)
- Priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights between the U.S. and Ireland
Check out the full card review
Iberia Visa Signature® card
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: New cardholders will earn 50,000 bonus Avios after spending $3,000 in the first three months with the card, plus you’ll earn an additional 50,000 Avios after you spend $20,000 total within the first year of account opening
Earning rate: Earn 5x Avios on all British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia flights within the first 12 months from account opening (3x after), 3x on all hotel stays booked directly within the first 12 months from account opening (2x after) and 1x on all other purchases
Other benefits:
- 10% off Iberia flights booked through Iberia.com/Chase10 with your card
- Earn a discount voucher of $1,000 to use toward two tickets on the same flight each year you spend $30,000 on purchases on your Iberia Visa card.
Check out the full card review
Are these offers worth it?
First, let’s talk about the new British Airways sign-up bonus. Previously, all three credit cards earned up to 100,000 Avios: earn 50,000 Avios after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
TPG values Avios at 1.5 cents each, meaning that the extra 50k you would have earned with the previous offer is worth $750.
The heightened earning rates on flights and hotel stays across all three cards are a solid improvement, but that benefit is only temporary. So if you aren’t planning many flights on these airlines or hotel stays in the coming year, the increased earnings may not help you much.
Overall, these offers isn’t an obvious improvement for all travelers over the last offer. But it still has the potential to be valuable for anyone who typically flies with British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus and can lean into earning and using the companion award ticket (if you apply for the British Airways card).
Bottom line
If you’re not someone who typically flies with any of these airlines, these offers alone aren’t enough to make any of the cards worth it. However, those who do travel often on Avios-earning airlines could find value in these low-cost cards from Chase.
Keep in mind that these cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means if you’ve applied for five or more cards in the past 24 months, you almost certainly won’t be approved. Additionally, an application for one of these cards will count toward your 5/24 slots. So make sure that applying for one of these offers won’t preclude you from applying for other high-value Chase cards in the near future.
It all comes down to what trips you’re planning to take over the next two years. And if earning 100k Avios is more your speed, the other two cards still have that bonus option while offering the temporary increased categories.
Related: Best airline credit cards
Featured image by Fasttailwind/Shutterstock.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,600
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 3X points on dining and 2x points on travel, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.