The card_name is a pretty good option for frequent flyers between the United States and Europe.
The card comes with a large welcome bonus and has an annual fee of $95, making it a strong contender for travelers seeking extra perks and rewards while flying with Aer Lingus and its partner airlines.
However, its earning structure may not be as impressive when compared to other similar credit cards.
With that in mind, the card’s true value lies in its potential to reward those who can capitalize on its generous bonus and solid airline-related benefits.
Welcome Bonus
The Aer Lingus Visa currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning Avios
The Aer Lingus Visa earns:
- 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL.
- 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
- 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
The Aer Lingus Visa has a $95 annual fee, which can be offset by taking advantage of priority boarding, companion ticket (after spending $30,000 in a calendar year), and travel and purchase protections.
You can also add an authorized user for no additional fee.
Aer Lingus Card Benefits
The Aer Lingus Card offers several benefits that cardholders will find very valuable. Let’s discuss each of them below.
Priority Boarding
You can enjoy priority boarding for you and any authorized users from flights to or from the United States. All you need to do is show your Aer Lingus card when boarding.
Companion Ticket
If you spend $30,000 per calendar year, you will receive an economy companion ticket that can be used within 12 months.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to or theft of a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Baggage delay insurance can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items if (1) you purchased your trip with this card and (2) your bag is delayed by a common carrier like an airline, train, ferry, or cruise ship, etc.
Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a life-saver when you are without your bag.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Baggage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your luggage and the contents inside if your bag is lost or damaged during a covered trip.
You must purchase the trip with this card, and it will also cover immediate family members traveling with you.
Purchase Protection for 120 Days
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
Extended Warranty
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 3 years.
Coverage matches the protection provided by the original warranty so that damage or defect would have to be covered by the original warranty for extended warranty coverage.
Redeeming Miles
AerClub is Aer Lingus’ frequent flyer program, and it is one of three Avios-earning programs, which also include British Airways and Iberia.
AerClub Avios are best used for redeeming flights to Ireland, and you can find all award options on the avios.com website. However, if you plan to fly to other destinations in Europe, you can get more value for your Avios by transferring them to Iberia or British Airways.
Remember, Aer Lingus is not part of any airline alliance, but Iberia and British Airways are members of the OneWorld alliance. So, by transferring your points to these programs, you can enjoy more options to redeem your points on other OneWorld airline partners.
Alternatively, you can also redeem Avios for hotels, rental cars, and experiences on Avios.com. However, we don’t really recommend these options because the Avios value is very low. For hotels, it is around 0.7 cents per Avio, whereas business class flights get you around 2.5 cents per Avios.
You can read our comprehensive guide on the Best Ways to Spend Aer Lingus AerClub Avios for more details.
Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of the Chase Aer Lingus card to help you decide whether it’s the right fit for you.
Pros
- Large welcome bonus
- Companion certificate (if you can meet requirements)
- Priority boarding
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No free checked bags
- No extra points on non-travel spending
Card Alternatives to the Chase Aer Lingus Card
Here are some alternative credit card options to consider if you feel that the Aer Lingus Card does not meet your needs:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.
For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.
Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card (review) is one of my favorite cards because it earns:
- 4x Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.,
- 4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x).
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
Plus, card members get nice credits when you enroll your Gold Card to offset the annual fee:
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and each month automatically get up to $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.
Is the Chase Aer Lingus Card Worth It?
The Aer Lingus Visa offers a generous welcome bonus, along with valuable earning potential, but its worth is largely dependent on your spending habits and travel goals.
Cardholders who frequently fly with Aer Lingus or its partners can make the most out of this card.
One of the impressive features of this card is the welcome bonus it offers, which could provide more than $1,500 in travel value when redeemed wisely.
However, this card may be less beneficial for those who do not travel frequently with Aer Lingus or its partners. In such cases, other travel rewards cards with a more expansive rewards program and lower fees may be a better fit.
If you don’t travel a lot on Aer Lingus, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
