Looking to elevate your travel experience with British Airways? The card_name might be the ticket you need to unlock a world of rewards and benefits.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the ins and outs of the card and help you figure out if it’s the right choice for your travel needs. So, buckle up, and let’s get started!
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- 3x Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia
- 2x Avios on Hotels Booked Direct
- Up to $600 Reward Flight Statement Credits
- Baggage Delay and Lost Luggage Insurance
- Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $95 Annual Fee
Application Link: card_name
Welcome Bonus
The card_name currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning Points
The card_name allows cardholders to earn:
- 3 Avios per dollar spent on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia flight purchases.
- 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
- 1 Avios per dollar on all other purchases
Related Article: 13 Best Credit Cards to Earn Lots of British Airways Avios
Annual Fee
The card_name has a $95 annual fee. Cardmembers can also add authorized users for no additional cost.
British Airways Card Benefits
The card_name offers several travel perks and insurance benefits that make the card even more valuable. Let’s explore these benefits in detail.
$600 Award Flight Credits
Award flights from the U.S. to the U.K. have very high taxes and fees on British Airways. This credit helps you offset some of those taxes and fees with a $200 credit for business and first-class awards and $100 for Economy or Premium Economy class awards.
You can use these credits up to 3 times per year (up to $600), but you only get a credit for one-way or round-trip flights departing the United States.
Economy class taxes and fees are more reasonable at about $229 one-way, but they jump to about $625 round-trip due to the U.K.’s very high departure taxes.
I don’t see much value in using Avios for British Airways economy class to Europe because many times you can book a cash flight for the same price of an award flight, when factoring in the taxes and fees.
Travel Together Ticket
If you spend $30,000 in a calendar year on this card, you are eligible for a Travel Together Ticket good for two years. This allows you to book two award tickets departing the U.S. for the price of one. This even includes business and first-class.
All you have to do is pay the taxes and fees on the companion ticket, which could be partially offset by the $600 award flight credits above.
10% Off British Airways Flights
Cardholders will get 10% off when booking a British Airways cash flight originating from the United States. Here’ are the steps to avail the discount:
- Go to www.ba.com/Chase10 and log in to your British Airways account.
- Select your flights and proceed to the price quote page.
- Enter the code CHAsEBA10 into the marked box to apply the discount.
This exclusive discount applies to the total cost of the flight, including fees, taxes, and carrier surcharges. Additionally, it also applies to all cabin classes including economy (World Traveller), premium economy (World Traveller Plus), business (Club World), or First.
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.
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, cruise ship, etc. for more than 6 hours.
Coverage is up to $100 per day for 3 days. Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a lifesaver when you are without your bag.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Lost luggage reimbursement 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. Coverage is up to $3,000 per passenger.
Coverage is also secondary to any reimbursement from the airline or common carrier. For example, if your bag and its contents were worth $1,000 and the airline gave you $200, you could file a claim for $800.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to 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.
But there are situations where this secondary insurance becomes the primary insurance, including when renting a car outside the U.S. and your personal car insurance does not cover you in that country, or if you don’t have collision insurance.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
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.
The maximum coverage is $10,000 per item and $50,000 per cardholder.
For example, if you bought a TV with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years, then this card would extend the warranty for free to the fourth year.
But if the TV comes with a four or five-year warranty, you should consider using an American Express or Citi credit card, which covers warranties up to 5 years.
Purchase Protection
Purchase protection could save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 90-days.
For example, if you accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if the item was purchased within the last 90 days.
Coverage for this benefit is limited to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per cardholder.
Redeeming Points
British Airways Avios can be used for both flights and non-flight redemptions. We’ll discuss each option below and their potential redemption values.
Award Flights
British Airways uses a distance-based award chart on all of its award flight offerings whether it’s on British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, or OneWorld alliance partners. This means that longer flights will cost more Avios than shorter ones.
- British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia: Redemptions for these three Avios-earning programs typically range between 1 to 1.5 cents per mile, depending on factors such as the route, date, and class of service. Take note, redemptions only cover the base fare of the ticket, so taxes, fees, and carrier charges will need to be paid in cash.
- OneWorld Alliance Flights: You can also redeem Avios for U.S. award flights through its OneWorld Partners, particularly with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. For example, short-haul flights on American will cost around 7,500 Avios while long-haul flights will cost 12,500 Avios or higher.
Hotels
British Airways partners with several hotels where you can use your Avios to pay for hotel stays either with points alone or through a cash + points system.
However, we generally do not recommend using Avios for hotel bookings, car rentals, or experiences as the redemption values for these options tend to be lower than when redeeming for flights.
Redemption values for hotels usually start at 0.5 cents per Avios point, which is lower than the typical value when redeemed for flights.
Car Rentals
You can redeem your Avios towards car rentals on Avis and Budget. When you make a booking, you can choose to pay with cash, Avios, or a combination of both. The number of Avios required for a car rental will depend on the rental location, the rental period, and the type of car you select.
Experiences
Choose from a wide variety of experiences offered by British Airways through their “British Airways Experiences” program.
From adventurous activities such as skydiving and hot air ballooning to cultural experiences such as wine tasting and guided tours, there are plenty of options to choose from.
The prices of British Airways Experiences may vary depending on the type of experience you choose, and you can pay for them using either cash or Avios.
Booking through British Airways Experiences often comes with added perks and benefits, such as exclusive access, special discounts, and priority reservations.
Pros and Cons
While the card_name may come with solid perks and benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to consider before applying for this card. Here are some points to keep in mind:
Pros
- High reward rates on eligible flights
- Potential to earn a companion ticket
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- Rewards rate poor outside of Avios-earning airlines
- High airline surcharges on award flights on British Airways
- Subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule
Card Alternatives to the Chase British Airways Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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- 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 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.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 10x Points on Hotels and Rental Cars and 5x Points on Flights Booked Through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x Points on Dining, Takeout, & Eligible Food Delivery
- 50% More Redemption Value
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $550 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (review) is a great option for travelers who want premium perks such as airport lounge access and top-tier travel protections.
The Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, but you receive an annual easy-to use $300 travel credit and access to 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges.
Plus, great benefits such as trip delay insurance, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase and return protection, extended warranty, and no foreign transaction fees.
Cardmembers also earn extra points with:
- 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 3x points on travel.
- 3x points on dining, and food delivery purchases.
- 1x points everywhere else.
One thing to remember is that you won’t earn points on your first $300 in travel purchases each cardmember year since the $300 travel credit covers those purchases.
You can also cash out points at a 50% bonus (1.5 cents per point) when redeeming points towards travel or transfer the points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles After Spending $4,000 Within the First Three Months
- 5x Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars via Capital One Travel
- 2x Miles Everywhere Else
- 2 Free Visits to Capital One Lounges Each Year
- Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check Credit
- Hertz 5-Star Elite Status
- Rental Car Insurance and Extended Warranty
- $95 Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards credit card that earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The card also comes with a range of travel benefits, including secondary rental car, no foreign transaction fees, and extended warranty coverage.
Plus, you also get two complimentary passes to visit Capital One lounges each year and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to a $100 credit every four years).
Related Article: 7 Best Credit Cards for International Travel
Is the Chase British Airways Visa Signature Card Worth It?
The card_name can be a great option for those who frequently fly with British Airways and its partner airlines.
The card offers exclusive benefits, such as a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S., up to $600 in statement credits for award flight taxes and fees every year, and the ability to earn a Travel Together ticket after spending $30,000 in a calendar year.
Additionally, the card has a nice welcome bonus, which can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
However, it’s important to note that the British Airways Visa Signature Card caters to higher-spending individuals. Its biggest benefit, the Travel Together Ticket, is earned after spending $30,000 on purchases in a year.
Furthermore, the value of the card depends on how you use the Avios points that you earn. If you don’t fly with British Airways or its partner airlines frequently, or if you don’t spend enough to earn the Travel Together Ticket, the card may not be worth it for you.
Ultimately, whether or not the British Airways Card is worth it depends on your individual travel habits and spending patterns.
- bonus_miles_full
- 3x Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia
- 2x Avios on Hotels Booked Direct
- Up to $600 Reward Flight Statement Credits
- Baggage Delay and Lost Luggage Insurance
- Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $95 Annual Fee
Application Link: card_name
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee of British Airways card?
$95 annual fee.
Can I earn British Airways Avios on other cards?
Yes, there are many credit cards that can earn British Airways Avios via transfers including the:
- Chase Iberia card
- Chase Aer Lingus card
- Chase Ultimate Rewards cards.
- American Express Membership Rewards cards.
