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British Airways Visa Signature Card review: A valuable but complicated travel credit card

British Airways Visa Signature? card review·Yahoo Personal Finance
Updated 6 min read

The British Airways Visa Signature? Card offers a lot of valuable perks for a modest annual fee. But due to the hefty surcharges the airline charges on award tickets, you're better off using your rewards on partner airlines. Although British Airways has plenty of solid partners, it makes it trick to maximizing the value of this travel credit card.

  • Annual fee: $95

  • Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus Avios when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.

  • Rewards: Earn

    • 3 Avios on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia

    • 2 Avios on hotel accommodations

    • 1 Avios on all other purchases

  • Recommended credit score: Good to Excellent

  • More details: Get 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S.; receive up to $600 in annual statement credits on award flights; earn a Travel Together ticket when you meet an annual spending requirement.

The card charges a $95 annual fee. While it doesn't waive that fee the first year like some other airline credit cards, British Airways loyalists can get that value and more back in the form of credit card perks.

Currently, the British Airways credit card offers 75,000 bonus Avios when you spend $5,000 in the first three months. Compared to other airline credit cards, that's a relatively high offer, though it also requires more spending.

You'll earn the following rewards rates on your everyday spending:

  • 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia

  • 2 Avios per dollar on hotel accommodations booked directly with hotels

  • 1 Avios per dollar on all other purchases

Like other airline credit cards, the British Airways credit card offers accelerated rewards on purchases with the airline.

However, because the Avios loyalty program is shared by multiple airlines, you'll also earn bonus rewards on purchases with Aer Lingus and Iberia, the flagship carriers for Ireland and Spain, respectively.

You'll also get extra Avios on hotel stays booked directly with hotels, but beyond the first year, you won't earn any bonus rewards on everyday spending categories, which is disappointing.

To get the most value out of your Avios, you'll want to use them to book award flights. But while all airlines charge taxes and fees on award tickets, British Airways is notorious for adding hefty fuel surcharges that can add hundreds of dollars to your reservation.

The good news is that British Airways partners with several domestic and international airlines, including American Airlines. So, it is possible to avoid those surcharges, and many travel rewards enthusiasts make it work. But in general, maximizing your rewards with airline partners can be more challenging.

Other ways to use your Avios include:

  • Flight upgrades and airline fees

  • Hotel stays

  • Car rentals

  • Vacation packages

  • Wine subscriptions

  • Merchandise

That said, you generally won't get as much value with these options.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card doesn't offer some of the standard airline credit card perks, such as priority boarding, free checked baggage and inflight discounts. However, there are some benefits that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year on British Airways flights:

  • Discount on British Airways flights: When you use your card to book a British Airways originating in the U.S., you'll get a 10% discount.

  • Award flight credits: Each year, you can get up to $600 in statement credits when you book award flights to London and use the card to pay the taxes and fees. That's a credit of $100 for economy and premium economy seats and $200 for business and first-class seats. You can get up to three credits per year.

  • Travel Together ticket: When you spend $30,000 in a calendar year, you'll earn a Travel Together ticket. When you book a flight with British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia with Avios, this certificate lets you bring a companion for just the taxes and fees or get a 50% Avios discount if you're flying solo. The Travel Together ticket is good for two years.

  • Luggage protection: When you travel and use your card to make purchases, you could benefit from its lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance benefits.

Keep in mind that some of these perks require you to fly with British Airways. Before you take advantage of a benefit, however, be sure to compare other flight options that don't come with an expensive fuel surcharge.

The British Airways credit card is best suited for people who frequently fly with the airline. However, you may also consider it if you're a points and miles aficionado who wants to use Avios to book flights with British Airways partners.

It can be particularly worth considering if you can meet the $30,000 spending requirement for the Travel Together ticket, which can give you solid savings.

  • Versatile rewards program: British Airways partners with several airlines through the Avios rewards program and the oneworld alliance, giving you access to more than 900 destinations around the world.

  • Solid welcome offer: The card's welcome bonus is high compared to other airline credit cards; just make sure you can afford the minimum spending requirement to earn it, which comes out to roughly $1,667 per month.

  • Modest annual fee: Compared to the card's benefits, the annual fee is low. Just keep in mind that there's no guarantee that you'll get enough value from the card perks to offset that yearly charge.

  • No flight perks: You won't get some of the standard perks that most airline credit cards offer, including free checked baggage, priority boarding and inflight discounts.

  • Maximizing the card perks can be tricky: You can definitely get enough value from the card's benefits to offset the annual fee, but at what cost? Even with savings or award flight credits, you may still end up paying more due to surcharges.

You can use the British Airways credit card anywhere Visa is accepted, which is just about anywhere within the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, the card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee on international purchases.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card is issued by Chase, which offers cardholders a few options for making a credit card payment:

  • Online: Log in to your online account or the Chase mobile app.

  • Phone: Call 800-436-7958 and use the automated phone service.

  • Chase branch or ATM: Visit a local Chase branch or ATM to pay in person.

  • Mail: Send a check or money order, including your full card number, to Cardmember Services, P.O. Box 6294, Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294.

  • Customer service availability: Phone 24/7

  • Phone number: 800-432-3117

  • Customer service email: Chase doesn't offer email support, but you can send a secure message through your online account.

  • British Airways Visa Signature Card login page

If you're not sure about the limitations of the British Airways credit card or want more flexibility with your rewards, here are some alternative credit cards to help you compare.

  • Annual fee
    $95
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (that's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel?)
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.49% - 28.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
    • 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
    • 2x points on all other travel purchases
    • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
    • Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
    • On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year

Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers one of the most versatile rewards programs in Chase Ultimate Rewards. The card offers an excellent welcome bonus, plus bonus rewards on several everyday spending categories, including travel, dining, select online grocery purchases and select streaming services.

To help offset the $95 annual fee, you can earn up to $50 in statement credits toward hotels booked through Chase. You'll also get a 10% points bonus based on how much you spend each year—for example, spend $30,000 and get 3,000 bonus points.

Redeeming your rewards for travel through Chase will give you a 25% boost in value. However, you can also transfer your rewards to several airline and hotel program partners, including British Airways.

  • Annual fee
    $395
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Purchase APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • 2x miles on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • $300 annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel
    • 10,000 annual bonus miles (worth $100 in travel spending; starts on your first account anniversary)
    • Unlimited access for you and two guests to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ more lounges through partner networks

Why we like it: If you want maximum travel redemption flexibility and premium benefits, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice. The card offers a solid welcome bonus and a base rewards rate of 2 miles per dollar.

You can redeem your rewards for travel directly through the Capital One Travel portal, paying for some or all of your booking. Alternatively, you use the card to book travel on your own with an eligible travel merchant and request a full or partial statement credit up to 90 days after the transaction date. The card issuer also allows you to transfer rewards to several domestic and international airlines and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways.

Premium perks include a $300 annual credit toward Capital One Travel reservations and 10,000 bonus miles each year. You'll also get complimentary access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world and an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. For that, the card charges a $395 annual fee, but it's not too difficult to get that value back.

  • Annual fee
    $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Airline
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • Earn 2x mile on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
    • Earn 1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Benefits
    • Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
    • After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel
    • Check your first bag free on Delta flights

Why we like it: If you want an airline credit card with fewer limitations, consider the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. The card offers a decent welcome bonus, as well as bonus rewards on dining and supermarket purchases within the U.S.

You'll also get a $200 Delta flight credit when you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, plus 15% off all award flights booked with the airline—Delta has a robust domestic presence and offers access to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide through its partners.

You can even get some value on hotel and vacation rental stays with up to $100 in annual statement credits when you use your card to book through Delta Stays. Other perks include priority boarding, one free checked bag for you and up to eight others on your reservation, and 20% back on inflight purchases. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $150 after that (see rates and fees).

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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