Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Flexible Redemptions
- Travel Together Ticket
- No Free Checked Bags
- Poor Rewards Outside BA
Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- Flexible Redemptions
- Travel Together Ticket
CONS
- No Free Checked Bags
- Poor Rewards Outside BA
APR
21.49%–28.49% variable
Annual Fee
$95
Balance Transfer Fee
5% or $5, whichever is greater
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
The British Airways Visa Signature is quite a niche card, but if you enjoy flying with BA or OneWorld partner airlines, you can enjoy some great benefits, including statement credit and working towards getting a Travel Together Ticket. Given the card has a generous welcome bonus and the nice perks package, the British Airways Visa Signature is a solid choice.
However, if you don’t have a British Airways focus, you may find that there are other travel cards offering far greater rewards and benefits. If you’re not brand loyal to British Airways, a general travel credit card could offer a higher rewards rate on your travel and everyday purchases.
Depending on the annual fee, you may even get some perks such as lounge access or statement credit for inflight purchases.
- Flexible Redemptions
- Travel Together Ticket
- Statement Credit
- Discounted British Airways Flights
- Visa Signature Benefits
- No Free Checked Bags
- No Lounge Access
- Poor Rewards Outside BA
- Subject to the Chase 5/24 Rule
Does the card provide car rental insurance?
Yes, since this is a Visa Signature card, you can get auto rental collision waiver coverage when you reserve and pay for your entire rental with your card.
What are card income requirements?
There are no specific income requirements, but you do need good to excellent credit to qualify for this card. While Chase will consider your income to assess whether you have sufficient disposable income for the card, it is not the only factor.
Can I get pre-approved?
Generally, Chase does allow pre approval for its cards. You can sign in as a customer or guest to see if you qualify for the card.
In this Review
Estimating Your Rewards: A Practical Simulation
The following table is a simulation of rewards that showcases the potential benefits of using the British Airways Visa Signature Card. It provides an estimated breakdown of the rewards you could earn based on your typical spending habits in various categories.
While this table can help you understand the potential advantages of the card, it is important to keep in mind that the figures presented are only estimates, and your actual rewards may vary depending on your individual spending patterns and other factors.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | British Airways Visa Signature Card
|
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 Avios |
$3,000 – Restaurants
| 3,000 Avios |
$5,000 – Airline | 15,000 Avios |
$4,000 – Hotels | 8,000 Avios |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 Avios |
Estimated Annual Avios | 40,000 Avios |
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Pros and Cons
Just like any other credit card, the British Airways credit card has some advantages and disadvantages:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Flexible Redemptions | No Free Checked Bags |
Travel Together Ticket | No Lounge Access |
Statement Credit | Poor Rewards Outside BA |
Discounted British Airways Flights | Subject to the Chase 5/24 Rule |
Visa Signature Benefits
|
- Flexible Redemptions
You can redeem your accumulated rewards with any Oneworld carrier, so you’re not restricted to British Airways. You can use your Avios with any airline within the network, which opens up the redemptions to a further 13 airlines.
- Travel Together Ticket
When you spend $30,000 or more with your British Airways Visa Signature card within one calendar year, you’ll receive one Travel Together Ticket. This companion voucher allows you to bring a companion on one round trip award itinerary when you book using your Avios on British Airways flights.
Your flight must have a U.S origin and termination, but you can travel internationally. However, your companion seat is in the same cabin, so even if you booked first class, you can travel together.
- Statement Credit
The card offers up to $200 in statement credit towards taxes, fees and charges when you redeem Avios for British Airways reward flights. This is available on up to three bookings per year, for a maximum statement credit of $600 each year.
- Discounted British Airways Flights
As a cardholder, you can receive a10% discount on British Airways operated round trip flights that depart from the U.S.
- Visa Signature Benefits
Since this card is a Visa Signature credit card, you can also access this benefits suite. When you use your card, you can access extended warranty protection, purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and auto rental collision damage cover.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
If your trip is cut short or canceled by severe weather, sickness or other covered circumstances, you can receive up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip in reimbursement for non refundable, pre paid travel expenses such as passenger fares, hotels and tours.
- Purchase Protections
When you make purchases with your card, your items are covered against theft or damage for 120 days. The coverage limits are $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- No Free Checked Bags
Unlike many airline co-branded credit cards, the British Airways card does not offer any free checked bags for card holders.
For example, the Alaska Airlines Visa has a similar annual fee, but it offers one free checked bag for you and up to six travel companions when you book with your card.
- No Lounge Access
It is not uncommon for a card with such a low annual fee to not offer free lounge access, but this card does not even offer discounted lounge access passes.
- Poor Rewards Outside BA
Unless you’re making a direct purchase with British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia, the rewards rate is quite low. If you’re using the card for non travel purchases, you’ll only earn one Avios per dollar.
- Subject to the Chase 5/24 Rule
Since this is a Chase co-branded card, it is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. This means that regardless of your credit, if you’ve opened five new credit card accounts within the last 24 months, you’ll automatically fail to qualify for this card.
Who Should Consider The British Airways Card?
As the name suggests, this card is designed for those who are brand loyal to British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. If you frequently travel with these airlines or other airlines in the Oneworld partnership, this could be a good card for you. You can accumulate Avios, which can be used for Oneworld airlines and you’ll earn statement credit to cover fees and charges associated with British Airways award flights.
This card could also be a good fit for you if you want to receive discounts on British Airways flights. You can receive a 10% discount on round trip BA flights departing the U.S. Additionally, you can keep this card in your wallet when you travel, as you won’t incur any foreign transaction fees.
If you would like to check alternative airline cards, here are some good candidates:
Card | Rewards | Annual Fee |
| 1X – 2X
2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
| $150, $0 intro first year (Rates & Fees)
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
| $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
| |
| 1X – 3X
3X miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2X miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
| $99 | |
| 1X – 3X
3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
| $99 | |
| 1X – 3X
3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta flights and Delta Vacations® with 1X miles on all other purchases
| $650 (Rates & Fees) | |
 | 1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
| $95 ($0 first year) |
How To Maximize Card Benefits: Tips
This card is fairly straightforward, but there are some tips to get the most from it. These include:
-
Consider Stopovers
British Airways is great for multi stop destinations. Unlike most other airlines, British Airways allows unlimited stopovers, which are “within reason.”
A stop over can be an open ended amount of time beyond 24 hours internationally. So, you can choose this option when you book and add another city to your itinerary.
-
Book the Highest Fare Class for Your Companion Pass
If you’ve earned a Travel Together Ticket, British Airways will match the fare for your companion. This means that if you book a first class fare, your companion will also travel in first class.
So, aim to maximize the value of your ticket and book the highest fare class you can afford.
-
Always Book Direct
Your card benefits including the highest reward rate only kick in when you book direct with British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia.
So, make sure that you always book directly and don’t use a third party travel platform.
FAQs
How do I redeem rewards?
If you want to redeem your accumulated Avios, you can log into your account and use your rewards. Alternatively, when you book a British Airways flight, you can sign in and then use the option to pay using some or all of your rewards.
How hard is it to get a British Airways Visa Signature card?
The British Airways Visa Signature does require good to excellent credit, so it can be a little tricky for many people.
Additionally, you need to comply with the Chase 5/24 rule and have opened fewer than five new credit card accounts within the last 24 months, or your application will be declined, regardless of your credit.
When it may not be a good idea?
This card may not be a good idea if you’re not completely brand loyal to British Airways. If you don’t tend to travel internationally or you may use airlines outside the Oneworld partnership, this card is not the best choice for you.
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