Earn points on your British Airways flights and redeem for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals and more.
30-second take
- Get this card if you frequently fly with British Airways and Oneworld Alliance.
- Pick something else if you want an intro APR period.
- Apply with good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
| Product Name | British Airways Visa Signature® Card |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Visa |
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for Purchases | 18.24% to 25.24% variable |
| Introductory Purchase APR | N/A |
| Balance Transfer APR | 18.24% to 25.24% variable |
| Introductory Balance Transfer APR | N/A |
| Balance Transfer Fee | $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash Advance Rate | 27.24% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
| Cash Advance Fee | $10 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Interest Free Period | Up to 21 days |
| Late Payment Fee | Up to $38 |
| Returned Payment Fee | Up to $38 |
| Additional Cardholder Fee | $0 |
| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees |
| Minimum Age | 18 years of age |
|---|
| Rewards | Earn 4 Avios per $1 spent on all purchases within your first year up to $30,000 with British Airways Visa Signature Card |
|---|---|
| Base Rewards | 1x points |
| Rewards Points Expiry | 12 months |
The basics
This card has a lot to offer if you travel often with British Airways and its partners. The most prominent features include a considerable bonus offer on signup, multiple options to spend your Avios, a companion ticket reward and built-in travel and purchase insurance.
Just beware of the high fees when redeeming reward flights.
The perks
- Signup bonus.
With this card, you can earn a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. Earn the first bonus Avios when you spend in your first 3 months of account opening. Spend $10,000 in your first year of card membership and get additional 25,000 bonus Avios. And if you spend a total of $20,000 in your first year you get additional 25,000 bonus Avios. - Avios points.
Earn 4x Avios on British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus purchases and 1x Avios on everything else you buy.
Is the annual fee worth it?
The card comes with a $95 annual fee. Considering the industry average value of points is around 1 cent apiece, you need to spend at least $3,166 on British Airways flights to offset the annual fee.
You’ll also like
- Travel together ticket.
Spend $30,000 in a calendar year and earn a companion ticket good for two years. Your companion must be on the same British Airways flight as you and in the same cabin. The flight must start from and return to the US. - No foreign transaction fees.
Whenever you use your card in the UK or anywhere else abroad, you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees. - Executive Club.
By being a cardmember, you’re automatically enrolled in the British Airways frequent flyer program called the Executive Club. This works like any other airline program; you earn and redeem points on flights, car rentals, hotel stays and more. - Visa Signature perks.
Since this is a Visa Signature card, you get all the perks that come with it, such as car rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay and lost luggage reimbursement, extended warranty protection, purchase protection and more.
What to watch out for
- Annual fee.
The card doesn’t come free. Expect to pay $95 annually to own the card. - reward ticket fees.
You’re responsible for taxes, fees and carrier charges on your reward flights and travel together tickets. These can be $682 to $1,250 per adult in economy class or $1,250 in business class based on travel from Seattle to London. - Signup bonus qualification.
You won’t qualify for the signup bonus if you’re a current card member of British Airways Visa Signature® Card or a cardmember who received a new-cardmember bonus for this credit card within the past 24 months.
Compare travel credit cards
What should I know before I apply?
To apply for the card, you must be at least 18 years old or 19 in Alabama and Nebraska, and a US resident.
Also, you need to provide the following information:
- Your full name, contact information and address.
- Residential status.
- Annual income and source of income.
- Date of birth and Social Security number.
What credit score do I need?
You can apply for the card with good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
What do customers say about the British Airways Visa Signature® Card?
Customers complain about the high fees and taxes when redeeming reward flights. They claim the fees and taxes cost almost as much as the airfare if you buy it with cash. Also, some customers complain about the difficulty to get a seat on British Airways flights when redeeming Avios.
The JP Morgan and Chase credit card division earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but they aren’t accredited yet. Most customer complaints on the BBB website revolve around hidden fees and poor customer service.
How to apply for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card
- Go to the Chase website and select the British Airways Visa Signature® Card.
- Click Apply now.
- Fill out the application form.
- Review your application and submit.
How long will it take to get my British Airways Visa Signature® Card?
Chase can instantly decide on your application. If it requires additional information it may take longer.
Once approved, your card should arrive within seven to 10 business days.
I got the card. Now what?
- Download the Chase Mobile app. Use the app to monitor your account, pay your bills, transfer money and more.
- Avoid paying interest and fees. Your due date is 21 days after the close of each billing cycle. Make sure you pay your balance on time to avoid paying interest and late payment fees.
- Customer support. For any questions you may have, call 800-432-3117 and the Chase customer service will assist you.
How do I redeem miles from the British Airways Visa Signature® Card?
Once you earn enough Avios to redeem for a reward, you can choose from:
- Flights
- Flight upgrades and onboard purchases
- Hotel stays
- Car rentals
- Experiences
- Wine
Log in to your British Airways Avios account. If you choose to redeem Avios for a reward flight, click Book with Avios on the sidebar and search for flight availability.
Once you select the flight you want, click Continue until you finalize your booking.
Bottom line
If you often fly with British Airways or with other Oneworld Alliance airlines, this may be a good card for you. You’ll earn Avios, which you can redeem for flights — and if you spend $30,000 in a year, you’ll earn a companion ticket.
However, know that redeeming a reward flight comes with high fees and taxes.
If you don’t think that this could be a good card for you, check out other airline credit cards or general travel credit cards and compare your options.
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
