Overview of the British Airways Visa Signature Card
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card (check rates and fees) may not be the first option to consider when utilizing one of your precious 5/24 slots with Chase. Nevertheless, its modest annual fee, robust earning potential, and credits that offset fuel surcharges make it an enticing choice for many who are loyal to British Airways. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*The Card Rating reflects the views of Flying Frugal’s editorial team and is not swayed by the card issuer.
This card, the sole cobranded credit card from British Airways available in the U.S., often goes unnoticed among lucrative offerings from international airlines.
With an annual fee of $95, it’s advisable for applicants to have a credit score of 670 or higher to boost their approval odds.
While it lacks common airline perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding, the card is still among the more valuable airline credit cards on the market due to its generous welcome bonus and money-saving features.
Let’s explore whether this card is a worthy addition to your wallet.
Pros and Cons of the British Airways Visa
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British Airways Visa Welcome Bonus
Currently, the British Airways Visa offers a welcome bonus of 85,000 Avios when you spend $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
According to Flying Frugal’s April 2025 valuations, Avios are valued at 1.4 cents each, meaning that the 85,000 Avios bonus translates to about $1,190. This offer is slightly better than previous ones and is worth considering for those interested in this card.
Keep in mind: Just like other Chase consumer cards, the British Airways Visa is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened more than five credit cards in the last 24 months (across all banks, not just Chase), your application will likely be declined.
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Related: Cards providing welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more
Benefits of the British Airways Visa
Although the British Airways Visa lacks several typical cobranded airline card benefits, such as a free checked bag and priority boarding, the benefits it does offer can still result in substantial savings for British Airways travelers on both cash and award tickets.
- Reward flight statement credit: Enjoy a $100 statement credit three times a year for Economy (World Traveller) and Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) bookings, or $200 for Business (Club World) and first-class tickets (up to $600 per calendar year), when you book a reward flight to London and pay associated charges with your British Airways Visa Signature Card. This helps offset British Airways’ notorious fuel surcharges.
- Travel Together Ticket: After spending $30,000 on the card in a calendar year, you will earn a Travel Together Ticket, allowing you to add a companion to a Reward Flight at no extra cost or save 50% on Avios needed for solo travel. This is applicable for any round-trip British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus redemption in any class.
- 10% flight discount: Book using the link provided in your welcome materials to receive a 10% discount on eligible British Airways flights.
- Visa Signature perks: As a Visa Signature cardholder, you will gain access to benefits like lost/delayed baggage protection, purchase protection, secondary rental car insurance, and the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.
- No foreign transaction fees: You won’t incur any additional fees when you use your card for purchases abroad.
Although these benefits may differ from those offered by many cobranded airline cards, they can provide significant value to frequent flyers who regularly book award flights with Avios.
Related: A Guide to Avios, Elite Status, and Transfer Partners in British Airways Club
Earning Avios with the British Airways Visa
The British Airways Visa offers competitive earning rates compared to most other cobranded airline credit cards. With this card, you can earn:
- 3 Avios for every dollar spent on purchases made with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Level
- 2 Avios for every dollar spent on hotel bookings directly with the hotel
- 1 Avios for every dollar spent on all other purchases
While these earning rates may not seem impressive, the bonus categories, along with the card’s additional benefits, make it a worthwhile option for many travelers frequenting British Airways.
Related: Best ways to earn British Airways Avios
Redeeming Avios with the British Airways Visa
The primary way to use the Avios accumulated with the British Airways Visa is by booking award flights through British Airways. The airline’s distance-based awards often provide exceptional value for short haul flights.
The program charges only 6,500 Avios for award flights between 651 and 1,151 miles during off-peak periods and 12,750 Avios for business class during off-peak periods. For context, flights such as London to Rome fall within that range.
However, British Airways tends to impose high fees and surcharges on international award tickets.
This makes partner awards an appealing option for redeeming Avios. You can use your points on various Oneworld alliance airlines, including American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar Airways.
Related: Maximize the British Airways distance-based award chart
Transferring Avios through the British Airways Visa
Avios earned from the British Airways Visa can be transferred to other airlines within the Avios network, including Aer Lingus, Finnair, Iberia, and Qatar Airways. This flexibility allows access to numerous Oneworld destinations that can be booked with these Avios.
The Avios currency in British Airways can be transferred among multiple partners, including Aer Lingus, Finnair, Iberia, and Qatar Airways.
Lastly, Iberia usually charges far less in taxes and fees than British Airways, and it assesses charges based on total distance flown rather than per leg, making it the optimal choice for certain connecting flights. For instance, I’ve secured excellent value by booking Iberia flights from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Madrid in business class for under 34,000 Avios each time.
Related: How to book Iberia flights to Spain (and beyond) with Avios
Competing Cards to the British Airways Visa Card
You might consider other options that either earn Avios or are transferable to Avios points, including:
- If you’re within the 5/24 rule: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review rates and fees) has a similar $95 annual fee and offers 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal and 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel. It also allows for bonus points on dining and select streaming services. For more details, take a look at our complete Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
- If you’re beyond the 5/24 rule: The American Express® Gold Card carries a higher annual fee of $325 (check rates and fees) but comes with superior earning rates and various valuable perks that offset the annual cost, including different statement credits (enrollment required). Membership Rewards points gathered through this card can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to British Airways Avios. Check our detailed Amex Gold review for more information.
- If you want to earn Avios using another card: The Iberia Visa Signature® Card shares the same earning structure as the British Airways Visa but includes more Iberia-focused benefits, like a 10% discount on select Iberia flights.
The information regarding the Iberia Visa Signature Card has been gathered independently by The Points Guy and has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.
For further options, browse our complete list of the best airline credit cards.
Related: 5 reasons to consider British Airways Avios
Is the British Airways Visa Worth It?
The British Airways Visa is certainly valuable if you aim to accumulate Avios. Its offerings, including the 10% flight discount and up to $600 in annual reward flight statement credits, can easily recover the annual fee. However, if you’re over Chase’s 5/24 limit or travel infrequently with airlines that utilize Avios, you might prefer another card.
Final Thoughts
Expanding your collection of loyalty currencies is vital in the travel rewards landscape, and the British Airways Visa is an excellent way to accomplish this. With an attractive welcome bonus, low annual fee, and the opportunity to reclaim some expenses on taxes and fees, this card is a strong candidate for British Airways enthusiasts.
Apply here: British Airways Visa Signature Card
For details on the Amex Gold card’s rates and fees, click here.
