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British Airways Visa card Review: A Big Bonus for Big Spenders

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Our Credit Cards Expert

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Offer status

This offer is unavailable on The Ascent. The information related to British Airways Visa Signature® Card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

The British Airways Visa Signature® Card offers a generous sign-up bonus. Unfortunately, extra perks on the card are minimal, and if you don’t redeem your Avios miles wisely, you could end up paying hefty surcharge fees. As you'll find out, this can be a super valuable travel credit card, but only for the right cardholder. We’ll weigh the pros and cons below in our comprehensive British Airways Visa Signature® Card review.

Ratings Methodology

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL. Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.

Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways.

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Limited time offer! Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Earn 85,000 Avios.

  • With a large sign-up bonus and big travel perks, this could be a great card for frequent travelers.

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Bonus airline rewards
    • Earn a companion voucher
    • Credits on award tickets to London
    • Annual fee
    • No free checked bag
    • Award ticket fees
    • Limited time offer! Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
    • Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
    • Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
    • 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
    • Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
    • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
    • Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
    • Member FDIC
The information related to British Airways Visa Signature® Card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on travel purchases 		Up to $300 cash back Circle with letter I in it. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. 1.5% - 5% cash back Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for travel and points transfers 		75,000 bonus points Circle with letter I in it. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Full British Airways Visa card review

This credit card is a good fit for: Frequent flyers on British Airways who want to earn more miles and save money while traveling with the airline.

Top perks

Big sign-up bonus

If you spend $5,000 with your card in the first three months of opening your account you'll earn 85,000 bonus points. While Avios aren't quite as useful as the points you can earn with a few other credit card rewards programs, a 85,000-point bonus is something even the best credit cards rarely have.

Ongoing Avios points

This card earns 3 Avios per $1 on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia. It also earns 2 Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel. All other eligible spending earns 1 Avios per $1.

Redeem miles with any Oneworld carrier

Avios can be used on any airline within the Oneworld network, not just British Airways.

Travel Together Ticket

If you spend $30,000 on your British Airways Visa Signature® Card in a single calendar year, you'll get one Travel Together Ticket. This is a companion voucher that allows you to take a companion on one round-trip award flight you book using Avios with British Airways. The flight must originate and terminate in the U.S., but it can be an international flight. Your companion's seat will be in the same cabin, including if you booked first class.

No foreign transaction fees

For folks who travel frequently, having a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can save a lot of money.

What could be improved

No free checked bag

British Airways is one of the very few airlines that don't offer a free checked bag for cardholders. Considering this has become almost a standard feature among airline credit cards, it's disappointing that British Airways doesn't offer it here.

High fees and surcharges

Booking British Airways flights with Avios can incur massive fees and surcharges, especially if you're flying long-haul. Some business class award flights end up costing over $1,000. However, many redemption options with partner airlines don't incur such steep fees.

See more: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare cards

Suggested credit score

Aim for a FICO® Score of 670 or above when applying for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, though it's possible to get this card with a lower credit score.

Since Chase issues the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, it's also subject to Chase's 5/24 rule, which means you could be denied if you've opened too many new credit card accounts in recent years.

See more: Best Chase Credit Cards

What are Avios worth?

British Airways Avios are generally worth about $0.015 each. This does, however, depend heavily on how you use them. Some redemptions can get you as little as $0.005 per Avios, whereas the best redemptions can get you well over $0.02 per Avios.

The British Airways Visa card is right for you if:

The British Airways Visa Signature® Card will serve you well if you fly on British Airways multiple times per year and plan to use one credit card for most or all of your spending. Frequent flyers on British Airways could get substantial value from the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, especially considering it charges only a modest annual fee. But everyone else will be better off with a more flexible travel card.

Read more: Best Rewards Cards

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The minimum starting credit limit for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card is $5,000, but many applicants are approved for larger amounts. Your credit limit depends on multiple factors, including your annual income and credit history.

  • British Airways Avios don't expire as long as you collect, spend, purchase, or share at least one Avios every 36 months. Using the British Airways Visa Signature® Card is a simple way to ensure your Avios don't expire.

  • You can use Avios to book reward flights and upgrades with British Airways, Iberia, and American Airlines. In addition, you can book reward flights with any of the British Airways partners in the Oneworld airline alliance. Although it's usually best to use Avios for flights, there are also other redemption options, including hotel stays, car rentals, and experiences.

Our Credit Cards Expert

Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.