Chase British Airways Visa Signature Review
Updated August 2, 2023.
The Facts
The Math
With the change in April 2015, we no longer recommend this card for spending, for most consumers. For example, Amex EveryDay Preferred returns higher value (1.5x) for general spending, because their points can be transferred into Avios; Chase Sapphire Reserves returns 3x for travel and dining which beats BA Visa's, and their points can also be transferred to Avios.
The Conclusion
Chase BA Visa used to be unique and very rewarding to quite some consumers. However, with devaluation of BA points and the change in April 2015, this card only make sense for the signup bonus or those who can make use of the TTT and/or the $600 annual awards fee credit.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $95
- Signup Bonus: 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 within 3 months of new account opening. The bonus is not available if you currently have this card or have received a signup bonus for this card in the past 24 months. Historical best bonus of this card: (1) up to 120,000 points with $30K spending in 2019; (2) 100,000 points with $5K spending requirement in 2011 & 2021; (3) 100,000 points with $20K spending requirement several times in the past years; (4) 50,000 points plus a Travel Together Ticket ($20K spending required) in 2021.
- Application landing page
- Rewards: 3x British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, 2x hotels, and 1x everywhere else
- Best Use of British Airways Avios: British Airways Executive Club is the frequent flyer program of British Airways, a member of oneworld, one of the three global airline alliances. Avios is the frequent flyer currency of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, and you may transfer Avios among three programs at 1:1 ratio. You can use Avios, on British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, or their partner airlines. Unlike US domestic airlines, most foreign airlines add hefty fuel surcharges to award tickets, making redemption on economy cabins less valuable. Redemption on premium cabins may be desirable but you still have to take the fuel surcharges into your calculation. The alternative is to use Avios on American Airlines for economy or premium cabins, because AA does not have fuel surcharges.
- British Airways Benefit: (1) One Travel Together Ticket (TTT) for awards travel on British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus operated flights each calendar year, if you spend $30,000 in the previous year, expiring after two years upon issuance. You can either use TTT to cover your travel companion when you redeem Avios for yourself (both still need to pay taxes and fees) or just as a 50% discount for your own Avios redemption (you still need to pay taxes and fees). Note that BA's fuel surcharge can be over $1,000 for business class long hauls originating in the U.S. (much higher than the ones originating in Europe). (2) Up to $600 annual statement credits for taxes, fees, and carrier imposed surcharges on awards redemption: you receive a $200 credit for a first or business class awards ticket or a $100 credit for a economy or premium economy class awards ticket, up to 3 credits per year. There are quite a few restrictions: the booking must be on a transatlantic itinerary originating in the U.S. with the transatlantic segment on British Airways metals (meaning the rest of the itinerary could be on partner airlines); the booking must be made using points from the primary cardholder's Avios account (but of course the passenger could be someone else); you must use the British Airways credit card to pay for these fees and charges. As the fuel surcharge on British Airways flight originating in the U.S. is pretty high, and this benefit could be useful only to certain cardholders.
- Other Benefits: Waived foreign transaction fees. Embedded EMV chip.
- History: In April 2015, Chase reduced the general spending rewards from 1.25x to 1x per dollar spent. In August 2019, Chase added hotels as a 2x bonus category and the annual $600 credits for taxes and fees on awards redemption. In June 2022, the TTT benefit was improved by allowing its use as a discount for your own Avios redemptions. In July 2023, the TTT benefit was again improved by allowing travel originating outside the U.S. and also on Iberia and Aer Lingus when you book through BA.com.
The Math
With the change in April 2015, we no longer recommend this card for spending, for most consumers. For example, Amex EveryDay Preferred returns higher value (1.5x) for general spending, because their points can be transferred into Avios; Chase Sapphire Reserves returns 3x for travel and dining which beats BA Visa's, and their points can also be transferred to Avios.
The Conclusion
Chase BA Visa used to be unique and very rewarding to quite some consumers. However, with devaluation of BA points and the change in April 2015, this card only make sense for the signup bonus or those who can make use of the TTT and/or the $600 annual awards fee credit.