Review: Chase British Airways Card

The Chase British Airways Card is a great airline card for British Airways loyalists. This is especially true because British Airways is having several promotions through the card’s sign-up bonus and transfer bonuses. The British Airways Card has an annual fee of $95 (NOT waived the first year). However, its first-year promotion and perks should be enough to justify the fee.

Earning

Chase and British Airways have recently improved the card’s earning structure. It earns 3x Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia Airlines purchases. Furthermore, it earns 2x Avios for hotel purchases (booked directly with the hotel) and just one for non-bonus spend.

However, Chase and British Airways are having a special promotion in lieu of a sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn 4x Avios for the first year on the first $30,000 in purchases. That means you can earn up to 120,000 Avios in the first year. Thereafter, the rate becomes one Avios per dollar. This promotion is like the recent 3x Chase Freedom Unlimited promotion. It’s also like the Discover It’s first-year Cashback Match in that how many points you earn solely depends on how much you spend.

Burning

British Airways is an interesting airline for redemptions. Surprisingly, British Airways’ own flights are not the best redemption for their points. This is because the airline imposes hefty taxes for fuel surcharges.

Long-Haul Flights: Transfer Partners

The best way to redeem British Airways Avios for long-haul flights is to transfer to airline partners. Long-haul flights are those whose distance is greater than 1,151 miles.

British Airways has the following partners:

• Aer Lingus
• Alaska Airlines
• Air Italy
• American Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Fiji Airways
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• LATAM
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• S7 Airlines
• Sri Lankan Airlines
• TAM Airlines
• Vueling

Your mileage may vary with transferring points to partners. However, most partners will charge fewer Avios / partner miles than British Airways.

Short-Haul Flights: British Airways

British Airways’ own short-haul flights are a nice way to redeem points without draining your account. Short-haul flights are those between 501 and 1,151 miles long. The airline offers coach flights of this distance range for 7,500 Avios. They also offer business class flights of this distance range for 15,000 Avios.

Perks

The British Airways Card is a nice one for perks. You should derive positive expected value if you use all of them.

Statement Credit for Flight Taxes and Fees

The British Airways card offers up to $600 in statement credits each year for flight taxes and fees. These credits are divided into three per year up to $200 each. Such division is similar to how American Express divides the Gold and Platinum Card’s credits. But the credits are worth $200 each and have no restrictions in the way of time. That makes them more valuable than the American Express credits.

10% Discount on British Airways Flights

You will save 10% on all British Airways airfare if you book a flight before March 31, 2020. This is another long-running promotion from the airline. All you have to do is book using your British Airways card.

Click here to save today!

Executive Club Membership

You will be given membership to the British Airways Executive Club upon approval of your card. However, Avios earned do not count towards earning or retaining status. Nothing will happen if you’re an Executive Club member before approval since you’re already in the club.

Travel Together Ticket

This perk is British Airways’ version of the Southwest Companion Pass. You will receive one Travel Together Ticket after spending $30,000 on the card. This is the same amount as the maximum sign-up bonus promo. Therefore, you will receive 120,000 Avios and a Travel Together Ticket if you spend $30,000 in the first year.

Travel Together Tickets expire after two years of issuance.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

You will save 3% on all purchases made outside of the United States with the card. This is huge, especially if you travel to the airline’s home country of the United Kingdom (or anywhere else internationally).

Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance

If you need to cancel your trip because of an unexpected event, this benefit gives you up to $10,000 per trip for non-refundable expenses. Plane tickets, hotel rooms, and tours are included.

Trip Delay Insurance

This benefit covers you up to $500 per ticket if your plane, train, or other common carrier is delayed at least 12 hours. It also kicks in if you require an overnight stay as a result of a delay. The $500 helps cover unreimbursed expenses such as meals and lodging.

Baggage Delay Insurance / Lost Luggage Insurance

This benefit gives you $100 per day up to 5 days if your luggage is lost or delayed. If your luggage is delayed for more than 6 hours, you can redeem for toiletries, clothing, and other essentials.

You’re also covered if you lose your luggage. Chase will credit you up to $3,000 per passenger if you lose your luggage.

Rules & Regulations

This card is subject to the Chase 5/24 Rule. The 5/24 rule states that you will not be approved for any UR-earning card if you were approved for five or more new accounts in the last 24 months. All other Chase cards fall under this rule as well.

Similar Cards

Here are some alternatives if the British Airways Card is not right for you.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase’s mid-tier travel card is a solid alternative to the British Airways Card. Both cards have $95 annual fees (NOT waived the first year), but the former earns transferrable Ultimate Rewards (UR) points. UR points can be transferred to 12 different partners, including British Airways.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2x URs on Travel and Dining and only one on non-bonus spend. It also has a sign-up bonus worth 80,000 points. This bonus can be earned after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

British Airways loyalists would be better off with the co-branded card. However, travelers who aren’t loyal to any one airline would be better off with the Sapphire Preferred.

American Express Gold Card

Amex’s golden charge card is another great alternative. This card has a higher $250 annual fee (NOT waived the first year). However, it comes with $120 in dining credits and $100 in airline incidental credits that help to justify the fee.

The American Express Gold Card earns 4x Membership Rewards (MR) points on Groceries and Dining. It also comes with a sign-up bonus worth 35,000 points. This bonus can be earned by spending $2,000 in the first three months.

Like UR points, MR points can also be transferred. American Express’ partners are more numerous than Chase’s. And they include British Airways and their transfer bonuses.

Final Draw

The Chase British Airways Card is a great one for British Airways and OneWorld alliance airline loyalists. The trick with British Airways is to know how and when to redeem Avios. Just remember that longer flights are cheaper with transfer partners and shorter flights are not.

British Airways is having tons of promotions from sign-up bonuses to transfer bonuses to flight discounts. You can take advantage of these promotions with the British Airways Card from Chase today!

Apply Today: Chase British Airways Card