Chase Avios Cards: 85,000 Bonus Points Offer on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia Visa Cards

Offers Chase Avios Cards: 85,000 Bonus Points Offer on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia Visa Cards

To the point Chase offers 85,000 Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia cards after $5,000 spend in 3 months. Compare benefits and maximize value with partner airlines.

Chase has launched elevated welcome offers across its trio of Avios-earning credit cards. The British Airways Visa Signature^® Card, Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card, and Iberia Visa Signature^® Card are now offering new cardholders the opportunity to earn 85,000 Avios after meeting minimum spend requirements.

This represents a significant opportunity to quickly accumulate a substantial balance of Avios, which can be used across multiple airlines, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, and other oneworld alliance partners. Let’s examine what these offers entail and which card might be the best fit for your travel needs.

Welcome Bonus Details

All three cards are offering identical welcome bonuses:

Welcome offer: 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee: $95 (not waived the first year)
Minimum total Avios earned: 90,000 (85,000 bonus + at least 5,000 from minimum spend)

With Avios valued at approximately 1.25 cents each, this welcome bonus is worth around $1,125 in travel value—representing a solid 22.5% return on your initial $5,000 spending requirement.

Comparing the Three Avios Cards

While all three cards earn the same Avios currency (which can be freely transferred between programs at a 1:1 ratio), each offers unique benefits tailored to its associated airline. Here’s how they compare:

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

Earning structure:
- 3x Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qatar, and LEVEL purchases
- 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly
- 1x Avios on all other purchases
Key benefits:
- 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the US
- Up to $600 in award flight statement credits annually ($200 per use for business/first class, $100 per use for economy/premium economy, max 3 uses)
- Travel Together Ticket after spending $30,000 in a calendar year (companion flies free on award tickets, just pay taxes and fees)
Travel protections: Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase protection, extended warranty

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

Earning structure:
- 3x Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qatar, and LEVEL purchases
- 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly
- 1x Avios on all other purchases
Key benefits:
- Priority boarding for you and authorized users on Aer Lingus flights between the US and Ireland
- Companion ticket for economy travel after spending $30,000 in a calendar year
Travel protections: Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase protection, extended warranty

Iberia Visa Signature® Card

Earning structure:
- 3x Avios on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qatar, and LEVEL purchases
- 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly
- 1x Avios on all other purchases
Key benefits:
- 10% discount on round-trip Iberia flights
- $1,000 airfare discount voucher after spending $30,000 in a calendar year
Travel protections: Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase protection, extended warranty

Maximizing Avios Value

Avios can provide excellent value when used strategically. Here are some of the best ways to redeem your 90,000+ Avios from these welcome bonuses:

Short-haul flights: Avios shine on shorter routes, with flights under 650 miles starting at just 6,000 Avios one-way in economy
US to Europe sweet spots: Flights from the East Coast to Ireland or Spain can be booked for as low as 13,000 Avios one-way in economy during off-peak dates
Premium cabin travel: Business class to Spain for as low as 40,500 Avios one-way during off-peak dates
Partner redemptions: Qatar Airways Qsuites (one of the world’s best business class products) can be booked for as low as 70,000 Avios one-way
Domestic US flights: Book American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights within the US, often at better rates than using AA miles

The flexibility to transfer Avios between British Airways Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Iberia Plus, and Aer Lingus AerClub at a 1:1 ratio provides valuable opportunities to leverage the sweet spots in each program.

Important Considerations

British Airways Fuel Surcharges

One significant drawback to be aware of is that British Airways imposes substantial carrier surcharges on many award tickets, particularly for long-haul flights on its own metal. These can sometimes exceed $500 for a one-way business class ticket between the US and Europe.

The British Airways Visa partially addresses this issue by offering up to $600 in statement credits annually toward these charges ($100-$200 per use, up to three uses per year). However, these credits only apply to transatlantic flights on British Airways aircraft departing from the US.

To avoid high surcharges, consider these strategies:

Book partner airlines like American, Alaska, Aer Lingus, or Iberia, which have lower or no fuel surcharges
Transfer your Avios to Iberia Plus for significantly lower surcharges on transatlantic flights
Use the British Airways card’s statement credits to offset some of the fees

Avios Expiration Policy

Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity in your account. Activity includes earning, redeeming, transferring, or purchasing Avios. Simply using your card once every three years will keep your Avios active.

Chase Application Rules

These cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, meaning you’ll likely be denied if you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards (across all issuers) in the past 24 months. Additionally, you’re only eligible for the welcome bonus if you don’t currently have the specific card and haven’t received a bonus on that card in the past 24 months.

Which Avios Card Should You Choose?

Since all three cards earn the same Avios currency (which can be freely transferred between programs), your decision should be based primarily on which card’s unique benefits align best with your travel patterns:

Choose the British Airways Visa if:

You frequently fly British Airways transatlantic routes
You can spend $30,000 annually to earn the Travel Together Ticket
You value the statement credits to offset award surcharges

Choose the Aer Lingus Visa if:

You regularly fly between the US and Ireland
You value priority boarding on these routes

Choose the Iberia Visa if:

You frequently fly Iberia between the US and Spain
You can spend $30,000 annually to earn the $1,000 discount voucher

For most US-based travelers who don’t have strong loyalty to any specific IAG airline, the British Airways Visa typically offers the most comprehensive benefits, particularly with its award fee statement credits and potentially valuable Travel Together Ticket.

Bottom Line

The current 85,000 Avios welcome offers on Chase’s three Avios-earning credit cards represent an excellent opportunity to quickly accumulate a substantial balance of this flexible airline currency. With a reasonable $5,000 spending requirement and modest $95 annual fee, these offers provide strong value for travelers interested in leveraging Avios for flights on British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, and other oneworld alliance partners.

While British Airways’ notorious fuel surcharges can diminish the value of some redemptions, strategic use of partner airlines and the British Airways card’s statement credits can help mitigate this drawback. For travelers who can meet the $30,000 annual spending threshold, the companion benefits on each card can provide exceptional value that far outweighs the annual fee.

If you’re considering applying for one of these cards, be sure to have a plan for meeting the minimum spending requirement and a strategy for using your Avios effectively. With careful planning, the 90,000+ Avios you’ll earn from these welcome offers can fund several short-haul trips or a premium cabin experience that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus programs?

Yes, you can freely transfer Avios between British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 ratio. These transfers are typically instantaneous. However, there are a few requirements: your account information (name, email, etc.) must match exactly across programs, and for transfers to Iberia, both accounts must have been open for at least 90 days and have had some activity.

How do the companion tickets work on these cards?

Each card offers a different companion benefit after spending $30,000 in a calendar year:

• British Airways Travel Together Ticket: Allows you to bring a companion on a British Airways award ticket for just the taxes and fees (no additional Avios required). This is valid for any cabin, including first class, making it potentially the most valuable of the three companion benefits.

• Aer Lingus Companion Ticket: Provides a companion economy ticket when traveling from the US to Ireland.

• Iberia $1,000 Discount Voucher: Offers a $1,000 discount on Iberia flights rather than a traditional companion ticket.

How can I avoid British Airways’ high fuel surcharges?

There are several strategies to minimize exposure to British Airways’ high fuel surcharges:

1. Book partner airlines like American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or Aer Lingus, which have lower or no fuel surcharges
2. Transfer your Avios to Iberia Plus, which charges significantly lower surcharges on transatlantic flights
3. Use the British Airways Visa’s statement credits (up to $600 annually) to offset some of the fees
4. Focus on short-haul redemptions, which typically have minimal fees
5. Look for routes and regions with lower taxes and fees, such as flights within North America or between the US and South America

If I already have one of these cards, can I apply for another and still get the bonus?

Yes, these are considered separate products by Chase, so you can hold more than one of these Avios-earning cards simultaneously and earn the welcome bonus on each, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. You’re eligible for the bonus on each specific card if you don’t currently have that particular card and haven’t received a bonus on that specific card in the past 24 months. For example, if you already have the British Airways Visa, you could still apply for and receive the welcome bonus on the Iberia or Aer Lingus Visa.

What are some of the best ways to use 90,000 Avios?

With 90,000 Avios, you have numerous valuable redemption options:

• 15 one-way economy flights under 650 miles at 6,000 Avios each
• 7 one-way economy flights from East Coast to Ireland/Spain at 13,000 Avios each (off-peak)
• 2 round-trip business class flights from East Coast to Spain at 42,500 Avios each way (off-peak)
• 1 one-way business class flight from the US to Middle East in Qatar Qsuites (70,000-75,000 Avios)
• 3 round-trip domestic transcontinental business class flights within the US on American Airlines
• Multiple family economy tickets for domestic or short international trips

How long will these elevated 85,000 Avios offers be available?

Chase and the airlines haven’t announced an end date for these elevated offers. Historically, similar promotions have lasted anywhere from a few weeks to several months. If you’re interested in one of these cards, it’s generally best not to delay your application, as limited-time offers can end without notice. Previous offers on these cards have typically ranged from 50,000-75,000 Avios, making the current 85,000 Avios offers particularly attractive.

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.

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