Chase Avios Cards: 75,000 Bonus Points Offer on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia Visa Cards

Welcome Bonus Details

All three cards are offering identical welcome bonuses:

• Welcome offer: 75,000 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: 80,000 (75,000 bonus + at least 5,000 from minimum spend)

With Avios valued at approximately 1.25 cents each, this welcome bonus is worth around $1,000 in travel value—representing a solid 20% 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 80,000+ Avios from these welcome bonuses:

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 planes. 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:

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:

Choose the Aer Lingus Visa if:

Choose the Iberia Visa if:

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 75,000 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 80,000+ 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