Chase
British Airways Visa Signature® Credit Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $95.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Earn 75,000 Avios |
| Rewards Rate | Earn 1x-3x Avios |
| Regular APR | 19.24%–27.74% variable APR. |
| Network | Visa |
About this card
The British Airways Visa Signature® Credit Card earns a 'Good' overall rating of 3.4 out of 5.0. This card is a highly specialized travel rewards tool, excelling for its specific target audience of frequent British Airways and Oneworld alliance flyers who consistently pay their balance in full. Its strong performance in rewards, fees, and issuer reputation is significantly tempered by a major weakness in its APR. **Strengths:** The card truly shines in its rewards program (rated 4.0) and fee structure (rated 4.1). The generous 75,000 Avios sign-up bonus provides substantial initial value. Earning 3 Avios per dollar on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia flights, and 2 Avios on direct hotel bookings, offers excellent returns for loyalists. A critical enhancement is the new benefit of up to $600 in Reward Flight Statement Credits annually. This directly addresses the long-standing issue of high taxes and surcharges on British Airways award flights, dramatically increasing the net value of Avios redemptions and easily offsetting the $95 annual fee. The absence of foreign transaction fees is a key advantage for an international travel card. Additionally, the Travel Together Ticket, while requiring a high $30,000 annual spend, offers immense value for premium cabin travel. The card also benefits from the excellent reputation of its issuer, Chase (rated 4.3). **Weaknesses:** The most significant detractor is the card's very poor APR rating of 1.5. With a variable regular APR ranging from 19.24% to 27.74% and no introductory APR period, this card is exceptionally expensive for anyone carrying a balance. This high interest rate can quickly negate any value gained from rewards, making it essential for cardholders to pay their statement in full each month. While excellent for its niche, the card lacks the broader flexibility or common travel perks (like free checked bags or general lounge access) found in some other travel cards, making it less appealing for non-BA loyalists. The high spending requirement for the Travel Together Ticket is also a barrier for some. **Conclusion:** For a highly disciplined traveler who frequently flies British Airways or its partners, can maximize the Avios earning and redemption (especially leveraging the $600 statement credits), and always pays their balance in full, this card offers substantial value. However, the exceedingly high APR is a significant financial risk for those who might carry a balance, preventing it from achieving a higher overall rating despite its strong niche benefits. It’s a specialized tool that performs very well for its intended user under specific conditions, but its high cost of borrowing limits its broader appeal. **Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses:** **Strengths:** * Generous sign-up bonus (75,000 Avios) * High rewards rate for British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia flights, and direct hotel bookings * Up to $600 in annual Reward Flight Statement Credits, significantly offsetting taxes/fees on award flights * No foreign transaction fees * Valuable Travel Together Ticket for high spenders * Strong issuer reputation (Chase) * Travel and purchase protection benefits * 10% off British Airways flights **Weaknesses:** * Extremely high and uncompetitive regular APR (19.24%-27.74% variable) * No introductory APR period for purchases or balance transfers * Rewards are highly specific to British Airways and Oneworld partners, lacking general travel flexibility * $95 annual fee (though often offset by benefits) * High spending requirement ($30,000) for the Travel Together Ticket
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate for airline and hotel spending
- No foreign transaction fees
- Valuable travel perks and discounts
- Travel and purchase protection benefits
- Dining/delivery subscription benefit
Things to consider
- Annual fee
- High regular APR
- No intro APR period
- Rewards are specific to British Airways and partner airlines
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Rewards
- Earn 3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia flight purchases.
- Earn 2 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
- Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Other features
- Up to $600 Reward Flight Statement Credits
- Receive statement credits of $100 for Economy and Premium Economy - or $200 for Business and First Class seats - three times per year, up to $600, when you book a Reward Flight travelling on British Airways and pay taxes, fees and carrier charges with the British Airways Visa Signature Credit Card.
- 10% Off on British Airways Flights
- Take 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
- Use your Travel Together Ticket
- Earn a Travel Together Ticket every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways credit card. Valid for two years when you redeem Avios for a flight on British Airways for a companion traveling on the same flight, or use it for a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay when booking a solo reward flight.
- No foreign transaction fees
- You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
- Baggage Delay Insurance Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.
- Purchase Protection Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip.
- Extended Warranty Protection Extends the time period of the manufacturer's U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.
- Contactless - Just Tap to Pay For fast, easy and secure checkout simply tap to pay where you see the Contactless symbol.
- Use Avios to Save You can use your Avios to pay for your taxes, fees, and carrier charges for your Reward Flight when you call the number on the back of your card to book your flight.
- Apply for a card, use it the same day
- Receive instant access to your card by adding it to a digital wallet, like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
- DoorDash Get one-year complimentary DashPass, membership for both DoorDash and Caviar, that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Activate by Dec 31, 2027.
- Plus, DashPass members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec 31, 2027.
- Chase Pay Over Time lets eligible Chase customers break up credit card purchases into budget friendly payments.
- After purchase (formerly My Chase Plan): Pay off an eligible purchase you've already made of $100 or more in smaller, equal monthly payments. No Interest- just a fixed monthly fee with plan durations that range from 3-24 months.
- At checkout: Chase Credit card members may have the option to create a payment plan at checkout on Amazon.com. Orders totaling $50 or more using your eligible Chase credit card at Amazon.com could be eligible for Chase Pay Over Time. You will be able to view Chase Pay Over Time plan options (including the fixed APR and durations) at checkout.
- Keep in mind: Even though you may have an eligible card, access to Chase Pay Over Time is not guaranteed. Your ability to create a Chase Pay Over Time plan is based on a variety of factors, such as your creditworthiness, credit limit and account behavior, and may change from time to time.
- For more information on Chase Pay Over Time features, please visit chase.com/chasepayovertime.
Additional Notes
Travel And Purchase Protection: These benefits are available when you use your card. Restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply. Most benefits are provided by unaffiliated companies who are solely responsible for the administration and claims. There are specific time limits and documentation requirements. For full coverage details, cardmembers can refer to their Guide to Benefits, provided after account opening, or call the number on the back of their card for assistance. Specific limitations apply to New York residents: Lost Luggage Reimbursement – additionally limited to $2,000 per bag and $10,000 for all covered travelers per trip. Purchase Protection – coverage period is 90 days from the date of purchase.