Link: British Airways Visa Signature Card 100,000 Avios Offer (Offer Expired)
The British Airways 100,000 sign-up bonus is back and like an annoying US Airways flight attendant, the blogosphere is avariciously hawking the card, as I shamelessly do here, while heatedly debating whether this offer is worthwhile.
Here’s the quick summary: it’s still a good offer, but if I had to choose one, I’d rather sign-up for the Chase Sapphire preferred card.
Unlike the last rendition of the 100,000 offer, you don’t get the 100,000 Avios after putting $2,500 on the card. Instead, you get 50,000 points after your first purchase, 25,000 more after spending $10,000 on the card, and an additional 25,000 after spending $10,000 more. The $20,000 in additional spend must be within on year. Since BA gives you 1.25 Avios/dollar, you really earn 120,000 Avios after $20,000 in spend.
The real deal, if you are so inclined, is to put $30,000 in spending on your BA card. That will net you a free British Airways companion voucher, which essentially halves the number of miles needed on an all-BA award trip for two. Save those miles and you can use them to get a buy one, get one free award from the USA to South Africa or East Asia via London (with a stopover in London if you so desire). You do pay for taxes and fuel surcharges on the free companion ticket, but I think $1500 is a small price to pay for four longhaul flights in first class. The companion vouchers are good for a couple years, so if you are saving for an even bigger trip, say BA from Los Angeles to London to Singapore to Sydney and back, you don’t have to use your companion voucher right away.
Here’s a summary of the offer details:
- Up to 100,000 Avios awarded (50,000 after your first purchase)
- $95 annual fee, NOT waived the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1.25 Avios earned per dollar spent
- 2.5 Avios earned per dollar spent on British Airways
- “Travel Together” (free companion) ticket annually if you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year
- Smart chip technology
- Offer limited to first-time British Airways cardholders only
Here’s the thing, this card is a great deal if you run a business like mine where you rack up thousands of dollars each month in business expenses, but for the average household, this card may not be the best deal.
I encourage you to sign up for both if your credit will bear it, but if you have to choose one or the other, I earnestly believe the 40,000 mile offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is better.
If you specifically want to fly on BA or OneWorld, you are best sticking to the BA card since you get 1.25 rather than 1 mile per dollar, but the beauty of the Sapphire Preferred card is that you can transfer your points to a number of Ultimate Reward partners, including United Airlines and Hyatt.
Say you are going to Europe and find British Airways space on the outbound but nothing on the inbound. Chances are there is Star Alliance space and United and British Airways both allow one-way awards (BA charges by segment for their flights). With Ultimate Rewards points, you have that flexibility.
So the 100,000 mile sign-up bonus from British Airways is a good one, especially if you can put $30,000 in spending on the card and travel in premium cabins (because the fuel surcharge doesn’t make sense for economy class redemptions). But the Chase Sapphire Preferred card makes even more sense. Get both if you can, but the Sapphire first.
I was contemplating the BA offer… but after reading your commentary and recommendation, I decided to sign up for the Chase Saphire card. Thanks for the post, it was useful in helping me make my decision.
2 questions:
1) I already have the Chase Sapphire (not Preferred). Can I still apply and get the Chase Sapphire Preferred and get a bonus?
2) I am getting a targeted offer for the United Chase card for 60k points. If you had to get 1 Chase card, would you get the United card for 60k poins or the BA card with the current offer?
Thanks.
@Max: Glad to help.
@J-M: You will be able to get the additional Sapphire card with bonus if you signed up under the old non-Preferred offer.
In order to answer whether to take the 60K UA offer or 100K BA offer, I need to know what your travel patterns are and how you intend to use the miles. My instinct is to take the United card-60K UA points is almost enough for a one-way first class trip to Asia via Europe.
But are you the type who redeems miles for first class travel? If so, BA is going to be your better point. Award availability on Cathay Pacific, JAL, BA, and even non-TransPac Qantas flights is great. Since TK has abandoned first class and Lufthansa and Swiss don’t release it anymore until just before departure, Avios are great for first class travel. Also keep in mind that through 31 May 2012, AMEX is offering a 50% transfer bonus to BA.
Another question is South America. TAM has poor award availability on Star Alliance while LAN has great availability and NO fuel surcharge in OneWorld, making it a great use of BA points.
Bottom line, get all three cards if you can, but think first about how you envision redeeming these miles, then make your decision based on that.
It certainly seemed like a “boarding area” corporate initiative yesterday as 1/2 the BA hosted blogs posted about the BA card which was basically a series of commercials for the card. Felt very orchestrated and not at all genuine when everyone on the same day touts it.
first honest post on the BA card i’ve seen. hats off, seriously. totally appreciate the candor
While BA’s loyalty program offered some good redemptions last year, the switch to Avios has really devalued the program and inflated the cost of awards. If one is loyal to BA’s program anf lfies them often, then the card might make sense, but I think the Chase Sapphire offers more flexibility and better redemptions with United, Hyatt, and others.