Aer Lingus Visa Signature bank card evaluation: Full particulars

Aer Lingus Visa Signature overview

The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card presents a compelling welcome supply and strong rewards for frequent transatlantic vacationers, notably these loyal to Aer Lingus, Iberia and British Airways flights. Whereas the cardboard lacks among the premium airline-specific perks you would possibly anticipate, it may be a priceless instrument for Avios collectors who regularly fly between the U.S. and Europe. Nonetheless, most informal vacationers can be higher off with a card that earns a transferable foreign money. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card Ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

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With a manageable $95 annual charge, the cardboard features a few worthwhile journey advantages, however its ongoing rewards construction is comparatively modest in comparison with rivals.

One standout characteristic is the beneficiant welcome bonus, which may help you rapidly construct a wholesome stability of Avois. We’ll dive into the small print concerning the bonus and how one can earn it beneath, however that is still one of many largest promoting factors for the cardboard general.

We advocate candidates have a credit score rating of at the very least 670 or larger to extend their possibilities of approval.

Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what this card has to supply.

The data for the Aer Lingus Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: British Airways Government Membership: Information to Avios, elite standing and switch companions

Aer Lingus Visa execs and cons

 Aer Lingus Visa welcome supply

When evaluating a card, you must contemplate its welcome supply. The Aer Lingus Visa at present presents 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening.

These 85,000 Avios are value $1,190, based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations.

This bonus is the cardboard’s largest promoting level general. Since you should use Avios throughout Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways interchangeably, incomes a bonus in Avios presents slightly extra flexibility in incomes and burning rewards in comparison with different airline loyalty packages.

Keep in mind that since this can be a Chase card, it does adhere to the Chase 5/24 rule. For those who’ve opened 5 or extra accounts throughout issuers prior to now 24 months, you will probably be denied for this card.

Associated: Airways you’ll be able to e book utilizing Avios: maximize your factors

Aer Lingus Visa advantages

As anticipated for a mid-tier cobranded airline card, the Aer Lingus Visa presents some perks although they really feel minimal in comparison with different playing cards of comparable caliber. With it, you will get:

• Economic system Companion Ticket: Get an Economic system Companion Ticket each calendar yr that you just spend at the very least $30,000 in your card. This lets you add a companion to a paid financial system flight at no further value to you, as long as you e book by emailing Aer Lingus straight.
• Precedence boarding: Major cardholders and approved customers are eligible for precedence boarding on any Aer Lingus flight to and from the U.S. and Eire or the U.Ok.
• No overseas transaction charges: You will not be charged further charges when utilizing your card overseas.
• Visa Signature advantages: As a Visa Signature card, you will get further advantages like baggage safety, buy safety, rental automobile insurance coverage and entry to the Visa Signature Luxurious Lodge Assortment.

Whereas these perks are fantastic, the cardboard falls quick compared to different airline playing cards — particularly in relation to inflight reductions or complimentary checked luggage, that are noticeably absent.

When evaluating the Aer Lingus Visa to the British Airways Visa Signature® Card (see charges and costs), the cardboard actually falls quick when it comes to advantages.

One of many best perks of the British Airways Visa card is the power to save lots of 10% off British Airways flights and have entry to the dear Journey Collectively Ticket.

This perk is earned after spending at the very least $30,000 in a calendar yr and lets you carry a companion on an Avois award reserving — with out requiring further Avios — even in top notch. Alternatively, solo vacationers can use the ticket to chop the Avios value of a reward redemption in half.

When stacked up in opposition to these choices, the Aer Lingus Visa would not carry the identical degree of long-term worth for loyal flyers.

Associated: British Airways Visa Signature bank card evaluation

Incomes Avios on the Aer Lingus Visa

With the Aer Lingus Visa, you will earn:

• 3 Avios per greenback spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Stage
• 2 Avios per greenback spent on lodge lodging when bought straight with the lodge
• 1 Avios per greenback spent on all different purchases

For flights, that is not a foul return for a cobranded airline card. Nonetheless, you will get a greater return on spending in the event you use a premium journey card like The Platinum Card® from American Categorical or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) as an alternative.

Associated: The perfect journey bank cards so as to add to your pockets

Redeeming Avios on the Aer Lingus Visa

The Avios you earn with the Aer Lingus Visa are a priceless journey foreign money that you would be able to redeem for Aer Lingus or associate flights or switch to different Avios-earning airways to redeem there.

However for these seeking to capitalize on the Aer Lingus route community, there are some strategic causes for reserving on Aer Lingus. One of many aggressive benefits is that it expenses decrease taxes and costs — which may prevent a whole lot of {dollars} on award flights.

Moreover, Aer Lingus has a strong North American route community and permits U.S. vacationers flying out of Dublin or Shannon to clear U.S. immigration in Eire relatively than ready till they land within the U.S.

Whether or not you are reserving Avios award flights on Aer Lingus, British Airways or one other associate airline, Avios offers you loads of redemption choices, like flights between the US and Eire for 13,000 Avios every manner.

Associated: redeem Avios for home and worldwide award flights

Transferring Avios on the Aer Lingus Visa

You possibly can freely switch Avios throughout Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways. Because the latter 4 are a part of the Oneworld alliance, this opens up many doorways for redemption choices throughout airways, together with flying Qatar Airways‘ famed Qsuite.

You may additionally take a web page from TPG senior author Ben Smithson. He often makes use of Avios to e book one-way, short-haul flights from London to Europe for simply 4,750 British Airways Avios every manner, plus an affordable $22 in charges, taxes and surcharges.

Which playing cards compete with the Aer Lingus Visa?

You possibly can earn Avios on Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia cobranded bank cards. Plus, Aer Lingus is without doubt one of the Chase Final Rewards switch companions, so chances are you’ll be higher off getting a card that earns that foreign money and transferring your factors over as wanted.

• For those who favor a extra versatile foreign money and are underneath the 5/24 rule: The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) is a strong card possibility that earns Final Rewards factors, which you’ll be able to switch to Aer Lingus or any of its different lodge and airline companions. With it, you will earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, 2 factors per greenback spent on journey and 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Most popular.
• For those who favor a versatile foreign money and are over the 5/24 rule: The American Categorical® Gold Card earns Membership Rewards factors. With it, you will obtain 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback) and at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback), 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight from the airline or amextravel.com, 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges and different eligible purchases booked by way of amextravel.com and 1 level per greenback spent on all the things else. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Gold.
• For those who favor one other Avios-earning airline: The Iberia Visa Signature® Card is an airline card that earns Avios. It earns 3 factors per greenback spent on Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Stage. This card has helpful advantages equivalent to 10% low cost whenever you e book flights by way of a particular hyperlink and a $1,000 low cost voucher every year after you spend $30,000. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Iberia Visa.

For added choices, take a look at our finest airline playing cards.

The data for the Iberia Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: Every part to learn about Chase switch companions

Is the Aer Lingus Visa value it?

If you wish to earn Avios, the Aer Lingus Visa could also be value including to your pockets. With a low annual charge, priceless welcome bonus and minimal advantages like precedence boarding and the power to earn a companion ticket, this card is respectable for Aer Lingus followers. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll be higher off making use of for the British Airways Visa with the intention to save 10% on British Airways flights and earn a way more helpful companion certificates.

Associated: The perfect Avios-earning bank cards: Which is the one for you?

Backside line

If Aer Lingus is your go-to airline for journey between the U.S. and Europe, this card is usually a sensible strategy to earn Avios — particularly with the beneficiant welcome supply — and faucet into a couple of priceless perks. Nonetheless, if this is not your main airline, you will need to earn Avios with a unique card.

Associated: The perfect methods to make use of Avios with British Airways