Getting to Know the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is a reliable and robust airline reward card for those who either frequently travel with Aer Lingus, British Airways, or Iberia, or who plan to use their credit card for large spends each month. The card earns 3 Avios rewards miles for every dollar spent with the previously mentioned airlines, and 1 Avios for all other purchases made with the card. New cardholders also have the chance to earn up to 100,000 Avios when they spend $3,000 in the first 90 days (50,000 Avios) and $20,000 in the first year (50,000 additional Avios). The annual fee for the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is $95.

How It Works

Cardholders can expect the following from the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card:

How to Earn Rewards:

• Fly with Aer Lingus and Partners: Travelers earn 3 Avios every dollar spent on Aer Lingus, British Airways, or Iberia ticket purchases when they use their Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card.
• Everyday purchases: Cardholders earn 1 Avios for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
• Other Ways to Earn Avios: Avios members can also earn bonus Avios miles when they make bookings with select Aer Lingus and Avios hotel and rental car partners and use their Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, or when making purchases through the dedicated Avios retail portal.
• Expiration: Miles earned expire after 36 months of inactivity on the Avios account.
• No Cap: There is no cap on the number of miles you can earn.

How to Redeem Miles:

• Travel: Redeeming Avios with Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia is simple. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Cardholders can use their Avios book rewards flights with Avios or Oneworld carriers using Avios to pay for the entire fare or partial fare.
• In-Flight Food Purchases: Avios can be redeemed for in-flight snacks and treats through British and Irish retail giant Marks & Spencer’s.
• Hotels: Avios can also be redeemed for stays with select Aer Lingus hotel partners worldwide.
• Rental Cars: Avios are also applicable to car rentals with Aer Lingus car hire partners.
• Other Ways to Redeem: Avios can be used to purchase merchandise with select Avios retail partners for gift-cards, or as gifts to friends and family.

Today’s Bonus Offer

New account holders earn up to 100,000 bonus Avios in their first year of account membership. Cardholders earn 50,000 Avios when they use their Aer Lingus Visa Signature to make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first three months of opening their account. Cardholders earn an additional 50,000 Avios when they make $20,000 in purchases with their card in a calendar year – a total of 100,000 Avios. To put this impressive reward in context, a business class flight with Aer Lingus or British Airways would set you back 75,000 Avios, or 100,000 for a first-class fare, so the initial reward equals a very nice ticket indeed!

The Plane Facts

Can you expect a smooth flight from Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, or will there be turbulence?

• Annual Fee: The Aer Lingus Visa Card features a $95 annual fee. Considering what is on offer with this card, $95 is a very fair price – especially for those who plan to use their card for some serious monthly spending. For everyone else, however, the $95 fee is only really worthwhile if you frequently travel with either Aer Lingus or are looking to earn Avios to apply to British Airways flights or upgrades.

Airline and Airport Perks:

• Priority Boarding: Cardholders receive priority boarding on all Aer Lingus-operated flights departing from – and returning to – the U.S. from Ireland. This perk is also extended to all other authorized users on an Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card.

Cardholder Protections:

• Baggage Delay Insurance: Visa Signature® provides reimbursement delays to receiving baggage, including compensation for toiletries and clothing that need to be purchased while waiting for lost bags.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Cardholders also receive protection for when their luggage is lost or damaged in transit – including for carry-on bags.
• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account.
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Auto rental collision damage is covered when you pay the total cost of your rental car with the Aer Lingus Visa Signature and waive additional collision protection while at the rental counter.
• Global Assistance: Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Cardholders have 24/7 access to Visa’s dedicated account services, as well as access to Visa Concierge, which provides travel assistance and coordination for any issues that may arise during travel. Customer service is available in different languages.
• Purchase Protection: Cardholders are protected when an eligible purchase break or suffer damage.

Additional Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Complimentary Companion Fare: Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Cardholders receive a complimentary companion pass when they make $30,000 in purchases with their card in a calendar year. Companion flights are valid for 12 months after issuance.
• Contactless Payment Technology: Contactless payment technology allows cardholders to use their Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card to pay for goods and services with a simple tap, making payments quicker.

The Perks That Make the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Worthwhile

What are some of the pros that set this card ahead of the rest?

• Huge Introductory Offer: New members receive up to 100,000 Avios – good for a first-class fare – when they achieve spending requirements in the first 90 days and first year of membership with their Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Priority boarding

Potential Turbulence with the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card:

What are some cons that take the wind from under this card’s wings?

• Limited Airport Perks: The Aer Lingus Visa  offers very few perks beyond what is provided through the initial spending bonuses.
• Avios Expire: Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity on the account, meaning cardholders must continually ensure their account is active.

Thoughts Before Takeoff

The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is very noteworthy for the impressive initial Avios offer it features. New cardholders can earn up to 100,000 Avios when they reach spending requirements in their first year of membership. Account-holders receive 50,000 Avios when they make $3,000 in purchases with their Aer Lingus Visa Signature within the first three months of membership, and an additional 50,000 Avios when they spend $20,000 on total purchases in the first year of their account.

While 100,000 Avios is extremely enticing, however, the spend needed to achieve these goals is quite high – and well out of reach for most of the people who will hold this card. Realistically, with a very liberal use of the Aer Lingus Visa Signature  in the first months of opening an account, a cardholder can likely achieve the 50,000 Avios bonus, which is a good for a big chunk of a business class fare with Aer Lingus or British Airways – which is nothing to scoff at.

The overall Avios-earning potential of the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is potentially fairly strong, with 3 Avios for ticket purchases with Aer Lingus, Iberia, or British Airways, and 1 Avios for all other purchases. Once again, however, this spending is ideally suited for the constant traveler, and not for those looking to earn great rewards for their everyday spending habits.