Earn up to 100,000 bonus Avios with the British Airways Visa Signature card

Some of the offers below are no longer available and may be out of date.

If you are a frequent flyer of British Airways, you might be looking for another unique way to rack up Avios – the airline’s rewards currency. By signing up for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, you can get a quick influx of points, thanks to its generous sign-up bonus.

Right now, new cardholders can earn 50,000 Avios for spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Plus, heavy spenders can be rewarded with an additional 50,000 Avios for spending $20,000 in the first year. While this is a high spend threshold to reach, it brings your potential bonus to up to 100,000 Avios in the first year.

What is the British Airways Visa worth in the first year?

The British Airways Visa does not waive its $95 annual fee in the first year, but it comes with a lucrative rewards rate that makes it easy to offset this cost. Here’s a quick look at the card’s highlights:

British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Why use it? The British Airways Visa Signature card is fantastic for avid travelers, and its varied and generous benefits perfectly mitigate the relatively high annual fee. Read full review	Other things to know: 3 Avios per dollar on British Airways purchases and 1 Avios per dollar on general purchases 50,000 bonus Avios if you spend $3,000 in the first three months and additional 50,000 Avios if you spend $20,000 in first year Earn a Travel Together ticket each year you spend at least $30,000 $95 annual fee Estimated earnings in first year: $940

On top of a generous rewards rate, British Airways Visa cardholders earn a Travel Together ticket any year they spend at least $30,000 on the card. This allows you to bring a companion on a reward flight you book with Avios for just the cost of taxes and fees. While British Airways is known for its high surcharges, this can still save you a lot of money.

Recent changes to the British Airways Visa

In January 2019, the sign-up bonus on the British Airways Visa went through a restructuring – transitioning from a traditional points-based bonus to a higher rewards rate for the first year. In June 2019, the bonus returned to its old tiered structure.

While the British Airways Visa sign-up bonus has changed it’s structure a few times, the value has remained about the same – up to 100,000 Avios.

Who is eligible for the sign-up bonus?

The British Airways Visa is issued by Chase, so it falls under the 5/24 rule. That means that if you have opened five or more credit accounts with any issuer in the past 24 months, you won’t be eligible for the card. Additionally, the card is designed for users with excellent credit (above 740).

Best ways to use 100,000 Avios

Avios can be a relatively valuable rewards currency, but unfortunately there is no cash redemption option. You’ll get the most value out of your Avios by redeeming for a reward flight, but you can also redeem for several other travel purchases.

British Airways Visa redemption options

You can often stretch your Avios even further by opting for the Avios & Money option when redeeming reward flights. Plus, reward flights can be booked with any oneworld alliance airline partner, which fly all over the world.

Should you apply for a British Airways Visa now?

The new British Airways Visa sign-up bonus is particularly rewarding for heavy spenders and can be one of the most lucrative offers available. If you are already a frequent flyer of British Airways, this card can be a great way to get to your next reward flight a bit quicker.