Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Review

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Aer Lingus is an international airline that has partnered with Chase to offer a Visa credit card.

The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® card comes with many travel-related benefits, so consider applying if you’ve been fantasizing about that dream vacation. Does anyone care for a Guinness?

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Credit Card Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Generous welcome offers
• No foreign transaction fees
• Many travel-related benefits

Cons:

• Annual fee
• High spending requirement for a companion ticket
• Priority boarding limited

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Review

• Annual Fee: $95
• Regular APR: 15.99% to 22.99% variable
• Rewards: 3x points on flights with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL; 2x points on hotel accommodations; 1x points on other purchases
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Sign-Up Bonus: 100,000 Bonus Avios
• Category:Travel

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Rewards

Earning Rewards

The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card earns rewards called Avios, an airline currency used by a huge host of international airlines like British Airways and Qantas, and national airlines like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

In addition to the welcome offer, the Aer Lingus Visa card gives out extra Avios points during your first year of membership as such:

• 5x Avios points on Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL airline purchases. This is an extra 2x on top of the usual 3x points schedule. Reservations must be made directly with the airlines.
• 3x Avios points on hotel purchases. This is an extra 1x on top of the normal 2x offered. Accommodations must be booked directly with the hotels.

Redeeming Rewards

Avios rewards can be redeemed for full flights or partial payments for flights with a wide selection of airline partners.

Additionally, you can use Avios points for upgrades to enhance your travel experience. First-class, anyone? You can also use your points to book with over 100,000 hotel chains and pay for the rental car to get there.

Keep in mind, you do have to maintain activity with your Aer Lingus AerClub membership for 36 consecutive months, or your points will expire.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Features and Benefits

Generous 100,000 Bonus Avios Welcome Offer

After spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening, you will receive 100,000 bonus Avios.

This offer is not redeemable by current cardmembers or previous cardmembers who have already capitalized on the bonus within the last 24 months.

Annual Companion Ticket

Cardmembers must spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year to receive a free yearly companion ticket.

The account holder must travel both outbound and inbound with their companion, and the voucher is worth an economy seat, good for 12 months.

Priority Boarding

Primary cardholders and authorized users enjoy priority boarding status on Aer Lingus flights that are departing from the United States and returning to the United States from Ireland.

Wide Selection of Aer Lingus Partners

Avios points are a very useful reward currency for miles enthusiasts. As part of the Oneworld Alliance, Aer Lingus Visa Signature® has a wide selection of partners you’ll be able to redeem Avios points with both nationally and abroad.

• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• S7 Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair

Travel Protections

Your new Aer Lingus Visa Signature® credit card gives you multiple travel and purchase coverage benefits, all of which are common to see in Visa Signature cards.

• Baggage Delay Insurance – Compensates you for essential purchases like clothing and toiletries if your baggage is delayed by over six hours. Good for up to $100 for three days.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement – If your checked or carry-on luggage is damaged or lost by the airline, you and/or an immediate family member are covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Purchase Protection – Covers new purchases for 120 days against theft or damage. Good for $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Extended Warranty Protection – Lengthens manufacturer’s warranties by one year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

How Does Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Credit Card Compare to Other Cards?

#1. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card vs. Citi Premier® Card

The Citi Premier® Card also has a generous welcome offer of bonus points, just not quite as much as the Aer Lingus card.

You’ll get 80,000 bonus points once you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. One major downside of the Citi Premier® Card is its lack of travel and purchase protection benefits, and it also doesn’t partner with as many airlines.

Neither card offers a first-year annual fee waiver or an introductory APR deal. However, the Citi Premier® Card allows more flexibility in redeeming rewards that don’t expire.

#2. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

If you spend $3,000 in the first three months of account opening, you’ll receive 60,000 bonus miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

This card earns 2x miles on every purchase and is more flexible in redemption options than its Aer Lingus counterpart.

Both cards have a $95 annual fee, but only Capital One gives credit for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fees. Finally, rewards don’t expire with Capital One, unlike with Aer Lingus.

#3. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card vs. World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card and the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® has a few features like the annual fee, variable APR, and travel and purchase coverage.

They differ in the welcome bonus offered (Hyatt significantly less) and the rate at which cardmembers can earn rewards (Hyatt significantly more).

The World of Hyatt card makes sense for those who frequently stay at Hyatt hotels as there are multiple ways to earn credits for free nights.

#4. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card vs. Platinum Card® from American Express

The American Express Platinum Card matches the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® in welcome rewards—100,000 bonus points. You just have to spend $6,000 in the first six months of membership. New cardmembers can also earn 10x the points on eligible restaurant visits.

The many benefits of this AMX card come with a hefty annual fee of $695, but their value all surpasses this dollar figure. Here are just a few of the great AMX perks:

• Marriot Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit
• Monthly Uber cash
• Hotel credit

Frequently Asked Questions

What Credit Score Do You Need for Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card?

Good to Excellent, 690 – 850

Is the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Worth It?

Avios points are remarkably useful for travelers, especially those touring internationally. This card is worth considering if you have no problems spending the required $30,000 annually to capitalize on the associated parks.

Does Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Have an Annual Fee?

$95

Bottom Line: Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card Review

With the myriad of ways you can spend Avios points, a credit card that earns them is worthy of consideration, especially if you fly international often.

If you happen to travel to Ireland regularly or even just once a year, you need to get this Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card. But if your travels are kept stateside, a more general travel rewards credit card will likely be a better fit.