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Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card — Full Review [2024]

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Jarrod West
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Jarrod West

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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
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Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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  • 75,000 Avios

  • $95

  • 20.99% - 27.99% Variable

  • Good to Excellent (670-850)

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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Card Details

Card Snapshot

Welcome Bonus & Info

  • Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
  • Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL.
  • Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
  • Every calendar year you make purchases of $30,000 on your Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, you’ll receive a Commercial Companion Ticket good for 12 months
  • You and any authorized users on your account are eligible for Priority Boarding on Aer Lingus flights departing from and returning to the US from Ireland, subject to availability.
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
  • Simply tap to pay with your contactless Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It’s fast, easy and secure!
  • Member FDIC
Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 3x Avios on Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia purchases
  • 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
  • Priority boarding
  • Travel protections
  • Annual Companion Certificate (with $30,000 in annual card spend)
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Doesn’t offer many bonus categories
  • Does not earn transferable rewards

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Great Card If

  • You fly with Aer Lingus and its partners frequently.
  • You want to earn the Aer Lingus companion certificate.

Don’t Get If

  • You rarely ever fly with Aer Lingus and its partners.
  • You want a card that earns transferable rewards.

Aer Lingus Card — Is It Worth It?

If you regularly fly to Ireland to visit friends and family or are a fan of its Avios rewards currency, then the Aer Lingus card might be a good addition to your wallet.

With the card, you earn more Avios on all your flights and daily purchases, receive perks like priority boarding, get travel protections like baggage delay insurance, and can spend your way toward the Aer Lingus companion certificate. The card also does not charge you foreign transaction fees.

Aer Lingus Card Top Benefits

Companion Certificate

With your Aer Lingus card, if you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year, you receive an economy companion ticket good for 12 months.

The companion ticket is in the form of a voucher that can be redeemed for an economy companion ticket with a paid economy flight. This effectively works as a ticket that’s buy one, get one for you and a traveling companion that you have a full year from the issue date to use. Plus, you earn at least 30,000 Avios as well from the card spend needed to earn the certificate.

Priority Boarding

By holding the Aer Lingus card, you and any authorized users on your card receive priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights departing from and returning to the U.S. from Ireland. This allows you to hop on the plane early and get comfortable as you head off on your next vacation or return home.

Aer Lingus Card Protections

  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
  • Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days
  • Extended Warranty Protection: Extends the manufacturer’s warranty of items purchased with the card by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less
  • Purchase Protection: Covers your new purchases made with your card for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Aer Lingus Avios

To earn as many Avios as possible, use your Aer Lingus card for as many purchases as you can, especially those that fall within its bonus categories of Aer Lingus flights and Aer Lingus partner flights, along with hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.

When it comes to redeeming your Avios, you’re not limited to redeeming through Aer Lingus. You can also move points between Avios partners, including British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar, which allows you to use your Avios to fly on a variety of Oneworld partners. This leaves you with a long list of the best ways to redeem Avios.

Alternative Cards to the Aer Lingus Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

BEST BEGINNER CARD
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
$1,200
$95
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
Cons
  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

For those who prefer a card that earns transferable rewards, giving them access to a wide list of transfer partners with which to redeem their points, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a fantastic option.

It earns you 5x points on purchases made through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1x points on purchases outside of these categories. Plus, you earn 10% anniversary bonus points based on your card spend from the previous year.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card also offers great travel protections, a $50 annual hotel credit, a 25% bonus when redeeming your points through Chase Travel, and access to Chase transfer partners, including Aer Lingus.

American Express® Green Card

American Express® Green Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 points
$880
$150
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The American Express® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
  • Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR® Plus membership with the Card.
  • Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.
Cons
  • $150 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
  • Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
  • $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
  • $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
  • Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
  • Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
  • $150 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Green card is another great all-around travel rewards card with access to transfer partners, including Aer Lingus.

Cardholders earn 3x points on travel (including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more), transit (including ride-share, parking, buses, trains, and more), and dining at restaurants worldwide.

Beyond earning points, the card offers benefits like an annual CLEAR Plus membership, a $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit, travel protections, purchase protections, and access to Amex Offers to earn additional points or cash-back with popular merchants.

The information regarding the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aer Lingus card worth it?

If you simply want to earn as many Aer Lingus Avios as possible, you might be better off using a card that offers more bonus categories and is a transfer partner of Aer Lingus, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Green card.

On the other hand, if you fly with Aer Lingus very often, and want to spend your way to the annual companion certificate, then the Aer Lingus card could be worth it for you.

Does Aer Lingus have partners?

Yes, Aer Lingus partners and shares a loyalty program with British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways, so you can move your Avios between each of these airlines.

Does the Aer Lingus card have annual annual fee?

Yes, the Aer Lingus card has a $95 annual fee.

Can you have multiple Avios credit cards?

Yes, there is no rule preventing you from holding multiple Avios earning credit cards, like the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, in addition to the Aer Lingus card.

Jarrod West's image

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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