We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
Branded and Partnered Credit Cards
The most efficient way for someone to earn Iberia Avios is through credit card spending with transferable points.
Iberia refers to its airline miles as Avios, so when you see Avios referenced through this post, just know that Avios is the airline currency Iberia uses.
Iberia does have an appealing credit card that offers you the ability to earn 3 Avios on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, and Aer Lingus and to earn 1 Avios on all other purchases. However, the earn rates from Amex, Chase, and Marriott will yield a better return over the long run.
Iberia Visa Signature® Credit Card
Chase is the co-branded partner with Iberia on its Iberia Visa Signature® card. This partnership really packs a punch.
The Iberia Visa Signature® card earns 3 Avios points for every $1 spent on Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL purchases. For all other purchases, the card earns 1 Avios point for every $1 spent.
In order to unlock the larger welcome bonus tiers, a sizable portion of your spend will need to diverted to this card.
Given that a sizable spending amount would be needed to maximize your benefits with the Iberia, other card options may be a better fit.
American Express Credit Cards
Iberia is an American Express transfer partner allowing you to convert you points to Iberia Avios. As an Iberia Plus member, you can reduce the cost of Iberia flights by as much as 50% when booking directly with Iberia using your Avios.
A big benefit of being an American Express cardholder is that Amex partners with many valuable airlines, many of which regularly offer bonus miles when transferring Amex points to airline partners. This allows you flexibility when trying to redeem an award flight since you have multiple airlines to choose from.
With that said, here are the personal and business credit cards that will put you on the path to your next award flight:
Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
- 5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
- Access to Amex International Airline Program
- No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Cons
- $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Amex Platinum 150k Welcome Bonus Offer
- Benefits of The Amex Platinum
- How to Use 100,000 Amex Platinum Points
- Amex Platinum Card Requirements
- American Express Platinum Military Benefits
- Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Lounge Access
- Amex Platinum Benefits for Authorized Users
- Amex Platinum vs Delta Platinum
- Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Capital One Venture X vs Amex Platinum
- Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve
- Best American Express Credit Cards
- Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
- Best Credit Cards for Military
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesAmerican Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
American Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros
- 4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
- 3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
- Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
- Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
- Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
- Access to American Express transfer partners
Cons
- $250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
- No lounge access
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Find the Amex Gold 75k or 90k Welcome Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Amex Gold
- Upgrade Amex Gold to Amex Platinum
- Amex Gold Benefits for Military
- Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred
- Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold
- Amex Gold vs Delta Gold
- Best Credit Cards for Military
- Best Credit Cards for Groceries and Supermarkets
- Best Luxury and Premium Credit Cards
- Best Metal Credit Cards
- Best High Limit Credit Cards
If you’re a business owner, see our list of the best Amex business credit cards.
Chase Credit Cards
Chase and Amex constantly compete for the top transferable point program spot. Both programs offer both a ton of different credit card products and valuable airline and hotel partners.
With respect to the Iberia Plus program, Iberia is one of the Chase airline partners. This means that if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer those points directly to Iberia. The point transfers are 1:1, so 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point is equal to 1 Iberia Avios (mile).
The reason that this partnership is valuable is because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are much easier to earn versus earning Avios with your Iberia Visa Signature® credit card spend.
The Ultimate Rewards program is unique, relative to Amex, in that Hyatt is a hotel partner. As many people know, this partnership leads to receiving a ton of value with Chase points.
All in all, Chase is a solid program that rewards members who know the program’s best transfer partners.
Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.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
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel worldwide
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
- Excellent travel and car rental insurance
- 10% annual bonus points
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
- Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k or 100k Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Score Requirements
- Military Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
- Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance
- Best Metal Credit Cards
- Best Credit Cards for Military
- Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance
- Best High Limit Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
- 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
- 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
- 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass airport lounge access
- TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
- Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
- Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
- $550 annual fee
- Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus Offer
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Access
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits
- Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
- Best Credit Cards for Military
- Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
- Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance
- Best High Limit Credit Cards
Business owner? Check out our list of recommended Chase credit cards.
Marriott Credit Cards
The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program has seen quite a few changes recently, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest with the program.
Marriott Bonvoy has 40+ airline transfer partners in all, which is staggering compared to Chase and Amex.
However, what is important to note and what can be frustrating, not all transfer times are created equal. What this means is that when you transfer Marriott points to one its airline partners, the time it take for the points to leave your Marriott account and show up in your airline loyalty account is not the same.
In some cases, the transfer times to airlines are 1 day (Flying Blue). In other case, the transfer times to airlines take 10 days (Asiana Airlines).
One benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy program is the bonus structure.
For every 60,000 Marriott points that are transferred to an airline partner, you’ll receive a 5,000-point bonus in the form of airline miles. Since most of the Marriott to airline transfer ratios are 3:1, this means that 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 Avios with the 5,000-point bonus (60,000 / 3 = 20,000 + 5,000 = 25,000).
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Pros
- Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
- 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
- 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Cons
- Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
- Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
- 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.
Pros
- Earn big when you use your card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- Automatic Silver Elite Status
- 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
- DoorDash DashPass subscription
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
- Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesMarriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.
Pros
- 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- 15 Elite Night Credits per year
- 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
- 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
- No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Cons
- $250 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
- Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.
So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?
Pros
- 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
- 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- 25 Elite Night Credits each year
- Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
- Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
- Complimentary Platinum Elite status
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)
- 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
- Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards
If you’re not a Marriott Bonvoy member, you may be interested in transferring your points from other hotel programs like Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt.
Unfortunately, other hotel loyalty programs might not offer as good of a transfer ratio as the one listed above through Marriott. This means that when transferring hotel points into airline miles, you won’t be getting as many miles as you could with other programs or other transfer avenues.
We would recommend transferring other hotel program points to Iberia if you’re topping off your Iberia Plus account for an award flight. Otherwise, you’ll find better ways to use your Hilton Honors or World of Hyatt points in other ways.
Iberia Airlines Overview
Iberia Airlines is the flagship airline carrier of Spain that operates out of its hub at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas airport (MAD). Flyers can book flights out of MAD to destinations across Europe and the world, including a handful of non-stop flights to the United States.
The airline is a Oneworld™ alliance member joining the likes of American Airlines and Cathay Pacific. With Iberia’s Oneworld membership, frequent flyers with miles earned on Iberia can redeem them not only for Iberia flights, but also for flights on airlines across the alliance.
Iberia Plus is the airline’s frequent flyer program offering its members value when flying Iberia or a Oneworld partner airline flight. Iberia Plus members are awarded elite status based on the number of Elite Points or Routes (segments) flown between April 1 and March 31 of the following year.
Elite Points are calculated in two ways:
1) the fare class and route flown on Iberia flights, or
2) the distance of the flight on a partner airline.
In addition to the Elite Points awarded for flying, members also earn Avios, which can be redeemed for award flights and upgrades. Additionally Avios can be redeemed for hotel stays, car rentals, and experiences.
Bottom Line: Iberia is a well-rounded program that U.S. travelers, particularly those with Oneworld status, are able to take advantage of.
Joining Iberia Plus
If you’re interested in joining Iberia Plus, membership is free and you can set up your Iberia Plus account by filling out this application. Iberia Plus members have the ability to earn and redeem Avios in the Iberia Plus frequent flyer program.
How to Sign Into Your Iberia Plus Account
Enter your Iberia Plus Number and Pin that you provided in your application to access your account.
Hot Tip: Iberia provides anyone access to its award charts, but you’ll need to login to your account to search for award space.
Viewing Your Avios Account Activity
Follow these easy steps to check out the mileage activity in your account:
- Log into your account
- Click your name in the top right corner
- Click “Your Avios”
Points Expiration
If no account activity exists for 36 months, the Avios will expire.
Iberia Plus Program
Iberia Plus Elite Status
There are three elite tiers in the Iberia Plus frequent flyer program.
Members who move to higher elite tiers unlock additional benefits such as lounge access, higher mileage earn rates, and fast-track security status.
When reviewing the benefits within each tier below, it’s important to note that higher elite tiers include all of the benefits of the preceding elite tier:
Silver: The lowest elite tier that comes with these perks:
- 25% bonus Avios
- Excess baggage allowance
- Priority boarding
- Priority waitlist
- Continuation of status while on maternity leave
- Oneworld Ruby
Gold: Iberia’s middle elite tier that provides members the following benefits:
- 50% bonus Avios
- Iberia VIP lounge access
- Free parking service at Madrid and Barcelona airports
- Excess baggage allowance
- Guaranteed economy seat on any Iberia or Iberia marketed flight
- VIP Lounge access at Madrid-Barajas airport if your flight is longer than 4 hours
- Oneworld Sapphire
Platinum: The highest elite tier offering members these perks:
- 100% bonus Avios
- Two upgrades to Iberia Business Class
- Limo for transfers between the airport and Barcelona, Madrid, Chile, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Sao Paulo
- Automatic credit of up to 22,500 Avios to be used towards award flights
- Iberia VIP Lounge access
- Excess baggage allowance
- Gift of Platinum status for a friend
- Oneworld Emerald
Oneworld status (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald) is a separate status in addition to your Iberia elite status.
With Oneworld status, members will be have a number of benefits such as Oneworld lounge access, priority check-in, and fast track at select security lanes when flying on a Oneworld Alliance member flight.
A full list of program benefits can be found on the Iberia Plus program page.
Bottom Line: Iberia has unique elite benefits for its members, in particular, for those who earn Platinum status.
Value of Iberia Plus Elite Status
100% bonus Avios, two Iberia Business Class upgrades, limo transfers, a 22,500 Avios credit, and Iberia VIP Lounge access are all valuable perks at the highest Iberia Plus elite tier.
Gold has a couple of benefits to evaluate, but it’s most important to ask yourself if the benefits offered at each elite tier are valuable to you. If you decide to earn elite status, try to earn Platinum as the benefits at this level give you the most in returned value.
Bottom Line: Bonus Avios, upgrades, bonus Avios, and Iberia VIP lounge access are the benefits to expect if you are able to earn elite status in the Iberia Plus program.
Earning Iberia Plus Elite Status
Iberia elite status is earned by the number of routes (segments) flown or the number of Elite Points earned. The number of Elite Points earned is driven by the route when flying on Iberia or the distance flown when flying a partner airline.
Platinum status is shown as 6,250 Elite Points, but in reality, a member needs 12,500 to qualify. Each subsequent year would require 6,250 Elite Points.
Unlike other programs, unfortunately, you’re not able to earn Iberia Plus Elite Points through Amex, Chase, or Marriott credit card spend.
Bottom Line: The only way to obtain Iberia elite status is to fly on Iberia Airlines or on partner airline flight.
How to Earn Iberia Avios
By partnering with Amex, Chase, and Marriott, Iberia Plus members have more than one way to earn Avios.
While members can transfer points from these programs directly to Iberia Plus, it’s important to note that Chase is the only partner where the point transfer is instant. Amex and Marriott are not instant, 6 days in the case of Marriott, so keep that in mind when planning your award redemption.
Earning Avios Through Flying
Flying Iberia Airlines or another partner airline is straightforward when it comes to earning Avios. The number of Avios you earn depends on the flight distance and the class of the ticket that you book. Iberia has a full list of earning rates to determine that amount of Avios earned with each partner airline.
Elite status members also earn bonus Avios. The amount of bonus Avios is determined by multiplying the bonus percentage by the flight distance or a 500-mile minimum for short flights.
For partner airline flights, make sure the partner flight is an Iberia-marketed flight or you will not earn Iberia Avios. All of the partner accrual rates can be found on the partner airline page.
In addition to the Oneworld alliance, Iberia has separate partnerships with Vueling, Level, Interjet, Royal Air Maroc, AirItaly, Binter, and Avianca.
Head to the partner airline page to see the full list of Iberia’s partnerships.
Earn Avios With Credit Cards
Iberia’s partnerships with Amex, Chase, and Marriott provide a number of ways to earn Avios with your credit card spend.
With Amex and Chase, evaluate all of the personal and business credit cards that earn Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards points respectively.
If you sign up for Marriott credit cards, remember that you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred to an airline partner like Iberia.
Earning Bonus Avios in Other Ways
Avios can be earned in other ways to that do not involve flying or credit card spend.
Check out the Iberia Facebook, Twitter, and discount vouchers page for additional places to earn Iberia Avios.
Lastly, car rental and hotel partners have opportunities for members to earn Avios with every rental and hotel stay.
Hot Tip: If you add your airline loyalty program to other services, you typically won’t also earn status points with these franchises. For example, this partnership acts as a sort of alliance between the airline and car rental agency.
How to Redeem Iberia Plus Avios
Redeeming Iberia Avios for award flights yields the best value, but as is the case with most airlines there are many ways to redeem Avios.
Iberia is unique in that the airline offers peak and off-peak pricing, so take advantage of the lower mileage dates.
Off-peak dates include the 2nd half of January, all of February, 28 days in March, half of April, 29 days in May, half of June, half of September, 29 days of October, 26 days of November, and 12 days of December. The number of Avios required is determined by the distance, fare class, and date of the flight.
With a handle on the Iberia award chart, check out what Iberia partner airline charts have to offer.
As previously noted, each airline has its own award chart when you are using Iberia Avios to fly on that airline. For example, the American Airlines award chart shown below is the award chart that you’ll reference when you are using Iberia Avios to fly on an American Airlines flight. You can fly on an American Airlines flight using Iberia Avios because American Airlines and Iberia are airline partners.
Another Iberia airline partner is Royal Air Maroc. The Royal Air Maroc award chart is shown below. If you are looking to fly on a Royal Air Maroc flight, you will reference the chart below. The reason that you can fly on a Royal Air Maroc flight using your Iberia Avios is because Royal Air Maroc and Iberia are airline partners.
Diving deeper into the redemption side, let’s look at a couple of sweet spots. A sweet spot means that the number of Avios required for the referenced flight is likely the lowest number of miles required to fly when compared to all of your other point redemption options.
- 68,000 Avios round-trip Iberia business class to Europe
- 100,000 Avios round-trip Royal Air Maroc business class to Morocco
Hot Tip: We have an entire post on the best ways to redeem Iberia Avios if you’re interested in seeing all of the redemption opportunities with Iberia Avios.
Oneworld™ Alliance and Other Partner Awards
Determining the amount of Avios required for Oneworld and partner airline flights is easy with Iberia Airlines since all of its award charts in the same place. Save this partner airline page to use as a reference guide when booking Iberia partner flights using Avios.
Booking Online
For Oneworld partner flights, use British Airways and Qantas to search for award availability. Neither site is perfect, but a combination of the two will ensure you can see the award space you’re looking for. Iberia shows award flights for some partners, like American Airlines, but not all partners like Royal Air Maroc.
If an award seat on a partner award flight isn’t shown, you’ll have to search for space elsewhere and call Iberia at 800-772-4642 to book the flight.
Keep these general rules in mind when searching for award flights:
- Search the British Airways and Qantas websites for Oneworld flights
- Search the Delta and Flying Blue (Air France or KLM) websites for SkyTeam flights
- Search the United and Aeroplan websites for Star Alliance flights
Hot Tip: Use Expert Flyer if the Iberia website will not show award space for the flight you are looking to book.
Featured Image: Courtesy of Shutterstock
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iberia Plus program? Is it worth it? What are the benefits?
Iberia Plus is the frequent flyer program of Iberia Airlines. It’s free to join and allows members to earn Avios and elite status, as well as use Avios for an award flight.
Iberia Plus members are awarded elite status based on the number of Elite Points or Routes flown between April 1 and March 31 of the following year.
Joining airlines like British Airways and Japan Airlines, Iberia is a Oneworld alliance member. Iberia’s Oneworld membership means that Iberia Avios can be used to fly not only on Iberia, but on partner airline flights as well.
What other programs partner with Iberia Plus? Can I transfer Avios to them?
Iberia Plus provides members with an opportunity to earn Avios in a variety of ways.
Car rentals, credit card spending, and hotels are the ways to earn Iberia Avios that do not involve flying.
Award flights, hotels, car rentals, and experiences are available for members looking to redeem Avios.
While transferring Iberia Avios to an airline partner is not allowed, members can redeem Avios for Iberia or partner airline flights. What this means is that you can’t transfer your Iberia Avios to an airline partner like American Airlines. No airline will allow you to transfer its own airline miles to another airline. You must use those airline miles (i.e. Iberia Avios) only with that airline. However, you can use your Iberia Avios to book an Iberia flight or a partner airline flight like American Airlines.
What is the Iberia Plus login?
Head to this page to login to your Iberia Plus account.
Where can I sign up for Iberia Plus?
Check out the application page to sign up for a free Iberia Plus account.
What is my Iberia Plus number?
You can find your Iberia Plus number by signing into your account, looking on your membership card, or through a variety of marketing emails they send you.
If you can’t find it there, try using the “forgot my password” tool to reset your account so you can get in. Alternatively, try calling the customer service desk at 1-800-772-4642
8:00- 24:00 Lt. 7 days a week.
When do Avios post in my Iberia Plus account?
Iberia Avios should post in your account within 7 days after your date of travel.
When do Iberia Plus Avios expire?
If no account activity exists for 36 months, the Avios will expire.
When does Iberia Plus status expire?
Silver and Gold status are valid for 12 months. Platinum status is valid for 24 months when the member accrues 6,250 Elite Points.
Is there a Iberia credit card?
Yes! Chase offers the Iberia Visa Signature® Credit Card. This card earns you Avios with every purchase:
- 3 Avios points for every $1 spent on Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL purchases
- 1 Avios point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Can you hold an award flight with Iberia?
Unfortunately, Iberia Airlines doesn’t allow Iberia Plus members to put a hold on an award ticket.
Was this page helpful?
About Michael McHugh
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare. That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.
INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE™
Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...
Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.
We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.