100K British Airways Visa Returns

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The 100,000 British Airways Visa offer is back (see link in Best Travel Credit Cards), although keep in mind that you need to spend $20,000 within the first year of account opening to earn the full 100,000 Avios signup bonus, and you must spend $30,000 within a calendar year to earn the British Airways companion ticket. 

Here are the key details:

• 50,000 Avios points with first purchase
• 25,000 Avios points after $10,000 in spend within first 12 months 
• 25,000 Avios points after an additional $10,000 (total of $20,000) in spend within first 12 months 
• Earn 1.25 Avios points for each $1 spend
• Earn 2.5 Avios for each $1 of British Airways spend
• Earn a Travel Together Ticket after spending $30,000 in purchases in a single calendar year (i.e. by end of 2013, or $30,000 in 2014) good for a companion ticket in conjunction with the Cardmember's reward ticket
• $95 annual fee is not waived
• Previous and existing cardmembers NOT eligible for the bonus

Is the British Airways Visa with 100,000 Bonus Avios Worth It?

First, if you've gotten this card in the past, you're not eligible for the bonus. But what if you've never had the British Airways Visa–is it worth getting?

Worth It for 50,000 Bonus

• If you've never had this card and are eligible, the 50,000 Avios bonus points with first use are worthwhile for pretty much everyone who does some flying. 

• If you don't want to pay high fuel surcharges on British Airways flights, you can get good value with your Avios for short nonstop flights on American, such as NYC-Montreal for 4500 Avios in coach each way, AA flights to the Caribbean, West Coast to Hawaii  awards for 12,500 Avios one way, flights on LAN to South America, and Aer Lingus flights from Boston to Ireland for 12,500 each way in coach or 25,000 each way in business class (although note limited availability for business class, and that you must call to book Aer Lingus–no award availability is displayed on the British Airways site).

If you have substantial annual spend and were planning to earn a companion ticket anyway, then the $20,000 spend to earn the other 50,000 Avios bonus points is included you your spend to attain the British Airways travel together companion ticket. Just keep in mind that you'll need to get in $30,000 in spend by the end of 2013, or, more likely, within 2014. 

So if you know you won't be able to make $30,000 spend in the limited time remaining in 2013, make sure you don't put serious spend on the card until 2014, since for the companion ticket the $30,000 MUST be all in a single calendar year. Also note that the companion ticket is for flights on British Airways only, so there will be fuel surcharges. See How to Maximize the British Airways Companion Certificate on Award Tickets

The payoff is being able to fly British Airways New First Class to Europe, as we did this past summer. It may not be as luxurious as the best Asian carriers, but the overall experience is better than U.S. airline products, and with the United Award Chart Devaluation, it's one of the few ways to book a first class to Europe on a non-U.S. carrier at a decent award chart price (although keep in mind the fuel surcharges).

Pros of British Airways Avios

• Award chart opens earlier than American AAdvantage, allowing a better chance of booking Cathay Pacific First Class
• Better award availability and products for first class and business class to Europe than U.S. airlines
• Good value for short, direct intra-regional flights
• No close-in booking fees for non-elites
• Low cancellation fees, making them a good backup option for awards. See Frequent Flyer Awards: Low Fee Backup Options
• One way awards allowed