Compare the Features and Benefits of British Airways Visa Signature Card and
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® Review

On top of a generous sign up bonus, the British Airways credit card by Chase earns 3x Avios on British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL, and Aer Lingus and 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel. Avios can be shared between any Avios program, which also includes Qatar Airways (home of the QSuite) and you can redeem British Airways Avios for award tickets on oneworld airlines like American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and more.

Award tickets on short-haul American Airlines are actually a major sweet spot of the British Airways Avios program with flights like New York to Miami in coach going for just 9,000 Avios and $5,60 in tax.

More importantly, you’ll receive 10% off all British Airways flights that originate in the United States. (Must book through a special website provided with your new card.)

And then, after your first year, you can earn a Travel Together Ticket (a.k.a. Companion Ticket), good for bringing a companion for just the taxes and fees when you redeem a reward flight for yourself, when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year. Don’t have a companion to bring? You can use it for half off the points of an Avios award flight instead.

Finally, you’ll also receive up to a $600 statement credit on bookings for Reward Flights as described above in Unique Card benefits.

If you fly British Airways frequently, this airline credit card is truly compelling.

Keep in mind, from a pure points earning perspective, that the Chase Sapphire Reserve also earns 4X Chase Ultimate Rewards points in airfare booked directly with an airline (and 8X if booked at Chase Travel℠) which can even be transferred to Avios if needed – as well as a range of other travel partners, like World of Hyatt which offers excellent and outsized value.

So if you are getting the card for the points alone, you may want to rethink it. If you are getting it for the benefits, your head is in the right place.

Keep in mind that British Airways Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity, though that won’t be a problem if you are spending on this credit card!

If you don’t primarily fly BA, you might want to look at other airline credit cards or bank cards with transferable points.

Note: Per Chase’s 5/24 Rule, you will only be approved for a Chase card like the British Airways Visa card if you have applied for fewer than 5 personal credit cards within the last 24 months from any issuer. (Business cards do not count against the total, except for Capital One Spark Cash Select and Spark Miles plus Discover, but are subject to the policy).

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® is American Airlines’ mid-tier credit card option. All in all, it’s a solid card for semi-frequent American Airlines flyers who don’t live near an airport with an Admirals Club®. You’ll enjoy access to American Airlines lounges a few times per year, but you aren’t paying the hefty annual fee for unlimited access.

For starters, you’ll receive a $99 American Airlines companion certificate starting in your second year as a cardholder. Although it’s only valid on a main cabin domestic flight, you could potentially cover your entire annual fee from this benefit alone. You’ll also earn 3X miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, which is a great way to boost your AAdvantage miles balance.

You can earn three different statement credits annually — up to $240 back on Turo, up to $100 back on inflight purchases, and up to $100 for your Annual Splurge Credit, which can include merchants like Live Nation or AAdvantage Hotels. You’ll also earn a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years, which can provide value if you aren’t already enrolled.

The Flight Streak Bonus is also an interesting feature for anyone chasing status, allowing you to earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every four flights you take in a calendar year, up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points. If that’s not enough, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point for every AAdvantage mile you earn on purchases.

Plus, you’ll receive your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, enjoy preferred boarding, and a variety of travel and shopping protection benefits. When you add up each of these perks, it’s incredibly easy to find value in the card — much more value than a $350 annual fee.