Other Credit Card Programs - BA Chase Visa - Now Most Rewarding US Credit Card?

This is being discussed in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1004128-ba-chase-visa-signature-card-usa-increased-mileage-earnings.html) on the BA board, but basically Chase just announced two new features:

1) Earning increased 25%, so you get 2.5 miles/dollar on BA spending and 1.25 miles/dollar on everything.

2) If you spend $30k in a calendar year you get a Companion Certificate that allows you to book a companion on an identical award itinerary to one you book. It's a two-for-one award certificate basically. So, if you book a round-trip to Europe in Club World (aka, Business Class) for 100k, you can take yourself and a companion for that 100k. It basically doubles the value of your miles for that booking. The certificate is good in any class of service and is valid for two years after issuance and you can earn one per calendar year. (More Information (http://www.britishairways.com/travel/RED1TRAV2/public/en_us))

I happened to sign up for this card a few months ago just to get the sign-up bonus, but it looks like it will be my primary card come January 1 until I hit the $30k in spending. This is effectively 2.5 miles/dollar on all spending.

Of course the catch is you have to be able to hit the $30k in spend ... if you can do that, I think this is the best credit card going now.

All is good until one thinks about the YQ that BA charges on the award tickets. To add to that, if you book a premium class out of london, you have to pay luxury tax. Try doing a dummy booking with BA and see if the numbers still fit into the equation and if it makes sense.

Also, I am assuming that certificate is good only on BA metal, right? Any chance you would have fine prints or T&Cs that you could post here?

As mentioned in the OP, links are provided for T&C and the BA forum discussion to get all the details. One poster on the BA thread mentioned taxes, etc. of well over $700 on each of the award tickets which makes the deal a little less attractive since some business fares of not much over $1000 show up periodically for JFK-LHR although not on BA. Still a very nice option for some folks, especially if flying more complex award trips.

To add to that, if you book a premium class out of london, you have to pay luxury tax. Try doing a dummy booking with BA and see if the numbers still fit into the equation and if it makes sense.

One poster on the BA thread mentioned taxes, etc. of well over $700 on each of the award tickets which makes the deal a little less attractive since some business fares of not much over $1000 show up periodically for JFK-LHR although not on BA. The taxes are a pain with BA, but they don't think they come close to killing the deal if you're redeeming for CW/F tickets.

Also remember it's only the incremental taxes over an award ticket on someone else that matters, an award ticket ot Europe on anyone is going to be at least $100 in taxes or more, depending where you're going. You avoid the luxury tax as long as you don't actually stopover in the UK, though the LHR stopover for me personally is a plus, but of course not everyone may feel the same on that.

One final point is that if you don't live in a BA gateway city you can't use AA as a feeder flight as part of the award, so that's a bit of a bummer, but hardly a deal killer.

This is being discussed in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1004128-ba-chase-visa-signature-card-usa-increased-mileage-earnings.html) on the BA board, but basically Chase just announced two new features:

1) Earning increased 25%, so you get 2.5 miles/dollar on BA spending and 1.25 miles/dollar on everything.

2) If you spend $30k in a calendar year you get a Companion Certificate that allows you to book a companion on an identical award itinerary to one you book. It's a two-for-one award certificate basically. So, if you book a round-trip to Europe in Club World (aka, Business Class) for 100k, you can take yourself and a companion for that 100k. It basically doubles the value of your miles for that booking. The certificate is good in any class of service and is valid for two years after issuance and you can earn one per calendar year. (More Information (http://www.britishairways.com/travel/RED1TRAV2/public/en_us))

I happened to sign up for this card a few months ago just to get the sign-up bonus, but it looks like it will be my primary card come January 1 until I hit the $30k in spending. This is effectively 2.5 miles/dollar on all spending.

Of course the catch is you have to be able to hit the $30k in spend ... if you can do that, I think this is the best credit card going now.

Is this for 2009 as well? Or only starting next year. Would already have one coming if this year counts. TIA for any help

Now that everyone can get 100,000 miles with the Chase Visa, (see other threads about this) I expect that award availability will become very difficult.

Now that everyone can get 100,000 miles with the Chase Visa, (see other threads about this) I expect that award availability will become very difficult.

Not sure if you were trying to answer my question...Im just trying to find out if the 2 for 1 award after 30k spending is being given out this year or if its only in 2010.

Is this for 2009 as well? Or only starting next year. Would already have one coming if this year counts. TIA for any helpAccording to ba.com helper:

The vouchers will be issued from Jan 1, 2010 for those that have qualified this year.

Thanks!