BA Chase Visa Signature Card (USA) and Travel Together questions [Master thread]
 

From my latest monthly statement: :

"You earn 2.5 BA Miles for every $1 you spend on British Airways purchases and 1.25 BA Milesfor every $1 you spend on all other purchases."

(My comment: this is an increase from 2 and 1 miles, respectively.)

Calling Chase to enquire, I was told that this is a "promotion" (effective with the new monthly cycle just starting -- my earnings for this past cycle were calculated at the old rate), and they referred me to BAEC for further details. BAEC said it was a Chase thing and referred me back to Chase.

Anybody know anything about this? Is this a permanent change? A time-limited promotion? If so, till when? (No time limit is indicated on the statement.)

First ive heard of it - will e interested to se if I get the same offer - might be a response to the iminent availability to turn Amex Membership Rewards into BA miles here in the US of A

When I log in its still showing as:

Earn 2 BA Miles for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases
Earn 1 BA Mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases

Same here -- on the Chase web site. But my "paper" monthly statement (or the pdf version thereof, under the "paperless" option), says otherwise. That's why I called. Incidentally, previous statements don't say anything at all -- that's what caught my eye.

(I know from past bitter experience -- won't bore you with the details; they're not relevant here -- that Chase treat the paper statement as the gospel in the event of conflicts between what the statement and web site say. That's why I always make a point of looking over my "paper" statements when they're posted).

Hmmm wonder if the tickets I bought on weds. will get this deal. I haven't recieved a statement yet, but when I do I'll see if it says the same and post it.

Due to get my new statement on the 11th so will keep an eye out and post what appears on here

This maybe a dumb ? but since I just signed up for this card last month and It's my first ever cc thought I'd ask it since you all have the same card. How long does it take to post the account balance? I came within $12 of my limit buying the tickets and want to pay them off because it's due by the 17th. The available left says $12 so I know they have recieved it but I'm wondering if it's taking longer because they are making sure it's not fraud?

I found it to be pretty much standard timeframes for charges and payments to post - just make sure that when you organised the payment that you set the earliest available date as from what I remember, It will default to a couple of days in the future from the date you sign in (working days)

An example from my acc is as follows:


I set a up a payment to Chase from my HSBC acc on 28th Sept and it was taken from my HSBC acc on the 29th - available balance was updated same day

Got it thanks dude ^

Received a Chase / BA flyer in the post last week offering 5 x BA miles for all BA purchases, gas, groceries and dining. Offer good from 10/01 through 12/31 with a max of 12,500 bonus miles. I maxed it out immediately with my IAH LHR return.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.168 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/120)

Hi all,

Your eyes weren't mistaking you - we have permanently increased the earn rate 25% on dollars spent on British Airways Chase Visa card. The new program, which begins November 4th, means you will earn 2.5 BA Miles for every $1 you spend on British Airways purchases and 1.25 BA miles for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. The program will include several additional value-added enhancements. Existing cardholders will receive official communication about these exciting enhancements before November 4. So stay tuned and until then, thanks for the enthusiasm.

Kind regards,

Dilly

Fantastic! I have had this card since 1993 and have found it to be one of the most boring cards when it comes to promotions. I am glad to see BA paying attention to the card.

Good news! ^ Thank you for your reply.

Had BA visa card long time ago? Can I get still get bonus for getting a new one?
 

Hello. I had a BA Visa card from Chase many years ago, but closed it a few years back. Now I am tempted by the new sign-up bonus offers to open another card. Since I'm not currently a cardholder, will I be eligible for the bonus points?

Anyone with experience with this?

Only one way to find out! ;)

I bet there are at least some FlyerTalkers here who've already tried to find out. :p

Greetings: I did receive the official written notification and it's all very exciting ( I'm an optimist on things like this). I do have a question concerning the companion ticket/$30,000 annual purchase benefit. The letter states that all these benefits start on 11/12/09( Or around that date -- don't have the letter in front of me) and that this specific benefit is based on $30,000 in credit card purchases per calendar year. Does that mean that the benefit will start to be calculated on the basis of 2009 calendar year spending or 2010 calendar year spending ( or some other formulation starting in November 2009). The info I received wasn't clear on this point. Thanks for deciphering this for me ( and all those others that might be interested in the answer).

I haven't gotten one yet. Could you share the perks in the letter?

If no one has by the time I get home from work, I will. The benefit I was referring to was (this is from memory) a free companion ticket the same class as a redeemed rewards ticket if you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year( good for 2 years from the date of award certificate issuance). Again this is from memory so if I mis-read or mis-remembered the benefit, my apologies.

Mine was in the mail.... So here is what it says....

Redeem for 1 travel for 2

Every year you spend $30,000 you will receive a redemption voucher for a ticket for a companion valid for 2 years. Redeem your BA Miles for a British Airways flight and take anyone with you on the same flight, in the same class of service.

Earn 25% more BA Miles on British Airways purchases.

Accelerate your rewards even more, by earning 2.5 BA miles for every $1 spent on British Airways flights, land products, and vacation packages.

Earn 25% more BA Miles on everyday purchases

Now, every time you use your card, you'll earn 1.25 miles for every $1 you spend.

These new benefits will take affect on November 12th, 2009 and are in addition to our complimentary companion ticket offer - every time you purchase a full-fare First , Club World, or World Traveller Plus ticket , you receive a complimentary companion ticket. Plus, you still receive $50 off every ticket purchased online at ba.com/get50.

The website for the new 2 for 1 reward travel offer is :

http://www.ba.com/redeemfor1travelfor2

However the website does not appear to be live yet.

New British Airways Chase Bank Visa Benefits
 

I just received the following letter in the mail from Chase Bank which is the issuer of my British Airways Visa Credit Card:

Good News! We've enhanced your British Airways Visa Card benefits, so that you'll have more opportunities to go wherever we fly.

1. Redeem for 1, Travel for 2. *

Every year you spend $30,000 you will receive a redemption voucher for a ticket for a companion, valid for 2 years. Redeem your BA Miles for a British Airways flight and take anyone with you, on the same flight, in the same class of service.

2. Earn 25% more BA Miles on British Airways purchases.

Accelerate your rewards even more, by earning 2.5 BA miles for every $1 spent on British Airways Flights, land products and vacation packages.

3. Earn 25% more BA Miles on everyday purchases.

Now, everytime you use your card, you"ll earn 1.25 miles for every $1 you spend

These new benefits will take affect on November 12th, 2009 and are in addition to our complimentary companion ticket offer - every time you purchase a full-fare First, Club-World, or World Traveller Plus ticket, you"ll receive a complimentary companion ticket. Plus, you still receive $50 off every ticket purchased online at ba.com/get50

-----------------

The fine print on the 2 4 1 reads as follows:

"Subject to availability. Taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, including airline surcharges apply. British Airways Executive Club terms and conditions apply. Cardmember must spend $30,000 in a single calendar year on their British Airways Visa card to receive a Redemption Voucher for a companion ticket. Cardmember is eligible for only one Voucher each calendar year. Cardmember will receive the voucher 4-6 weeks after the billing cycle when the Cardmember reaches $30,000 in purchases, and will not be eligible for another Voucher until the next calendar year. Voucher is valid for a companion ticket in conjunction with Cardmember's reward flight on BA taken within 2 years from the date of issue. All Redemption Vouchers will be issued in the name of the main Cardmember who must travel on any booking where the voucher is used. Redemption Voucher(s) cannot be used in connection with any other promotion and is only valid if it has been acquired in accordance with the rules of this promotion. Redemption vouchers are not extendable, transferable and have no cash or mileage value. Companion must travel with the Cardmember on both the outbound and inbound journey and must be booked at the same time for both directions. Redemption Flights and Redemption Vouchers may only be used for flights on British Airways mainline service, which have a BA prefixed flight number. Travel on franchise, codeshare or alliance airlines is not permitted. Travel must originate and return to the US. Additional restrictions apply. Please visit ba.com/Redeemfor1Travelfor2

-----------------------

So...I called the US British Executive Club phone number and the agent who took my call absolutely insisted that the 2 4 1 Voucher cannot be used in conjunction with a British Airways Executive Club booking. She said that only "paid" tickets were eligible for a British Airways Visa Cardmember to use the 2 4 1 Voucher. I read her verbatim the language from the fine print in the rules and she still would not concede that these 2 4 1 Vouchers would be able to be used in conjunction with Executive Club award bookings.

I mentioned that the UK based Executive Club members have always been able to use their British Airways Amex 2 4 1 Voucher in conjunction with mileage bookings and she said that this was only a UK Benefit and would not extend to Executive Club Members based in the US.

Additionally, since the spend accrual period is based upon a calendar year I asked if my spend going back to January 1, 2009 would count towards the $30,000 threshold. (It would seem foolish to start a new program on November 12th, 2009 and expect anyone to reach the $30,000 spend level in a mere six (6) weeks; until the end of the calendar year.

True to fashion, the BA Executive Club representative said that I would have to speak with Chase to get the answer to this question. I spent over a half hour on the phone with Chase and they said that they only send over the monthly mileage amount(s) to the British Airways Executive Club and they in turn post these to their member's Executive Club accounts. Incredibly, Chase insists that the BA Executive Club will issue the 2 4 1 Vouchers and I need to go back to British Airways to ask whether the 30,000 spend accrual will start from November 12th, 2009 or retroactive back to January 1st, 2009.

If we will be able to use the 2 4 1 Voucher with a mileage booking, is one able to do it all online from the website, or will we have to call on the phone and be subject to the additional $20.00 fees for each ticket?

Anyone have any additional information on these issues???

TIA
"zoosh"

I think that the person you spoke with was just not aware of this new program, which seems to apply ONLY to award bookings.

I think it is a great offer for those who spend over $30k a year, and earn enough miles for a free ticket every year.

Just got the letter myself - this is fantastic news!

I really miss the 2for1 Amex offer since I left the UkK. About time we in NA got this deal.

^^^^^^^

I dropped this card years ago and started using the Merrill+ as my non-amex card (no annual fee and 1 to 1 transfer to BAEC).

If they actually allow 2 for 1's on mileage redemptions, I might have to re-apply for this card.

Wonder if i will get this deal too? I just got my BA Visa in Aug.

Give it time. Agents clearly haven't been trained and the website for the 2 for 1 offer isn't live.

Man UTD, these are enhancements to the card so everyone will be eligible.

For those who typically use BA miles for flights on OW partners (i.e. CX, QF, LAN etc.), take note of the above bolded restriction.

any guess if BA will charge their onerous tax and fuel surcharge for both tickets ?

Reading the promotional materials for the Redeem for 1 Travel for 2, it appears to me that the reference to taking someone with you "on the same flight" means the complimentary companion ticket only applies to one way travel, not roundtrip. Any one else read it this way? If so, it certainly diminishes the value of this "enhancement."

My wife and I both got our notices in the mail yesterday from JP Morgan Chase. Right now she is taking advantage of the 5X program from October 1 to December 31 with the 12,500 miles max. I don't understand why her card got selected for it instead of mine as I my card earns the more miles each year. However it really doesn't matter as we have a household account.

I guess that those purchases that don't qualify for the 5X miles (for her card) will then get 1.25X miles starting November 12.

My JP Morgan Chase United Airlines card is getting only a crummy 2X miles on certain purchases during this 3-month period (no maximum miles) - still better than 1X.

Hi all,

Glad to see you’ve received our communication about the new enhancements on the British Airways Visa Signature card. We are pleased to let you know that BA and Chase will reward loyal card members with a redemption voucher for a companion ticket on 2009 spend even though the new benefits take effect on November 12, 2009.

Keep this in mind when doing your holiday shopping especially if you’re close to $30,000 for this calendar year.

Enjoy and please see all of the details here:
www.ba.com/Redeemfor1Travelfor2

Kind regards,

Dilly

Thats great news! I see the webpage you linked states that the program starts January 1st which is odd considering you and the letter state Nov 12th.

I hope Chase will be adding annual total spend info to our statement. It does not appear to be there currently.

Good point. I'll pass that back and get clarification.

Kind regards,

Dilly

From the terms and conditions:

The Redemption Voucher allows the main BA/Chase account holder, when making a return flight booking using BA Miles, to book another seat on the exact same journey for a companion without having to pay the BA Miles flight price for that Companion. Taxes, airline, government, or other separately charged fees and charges must be paid by Member redeeming the Redemption Voucher and is payable at time of booking.

In BA speak, is "return flight booking" synonymous with round-trip booking?

Yes its the same. It's actually British English speak ;)

Yes. And I can confirm this applies to a round-trip booking (same class and same flight as the main passenger).

Also, taxes/fees/fuel surcharge will apply to companion ticket.

Kind regards,

Dilly

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

Kind regards,

Dilly

Thanks very much for the clarification!

I was going to say that if you can spend $30k between 11/12-12/31 maybe you'd get a voucher, but actually I wonder if they're being even more generous than that:

Sounds like they will count spend for the whole calendar year, though it sure would have been nice to know about this sooner.