British Airways Offers 100,000 Free Miles -- But Hurry!
Written by Wayne Driscoll Friday, 06 May 2011 04:43
Yes, it was only last year when British Airways offered the most amazing mileage bonus ever: 100,000 miles for members of its Executive Club program who signed up for a co-branded British Airways-Chase Visa credit card. Then it was gone, quickly and mysteriously, leaving those who hesitated wiser but mileage poorer.
You'll have to hurry. The offer ends on May 6, 2011. Details: www.britishairways.com/travel/creditcards/public/en_us?
The offer is this: 50,000 free air miles upon your first purchase with the new card, then another 50,000 miles when you charge a total of $2,500 within 3 months of activating the card. In other words, enough miles for two coach tickets from the U.S. to the U.K. and back. Or a single round-trip in Business Class.
Don't want to go to London? You can get flights to a whole bunch of European nations like Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Or you can redeem your miles with other OneWorld Alliance airlines like American, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, JAL, LAN and Qantas.
This credit card comes with a yearly fee of $95, still a bargain for all those miles. But inspect your new card carefully when it comes. It may not be the one you're expecting. Chase reserves the right to issue you a Platinum card (with "different fees, benefits and credit availability") if it doesn't think you qualify for the el primo deal. If so, you can trash it without obligation. My friends who have applied -- 6 of them, in fact -- have all gotten the Signature card with the 100,000 free miles.
This deal is for first-time new British Air Visa accounts only. And you must be an Executive Club member (so join first before applying).
Some awards on British Airways "cost" more than on other airlines, and its fees and surcharges on free tickets are higher. But in my experience getting award tickets is easier on BA, and so are free upgrades. It flies out of many U.S. cities.
About the Author:
Before you book your next flight, know the travel secrets of the pros. You can even get free airline miles! At Green Traveler Guides, our air travel guru has flown more than 2 million miles.