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As of September 9, 2026, the Chase British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus cards each offer 90,000 Avios after $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. Each card carries a $95 annual fee, and the offers are available through October 27, 2026. The matching bonus makes this a choice about the card that fits your travel and spending, rather than a contest between different headline amounts. The reward is conditional on meeting the offer terms; applying alone does not earn it.
Compare the three 90,000-Avios offers
The British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus versions share the same welcome-bonus amount, spending requirement and annual fee in this offer. That removes one obvious difference, but it does not make the cards interchangeable for every traveler. Start with the airline and card relationship you would actually use, then review the complete application terms for that specific product. Do not assume that a familiar airline name or a matching rewards currency means every card benefit, restriction or application rule is identical.
| Card | Bonus and required purchases | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 90,000 Avios after $5,000 in three months | $95 |
| Iberia | 90,000 Avios after $5,000 in three months | $95 |
| Aer Lingus | 90,000 Avios after $5,000 in three months | $95 |
Check the spending window before applying
The $5,000 requirement applies within the first three months of account opening. Compare that requirement with purchases you already expect to make, rather than treating it as a reason to create new spending. Check which purchases count under the application terms and how the issuer defines the qualifying period. Keep the annual fee separate in your budget instead of assuming it helps meet the required purchases. A bonus is less useful when pursuing it creates avoidable costs or requires a payment plan you cannot comfortably manage.
The offer closing date and your purchase window are different checks. October 27, 2026, is the stated availability deadline for these offers; the three-month purchase period is tied to account opening. Do not use the promotion deadline as a substitute for the deadline shown for your own account. Save the specific offer terms you apply under and record the relevant account dates. This practical separation helps avoid confusing the last day an offer is advertised with the time available to complete qualifying purchases.
Look beyond the Avios welcome offer
Compare how the specific card would fit your spending after the welcome period, rather than assuming the introductory bonus makes every later purchase a good match. Read the product’s current earning categories, exclusions and benefit rules before assigning ongoing value to it. This comparison does not assume the three cards have identical features. Write down the card-specific features you expect to use and consider whether they justify keeping the account beyond the initial offer. If those details are unclear, resolve them before treating the welcome bonus as the whole decision.
Separate bonus size from a useful redemption
The 90,000-Avios amount is a rewards balance, not a confirmed ticket or a guaranteed cash saving. Start with a trip you want, then inspect the current booking options, dates and total price before deciding how useful that balance would be. Avoid selecting a card solely because an attractive flight appears in an example. A trip must work for your schedule and budget as well as your points balance. If you have not identified a realistic use, compare your other options before making a commitment to meet the purchase requirement.
Who should consider the offer, and who should wait?
These offers may suit someone who has a realistic use for Avios, can meet the purchase requirement through planned spending, and finds that the chosen card’s complete terms justify its fee. Before applying, consider the trips you would use the rewards toward and inspect current booking options rather than assigning the bonus a guaranteed cash value. The offer itself does not promise a particular cabin, route, ticket or number of trips. Keep the decision grounded in a travel plan that makes sense even without an optimistic redemption assumption.
Waiting can be sensible if the purchase threshold would stretch your budget, if you do not yet know how you would use the rewards, or if you have not compared the three products beyond their identical bonus. The October deadline leaves a defined window to make that comparison, not a requirement to apply. Review the issuer’s current eligibility and application conditions, choose only a product you understand, and treat the welcome offer as one part of the decision rather than the entire reason to open a card.