Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Aer Lingus Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

Aer Lingus Visa Signature Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card a compelling choice for travelers.

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• You can earn 3X Avios on purchases with Aer Lingus and its partners, plus 2X Avios on hotel stays.

• With no foreign transaction fees and priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights, this card is ideal for international travel.

• The companion ticket benefit, earned after meeting the annual spending threshold, can easily justify the card's $95 annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• A generous rewards structure lets you earn Avios points on every purchase, with accelerated earnings on travel with partner airlines.

• Valuable travel perks like a companion ticket benefit, priority boarding, and no foreign transaction fees enhance the travel experience.

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Cons

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• The card’s rewards currency, Avios, offers less flexibility compared to other travel rewards programs.

• Its benefits are narrowly focused, making it less suitable for travelers who don't frequently fly with Aer Lingus or its partners.

• The valuable companion ticket benefit is locked behind a high annual spending requirement.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Aer Lingus Visa Signature, depends entirely on your travel habits and reward goals. Each card caters to a different type of traveler, offering unique benefits tailored to specific needs.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent entry-level travel card. It offers a flexible rewards program that isn't tied to a single airline or hotel chain, making it a versatile choice for beginners.
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is a co-branded travel rewards card designed for frequent flyers of the airline. It is particularly valuable for travelers who often fly to Ireland and other European destinations.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: You can redeem your points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal or transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners. This flexibility allows you to book travel with numerous brands beyond a single loyalty program.

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Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Rewards are primarily redeemed for flights on Aer Lingus, making it ideal for those who frequently travel with the airline. You can also use points for flights with partner airlines, such as British Airways and Iberia.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portal: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card operates through the flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, where your points get a value boost on travel redemptions. In contrast, the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card's rewards are redeemed directly with the airline for flights on Aer Lingus and its partners.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent companions for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States.
• Lounge Access: If airport lounge access is a must-have, you'll need to look elsewhere, as neither of these cards offers it as a standard perk.
• Airline-Specific Perks: The Aer Lingus card shines with benefits like priority boarding on its flights. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card takes a broader approach, offering general travel protections and credits instead of perks tied to a single airline.
• Companion Ticket: A major draw for the Aer Lingus card is its companion ticket, awarded after meeting a significant annual spending threshold. This can provide immense value for couples or friends traveling together. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not offer a similar benefit.
• Annual Credits: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card helps offset its annual fee with an annual hotel credit. The Aer Lingus card focuses its value proposition on flight-related rewards rather than statement credits.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial platform that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data—all before you apply and without a hard credit pull.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a new card based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of applying through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• New user incentives: Earn rewards for signing up, such as a $20 bonus after making a qualifying purchase or a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding eligible cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Personalized management: Track spending across multiple cards, monitor your credit score, and get actionable insights all in one place.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals who spend on dining and travel, as it offers robust travel protections and accelerated points on these purchases. Overall, it's a top-tier entry point into the world of travel rewards, offering flexibility and value as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Who Should Choose the Aer Lingus Visa Signature?

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The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers to Ireland and Europe, particularly those loyal to the airline and its partners. It's also an excellent choice for rewards enthusiasts who want to earn Avios points for use across partner airlines like British Airways and Iberia. Furthermore, travelers who can meet the $30,000 annual spending requirement can unlock a companion ticket, adding substantial value for those who fly with a partner.

Alternatives to Consider

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So you've reviewed the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card comparison and neither one is calling your name. Let's take a look at a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better fit.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Credit Score: Check your credit score before applying, as most premium travel cards require good to excellent credit.
• Application Rules: Be aware of issuer-specific rules, like the Chase 5/24 rule, which could affect your approval.
• Spending Strategy: Have a plan to meet any minimum spending requirements for welcome offers or high-value perks like a companion ticket.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet welcome offer spending requirements.
• Use helpful tools: Consider using a service like Kudos or CardMatch to find the best offers and streamline your application.
• Be patient: If you don't find the elevated offer you're looking for, wait and try different methods before applying.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to Aer Lingus?

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Yes, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred directly to the Aer Lingus AerClub loyalty program, often at a 1:1 ratio.

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Which card is better for booking flights specifically on Aer Lingus?

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The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is typically better for booking directly with the airline, as it offers specific perks like a companion ticket and priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights.

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Can I use Avios from the Aer Lingus card on other airlines?

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Yes, because Aer Lingus is part of the Avios program, you can use your points to book award flights on partner airlines such as British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways.

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