Get 5,000 Avios as a sign-up bonus with the Aer Lingus credit card

Whilst we don’t write about it much, Aer Lingus has its own Avios-earning credit card.

Our full review of the Aer Lingus Aer Credit Card, issued by Bank of Ireland, is here. It’s not very attractive – a terrible earning rate of 1 Avios per €4 spent and a €108 annual fee when you include the Government Stamp Duty.

On the upside, there are some decent soft benefits:

• 2 free Aer Lingus tickets EVERY YEAR for spending €5,000 on the card (taxes apply)
• 2 Fast Track & Priority Boarding passes every year
• 2 lounge passes
• Worldwide multi-trip travel insurance including winter sports

I’m not going to analyse the value of these soft benefits in detail because our review does it well enough.

For only the fourth time ever, I think, Bank of Ireland is offering a sign-up bonus on this card.

Until 16th February 2024, new cardholders who spend €1,000 by 16th May 2024 will receive a bonus of 5,000 Avios.

When you factor in the lounge passes and the two free short-haul flights, I think the card now becomes reasonable value for the first year. Whilst UK residents may find the earning rate very weak, there isn’t a lot of competition in the Irish market. I’d be reconsidering my options after the first year, however.

You can find out more, and apply, on the Bank of Ireland website here.