Iberia Visa Signature Card Review: For Travelers to Spain and Beyond

Iberia Visa Signature Card Benefits

Generous Welcome Bonus

The card offers a substantial welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

That’s enough for two round-trip, off-peak Iberia economy tickets from the U.S. East Coast to Madrid or Barcelona. But you can redeem Avios for flights on any Oneworld airline, so you’re not obligated to use the bonus for a trip to Spain.

Annual Iberia Discount Voucher

Iberia cardholders can earn a $1,000 discount voucher toward two Iberia tickets on the same flight for every calendar year they spend at least $30,000 on purchases with their card. While that’s a hefty spending requirement, it averages out to $2,500 per month.

If you know you can reach the spending threshold and already have plans to fly Iberia, this perk can amount to significant savings.

10% Airfare Discount

As a cardholder, you can receive a 10% discount on Iberia airfare when you book your flight on through iberia.com/Chase10. The discount works on round-trip bookings on Iberia (not partners), and only applies to the base fare, not taxes, fees and carrier surcharges.

You can use the discount for yourself and up to eight other passengers booked on the same flight at the same time.

Travel and Purchase Protections

When you use the Iberia Card to pay for travel or purchases, you can receive coverage in case things go wrong. Cardholders receive:

• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty

Iberia Visa Signature Card Drawbacks

No Day-of-Travel Benefits

The best airline credit cards typically offer perks that can save you money and time when you fly, such as free checked bags and priority boarding. The Iberia Card doesn’t offer any of these benefits, nor does it include lounge access or a faster path to elite status.

Annual Airfare Discount Restrictions

To earn the annual $1,000 Iberia discount voucher, you’ll need to spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. If you’re not a big spender, this perk won’t add value. The voucher must also be used for two tickets on the same flight, making it useless if you’re a solo traveler.

Annual Fee

A $95 annual fee is typical for mid-tier airline credit cards. Since the Iberia Card doesn’t offer day-of-travel benefits, you’ll want to carefully consider whether you can maximize the card’s other perks to justify the annual fee.

Limited Travel Protections

Many top travel credit cards come with robust travel insurance, such as trip cancellation/interruption coverage, primary rental car insurance and trip delay reimbursement. The Iberia Credit Card is light on benefits, offering only reimbursement for lost luggage and baggage delays.

If these perks are important to you, consider one of the best credit cards for travel insurance instead.

Who Is the Chase Iberia Visa Signature Card Best For?

Couples who can use the Iberia discount voucher will find this card especially valuable, as they can save up to $1,000 when booking two tickets on the same Iberia flight. Because most of my international travel is with my spouse, I book my European flights on Iberia so I can make good use of this voucher.

It’s also a good choice for those seeking to earn Avios that can be redeemed on many Oneworld and other partner airlines, including British Airways, Aer Lingus and Qatar Airways. This can be particularly useful if you intend to use the Avios you earn to redeem for short-haul flights on domestic U.S. carriers such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, where cash fares can be quite expensive, but award tickets are attainable because they are priced based on distance.

Those who do most of their travel on Iberia, British Airways and Aer Lingus can extract good value from buying tickets with the card, as it earns 3x Avios on those purchases. Plus, the 10% discount on Iberia airfare can be significant for frequent flyers.

Is It the Right Card for You?

The Iberia Visa Signature Card is a strong option for Iberia loyalists who can maximize its benefits, but you should only consider it if:

• You’re able to spend enough and take advantage of the $1,000 Iberia airfare discount voucher
• You don’t mind not having free checked baggage or priority boarding benefits
• You can make the most of a 10% discount on Iberia flights
• You know how to redeem Avios for maximum value

Alternatives to the Iberia Visa Signature Card

If you’re not sure about the Iberia Credit Card or prefer more flexibility, you might want to consider a general travel credit card that earns transferable points you can convert to Avios and other partner airline and hotel reward currencies. Here are a few top picks:

• American Express® Gold Card: With the Amex Gold (an advertising partner), you can transfer the Membership Rewards® points you earn to American Express’ airline and hotel partners, including Iberia. It offers high earning rates on dining and at U.S. supermarkets, making it ideal for foodies. While it charges a $325 annual fee, the Amex Gold can be worth it if you make the most of the card’s multiple statement credits, including up to $100 per year toward Resy restaurant purchases. (Enrollment Required).
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This $95-annual-fee card is well-suited for those who prefer flexibility over loyalty. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you can transfer to many airline and hotel loyalty programs, including Iberia. It comes with a $50 annual Chase Travel℠ hotel credit, as well as comprehensive travel insurance coverage to help you when things don’t go as planned.