#13 Among Airlines
Point Value
1.50 ¢
Hobby Score
5.3
Aer Lingus uses Avios, a flexible and easy-to-use rewards currency.
There are three top ways to earn Aer Lingus AerClub Avios: flying with Aer Lingus or its partner airlines, opening and spending on their co-branded credit card, or transferring from a credit card partner.
Aer Lingus offers one U.S. co-branded credit card backed by Chase. The signup bonus is strong and useful for a quick boost of AerClub Avios.It’s generally not a long-term keeper card for most travelers.
Aer Lingus partners with four major transferable point systems:
This makes topping up your Avios easy and flexible. You can freely transfer Avios between all airlines that use Avios, which expands your earning options. Because transfer partners differ across Avios-earning airlines, you can route points creatively:For example, you can transfer from Capital One to British Airways then to Aer Lingus.
You can earn Avios when flying on Aer Lingus partner airlines:
With other partners, earnings vary by airline. Avios may be awarded based on the fare paid, distance flown, or a combination of both
Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card
Redeeming your miles for airfare directly with Aer Lingus is the best use of your Avios. Because seven airlines share Avios as their currency, and you can transfer Avios freely between all of them, you have added flexibility when planning redemptions.
Aer Lingus uses a published award chart for all its bookings. Keep in mind that you can only book Aer Lingus–operated flights through Aer Lingus, even though they have many partners.
Aer Lingus has a travel portal that allows you to use your Avios for travel expenses like hotel stays and car rentals. These will never offer the same value as redeeming your Avios for airfare through Aer Lingus.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Since you can transfer Avios freely among all airlines who use it as currency, this makes Aer Lingus AerClub Avios very flexible. Use British for oneworld partners, Iberia for lower surcharges, and Qatar for their non-oneworld partners
Aer Lingus isn’t the first Avios ecosystem we’d recommend, but it’s a good complement to other airline loyalty programs that use Avios as their currency. If you regularly fly to Ireland, you’ll want to at least dip your toes into the Aer Lingus AerClub program. Opening their co-branded credit card is an easy way to get a boost of points through a signup bonus. Since Aer Lingus also partners with American Express, Bilt, Chase, and Wells Fargo, you’ll have plenty of options for topping up. And because you can freely transfer Avios between all seven programs that use them, the flexibility is excellent.
While the best redemptions are for flights to and from Ireland, there are also decent options for continuing onward to other parts of Europe. Flying through Dublin offers the most consistent value. Surcharges are usually lower than what you’d pay with British Airways, though Iberia typically charges the lowest taxes and fees on comparable routes.
If premium cabins are what you’re after, Aer Lingus is where the Avios ecosystem falls short. You’re better off booking through British Airways or Qatar Airways for long-haul business or first class. Aer Lingus is a solid program overall, but it’s best suited to experienced travelers or those who fly regularly between the U.S. and Ireland. Its use of Avios still provides plenty of redemption opportunities across the airlines that share the currency.
Aer Lingus has four elite status tiers. Green is the entry level you receive simply by signing up. Green status allows you to earn and redeem Avios and begin earning tier credits toward the next level of status.
To move up through the tiers, you must earn a set number of tier credits. You earn tier credits based on the type of ticket you book and whether your flights are within Europe or transatlantic. You can view the full breakdown of tier credit earning rates here.
Here are the three other levels, requirements you’ll need to get to each level, and the benefits of each
Make sure you know the expiration date of your Avios if you cancel the card, and remember that there is only one Aer Lingus co-branded card available. Since you can move Avios freely between all airlines that use them as currency, it’s easy to keep your miles alive. And because so many credit cards transfer to Aer Lingus (and to the other Avios programs), you’ll have plenty of options for keeping your account active and preventing expiration.
