Big changes appear to be coming to the Aer Lingus credit card

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

• BJ says:

  13 Aug13 August 04:00

  I guess they’ve missed something or you’ve missed something 🙂 Let’s see when the new dwal goes live.

  • sohan says:

    13 Aug13 August 08:19

    I reckon it’s not going to last long. It costs 865 eur to buy 40000 avios at the moment from EI. They will quickly raise the spend threshold and drop the free avios to 20k. BOI are making massive profits so they can offer this, but that won’t last.
    I also suspect the staff who had to administer the old system were one of the loudest voices for change! What a faff that was, classic EI.

    • BJ says:

      13 Aug13 August 08:33

      My guess is the fee is what’s wrong and it’s going to change.

    • polly says:

      13 Aug13 August 09:56

      Sohan. Don’t be giving them ideas!
      Well l hope that difference in purchasing v earning price is not brought to anyone’s attention just yet! 2 big banks in it, BOI and AIB. They might start out doing each other at some point to attract the avios market. I guess you then have Ulster Bank out there too.
      But it’s a brave move for BOI. For now.

      • BJ says:

        13 Aug13 August 11:22

        I don’t think they’re so dim Polly but then again look at the article on Expedia OneKey today so who knows. I wish the best for your family and other ROI readers that this comes to pass as per article.

        • Polly says:

          13 Aug13 August 11:41

          Ha BJ. Tongue in cheek there. Yes, it would be a wonderful improvement for ROI and EI avios enthusiasts. It was time though. Gold Circle then aerclub not been great really, down through the years. Ours friends and families over there have watched in wonder at some of our trips, esp those from Dublin on both QR and BA. They really wished for something like this initiative.
          Also, as it’s not Amex, their cards are accepted everywhere, so avios can easily mount up. Here, we need two cards for our collecting. As you say, here’s hoping.

      • sohan says:

        13 Aug13 August 12:21

        BOI probably have exclusivity agreement so doubt there’ll be competition. If anything the only real competition is RevPoints. I think that’s what made them jump. Also Ulster left the market this year…

• Tariq says:

  13 Aug13 August 05:07

  I guess if you can spend EUR5000 before Oct then you’d apply now, get the current benefits including booking the free flight, and then bank the 5000 Avios reward bonus in Jan and the new benefits from Oct onwards?

  • Polly says:

    13 Aug13 August 06:44

    That’s definitely a consideration Tariq. Smart thinking. Will now advise my lot to start collecting properly, as all their spend will count. Not having Amex at their fingertips has been very frustrating these past few years.

  • Rob says:

    13 Aug13 August 07:30

    Yes

• Polly says:

  13 Aug13 August 06:51

  I can’t find anything on obtaining a supplementary card either. Would be useful for couples. So only one annual fee to pay. Definitely would attract more punters. They’re so used to being charged for credit cards over there with NO rewards at all!.

  • flying high says:

    13 Aug13 August 07:21

    you can have a supplementary card for free

  • JDB says:

    13 Aug13 August 07:30

    Yes, you can have up to three additional cardholders with no extra monthly charge (and no additional stamp duty).

    • polly says:

      13 Aug13 August 09:50

      Tnx JDB and Flying High. Will pass that info along now.

• JDB says:

  13 Aug13 August 07:25

  @Rob – when you ask about how the new rewards are affordable for BoI, the bank has the advantage (as Barclays does in the UK) of being a key player in the whole credit card processing fee chain.

  • Nick says:

    13 Aug13 August 13:45

    … with EI having a major commercial contract with AIB and at a point in time when another part of IAG (BA) has just signed a contract with them too. Not entirely surprising that BOI wants to remain in the game.

• Myler says:

  13 Aug13 August 15:26

  Revolut’s rev points transfer to avios at 1:1 have BOI running scared, they needed to do something to keep the Avios collectors as customers.

• PeterV says:

  13 Aug13 August 16:06

  I don’t see anything restricting residency to Ireland. Could be a very interesting option for residents of other Eurozone countries

  • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

    13 Aug13 August 20:29

    In the application process: “I am a permanent resident in the Republic of Ireland and have been for at least the past 6 months”

    • PeterV says:

      13 Aug13 August 21:19

      Sorry, I stand corrected! I’ve only read the T&Cs, but haven’t actually started the application process.

  • Michael says:

    13 Aug13 August 20:38

    You need to be a resident of Ireland and must enter your PPS Number (aka Social Security), Irish mobile and Irish address as part of your application.
    The application clearly states “We use your PPSN to check the Central Credit Register. This check is recorded on the Register, as is the opening of your credit card (if approved)”, so there’s no way to apply if not an Irish resident.

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      14 Aug14 August 01:23

      Which is the norm across the EU and rather makes a mockery of the single market concept. Even opening a € savings account in a member state one is not resident in is fraught with difficulty.

• ADS says:

  13 Aug13 August 23:07

  if you’re an existing card holder and haven’t spent much on your card so far … surely you’re better off cancelling your card NOW … and reapplying (restarting the clock) ?

• Chris says:

  14 Aug14 August 20:02

  Question on Aer Lingus availability. Looking at GLA-DUB, they seem to only release 1 seat per flight. Is that all they release?? Looking as far out as I can and seems to be the pattern. Do they release further seats closer to the time?

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.