By : 
Mr Credit Card
Mr Credit Card
Review of the US Airways Visa Signature Credit Card
("Card issued by FIA Card Services, N.A.")
Summary - We recommend US Airways Visa Signature to the US Airways frequent flyer. The main features of this card are as follows :
- Earn double miles for any US Airways ticket purchase with the card
- Get 25,000 bonus miles when you are approved for the card
- Earn unlimited miles
- Get a $99 Companion Certificate good for two guest every year
- Earn double miles
- Get a $99.00 Companion Certificate every year
- Earn unlimited miles
- High annual fee, though this is offset when you make use of your $99.00 companion certificate that you get every year
Let us look at this card in greater detail.
Miles Formula - The US Airways Visa Signature allows you to earn double miles on purchases made directly from US Airways. You earn one mile for every dollar you spend on other purchases. You can earn unlimited miles. You get 25,000 bonus Dividend Miles after your first purchase. You also get a complimentary US Airways Club membership.
Anniversary Bonus - Each year when you renew your card, you will get a $99.00 Companion Certificate that is good for two guest.
Annual Fee and APR - The annual fee for this card is $90.00. You get a 0% introductory apr for 6 billing cycles for both purchases and balance transfers. There after, the apr is prime rate plus 9.99%. The average daily balance method (including new purchases) is used to calculate the monthly balance.
Verdict - The strengths of the US Airways� Visa� Signature are that you can earn double miles, earn unlimited miles and get a $99.00 Companion certificate every year. Making use of this will more than cover the cost of the annual fee. Furthermore, you get 25,000 bonus miles when you make your first purchase, enough to get you a free roundtrip ticket within the continental US. You also get a host of other perks like unlimited space available for upgrades, preferred boarding and check-in, miles earned count towards preferred status. Frequent Flyers of US Airways should consider getting this card to earn faster Dividend Miles.
Alternative - For those who are members of a few frequent flier programs (including the Dividend) miles program may want to consider the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express. The Starwood program allows you to transfer points to 30 frequent flier programs on a one for one ratio. For the Dividend Miles, you can exchange one point for one mile. Furthermore, you get 5,000 bonus miles when you transfer 20,000 points (note that 25,000 miles is enough for a economy class roundtrip ticket in the US). The annual fee is only $45.
Positives
Negatives
| US Airways Visa Signature | |
| Miles Formula | |
| Miles per Dollar | 1 miles |
| Miles per Dollar spent for tickets purchases and vacation packages directly from,America West | 2 Dividend miles for every dollar |
| Miles Expiration | No, unless account inactive for 3 years |
| Yearly Limit on Miles you can earn | Earn unlimited miles |
| Bonus Miles | 15,000 Miles after first purchase |
| Anniversary Bonus Miles | $99.00 companion certificate good for 2 guest |
| Perks/Notation* | |
|
Up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance Auto rental insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Purchase protection Extended warranty protection Various travel and emergency assistance services Medical referral services Legal referral services Lost luggage recovery Emergency airline ticket replacement No liability for unauthorized Internet transactions Optional personal photo on card Optional Mini Card See website for additional benefits |
|
| Cost/Fees/Interest rates | |
| (APR) Purchase | Intro Rate - 1.9% for six billing cycles. Goto rate is a variable risk based rate between Prime + 9.99% |
| (APR) Balance Transfer | Intro Rate - 1.9% for six billing cycles. Goto rate is a variable risk based rate between Prime + 9.99% |
| (APR) Cash Advance | 21.99% Variable * minimum 19.99% . (P + 15.99%) |
| Finance Configuration | Average Daily Balance (including new purchases) |
| Annual Fee | $90.00 |
| Additional Cardholders | $0 |
| Grace Period | 20 days (Min) |
| Late Payment fee | Based on Account balance on the fee assessment date - $15 for balances less than or equal to $100, $29 for balances $100.01 to $250, $39 for balances greater than $250. |
| Over-the-limit fee | Based on the highest Account balance during the Billing Cycle - $15 for balances less than or equal to $500, $29 for balances $500.01 to $1000, $39 for balances greater than $1000. |
| Cash Advance fee | 3% min $10.00 |