Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Aer Lingus Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

Aer Lingus Visa Signature Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we think the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is a strong contender for travelers.

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• Cardholders can earn accelerated rewards on flights with partner airlines and on hotel accommodations, making it a great tool for travel spending.
• While the card carries an annual fee, it eliminates foreign transaction fees, which is a significant perk for international travel.
• Spending around $3,200 on flights with Aer Lingus or its partners could earn enough Avios to offset the annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Cardholders can earn Avios on every purchase, with accelerated earnings on flights with Aer Lingus and its partners, as well as on hotel accommodations.
• The card includes valuable travel perks such as priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights and the ability to earn a companion ticket.
• It's a strong choice for international travel since it has no foreign transaction fees and points can be redeemed across multiple partner airlines.

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Cons

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• The card’s value is heavily tied to flying with Aer Lingus and its partners, offering limited redemption flexibility for those who travel with other airlines.
• Unlocking the card’s most attractive benefits, such as the companion ticket, requires a substantial annual spend that may be out of reach for many cardholders.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or Aer Lingus Visa Signature, depends entirely on your travel style. One card is built for hotel loyalists, while the other caters to frequent flyers on specific routes.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This is a hotel co-branded travel rewards card designed for frequent travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties and want to earn elite status.
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: As an airline travel rewards card, this option is best suited for travelers who frequently fly with Aer Lingus and its partners, particularly to destinations in Ireland and Europe.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Points earned with this card are best redeemed for free nights and room upgrades at hotels and resorts within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also transfer points to a variety of airline loyalty programs for added flexibility.

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Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Rewards are redeemed for flights on Aer Lingus and its partner airlines, which is particularly valuable for travelers heading to Ireland and Europe. Points can also be used to cover taxes and fees on award tickets.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® and Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card come with no foreign transaction fees, making them solid choices for international travel.
• Elite Status and Priority Perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card provides automatic Silver Elite Status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, offering benefits like late checkout. In contrast, the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card gives cardholders priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights.
• Annual Companion & Award Travel: Cardholders of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® receive a Free Night Award each year after their account anniversary. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card offers an economy companion ticket after you meet a specific spending threshold each year.
• Lounge Access: Neither of these cards includes complimentary airport lounge access as a standard perk.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision even easier, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards side-by-side.

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• Test drive a credit card: The platform’s Test Drive feature lets you simulate your potential earnings with a new card based on your actual spending data, all before you apply.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Check your approval odds: Kudos provides a detailed analysis of your likelihood of getting approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Earn extra rewards with Kudos Boost: You can earn additional rewards on top of your credit card points when shopping at your favorite stores.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card is primarily designed for frequent guests of Marriott properties, from business travelers to vacationing families. Beyond hotel stays, it also caters to everyday spenders who want to earn points on groceries, gas, and dining, and value-conscious travelers who can leverage the annual free night award. Ultimately, as our Boundless card review explains, it’s an excellent tool for those looking to fast-track their way to a higher elite status within the Bonvoy program.

Who Should Choose the Aer Lingus Visa Signature?

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The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers to Ireland and Europe, particularly those loyal to the Aer Lingus brand. Its value shines for users who can take full advantage of perks like priority boarding and the annual companion ticket, which is earned after meeting a spending threshold. Furthermore, it's a strong contender for anyone looking to accumulate Avios points for flights on Aer Lingus and its partner airlines, as detailed in this comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most travel rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can meet any minimum spend requirement for a welcome offer without going into debt.
• Review the rewards ecosystem: Make sure the card’s loyalty program, like Marriott Bonvoy or Avios, aligns with your travel goals.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules: Some issuers, like Chase, have unwritten rules that can affect your approval odds.
• Time your application wisely: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the minimum spend requirement naturally.
• Be patient and persistent: If you don't see the best offer right away, try searching again later or using a different browser.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for earning hotel stays?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is specifically designed for earning points redeemable at Marriott properties, making it the superior choice for Marriott loyalists. While Avios from the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card can be used for some hotel bookings, their primary value lies in flight redemptions.

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What are the annual fees for these cards?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card each have an annual fee. You should always review a card's official terms and conditions for the most current pricing information before applying.

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Can I transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy and Aer Lingus?

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You cannot directly transfer points earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to the Aer Lingus AerClub program, or vice versa. However, both are transfer partners of other flexible point currencies, which can sometimes act as a bridge between the programs.

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Which card offers better benefits for flying?

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The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is tailored for air travel, offering benefits like a companion ticket opportunity and priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card focuses on hotel perks and offers fewer direct flight benefits.

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