Best Avios Credit Cards in 2024

Did you know you can earn points for using a rewards credit card? Yes, you can earn points, vouchers and even cashback with different types of rewards cards. 

If you're a keen traveller, you might benefit more from a travel reward credit card, often known as an air miles card. You can earn points for spending and use them to upgrade your travel plans. If you travel a lot for work, there's also a great selection of Avios business credit cards.

One of the most popular air miles schemes is Avios, the rewards system for British Airways and a number of other airlines. There are a number of credit cards that let you earn Avios points which you can then redeem on various travel perks, including reduced flight prices, travel companion vouchers, car hire and more.

In this article, you'll learn about Avios points and the pros and cons of having a travel rewards credit card, and we'll introduce you to the best credit card for earning Avios points.

Card Name	Score	Details
1. British Airways American Express Credit Card	★★★★★	Learn more
2. Barclaycard Avios Credit Card	★★★★★	Learn more
3. British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card	★★★★★	Learn more
4. Barclaycard Avios Plus Card	★★★★★	Learn more
5. American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card	★★★★★	Learn more
6. HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard	★★★★★	Learn more
7. American Express Nectar Credit Card	★★★★★	Learn more

What is an Avios Credit Card?

An Avios credit card is a rewards card that allows you to collect Avios in exchange for using it for everyday spending. These air miles credit cards are a great way to collect rewards if you travel regularly and the card can be used on flights with British Airways and other airlines.

Several credit cards let you earn Avios when you spend. Each credit card provider will have a tariff on how many Avios you can earn. Typically, you’ll find that for every £1 you spend, you’ll earn 1 Avios point. Depending on the credit card, you may earn more. 

Avios is the reward currency of British Airways. British Airways is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance. So this means you can use Avios reward flight booking with over 30 airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Virgin Australia, and many more.

How do Avios credit card points work?

Every time you use your Avios credit card, you will collect Avios points. These can be redeemed when you buy flights, although you still need to pay for tax and some other charges so the flight isn't completely free.

If you use the credit card in the same way as you use a debit card – for all of your normal spending per month – you can quickly build up quite a lot of Avios points. Just remember to clear the card each month to avoid paying interest on anything you owe.

Avios points don't expire as long as you collect, buy or transfer at least one Avios every 36 months.

What is the best Avios Credit Card?

Here, we have gathered the best Avios credit cards ideal for frequent flyers.

1. British Airways American Express Avios Credit Card

• Annual fee: no fees
• Sign-up bonus: earn 5,000 bonus Avios points if you spend a minimum of £1,000 in the first three months
• Credit limit: minimum £700
• APR: 31% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 31% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 31% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

For every £1 spent with the British Airways American Express Credit Card, you'll earn 1 Avios. You can also collect up to 90,000 bonus Avios annually when you invite your friends to join American Express. You can make an additional 1,000 Avios when you add the first Supplementary Card to your Account.

You'll also get a Companion Voucher when you spend £12,000 each membership year on the card – you can use this voucher to travel with a companion on the same flight. If you're travelling solo, you can use companion vouchers for a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay for your flight.

If you choose the British Airways American Express Credit Card, you'll automatically be enrolled in the British Airways Executive Club to redeem Avios immediately.

On top of British Airways experiences, you can also take advantage of American Express Experiences. You'll gain access to travel benefits such as Global Assist and Travel Accident Insurance.

You can apply and get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. To save time before using the British Airways American Express card, check your eligibility. You must be 18 or older, have a good credit history, and have a UK current account and a permanent UK home address.

2. Barclaycard Avios Credit Card

• Annual fee: £0
• Sign-up bonuses: new Barclaycard Avios card members collect 5,000 Avios points when they spend £1,000 in the first three months
• Credit limit: minimum £50
• APR: 29.9% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 29.9% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 29.9% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

The Barclaycard Avios Card allows you to collect 1 Avios for every £1 you spend with this credit card. When you spend £20,000 on your card within 12 months and repay the balance on time, you can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher for an Avios Reward Flight booking or 7,000 bonus Avios.

Save your time and potential credit file marks with the Barclaycard online eligibility checker to determine if you'll be accepted before applying. To be eligible for this Barclaycard Avios card, you'll need a personal income of more than £20,000 per annum and have had no IVAs, CCJs, or declared bankruptcies in the past six years.

3. British Airways American Express Premium Plus Avios Card

• Annual fee: £250
• Sign-up bonus: collect 25,000 Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first three months of Card Membership
• Credit limit: minimum £700
• APR: 113.1% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 31% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 113.1% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

Excel your spending even further by earning 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent with the British Airways American Express Premium Plus credit card. Additionally, you can earn 3x Avios on purchases made with British Airways or British Airways Holidays for every £1 you spend.

You can also earn additional Avios by inviting a friend to apply for a British Airways American Express card; if they're accepted, you'll earn at least 9,000 Avios. You can collect up to 90,000 bonus Avios each year by inviting friends.

When you spend £10,000 each membership year on the credit card, you'll get a Companion Voucher which you can use to take a friend with you on the same flight and cabin, or you can use for a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay for your flight.

With this credit card, you'll have travel benefits such as Travel Inconvenience Insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, and Global Assist. On top of British Airways experiences, you can also take advantage of American Express Experiences.

4. Barclaycard Avios Plus Card

• Monthly fee: £20
• Sign-up bonus: new Barclaycard Avios users can collect 25,000 Avios points when they spend £3,000 in the first three months
• Credit limit: minimum £50
• APR: 80.1% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 29.9% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 80.1% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

With the Barclaycard Avios Plus Card, you can collect 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent. When you spend £10,000 within 12 months, you can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking or exchange it for a 7,000 bonus Avios.

Further benefits include a free Airport Lounge Membership which gives you access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide at a discounted rate of £18.50 per lounge pass per person.

You'll also gain access to Barclaycard Entertainment, where you can get tickets, 5% off presale selected events, 10% off presale tickets and savings on food and drink.

To be eligible for this card, you must be over 21, earn more than £20,000 per annum, and have at least four years of experience managing credit.

5. American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

• Annual fee: no fees in your first year and £195 annual fee after
• Sign-up bonus: collect 20,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend £3,000 in the first three months of card membership
• Credit limit: minimum £700
• APR: 88.8% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 31% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 88.8% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

With the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card, you earn 1X points on purchases for every £1 spent, double points on purchases made directly with airlines for every £1 spent, and 3X points on American Express Travel for every £1 spent.

Membership Rewards Points can be exchanged for Avios at a 1:1 rate. You can earn up to 90,000 points a year for referring a friend to American Express. However, watch out for the hefty £195 fee in the second year.

On top of earning Membership Rewards points for your everyday spending, you'll get four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits every year in over 1,300 airports globally.

Gold Cardmembers have exclusive access to unique events like a cocktail making masterclass with Casamigos and behind-the-scenes Q&A with The Athletic at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Additionally, as a Gold Card member, you can earn £5 on Deliveroo orders twice a month.

You can choose how you'd like to spend your Membership Rewards Points, convert points to your preferred rewards programme, and make purchases with them at merchants such as Amazon. As these points don't expire, you can save them up.

6. HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: £195
• Sign-up bonus: collect 80,000 bonus points if you meet the first 3 and 12 month spending criteria
• Credit limit: minimum £5,000
• APR: 59.3% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 18.9% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 59.3% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

Although the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard has its own points system, HSBC points convert 2:1 into Avios or nine other points programs. You earn 2 HSBC points for every £1 spent on the credit card and 4 points for every £1 spent in eligible non-sterling currency. Bonus points of up to 80,000 are also available.

With this credit card, you'll gain free access to more than 750 airport lounges worldwide with Priority Pass – just show your Premier World Elite Mastercard at the lounge door, and you can wait for your flight in comfort.

You'll also get discounts on selected hotels and 12 months of complimentary Expedia+ Gold membership.

To be eligible for this credit card, you must hold an HSBC Premier Account, be over 18, and have UK residency.

7. American Express Nectar Credit Card

• Annual fee: £0 fee in your first year and then a £30 annual fee yearly
• Sign-up bonus: earn 20,000 Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in your first three months of card membership
• Credit limit: minimum £700
• APR: 37.8% variable

Representative Example: if you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 31% p.a (variable), your representative APR will be 37.8% (variable). Credit limits and APR may vary depending on your circumstances.

The American Express Nectar Credit Card allows you to earn 2 Sainsbury's Nectar points on purchases for every £1 spent, and 3 points for every £1 spent at Nectar partners when using your credit card and a loyalty card. You can earn an additional 5,000 Nectar points per friend you refer, earning up to 90,000 a year.

You can convert your Nectar points into Avios; 400 Nectar points is 250 Avios. You can also convert Avios into Nectar points at a 300:400 rate.

You can redeem your Nectar points with over 300 big brand partners, including British Airways, Booking.com, and more.

This credit card comes with additional benefits such as 24/7 Global Assist, American Express Offers, and access to American Express Experiences. You can check your eligibility on the Amex website without affecting your credit rating, so you can apply confidently, and it only takes a few minutes.

How to redeem your Avios points?

There are a few different options when it comes to redeeming your Avios points, and you don't just have to use them for flights. The options range from hotel stays to car hire and the things you can redeem will depend on the number of points you've collected, as we explain here.

It's not just credit cards you can earn rewards with either, there's also a great selection of reward current accounts available.

Flights

When you use Avios to book a flight, they’re called reward flights. You can fly to any worldwide destination where there's availability with British Airways or one of their Oneworld partners. You can use British Airways Reward Flight Saver to find the best flight deals with great value.

If you travel for work there's also a range of business credit cards with airmiles to choose from.

Hotel stays

There are thousands of participating hotel chains around the world where you can spend your Avios points.

Car rentals

If you rent a car with Avis or Budget car you can use your Avios points to pay. You'll also collect Avios points when using these companies for car hire.

Flight upgrades

You can use your Avios balance to upgrade your booking on selected fares with American Airlines, Iberia, and British Airways. You can upgrade your flight when booking or upgrade an existing flight. Avios upgrades are available for your Avios reward flight too.

Unique travel experiences

You can also exchange your Avios points for unique travel experiences when you're travelling.

Shopping

If you're buying anything from the High Life Shop or High Life Café when flying you can use your Avios points instead of paying in cash or by card. You can also buy from these shops with your points if you're at home, and choose home delivery.

Charity Donations

There's also an option to give your Avios points to charity, through the BA Better World Community Fund.

How to choose the best Avios card for you?

There are a few Avios cards to choose from, to help you decide have a look at the following features of each:

• Earn rate: you can choose from a set rate of Avios for every £1 you spend on the card or a sliding scale of points you can earn, based on your spending.
• Sign-up bonus: many Avios credit cards have big sign-up bonuses. Just make sure you will spend enough to receive the bonus, based on your current spending.
• Annual fee: there may be an annual fee for an Avios credit card, take this into account when looking at your overall benefits to decide if it's worth it.
• Travel benefits: it's not just flights you can redeem your points for, but you'll want a card with benefits you will actually use.
• Redemption options: choose a card with redemption options you understand and will use.
• Additional features: there may be extra features thrown in with your Avios card, such as fraud protection or specific shopping offers. You will want to choose a card with features you will use.
• Card issuer: there are several issuers of Avios cards, you may not be accepted for a card if you already have a credit card with the same issuer.

The advantages of Avios credit cards

Here are some of the main benefits of having an Avios credit card:

✔️ Avios rewards: collect Avios by regular spending: with a travel rewards card, you earn and collect Avios every time you use your credit card to make a purchase. So, you wouldn’t need to change your spending habits to earn Avios; just use your credit card instead of your regular bank account.

✔️ Sign-up Bonuses: You can gain additional bonuses on top of earning points. Some credit card providers have a sign-up bonus where you earn extra Avios points just for signing up to the credit card and spending a specified amount in a period of time.

✔️ Travel benefits: some providers give you a companion voucher for spending a set amount over a period of time, so you can choose to bring along a friend on a trip, or you can exchange the voucher for more points or discounts on airline carriers. You can use your well-earned Avios to take advantage of a British Airways cabin upgrade, car hire, hotel stays and more.

✔️ Complimentary airport lounge access: your Avios points and British Airways Executive Club membership may give you airport lounge access in many airports worldwide.

The disadvantages of Avios credit cards

❌️ Annual fees: some travel reward cards have a yearly fee. If you use your credit card sparingly, you may spend more on fees than you make in Avios points. The idea is to save more money on travel than you spend on fees to make the most of your credit card. Usually, premium cards with high annual fees allow you to earn more Avios.

❌️ High interest rates: many travel credit cards charge high interest rates if you don't pay off your balance in full each month.

❌️ No free flights: although your Avios points may cover the cost of the initial flight, you may still need to pay taxes on the flights, and there may be other carrier charges that Avios can't cover on your reward flight.

❌️ Flight availability: the flights you can spend your points on may be limited. However, if you book in advance, you may have a wider choice of flight availability – using Reward Flight Saver can help you find the right flight for your travels for the best value.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on Avios credit cards:

Do Avios expire?

Your Avios points will expire if you don't use them within three years. Make sure you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months.

How many Avios points is a flight?

A flight in Europe will cost around 9,000 Avios points (plus taxes and charges).

What are 50,000 Avios points worth?

You could redeem 50,0000 Avios points for a flight that is usually worth around £2,200. As an example, it would be equivalent to an off-peak flight to Dubai.

Can I use Avios points for shopping?

Yes, Avios is not just for flights, you can also use it when paying for shopping at some retailers.