The best credit cards for airline rewards and flight points

By saving money and enabling flight upgrades, credit cards that offer airline points as a reward can enhance your vacation experience

The best cards available are listed here.

The correct credit card could be very helpful if you frequently travel for work or enjoy taking vacations overseas. If you have a rewards credit card that offers flight points, you may be able to upgrade your seat for less money or save money on flights.

Many credit card companies, including American Express, Virgin Money, and Barclays, offer airline or flight points as a reward for spending.

But which credit card is the best for flight points, like Virgin Points or Avios? We compare the current options, monthly or annual fees, and any additional benefits like travel insurance or access to airport lounges.

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What is a credit card with airline miles?

One kind of reward credit card is an airline miles credit card, which allows you to accrue points for regular purchases that can be applied to flights.

Once you've accrued enough points or airline miles, you can usually use them to unlock benefits like complimentary or discounted flights, upgraded seats, additional luggage, access to airport lounges, and, depending on the provider, other travel-related costs like hotel stays or rental cars.

Various airlines have their own plans. The most well-known ones are Virgin Atlantic's Virgin points and British Airways' Avios, which can be used with BA's partner airlines.

Are credit cards with airline miles worthwhile?

Credit cards with airline miles can be very profitable, especially if you travel frequently or spend more money. They can add value to your journey.

There are some restrictions, though. Only specific airlines or providers allow you to redeem points, so you'll need to be flexible with your travel schedule because flights purchased with points typically have limited availability, particularly during busy travel periods.

Remember that you will be charged exorbitant interest rates if you don't pay your credit card bill in full each month.

The top credit cards for airline miles.

The best credit cards for airline miles and reward points are listed below. We've broken it down by yearly cost, representative annual percentage rate, welcome bonus, and additional benefits.

Credit card with American Express Rewards.

With no annual fee and the ability to accrue points on purchases, this is the most affordable travel reward credit card available to consumers. It has the following benefits.

Spend £2,000 during the first three months to earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points. If you have an American Express card within the last 24 months, you are not eligible. For each dollar spent on purchases, earn one point. If a friend's application is accepted, you will receive 4,000 points for inviting them. Membership Rewards points can be transferred to an Amex loyalty partner program, like an airline frequent flyer program, but they are not required to be used as flight points.

For example, you could purchase a return economy ticket to Dubai from Virgin Atlantic with 40,000 points. Additionally, you can use your points to make qualified purchases at places like PayPal, Amazon, Boots, Currys, etc.

American Express British Airways Credit Card.

The British Airways American Express Credit Card is another affordable choice. It allows you to collect Avios on any purchases you make and has no annual fee. These are a few of its benefits.

Spend 2,000 in your first three months to earn 5,000 bonus Aviosone Avios for each dollar spent on purchases. 1,000 Avios when the first Supplementary Cardan additional card given to a friend or relativeis added to your account. If a friend's application is accepted, inviting them will earn you 4,000 points. Get a companion coupon when you spend £15,000 annually on your card. covered for up to £75,000 in travel accident insurance when using public transportation. Vouchers can be used to book flights on British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus Reward. In a different guide, we examine companion vouchers and flights that are exclusively offered by Avios.

Gold credit card with American Express Preferred Rewards.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Credit Card might be a good choice if you travel frequently and want better value. The quantity of points and rewards available may make up for the high cost of 195 (0 in the first year). This comprises.

40,000 extra Membership Rewards points if you spend £5,000 during the first half of the year. After the offer expires on May 26, 2026, this returns to 20,000 points. If you have had an Amex card within the last 24 months, you are not eligible. Get three points for each dollar spent on Amex Travel, two points for each dollar spent directly with airlines, and one point for each dollar spent on qualifying purchases. Get four free Priority Pass airport lounge passes annually at up to 1,300 lounges at airports worldwide. When you book two or more nights with The Hotel Collection, you'll receive a £100 hotel credit that can be used for spa services, food and drink, late check-out, room upgrades, and more. Up to 250,000 in free travel accident insurance and up to 200 in free travel inconvenience insurance. Deliveroo reimburses 10 per month, or 120 annually.

The Nectar credit card from American Express.

The American Express Nectar Credit Card may provide the best value if you frequently shop at Sainsbury's. You can test the card for a year to see if it's right for you. It costs £30 a year, which is due in the second year. This is what you will receive.

20,000 extra Nectar points if you spend £2,000 during the first three months. If you have had an American Express card within the last 24 months, you are not eligible for this offer. Get three points for each dollar spent at Nectar Partners, and two points for each dollar spent on purchases. If you invite a friend, they will receive five thousand points. Avios can be exchanged for Nectar points; 400 Nectar points are equivalent to 250 Avios. In other words, the welcome bonus is worth 12,500 Avios.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card.

You might want to think about purchasing the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card if you travel with Virgin or use their banking services. There is no annual cost. The following are some benefits of this card.

3,000 bonus points for the first ninety days after making a purchase. Get an additional 3,000 Virgin Points until May 18th if you spend £1,000 within 90 days of using the card. To qualify for the bonus, you must link your Flying Club number to your credit card by August 16th. Every dollar spent on regular purchases earns you 0.75 Virgin Points, while every dollar spent on Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays earns you 1.5 points. Get a companion ticket or a flight upgrade when you spend more than £20,000 annually. We examine Virgin Flying Club's operations in a different guide.

Virgin Atlantic Credit Card with Reward Plus.

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card, a premium variant of the aforementioned reward credit card, is worth considering for frequent travelers and higher spenders. Virgin Points may be used to offset the annual fee of £160. Here's how to get them.

18,000 bonus points for the first ninety days after making a purchase. Spend 3,000 Virgin Points within 90 days of getting the card to earn an additional 18,000 Virgin Points until May 18. To be eligible for the bonus, you must link your Flying Club number to your credit card by August 16. For every £1 spent on regular purchases, you will receive 1.5 Virgin Points; for every £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays, you will receive 3 points. Get a companion ticket or a flight upgrade when you spend more than £10,000 annually.

Avios from Barclaycard.

Given that there is no annual fee, Barclaycard Avios might be a good option if you fly British Airways and wish to collect Avios. The benefits you can receive are as follows.

If you spend 1,000 on eligible purchases during the first three months, you will receive 5,000 Avios. You can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight reservation or 7,000 bonus Avios when you spend 20,000 on your card within a year. You can still receive 1,000 Avios if you switch from an existing Barclaycard to this one and spend at least 1,000 within three months.

For instance, if you have 19,500 Avios points, you can purchase a peak-time economy return flight from London to Milan for just 1.

Barclaycard Avios Plus.

The Barclaycard Avios Plus can help premium travelers and ardent point collectors earn more points and rewards while traveling. At £20 a month, or £240 a year, this card is the priciest available. The premium card offers the following benefits.

If you spend 3,000 in the first three months, you will receive 25,000 Avios (1.5 Avios for every 1 spent on eligible purchases). You can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade coupon to use on an Avios Reward Flight reservation or 7,000 bonus Avios when you spend 10,000 on your card within a year. Access to more than 1,000 airport lounges across the globe at a reduced cost of £20.50 per lounge pass per person. You can still receive 5,000 Avios if you switch from an existing Barclaycard to this one and spend at least 3,000 in three months.

For instance, you can purchase a peak, Club Europe business-class return flight from London to Venice, Lisbon, or Madrid by using 43,000 Avios points and paying 33.

For flight points, which credit card is the best?

If you're new to credit cards and still want to get the most out of your travels, you might want to try a credit card with no annual fee or choose an Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card, which is free for a year, to see if the benefits are worthwhile.

Try the British Airways Amex card or the Barclaycard Avios card if you're looking for a companion voucher or flight upgrade without spending hundreds of dollars. In a separate guide, we examine the top credit cards for access to airport lounges.

Given the increased bonus, Head for Points claims that the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is "clearly the best deal" for the first year. "The 160 annual fee for the first year is easily offset by 36,000 Virgin Points. More significantly, every time you shop with the Reward Plus card, you earn the better 1.5 points per transaction. Additionally, the annual voucher is activated more rapidly. The "

Before applying, though, think about whether you'll likely use Virgin points. Gathering Virgin points might not be the best option for you if you usually travel with British Airways.

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is the most competitive, according to Which?, but its free version is more affordable. Because of its flexibility and zero annual fee, the American Express Rewards Credit Card is a great deal.

It's important to keep in mind, though, that depending on your requirements and tastes, one card might be more appropriate than the other, so if you appreciate high-end services, you might be willing to pay more to receive value for your money.

Learn More About American Express British Airways and Barclays.