Best Avios Credit Cards for Maximizing Value

If you're looking to earn Avios, one of the best ways to do so is with a credit card. The British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card offers a sign-up bonus of 50,000 Avios, making it a great option for those who want to boost their balance quickly.

This card also offers 1.5 Avios per pound spent, a feature that can add up quickly, especially for frequent travelers. Additionally, the card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great choice for those who travel abroad.

The British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card also offers a generous 24-month interest-free period on purchases, giving cardholders time to pay off their balance without incurring interest charges.

If you're looking for the best Avios credit cards, you'll want to consider the perks that are most valuable to you. For example, the British Airways Card offers 10% off paid flights and up to $600 in award rebates, making it a great option for frequent flyers.

The main benefit of Avios credit cards is that they can significantly boost your air miles with your day-to-day spending. For instance, the Barclaycard Avios card earns a single Avios point for every pound spent, and new customers can earn 5,000 extra points when joining.

If you switch your day-to-day spending from your debit card to an Avios credit card and always pay your balance off in full, you're effectively earning rewards for doing what you were going to do anyway. This can be a great way to get free flights or other rewards.

To make the most of your Avios credit card, be sure to keep track of your spending and pay your balance off in full each month to avoid interest charges. This will also help you avoid going overdrawn when the payment is made.

Here's a summary of the Avios credit cards mentioned in the article:

Ultimately, the best Avios credit card for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Be sure to consider the perks and rewards that are most valuable to you and choose the card that best fits your lifestyle.

British Airways Cards offer a range of benefits, including a Companion Voucher when you spend £15,000 on the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, which can be used to take a companion with you in the same flight and cabin or get a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay for your flight.

The British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card also offers automatic enrolment to the British Airways Executive Club, travel and shopping protection, and access to additional Reward flight seats within Club World (business) when booking with a Companion Voucher.

If you're a frequent British Airways flyer, you'll appreciate the 10% discount on paid British Airways flights just for having the British Airways Card.

You can earn up to 75,000 Avios bonus points with the British Airways Card, which can be redeemed for flights on British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus.

Here are the key benefits of the British Airways Card:

The British Airways Card offers the most robust perks just for having the card, according to a review, making it a great option for frequent British Airways flyers.

If you're looking to boost your air miles, consider switching to an air-miles credit card. These cards can significantly increase your air miles with your day-to-day spending, making it a no-brainer for those who always pay their balance in full to avoid interest charges.

For example, the Barclaycard Avios card offers 5,000 extra points for new customers, which can get you a return flight from London to Madrid via economy class. To put this into perspective, you'd need to spend £7,000 to earn approximately 12,000 points.

Some Avios credit cards offer elite status-like perks, such as the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, which comes with a welcome offer of up to 50,000 Avios and one year of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold status. This includes benefits like priority boarding, preferred seating, lounge access, and a 75% bonus on earning Avios with eligible flights.

Here are some of the travel perks offered by various Avios credit cards:

Elite Status Perks are definitely worth striving for. Earning elite status in an airline loyalty program can be challenging, but there are credit cards that can help you enjoy its perks.

You can earn elite status-like perks with the right Avios credit card. The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card offers one year of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold status with a $499 annual fee.

One year of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold status includes benefits like priority boarding, preferred seating, lounge access, and a 75% bonus on earning Avios with eligible flights. This can be a game-changer for your travel experience.

You can also receive worldwide lounge access through the right credit card. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300-plus lounges.

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges as well as access to Priority Pass lounges, while Amex Platinum cardmembers can access the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Explore further: Best Elite Credit Cards

The Aer Lingus Visa offers some fantastic benefits for travelers. One of the standout perks is priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights to and from the United States.

With this card, you'll get to board the plane before everyone else, making the most of your travel time. This is a great advantage, especially if you're short on time or have a lot of luggage to manage.

If you spend $30,000 on the card in a year, you'll receive an Aer Lingus economy companion ticket. This means you can take a companion with you at no additional cost when you book one paid economy ticket.

This benefit is perfect for couples, families, or friends who want to travel together. Just remember to reach that $30,000 spending threshold to unlock this perk!

For your interest: Beginner Travel Credit Cards

You can significantly boost your air miles with your day-to-day spending by using an air miles credit card.

For example, the Barclaycard Avios card offers 1 Avios point for every pound you spend, and new customers can earn 5,000 extra points when joining.

Additional reading: Best Credit Cards for United Miles

Approximately 12,000 points will get you a return flight from London to Madrid via economy class.

To maximize the benefits, make sure to pay off the balance in full to avoid interest charges.

This way, you're effectively earning rewards for doing what you were going to do anyway, without incurring any additional costs.

If you're looking for a credit card that earns Avios, you have several options to consider. The British Airways American Express Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months, which is worth $1,190 according to TPG's September 2024 valuation of Avios.

You can also consider the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, British Airways Visa Signature Card, or Iberia Visa Signature Card, all of which offer the same welcome bonus of 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months.

To maximize your Avios earnings, you can also look into transfer bonuses from major issuers like American Express. For example, the Platinum Card from American Express offers 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership, which can be transferred to Avios programs.

Limited-Time Offers can be a great way to boost your credit card rewards. For example, the Chase United Quest℠ Card offers 70,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Another limited-time offer is available on the Chase United Explorer Card, which earns 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. This offer is only available for a limited time.

If you're looking to maximize your transfer bonuses, you might want to consider the American Express Platinum Card, which earns 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This is a great opportunity to earn a lot of points quickly.

Here are some limited-time offers to consider:

These offers can help you earn a lot of points and miles quickly, but be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to make sure you understand the requirements.

You can earn a large welcome bonus with some credit cards, such as the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, which offers 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. This bonus can be worth $1,190, enough for a first-class flight to London.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card and the Iberia Visa Signature Card also offer 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months. These cards have a standard offer of 50,000-75,000 Avios, so it's a good idea to apply when the bonus exceeds that range.

To give you an idea of the value of these bonuses, the TPG's September 2024 valuation of Avios is 1.4 cents each. This means that 75,000 Avios are worth $1,190, which can cover the cost of a first-class flight to London, plus fees, taxes, and carrier-imposed surcharges.

Here are some credit cards that offer welcome bonuses:

Tesco's Clubcard allows you to transfer your points to your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, with one Clubcard point converting into two Virgin points.

You can also earn air miles on other loyalty programmes, like Sainsbury's Nectar card, which lets you convert your balance to Avios points.

This means you can maximize your rewards by shopping at your favorite supermarket and earning points that can be transferred to your airline loyalty programme.

It's worth checking if your supermarket's loyalty scheme offers this option to get the most out of your shopping trip.

Related reading: Best Credit Cards for Shopping

If you're looking for a credit card that earns you air miles, consider the benefits of an air miles credit card. These cards can significantly boost your air miles with your day-to-day spending.

The main benefit of air miles credit cards is that they can earn you rewards for doing what you were going to do anyway, like paying your bills or buying groceries. You just need to make sure you pay off the balance in full to avoid interest charges.

Expand your knowledge: Best Credit Cards to Earn Miles

To choose the right card, consider the perks that matter most to you. For example, the British Airways Card offers a 10% discount on paid British Airways flights and up to $600 in award rebates per year, making it a great option for frequent flyers.

All three Avios credit cards have a welcome bonus of 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months, making them a great starting point.

Here's a comparison of the benefits of the three Avios credit cards:

Ultimately, the best card for you will depend on your travel habits and preferences.

If you're a regular European traveler, you know how expensive flights can be. The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers numerous discounts and statement credits when flying with British Airways for both cash fares and Avios redemptions.

This card has a low annual fee, which is a major plus. With BA's notorious carrier-imposed surcharges, you could save plenty of money on cash fares and Avios redemptions where you book multiple seats or flights each year.

A different take: Best Credit Cards for Flights and Hotels

Avios are worth enough for a one-way economy flight from London to over 25 destinations, plus 50p per person.

To make the most of your Avios, consider the British Airways Visa Signature Card, which offers extra benefits when booking cash and Avios redemptions. Each year, you can get 10% off British Airways-operated revenue flights departing the U.S. to London and beyond, including fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges.

You can also earn a Travel Together Ticket valid for round-trip travel on British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia originating anywhere these airlines fly when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. This ticket can also be redeemed for a 50% discount as a single passenger.

Here's a summary of the benefits you can get with the British Airways Visa Signature Card:

Avios points can be incredibly valuable, especially when redeemed strategically. You can get enough Avios points for a one-way economy flight from London to over 25 destinations, plus 50p per person.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers additional benefits when booking cash and Avios redemptions. Each year, you can get 10% off British Airways-operated revenue flights departing the U.S. to London and beyond.

You can earn a Travel Together Ticket valid for round-trip travel on British Airways, Aer Lingus, or Iberia when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. This ticket can also be redeemed for a 50% discount as a single passenger.

To maximize the value of your Avios points, consider redeeming them for taxes, fees, and carrier charges when booking a British Airways reward ticket. However, this is not usually a good deal, so be sure to weigh your options carefully.

Here are the benefits you can get with the British Airways Visa Signature Card when booking cash and Avios redemptions:

If you're looking to maximize transfer bonuses, American Express has been the issuer to beat, offering the most bonuses to Avios programs over the last 12 months.

Credit card issuers often offer transfer bonuses for select airline and hotel partner programs, but the certainty of when these bonuses will occur is low.

The number of points and miles you can receive from the bonus can vary greatly, from as low as 10% to over 40%.

American Express has offered some of the most lucrative bonuses, including the Platinum Card from American Express, which earns 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is also a great option, earning 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months.

Here are some of the best American Express card offers available right now:

These offers can add up quickly, making it worth your while to apply for the right card at the right time.