Airline credit cards
Earn Avios or other airline points for flights and upgrades
Slash the cost of flights worldwide for you and your partner, just for spending on a piece of plastic. Airline credit cards allow you to collect Avios and other airline points as you spend, plus you can also bag big bonuses simply for signing up.
First, a quick overview of airline credit cards...
Airline credit cards let you earn Avios or other airline points on your everyday spending. If you're debt-free and repay the card IN FULL each month, you could earn points worth £100s to use towards flights, upgrades and other travel perks.
Check your eligibility before you apply. Our eligibility calculator shows your acceptance odds for top cards and won't affect your ability to get credit in future.
Choose the right airline rewards scheme. Pick a card that best suits you, your travelling and how much you would normally spend.
Repay in full every month. Plus, only use the card for normal spending and never use one to withdraw cash or spread costs.
Ready to compare? Jump to the best airline credit cards
Points for multiple airlines & other perks – compare our top three airline cards. Look out for intro bonuses and any ongoing fees.
More Avios, Virgin Point & fee-free options – compare the next-best cards. Check all the options to find the right card for you, with airlines you'll actually use.
Or keep reading to understand all you need to know about airline credit cards.
How do airline credit cards work?
With airline credit cards, you earn points on the spending you put on the card. Depending on the card, these could be Avios, Virgin Points, Amex Membership Rewards points, Nectar points or another reward currency linked to an airline or travel scheme.
Once you’ve collected enough points, you can usually put them towards flights, upgrades or other travel rewards, though you’ll usually still need to pay taxes, fees and charges. Reward flight availability is more limited than when paying with cash, so you’ll often need to be flexible when booking.
You may also be able to combine points earned from card spending with points earned from flying, shopping or other reward schemes, such as converting Nectar points into Avios. Added together, your stash can build up much more quickly. Our Tricks to boost and max Avios guide has full info on that scheme, though there are others.
Airline credit cards come with the usual credit card protection.
Are air miles credit cards worth it?
These can offer lucrative perks if used right, particularly for higher spenders who are able to take advantage of welcome bonuses and other credit card offers (and they come with the usual credit card protection). However, you are often limited in what you can spend your rewards points on depending on which airlines and retailers your credit card partners with. Plus, if you don't typically spend as much or don't repay in full each month, high interest charges and account fees can dwarf any rewards or sign up bonuses.
What can I spend my air mile points on?
Airline points can typically be used to pay for free or discounted flights with select airlines. There are other travel perks which they can sometimes also be exchanged for, including:
Upgrades to first class or business class
Hotel stays
Airport lounge access
Car rental
Priority boarding
The rewards on offer vary depending on your credit card's scheme and which airlines, hotel chains, car hire companies or other outlets it partners with. You can also often exchange your rewards points for shopping vouchers at major retailers.
Airline credit card need-to-knows
If you can't repay in full every month, DON'T get an airline credit card
Card companies offer reward schemes to encourage you to spend on their cards so they can earn interest from you. If you don't repay a reward card IN FULL, the interest cost will dwarf any gain you get.
Always set up a direct debit to repay the card in full each month, so you'll never pay interest.
Airline credit cards tend to work best if you'll spend £10,000+ on them every year
Higher spenders can take advantage of the perks that some of these cards have, such as 'companion tickets' and big intro bonuses, especially if you're willing to pay an annual fee.
What is a companion ticket?
A companion ticket allows you to take someone else with you when you pay with airline points, under similar or the same conditions, for no extra points.
In other words, if you're flying premium to Miami, they come for free in the same class. However, you have to pay taxes and charges for both tickets.
For example, the British Airways Premium Plus American Express card below gives you a companion ticket if you spend £15,000/year on the card, but you need to pay a huge £300 annual charge. This gets you a 'free' ticket for someone travelling with you in the same class when you use points to buy a seat. Though you still pay taxes and charges.
The British Airways Amex is the fee-free version, though you'd also need to spend £15,000/yr to get a companion ticket, and on this card the companion ticket can only be used in economy class.
If your card offers companion tickets, it's worth waiting until you've got the companion voucher before spending your airline points as you get much better value from them. Though be aware they're usually only valid for a year or two.
Never borrow or withdraw cash on these cards
They're a tool to get you rewards by using them like a debit card and clearing them each month, and we rate them based on that.
If you need to borrow as well, you're far better off focusing on getting the lowest interest rates – that'll save you much more money. See 0% credit cards for spending for more info.
And when it comes to withdrawing cash the rule is simple – never, ever, ever use these cards for cash withdrawals as you'll generally be charged a fee and interest, even if you pay the card off in full.
Use these cards for all day-to-day spending to max rewards – don't see them as an excuse to overspend
These cards are designed to encourage you to spend – but never spend more than you need to. Instead, use the card for all normal day-to-day purchases then set up a direct debit to repay in full each month and you'll soon see the points adding up.
You could max it even further by using the card for work expenses if you need to reclaim them. This can be a powerful way to earn more points at no cost to you, provided you can cope with paying the bill in full each month. Check it's fine with your employer though, and there's a chance it could be seen as a taxable benefit (though you'll still be up even if it is).
Can I add an additional cardholder to my account to boost points?
Yes, you can. By doing so, both your spending collects the points. This technique is particularly useful for cards that need you to hit a certain target to get a free companion flight.
Remember: with credit cards there's no such thing as a joint card – it's your card and you're giving them permission to spend on it. Any spending is yours to pay off, not theirs.
See Joint credit cards for what you need to watch out for.
Can I buy extra points?
You can with most schemes mentioned in this guide, so you can top yours up if you're short. Better still, if you're collecting airline points and also redeeming a companion flight, you'll earn points doing so, so in effect you get double the value.
Once you've joined your scheme, you can buy extra points at the Avios website or via British Airways.
With an Avios credit card, you do also have the option to part-pay, so you pay with a mixture of Avios and cash.
From our research, we found it's generally cheaper to part-pay in Avios credit card points on the flight-booking pages than buying extra points, especially as you can only buy points in 1,000 increments. However, Avios occasionally holds offers where it will add bonus points to any you buy, so check if one of these deals is on first.
| AVIOS | FLYING CLUB |
|---|---|---|
Cost per point | 1.8p - 2.5p | 1.5p |
Limit on points you can buy | 200,000 | 100,000 |
If you need other credit soon, such as a mortgage, it may not be the right time to apply for a credit card
You need to weigh up whether getting one is going to harm other more important credit applications you may have on the horizon – multiple applications mean multiple searches on your credit file, and in a short space of time these can damage your chances of getting future credit.
So if you think you'll need to apply for important credit soon, such as a mortgage, hold off applying as you'll need to spread out your applications.
Sign up to MSE's Credit Club and use our free tools to see how the financial world views you.
Free flights are a myth as you'll always pay taxes and charges – but you can still save a significant amount
When you collect airline points, such as Avios or Virgin Flying Club points, you can redeem them for reward flights – though you still have to pay taxes and charges on top.
When we checked from London Heathrow, an off-peak economy return flight to Paris cost 9,500 Avios plus £35 in taxes and charges, while New York cost 26,000 Avios plus £420 – see our Avios tricks guide for more.
Under Virgin's Flying Club frequent-flyer points scheme, Heathrow to New York on an off-peak return flight in economy cost 20,000 Flying Club points plus £279 in taxes and charges, while Dubai cost 20,000 points plus £246 in charges.
To show you what you need for each destination, and what counts as peak/off-peak dates, see the Avios 'search and book' page (you'll need to log in to your BA Executive Club account) or Virgin's Flying Club reward flights page.
Reward flights are limited, so you'll have to be flexible around when you travel
The availability of these flights is much more limited than when paying for flights normally, so you'll have to go quick and be as flexible as possible.
Tactically, the ideal time to start checking is around a year before – this is when seats start to be released (see flight release dates). Though keep checking, as sometimes there are no seats available when a flight's launched, but extra seats are released later.
If you want to fly at peak times such as Christmas or school holidays, booking well in advance is usually essential. Use British Airways' search and book page to check for availability (you'll need to log in to your Executive Club account), or Virgin's reward flights calendar.
Is it possible to transfer air miles?
Unfortunately, it's usually not possible to transfer air mile points between different schemes, so once you earn points with a particular scheme you're stuck with it.
Most schemes will allow you to transfer points to another member, however, though this can sometimes incur a fee and there can be limits on the number of points you can transfer per year.
Top airline credit cards
Many of our top cards are American Express (Amex), which have the advantage of allowing you to earn points that can be converted for use with multiple airlines – or even shopping vouchers and Nectar points.
American Express isn't as widely accepted as Mastercard or Visa, so we've included our top-pick non-Amex card, the Virgin Atlantic Reward card. However, points can only be redeemed through its own rewards scheme.
Top airline credit cards – what we'd go for
All of our top picks offer points on everyday spending as well as introductory bonuses, though pay them off IN FULL each month or the interest will dwarf the gain. This is our analysis to help you decide, scroll down to the table for full details of each card.
The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card gives 20,000 bonus Amex points if you spend £3,000+ in the first three months, plus an ongoing one point per £1 spent. You also get 5,000 points when you spend £10,000+ in a 12 month period. Points can be used for multiple airline's schemes, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Etihad.
You also get four free visits to airport lounges each year and £5 cashback on two £5+ Deliveroo orders a month. However, there's a hefty £195/year fee from year two, so it's best for bigger spenders who'll earn enough rewards to outweigh the fee.
The American Express Nectar card gives 20,000 Nectar points if you spend £2,000+ in the first three months, plus an ongoing two Nectar points per £1 spent. Every 400 Nectar points is worth 250 Avios – so the points you receive from the bonus alone are worth 12,500 Avios. Log in to the Nectar site or British Airways Executive Club and link your accounts to convert points.
This card also has an annual fee which kicks in from year two, though it's much lower at £30/year – so this card could work for smaller spenders, or those who want flexibility with how they'll use their rewards (for example, spending at Sainsbury's).
The Virgin Atlantic Reward card provides an ongoing 0.75 Virgin points per £1 spent, plus 3,000 bonus points on your first spend (no min) in the first 90 days. You also get a free Flying Club reward if you spend £20,000+ per year. The reward depends on the tier you qualify for – its lowest 'red' tier offers a free cabin upgrade, a free companion ticket (you'll both pay taxes and charges) or a Virgin Clubhouse pass. Unfortunately, this card is not in our eligibility checker but you can still check your eligibility directly with Virgin Money and it will tell you your odds of acceptance without affecting your credit score before you apply.
Amex Preferred Rewards Gold
Free for first year, £195/yr after
29.1% annual interest
Top for points & perks. Open this card and you'll get an intro bonus of 20,000 points if you spend £3,000+ in the first three months. Amex points can be redeemed for airmiles at various airlines, such as British Airways, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic, though conversion rates vary.
Ongoing points:
1 Amex point per £1 spent plus 5,000 points per £10,000 spend (max 10,000pts)
Other perks:
£5 cashback on two £5+ Deliveroo orders a month plus four free visits to airport lounges each year
Amex Nectar
Free for first year, £30/year after
29.1% annual interest
Top for Sainsbury's shoppers. Spend £2,000+ in the first three months of having this card and you'll get a bonus 20,000 Nectar points (worth 12,500 Avios). Avios can be redeemed on airlines such as British Airways and Qatar Airways, as well as for Eurotunnel LeShuttle.
Ongoing points:
Two Nectar points per £1 spent (worth 1.25 Avios)
Other perks:
Three Nectar points per £1 spent at Nectar partners such as Sainsbury's and Argos
Virgin Atlantic Reward
NO FEE
26.9% rep APR
Top for transatlantic travellers. Get 3,000 Virgin points on your first spend within 90 days of opening the card account. Points can be redeemed on Virgin Atlantic flights, as well as a wide range of activities and days out via Virgin Red. Sadly, not in our eligibility calculator, you can check your odds of acceptance on Virgin Money's website before you apply without affecting your credit score.
Ongoing points:
0.75 Virgin points per £1 spent
Other perks:
Free Flying Club reward for spending £20,000+ a year (eg, cabin upgrade or companion ticket)
The best of the rest airline credit cards
We've more choice below if none of the above suit – we've included a mix of options: some are fee-free, and some have a monthly or annual charge...
Amex Rewards
NO FEE
29.1% rep APR
Get 10,000 Amex points if you spend £2,000+ in the first three months. Amex points can be used for multiple airline's schemes, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Etihad. This card gives one point per £1 spent, and points can also be converted into vouchers or hotel points.
Intro points:
10,000 bonus pts on £2,000+ spend
Ongoing points:
1 point per £1 spent
Barclaycard Avios
NO FEE
29.9% rep APR
Get 5,000 Avios points if you spend £1,000+ in the first three months. This card gives one point per £1 spent, plus you get a free cabin upgrade if you spend £20,000+ per year. You can't get this card if you've had a Barclaycard in the last six months.
Intro points:
5,000 bonus pts on £1,000+ spend
Ongoing points:
1 point per £1 spent
Virgin Atlantic Reward+
£160/yr fee
26.9% annual interest
Get 18,000 Virgin points on your first spend (no min) in the first 90 days, though there's a hefty £160 annual fee. This card gives double the amount of points per pound than the fee-free Virgin card above, and you get the free Flying Club reward on a lower £10,000+ per year spend. Sadly, not in our eligibility calculator, you can check your odds of acceptance on Virgin Money's website before you apply without affecting your credit score.
Intro points:
18,000pts on first spend in first 90 days (no min)
Ongoing points:
1.5 points per £1 spent
Barclaycard Avios Plus
£20/mth fee
29.9% annual interest
Get 25,000 Avios if you spend £3,000+ in the first three months – though there's a £20/month fee. This card gives 1.5 points per £1 spent, plus you get a free cabin upgrade if you spend £10,000+ per year. Spend £3,000+ in the first three months for 25,000 Avios. You can't get this card if you've had a Barclaycard in the last six months.
Intro points:
25,000 bonus pts on £3,000+ spend
Ongoing points:
1.5 points per £1 spent
Cashback sites may pay you for signing up
As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up to some financial products. Do check it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And bear in mind that the cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account.
For full help to take advantage of this and the pros and cons, go to our Top cashback sites guide.
Who's this guide for? Frequent flyers who want to collect air miles. If you're a lower spender, top rewards credit cards could be a better option.
Related guides... Tricks to boost and max Avios | Cheap flights | Travel credit cards
Airline credit card FAQs
Do airline credit card points ever expire?
Yes – most airline reward schemes have an expiry policy. Typically, points will expire after 12–36 months of inactivity (if you don’t earn or redeem within that period). However, using the linked credit card usually counts as activity, so regular spending keeps your balance alive. Always check your scheme’s rules – for example, Avios expire after 36 months of no activity.
Can I add a partner or family member to my airline credit card to earn points faster?
In most cases, yes – you can request a supplementary or additional card for a partner or family member. Their spending also earns points that go into your rewards pot, helping you build points quicker. Just remember: you’re legally responsible for paying off all spending, even if it’s theirs.
What happens to my points if I cancel the credit card?
If you cancel, you usually lose any unredeemed points sitting in your credit card account unless you’ve already transferred them to your airline’s loyalty scheme (eg, British Airways Club or Virgin Flying Club). Always redeem or move points before closing your account, or you risk forfeiting them.
Can I earn points on cash withdrawals or balance transfers?
No – you won’t earn points on these, and worse, you’ll usually pay hefty fees and interest from day one. Stick to normal spending (groceries, bills, shopping) to maximise rewards without penalties.
Do I need to fly regularly to benefit from an airline credit card?
Not necessarily. While the biggest benefits are discounted flights and upgrades, many schemes let you spend points on hotels, car hire, or even shopping vouchers. If you rarely fly, a cashback or supermarket rewards card might be better value – but if you plan at least one or two flights a year, airline cards can still pay off.
⚠️ This is a summary version of our guide. Click 'our full guide' above to switch back.
Best airline credit cards at a glance
Airline cards can earn you points towards travel-related perks, but they're only worth considering if you'll repay IN FULL. Quick tips first, then best buys.
1. Avoid rejections – check your eligibility first. Our eligibility calculator shows your acceptance odds for top cards before you apply, so it doesn't affect your creditworthiness. Some cards in this guide aren't included, though you may be able to check your eligibility directly with the provider.
2. Pick a scheme that matches how you travel. Look for airlines you use often and be prepared to move quick and be flexible, as flight availability is limited. And be aware you'll still pay taxes and charges.
3. Don't choose on the welcome bonus alone. Compare the ongoing rewards and make sure you can meet any spending requirements with your normal spending.
Amex Preferred Rewards Gold
Free for first year, £195/yr after
29.1% annual interest
Top for points & perks. Open this card and you'll get an intro bonus of 20,000 points if you spend £3,000+ in the first three months. Amex points can be redeemed for airmiles at various airlines, such as British Airways, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic, though conversion rates vary.
Ongoing points:
1 Amex point per £1 spent plus 5,000 points per £10,000 spend (max 10,000pts)
Other perks:
£5 cashback on two £5+ Deliveroo orders a month plus four free visits to airport lounges each year
Amex Nectar
Free for first year, £30/year after
29.1% annual interest
Top for Sainsbury's shoppers. Spend £2,000+ in the first three months of having this card and you'll get a bonus 20,000 Nectar points (worth 12,500 Avios). Avios can be redeemed on airlines such as British Airways and Qatar Airways, as well as for Eurotunnel LeShuttle.
Ongoing points:
Two Nectar points per £1 spent (worth 1.25 Avios)
Other perks:
Three Nectar points per £1 spent at Nectar partners such as Sainsbury's and Argos
Virgin Atlantic Reward
NO FEE
26.9% rep APR
Top for transatlantic travellers. Get 3,000 Virgin points on your first spend within 90 days of opening the card account. Points can be redeemed on Virgin Atlantic flights, as well as a wide range of activities and days out via Virgin Red. Sadly, not in our eligibility calculator, you can check your odds of acceptance on Virgin Money's website before you apply without affecting your credit score.
Ongoing points:
0.75 Virgin points per £1 spent
Other perks:
Free Flying Club reward for spending £20,000+ a year (eg, cabin upgrade or companion ticket)
Already paying credit card interest? Airline credit cards aren't for you. Your priority should be cutting interest – see balance transfer credit cards. If you need to spread costs, consider a 0% spending card instead.
If you do get a card, ALWAYS follow the Airline Credit Card Golden Rules:
a) Set up a Direct Debit to repay IN FULL every month, or interest can dwarf the gains.
b) Use it only for normal spending – never overspend just to earn points or unlock a bonus.
c) Check the scheme suits your usual travelling and that rewards are achievable.
d) Never withdraw cash or use the card to spread costs, as you'll usually pay interest and fees.
Want more info? Read our full Airline credit cards guide, with all our top picks, need-to-knows, tips and tricks.
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