Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new offers.
When it comes to earning points and miles, one of the easiest ways to do so is through credit cards. As long as the products suit your circ*mstances, credit cards offer a way to increase your point balances quickly in order to get you on your way to travelling for (almost) free.
There are some great cards out there, with exciting benefits available in the U.K. market, and here are my four personal favourites.
Before making your choice of which to apply for, I strongly recommend checking out the full reviews of each of the cards below. And it’s also key to fully understand American Express’ new welcome bonus restrictions, which may influence your Amex strategy. But without further ado…
The best UK credit cards for rewards and miles of 2022
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card: Best card for beginners
- Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard: Best non-Amex Avios earning credit card
- British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card: Best card for earning the most valuable U.K. credit card benefit — the British Airways Companion Voucher
- Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard Credit Card: Best card for when Amex is not accepted
- The Platinum Card from American Express: Best luxury credit card with the best travel benefits
- American Express Business Platinum Card: Best card for small business owners
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
Welcome bonus: 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £3,000 in the first three months for approved applicants.
Earning rate: 1 Membership Reward point per £1 spent on all purchases, 2 Membership Rewards points per £1 spent directly with airlines or in a foreign currency (though you’ll have to pay a 2.99% foreign transaction fee), 3 Membership Rewards points per £1 spent at American Express Travel
Other key benefits: Two annual lounge passes to make your airport experience more enjoyable. The visits must be made in the Priority Pass network, which includes more than 1,200 lounges worldwide. Two separate £5 Deliveroo credits each and every month.
Representative example and annual fee: This card has a representative APR of 61.4% variable and a purchase rate of 25.7% variable with an assumed credit limit of £1,200. There is an annual fee of £140, which is waived for the first year.
Why it’s great: The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is my top pick for the beginner to the miles and points game. A 30,000 Membership Rewards-point welcome bonus, no fee for the first year and a great point-earning structure make this card a no-brainer. Plus, you’re earning Membership Rewards points, which are a transferable currency, allowing you to shift your points to any of Amex’s 17 partners. For example, with one-way flights starting at 4,000 points, 30,000 MR points can be transferred to British Airways Avios for two return flights to most destinations in Europe using its excellent Reward Flight Saver option. The new monthly Deliveroo credits just sweeten the deal.
Further reading:
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review
- Guide to Amex Membership Rewards
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Welcome bonus: 25,000 bonus Avios after spending £3,000 in the first three months of card membership.
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on all purchases which is the equal highest rate of any Avios earning credit card in the United Kingdom (the other being the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card). As a Mastercard, you can expect acceptance at more retailers than with an American Express card. Additionally, the card charges a 2.99% foreign transaction fee, which is more than the value of the Avios it would earn for these purchases.
Other key benefits: You will also earn valuable cabin upgrade vouchers with British Airways every 12 months. You can upgrade a return Reward Flight booking by one cabin and you won’t be charged any extra Avios for the upgrade when redeeming the cabin upgrade voucher. Fees, taxes and surcharges are payable for the higher class. You can earn a cabin upgrade voucher after every 12 months, provided you have spent £10,000 on the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard, over those 12 months. You could use the cabin upgrade voucher to upgrade from Euro Traveller to Club Europe in Europe, or World Traveller Plus to Club World on the long-haul routes.
Representative example and annual fee: This card has a representative APR of 23.9% variable and a purchase rate of 23.9% variable with an assumed credit limit of £1,200. Rather than an annual fee, there is a monthly fee of £20, so over the course of the year, you would be charged £240. For anyone uncertain about taking on a card with an annual fee, this could be a neat alternative – you only pay a monthly fee for as long as you keep the card.
Why it’s great: This is a very exciting new addition to the U.K. credit card market. There’s a class-equalling everyday earn rate and a huge welcome bonus of 30,000 Avios for a limited time only for TPG UK readers. The cabin upgrade is a very valuable perk that can easily be worth hundreds of pounds, and the card doesn’t come with the same frustrating restrictions on welcome bonuses that American Express has imposed. Having a Barclaycard does not affect your ability to earn a welcome bonus with an American Express card, and vice versa. You can apply for the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard here.
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card
Welcome bonus: 25,000 British Airways Avios after spending £3,000 in the first three months
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on all purchases (the highest everyday Avios earning rate of any U.K. credit card), 3 Avios per £1 spent directly with British Airways or BA Holidays
Other key benefits:2-for-1 Companion Voucher earned after £10,000 in annual spend on the card. The Companion Voucher is the most valuable credit card benefit out there, allowing you to take a companion with you on the same flight and in the same cabin when you redeem Avios for a BA reward flight. You can redeem the voucher for any BA class of service and there’s increased Club World availability from 1 September too. Of course, taxes, fees and other carrier charges still apply to the companion. When earned with this card, the Voucher is valid for two years although keep an eye on extensions, which rolled out in 2020. Don’t miss all the details of this fantastic and very lucrative perk which can save you hundreds, if not thousands of pounds each year — check out our ultimate guide to the British Airways Companion Voucher.
Representative example and annual fee: This card has an APR of102.5% variable and a purchase rate of 25.3% variable with an assumed credit limit of £1,200. There is an annual fee of £195, increasing from £250 for annual fees charged after 1 September 2021.
Why it’s great: The Companion Voucher is the most valuable benefit in the U.K. reward credit card market. And subject to various rules, it gives you a free ticket when you make a redemption using your Avios, effectively doubling the value of your pool of Avios if used correctly. Plus, the 25,000-Avios welcome bonus can get you an upgrade from World Traveller Plus to Club World or three return flights to many destinations in Europe.
Further reading:
- British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card review
- Ultimate guide to British Airways Avios
- Guide to the British Airways Amex Companion Voucher
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard Credit Card
Sign-up bonus: 30,000 bonus Virgin Points after making your first card purchase within 90 days of account opening for applicants approved by 6 June 2022.
Earning rate: 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent on everyday purchases; 3 Virgin Points per £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays
Other key benefits: You’ll unlock a ‘Virgin Atlantic reward’ after spending £10,000 annually, including using the reward as a companion voucher redemption flights. Virgin has also announced improvements to this reward that widen the scope of what is on offer.
Representative example and annual fee: This card has a representative APR of 63.9% variable and a purchase rate of 22.9% variable with an assumed credit limit of £1,200. There is an annual fee of £160.
Why it’s great: Because this is a Mastercard, you’ll have a backup in situations where Amex may not be accepted. With a great sign-up bonus of 30,000 Virgin Points for a limited time only and an ongoing earning rate of 1.5 miles per £1 spent on everyday purchases — with double that for purchases made directly with Virgin or Virgin Holidays, proviexpedited way to getting an Upper Class redemption. The new Virgin Red scheme also opens up many more ways to rack up and spend Virgin Points to supplement what you earn on this credit card. Virgin Points are easier to use than you might think. Did you know you can redeem them for flights on Air France and KLM, as well as Delta and other partners?
Further reading:
- Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard review
- The ultimate guide to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
The Platinum Card from American Express
Welcome bonus: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £6,000 in the first six months for approved applicants before 1 June 2022.
Earning rate: 1 Membership Reward point per £1 spent on all purchases; 2 Membership Rewards points per £1 spent at American Express Travel
Other key benefits: The benefits are incredibly comprehensive and include: complimentary Priority Pass, Centurion Lounge access, access to Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts programme, purchase protection, worldwide annual travel insurance, concierge services, Addison Lee credits, elite status at a number of hotel chains including Hilton, Marriott and Radisson, elite status at Avis and Hertz for car hire and a supplementary cardholder for free gets all the benefits, too. Combined these benefits can be worth hundreds of pounds of value to travellers each year.
Representative example and annual fee: This card is a charge card, rather than a credit card, so it has no spending limit or APR, but you must pay off the balance in full each month. There is an annual fee of £575.
Why it’s great: The American Express Platinum Card is my top pick for those wanting to take their card benefits to the next level. The massive 60,000-point welcome bonus for. limited time only is great. Looking fully into the benefits, however, and for the right person, they have huge value, which may significantly outweigh the annual fee. The sexy metal card is a great feature, too. 2020 saw a wide range of credits offered like £400 back on £400 Marriott spend, meaning this card still provided great value even when some of the benefits were less useful due to the slowdown in travel.
Further Reading:
- American Express Platinum Card review
- 10 things to do when you get the Platinum Card from American Express U.K.
- Is The Platinum Card from American Express worth the annual fee?
The American Express Business Platinum Card
Welcome bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £6,000 in the first three months
Earning rate: 1 Membership Reward point per £1 spent on all purchases, 2 Membership Rewards points per £1 spent at American Express Travel
Other key benefits: Lounge access for you and a guest to Priority Pass lounges, access to Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying with Delta and various elite hotel statuses. Access to the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts programme. You’ll also get a complimentary annual digital subscription to The Times and The Sunday Times, worth £312 each year and save £150 on each onefinestay booking.
Representative example and annual fee: This card is a charge card, rather than a credit card, so it has no spending limit or APR, but you must pay off the balance in full each month. There is an annual fee of £595.
Why it’s great: The American Express Business Platinum Card is the best option for small business owners in the U.K. Because of the long list of benefits, it makes the card a no-brainer — especially for business owners who travel often. They can expect a more comfortable and efficient travel experience with all the perks included with this card.
Further reading:
- A review of the American Express Business Platinum Card
- Guide to Amex Membership Rewards
- 6 reasons small businesses should use a small business credit card
Frequently asked questions
What are points and miles?
Points and miles are a type of currency. Here at TPG, we focus most of our time on the currencies issued by credit cards, airlines and hotels to keep you loyal to them — so these are called loyalty programmes. When it comes to loyalty programmes and travel points, there are two types of rewards that you work toward: points and status. Points are earned every time you take a trip and can be redeemed as travel rewards. The industries of credit cards, airlines and hotels are closely intertwined, and the whole point of the points and miles hobby is to use these currencies to travel the world. This can take a variety of forms, but the simplest ways are:
- Using airline miles for airline tickets: For example, if you have Virgin Atlantic Virgin Points, you can use those points for flights with Virgin Atlantic and its partners.
- Using hotel points for hotel stays: Likewise, if you have Marriott points, you can use those earnings for free nights at dozens of brands under the Marriott umbrella.
Where do I start if I’m a beginner?
This article is a good place to find the best credit cards available right now but if you want to take a step back and understand the basics of how to collect points and miles (credit cards are only one step, albeit an important one!) our nine-step guide will walk you through the following:
1. Stay informed
2. Know which credit cards are right for you
3. Sign up for loyalty programmes
4. Get a Tesco Clubcard
5. Shop online through shopping portals
6. Stay on the lookout for deals
7. Learn to use miles and points strategically
8. Consider earning status
9. Set goals for yourself
Do I need more than one card?
That’s completely up to you. In general in the U.K., American Express credit cards have higher welcome bonuses but may also have higher annual fees as a result. Also, American Express cards are accepted at a lot of places, but not everywhere. You may wish to consider a high-earning American Express card, coupled with a points-earning Mastercard or Visa, and maybe even a card to use in foreign currencies or when you’re abroad. You can read our guide to planning your credit card portfolio here.
What’s the difference between credit cards, charge cards, cashback cards and rewards cards? Are they all the same thing?
Not quite. Credit and charge cards are similar in that you can make purchases on the cards and those purchases won’t be due until a later date like the end of your statement period. The difference between these two cards is that credit cards allow you to either pay your whole balance at once or over time (with interest charged), whereas charge cards require the entire balance to be paid at the end of the statement period (not over time).
Rewards cards and cashback cards both offer you an incentive for using the card. Rewards cards will usually offer a ‘reward’ like points or miles, while cashback cards offer just that — a small amount of cash for each purchase by way of a discount off your balance owing at the end of the statement period.
Related: Should you choose a rewards card or a cashback card?
Will I be approved for a credit card?
This will depend on whether you meet the eligibility requirements set by the card issuer, and these will differ from card to card. You will likely need to be over 18, a resident of the U.K. and there may be minimum income requirements. These will be clearly described by the card issuer at the start of the application process.
Can I apply for a card I’ve already held in the past?
The answer is usually yes, though you may not be eligible for the welcome or sign-up bonus if you have held the card in the recent past. For Virgin Atlantic cards, you cannot have held or cancelled the card in the past six months, for American Express it’s much more complicated and restrictive — read all our details here.
What is a Representative APR?
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, which is the rate of interest charged on your purchases per year plus any additional fees and charges. However, note that the rate may vary from customer to customer for the same card depending on their eligibility and financial circ*mstances. Representative APR is the most common/likely APR to be given as the card issuer must provide the representative rate to at least 51% of successful applicants.
Related: Everything you need to know about credit card representative examples, purchase rates and APR
Bottom line
If you’re looking to earn your way to redemption in the near future, credit cards are your best way of getting there. This set of cards — highlighted by the fact that you’re earning three different and important point currencies — will cover the needs of most U.K. miles and points collectors, and have you well on your way to maximising your returns.
Additional reporting by Ben Smithson
