Frequent flyers looking to cut the cost of travel should consider a rewards credit card that offers flight points, as the right card can slash flight expenses or make seat upgrades significantly cheaper. Providers including American Express, Virgin Money and Barclays now offer cards that reward everyday spending with airline miles or points, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, extra baggage, airport lounge access, hotel stays or car hire, depending on the scheme.
How airline miles credit cards work
Airline miles credit cards are a specific type of reward credit card that allows you to collect points on purchases. Once enough points have been accumulated, they can typically be exchanged for free or reduced flights, seat upgrades, or other travel benefits. The most popular schemes in the UK are Avios, run by British Airways and also usable with its partner airlines within the oneworld alliance — including Iberia, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific — and Virgin Atlantic’s Virgin Points. Avios pricing is distance-based with peak and off-peak calendars, offering more predictability, while Virgin Points use dynamic pricing, meaning the cost fluctuates with demand, which can benefit flexible travellers but penalise those with fixed dates.
There are important limitations to bear in mind. Points can only be redeemed with specific airlines or providers, and flights paid for with points tend to have limited availability, particularly during peak travel times. Flexibility with travel dates and destinations is therefore essential. Furthermore, cardholders must repay their credit card bill in full each month to avoid high interest rates, as many of these cards carry representative APRs well above 25%. Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity, though any earning or spending activity resets the clock; Virgin Points, by contrast, do not expire regardless of account activity.
Comparing the best credit cards for flight points
A range of cards is available, each with different fees, earning rates and perks. Below is a breakdown of the leading options, based on annual cost, representative APR, welcome bonuses and extra benefits.
American Express Rewards Credit Card — This card has no annual fee and offers 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £2,000 in the first three months (not available if you have held an Amex card in the past 24 months). You earn one point for every £1 spent, plus 4,000 points for inviting a friend whose application is approved. Membership Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Avios or Virgin Points, among other airline loyalty programmes. For example, 40,000 points could get a return economy flight to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic. Points can also be redeemed on eligible purchases at PayPal, Amazon, Boots and Currys. Which? named this card a “Best Buy” due to its zero annual fee and flexibility.
British Airways American Express Credit Card — Also fee-free, this card awards 5,000 Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first three months, plus one Avios per £1 spent. Additional perks include 1,000 Avios when you add the first Supplementary Card, 4,000 points for a successful friend referral, and a companion voucher when you spend £15,000 each cardmembership year — valid for economy class reward flights on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus. Travel Accident Insurance of up to £75,000 on public transport is also included.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card — This premium card costs £195 a year but is free for the first year. It offers 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £5,000 in the first six months (reverting to 20,000 points after 26 May 2026; not eligible if you have held an Amex card in the past 24 months). You earn three points per £1 spent on Amex Travel, two points per £1 directly with airlines, and one point per £1 on eligible purchases. Other benefits include four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge passes annually (access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide), US $100 hotel credit when booking two or more nights with The Hotel Collection, free Travel Accident Insurance up to £250,000, Travel Inconvenience Insurance up to £200, and £10 back per month on Deliveroo (effectively £120 a year). Points can be transferred 1:1 to Avios, Virgin Points, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Flying Blue, Qantas Frequent Flyer and others.
American Express Nectar Credit Card — With an annual fee of £30 (free in the first year), this card provides 20,000 Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in the first three months (not eligible if you have held an Amex card in the past 24 months). You earn three points per £1 spent at Nectar partners and two points per £1 on general purchases. Nectar points convert to Avios at a rate of 400 Nectar points to 250 Avios, making the welcome bonus worth 12,500 Avios. Referring a friend earns 5,000 points.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card — No annual fee. A welcome bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points is given on first purchase within 90 days, but until 18 May 2026 you can earn an extra 3,000 points if you spend £1,000 within 90 days (your Flying Club number must be linked by 16 August). You earn 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 on everyday purchases and 1.5 points per £1 spent directly with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. Spending over £20,000 in a year triggers a flight upgrade or companion ticket. There are no foreign exchange fees in Europe.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card — The annual fee is £160. The welcome bonus is 18,000 Virgin Points on first purchase within 90 days, but until 18 May 2026 you can earn 36,000 points if you spend £3,000 within 90 days (link Flying Club number by 16 August). Earning rates are 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on everyday spend and 3 points per £1 with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. A flight upgrade or companion ticket is triggered by spending over £10,000 annually. According to Head for Points, this card is “clearly the best deal” in the first year because the boosted bonus easily offsets the £160 fee, and thereafter the superior earning rate and quicker voucher threshold provide ongoing value.
Barclaycard Avios — No annual fee. Collect 5,000 Avios if you spend £1,000 in the first three months, and earn one Avios per £1 on eligible purchases. When you spend £20,000 within 12 months, you can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher (for an Avios Reward Flight booking) or 7,000 bonus Avios. Existing Barclaycard customers switching to this card can get 1,000 Avios when spending at least £1,000 within three months. As an example, 19,500 Avios points can secure a peak-time, economy return flight from London to Milan.
Barclaycard Avios Plus — The most expensive card on the market, costing £20 monthly (£240 annually). It offers 25,000 Avios when you spend £3,000 in the first three months, plus 1.5 Avios per £1 on eligible purchases. Spending £10,000 within 12 months earns a cabin upgrade voucher or 7,000 bonus Avios. The card also provides discounted airport lounge access at over 1,000 lounges worldwide for £20.50 per pass per person. Existing Barclaycard customers switching can get 5,000 Avios when spending at least £3,000 within three months. For instance, 43,000 Avios points plus £33 can deliver a peak-time Club Europe business-class return flight from London to Venice, Lisbon or Madrid.
Other notable cards — The Yonder Lifestyle Travel & Rewards Credit Card (£15/month or £160/year) offers 10,000 bonus points, 5x points per £1 on all spending, no foreign transaction fees, worldwide travel insurance, and points that can be used on any flight with any airline. Its free version (no fee) earns one point per £1 and includes no foreign transaction fees and purchase protection.
How to redeem points and the limitations of airline miles credit cards
Redeeming points typically involves transferring them to an airline loyalty programme, then searching for reward flights on that airline’s website. For Avios, you can book directly with British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus or other oneworld partners. Virgin Points are used through the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, with prices fluctuating based on demand. Both systems offer the potential for significant savings, but availability is the key constraint. Reward seats are often limited, especially on popular routes and during school holidays or peak seasons, so flexibility with dates and airports is crucial.
Companion vouchers and flight upgrade vouchers — earned by meeting annual spending thresholds on cards such as the British Airways Amex, Barclaycard Avios and Virgin Atlantic cards — can deliver exceptional value. The British Airways Amex companion voucher, for example, allows a second passenger to fly for just taxes and fees on a reward booking, but it is valid only in economy class on that card. The Barclaycard Avios upgrade voucher allows a cabin upgrade on an Avios Reward Flight. Head for Points notes that the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus companion voucher’s value can be capped by your Flying Club status.
It is also worth noting that many premium cards include travel insurance, but this cover is often less comprehensive than a standalone policy, focusing on travel accident cover rather than medical expenses. Cardholders should check the policy details carefully. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act provides protection for purchases between £100 and £30,000, offering recourse if a supplier fails to deliver — a valuable safeguard when booking expensive flights.
Annual fees on premium cards can be substantial, but welcome bonuses and ongoing rewards can offset them. The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card, with its first-year free offer and transferable Membership Rewards points, is often recommended as a good starting point for beginners, according to Head for Points. MoneySavingExpert also highlights the same card for its points and perks, and the Virgin Atlantic Reward card for transatlantic travellers. Which? rated the American Express Rewards Credit Card a “Best Buy” for both Avios and Virgin Points, and noted the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus card as the most competitive for frequent flyers willing to pay a fee.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your travel habits. If you typically fly with British Airways, collecting Avios through the no-fee Barclaycard Avios or British Airways Amex card — both of which offer companion or upgrade vouchers — may be a better fit than collecting Virgin Points. If you value maximum flexibility, the American Express Rewards Credit Card’s zero annual fee and transferable points make it a strong candidate. Those who prioritise premium services and are comfortable paying for them might find the Barclaycard Avios Plus or Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus cards deliver the best value for money. Head for Points recommends the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus as “clearly the best deal” in the first year, but cautions that you should be sure you will use Virgin Points before applying.
