Most people collect airline points by flying. The quickest way to build a balance in the UK is actually your everyday spending: groceries, bills, fuel and the things you already buy. Put that spending on the right card and pay it off in full each month, and the points add up to flights you would never pay cash for.
Below are the UK cards worth knowing about right now, grouped by the type of points they earn. Every figure here comes from the card issuers' standard offers as of October 2026. Offers change often, so always check the issuer's page before you apply.
Quick picks
Compare the cards
| Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Earn rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA Amex Premium Plus | £300 | 30,000 Avios after £6,000 in 3 months | 1.25 Avios per £1 |
| Barclaycard Avios Plus | £240 (£20 a month) | 25,000 Avios after £3,000 in 90 days | 1.5 Avios per £1 |
| Amex Preferred Rewards Gold | Free year 1, then £195 | 20,000 points after £3,000 in 3 months | 1 point per £1 |
| Amex Platinum | £650 | 50,000 points after £6,000 in 3 months | 1 point per £1 |
| Virgin Atlantic Reward+ | £160 | 18,000 points after first purchase | 1.5 points per £1 |
| British Airways Amex | Free | 5,000 Avios after £2,000 in 3 months | 1 Avios per £1 |
| Barclaycard Avios | Free | 5,000 Avios after £1,000 in 90 days | 1 Avios per £1 |
| Virgin Atlantic Reward | Free | 3,000 points after first purchase | 0.75 points per £1 |
| HSBC Premier World Elite | £290 | 40,000 HSBC points after £2,000 in 3 months | 3 HSBC points per £1 (1.5 Avios) |
Amex Gold and Platinum earn Membership Rewards points, which transfer to Avios at 1:1. Bonus eligibility rules apply to every card.
Cards that earn Avios directly
Avios is the currency used by British Airways, Qatar Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and others. It's the easiest points currency to use from the UK, which is why most people start here.
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
- Annual fee
- £300
- Welcome bonus
- 30,000 Avios after £6,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1.25 Avios per £1
- Key perk
- Companion Voucher at £15,000 a year
This card is all about the Companion Voucher. Spend £15,000 in a card year and you get a voucher that lets a second person travel with you on a British Airways reward flight for the same Avios as one seat. You still pay the taxes and charges for both, but on a long-haul business class trip that one voucher can save tens of thousands of Avios.
The voucher lasts two years and works in any cabin, including First. You also earn 1 tier point for every £10 you spend, which helps towards British Airways status.
Worth knowing: from 7 October 2026 the earn rate dropped from 1.5 to 1.25 Avios per £1, and spending with British Airways no longer earns triple Avios. The voucher is still the reason to get it.
Suits you if you can put £15,000 a year on one card and want to fly two people in business class.
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
- Annual fee
- £240 (£20 a month)
- Welcome bonus
- 25,000 Avios after £3,000 in 90 days
- Earn rate
- 1.5 Avios per £1
- Key perk
- Upgrade voucher at £10,000 a year
With the BA Premium Plus earn rate now lower, this is the highest-earning card in the UK that pays Avios directly, with no special bank account needed. Because it's a Mastercard, it also works in the places that don't take Amex, which is a lot of smaller shops, trades and some bills.
Spend £10,000 in a year and you get an upgrade voucher, which lets you book a reward seat one cabin higher than you paid for in Avios. It's valid for two years.
Suits you if you want the most Avios per pound and need a card that's accepted almost everywhere.
Flexible points cards
These cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of Avios. The advantage is choice: you can move the points to Avios at 1:1, or to other airlines and hotels, once you know where you want to go.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
- Annual fee
- Free year 1, then £195
- Welcome bonus
- 20,000 points after £3,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1, double on airlines
- Key perk
- Four airport lounge passes a year
The Gold card is the easiest place to start. There's no fee in the first year, the bonus alone covers a short-haul return to Europe in Avios, and the points stay flexible. You also get four Priority Pass lounge visits each year and a yearly Deliveroo credit.
Suits you if you're new to points and want to try it without paying a fee.
The Platinum Card from American Express
- Annual fee
- £650
- Welcome bonus
- 50,000 points after £6,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1
- Key perk
- Lounge access and hotel status
Platinum is a lifestyle card more than an earning card. The value comes from the extras: Priority Pass lounge access for you and a guest card, elite status with several hotel groups, and a yearly restaurant credit. If you'll use those, the fee can pay for itself. If you won't, the Gold card earns similar points for far less.
Suits you if you travel often and will actually use the lounges and credits.
Cards that earn Virgin Points
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
- Annual fee
- £160
- Welcome bonus
- 18,000 points after first purchase
- Earn rate
- 1.5 points per £1, 3 with Virgin Atlantic
- Key perk
- Reward voucher at £10,000 a year
If you fly Virgin Atlantic or its partners, this is the card to have. The bonus arrives after your first purchase, with no big spend target, and spending £10,000 a year earns a reward voucher valid for two years.
Suits you if you fly from London to the US or the Caribbean and prefer Virgin over BA.
The best free cards
If you don't want to pay a fee, these three earn points with no annual cost. The earn rates are lower, but they're a good way to start.
- British Airways American Express: 5,000 Avios after £2,000 in 3 months, then 1 Avios per £1. Spend £15,000 in a year for a Companion Voucher, valid for one year in economy.
- Barclaycard Avios Mastercard: 5,000 Avios after £1,000 in 90 days, then 1 Avios per £1. Spend £20,000 for an upgrade voucher.
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard: 3,000 points after your first purchase, then 0.75 points per £1. Spend £20,000 for a reward voucher.
Can you earn airline points with a debit card?
Yes, but there are only a few options, and they charge a fee. They're useful if you don't want a credit card or can't get one right now.
- Miles & More Debit Card: £180 a year. Earns 1 Lufthansa Group mile per £1, plus an annual lounge voucher. The welcome bonus of 10,000 miles needs £2,000 of foreign-currency spend within a year.
- United Airlines Debit Card: £175 a year. Earns United MileagePlus miles, though the UK earn rate is lower at 0.67 miles per £1.
If you bank with HSBC Premier, the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard is also worth a look. Its points convert to Avios at 2:1, which works out at 1.5 Avios per £1, and it includes Priority Pass lounge access. You need an HSBC Premier current account to apply.
How to choose the right card
- Pick your airline first. If you fly from London on BA or Qatar, collect Avios. If you fly Virgin, collect Virgin Points. Not sure yet? Start with Amex Gold and decide later.
- Be honest about your spending. Companion and upgrade vouchers only pay off if you'll reach the spend target without buying things you don't need.
- Check you're eligible for the bonus. Most bonuses are only for people who haven't held a card from that issuer recently. With Amex this is usually 24 months.
- Think about acceptance. Amex isn't taken everywhere. Pairing an Amex with a Mastercard means you earn on every purchase.
Not sure where to start?
Every month we pick one card we'd open first if we were starting from zero.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Companion Voucher?
It lets a second person fly with you on a British Airways reward flight for the same Avios as one seat. You pay taxes and charges for both travellers, and you need to find reward seats for two people on the same flight.
Will applying for a card affect my credit score?
An application adds a hard search to your credit file, which can lower your score slightly for a short time. Spacing out applications and keeping your balances low helps.
Can I get the welcome bonus more than once?
Usually not straight away. Most issuers only give the bonus to people who haven't held one of their cards for a set period, often 24 months for Amex. Check the terms on the application page.
Is it better to collect Avios or flexible points?
Flexible points like Amex Membership Rewards give you more options, since they can become Avios or other airline points later. Collecting Avios directly can earn more per pound and unlocks vouchers. Many people end up with one of each.