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HfP ‘Credit Cards’ page updated for February 2017 – what are the best deals this month?

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UPDATE – APRIL 2024:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.  We produce a monthly directory of the top UK travel credit card offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Credit Cards’ menu above.  Thank you.

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It’s time for our monthly round up of what is coming and what is going in the world of UK airline and hotel credit card sign-up deals.

Our updated directory of all 23 UK travel credit cards can be found by clicking the ‘Credit Cards’ tab at the top of the site or – for email, Flipboard, Apple News or mobile readers – by clicking here.  This article is a summary of the recent changes, and will hopefully be a useful starting point for new readers.

What’s changed this month?

This week is ‘all change’ with the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic cards.

In theory, the special offers on the two British Airways cards are available until midnight tonight (8th February) but may well be pulled early.

The free British Airways card is offering 9,000 Avios instead of the usual 3,000 Avios (representative APR 22.9% variable)

The British Airways Premium Plus card is offering 25,000 Avios instead of the usual 18,000 Avios (representative APR 76.0% variable)

The two Virgin Atlantic cards have increased their bonuses.  This is an interesting tactical move, knowing that the BA offer was going to be reduced.  More details on those below.

The special offer of 1,000 Clubcard points (2,400 Avios) for getting the free Tesco Clubcard Mastercard was withdrawn during January.


Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Comments (64)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Anonymous says:

    Hi guys,

    I normally don’t need to say anything because I’m new and you guys are awesome teachers so I can’t add anything to the wisdom here. I can say I’m well on my way to card churning thanks to this site.

    Now, I have a question I can’t find answer to. So I know Tesco Mastercard withdrew their 1000 cc point bonus thing but I applied before it was withdrawn and have yet to use the card. If I use the Mastercard will I get cc points or not? And also is the offer of getting 50 bonus cc points for using the new payment method still standing?

    Thanks to all who answer.

    • Wally1976 says:

      If you applied while the 1000 point offer was still on and keep to the terms of it then you should get the points (chase them if you don’t).

      On your last question, I presume you mean the Payqwik offer? I dismissed it as didn’t work with my phone so don’t know but the article on here should give you the info you need.

  • Roger says:

    Looking to re-apply for AAdvantage MBNA card (I held it since 35k points offer back in 2013)
    Current sign up bonus is only 5000 AA miles.
    Any chance this will be upped over next 3/6 months?

  • Raj P says:

    Hi,
    Can someone please clarify if I can get bonus points on Amex Preferred Rewards Gold Card or not. My situation is:
    I have cancelled Amex Pref rewards gold charge card, but still have basic Gold credit card. I have got BA Premium plus card and have got its bonus avios and planning to downgrade it to no fee BA Amex card (and get back fee on prorata basis). I am waiting for 6 months to over since I cancelled Pref rewards gold charge card and reapply. Will having basic gold amex card prevent me from being eligible for bonus points which comes with Gold Pref rewards charge card.

    regards
    Raj

    • Rob says:

      You need to go 6 months without a Membership Rewards account, so you can’t get the bonus on Gold.

  • Simon says:

    Sorry, I know this is a frequent question but I can’t see the answer in the comments threads I’ve skimmed through. How quickly after going through £10k on the Hilton card does the confirmation of gold status come through for that year? thanks.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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