This page contains the UK’s only comprehensive and regularly updated guide to credit cards offering airmiles or hotel loyalty points. If you want to know ‘Which is the best airmiles credit card?’, ‘Which is the best Avios credit card?’, ‘What is the most generous hotel credit card sign-up bonus?’, ‘Which is the highest earning Avios points credit card?’ or anything similar, then this page can help.
I have a run a few interesting posts about credit card strategy. Have a look at this old post for my thoughts on loyalty credit card application strategies. I also recommend this post on the best loyalty cards for long-term spending, as opposed to the best cards to get for a short-term sign-up bonus! This post asks how many credit cards you are allowed to have. You should also read this post when deciding whether to use a miles or ‘no FX fees’ card abroad. This post attempts to rank UK airline and hotel cards in terms of the most valuable sign-up bonuses, adjusting for annual fees. This post looks at which of the cards below are worth keeping for their benefits package, even if you never use them.
I am happy to refer readers for the special referral bonuses on the British Airways, American Express Platinum, American Express Preferred Rewards Gold, Virgin Atlantic White, Virgin Atlantic Black and Tesco MasterCard cards. Please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk with your full name, email address and the card for which you would like a referral. The bonus points I receive for referring you help to cover the costs of running the site.
This page was correct as at 15th May and will next be fully updated on 1st June - see the main blog for any new promotions. Click on the dark blue headings to be taken directly to the relevant application form.
My pick of the best deals currently available :
1. American Express Preferred Rewards Gold. This is currently an outstanding deal. No fee for the first year and 22,000 Membership Rewards points if you are referred (see here for what 22,000 Membership Rewards points can get you - 22,000 Avios points for a start!) The bonus if you are not referred is lower, at 20,000 points. Please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral.
2. Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Card. Until 29th July, the sign-up bonus on this card is doubled to 20,000 Starwood points when you spend £1,000. These are worth 25,000 Avios or miles in 29 other airline programmes, as well hotel nights. You receive a higher sign-up bonus of 21,000 SPG points if you are referred – please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral. You can learn more about this deal here.
3. American Airlines American Express and Visa. Until 31st May, this card is offering 35,000 American Airlines miles when you spend £5,000 within 180 days. This is the best sign-up deal I have ever seen on any free credit card. You can learn more about the deal here, here and here. The miles can be redeemed on British Airways flights, but cannot be merged with your Avios points.
4. Lloyds TSB Premier Duo and Duo Avios cards. This is good deal. The free (‘Duo’) cards give you 15,000 Avios points for signing-up. The £50 fee ‘Premier Duo’ cards give you 20,000 Avios. You need to spend £500 per month for the first three months on the American Express card to receive the bonus, which may require careful tracking of your spending.
5. American Express Platinum. The card now offers 35,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 35,000 Avios amongst other things, if you are referred. Please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral. There is a lower bonus of 30,000 points if you apply directly. You receive a pro-rata refund on the £450 fee when you cancel the card and you will retain most of the benefits – Starwood Gold, Carlson Gold, Accor Platinum, Cathay Pacific Gold (= BA Silver) for the rest of the year even after you cancel!
6. Hilton HHonors Platinum Visa. A free night in any Hilton Group property for spending £750. That could be worth £250 if spent wisely at a Conrad or Waldorf-Astoria branded property. Until 10th June, you receive an additional 10,000 Hilton HHonors points for signing up via the link below.
Airline Cards :
American Airlines AAdvantage American Express and Visa Cards
Issuer: MBNA / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1.5 miles per £1 Amex, 0.75 miles per £1 Visa / Review
Sign-up bonus: Until 31st May, the sign-up bonus is increased to 35,000 American Airlines miles from the standard 5,000 miles if you can spend £5,000 in 180 days. See here for further details.
British Airways American Express Card
Issuer: Amex / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 mile per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 3,000 Avios points when you spend £500 within 3 months, with £10 cashback for applying via TopCashBack. A bigger 4,000 Avios airmiles bonus is available if you are referred by an existing cardholder, albeit you cannot claim your £10 cashback this way – email me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral. £30,000 minimum household income required.
On-going bonus: Free companion voucher for an Avios redemption when you spend £20,000 each year. The voucher is valid for one year, taxes still apply.
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card
Issuer: Amex / Annual fee: £150 / Earn rate: 1.5 miles per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 18,000 Avios points when you spend £3,000 within 3 months. £45 TopCashBack cashback available. A larger 19,000 Avios airmiles bonus is available if you are referred by an existing cardholder, but as you will lose the £45 TopCashBack this way I do not recommend this option. £30,000 minimum household income required.
On-going bonus: Free companion voucher for an Avios redemption when you spend £10,000 each year. The voucher is valid for two years, taxes still apply. Double miles on BA flights and holidays booked at ba.com.
Etihad Guest American Express and Visa cards
Issuer: MBNA / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1.5 mile per £1 Amex, 0.75 miles per £1 Visa
Sign-up bonus: 5,000 Etihad Guest miles when you spend £250 within 90 days
On-going bonus: Double miles on Business Class flight and triple miles on First Class flights taken within 90 days of account opening, promotion to Etihad Guest Silver status after one return flight within your first year of card membership
Issuer: Sygma / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 Rewards4All point per £250 / Review
Sign-up bonus: One free return flight
Lloyds TSB Duo Avios American Express and MasterCards
Issuer: Lloyds TSB / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 mile per £1 Amex, 0.2 miles per £1 MasterCard / Review
Sign-up bonus: 15,000 Avios points when you spend £500 per month on the American Express card for the first three months. This offer expires on 15th September. £10 TopCashBack cashback available.
On-going bonus: Double miles on foreign spend
Lloyds TSB Premier Duo Avios American Express and MasterCards
Issuer: Lloyds TSB / Annual fee: £50 / Earn rate: 1.25 miles per £1 Amex, 0.25 miles per £1 MasterCard / Review
Sign-up bonus: 20,000 Avios points when you spend £500 per month on the American Express card for the first three months. This offer expires on 15th September. £5 TopCashBack cashback available.
On-going bonus: Double miles on foreign spend, 2-4-1 voucher (valid only on Economy Avios redemptions) when you spend £15,000 per year across the two cards
Lufthansa Miles & More American Express and Visa Cards
Issuer: MBNA / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1.5 miles per £1 Amex, 0.75 miles per £1 Visa / Review
Sign-up bonus: 1,500 Miles & More miles when you make your first transaction. 33% bonus miles on both cards for the first six months.
On-going bonus: Holding and using the M&M card stops your Miles & More miles balance from expiring, which is a risk for all non-status M&M members.
Issuer: Santander / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: See below / Review
Sign-up bonus: 1 bonus flight for spending £100, 2 further bonus flights for spending £3,000 within 6 months, 2 further bonus flights for spending £3,000 in months 6-12 of your first card year. The latter two benefits recur each year. Taxes still apply, free flights must be booked via a premium rate telephone number.
United Airlines MileagePlus American Express Card
Issuer: MBNA / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 mile per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: Nothing at present!
Virgin Atlantic White American Express and Visa Cards
Issuer: MBNA / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 mile per £1 Amex, 0.5 miles per £1 Visa / Review
Sign-up bonus: 3,000 Flying Club miles with your first purchase. A higher bonus of 6,000 miles is available if you are referred for the card - email me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral.
On-going bonus: Double miles for spend on Virgin flights and holidays, Premium Economy reward upgrade on an Economy redemption after spending £10,000 per year (two can be earned per year), companion voucher (valid only on a paid flight in a flexible booking class in any cabin) when you spend £15,000 in a year
Virgin Atlantic Black American Express and Visa Cards
Issuer: MBNA / Annual fee: £140 / Earn rate: 2 miles per £1 Amex, 1 mile per £1 Visa / Review
Sign-up bonus: 6,000 Flying Club miles with your first purchase. A higher bonus of 9,000 miles is available if you are referred for the card - email me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral.
On-going bonus: Double miles for spend on Virgin flights and holidays, Premium Economy reward upgrade on an Economy redemption after spending £5,000 per year (two can be earned per year), companion voucher (valid only on a paid flight in a flexible booking class in any cabin) when you spend £7,500 in a year, free Regus Businessworld Gold membership
Hotel Cards :
Hilton HHonors Platinum Visa Card
Issuer: Barclays / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 2 points per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: Voucher for free night at any Hilton Group property when you spend £750 within 90 days, 2,500 bonus points for your first four Hilton stays in your first year of membership. Until 10th June, you can receive an additional 10,000 Hilton HHonors points by applying via this link.
On-going bonus: Hilton HHonors Silver status for as long as you hold the card, upgrade to Gold status after spending £10,000 in a calendar year, 3 points per £1 spent on the card at a Hilton property.
Issuer: Creation / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 point per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 10,000 Marriott Rewards points when you spend £200 in your first six months
On-going bonus: 10 Elite Night credits each year, effectively giving you Silver status for as long as you hold the card, double points when using the card at a Marriott property, double points on foreign spend, 2,000 Marriott Rewards points on each anniversary of your joining date
Priority Club Rewards Visa Card
Issuer: Barclays / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 point per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 10,000 Priority Club points when you make your first purchase within 90 days (these points count towards PC status). This link gives you a higher 15,000 point bonus and comes from a promotional video being advertised to guest at check-in.
On-going bonus: Double points on spending at Priority Club hotels, Priority Club Gold status (this benefit is not mentioned in the promotional material)
Priority Club Rewards Black Visa Card
Issuer: Barclays / Annual fee: £99 / Earn rate: 2 points per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: The general offer linked above is 20,000 Priority Club points when you make your first purchase within 90 days (these points count towards PC status). This offer here is being advertised in hotel receptions and offers 30,000 points. This offer here comes from a Priority Club promotional video and also offers 30,000 points. This link brings up a 40,000 points offer and was promoted in January with some Priority Club activity statements.
On-going bonus: Voucher for a free night at any Priority Club property when you spend £10,000 per year, double points on spending at Priority Club hotels, double points on foreign spend, Priority Club Platinum status (this benefit is not mentioned in the promotional material)
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Card
Issuer: Amex / Annual fee: £75 / Earn rate: 1 point per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 21,000 SPG points when you spend £1,000 within the first three months. This is convertible into 26,000 Avios or a number of other airline schemes. You must be referred by an existing cardholder to get this offer – please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral. Alternatively, you can apply via TopCashBack and receive £15 cashback plus a smaller 20,000 point bonus. £30,000 minimum household income required. Pro-rata fee refund received when card is cancelled. 21,000 points offer ends on 29th July, after which the bonus will drop to 11,000 points.
On-going bonus: Voucher for a free weekend night (Fri, Sat or Sun) in an SPG Category 1-4 property when you spend £25,000 per year. Upgrade to SPG Gold status when you spend £15,000 in a card year.
Other Cards :
Issuer: Tesco Bank / Annual fee: £0 / Earn rate: 1 point per £4 / Review
Sign-up bonus: There is no bonus for a direct application. However, if you referred by another cardholder, then both of you will receive 1,000 Clubcard points (2,400 Avios). The earning rate on the card is equivalent to 0.6 Avios points per £1 or 0.625 Virgin Flying Club miles per £1, as 250 Clubcard points is worth 600 Avios or 625 Virgin FC miles. If you save your Clubcard points for the next Tesco to Avios conversion bonus – usually once per year – your actual earning rate could be 40%-50% higher. The Tesco card is highest paying Visa / MasterCard on the market if you want to earn Avios. If you would like a referral – which is the only way to receive a sign-up bonus – please email me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk
American Express Platinum Charge Card
Issuer: Amex / Annual fee: £450 / Earn rate: 1 point per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 35,000 Membership Rewards points, transferable to various airline and hotel programmes (learn how you can use Membership Rewards points), when you spend £2,000 in the first three months. You must be referred by an existing cardholder to get this offer – please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral. Alternatively, you can apply via TopCashBack and receive £50 cashback plus a smaller 30,000 point bonus – I do not recommend this as 5,000 points should be worth more than £50.
The bonus is only available to customers who have not held a Platinum, Gold or Green Amex charge card in the last six months. Note that this is a charge card and your balance must be cleared in full each month. £40,000 household income requirement.
On-going bonus: 1 year Cathay Pacific Gold status (= BA Silver), on-going Starwood Preferred Guest Gold, on-going Club Carlson Gold Elite, on-going LeClub Accorhotels Platinum, two Priority Pass cards for airport lounge access, Eurostar lounge access, travel insurance for your family and the family of up to five supplementary cardholders
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Charge Card
Issuer: Amex / Annual fee: free for first year, then £125 / Earn rate: 1 point per £1 / Review
Sign-up bonus: 22,000 Membership Rewards points, transferable to various airline and hotel programmes (learn how you can use Membership Rewards points), when you spend £2,000 in the first three months. You must be referred by an existing cardholder to get this offer – please e-mail me at raffles [at] headforpoints.co.uk if you would like a referral. Alternatively, you can apply via TopCashBack and receive £10 cashback plus a smaller 20,000 point bonus – I do not recommend this as 2,000 points are worth more than £10.
The bonus is only available to customers who have not held a Platinum, Gold or Green Amex charge card in the last six months. Note that this is a charge card and your balance must be cleared in full each month. £20,000 household income requirement.
On-going bonus: Double points on supermarket and petrol spend for your first year. Double points on all travel and foreign spend for life, two free airport lounge passes each year. 7,500 bonus Membership Rewards points each year your card fee is paid if you have spent £15,000 in the previous year.
Small Business Cards:
Head for Points focusses primarily on personal cards. However, if you are a sole trader or run a very small business, you may also want to check out any current offers on the American Express Platinum Business Card and the American Express Gold Business Card.
If you run a larger business, you may want to consider giving you and/or your staff the American Express Green Corporate Card, Gold Corporate Card, Platinum Corporate Card or British Airways American Express Corporate Card. I believe that it is possible for the Membership Rewards points or Avios earned with these cards to be given either to the staff member or the business owner. You can request more details on the corporate card range here.
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