Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Get 25% off CrossCountry trains next week

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The CrossCountry rail franchise is running a very decent sale starting on Monday – 25% off all CrossCountry Advance tickets purchased through our Train Tickets app between 18 January and 14 February 2016.

Whilst you need to book via their app, you will need a PIN code to access the deal which can only be obtained via their website!  You need to complete the online form here and you will be sent your PIN on Monday. 


HFP-Barclaycard-Avios-Card

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (March 2023)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Successfully apply for either of the Barclaycard Avios credit cards by 2nd April 2023 and you will be entered into a free draw to win ONE MILLION AVIOS! Full details are on the application forms here (free) and here (paid). This competition is exclusive to Head for Points readers. T&C apply.

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

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

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £12,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points.

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

30,000 points and unbeatable travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

Get a 10,000 points bonus plus an extra 500 points for our readers Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

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

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

Until 30th March 2023, the sign up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to 120,000 Membership Rewards points – click here. The bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased to 60,000 Membership Rewards points – click here. T&C apply, see the application forms for details.

American Express Business Platinum

Crazy 120,000 points bonus (to 30th March) and a £200 Amex Travel credit every year Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

60,000 points sign-up bonus (to 30th March) and free for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Comments (51)

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

  • lammy52 says:

    Has anyone managed to get a PIN code for crosscountrytrains, as I have tried several times witout success, and trying to get any sense from their Customer Relations is difficult to say the least.

  • Adam says:

    Thank you everyone that’s completed my survey so far. Your input has been invaluable!

  • AndyS says:

    Something strange with cross-country. I got my code and booked a ticket with the app. It was worth it for the discount but I won’t do it again, for 2 reasons, firstly it only gives you m-ticket and second you can’t choose seat, not even window or aisle. I was given aisle but I always book window. However the strange thing is I got an email yesterday stating that I had requested replacement tickets so here was a code to use at the station ticket machines. Well I didn’t request anything of the sort but it was welcome, now i can get through the ticket barriers without having to faff about with my phone. But the lack of seat choice is still a deal breaker (and of course the lack of nectar points or anything like you get with firstgroup bookings)

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

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