Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

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

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

UPDATE – APRIL 2024:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

Keep up to date with the latest UK credit card bonuses by signing up for our free daily or weekly newsletters.

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The special offer of 1,000 Clubcard points (2,400 Avios) for getting the free Tesco Clubcard Mastercard was withdrawn during January.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

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

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

Category

American Express Gold card, American Express Platinum card, Hilton Honors, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (64)

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

  • Roger says:
    8 Feb8 February 05:46

    Does Amex (2+2) or (3+1) max card limit apply to secondary card holders?
    Or is it only for a primary card holders?

    • Genghis says:
      8 Feb8 February 06:01

      Primary. I’ve never been affected but would have been if it included supps

  • Gareth says:
    8 Feb8 February 06:08

    How do they check that you are indeed running a small business or a sole trader?

    • Nick says:
      8 Feb8 February 07:31

      Was just pondering the same question…..

      • Gareth says:
        8 Feb8 February 07:42

        You could surely claim your a sole trader just starting up, it seams you may need a business account, which you can get for free….

      • Marsha says:
        8 Feb8 February 07:43

        In the eligibility section for the business card it says:

        “The business has a current UK bank or building society account”.

    • Mr Dee says:
      8 Feb8 February 08:07

      For limited companies I would expect it to be more difficult before you have filed your first years trading accounts. For sole trader applications you may be asked to confirm income with accounts as well. Even if you are approved at any point they can start a review of your account and suspend spending until you provide documentation to backup your income.

  • Marsha says:
    8 Feb8 February 07:36

    Does the Business Platinum give elite status in the same hotels?

    It would appear the business card has Starwood Preferred Guest® Gold, Club CarlsonSM Gold Elite and Hertz #1 Club. While the personal Platinum has Hilton HHonors™ and Starwood Preferred® Guest. Can anyone confirm you do not get Hilton Gold with the business card?

    • Rob says:
      8 Feb8 February 09:15

      Think you don’t.

      Note also that Priority Pass on Business Plat does not allow guests but the travel insurance is better – covers to 80 years and no requirement to use the card to get cover.

      • Rob says:
        9 Feb9 February 12:09

        Try americanexpress.co.uk/platinum which is the official cardholder site.

  • Neil says:
    8 Feb8 February 09:06

    What are the odds of the BA PP card increasing it’s sign-up bonus again? Anyone got any inkings?

  • sam says:
    8 Feb8 February 09:13

    i have a BA premier amex card with my wife as a supplementary card holder. can she apply in her own name and get bonus or do i have to remove her for 6 months? sam

  • Genghis says:
    8 Feb8 February 09:30

    Yes, it’s the Gold Credit card. Not really suitable for most as part of a churning strategy since “All introductory offers are subject to change, can be withdrawn at any time and are not available if you currently hold or have held any other Membership Rewards enrolled American Express Cards in the past six months”. I.e. most of us will either have the most rewarding Amex Gold or Plat charge cards.

    • jamie says:
      8 Feb8 February 10:41

      i would take that 6 month thing with a pinch of salt tbh…

      I often churn the plat, spg, and bapp in less than the supposed 6 month period (sometimes I reopen the month after closing!) and have never not had a welcome bonus

      • Tom H says:
        8 Feb8 February 15:47

        Hi Jamie have you ever had to give them a call to get the bonus though? I have applied for the BAPP about 5.5 months out and I am not even getting the progress bar at the side for the spend x more to get the avios

        • jamie says:
          8 Feb8 February 16:38

          somehow I have slipped through the net then, soz

          to give u an eg, this was my latest churn (trusty spreadsheet)

          21 sept signed up for new platinum
          spent2k, got 35k mr points, transferred out to avios, closed account 30 oct, got about 410 pounds refund

          16 dec opened new platinum
          spent 2k, got 35k mr points, transfer out to avios, closed account 25 jan, got similar refund

          so not sure 6 month rule also always applies

          have done similar on spg and bapp last year

        • ankomonkey says:
          8 Feb8 February 17:14

          We’ve found someone in Jamie who churns more than Genghis! Good work!

        • Genghis says:
          8 Feb8 February 17:25

          Very good work indeed. I’m happy to stick to my six monthly cycle per T&Cs to not push it too much in terms of Amex goodwill and credit score damage

        • the real harry1 says:
          11 Feb11 February 21:06

          Amex got you in their sights

  • Michael says:
    8 Feb8 February 09:31

    The small print seems to say that the free night in the Hilton can only be taken at the weekend, not during the week. Is that your understanding of this Rob?

    • Genghis says:
      8 Feb8 February 09:36

      Correct.

      • Radiata says:
        8 Feb8 February 10:58

        That said, I attempted to redeem at a Conrad during the week a few months ago as voucher expiring, had failed to use and date fast approaching.

        I rang the US call centre and weekday redemption processed without quibble along with, strangely, being informed that voucher had six months yet to run (i.e. implying a 12 rather than the 6 month expiry on voucher). I proceeded with redemption rather than risk this second snippet proving illusory).

        • ComeFlyWithMe123 says:
          8 Feb8 February 13:54

          I received the opposite response – Sorry Sir, You are trying to redeem for a Thursday Night but the voucher is only valid for Fri, Sat, Sun Night.

        • Graeme says:
          8 Feb8 February 14:28

          A few months ago there was a period where vouchers were mistakenly given 12 months’ validity.

  • Lawro says:
    8 Feb8 February 09:48

    Yes see here

    https://headforpoints.com/2016/10/10/american-express-gold-credit-card-benefits/

    Good way of keeping MR points alive if wanting to cancel Gold/Plat account but as Genghis said the restrictions on earning the sign-up bonus mean it is effectively part of the same Green/Gold/Plat family.

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? EARN POINTS WORTH 10,500 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!