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HfP ‘Credit Cards’ page updated for April 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UPDATE – APRIL 2024:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.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.

UK Rewards credit and charge cards

What’s changed this month?

The increased bonus on two Virgin Atlantic cards ends tomorrow.  More details on those below.

British Airways has brought back an improved sign-up bonus on the two British Airways American Express cards, just a month after the last offer ended.

There is a slight tweak this time.  The Premium Plus card is back to 25,000 Avios for signing up.  The free BA Amex, however, is only up to 5,000 Avios from the usual 3,000 Avios – this is usually increased to 9,000 Avios.

I would guess that Amex is trying to encourage more people to take the Premium Plus card by widening the gap in the sign-up bonus.  Frankly, you shouldn’t get the free BA Amex if you are planning to earn the 2-4-1 Avios flight voucher – this article explains why.

That’s about it …. except that there is a targetted bonus for holders of the old Barclaycard IHG Rewards Club credit cards if they apply for the new Creation-run version.  We don’t yet know if the offers works for non-targetted people who use the relevant link – once I have some evidence I will let you know.  The offer runs until June so there is no rush.


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 (74)

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

  • Steve says:

    Does the travel insurance on the Amex Platinum card cover you for all your holidays or just the ones booked via or paid on the card.

    • James67 says:

      I believe the medical elements are covered irrespective of where you book but other elements require you to book via amex travel. Others will correct me if I’m wrong.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        Don’t even need to book via AMEX travel just need to have been paid for using an AMEX issued AMEX (BAPP SPG etc)

      • Alan says:

        Almost, you need to pay using ab Amex-issued Amex, you don’t have to use Amex Travel. Car hire and medical covered regardless.

  • Oli says:

    Does the car hire insurance on the Amex Platinium cover only the cardholder or does the insurance work as long as paid with the card?

    • Genghis says:

      Card holder. No requirement to pay with the card or an Amex

      • Oli says:

        Thanks Genhis. Would a supplementary card holder be covered?

        • Alan says:

          Yes – see Rob’s article on the Amex Plat for full details of what’s on offer.

  • Nick says:

    Does anyone know how long it takes to receive the bonus anniversary MR points? My start date was 3rd march but on 28th march bill charged the £140 annual fee but still no points. I’ve called Amex where it’s ranged from should be 7 days aftercard renewal to 3 months. Terms says upto 60 days from renewal so basucally I’ve got another month before they could appear. Just wondered how long other peoples normally take. Thanks

  • Sam says:

    Hi,

    Is there a link for the IHG Creation targeted bonus sign-up for IHG Barclaycard holders?

    • Jonathan says:

      Mine was in the IHG app under messages but once you’ve read it, it automatically deletes after a week or so… currently arguing with Creation because I had a Barclaycard IHG, was targeted but so far only received 20,000 instead of 40,000 and having called creation twice the average wait time for an advisor was 15 mins both times so not having the best experience thus far.

      • Genghis says:

        @Liz reported that 20k of the IHG black bonus will be applied sometime in the first three months (I’ve only received 10k of IHG white)

        • Liz says:

          I was told over the phone I was definitely eligible for the 40k offer and the additional 20k pts will post later. I also emailed them and they have confirmed in writing 8 wks after application days – sorry previously said 90 days but couldn’t remember exact timescale.

      • Sam says:

        Thanks Jon,

        Yes I had the same message but it’s now disappeared.

        Could you paste a link here?

        Ta

    • Genghis says:

      I was targeted but have never held the IHG Barclaycard

  • Stuart says:

    Can anyone explain how you can use a Amex PRG referral to get the SPG CC? I’ve tried it a couple of times and all I get offered is the PRG, Platnium or the Green card

  • Graham Walsh says:

    O/T Anyone know a good way of maximising points for car hire in Boston, MA over Easter? I see I have a 15% rebate with Amex Plat Credit Card. Any other tips?

    • Rob says:

      Use Hertz and book via the Australian site using the Amex Plat discount code. Target £20 per day.

      • Rob says:

        Then credit to Virgin for 1000 miles.

        • Graham Walsh says:

          Thanks. Also noticed that Virgin have 1k points offer with Hertz direct. Will check out the Aus site out for cost.

          • Graham Walsh says:

            I went with Virgin directly in the end. Travel plus we’re the cheapest plus 2 miles per £1 spent. Put it on Virgin black so might be double as “Virgin Holiday” spend.

  • Michele Mas says:

    I have a question on the Virign Black Credit Card. Does anyone know if you hit the spending total in the first month and then cancel the card if you get the sign up points and bonus but avoid payinf the £195 charge? Thanks Michele

    • Jonathan says:

      Virgin card is £140, BA Amex is £195… Amex you get a pro rate refund. Virgin you don’t as it’s billed as the first transaction on the statement. With both cards, wait for the points to post before cancelling.

    • Alan says:

      You can’t avoid the charge with MBNA.

    • Genghis says:

      And remember Virgin black is a sunk £140 cost so you might as well keep the card for the year (unless of course you want to churn but then that’ll cost you another £140 and IMO not worth it – when you can just churn the White).

  • Andy says:

    I have just got the Lloyd Rewards cards and am not impressed so far. One pin number arrived and said to be used with both cards, not so. The Amex one requires another PIN that you have to phone up and ask for. That took over a week to arrive.
    First 2 online transactions declined. Called to find out why, security measure to make sure it was me using the card. Not able to use contactless on either card yet.
    Called to ask whats up, security measure, just the luck of the draw they say.

    • Alan says:

      Weird – I know Lloyds can be a bit trigger-happy on the anti-fraud front but not had that many issues with them! Did you make sure your first transaction was a chip & pin one? That should enable contactless and hopefully make them less likely to block internet transactions.

      • The Original Nick. says:

        Very weird. I’ve not had any problems with mine. I’ve also got the upgrade voucher sitting in my account which is a bonus.

        • Jimmy changa says:

          Ive had no issues with my lloyds reward card and i only had one pin number for both cards, the only place that doesnt seem to like contactless is wh smiths.

          Re the upgrade voucher ive got mine despite it only being april and haveing spent less than £4k this year tis very odd.

          I assumed it was a year from the day you got the card however i had an online chat with lloyds and they said it was actually from first of jan to thirty first of dec.

          So now im not sure if i should leave any big spending till next year to try and get another one or carry on regardless

          The

          • Alan says:

            No, the person you spoke to was totally misinformed and you were right! It is every 12 months from the date of card opening. Their own T&Cs are poorly worded but, now being into my 3rd year of holding the card and having just triggered the £7k spend shortly before my 12 month anniversary each time I am sure you are correct! 😀 The majority of their agents do seem to get it right but there are still some with bad info.

          • Liz says:

            I am still fighting to get 4 mths worth of points. Previous calls all given different and wrong information – in Jan we were told 12 wks to resolve – now been told it will be a further 12 weeks because we didn’t make an “official” complaint and the 12 weeks are from the official complaint date rather than when we raised the original problem back in Dec! Unbelievable! Now had the £24 card fee refunded and hoping for much more compensation when it finally gets resolved. They still don’t know what the problem is and why some work ok and others don’t!

          • Alan says:

            That’s appalling treatment, Liz. Unless they come up with something decent I’d put a formal Ombudsman complaint in!

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

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