No more Avios points from Shell as Shell Drivers Club is axed
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There is a big shift underway in petrol station loyalty at the moment. By Summer the whole landscape will have changed.
I will get to the news about Shell in a minute. Let’s recap on what is going on elsewhere:
Texaco Star Rewards withdrew as a Virgin Atlantic transfer partner – this has already happened
In June 2019, BP is withdrawing from Nectar. The company is apparently planning to launch a stand-alone loyalty scheme.
At the same time, Esso is withdrawing from Tesco Clubcard. At present, you can earn Clubcard points (which can be converted to Avios or Virgin Flying Club miles) when you buy petrol or in-store items at Esso garages. This Head for Points article explains the complex earning structure. Esso will then join Nectar. This is a little surprising, since Nectar is now wholly owned by Sainsburys and the main Esso retail partner in the UK is …. Tesco.
How can I still earn frequent flyer miles from petrol purchases?
This is how I expected the situation to be from June for Avios collectors.
You would need to buy your fuel at a Tesco-branded filling station, where you would earn Clubcard points which can be converted to Avios. You could also fill up at a Shell garage, earn Shell Drivers Club points, and convert those to Avios.
However, it looks like it won’t work out like this.
It looks like Avios is losing Shell Drivers Club
Shell has been emailing people in the last couple of days to announce a new scheme called Shell Go+. Confusingly, Shell has already launched loyalty schemes called Shell Go+ in a number of countries, but the structure is entirely different each time. The Canadian version is a partnership with Air Miles.
Looking at the email sent to UK members of the to-be-closed Shell Drivers Club, it looks like bad news. It seems that it will no longer be a points-based scheme. If it isn’t a points-based scheme, there is nothing to convert to Avios.
Shell Go+ will offer benefits such as:
- 10% off hot drinks
- 10% off Jamie Oliver purchases from the Shell deli
- A fuel discount after 10 visits (a visit = £10 of fuel bought or £2 spent in the shop)
- £3 discount when you buy 300 litres of Shell V-Power fuel
If this is correct then the ‘where can you earn miles from petrol?’ position will have got a lot simpler to understand:
For British Airways Executive Club members
Shell – no, from whenever Shell Go+ launches
Esso – no from June, you’ll no longer be able to collect Clubcard points to convert to Avios
Tesco – yes, Tesco-branding filling stations will still allow you to earn Avios via Clubcard
For Virgin Flying Club members
Texaco – no, Texaco Star Rewards partnership ended in 2018
Esso – no from June, you’ll no longer be able to collect Clubcard points to convert to Virgin
Tesco – yes, Tesco-branding filling stations will still allow you to earn Flying Club miles via Clubcard
How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)
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.
You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express 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 Mastercard
5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £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 £15,000 Read our full review
You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.
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
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.
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.
Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa
Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 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.
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
Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.
Fenny 
Lady London 
MAF 
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