Avios-earning at Travelex is now back after the cyber attack
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As you probably saw in the press over New Year, Travelex recently suffered one of the most damaging cyber attacks ever seen in the UK.
Hackers took control of the Travelex IT system and demanded $6m to unlock it. The company took down its website in late December and it was around three weeks before it came back on line. Even then, functionality was limited and the Avios-earning pages had not been restored.
Finally, Travelex has restored the ability to earn Avios when buying foreign currency.
You can earn Avios points when you pre-order foreign currency via the Travelex website for collection at the airport or delivered.
The webpage you need, which is now up and running again, is here. This drops you straight into the currency calculator. Ignore the ‘Your session has expired’ message and scroll down.
Do not go via the Travelex homepage as there is no option there to add your Avios account details.
Travelex lets you pre-order over 40 currencies and collection is available with as little as four hours notice.
This is what you need to know:
You collect 1 Avios for every £1 when exchanging over £300
Collect 1 Avios for every £2 when exchanging below £300
You must pre-order via the Travelex website here, for airport collection, for Travelex store collection or delivery
Home delivery is free if you exchange over £600, chargeable if you exchange less
You can credit your Avios to BA Executive Club or Iberia Plus
Avios will be added within 14 days of collection or delivery
It is good to see that pre-ordering is required. The walk-up exchange rates at Heathrow are, frankly, shocking and you should never exchange money without ordering in advance. You will receive a substantially better rate this way.
The special Avios / Travelex ordering page is here.
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.
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