Earning rate on the Sainsbury’s Nectar credit card drops dramatically
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We don’t write about the Sainsbury’s Nectar credit card much but we do cover it occasionally, including a full card review each year. It is, after all, another option for earning Avios under the Avios / Nectar partnership.
That said, we will now write about it even less. Sainsbury’s has come like a thief in the night and gutted the value of the card.
From 1st November, the Nectar earning rate will be reduced to just 1 Nectar Point per £2 spent in Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat and Tu.
This is a 75% reduction on your return on spend at Sainsbury’s-owned retailers. A Nectar point is worth 0.5p so under the new rate your effective cashback rate in Sainsbury’s and Argos is just 0.25%.
Spending at all other retailers remains unaffected at the incredibly poor rate of 1 Nectar point per £5 spent – basically 0.1% back!
What should you do if you have the Sainsbury’s Nectar credit card?
Apart from the sign-up bonus of 8,000 Nectar points, there is now no reason – at all – to get this card.
There is the Nectar American Express credit card, take a look at our review here.
The free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard outperforms is your best bet though, even when you shop in Sainsbury’s or Argos, earning you 1 Avios per £1 spent. Even if your ultimate goal was Nectar points and not Avios, you are far better off with Barclaycard. Your 1 Avios per £1 will convert into 1.6 Nectar points per £1, worth 0.8p.
Our review of the free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard is here and you can apply here.
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2025 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 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
Get 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.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
18,000 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:
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up 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 Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
Capital on Tap Visa
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
