News: TopCashback drops Avios transfers, 20% HSBC transfer bonus to Flying Blue launched

News in brief:

TopCashback is ending conversions into Avios

TopCashback is ending its relationship with Avios at the end of the year.

TCB, website here, effectively allowed you to buy Avios at 0.95p each by trading any cashback due for points – you received 105 Avios for every £1 you sacrificed. I considered this a decent deal given that I know I can get more than 0.95p of value from an Avios.

Since IAG Loyalty is happy to sell Avios for 0.95p, and that the volumes from TCB are presumably decent, I have to assume that this deal is now seen as conflicting with Avios’s own activities.

Get a 20% transfer on HSBC transfers to Flying Blue

Well, here is something new. If you have a HSBC Premier credit card, you can get a 20% bonus if you transfer your points to Flying Blue, the Air France / KLM scheme, by 31st October.

HSBC has typically run a 25% transfer bonus to Avios once per year. It comes around on such a regular basis that most cardholders have begun to factor it in when considering whether to keep the card. This is the first bonus to any airline or hotel partner other than Avios, I believe.

As I usually say when these deals come along, no bonus under 50% should be enough to make you consider a transfer that you wouldn’t normally have done. If you are already active in Flying Blue and have a pot of HSBC points which need a home, this may be worth a look.

You need to have a HSBC Premier current account (free if you meet the £75,000 salary requirement) to get either of the HSBC Premier credit cards. The free card earns the equivalent of 0.5 airline miles per £1 whilst the £195 World Elite card earns 1 mile per £1. Full details are in our card reviews here (free HSBC Premier card) and here (HSBC Premier World Elite).

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – May 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 Credit Card

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 Card

30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher 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:

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

The American Express Business Gold Card

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 Card

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review