This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. Credit products are regulated by the FCA. All rates, fees, and benefits are subject to change — always check current terms directly with the card issuer before applying. Credit card eligibility depends on your individual circumstances and credit history. Never carry a balance on a rewards card — interest rates of 24-29% APR instantly wipe out reward rates of 1-2%.
For most people, the best credit card to earn air miles in the UK is the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold — it earns flexible points that can be converted into multiple airline schemes including Avios and Virgin Points, and it often comes with a strong welcome bonus. Free in year one, then £195 annually. For pure cashback without an annual fee, the Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday delivers the strongest no-fee return. If you specifically want Avios for British Airways travel, the Barclaycard Avios card offers points without requiring an Amex.
The Golden Rule That Overrides Everything Else
Rewards credit cards are only financially beneficial if you clear the balance in full every month. Never carry a balance on a rewards card — reward rates of 1-2% are instantly wiped out by interest rates of 24-29% APR. This isn't a disclaimer buried at the bottom, it's the single most important fact in this category. A rewards card is a tool for earning on spending you would make anyway, and it becomes a debt trap the moment you pay interest on it. Set up a direct debit to clear the full balance monthly; if you can't trust yourself to do that consistently, a rewards card is not the right product.
Best Overall: Amex Preferred Rewards Gold
The Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card offers a large introductory points bonus, often 20,000+ points on qualifying spend, one point per £1 spent, Deliveroo credits, and four airport lounge passes per year. Free in year one, then £195 annually — it works best if you'll actively use the benefits and ideally cancel or downgrade before the year-two fee if it's not worth it.
The key advantage over single-airline cards is flexibility: flexible points cards generally win because they don't lock you into one airline. Amex Membership Rewards points can usually be transferred to multiple airline and hotel loyalty schemes at various ratios, which lets you use them wherever they provide the best value rather than being committed to a specific carrier's availability and seat pricing.
Best No-Fee Cashback: Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday
The Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday offers 5% cashback for the first five months, up to £125, then 0.5% on the first £10,000 spent and 1% above, with no annual fee. Best suited to higher spenders who can hit the annual spend threshold and clear the balance monthly.
On £800/month spending, you earn roughly £24 cashback per year from the standard rate — modest, but genuinely free money on spending you'd make anyway, with no annual fee offsetting it. For travellers who don't specifically want to accumulate air miles and simply want a straightforward return on everyday spending, this is the cleanest option.
Best for British Airways Flyers: Barclaycard Avios Plus
For committed British Airways Executive Club members who specifically want Avios and either don't qualify for Amex or want a Visa/Mastercard alongside their Amex for broader acceptance, Barclaycard's Avios Plus card earns at 1.5 Avios per £1 spent and includes a welcome Avios bonus. Avios can be redeemed against British Airways flights including flight upgrades, companion vouchers (earned after £15,000 annual spend on some cards), and hotel bookings through BA. Bear in mind that the BA Amex card carries a 2.99% foreign transaction fee on overseas spending, worth factoring in if you use it abroad regularly.
Best for Virgin Atlantic Flyers: Virgin Atlantic Reward+
The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card can be incredibly rewarding for Virgin Flying Club members who spend at least £10,000 per year on their cards — at that spend level, the companion voucher and ongoing points accumulation make the £160 annual fee defensible. At lower spend levels, a flexible points card like the Amex Gold that can transfer to Virgin Points provides better overall value.
The Amex Acceptance Gap
Amex's most rewarding cards come with a meaningful practical limitation: American Express isn't accepted everywhere in the UK, particularly smaller retailers, some supermarkets, and many smaller businesses. The standard strategy for serious UK rewards earners is Amex for large spending categories where it's accepted, such as online, travel bookings, and larger retailers, with a no-fee Visa or Mastercard as a backup. Account for this in your earning estimates — spending that goes on a backup Visa/Mastercard earns nothing on your primary card.
Which Card Fits Your Spending Pattern
If you're a frequent flyer who wants flexibility across airline loyalty schemes and will use lounge access and welcome bonuses, the Amex Gold's £195 fee pays for itself quickly. If you want simplicity and a no-fee return on everyday spending without tracking airline redemption charts, the Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday is the cleaner option. If you're specifically loyal to British Airways and fly with them regularly, the Barclaycard Avios Plus earns directly in the currency you'll actually redeem, without needing an Amex.
FAQ
See the FAQ section above for Avios redemption maths, holding multiple cards, and whether a rewards card is worth it for infrequent travellers.
