Best card for Avios points?

POPPYOSCAR

Can anyone give me any advice please as to the best credit card to get for Avios points?

Thank you.

theburningcat

Overall probably the British Airways Platinum Plus. If you spend in foreign currency or where Amex is not accepted, the Lloyds Avios card could be better.

RichyRich

Rob at headforpoints.com did a detailed analysis into which credit cards are best for long term spending to earn Avios. I may be mistaken but believe the best one turned out to be the Tesco Clubcard credit card!

Of course in the shorter term you can earn many points through "churning" introductory offers, hitting the spend limit then moving onto the next, far quicker than the 'ongoing spend' earning rate on any card.

POPPYOSCAR

RichyRich wrote: »

Rob at headforpoints.com did a detailed analysis into which credit cards are best for long term spending to earn Avios. I may be mistaken but believe the best one turned out to be the Tesco Clubcard credit card!

Of course in the shorter term you can earn many points through "churning" introductory offers, hitting the spend limit then moving onto the next, far quicker than the 'ongoing spend' earning rate on any card.

That surprises me.

The cards I looked at gave at least 1 point per pound.Tesco clubcard
only gives 250 clubcard points for 600 avios points and you have to spend more to get the clubcard points, or am I missing something?.

newuser86

Churning is the best way, start with the Amex gold as its a good beginner card and an easy way to get used to American Express without having to pay a fee. Make sure you get a referral for the extra bonus miles. (Pm me if you like) Headforpoints is a good website for assistance in everything avios, bit of a BA hate going on at the moment with the 2 for 1 vouchers having issues. I only use miles for virgin and no issues yet, however their flight destinations are a lot more limited

RichyRich

I don't (actively) collect Avios - I find I get better value collecting Hilton Honors points (quicker to a redemption and no punitive taxes and fees. But here's a link to the article, which forensically examines points per pound of spending. http://www.headforpoints.com/2015/12/07/comparing-the-13-credit-cards-that-now-earn-you-avios-points/

Enjoy!

Nick_C

Definitely not the Tesco Clubcard credit card!

As above, the Amex Gold Charge Card has a great sign up bonus, and is free in the first year. But it's a charge card, not a credit card, so it doesn't come with S75 protection which I think is important. Get it for the sign up bonus, and once you've earned that then move on.

The best long term card depends on how you want to use your Avios. Are you looking for long haul business class or short haul reward flights? And will you be travelling alone or with a companion?

If you are looking for long haul business class, then you either want to earn a two for one voucher with the BAPP Amex, or an upgrade voucher with the Lloyds cards.

One strategy would be;

1) Now - apply for the Amex Gold charge card, spend £2K in 3 months for the 20,000 sign up bonus. Also collect 1 avios for each £1 spent. If you get an existing cardholder to refer you, the sign up bonus will be 22,000 Avios.

See http://www.headforpoints.com/2016/10/26/amex-american-express-preferred-rewards-gold-charge-card-uk-review-2/

2) Three months from now (possibly earlier, depending on your monthly spend) apply for the Lloyds Avios cards. £24 fee, but earn 2.5 Avios to the pound for six months (and 1.25 to the pound after that). If you are not currently a Lloyds customer, then there is a possible 4,500 sign up bonus if you are referred by an existing customer. (Happy to refer you if you need a referral).

http://www.headforpoints.com/2016/11/05/review-lloyds-avios-rewards-credit-card-2/

3) Once the Lloyds cards are received and you've got the 22,000 sign up bonus from the Amex Gold, cancel the Amex Gold.

4) If you want a two for one voucher, then once you are a year away from wanting to book your first flight (and a clear six months has passed since the Amex Gold account has been closed), apply to Amex as a new customer for the BAPP. 18,000 sign up bonus, or 19,000 if referred by an existing card holder.

So a potential 45,000 avios just in sign up bonuses. And you only need 125,000 for an off peak return for two (in Club World) to Florida or the West Coast.

Note that the upgrade voucher with the Lloyds card allows one person to upgrade a return flight from WT+ to Club World, or allows two people travelling together to upgrade a one way flight. Flughts must be paid for in full using Avios. The voucher is only earned once you have spent £7K on the Lloyds cards, and is valid for a year. Your outbound journey must start within this year.

If you are going for a two for one voucher, and plan to travel long haul business class, then it is worth getting the BAPP Amex. It costs £195 a year, but the two for one voucher is valid for two years, which gives you more scope to use it.

And do spend some time looking at head for points, which is the best site for finding out how to maximise your avios earnings.