Best UK credit card for air miles (to Canada)

eer

Hi all, 

I'm an employed 20-something year old living near London UK and want to apply for my first credit card - specifically, I would like one that will give me points/bonuses with airlines that fly from here to Canada (specifically to British Columbia). My partner is Canadian and now that travel is slowly opening back up, we'd love to benefit from anything that will make several trips across the point a little bit cheaper. I'm not a big spender so I'm aware I won't rack up any big discounts, but would be happy to hear anyone's suggestions!

Thank you

[Deleted User]

Given your thin credit file, you're probably going to need to get a generic or sub prime card in the first instance.

Then see what type of reward card might suit you best for later on.

eer

Thanks! I have done a soft credit check via Experian which came back as excellent and used MSE's credit card eligibility calculator which said I was 95% likely to be accepted for most cards so I have my fingers tentatively crossed! 

jpsartre

Don't bother would be my advice. You'll be better off getting a card that gives cashback or something like the AmEx Nectar card that allows you to earn points for use in Sainsburys.

jbrassy

If you want advice on collecting airline loyalty points, you should look at Head for Points rather than MSE:
https://www.headforpoints.com/

I think they'll tell you that the Amex Gold card is best for beginners.

Sandtree

Which airlines are you interested in?
Have you looked to see the amount of points required/amount of cash still needed for taxes/fees etc?

With many airlines the real saving is by using points to buy upper tier flights but Lon-YVR is 57,500 airmiles off peak with BA for one way so to get 230,000 airmiles for a two person return trip is going to either require a lot of targeted  use of promotions or a lot of spending. 

WillPS

jpsartre said:

Don't bother would be my advice. You'll be better off getting a card that gives cashback or something like the AmEx Nectar card that allows you to earn points for use in Sainsburys.

Avios is directly interchangeable with Nectar points, so you can earn points to spend at Sainsbury's with a BA credit card (and vice versa).

jpsartre

WillPS said:

jpsartre said:

Don't bother would be my advice. You'll be better off getting a card that gives cashback or something like the AmEx Nectar card that allows you to earn points for use in Sainsburys.

Avios is directly interchangeable with Nectar points, so you can earn points to spend at Sainsbury's with a BA credit card (and vice versa).

I know..

WillPS

jpsartre said:

WillPS said:

jpsartre said:

Don't bother would be my advice. You'll be better off getting a card that gives cashback or something like the AmEx Nectar card that allows you to earn points for use in Sainsburys.

Avios is directly interchangeable with Nectar points, so you can earn points to spend at Sainsbury's with a BA credit card (and vice versa).

I know..

Seems pretty naff advice you're giving out then? Don't get an air miles card, get a card which does Nectar points (e.g. an air miles card)?

jpsartre

My "don't bother" comment was in response to collecting air miles for the purpose of using them to redeem flights. I didn't mean to suggest all air miles cards are a waste of time (although looking back at my post I can see why it might read like that).

The AmEx Nectar card is a good beginners card as the sign up bonus and earning rate beats the Blue BA AmEx card, that's why I mentioned it as an example.

callum9999

WillPS said:

jpsartre said:

WillPS said:

jpsartre said:

Don't bother would be my advice. You'll be better off getting a card that gives cashback or something like the AmEx Nectar card that allows you to earn points for use in Sainsburys.

Avios is directly interchangeable with Nectar points, so you can earn points to spend at Sainsbury's with a BA credit card (and vice versa).

I know..

Seems pretty naff advice you're giving out then? Don't get an air miles card, get a card which does Nectar points (e.g. an air miles card)?

No, your suggestion of getting a BA card and converting to nectar is the naff advice!

There are very few scenarios where an airmiles credit card will earn more nectar points than a nectar credit card.

And to reiterate the point already made, there's not much value in using airmiles to fly economy to Western Canada.