Best CC for booking BA flights?

pecunianonolet

Hi,

which is the best card for booking BA flights to get either cashback or Avios?

Got the choice of MBNA, HSBC, Sainsbury CC or Barclays CC. Also have Natwest and RBS but they are BT cards and wouldn't have enough limit anyway. 

None of them are any reward cards, just standard credit cards and since I would need to book ideally today, latest tomorrow there isn't a lot of time for any new ones. I know Amex is usually rather good but currently not eligible for one as I already have 8 credit cards from current and previous stoozing. 

Was thinking Sainsbury CC is by best bet so I at least get some Nectar points. This is short term and was unexpected so didn't have time to plan ahead.

Price of the flight just shy of £3k.

Thanks!

CliveOfIndia

I would suggest that if you're needing to book the flights today or tomorrow then you're pretty much limited to what cards you've already got.  I know that card applications can go through pretty quickly, but I think that's cutting it a bit fine.  That being the case, you may as well use your Sainsburys card - a few Nectar points are better than nothing.

If you did somehow have time to get a new card then the BA Amex card is probably best in terms of rewards, though you say you're not eligible for that.  Barclaycard also do an Avios card.  This website may give you some pointers, though I can't make any claims as to how reliable its recommendations are: https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/06/06/what-is-the-best-avios-credit-card-9/

pecunianonolet

CliveOfIndia said:

I would suggest that if you're needing to book the flights today or tomorrow then you're pretty much limited to what cards you've already got.  I know that card applications can go through pretty quickly, but I think that's cutting it a bit fine.  That being the case, you may as well use your Sainsburys card - a few Nectar points are better than nothing.

If you did somehow have time to get a new card then the BA Amex card is probably best in terms of rewards, though you say you're not eligible for that.  Barclaycard also do an Avios card.  This website may give you some pointers, though I can't make any claims as to how reliable its recommendations are: https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/06/06/what-is-the-best-avios-credit-card-9/

Thanks for the tip and the website. I am given the opportunity to change to the Barclaycard Avios card but the changes will only take effect from the next statement date and once a new card has been send out. Sadly, that doesn't work for me in this case. 

jay1804

The Amex BA Premium plus would be the best card to get/use 3 points per £ spent with BA, plus a welcome bonus for spending £3K. Have you tried a amex application anyway, sometimes their eligibility checker can be hit & miss. Also amex send the card out very quickly if you are approved straight away.


Correction: Amex have changed the spend target to £6K in 3 months

Gandalf644

The new Natwest Travel Card gives 1% Rewards (cashable) back on flights (amongst other travel spending).

I applied the other day for this card and was given immediate acceptance. Within an hour, it was showing in the app, and having digital biometrics set up on the phone, I could access the card number, CVC and expiry dates via the 'Manage my Card' part of the app. Also the PIN if needed.

I thus booked a flight (co-incidentally on BA) within an hour of applying for the card, using the card details from the app.  

The PIN and physical card arrived yesterday/today in the mail.

pecunianonolet

Thanks all for the recommendations. Spend now £3600 for BA business class flights with the Sainsbury card to get at least a handful of Nectar points as I couldn't wait any longer as my flight is already next Friday. Still got two Hyatt hotels to book, which I now reserved also using the Sainsbury card but have free cancellation up until 24h before arrival, which is another £1500

Anyhow, last time I checked the MSE eligibility checker a couple of weeks ago I was unsurprisingly not eligible for any new credit cards. Gave it a shot again this morning and was very surprised that MSE rated me with a 90% approval chance for the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card so applied and was accepted.

Rather annoyed that I didn't check before as now the biggest expense of the flights is on the Nectar car but at least I should be able to get the hotels and any other foreign spending on the card, if it arrives in time. 

As it is business travel I am not out of pocket but just not get as many points as I could have had. 

Edit: Forgot to go through Topcashback and bank £70 cashback, clearly not my day today :-(

DullGreyGuy

Most comparison sites are simply guessing at if you'll be accepted or not as they dont have any inside knowledge from the card issuer, there are certainly some where the available rewards for referring someone and the score received seem to track coincidently strongly. 

There are a few exceptions, eg ClearScore, but even then that is only with certain lenders and AmEx doesn't appear to be one of the exceptions.