Best Air Credit Cards

Airline credit cards typically offer larger welcome bonuses and higher ongoing rewards rates than standard cashback cards, in exchange for rewards tied to a specific airline or alliance. The actual value of those rewards depends on how the miles or points are redeemed.

Why trust our picks? Our analysis is based on a review of more than 100 UK credit cards from 25 providers, assessed across fees, APRs, rewards, introductory offers and other key features. Latest rolling analysis conducted in August to September 2026. See our full methodology here.

ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender.

Airline Credit Cards for Rewards

After looking through our airline credit card models, we picked the following two credit cards for giving higher potential value in terms of air travel rewards. They both offer high-value perks like companion reward seats and/or free upgrades, in addition to higher rates on earning miles (than their sister free cards).

Best Airline Credit Card for Rewards: Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card carries a £160 annual fee and earns Virgin Points at 3 per £1 on Virgin Flights and Holidays purchases, or 1.5 per £1 on other general spending. At £10,000 of annual general spending, the card earns close to £150 of Virgin Points value — nearly covering the annual fee — and also triggers the annual Virgin Atlantic Reward, redeemable for a round-trip companion reward seat or a round-trip cabin upgrade. The voucher is capped at a points value that depends on Flying Club tier at the time of redemption: up to 75,000 Virgin Points for Red members, or up to 150,000 for Silver and Gold. The Reward is valid for 24 months.

Cardholders also get an 18,000-Virgin-Point welcome bonus, earned with a first purchase within 90 days.

The card runs on Mastercard, which is accepted nearly everywhere. Assuming a Virgin Point is worth 1p (not a guaranteed value), the ongoing rewards rate works out to around 3% on Virgin Flights and Holidays and 1.5% on other general spending.

Representative example: Representative 69.7% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% p.a. (variable) and the £160 annual fee.

• Earn 3 Virgin Points per £1 spent at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin holidays, and 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent elsewhere (rewards rates can top 3% and 1.5%, respectively)

• 18,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus

• Earn a Virgin Atlantic Reward (redeemable for a round-trip companion reward seat or a round-trip cabin upgrade)

• Virgin Points usable for rewards seats, upgrades, hotels, cars, etc.

• Annual fee of £160

Best Airline Credit Card for Rewards: British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card

With the British Airways American Express Premium Plus cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 30,000 Avios when they spend £6,000 in the first three months (temporarily boosted to 60,000 bonus Avios until 6 October 2026). Besides this welcome bonus and Avios earning power of 3 Avios/£1 on BA flight and holiday purchases and 1.5 Avios/£1 elsewhere, cardholders can earn a Companion Voucher in every year they hold the card and spend more than £15,000.

Upcoming change: From 7 October 2026, the earn rate changes to a flat 1.25 Avios/£1 on all spending, and the 3x bonus rate on BA and BA Holidays purchases is removed.

Companion Vouchers earned on the Premium Plus card are valid for two years, versus one year on the free BA Amex.

Representative example: Representative 135.7% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and a £300 annual fee.

• Rewards rates around 3% on BA purchases and 1.5% elsewhere until 7 October 2026; a flat 1.25 Avios/£1 (around 1.25%) on all spending after that date

• 30,000 Avios welcome bonus by spending £6,000 in the first three months (60,000 until 6 October 2026)

• Companion Voucher (by spending £15,000 a year) that is valid for 24 months

• Avios redeemable for rewards seats, upgrades, hotels, cars, etc.

• Annual fee of £300

Alternative for Wider Acceptance: Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard earns 1.5 Avios per £1 spent, matching the BA Amex Premium Plus rate, and runs on the Mastercard network, which has wider UK and international acceptance than American Express.

The card carries a £240 annual fee (£20 monthly) and offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 Avios when you spend £3,000 in the first three months. Spending £10,000 in a year earns an upgrade voucher, which can be used to upgrade a return British Airways flight by one cabin class, or upgrade two one-way legs for two people. This differs from the BA Amex Companion Voucher, which provides a second seat rather than a cabin upgrade.

The card charges a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee on purchases abroad.

Representative example: Representative 80.1% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200, a purchase rate of 29.9% p.a. variable, and the £240 annual fee (£20 per month).

• Earn 1.5 Avios per £1 spent everywhere

• Welcome bonus of 25,000 Avios (by spending £3,000 in the first three months)

• Upgrade voucher (by spending £10,000 a year) for British Airways Avios flights

• Mastercard accepted worldwide, including where Amex isn't accepted

• Annual fee of £240 (£20 monthly)

Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access: The Platinum Card

The Platinum Card by American Express is a premium card aimed at frequent travellers, offering complimentary access for you and a guest to over 1,550 airport lounges across more than 140 countries (Amex's Global Lounge Collection), a Platinum Concierge service, worldwide travel insurance for you, your partner, and dependent children under 25 (for trips up to 90 days), up to £200 in statement credits for UK dining and a further £200 for dining abroad each year, and complimentary room upgrades at Amex's Fine Hotels + Resorts properties when available. Cardholders also get elevated status with hotel loyalty programmes including Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, elite status with Avis and Hertz car rental, and up to 20% off airfares on selected airlines when booking through Amex Travel.

The card is part of Amex's Membership Rewards programme: cardholders earn 1 point per £1 on general spending and 2 points per £1 spent through American Express Travel, plus a welcome bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £6,000 in the first three months — enough for a trip to Europe or up to £250 in Gift Cards.

Representative example: Representative 685.3% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and a £650 annual fee.

The £650 annual fee is among the highest of any UK credit card. Whether it's offset depends on how many of the card's benefits — lounge access, dining credits, hotel and car rental status — are actually used. For comparison, buying standalone lounge access through a Priority Pass Prestige membership costs £419 a year and doesn't include a free guest, whereas the Platinum Card's lounge benefit allows one guest at no extra cost (guest access at Priority Pass lounges directly is otherwise typically £24 per visit). For a cardholder who travels with a guest two to three times a year, that alone could be worth over £100.

The card carries a high fee, offset by a wide range of travel and lifestyle benefits for those who use them regularly.

• Welcome bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points (by spending £6,000 in the first three months)

• Earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every £1 spent on the card, 2 points per £1 through American Express Travel

• Membership Rewards can be redeemed at Amex's many air (including BA and Virgin), hotel, car, and retail partners

• Complimentary access to over 1,550 airport lounges across 140+ countries for you and a guest

• Up to £200 in UK dining credits and £200 in overseas dining credits each year

• Elevated status with hotel and car rental loyalty partners

• Platinum Concierge service

• Annual fee of £650

Best Value Membership Rewards Card: Preferred Rewards Gold Card

The Preferred Rewards Gold Card by American Express is part of the same Membership Rewards programme as The Platinum Card, but at a lower £195 annual fee (waived in the first year). Cardholders earn 1 point per £1 on general spending, 2 points per £1 on flights or foreign currency purchases, and 3 points per £1 through American Express Travel — plus a welcome bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £3,000 in the first three months.

Points transfer 1:1 to a range of airline and hotel partners, including British Airways Club (Avios) and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (Virgin Points), making the card a flexible option for those not committed to a single airline. Cardholders also get two complimentary airport lounge visits a year — fewer than The Platinum Card's unlimited access, but at a fraction of the annual fee.

Representative example: Representative 85.8% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and a £195 annual fee (waived in year one).

• Welcome bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points (by spending £3,000 in the first three months)

• Earn 1 point per £1 general spending, 2 points per £1 on flights/FX, 3 points per £1 through American Express Travel

• Points transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners, including British Airways Avios and Virgin Atlantic Virgin Points

• Two complimentary airport lounge visits a year

• Annual fee of £195 (waived in year one)

Best Airline Credit Cards for No Annual Fee

Free airline cards typically carry a smaller welcome bonus and lower ongoing rewards rate than their paid siblings.

Best Free Air Rewards Card: Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card

The Virgin Reward Credit Card has no annual fee and earns Virgin Points at half the rate of its paid sibling, the £160/year Reward+ card. The free card's Virgin Atlantic Reward requires £20,000 of annual spend to earn, compared with £10,000 on the Reward+ card.

Cardholders can earn a 3,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus, earned with the first purchase in 90 days. In terms of ongoing rewards, the card delivers Virgin Points on Virgin Flight and Holidays purchases (1.5 points/£1 spent) and also general spending (0.75 point/£1 spent).

The Virgin Atlantic card is a Mastercard, which is accepted nearly everywhere. Assuming Virgin Points are worth 1p each, rewards rates would be around 1.5% on Virgin Flights and Holidays and around 0.75% on other general spending. Also, the Virgin Atlantic Reward is good for 24 months.

Representative example: Representative 26.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

• Earn 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin holidays, and 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 spent elsewhere (rewards rates can top 1.5% and 0.75%, respectively)

• 3,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus

• Chance to earn a Virgin Atlantic Reward (redeemable for a round-trip companion reward seat or a round-trip cabin upgrade)

• Virgin Points usable for rewards seats, upgrades, hotels, cars, etc.

• No annual fee

Best Airline Credit Card for Rewards: British Airways American Express Credit Card

With the British Airways American Express cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 5,000 Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first three months (the welcome offer is temporarily boosted to 10,000 Avios, ending 6 October 2026). Besides this welcome bonus and Avios earning power of 1 Avios/£1 spent, cardholders can earn a Companion Voucher in every year they hold the card and spend more than £15,000. The Companion Voucher earned on the free BA Amex expires in just one year, as opposed to a longer 2-year expiry for vouchers earned on the paid Premium Plus card (above). The Companion Voucher can be used to either take a companion with you on the same flight and cabin or, if you're travelling solo, a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay for your flight.

Representative example: Representative 29.1% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable). Annual fee: £0.

• Rewards rates around 1%

• 5,000 Avios welcome bonus by spending £2,000 in the first three months (10,000 Avios through 6 October 2026)

• Companion Voucher (by spending £15,000 a year) that is valid for 12 months

• Avios redeemable for rewards seats, upgrades, hotels, cars, etc.

• Annual fee £0

Best for Flexible Points Transfer: HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

The HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard converts reward points into airline miles with British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Air India, and more, rather than being tied to a single airline programme. Cardholders earn 3 reward points per £1 spent in sterling, or 4 reward points per £1 spent in another currency (a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee applies). These convert to airline miles at a net rate of 1.5 miles per £1 for sterling spend, or 2 miles per £1 for non-sterling spend.

Points can also be redeemed for hotel stays, shopping vouchers at retailers including M&S and Amazon, or charity donations. Cardholders also get unlimited access to more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide via Priority Pass, plus airport security fast-track through Dragonpass.

This card is only available to HSBC Premier Account holders — eligibility requires an individual annual income of at least £100,000 paid into the account, savings or investments of at least £100,000 with HSBC, or existing Premier status in another country.

Representative example: Representative 100.2% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% p.a. (variable) and a £290 annual fee.

• Welcome bonus of 40,000 reward points (by spending £2,000 in the first 90 days)

• Earn 3 reward points per £1 (sterling) or 4 points per £1 (non-sterling)

• Convert points to airline miles (1.5–2 miles per £1, depending on currency) with British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Air India, and other partners

• Alternatively redeem points for hotels, retail vouchers, or charity donations

• Unlimited access to 1,700+ airport lounges via Priority Pass

• Requires an HSBC Premier Account

• Annual fee of £290 (plus £60 per additional cardholder)

How Air Rewards Credit Cards Work

Air Rewards credit cards enable a cardholder to earn miles/points when they spend, which can later be redeemed for free flights at partner airlines (the fare is "free" but you still need to pay for taxes, fees, and carrier charges for all tickets bought with miles). The value of a mile depends on how you redeem your miles and can be a wide range, e.g. £0.002 to £0.027 per mile - we think it's generally safe to assume a value of 1p per Flying Club mile or Avios for comparison purposes, although the value you achieve will certainly vary depending on how you use your miles/points. Typically the miles redeemed for long and costly flights are worth more than the miles used for short, economy class trips.

Most air rewards cards also offer a welcome bonus of a few thousands miles or points, plus the chance to earn other perks like 2-4-1 Companion Vouchers, upgrades or lounge access. These perks can be worth hundreds of pounds if used carefully; if they expire unused they are worth nothing.

Comparing the Best Airline Credit Cards

When analysing the value of airline credit cards we considered many factors, including the mileage or points earnings rate, the value of the miles or points, welcome bonuses, annual fees and the estimated value of any upgrades or companion vouchers. Keep in mind that many air rewards card "perks" may seem valuable, but you need to spend money to earn them and to use them. Also, perks like companion vouchers may expire before they are used, significantly degrading the value of a card's rewards.

Below is a summary of UK air rewards credit cards and a recap of where they shine.

Airline, Companion Vouchers, and Overseas Spending

Airline credit cards tie rewards to a specific airline or alliance, so which destinations and airlines a card's partners cover affects how much value the rewards can deliver. The actual value of miles or points depends on how they're redeemed.

Companion Vouchers

Companion vouchers can go unused if seat availability doesn't line up with travel dates, particularly during peak times like school holidays. The Virgin Atlantic Reward cards offer a choice between a companion reward seat and a cabin upgrade, which may make it easier to find a use for the reward than a companion-only voucher.

Overseas Spending

None of the cards in this article are designed to avoid foreign transaction fees — FX fees generally add around 3% to the cost of non-sterling purchases on these cards. You can learn more in our articles about cards with no foreign transaction fees and FX fees explained.

Card details correct as of 01 September 2026. Terms, rates and features are subject to change — always verify current details before applying. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice.