According to our analysis of the market, the following cards stand out for spending abroad without foreign transaction fees or for earning air miles. Use the information in this guide to compare fees, features, rates and rewards.

Related: How to get the best foreign currency rates

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 September 2026. See our full methodology here.

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Cards with no foreign transaction fees

These cards charge no fee on purchases made in foreign currencies. Treatment of cash withdrawals varies: some cards charge a cash fee, and interest on cash is usually charged from the date of withdrawal. Our no foreign transaction fee cards guide covers a wider selection.

Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card

The Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card charges no fees on non-sterling purchases or cash withdrawals, and pays 0.25% cashback on purchases. As with most credit cards, interest on cash withdrawals is charged from the date of the withdrawal, so repaying cash balances early (including while still abroad) reduces the interest charged.

Representative example: Representative 28.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Summary

• Earn 0.25% cashback on purchases

• No fees on non-sterling purchases or cash withdrawals abroad

• 28.9% variable rate on cash withdrawals

• Eligibility checker available

• No annual fee

Halifax Clarity Credit Card

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card charges no fee on non-sterling purchases or cash withdrawals. Cash withdrawals are charged interest from the date of withdrawal, at 23.9% variable, the same rate as purchases and lower than the cash rate on many credit cards. Repaying cash balances early reduces the interest charged.

Representative example: Representative 23.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Summary

• No fees on non-sterling purchases or cash withdrawals abroad

• 23.9% variable rate on cash withdrawals

• Eligibility checker (shows the likely rate before applying; the rate offered may differ from the representative APR)

• No annual fee

Virgin Money Travel Credit Card

The Virgin Money Travel Credit Card charges no foreign exchange fee on purchases made abroad. It charges a 3% cash advance fee on cash withdrawals, both in the UK and abroad. The card also offers 0% interest on purchases for 9 months, and 0% on balance and money transfers for 9 months (fees apply).

Representative example: Representative 27.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Summary

• No fees on non-sterling purchases abroad

• 3% cash advance fee (applies in the UK and abroad)

• 0% on purchases for 9 months

• 0% on balance and money transfers for 9 months (fees apply)

• No annual fee

Virgin Money Everyday Cashback Credit Card

The Virgin Money Everyday Cashback Credit Card also charges no foreign exchange fee on purchases abroad, and pays 1% cashback for the first 90 days and 0.25% after that (capped at £15 a month). Its cash advance fee is higher than the Travel card’s, at 5%.

Representative example: Representative 27.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Summary

• No fees on non-sterling purchases abroad

• 5% cash advance fee (applies in the UK and abroad)

• 1% cashback for the first 90 days, 0.25% after that (capped at £15 a month)

• No annual fee

Air miles cards

Several airline and hotel credit cards have closed to new applicants over the past decade, including the Lloyds Avios and Miles & More cards, which leaves a smaller range of air rewards and hotel rewards credit cards in the UK. The reward rates below value one Avios or Virgin Point at 1p; actual value depends on how points are redeemed.

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card

The £160-a-year Reward+ card, one of the two Virgin Atlantic Reward cards, offers 18,000 Virgin Points on the first purchase made within 90 days (worth around £180 at 1p per point). It earns 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on general spending (around 1.5%) and 3 points per £1 with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays (around 3%). Spending £10,000 in a card year earns a reward voucher for a one-cabin upgrade or a companion ticket.

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 a £160 annual fee.

Summary

• 18,000 Virgin Points on first purchase within 90 days (check current offer)

• Earn 3 Virgin Points per £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays

• Earn 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent elsewhere

• Reward voucher (one-cabin upgrade or companion ticket) by spending £10,000 per card year; the voucher’s maximum value depends on Flying Club tier (up to 75,000 Virgin Points for Red members, 150,000 for Silver and Gold)

• £160 annual fee

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card (free)

The free Virgin Atlantic Reward card earns Virgin Points at half the rate of the Reward+ card: 0.75 points per £1 on general spending (around 0.75%) and 1.5 points per £1 with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays (around 1.5%). The welcome bonus is 3,000 Virgin Points, earned with a first purchase within 90 days.

The card’s annual reward voucher, usable for a one-cabin upgrade or a companion ticket, requires £20,000 of annual spend, double the £10,000 threshold on the Reward+ card.

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.

Summary

• Earn 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 on general spending, 1.5 per £1 with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays

• 3,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus (first purchase within 90 days)

• Reward voucher (upgrade or companion ticket) at £20,000 annual spend

• No annual fee

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card

The British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card earns Avios with British Airways. Until 7 October 2026, it earns 1.5 Avios per £1 on everyday spending (around 1.5%) and 3 Avios per £1 with British Airways and BA Holidays (around 3%). From 7 October 2026, both rates change to a flat 1.25 Avios per £1 (around 1.25%). Spending £15,000 in a card membership year earns a 2-for-1 Companion Voucher, which American Express says can be used in any cabin, including business and first.

Redemption value varies. Using Avios to upgrade a paid premium ticket can give more value per Avios than a standard reward redemption, though this involves buying the premium ticket first.

Compared with the free BA Amex, the extra 0.5 Avios per £1 covers the £300 annual fee from around £60,000 of annual spend (valuing Avios at 1p). From 7 October 2026, when the difference falls to 0.25 Avios per £1, that rises to around £120,000. These figures exclude the difference in welcome bonus and Companion Voucher validity.

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.

Summary

• 30,000 Avios welcome bonus for spending £6,000 in the first three months (check current offer)

• Collect 1.5 Avios per £1 spent, and 3 Avios per £1 with British Airways or BA Holidays, until 7 October 2026 (changing to a flat 1.25 Avios per £1 after that date)

• 2-for-1 Companion Voucher when you spend £15,000 in a cardmembership year, valid for 24 months

• Annual fee of £300

Welcome bonus not available to anyone who holds, or has held in the last 24 months, a personal British Airways American Express card.

British Airways American Express Card (free)

The free BA Amex card earns 1 Avios per £1 spent, with a 5,000 Avios welcome bonus for spending £2,000 in the first three months. The Companion Voucher requires £15,000 of annual spend and is valid for 12 months, half the validity of the Premium Plus card’s voucher.

Representative example: Representative 29.1% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Summary

• Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent

• 5,000 Avios welcome bonus (£2,000 spend in first three months; check current offer)

• Companion Voucher at £15,000 annual spend, valid for 12 months

• No annual fee

Welcome bonus not available to anyone who holds, or has held in the last 24 months, a personal British Airways American Express card.

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard (free)

The free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard earns 1 Avios per £1 spent, the same rate as the free BA Amex, but runs on the Mastercard network, which is accepted more widely than American Express. Customers new to Barclaycard can earn 5,000 Avios for spending £1,000 in the first three months. Instead of a Companion Voucher, spending £20,000 within 12 months earns a choice between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher (used when booking an Avios Reward Flight) or 7,000 bonus Avios.

Representative example: Representative 29.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Summary

• Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent

• Mastercard network, accepted more widely than American Express

• Choice of cabin upgrade voucher or 7,000 Avios at £20,000 annual spend

• No annual fee

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard earns 1.5 Avios per £1 on the Mastercard network, which is accepted more widely than American Express. At £20 a month (£240 a year), it costs less than the BA Premium Plus card and earns the same general rate as that card until 7 October 2026.

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

Summary

• Earn 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on eligible purchases

• 25,000 Avios welcome bonus for spending £3,000 in the first three months (customers new to Barclaycard only; not available to anyone who has held another Barclaycard in the previous six months)

• After spending £10,000 within 12 months, a choice of a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher (for Avios Reward Flight bookings) or 7,000 bonus Avios

• Mastercard network

• Discounted airport lounge passes (£24 per person) via DragonPass

• £20 monthly fee

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

The HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard isn’t tied to a single airline. Reward points can be converted into airline miles with British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Air India and other partners. Cardholders earn 3 reward points per £1 spent in sterling, or 4 points per £1 in another currency (a 2.99% non-sterling fee applies), which converts to 1.5–2 airline miles per £1. The card also includes unlimited Priority Pass airport lounge access.

The card is only available to HSBC Premier Account holders, subject to HSBC’s Premier eligibility criteria (based on income or savings and investments held with HSBC).

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.

Summary

• Earn 3 reward points per £1 (sterling) or 4 points per £1 (non-sterling; 2.99% fee applies)

• Converts to 1.5–2 airline miles per £1 with British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Air India and other partners

• 40,000 reward points welcome bonus for spending £2,000 in the first 90 days (check current offer)

• Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access

• Requires an HSBC Premier Account

• £290 annual fee

How travel credit cards work

Travel credit cards fall into two types: cards for using abroad without fees, and cards for earning travel rewards. Most cards fall clearly into one category, though a small number, such as Barclaycard Rewards above, offer a modest amount of both.

No-fee travel cards

Most credit cards charge a non-sterling transaction fee on foreign purchases and cash withdrawals (typically 2.99%), plus a cash transaction fee (typically 3%, minimum £3 per transaction), so both fees can apply to a single foreign-currency cash withdrawal. A no-fee travel card doesn’t charge the non-sterling fee on purchases or cash withdrawals abroad. Some, such as Barclaycard Rewards and Halifax Clarity above, also charge no cash transaction fee.

Rewards travel cards

Air and hotel rewards cards earn miles or points on spending, which can be redeemed for flights or hotel stays. Some cards also give a voucher, such as a companion ticket or free night, after a set level of annual spending.

Summary of travel credit cards covered

This summary covers the cards reviewed above. It doesn’t cover the whole market, and other cards not reviewed here may suit some people better.

Estimated reward rates, valuing one Avios or Virgin Point at 1p:

*1.5 airline miles per £1 on sterling spend and 2 per £1 on non-sterling spend (before the 2.99% non-sterling fee), valuing a mile at 1p.

The Virgin Atlantic, Barclaycard Avios and HSBC cards run on Mastercard, which is accepted more widely than American Express. This affects how much of the estimated rewards in the table above can be earned in practice on the Amex-network BA cards.

What to consider when choosing a travel card

More detail: No foreign transaction fee cards · Airline rewards cards · Hotel rewards cards

The estimated values above assume the rewards are redeemed. Much of an air card’s value comes from companion or upgrade vouchers, which depend on reward-seat availability and can be hard to use at peak times. Vouchers that expire unused reduce a card’s actual value.

The value per mile also varies by route and cabin class, and the same applies to hotel points. Our calculations use a value of 1p per mile or point; actual value varies from one cardholder to the next.

Card details correct as of 22 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.