The perfect Avios-earning bank cards: Which one is for you?

Avios are rapidly turning into one of the crucial in style loyalty currencies in Europe — and worldwide.

Whereas British Airways Membership, Iberia Membership and Aer Lingus AerClub have lengthy used Avios as their loyalty forex, Loganair Loyalty and Finnair Plus are the latest additions. Qatar Airways Privilege Membership and Vueling Membership are additionally a part of the Avios program.

What is exclusive and priceless about Avios is that you would be able to switch your Avios between these packages in any course at a 1:1 fee as usually as you need.

A number of cobranded bank cards can be found from airways that use Avios, and each main bank card program has at the very least one Avios program as a switch accomplice at a 1:1 ratio.

So, with Avios really easy to earn, transfer round and redeem, what are the very best playing cards for Avios redemptions?

Whereas there is not a single finest card that wins in each class, relying in your priorities, listed below are the very best choices.

There are many nice welcome bonuses obtainable proper now on a lot of our favourite playing cards. This consists of the three Chase-issued Avios playing cards:

The data for the Aer Lingus Visa Signature and Iberia Visa Signature playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

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With TPG’s September 2025 valuations of Avios at 1.4 cents every, these welcome bonuses are value $1,190 every. That is sufficient for a first-class flight to London (plus charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges).

Simply take into account that you will not be capable of earn a welcome bonus on one in all these playing cards for those who presently maintain it or have earned a bonus on it previously 24 months.

Associated: Greatest Avios candy spots: Tips on how to redeem for home and worldwide award flights

You spend lots on flights

When you earn and redeem Avios, you are prone to make some purchases instantly with airways, whether or not it is paying for the charges, taxes and surcharges related together with your redemption or boosting your Avios steadiness by buying money fares.

When you primarily fly on Aer Lingus, British Airways or Iberia, including one in all these cobranded airline playing cards to your pockets is smart. When you’re not loyal to 1 airline, although, contemplate the next choices in your airline spending:

Associated: British Airways Visa Signature bank card assessment: Earn versatile Avios — a must have for frequent BA flyers

Sometimes, bank card issuers supply switch bonuses for choose airline and lodge accomplice packages. There is no such thing as a certainty as to when these bonuses will happen, and the variety of factors and miles you possibly can obtain from the bonus can differ from as little as 10% to over 40%.

American Categorical typically comes out on prime so far as the frequency of switch bonuses is anxious. With that in thoughts, these are the very best Amex card affords presently obtainable:

• The Platinum Card from American Categorical: Discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome affords differ and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
• American Categorical® Gold Card: Discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome affords differ and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
• The Enterprise Platinum Card from American Categorical: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on purchases inside the first three months of card membership.
• American Categorical® Enterprise Gold Card: Earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership.

You wish to get pleasure from elite status-like perks

Incomes elite standing in an airline loyalty program often requires vital spending instantly with the airline and/or on a cobranded bank card. Luckily, for those who want to benefit from the perks of elite standing, you are able to do so with the proper Avios bank card.

The Qatar Airways Privilege Membership Visa Infinite Credit score Card has a welcome supply of as much as 50,000 Avios — 25,000 Avios after the primary transaction and a further 25,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening. The cardboard comes with a $499 annual price.

The data for the Qatar Airways Privilege Membership Visa Infinite Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Whereas this welcome bonus is decrease than the Chase Avios-earning playing cards, it additionally affords one yr of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Membership Gold standing (equal to Oneworld Sapphire), which incorporates advantages like precedence boarding, most popular seating, lounge entry and a 75% bonus on incomes Avios with eligible flights.

You can even obtain worldwide lounge entry by means of the proper bank card.

The Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card affords limitless complimentary entry for you and two visitors to 1,300-plus lounges, together with Capital One Lounges and Precedence Cross lounges (enrollment required).

Lounge entry modifications are coming to Enterprise X cardholders beginning Feb. 1, 2026. After this date, Enterprise X cardholders will not be capable of deliver complimentary visitors with them to Precedence Cross and Capital One lounges (until they spend $75,000 in a yr for the latter).

Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) cardholders get entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges in addition to entry to Precedence Cross lounges.

Lastly, eligible Amex Platinum cardmembers can entry the American Categorical World Lounge Assortment, together with Centurion, Delta Sky Golf equipment*, Escape, Plaza Premium lounges, Precedence Cross™ and choose Lufthansa lounges. Enrollment could also be required.

*When touring on same-day Delta flights, eligible Platinum Card members will obtain 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per yr to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight.

Whereas every of the three Chase Avios-earning playing cards affords a companion voucher or low cost for spending $30,000 yearly on the cardboard, the British Airways Visa Signature Card affords additional advantages when reserving money and Avios redemptions.

Annually, along with incomes a companion voucher, you possibly can:

• Get 10% off British Airways-operated income flights departing the U.S. to London and past, together with charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges (excluding extra baggage or seat choice charges) if you guide by means of the web site supplied in your welcome supplies.
• Get a $100 assertion credit score ($200 for business- and first-class seats) as much as thrice a yr if you guide a reward flight to London on British Airways and pay your taxes and charges together with your card (as much as $600 yearly).
• Use Avios to pay for taxes, charges and service fees if you redeem a British Airways ticket, although that is not often an excellent deal.

Whereas Avios fanatics could also be directing loads of bank card spending to airfare, for those who spend some huge cash on different classes like eating, groceries and different journey, you possibly can earn a number of rewards with elevated incomes charges in these classes with the next playing cards:

• The American Categorical Gold Card earns 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback) and 4 factors per greenback spent on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback).
• The Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and charges) earns 3 factors per greenback spent at electrical automobile charging and fuel stations, eating places and supermarkets.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card has quite a few reductions and assertion credit when flying with British Airways for each money fares and Avios redemptions.

With BA’s infamous carrier-imposed surcharges, you may save loads of cash on money fares and Avios redemptions if you guide a number of seats or flights annually.

Associated: Fast Factors: Here is why you should not finish your European journey within the UK

You may wish to earn a number of Avios rapidly to redeem for luxurious merchandise like British Airways’ top notch or Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite enterprise class. In that case, you may need a card with a excessive welcome bonus and beneficiant class bonuses.

New cardholders of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and charges) can earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. You may earn the next welcome supply of 100,000 bonus factors with the identical spending necessities for those who apply at a Citi department in particular person.

The cardboard additionally has spectacular incomes charges, permitting you to earn bonus factors on journey booked by way of Citi Journey and on eating.

When you spend closely in these classes, you possibly can increase your steadiness rapidly, supplying you with a strong stash of Avios to make use of for these high-end bookings.

Associated: New user-friendly software helps you to simply switch Avios between all 7 airline packages

For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on right here.