Avios are quickly becoming one of the most popular loyalty currencies in Europe — and worldwide.
While British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus and Aer Lingus AerClub have long used Avios as their loyalty currency, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Finnair Plus have now followed suit.
What is unique and valuable about Avios is that you can transfer your Avios between these programs in any direction at a 1:1 rate as often as you want. While transfers from credit card programs to airline partners are not reversible, you can move Avios freely from one program to another.
The programs that use Avios as their currency have standardized some pricing to prevent members from moving all their Avios to the program with the best rates, but there are still sweet spots in each program to know about.
Several cobranded credit cards are available from airlines that use Avios, and every major credit card program has at least one Avios program as a transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio.
So, with Avios so easy to earn, move around and redeem, what are the best Avios credit cards? Should you choose a cobranded credit card or one that earns a transferable currency?
While there isn’t a single best card that wins in every category, depending on your priorities, here are the best options.
You want to earn a large welcome bonus
There are plenty of great welcome bonuses available right now on many of our favorite cards, with the three Chase-issued Avios cards offering:
- Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Earn 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Earn 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Iberia Visa Signature® Card: Earn 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
With TPG’s June 2024 valuation of Avios at 1.5 cents each, these welcome bonuses are worth $1,275 each, enough for a first-class flight to London (plus fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges).
The standard offer for these cards is 50,000-75,000 Avios, so try to apply when the bonus exceeds that range.
You spend a lot on flights
If you earn and redeem Avios, you’re likely to make some purchases directly with airlines, whether paying for the fees, taxes and surcharges associated with your redemption or boosting your Avios balance with cash fares.
These are the best credit cards for airline spending:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights purchased directly from the airline or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Terms apply. Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights purchased through Amex Travel. Terms apply. Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
You want to maximize transfer bonuses
Occasionally, credit card issuers offer transfer bonuses for select airline and hotel partner programs. There is no certainty as to when these bonuses will occur, and the number of points and miles you can receive from the bonus can vary from as low as 10% to over 40%.
Looking at the transfer bonuses to Avios programs from major issuers over the last 12 months, American Express has offered the most bonuses. So, here are the best Amex card offers available right now.
- The Platinum Card from American Express: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
- American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of card membership. Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).
- The Business Platinum Card from American Express: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership. Annual fee: $375 (see rates and fees).
You want to enjoy elite status-like perks
Earning elite status in an airline loyalty program usually requires significant spending directly with the airline and/or on a cobranded credit card. Fortunately, if you wish to enjoy the perks of elite status, you can do so with the right Avios credit card.
The new Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, which comes with a $499 annual fee, has a welcome offer of up to 50,000 Avios — 25,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 25,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. While this welcome bonus is lower than those of the Chase Avios-earning cards, it also offers one year of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold status (equivalent to Oneworld Sapphire), which includes benefits like priority boarding, preferred seating, lounge access and a 75% bonus on earning Avios with eligible flights.
The information for the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Here’s what it’s like flying American Airlines in economy class with British Airways status
You can also receive worldwide lounge access through the right credit card.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300-plus lounges, including Capital One Lounges and lounges in the Partner Lounge Network, including Priority Pass locations.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges as well as access to Priority Pass lounges, while Amex Platinum cardmembers can access the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion, Priority Pass, Escape and Plaza Premium lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs.**
*Enrollment is required for select benefits.
**When traveling on same-day Delta flights. Effective Feb. 1, 2025, eligible Platinum Card members will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
You want to save money on airfares and redemptions
While each of the three Chase Avios-earning cards offers a companion voucher or discount for spending $30,000 yearly on the card, the British Airways Visa Signature Card offers extra benefits when booking cash and Avios redemptions.
Each year, you can:
- Get 10% off British Airways-operated revenue flights departing the U.S. to London and beyond, including fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges (excluding excess baggage or seat selection fees) when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
- Get a $100 statement credit ($200 for business- and first-class seats) up to three times a year when you book a reward flight to London on British Airways and pay your taxes and fees with your card (up to $600 annually).
- Earn a Travel Together Ticket valid for round-trip travel on British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia originating anywhere these airlines fly when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year — which can also be redeemed for a 50% discount as a single passenger.
- When you redeem a British Airways reward ticket, you can use Avios to pay for taxes, fees and carrier charges, though this is not usually a good deal.
You spend in nontravel categories
While Avios enthusiasts may be directing plenty of credit card spending to airfares, if you spend money on other categories like dining, groceries and other travel, you can earn lots of Avios with increased earning rates in these categories:
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10 points per dollar on dining if prepaid through Chase Dining (otherwise, 3 points per dollar).
- The American Express Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., as well as 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
- The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) earns 3 points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and electric vehicle charging stations.
You want to redeem Avios for the occasional domestic flight
All of the Chase Avios-earning credit cards (the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, British Airways Visa Signature Card and Iberia Visa Signature Card) offer a generous welcome bonus and a low annual fee.
Domestic flights on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines start at just 8,250 Avios when redeemed through British Airways Executive Club. With a single welcome bonus, you can book multiple domestic flights.
You fly to Europe regularly
The British Airways Visa Signature Card has numerous discounts and statement credits when flying with British Airways for both cash fares and Avios redemptions, with a low annual fee. With BA’s notorious carrier-imposed surcharges, you could save plenty of money on cash fares and Avios redemptions where you book multiple seats or flights each year.
Related: Quick Points: Here’s why you shouldn’t end your European trip in the UK
You want to travel in premium cabins with your family
You might want to earn lots of Avios quickly to redeem for luxury products like British Airways’ first class or Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite business class. In that case, you’ll want a card with a high welcome bonus and generous category bonuses.
The Citi Strata Premier Card offers 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. (If you apply through our affiliate link, you’ll earn a lower 70,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, so we suggest applying directly with Citi.)
It also earns 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal, and 3 points per dollar at gas and EV charging stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and on airfare and other hotel purchases.
You can boost your balance quickly if you spend heavily in these categories.
Bottom line
Even if you don’t fly to Europe, the Avios currency is worth your consideration. Avios are easy to earn from many different credit cards and easy to redeem through the five different programs that use the currency. You also have the unique flexibility of transferring Avios between each program at no cost at a 1:1 rate in any direction.
While there is no slam-dunk Avios- or transferable points-earning credit card for every traveler, there are excellent options whether you are looking for a generous welcome bonus, the ability to earn Avios without getting onto a plane, or saving cash or Avios when you do.
Related reading:
- 4 times it’s better to book American Airlines award flights with British Airways Avios
- Avios vs. tier points: British Airways Executive Club status explained
- Move over, British Airways — Finnair Plus now has some excellent Avios sweet spots
- Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click here.
