Credit cards Airline credit cards
How do airline credit cards work?
You accumulate miles (or points) as you spend, which can then be redeemed against flights or travel-related expenses, such as accommodation or car hire.
High interest rates (APRs) mean these cards are only suitable for people who pay off their credit card bill every month. Some come with an annual fee, but also a higher reward rate - do the maths before applying, to make sure these cards offer you good value.
Airline credit card reward points compared
The table below shows how many reward points you need to fly to Rome and Cape Town with a selection of airlines credit cards. All flight costs are based on one adult flying economy class, departing from a London airport on 15 April 2013 and returning a week later. Flight costs are for the same airlines as the credit card brand unless otherwise stated. Cards are ranked by the card spend needed for a free flight to Cape Town. Taxes and charges are also taken into account.
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Cape Town | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natwest/RBS YourPoints World MasterCard | 17.9% | No Fee | £32,400a | £170,000a | 57% |  |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic Black Amex | 18.9% | £140 | No flight | n/a | £25,000 | £412 | 62% |  |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 18.9% (variable) with an annual fee of £140, your Representative APR will be 52.1% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways Amex Premium Plus | 19.9% | £150 | £10,000 | £30 | £33,333 | £401 | 78% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 19.9% (variable) with an annual fee of £150, your Representative APR will be 56.4% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAdvantage Amex | 17.9% | No Fee | £13,333 | £99a | £40,000 | £401a | n/a | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyds TSB Premier Duo Avios Amex | 13.95% | £50 | £12,000 | £30 | £40,000 | £401a | 52% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 13.95% (variable) with an annual fee of £50, your Representative APR will be 23.7% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles & More Amex | 16.9% | No Fee | £20,000 | £104b | £40,000 | £611c | n/a | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 16.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 16.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways American Express | 15.9% | No Fee | £15,000 | £30 | £50,000 | £401 | 78% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 15.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 15.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyds TSB Duo Avios Amex | 17.9% | No Fee | £15,000 | £30 | £50,000 | £401a | 52% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic White Amex | 17.9% | No Fee | No flight | n/a | £50,000 | £412 | 62% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic Black Visa | 18.9% | £140 | No flight | n/a | £50,000 | £412 | 62% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 18.9% (variable) with an annual fee of £140, your Representative APR will be 52.1% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines Mileage Plus Amex | 16.9% | No Fee | £25,000 | £82d | £60,000 | £195e | n/a | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 16.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 16.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyds TSB Premier Duo Avios MasterCard | 13.95% | £50 | £60,000 | £30 | £60,000 | £401a | 62% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 13.95% (variable) with an annual fee of £50, your Representative APR will be 23.7% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAdvantage Visa | 17.9% | No Fee | £26,667 | £99 | £80,000 | £401a | n/a | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles & More Visa | 16.9% | No Fee | £40,000 | £104 | £80,000 | £611c | n/a | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 19.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 19.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic White Visa | 17.9% | No Fee | No flight | n/a | £100,000 | £412 | 62% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Club Rewards Black Visa | 19.9% | £99 | £37,500g | £30 | £125,000 | £401a | 64% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 19.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 19.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyds TSB Duo Avios MasterCard | 17.9% | No fee | £75,000 | £30 | £250,000 | £401a | 52% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Club Rewards Visa | 18.9% | No Fee | £75,000 | £30 | £250000 | £401a | 64% | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 18.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 18.9% (variable).
| Provider | Purchase APR Purchase APR help | Annual card fee | Rome | Tax/Charges | Cape Town | Tax/Charges | Customer score Customer score help | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair MasterCard | 19.9% | No Fee | £1,500b | £14 | No flighti | n/a | n/a | |
Representative example: Based on a credit limit of £1,200 with a purchase interest rate of 19.9% (variable), your Representative APR will be 19.9% (variable).
Table notes
Information correct 28 February 2013
- a) Based on a flight with British Airways
- b) Flying with Lufthansa. You can pay 18,000 award miles worth £12,000 to cover taxes and charges
- c) Flying with Lufthansa
- d) Flying with Brussels Airlines, converted from dollars based on Visa exchange rate on 12 February 2013
- e) Flying with South African Airways, converted from dollars based on Visa exchange rate on 12 February 2013
- f) Flying with Lufthansa. You can pay 18,000 award miles worth £24,000 to cover taxes and charges
- g) Based on converting your Priority Club Points into BA/Avios miles at 10,000 Priority points equal to 2,000 BA/Avios points
- h) Flying from Stansted.
Customer score
Which? member score based on customer satisfaction and likelihood of recommending company to friend/family member. Customer scores are based at brand level.
Customer scores based on a survey of 15,207 Which? connect online community members carried out between September 2012 and February 2013.
Wherever we display an “APPLY NOW” button in the above table, that company pays us a small fee each time someone clicks on the button. These payments do not influence whether a product is in the table, where it appears, or whether it continues to do so. Our Best Rates tables are compiled by our independent researchers. All revenue raised from these tables is reinvested in our research and campaigning work on behalf of all UK consumers.
Topping up your airmiles
If you are interested in one of the airline cards, it’s important to check whether or not you can top up your points by paying cash to get to your chosen destination. Most schemes offer this option, and by doing so you can get your flight much quicker than if you waited until you have the full number of points. It is also vital to check whether there are any restrictions on availability of flights or hotel rooms, particularly during holiday season.
Overseas credit card spending
If you have an airline credit card and travel a great deal, the chances are you will use it abroad. Remember airline cards, like most credit cards, usually charge an exchange loading fee ranging from 2.5% to 3% for spending on your card overseas.
If you have one of these cards, it may be best to take an alternative card abroad. Choose from our Best Rate credit cards to use abroad.
Which? Recommended Providers
Which? Recommended Providers are companies that are both rated highly by our members and have products that meet the high standards of our researchers. Which? closely monitors the products and practices of all Recommended Providers and reserves the right to exclude any company that does not treat its customers fairly. Follow the link for a full list of WRPs.
Which? Warning Poor Satisfaction
We also understand that for many people, finding products with the best rate is a priority. But where a product from a provider with a poor customer score appears in our Best Rate tables, we'll highlight this with the warning logo. Our customer satisfaction surveys measure overall satisfaction with the provider in relation to credit cards, not individual credit cards offered by the brand. The customer score should therefore not be associated specifically with any individual credit cards. Only customer scores that are significantly below average and fall into our bottom statistical tier receive our warning. Our customer scores are updated every six months.
By naming and shaming providers which customers judge to offer poor satisfaction in these tables, we hope that companies improve their standards.
- For any financial query, call our experts on the Which? Money Helpline
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- Make sure your holiday is protected with our expert guide