How to earn "free" Avios points with credit card Welcome Offers

Let's be real, you can't magically get Avios without spending, but by strategically using sign-up bonuses you can earn lots of Avios for no extra spending. The key is to apply for cards that offer big Avios welcome bonuses and meet their minimum spend with your normal purchases. Below we summarise the current UK offers on all major Avios-earning cards, the bonus Avios they give, how to unlock them, and who should consider each card.

Maximising Avios with credit card sign-up bonuses

Credit card welcome offers are the fastest way to turbo-charge your Avios balance. By applying for cards with big bonus offers and meeting the spend requirement using your normal purchases (groceries, bills, travel, etc.), you essentially earn thousands of Avios for "free."

For example, travel blogger The Travel Hack reports that a 40,000-Avios bonus came from the Amex Gold card after a £3,000 spend. The key is to use only existing planned spending, not to buy extra. This strategy "is NOT an excuse to spend more" – if you carry a balance, the interest will make those flights "more expensive". Always pay off the card in full each month to avoid interest that could put the kibosh on your reward gains.

Our go-to tips for making the most of Welcome Bonuses:

• Use everyday spending to hit the bonus: Funnel your regular expenses (even bills or work costs) through the card until you hit the minimum spend. This way you earn Avios on money you would spend anyway.
• Always pay in full: Never treat the card as extra credit. MoneySavingExpert notes that carrying a balance will likely destroy any benefit – set up autopay so you pay off the full amount each statement.
• Involve household members: If eligible, have your partner (or other adult in your household) apply too. Many cards also give referral bonuses – for instance, Amex will add roughly 9,000 Avios if you refer a friend to the Preferred Gold or Premium Plus card.
• Check eligibility and timing: Read the fine print. For example, Amex usually won't grant a new bonus if you’ve held the same (or a related) personal card in the last 24 months. Plan your applications so you qualify (and use any high-value offers while you can).
• Transfer points before canceling: Once you hit the bonus, move any reward points into your Avios account before closing the card. For example, Amex Gold's 40k welcome bonus comes in Membership Rewards points – you must convert them to Avios before you cancel the card or you'll lose them. After the bonus posts, you can downgrade or cancel the card if you don't want a second-year fee.

From Points to Premium: How Avios Unlock Luxury Flights for Less

With enough points, you can achieve remarkable redemptions. A one-way Club World seat from London to New York typically costs about 80,000–90,000 Avios. That means a round-trip for two people (160k Avios) requires roughly £500 in fees per person (£1,000 total).

In other words, 160k Avios + ~£1,000 in taxes for two people secures a return business-class trip to NYC – an enormous saving versus the £4,000+ cash price. Indeed, one travel blogger reports booking two Club World return tickets to New York for just £350 total in fees by using points and a Companion Voucher.

Well-chosen sign-up bonuses and normal spending let you redeem premium reward flights for almost nothing. Once you've applied these tactics, you can turn to the best UK Avios cards to execute them. Below we summarise 2026's top Avios-earning credit cards, their welcome offers and key benefits, and who should consider each.

Avios Credit Card Comparison Table (2026)

British Airways American Express Credit Card

• Welcome bonus: 5,000 Avios for spending £2,000 in the first 3 months. (This is the standard bonus.)
• Earn rate: 1 Avios per £1 on all purchases.
• Annual fee: £0.
• Eligibility: UK residents 18+, subject to credit status. New applicants who haven't held any personal Amex in the past 24 months are eligible.
• Standout benefit: A 2-for-1 Companion Voucher after £15,000 spend per year (book two economy Avios seats for the price of one, or get a 50% Avios discount on one seat if flying solo).
• Best for: Occasional BA flyers who want a no-fee card that earns Avios and offers the economy Companion Voucher.

For more information, check out our article When Is the Free British Airways American Express Credit Card Worth It?

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card

• Welcome bonus: 30,000 Avios for spending £6,000 in the first 3 months.
• Earn rate: 1.5 Avios per £1 (3× on BA flight/holiday bookings).
• Annual fee: £300.
• Eligibility: New applicants only. You must not have held either BA Amex card in the last 24 months.
• Standout benefits:
  • Companion Voucher after £15,000 spend per year, usable in any cabin on BA (and Aer Lingus/Iberia), with extra seats released in Business (Club) class.
  • Bonus Tier Points: you can earn up to 2,500 BA tier points via card spending (offer ends Jan 2026). Curious about how British Airways Tier Points work? You can find a full breakdown on our dedicated page here.
• Best for: Frequent BA travellers (including business class flyers) who will reach high spend. The larger bonus and premium perks suit those after maximum Avios and tier points, at the cost of an annual fee.

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard (Free version)

• Welcome bonus: 5,000 Avios for spending £1,000 in the first 3 months.
• Earn rate: 1 Avios per £1 on all spend.
• Annual fee: £0.
• Eligibility: Available to new Barclaycard customers (you cannot hold any other Barclaycard credit card).
• Standout benefit: A BA cabin upgrade voucher after £20,000 spend per year (to upgrade an Avios reward flight) – or you can take 7,000 bonus Avios instead if you prefer.
• Best for: Casual Avios collectors who prefer a Visa/Mastercard and want a fee-free Avios card. The free Avios bonus and upgrade voucher make it attractive for UK shoppers with standard spend.

For more information check out our article about the Barclaycard Mastercard Partnership.

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard (Paid version)

• Welcome bonus: 25,000 Avios for spending £3,000 in the first 3 months.
• Earn rate: 1.5 Avios per £1 on all spend.
• Annual fee: £20/month (£240/year). (£180/year if you have Barclays Avios Rewards via Premier Banking.)
• Eligibility: New Barclaycard customers (same restrictions as above).
• Standout benefits:
  • BA upgrade voucher after just £10,000 spend per year (or 7,000 Avios instead).
  • Discounted airport lounge passes: DragonPass lounge passes from £20.50 each.
• Best for: People who spend enough to justify the £240 fee in return for the higher bonus and earn rate. Even if you only reach the first £3,000, you'll get a big 25k Avios headstart. The lounge pass discount is a nice perk for occasional luxury.

Wondering if the £240 fee is really worth it? Read our deep-dive: Should You Pay an Annual Fee for an Avios Credit Card?

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

• Welcome bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points (convertible 1:1 to Avios) for £3,000 spend in 3 months.
• Earn rate: 1 MR point per £1 on all spend (2× points on airline bookings and foreign spend).
• Annual fee: £0 first year, £195 from Year 2.
• Eligibility: No personal Amex card in the past 24 months (Business Amex held separately doesn't count).
• Standout benefits: Four free airport lounge passes upon signup (and four more per year), plus £120/year in Deliveroo credit.
• Best for: New points collectors and travel enthusiasts. The Gold card is popular as a first Amex, offering a solid 40k bonus (worth 40k Avios) and travel perks. It has no fee for a year and freebies like lounges and Deliveroo, making it a great all-rounder.

American Express Platinum Card (personal)

• Welcome bonus: 75,000 Membership Rewards points for £10,000 spend in 6 months. (Worth 75,000 Avios at 1:1.)
• Earn rate: 1 MR point per £1 on all spend.
• Annual fee: £650.
• Eligibility: No other MR-earning personal Amex in the last 24 months. Importantly, existing BA Amex cardholders do qualify for this bonus (the Platinum bonus is open to more applicants than Gold's is).
• Standout benefits: Unrivalled luxury perks – e.g. unlimited Priority Pass lounge access (plus guests), elite status with Hilton/Hilton, Radisson, Marriott, Melia, £400/year restaurant credit, £50/6-months at Harvey Nichols (until June 2026), and comprehensive travel insurance.
• Best for: Frequent premium travellers. The 75k bonus is very generous (one of the largest Amex offers), and the card's credits and airport benefits suit those who regularly pay the high fee.

American Express Business Gold Card

• Welcome bonus: Up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points (worth up to 60,000 Avios). The current headline offer is 40,000 points for £6,000 spend in 3 months, with a further 20,000 points for keeping the card 14+ months.
• Earn rate: 1 MR point per £1.
• Annual fee: £0 first year, £195 thereafter.
• Eligibility: Available to UK businesses (sole traders/limited companies) – no personal credit restrictions beyond income (income £20k+). Amex relaxed the rules, so all approved applicants get the bonus (even if you hold other Amex cards).
• Standout benefits:
  • No fee first year and flexible qualification (sole traders can apply with minimal paperwork).
  • £100 Dell business credit per year (split £50 in Jan–Jun, £50 Jul–Dec).
  • Quarterly bonus: 10,000 points for each £20,000 spent in a calendar quarter (up to 30,000 extra points/year).
• Best for: Small business owners who want a risk-free sign-up (free year) and can meet £6k spend. This is a very lucrative offer, effectively giving up to 60k Avios for normal business spending.

American Express Business Platinum Card

• Welcome bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points for £6,000 spend in 3 months. (Worth 50,000 Avios.)
• Earn rate: 1 MR point per £1.
• Annual fee: £650 (refundable on a pro-rata basis if you cancel).
• Eligibility: UK businesses (no turnover requirement, sole traders OK with income ≥£35k). Like Business Gold, Amex offers unrestricted qualification on this one – if approved you get the bonus.
• Standout benefits:
  • £200 Amex Travel credit per year (effectively cash against flights/hotels).
  • £150 Dell/technology credit per year.
  • Priority Pass lounge access for you and a guest (with an extra card for a second traveller).
  • Automatic Gold elite status in Hilton, Marriott and Radisson hotel chains.
• Best for: Travelling business owners who want premium perks. The 50k bonus plus the travel credits and lounge passes make the £650 fee worthwhile for many frequent flyers.

Need help deciding where to transfer your Amex points? Check out our full guide: Where to Send Your American Express Points – The Best Transfer Options Explained.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

• Welcome bonus: 10,500 Capital on Tap points for spending £5,000 in 3 months (redeemable as 10,500 Avios or £105 cash).
• Earn rate: 1 CoT point per £1 on all spend.
• Annual fee: £0 (there is also a "Pro" version at £299/year).
• Eligibility: UK limited companies or LLPs (sole traders cannot apply). Applicants must use the special HeadforPoints links or code, and have not previously had a CoT bonus.
• Standout benefits:
  • Points are flexible: on the Free card, 10 points = 8 Avios; on the Pro card, points convert 1:1 to Avios.
  • No foreign transaction fees and up to 42 days interest-free (helpful for overseas business spending). Unlimited free employee cards.
• Best for: Small businesses needing a Visa that earns Avios. This card's bonus and 1% earning (effectively 0.8–1.0 Avios/£) make it a strong alternative to Amex for business spend.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express Card

• Welcome bonus: 45,000 Avios for spending £5,000 in the first 3 months.
• Earn rate: 1.5 Avios per £1 on all business spend.
• Annual fee: £250.
• Eligibility: UK businesses (no VAT turnover requirement) – must have a UK bank account and meet basic credit checks.
• Standout benefits:
  • On Business Avios bonus: 10,000 extra Avios for every £20,000 spent in a calendar year (up to 30,000 bonus Avios/year).
  • Special "On Business" points on BA flight purchases.
• Best for: High-spend businesses loyal to BA. The combination of a large upfront bonus and tiered spend bonus means big Avios returns for large corporate outlays. Note: Unlike the personal BA cards, there is no Companion Voucher with the business card, but the accelerated Avios earning can quickly build a substantial balance.

Final Words

Each of these cards offers a powerful way to earn free Avios points simply by aligning your usual spending with the right welcome bonuses. By applying strategically, meeting the minimum spend through day-to-day purchases, and even downgrading or cancelling cards after the bonus posts, you can build an impressive Avios balance without spending anything extra. Just be sure to check eligibility criteria carefully—especially the 24-month rule for most personal Amex welcome bonuses—before you apply.

As of mid-2026, these are the smartest and most rewarding UK credit card offers for anyone looking to turn everyday spending into unforgettable reward flights.

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