The best Avios-earning credit cards: Which is the one for you?

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

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; this includes the three Chase-issued Avios cards:

• 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 (see rates and fees): 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.

The information for the Aero Lingus Visa Signature and Iberia Visa Signature cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With TPG’s April 2025 valuation of Avios at 1.4 cents each, these welcome bonuses are worth $1,190 each, enough for a first-class flight to London (plus fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges).

The standard offer for these cards is 75,000 Avios, so we recommend applying when the bonus exceeds that.

You spend a lot on flights

If you earn and redeem Avios, you’re likely to make some purchases directly with airlines, whether it’s paying for the fees, taxes and surcharges associated with your redemption or boosting your Avios balance with cash fares.

If you mainly fly on Aer Lingus, British Airways or Iberia, adding one these cobranded airline cards to your wallet makes sense. If you’re not loyal to one airline, though, consider the following options for your airline spending:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 5 points per dollar spent 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. The Amex Plat has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees) but if you maximize its credits and perks, you can offset most or all of this cost.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights — and prepaid hotels — purchased through Amex Travel. Terms apply. Like its consumer counterpart, the Amex Platinum features an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), which can also be offset by maximizing credits and other perks that come with it.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases (including flights booked directly with an airline/outside of Capital One Travel). The Venture X features an annual fee of $395.

Related: British Airways Visa Signature credit card review: Combat high fuel surcharges and earn flexible Avios

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. With that in mind, these are the best Amex card offers currently available:

• 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 purchases in the first six months of card membership. The annual fee on the Amex Gold is $325 (see rates and fees), but if you utilize the monthly statement credits and perks associated with this product, you can basically zero out this cost.
• 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 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership. The Amex Business Gold card’s annual fee is $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.

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® (see rates and fees) 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, select Lufthansa lounges and Delta Sky Clubs.*

*Enrollment is required for select benefits; When traveling on same-day Delta flights, 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.

Related: Here’s what it’s like flying American Airlines in economy class with British Airways status 

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 non-travel 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 rewards with increased earning rates in these categories with the following cards:

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10 points per dollar spent on dining if prepaid through Chase Dining purchased through ultimate rewards (otherwise, earn 3 points per dollar spent).
• The American Express Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar spent on groceries 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 spent at restaurants, supermarkets and gas and electric vehicle charging stations, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

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 12,000 Avios when redeemed through British Airways Executive Club. With a single welcome bonus, you can book multiple domestic flights.

Related: 4 times it’s better to book American Airlines award flights with British Airways Avios

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 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

It also earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal and the previously mentioned 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 the ability to save cash or Avios when you do.

Related: 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.