Top Avios earning offers – January 2024

If you read Head for Points every day you will learn about lots of new ways to earn and spend Avios points.

However, if you’re looking for a quick boost to your points total over the next few weeks then these are the best opportunities currently available.

If you want to learn more about how to spend your Avios points – as opposed to earning them – you should read the 15 articles in our ‘Avios Redemption University‘ series.

Earning Avios via Barclays Premier:

If you earn £75,000+, you can earn 43,000 Avios in your first year and an annual British Airways upgrade voucher by moving your current account to Barclays Premier.

This article explains Barclays Premier and Barclays Avios Rewards in detail.

If you don’t earn £75,000, you can also qualify by depositing £100,000 in a Barclays savings or investment account. This article explains how the process works.

You can apply for Barclays Premier here.

Earning Avios via credit and charge cards:

Personal UK credit cards:

These are the top sign-up bonuses currently available.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Amex Gold is the best deal available for a ‘miles and points’ newcomer. Your 20,000 Membership Rewards points for signing up and spending £3,000 within three months convert into 20,000 Avios points.  The card is FREE for the first year and you can cancel at any time.  Apply for Amex Gold here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card is the best deal available for a regular traveller who can maximise the insurance and status benefits. You earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points for signing up and spending £6,000 within three months.  These convert into 40,000 Avios or many other airline and hotel programmes.

The card has a £650 annual fee but this is refundable pro-rata when you cancel and there are many other benefits. Apply for The Platinum Card here.

We then come to the dedicated Avios credit cards:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

The BRAND NEW Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard is a must-have. You qualify for the 25,000 Avios sign-up bonus even if you have a BA American Express card and you will have a card to use at places where American Express is not accepted. Spend £10,000 in a year and you receive a free British Airways upgrade voucher. Apply for Barclaycard Avios Plus here.

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

There is also a free version of the Barclaycard Avios Mastercard. This also comes with a British Airways upgrade voucher (£20,000 annual spend required) and there is an attractive sign-up bonus of 5,000 Avios. That said, you may prefer to get the Avios Plus card initially, given the far higher 25,000 Avios bonus, and potentially downgrade later. You can apply for the free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard here.

British Airways Premium Plus American Express

British Airways Premium Plus American Express give you 25,000 Avios points for signing up and spending £3,000 within three months.  The annual 2-4-1 companion voucher gets you two Avios redemptions for the points of one or a solo traveller can get a 50% discount. The card has an annual fee of £250, refundable pro-rata at any time. Apply for British Airways Premium Plus here.

British Airways American Express

Alternatively, the British Airways American Express gets you 5,000 Avios points for signing up and spending £1,000 within three months.  The card is FREE.  Apply for the free BA Amex here.

Small business UK credit and charge cards:

If you run your own business, we recommend these options:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa credit card is an excellent deal for limited companies .  You can earn points worth 10,000 Avios as a sign-up bonus and 1 Avios per £1 spent.  Click for full details of the Capital On Tap Business Rewards credit card including a special higher bonus for HfP readers.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

American Express issues a dedicated British Airways American Express card for small businesses called Accelerating Business. It has a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Avios.  Apply for BA Accelerating Business here.

American Express Business Platinum and Business Gold

American Express Business Platinum and Business Gold come with generous sign-up bonuses. American Express Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

Earning Avios via Nectar:

You can convert Nectar points into Avios at the rate of 400 Nectar points to 250 Avios. The conversion page at ba.com is here.

Nectar partners include:

• Sainsbury’s: 1 Nectar point (0.625 Avios) per £1 spent
• Sainsbury’s Bank credit cards: Offers vary
• Sainsbury’s Bank Home Insurance: Offer varies
• Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance: Offer varies
• Sainsbury’s Bank Car Insurance: Offer varies
• Sainsbury’s Bank Life Insurance: Bonus of 22,000 Nectar points (13,750 Avios)
• eBay: 1 Nectar point (0.625 Avios) per £1 spent
• Europcar: 1 Nectar point (0.625 Avios) per £1 spent
• Viking: 2 Nectar points (1.25 Avios) per £1 spent
• Nectar American Express card: 2 Nectar points (1.25 Avios) per £1 spent