Our guide to the best Air miles credit cards were selected by focusing on the cards most likely to deliver real value. Priority went to the best mix of welcome bonus, points earned per £1, redemption flexibility (Avios/Virgin/transferable points), and fees (including whether it’s free in year one).
| Name | Logo | Monthly Fee | APR | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | CTA | Tag | Feature | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Monthly Fee £0 | APR 31.6% | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | #Promoted | Features:
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Best Credit Cards For Airmiles February 2026
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold — Big welcome bonus (often 20,000+ points on qualifying spend), points are flexible (can convert to Avios, Virgin Points and other airline/hotel schemes), and you also get travel perks like airport lounge passes; best for higher spenders who can clear the balance monthly and will cancel/downgrade before the year-two fee if it’s not worth it.
- American Express Nectar Credit Card — Strong “Avios via Nectar” route (Nectar converts to Avios), decent earn rate for everyday spending (and boosted rates at Nectar partners), and a relatively low ongoing fee (after the free first year); good for people who shop at Sainsbury’s/Argos or already collect Nectar.
- Virgin Atlantic Reward (fee-free) — Simple, no-fee way to earn Virgin Points on everyday spending, with a small welcome bonus for first spend; best if you specifically want Virgin Points and prefer a Mastercard/Visa-style card option rather than relying on Amex acceptance.
- Barclaycard Avios (fee-free) — Earn Avios directly on spending with no annual fee and a smaller welcome bonus; a solid non-Amex Avios option for people who want to build Avios steadily without paying a monthly/annual charge.
- American Express Rewards Credit Card (fee-free) — A flexible points “base card” with a smaller welcome bonus than Gold, but no annual fee; ideal if you want airline transfer flexibility (Avios/Virgin, etc.) without committing to a paid card.
Note: Non-Amex options were included to reflect acceptance realities, and the assumption throughout is you repay in full each month so interest doesn’t wipe out the rewards.
Which is the best credit card to get air miles?
For most people, the best credit card to get air miles is American Express Preferred Rewards Gold, because it earns flexible points that can usually be converted into multiple airline schemes (including Avios and Virgin Points), and it often comes with a strong welcome bonus.
It’s best if you’ll comfortably hit the spend target and you repay in full each month, otherwise the interest can wipe out the value.
What is the best credit card to have to earn airline miles?
If you want the best all-round airline miles earning card, a flexible points card generally wins because it doesn’t lock you into one airline. That’s why Amex Gold (or the fee-free Amex Rewards as a simpler alternative) often makes sense.
If you specifically want Avios, a Barclaycard Avios card can be a good non-Amex route; if you specifically want Virgin Points, the Virgin Atlantic Reward card is the straightforward pick.
Which credit card has the best airmiles?
The card with the “best airmiles” depends on what you mean by best:
- Best welcome bonus potential is often on premium airline cards (or premium Amex cards) if you meet the spend requirement.
- Best earn rate per £1 is often on paid cards, but fees mean they only win if you spend enough.
- Best flexibility is usually an Amex points card that transfers to multiple airlines.
So the “best” card is the one where your annual spend and your preferred airline make the bonus + earn rate worth any fee.
Which is the best mile credit card?
As a general “mile credit card” choice (not tied to one airline), Amex Preferred Rewards Gold is usually the best starting point because you can earn points and then decide later whether to convert to Avios, Virgin Points, or other partners.
If you don’t want a fee later, the fee-free Amex Rewards is the most flexible long-term option.
Are air miles credit cards worth it?
Air miles credit cards are worth it if you
(1) pay off the balance in full every month,
(2) spend enough to earn meaningful points (often £10,000+ a year is where they start to shine), and
(3) will actually use the rewards.
They’re usually not worth it if you carry a balance, miss payments, or won’t travel or redeem points, because interest, fees, and poor redemption value can outweigh the benefits.
How do air miles work on credit cards?
Air miles (or airline points) cards give you points for spending—either direct airline points (Avios/Virgin Points) or card-scheme points that you can later convert into airline points.
Once you’ve built a balance, you redeem for things like reward flights, upgrades, or partner travel bookings.
You’ll nearly always still pay taxes, fees and charges on “free” flights, and reward-seat availability can be limited, so flexibility matters.
How to convert credit card points to air miles
In most cases you convert points by linking your accounts and transferring inside the card’s rewards portal:
- Log into your card’s rewards dashboard (Amex Membership Rewards, Nectar, or the airline card portal).
- Link your airline loyalty account (eg Avios / BA Executive Club or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club).
- Choose how many points to transfer and confirm—conversion rates vary by scheme (for example, some points convert 1:1 while others use a fixed exchange such as converting retail points into airline points).
- Wait for the transfer to post (can be instant or take days depending on the scheme), then redeem via the airline’s site/app.
Can you get air miles without a credit card?
Yes, you can get air miles without a credit card by earning through airline loyalty schemes and their partners.
Common ways include: flying with the airline (and partners), shopping via airline/loyalty shopping portals, using supermarket loyalty schemes that convert into airline points (eg retail points that convert into Avios or Virgin Points), booking hotels/car hire through partner links, and occasional promos or referrals.
Credit cards just accelerate earning because you can collect points on everyday spending.
Compare Different Types of Credit Card
Best Credit Cards
Everyday credit cards offer you the most flexibility for everyday use while having a reasonable interest rate, a balance transfer option and an initial interest-free period on purchases.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Astute credit card holders know they can shop around for a new card and transfer the balance from their old one, benefiting from a lower interest rate or even an interest-free period. Balance transfer credit cards are also a great way to consolidate debt from several cards to one.
Rewards Credit Cards
Reward credit cards are an easy way to earn hundreds of pounds in bonuses, just for your normal spending. But while some offers look valuable, you might be paying through the nose in interest fees. Also, consider whether the rewards offered are worthwhile to you.
Cash Back Credit Cards
You’ll be familiar with the cashback concept, where you earn rewards in the form of money or credit on your account when you spend. You must shop around as the “earn rate” varies, while some cards affiliated to a brand reward more for spending with that brand.
Travel Credit Cards
Don’t get hit by high fees when using your credit card abroad. Look for a credit card that offers no fees on foreign transactions and preferably some rewards as well.
Bad Credit Credit Cards
When you have a poor credit score, perhaps because of bankruptcy or some form of previous default, you can begin to rebuild your score using these cards. For those with credit problems here are our top ten bad credit credit cards.
Money Transfer Credit Cards
Using a credit card to pay off your expensive bank overdraft (or another loan) makes total sense when you can do so interest-free. Therefore, look for a card that has the longest 0% money transfer period and pay off as much as you can from the card quickly.
Air Miles Credit Cards
Bag yourself free travel simply by spending on your credit card. But select your card carefully as only some offer air miles, and some are more generous than others.
Purchase Credit Cards
If you use your credit card simply for purchases and are not concerned about balance transfers and other perks, you need to look at any interest-free purchase promotional period, followed by an ongoing generous low APR.