Compare credit cards that earn Avios points directly
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Compare credit cards that earn points you can exchange for Avios
If you’re a regular business traveller or have the option to use points collected on your business credit card for personal use, it’s worth knowing that some credit cards let you exchange their loyalty points for Avios. For example, you can swap your American Express Membership Rewards points at an exchange rate of 1 Membership Rewards point for 1 Avios, but there is a small caveat that you transfer a minimum of 1,000 points.
What is Avios and how can my business benefit from it?
Avios is a frequent flyer programme. You can earn points in a number of different ways, including booking flights with partner airlines, shopping at partner retailers (there are more than 1,100, from Apple to Selfridges to M&S) or using a credit card that earns Avios points.
You can then redeem points for a number of rewards, from free flights and hotel stays to wine gifts.
You’re probably the best person to judge if and how your business can benefit from Avios, but here are a few questions to help point you in the right direction:
- How much do you normally budget for expenses? If your team is small and you don’t spend much, it’s probably not worth the hassle (or the annual fee).
- How much do you travel? Earning and redeeming Avios is most easily (and lucratively) done by travelling, preferably with one of Avios’ partner airlines. However, even if you don’t travel much for your business, an Avios card might still be worth it. It largely depends on whether you spend at Avios’ retail partners.
How can my business join Avios?
Bad news first: it can’t. Avios is a “personal” frequent flyer scheme: your Avios account only belongs to you, and you’ll be the only person able to use your membership card. If different people in your business fly often, they’ll have to open different Avios accounts.
However, that doesn’t stop you from earning Avios when you spend using your business card. It just means that points earned by different people can’t be accumulated into a single account.
In order to join Avios, you need to join one of its partner airlines’ clubs. You can choose among British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, AerClub and @MyAirItalyClub. They’re all free, so it all comes down to which airlines you use the most. Once you’ve joined, you’ll be given a card and a membership number that you can use or quote every time you want to collect or redeem Avios points.
How do business credit cards that offer Avios points work?
You earn points on the card’s scheme every time you use your business credit card. Those points can then be converted into Avios points and added to your personal Avios account, even though they have been collected on business spending.
How to find the best credit card for Avios points
Unlike with personal credit cards, the selection of credit cards earning Avios points isn’t exactly huge: basically, you can choose between Capital On Tap and American Express business cards. To make the right decision, you should consider:
- Earn rate. How many points will you get for every £1 you spend? And how many Avios points will the card scheme’s points be worth? For example, you can get an Amex business card that earns you 1 Membership Rewards point for every £1 you spend, and 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Avios point.
- Annual fee. How much do you need to spend on the card to earn back the fee? If you’re a smaller business, is that a realistic level of spend?
- Sign-up bonus. It’s a nice-to-have, but you should consider the value of the card over the whole period you’re planning to use it for: don’t get enticed by an introductory offer into getting stuck with a card that isn’t right for you.
- Foreign transaction fees. If you travel a lot for business purposes, do you go overseas? If you do, you may want to look for a card that doesn’t charge extra fees when used abroad. Capital On Tap beats Amex on this.
- Flexibility. If you grow tired of Avios or realise it doesn’t fit your business, what else can you do with the points? It’s worth knowing that Avios points can be converted into Nectar points: you can currently get 400 Nectar points for 300 Avios, and 250 Avios for 400 Nectar points.
- Extra perks. Some cards complement the rewards with other nice features, such as airport lounge access or travel insurance.
- Whether or not you want an Amex. There are a lot of advantages to having an Amex business credit card, but bear in mind that some businesses still don’t accept these cards. It’s worth doing a little research into how many of your vendors and suppliers accept Amex before you apply: there’s no point paying for a credit card you can’t use.
Ultimately, it’s all about figuring out how much business spending you need to do on the card, and whether it’ll get you enough rewards to make up for the annual fee.
It’s also worth noting that these cards are all about the rewards: they’re far from the best when it comes to borrowing. The Amex business cards are all charge cards, so you’ll have to pay the bill in full every month. Capital On Tap’s credit cards have quite a high representative APR, so carrying a balance on them will prove expensive.
Credit card cost comparison
Credit card limit: £10,000
- Outstanding balance: £5,000
- Interest rate: 23%
- Monthly repayment: £250
- Total interest: £1,199
Credit card limit: £10,000
- Outstanding balance: £5,000
- Interest rate: 34%
- Monthly repayment: £250
- Total interest: £1,979
5 tips to get the most out of your Avios business card
Looking to get more bang for your buck, we’ve put together 5 of our best top tips to get more Avios.
- 1. Introductory bonus. If timed correctly and you meet the eligibility criteria, you could bag yourself some nice welcome Avios points to get you off to a flying start.
- 2. Business expenses. Why not use your card for all your business expenses? As long as you keep on top of your repayments, this is a savvy way to earn more for your buck.
- 3. Employee cards. Some lenders offer up to 99 additional business cards designed for your employees. By making use of this benefit, your points pot could build quite quickly with your employees in on the game. As the account holder, you will be responsible for all card spend and repayments.
- 4. Referral bonuses. Depending on the card you opt for, you could benefit from successfully referring a business or 2.
- 5. Spending targets. Again depending on your card, you could earn additional Avios when you spend over a certain amount. As with any credit product, make sure you’re not just chasing the points and you only spend as much as you can repay.
Pros and cons of Avios business cards
Pros
- You can redeem your points for a variety of rewards, from flights to wine.
- These cards allow you to earn Avios points on all your business spending.
- Double your points when you both pay with your business credit card and quote your Avios membership number.
- Team up to earn – and spend? – Avios together with your colleagues, thanks to additional cards.
Cons
- These cards normally come for a fairly pricey annual fee.
- Borrowing with these cards can be quite expensive: to avoid this, pay off your business card bill in full every month.
Alternatives to Avios business cards
Unfortunately, there aren’t any other frequent flyer business credit cards available on the market at the moment, so if you have a different airline in mind, you’re out of luck. However, Amex’s Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for miles and points with other airlines, including Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Alternatively, you could consider a cashback business credit card: less fancy, more flexible.
Finally, if you’re looking for a business frequent flyer programme, have a look at British Airways’ On Business scheme. With this card you can earn points as a business and redeem them for reward flights, while also earning Avios on your personal account.
Frequently asked questions
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