In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product Overview
    • Fees and charges
    • Application Requirements

Barclaycard Avios Card review

  • Emily Herring's headshot
Barclaycard Avios Card
4.0
★★★★★
Finder score
Representative example:
When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
Intro bonus
Up to 5,000 points
Account fee
£0
Balance transfer fee
0%

Our verdict

Fly high and earn Avios on your day-to-day spending and enjoy the first-class introductory bonus with the Barclaycard Avios Credit Card.

If you’re a frequent flyer or are looking to start earning some tasty air miles ready for your summer holidays, take a seat and prepare for the take-off of the new Barclaycard Avios credit cards. Yes, that’s right, Barclaycard has launched not 1 but 2 rewards credit cards with partner Avios, but do they have the potential to leave American Express on the runway?

With the Barclaycard Avios card you can collect 1 Avios per £1 on your everyday spending, plus the opportunity to receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher if you meet the spend limit. Oh, and not to mention the first-class 5,000 Avios welcome bonus. Learn how to make the most out of your Avios with our helpful guide.

The Barclaycard Avios Card is a great option for those who want to start building up their Avios without the cost of an annual fee. But if you’re in the position to stretch your wallet a little further and part with £20 per month to pay for this card’s big sister, Barclaycard is offering a premium option where you can receive an exclusive welcome bonus of 25,000 Avios and a rate of 1.5 Avios per £1 spent, as long as you repay the card in full each month.

Both of the Barclaycard Avios Cards come with a fairly exclusive eligibility requirement and you must be at least 21 to be able to apply.

Just like any other rewards credit card, if you want to max out your rewards you will need to repay your card balance in full each month, otherwise you could be paying more in interest and any missed payments could damage your credit score. Start comparing our rewards credit cards today.

Pros

  • Earn Avios on your day-to-day spending.
  • Generous introductory bonus.
  • No annual fee.
  • Up to 56 days interest free.
  • Cabin upgrade voucher when you spend £20,000 within 12 months.
  • Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with Barclaycard.
  • You can use Mastercard almost everywhere, both in the UK and overseas.

Cons

  • Minimum annual income requirement of £20000.
  • Those with deep pockets might benefit more from the Avios Plus Card.
  • You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £50.
  • Introductory bonus limited to new Barclaycard members.
  • This card carries a 2.99% foreign usage charge.

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product Overview
    • Fees and charges
    • Application Requirements

Take a seat and prepare for the take-off of the new Barclaycard Avios credit cards where you can earn Avios on your daily spending.

Details

Product Overview

Issuer Barclaycard
Network Mastercard
Representative APR 29.9%
Annual/monthly fees £0
Balance transfers 29.9%
Balance transfer fee 0%
Purchases 29.9%
Purchases interest-free period Up to 56 days
Cash advances 29.9%
Minimum credit limit £50
Maximum credit limit Subject to status
Additional cards available 4
Incentive
Earn 5,000 Avios when £1,000 spent on card over the first 3 months of opening. Earn 1 Avios for every £1 you spend. Spend £20,000 or more during the year and receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7,000 bonus Avios. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1,000pts for flights)
Additional Rewards Info Buy tickets for up to 3500 selected live events through Barclaycard entertainment and get 5% off tickets per year and exclusive pre-sale tickets on selected festivals with 10% off ticket prices. Save 10% on food and drink at all UK 02 Academy venues.
Potential costs 3.7 ★★★★★
Doing its job 4.2 ★★★★★
Extras 4.3 ★★★★★
Overall Finder Score 4.0 ★★★★★

Fees and charges

Annual/monthly fees £0
Balance transfer fee 0%
Foreign usage charge (EU) 2.99%
Foreign usage charge (rest of world) 2.99%
Cash advance fee 2.99% (min. £2.99)
Late payment fee £12
Duplicate statement fee £0
Exceeding limit fee £0
Additional card fee £0
Replacement card fee £0
Dormancy fee £0

Application Requirements

Minimum Age 21
Availability Available to new customers

The Barclaycard Avios Card is issued on the Mastercard network, so it's accepted at more than 50 million merchant locations across more than 210 countries and territories.

How does it compare with rival American Express?

Name Product UKCCF Max. intro bonus Default earn-rate Additional cards available Annual/monthly fees Link Additional rewards
Barclaycard Avios Card
5,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
4
£0
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
5,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
1
£0
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
American Express® Rewards Credit Card
10,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
1
£0
Check eligibility
Earn 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points when you spend £2,000 in first 3 months of cardmembership
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
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1 - 3 of 3
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Purchases Balance transfers Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
Barclaycard Avios Card
4.0
★★★★★
29.9%
29.9%
(0% fee)
£0
29.9% APR (variable)
Earn 5,000 Avios when £1,000 spent on card over the first 3 months of opening. Earn 1 Avios for every £1 you spend. Spend £20,000 or more during the year and receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7,000 bonus Avios. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1,000pts for flights)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
31%
31%
(3% fee)
£0
31% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
American Express® Rewards Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
31%
31%
(3% fee)
£0
31% APR (variable)
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1,000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

Isaac Jonas's headshot
Case study: Isaac uses the Barclays Avios card alongside his BA Amex card

"I took out an Amex card for my main spending to collect avios, but it means I can’t collect points at vendors that don’t accept Amex. So I took out this card firstly to collect the welcome bonus and secondly because it is a Mastercard so I can use it for all my non-amex spending and still collect avios.

It’s been great so far. I don’t think I will spend enough on it to get some of the perks such as the upgrade voucher since it is a secondary credit card for me. However, since it has no fee I am not losing out.

If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of getting this, what would it be?

In my opinion it is the best no-fee, non-Amex avios credit card."

Isaac Jonas
Works at Finder

Repayment options

You can make manual repayments through Barclaycard's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 151 0900). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.

A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.

You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.

Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:

Minimum amount Fixed amount Fixed percentage Full amount

How to apply for this Barclaycard

If you've compared cards and settled on the Barclaycard Avios Card, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the information and documents you'll need to make the process as straightforward as possible.

How does it compare?

Barclaycard's card

1 - 1 of 1
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Max. intro bonus Earn-rate with brand Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
Barclaycard Avios Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
5,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£0
29.9% APR (variable)
Earn 5,000 Avios when £1,000 spent on card over the first 3 months of opening. Earn 1 Avios for every £1 you spend. Spend £20,000 or more during the year and receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7,000 bonus Avios. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1,000pts for flights)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
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Other popular reward cards

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 20 of 35
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Max. intro bonus Earn-rate with brand Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
M&S Bank Credit Card Purchase Plus Offer Mastercard
4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Credit Card Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £5 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
John Lewis Partnership Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1.25 points per £1 spent
1 point per £4 spent
£0
28.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 2.5% back as points towards gift vouchers on eligible spend at John Lewis and Waitrose in the first 60 days from account opening. Earn 5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. 1 point = 1p (min 500pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.9% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
5,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£0
31% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
American Express® Rewards Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£0
31% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1,000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
Yonder 'No Fee' Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
5 points per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£0
32.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 32.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 32.9% APR (variable).
Nectar Credit Card
3.8
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
20,000 points
3 points per £1 spent
2 points per £1 spent
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £30 per annum
37.8% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months. Earn a minimum of 3 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent at Nectar partners, and 2 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent elsewhere.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £30 per annum, your representative rate is 37.8% APR (variable).
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
20,000 points
6 points per £1 spent
2 points per £1 spent
£95 per annum
54.8% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 20,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy ® points when you spend £3,000 in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. 18+, subject to status. Terms apply.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £95 per annum, your representative rate is 54.8% APR (variable).
Yonder Credit Card
4.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10,000 points
25 points per £1 spent
5 points per £1 spent
1 month for £0, £15 per month thereafter
66.7% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
First month free for new members, £15 p/m thereafter. Plus, 10,000 bonus points. Earn 5 points per £1 spent and up to 25 points per £1 at selected partners. Membership includes worldwide travel insurance, no FX fees and use your points towards any flight.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.94% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 66.7% APR (variable).
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
20,000 points
3 points per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £195 per annum
88.8% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers earn 20,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms Apply. 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £195 per annum, your representative rate is 88.8% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
30,000 points
3 points per £1 spent
1.5 points per £1 spent
£300 per annum
139.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers collect 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31.0% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £300 per annum, your representative rate is 139.9% APR (variable).
The Platinum Card® by American Express
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
40,000 points
2 points per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£650 per annum
704.6% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points, when you spend £6,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. 18+, subject to status. Terms Apply.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31.0% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £650 per annum, your representative rate is 704.6% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Low APR Clubcard Credit Card
5.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1.25 points per £1 spent
1 point per £8 spent
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
5 points per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco. Must have available credit to earn points. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers or can be exchanged for Partner rewards to receive money off a variety of restaurants, entertainment or Avios points.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.941% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
The Co-operative Bank Members' Credit Card Visa
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £2 spent
1 point per £3.33 spent
£0
18.2% APR (variable)
1p earned for every £2 spent in The Co-operative Food stores (excluding in-store concessions) and 1p earned for every £3.33 spent anywhere else. Cashback will be added to your share of the Group profits and this will be paid to you twice a year.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 18.2% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 18.2% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Rewards Credit Card Mastercard
4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £5 spent
£0
23.9% APR (variable)
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
HSBC Premier Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £1 spent
£0
23.9% APR (variable)
A selection of rewards from a range of partners. Earn 1 point for every £1 spent within the UK and earn 2 points for every £1 spent outside the UK. Points can be redeemed for shopping vouchers and frequent flyer miles. 1 point = 1p (no min)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Balance Transfer Card
4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1.25 points per £1 spent
1 point per £8 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
1 points per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco. Must have available credit to earn points. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers or can be exchanged for Partner rewards to receive money off a variety of restaurants or entertainment.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Clubcard Low Fee Balance Transfer Mastercard
4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £4 spent
1 point per £8 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
5 points per £4 spent in Tesco, 1 point per £8 spent outside Tesco and 1 point per £4 spent on Tesco fuel (excluding Esso) plus 1 point for every 1 litre bought. 100 points = £1 in vouchers
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1.5 points per £1 spent
1 point per £1.33 spent
£0
26.9% APR (variable)
Earn 3,000 bonus points with your first card purchase made within 90 days of account opening. Earn 0.75 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 1.5.miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. Spend £20K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket. Points value varies dependent on reward (min 3000pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 26.9% APR (variable).
NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card Visa
4.3
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £10 spent
£0
27.9% APR (variable)
Earn 1% in Rewards on eligible travel spending and up to 15% on monthly offers from chosen partner retailers. Earn 0.1% everywhere else. Rewards can be converted into money and transferred to a current account, exchanged for e-codes with some retailers worth more than the cash or converted into money and donated to one of the RBS Group chosen charities.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.9% APR (variable).
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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

Frequently asked questions

What credit limit will I get with the Barclaycard Avios Card?

If Barclaycard offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on Barclaycard's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £50, and Barclaycard does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Barclaycard you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.

Can I withdraw cash using the Barclaycard Avios Card?

Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.

The cash advance fee on the Barclaycard Avios Card is 2.99% (min. £2.99). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £2.99. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £7.48.

The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 29.9%, which is the same as the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).

How much does it cost to use the Barclaycard Avios Card abroad?

Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.99% charge (which is very standard). For example, if you spend 200 euros (£168.04), it'll cost you around £5.02 in fees.

What is the minimum payment on the Barclaycard Avios Card?

Each month, you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £450.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £2,000.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.

Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money, which can lead to persistent debt.

Finder credit card scores

★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor

Our experts score rewards credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like welcome bonuses, introductory and ongoing earn-rates, any caps or restrictions on the points you can earn, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.

You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.

Bottom line

As a new contender in the travel rewards credit card market, the Barclaycard Avios Card has some tough competition to beat, particularly with the crowd pleasing British Airways American Express credit card. But with its no annual fee and reasonable interest rates, oh, and the generous welcome bonus, it’s plain to see that this new card has the potential to help you fly high, as long as you repay the balance in full each month.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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