This post is designed for those who want to join the points game and who have excellent credit history and who have no plans to use their credit score for anything important (like a loan or a mortgage).
I am often asked what are the best first steps into the points game. I always answer, reward cards. Everyone has to spend money. Why not earn points while you spend? You don’t (and shouldn’t) have to spend more than usual to earn points. Think about how much you have to spend on everyday items and imagine you earn points for every one of those purchases and you can easily see how you can earn a lot of points very quickly without doing anything you aren’t already doing.
A travel reward card is a card that offers points that can be redeemed for travel-related purchases, such as flights and hotels. Certain card providers offer additional bonuses at the start to attract new customers. There are occasional annual bonuses available to those who spend a certain amount on the card.
The United Kingdom credit card industry is very competitive but unfortunately the best offers are reserved for those in need of balance transfers and large new purchases. The travel credit cards do have attractive offers but nothing compared with the bounty available to Americans. However, we can only work with what we have. So, I will list what I believe to be the best offers available to new customers, depending on the need. If you already have a travel reward card then you need to check if you are eligible for the sign up bonus.
Best For Large Spenders with a Fee
- 25,000 Avios after £3,000 spend within 3 months
- 2-4-1 companion voucher after £10,000 annual spend
- 1.5 Avios per £1
- £150 annual fee
Best for Large Spenders with no Fee
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
- 20,000 Membership Reward points after £2,000 spend within 3 months
- 2 points per £1 on travel, supermarket and foreign spending, with 1 points per £1 on everything else
- No annual fee for first year, then £175
Best for Lower Spenders with Fee
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express
- 20,000 Starwood Points (convertible to 25,000 Avios) after £1,000 spend in 3 months
- 1 point per £1
- £75 annual fee
- 40,000 Priority Club points after first purchase in 90 days
- 2 Priority Club points per £1
- £99 annual fee
Best for Lower Spenders with no Fee
- Free night at Hilton Group property after £750 spend in 90 days
- Instant Hilton Silver status
- Hilton Gold status after £10,000 spend in a year
- 2 Hilton Hhonors points per £1
Best Overall Card
- 50,000 Membership Reward points after £2,000 spend within 3 months
- 1 year Cathay Pacific Gold status (BA Silver), 1 year Hilton HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, and Club Carlson Gold
- Travel insurance for your family
- £450 annual fee
I receive no commission for any credit card I discuss. I only provide information I believe to be correct and useful to the reader. If you wish me to refer you for either the American Express Platinum or Preferred Gold then email me at georgethetravelmonkey@gmail.com. I will receive American Express Membership Points for this referral but you will receive a higher sign up bonus.
What Credit Card Should I Get?
