Want more travel hacks and credit card perks? For our entire collection of reviews and guides, click here. Your next Avios windfall might just be a swipe away. Welcome to the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card review:
Love Avios? Hate Amex acceptance issues? The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard might just be your perfect travel companion. For £20 a month (£240 a year), you get a generous sign-up bonus, solid earning rates, and an upgrade voucher that could make long-haul redemptions even sweeter. But is it worth it? Let’s dive in.
In This Post
What You Need to Know
- Annual Cost: £20/month (£240 per year)
- Barclays Premier and Avios Rewards members receive £5 per month in cashback, effectively reducing the monthly cost to £15.
- Sign-Up Bonus: 25,000 Avios (after spending £3,000 in three months)
- Earning Rate: 1.5 Avios per £1 spent
- Upgrade Voucher: Spend £10,000 in a year to unlock it
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% outside the Eurozone (ouch!)
- Representative APR: 80.1% variable (based on £1,200 credit limit & £240 annual fee)
The Sign-Up Bonus: A Quick Avios Injection
New cardholders get 25,000 Avios if they hit £3,000 spent in the first three months, five times what the free version offers. Not bad. You can always snag the bonus and downgrade later if you’re on the fence about the monthly fee.
Eligibility:
- No Barclaycard Avios card in the last 24 months? Still ok.
- No other Barclaycard credit card in the last six months? Yep, you’re good too.
- Have a Barclaycard business card? It doesn’t count, so go ahead and apply.
- Supplementary cardholder on someone else’s account? You’re still eligible.
Earning Avios: High Rates Without the Amex Headache
- 1.5 Avios per £1 spent is the best earning rate for a non-Amex in the UK.
- Avios cap? Technically 4x your credit limit, but this won’t impact most users.
- Foreign spend? Not great 3% FX fees outside the Eurozone.
- Alternative? Use a Currensea Mastercard for 0.5% FX fees worldwide.
The Upgrade Voucher: Game-Changer or Gimmick?
Spend £10,000 in a year and unlock a two-year-valid Avios upgrade voucher.
How It Works:
- Upgrade a return flight for one person (e.g., Premium Economy to Club World)
- Or upgrade one leg of a return trip for two people.
- Not valid for First Class, no Concorde Room for you
- Must use the highest Avios, lowest cash pricing, less value on short-haul, but a long-haul winner
- Don’t fancy the voucher? Take 7,000 Avios instead if you’d rather top up your balance.
You can read about it in more detail in our guide how the Barclaycard upgrade voucher works here.
Note: If you downgrade before hitting the £10,000 spend, you lose progress toward the voucher.
Perks: Airport Lounge Access & More
- DragonPass Lounge Discount: £20.50 per visit at select lounges, including Plaza Premium at Heathrow T5.
- Barclays Premier + Avios Rewards holders get 4 free lounge visits per year.
- That’s a quiet win worth up to £82, use them or lose them.
Barclaycard Avios Plus vs BA Amex Premium Plus
If you’re torn between the Barclaycard Avios Plus and the British Airways Premium Plus American Express (£300/year), here’s how they stack up:
| Feature | Barclaycard Avios Plus | BA Amex Premium Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | £240 (£20/month) | £300 |
| Premier Cashback | £5/month (if eligible) | ❌ |
| Earning Rate | 1.5 Avios per £1 | 1.5 Avios per £1 |
| Voucher Type | Upgrade voucher | 2-4-1 companion voucher |
| Voucher Spend Req. | £10,000 per year | £15,000 per year |
| Voucher Expiry | 2 years | 2 years |
| Accepted Everywhere? | (Mastercard) | (Amex not widely accepted) |
| Best For | Solo travellers, upgrade fans | Couples flying together |
Verdict: If you mainly fly BA in Business or First, the BA Amex Premium Plus wins for its 2-4-1 voucher. The Barclaycard Avios Plus is better if you travel solo or want upgrade flexibility.
Can You Switch Between the Free and Paid Versions?
Yes! Barclaycard lets you upgrade or downgrade:
- Downgrading? Keep your sign-up bonus, but you’ll lose progress towards your upgrade voucher.
- Upgrading? You’ll reset your spend tracker, so time it carefully.
Should You Get This Card?
Yes, if…
- You want a non-Amex Avios card with the highest earning rate.
- You spend £10,000+ per year and will actually use the upgrade voucher.
- You already have a BA Amex but need a Mastercard backup.
- You bank with Barclays Premier and can claw back £60/year via cashback.
No, if…
- You prefer a 2-4-1 companion voucher over upgrades.
- You travel abroad frequently, the 3% FX fee stings.
- You won’t hit £10,000 spent, making the voucher worthless.
Final Thoughts: A Strong Avios-Earning Alternative
For Avios collectors who need a non-Amex option, the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard is one of the best choices. The 25,000 Avios bonus makes it a solid pick for the first year, and the 1.5 Avios per £1 earning rate is top-tier.
With the Barclays Premier cashback, 4 free lounge visits, and an upgrade voucher at £10k spend, it’s a compelling pick, especially for solo travellers or business flyers.
While the BA Amex Premium Plus remains the gold standard for couples, Barclaycard Avios Plus shines for upgrade flexibility, full Mastercard acceptance, and everyday spend.
Want to Earn More Avios?
Apply for the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard here and start your journey with 25,000 bonus Avios.
Keep reading
- Barclaycard Avios vs Avios Plus: Which Card Should You Get?
- How to Max Out the Value of Your Barclaycard Avios Voucher
- Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher vs. British Airways Amex 2-4-1 Voucher: Which One Wins?
