Barclaycard Avios Plus Credit Card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard, does it truly deliver long-term value? Let’s break it down.

For frequent flyers based in the UK, few credit cards have generated as much buzz as the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard. Launched as a strong alternative to the British Airways American Express Premium Plus, this card is designed to help travellers accumulate Avios faster while enjoying valuable perks such as upgrade vouchers and discounted lounge access. 

Key Benefits of the Barclaycard Avios Plus

1. Welcome Bonus

• 25,000 Avios when you spend £3,000 within 90 days.
• Equivalent to a return flight to major European cities, or a strong head start towards a long-haul redemption.

2. Everyday Earning Power

• 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on eligible purchases.
• This is one of the highest earning rates on a non-Amex card in the UK market, making it useful where American Express is not accepted.

3. Upgrade Voucher

• Earned when you spend £10,000 in a card year.
• Allows:
  • One person to upgrade a return flight, or
  • Two people to upgrade one-way each.
• Valid for two years, and can even be used for someone else if the booking is made from your Executive Club account.

4. Lounge Access Perks

• Discounted entry via DragonPass at £20.50 per visit.
• If you hold Barclays Premier with Avios Rewards, you also receive four free lounge passes annually.

How It Compares

Feature	Barclaycard Avios Plus	Free Barclaycard Avios	BA Amex Premium Plus
Sign-Up Bonus	25,000 Avios	5,000 Avios	30,000 Avios
Avios Earn Rate	1.5 per £1	1 per £1	1.5 per £1
Annual/Monthly Fee	£240 (£20/month)	£0	£300/year
Voucher Threshold	£10k spend	£20k spend	£15k spend
Voucher Type	Upgrade Voucher	Upgrade Voucher	Companion Voucher

This table highlights why many UK travellers choose the Avios Plus Mastercard over the free version—it offers a far more achievable voucher threshold and double the welcome bonus. Compared to the Amex Premium Plus, it trades the popular “2-for-1 companion voucher” for an upgrade voucher, which may be better suited to solo travellers or those seeking premium cabins.

Cost–Benefit Analysis

At £240 annually, the card might look expensive. However:

• Welcome bonus value: 25,000 Avios can easily be worth £250–£300 when used on long-haul redemptions.
• Upgrade voucher value: Travellers upgrading from World Traveller Plus to Club World often save £600–£800 per flight.
• Ongoing spend: With 1.5 Avios per £1, spending £12,000 a year generates 18,000 Avios, often redeemable for a return flight to Europe in peak season.

For a frequent flyer, the maths works out in favour of the card. For a light spender, the free version may be more appropriate.

Ideal Use Cases

• Frequent UK travellers: Those booking 1–2 international trips annually.
• Solo travellers: The upgrade voucher is more flexible than Amex’s 2-for-1.
• Non-Amex spenders: Perfect for shops or services that don’t accept American Express.
• Barclays Premier clients: Additional perks reduce the effective fee to £180 annually, while also unlocking free lounge access.

Conclusion

The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard is one of the strongest travel credit cards in the UK. Its high earn rate, generous welcome bonus, and valuable upgrade voucher make it a smart choice for Avios collectors. However, the £240 annual fee means it only makes sense if you can take full advantage of the rewards.