Reward Credit Cards..

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

Soldato
Joined
5 Oct 2004
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Location
Notts
My partner and I would like to pool our monthly spend to get the most we can from a reward credit card.

We initially liked the look of air-miles or Avios points but having spent last night going through a bunch of offering and not coming to a conclusion I thought I'd ask the OcUK collective.

We would be spending around £1500 a month (fuel and shopping mainly) so will boost any rewards with the usual store points.

TIA for any advice :)
 
We use a joint John Lewis card for most of our spending (Circa £1,300/month) and a Santander 123 for petrol (Circa £250/month).

0.5% back (1% in-store) on the John Lewis card in the form of vouchers, 3% on fuel for the 123 (but with an annual charge against that).
 
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card is a really great one. I started using one about 18 months ago, you get 5% cashback for first 3 months and then between 0.5% and 1.25% thereafter, depending on your spending.

It's known as the most simple cashback earner without a fee.

Or there is a £25 a year option, which works out as profitable if you spend over something like £5k in a year, which I'm sure you will.

They also have other points based options, link here https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/...all-cards-right&inav=gb_menu_cards_pc_view_cm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
dl8860 said:
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card is a really great one. I started using one about 18 months ago, you get 5% cashback for first 3 months and then between 0.5% and 1.25% thereafter, depending on your spending.

It's known as the most simple cashback earner without a fee.

Or there is a £25 a year option, which works out as profitable if you spend over something like £5k in a year, which I'm sure you will.

They also have other points based options, link here https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/...all-cards-right&inav=gb_menu_cards_pc_view_cm
Click to expand...

My favourite card too.
Best to apply when you are about to spend big due to initial 5pc

Exemplary customer service too.
When I lost all my cards their turn around time was next day. I think Santander was up to 7 days!!
 
I use a Tesco Credit card. 1 point for every £4 spent in Tesco (on everything including tobacco), plus you then get the normal points by scanning your normal clubcard before hand.

Then its 1 point for every £8 spent in any other location.
 
My Barclaycard Amex gives me a flat 1% on everything, or 0.5% when you suffer the embarrassment of the retailer not accepting Amex and have to resort to the matching Visa :D

No annual fee either.
 
I only have experience with the BA Amex Platinum card (there is a fee for this), which gives you a companion voucher for Avios spend after £10k spend in a year (which you will do easily).

If you don't fly regularly with BA, it is more difficult to build points with the BA Amex. Though that said, Avios points do add up, the initial 3 month bonuses will help and signing up through recommendations helps you and your friend (e.g. me ;) )

If you do travel with BA, it's worthwhile, I just returned from Japan in Business for me and the family using Amex companion voucher + 150K Avios points + taxes :) I'm considering taking a new card out for the wife so we can build towards bonus and another voucher :)
 
tlrBeta said:
I only have experience with the BA Amex Platinum card (there is a fee for this), which gives you a companion voucher for Avios spend after £10k spend in a year (which you will do easily).
Click to expand...

The companion voucher is definitely what makes the BA Amex Platinum card worthwhile. Effectively gives you double Avios points. There's usually introductory deals to give you bonus points too.

Getting the reward flights you want can be a bit hit-and-miss if you're on the bottom tier of BA's frequent flyer scheme though.
 
pepp77 said:
I use a Tesco Credit card. 1 point for every £4 spent in Tesco (on everything including tobacco), plus you then get the normal points by scanning your normal clubcard before hand.

Then its 1 point for every £8 spent in any other location.
Click to expand...

I use this as well. You don't need to scan your clubcard to earn points from the credit card and from the clubcard as they are linked. If you do self checkout, you'll notice it says 'clubcard accepted' like normal, when you insert the CC.

Isn't it 1 point per £1 in store and 1 point per £4 on other purchases?

Anyway, it's decent. Bought myself a nice soundbar for the TV with the points I collected over about a year, plus cinema tickets and a Pizza Express meal. Currently have another Pizza Express meal (for 2) - they double it for PIzza Express, so £15 vouchers will get you a £30 meal.

Edit:
5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores
5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel)
1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend almost everywhere else
Click to expand...
 
Craig321 said:
I use this as well. You don't need to scan your clubcard to earn points from the credit card and from the clubcard as they are linked. If you do self checkout, you'll notice it says 'clubcard accepted' like normal, when you insert the CC.

Isn't it 1 point per £1 in store and 1 point per £4 on other purchases?

Anyway, it's decent. Bought myself a nice soundbar for the TV with the points I collected over about a year, plus cinema tickets and a Pizza Express meal. Currently have another Pizza Express meal (for 2) - they double it for PIzza Express, so £15 vouchers will get you a £30 meal.

Edit:
Click to expand...

They're changing the clubcards soon though aren't they so they won't be doing things like the double points for pizza express etc?
 
I should probably get something like this. currently have a Natwest Platinum credit card which i basically use for everything and then pay off in full each month.
 
Tunney said:
The companion voucher is definitely what makes the BA Amex Platinum card worthwhile. Effectively gives you double Avios points. There's usually introductory deals to give you bonus points too.

Getting the reward flights you want can be a bit hit-and-miss if you're on the bottom tier of BA's frequent flyer scheme though.
Click to expand...

I didn't have a problem, I did book just under 11 months in advance though (to make sure I got them).

My understanding is that it's all down to primarily the route you want to do and of course then availability :)

PS. I also automatically convert Tesco points into Avios :)
 
Craig321 said:
I use this as well. You don't need to scan your clubcard to earn points from the credit card and from the clubcard as they are linked. If you do self checkout, you'll notice it says 'clubcard accepted' like normal, when you insert the CC.

Isn't it 1 point per £1 in store and 1 point per £4 on other purchases?

Anyway, it's decent. Bought myself a nice soundbar for the TV with the points I collected over about a year, plus cinema tickets and a Pizza Express meal. Currently have another Pizza Express meal (for 2) - they double it for PIzza Express, so £15 vouchers will get you a £30 meal.

5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores
5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel)
1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend almost everywhere else


Edit:
Click to expand...

You figures are the same as mine as I get 1 point for £4 on the card and then 4 points for £4 on the normal clubcard.

I use both through habit, but yes I probably don't need to :)

There is also a Sainsburys credit card if that is your thing

4 Nectar points per £1 for new customers when you use our credit card on Sainsbury’s shopping or fuel in the first 3 months, 2 points per £1 thereafter. Apply by 24th May 2016.

This also has 27 months interest free on purchases if you apply before 24/5/16

Tempted to get one of them as well for those Sainsbury's trips but shame theres no cashback like the £30 I got for opening the Tesco one.
 
cheesyboy said:
We use a joint John Lewis card for most of our spending (Circa £1,300/month) and a Santander 123 for petrol (Circa £250/month).

0.5% back (1% in-store) on the John Lewis card in the form of vouchers, 3% on fuel for the 123 (but with an annual charge against that).
Click to expand...

I assume this is a Santander credit card rather than the current t account? Otherwise I have been doing it all wrong :o.

I use a tesco card, however they've made the reward for buying outside of tesco half as good as it was! So I can't say it's the best offer now.
 
tlrBeta said:
I didn't have a problem, I did book just under 11 months in advance though (to make sure I got them).

My understanding is that it's all down to primarily the route you want to do and of course then availability :)
Click to expand...

Australia on business always goes on the day that the seats are released. As you say, it's very route-dependent.

If you want to get reward flights last minute and aren't particularly bothered where you go, check for new routes. They always have plenty of availability.
 
Whatever you go with it might be worth getting a https://www.imaginecurve.com/ card, it allows you to withdraw cash from your credit cards and yet it appears on the statement as a credit card transaction.

That way you can earn the reward points from the card for nothing but I wouldn't make it too obvious :D
 
dl8860 said:
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card is a really great one. I started using one about 18 months ago, you get 5% cashback for first 3 months and then between 0.5% and 1.25% thereafter, depending on your spending.

It's known as the most simple cashback earner without a fee.

Or there is a £25 a year option, which works out as profitable if you spend over something like £5k in a year, which I'm sure you will.

They also have other points based options, link here https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/...all-cards-right&inav=gb_menu_cards_pc_view_cm

If you want I can trust you a referral for the Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card (I think you can choose the £25 or free option therein), and we both earn £10 bonus cashback. Let me know
Click to expand...

Also have this card (the £25 annual fee one). I spend somewhere around £15-20k per year on it. Got about £350 cashback last year. Works well for me.

But some places don't take Amex, so I also have the Santander 123 card, which I use for all other purchases, and all fuel, since it pays 3%. I think I took about £200 last year in cashback on that one.

Also, for extra cashback points, if I buy off Amazon / John Lewis / etc... I buy gift vouchers from Morrisons first, and get the 1p per litre discount for every £10 on the giftcard. Plus because I pay on the Amex, I get 1.25% back through that. Then a further 3% off the fuel for buying with the Santander card.
 
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