Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card review: fees, features and more

Thinking of getting a new credit card? You might be looking for a way to spread the cost of a big purchase, or simply need a new credit card for everyday spending.

In this guide, we’ll be taking a close look at the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card. It’s a reward card bursting with travel perks, but is it the right option for you? Read on for all the info you need to know on interest rates, fees, rewards and eligibility.

We’ll also take a look at how Barclays credit cards work abroad.

If you’re looking for a cheaper way to spend outside the UK, check out the Wise card. It’s not a credit card, but offers low-cost spending and cash withdrawals in 150+ countries worldwide, with no foreign transaction fees*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

What is the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card?

The Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card is a rewards card, which gives you Avios when you spend. It’s a step up from the bank’s Barclaycard Avios credit card, offering more rewards and more Avios when you spend.

Avios is the reward currency of British Airlines (BA). It can be used to purchase flights and seat upgrades on flights, as well as hotels, car hire and other BA services.

Aside from the rewards feature, the card works like an ordinary credit card, where you’ll get a set credit limit and will pay interest on spending.

How do I collect Avios?

When you spend with your Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card, you’ll receive 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible transactions. This is more than the other Avios card, which only gives you 1 Avios per £1 spent.¹

Most spending is considered eligible for earning Avios, but not:²

• Balance transfers and money transfers
• Cash withdrawals
• Wire transfers
• Buying currency
• Purchases that are cancelled or later returned.

You’ll also get 25,000 Avios as a welcome bonus when you sign up for the card and spend £1,000 within the first three months.¹

How to redeem Avios

Once you’ve collected enough Avios, you’ll be able to redeem them on travel-related purchases through British Airways:

You can use Avios for discounts on:¹

• Flights
• Flight upgrades (such as cabin upgrades)
• Hotel stays
• Car hire.

And how much are Avios worth? Barclays says you could collect 40,000 Avios by spending £10,000 on your credit card within your first year (this includes your welcome bonus).³

With this, you could get a peak Club Europe return flight from London to Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Venice, Lisbon, Faro or Rome (with a supplement of just an extra £1).³

Other rewards with Barclaycard Avios Plus

In addition to boosted Avios points, you can also earn other rewards when you sign up for the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card.

These include:³

• Discounted airport lounge access. For a reduced rate of £18.50 per lounge pass, you can access over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide.
• A British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7,000 bonus Avios - when you spend £10,000 on your card within 12 months.

Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card interest rates and fees

Now we come to the important question - how much does it cost to have and use a Barclaycard Avios Plus card? Let’s run through the fees and interest rates you need to know about.

Monthly fee

Unlike the other Barclaycard Avios card, the Plus card comes with a monthly fee of £20.³

Interest rates

The Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card has an interest rate of 80.1% APR (variable) representative, and a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable). This is based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200.³

Fees for using the credit card

Here’s a quick look at the main fees associated with the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card:⁴

Type	Fee
Monthly fee	£20
Cash fee (e.g. ATM withdrawals or gambling transactions)	2.99%, minimum £2.99
Overseas transactions	2.99% non-Sterling purchase fee
Late payments	£12

Can I use the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card abroad?

Yes, you can use your Barclaycard Avios Plus card abroad. You should be able to use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and you’ll also be able to collect Avios on qualifying purchases.

However, it’s important to remember that you’ll pay a 2.99% foreign transaction fee on all purchases made in any currency other than GBP.⁴ It can also be very expensive to withdraw cash using your credit card, both in the UK and abroad.

How to apply for the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card

If you think this might be the credit card for you, here’s how to check your eligibility and apply.

Eligibility requirements

You can apply for the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card if you meet the following requirements:

• Are at least 21 years old
• Earn at least £20,000 a year
• Always make payments on time and have at least 4 years experience managing credit
• Have been a permanent UK resident for at least 2 years
• Haven’t been declared bankrupt or have any IVAs/CCJs in the last 6 years.

However, whether your application is successful may depend on your credit cards and the bank’s own criteria.

Helpfully, Barclays lets you check your eligibility for the card at the start of the application. You can find out if you’re likely to be approved for this card, and what credit limit you could get.

What will I need?

To apply for a credit card in the UK, you’ll usually need the following:³

• Your address details for the last 2 years
• Contact details such as your phone number and email address
• Details of your income and employment
• Your bank account details
• Valid photo ID (if you’re a new customer)
• Details of your usual monthly outgoings.

If you already have a British Airways Executive Club account, you’ll need to provide your membership number. If not, an account will be set up for you if your application is successful.

How to apply - step-by-step

Checked your eligibility? Here’s how to apply for your card:

1. Go to the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card page on the bank’s website
2. Click ‘Apply now’ and read all the terms and conditions carefully
3. Enter your details and follow the on-screen instructions
4. Check and submit your application.

You should get a decision on your application in just 1 minute, and your card could arrive in the post in as little as 7 working days.³

Spend worldwide for low fees the Wise debit card*

If the fees for using a credit card abroad are off putting, consider an alternative solution for spending overseas.

It’s not a credit card, but the Wise card is the perfect low-cost solution for travellers, holidaymakers and expats.

It’s the ideal travel companion, as it’s contactless, works worldwide and is compatible with mobile wallets. Best of all, it has no foreign transaction fees*.

Your Wise card can be used for spending and cash withdrawals in a whopping 40+ currencies, in 150+ countries. This means that there’s no need for separate cards for multi-destination trips - you can do it all with just the one card.

Here are all the advantages at-a-glance:

• Open a Wise account onlinein just a few clicks
• Get a Wise debit card for a one-time cost of just £7
• No monthly fees
• No foreign transaction fees*
• Automatically converts currency at mid-market exchange rates plus a small conversion fee*
• Works worldwide, wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
• Withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) for free (Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks). Fee of 1.75% + 0.50 for withdrawals over this limit*.

You can manage your card and account in the handy Wise app, wherever you are in the world. This includes options to freeze your card if you lose it.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

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After reading this, you should have all the info you need to decide if Barclaycard Avios Plus is the right credit card for you. There is a monthly fee, but it could be worth it if you’ll be able to take full advantage of the travel rewards.

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Sources used:

1. Barclays - Rewards credit cards
2. Barclaycard - Barclaycard and Avios
3. Barclays - Barclaycard Avios Plus
4. Barclaycard - Avios Plus summary

Sources last checked on date: 19-Aug-2024