Barclaycard Avios vs Avios Plus: Which Card is Right for You in 2025?

Barclaycard's two Avios-earning credit cards offer different approaches to collecting British Airways' reward currency. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

Quick Comparison

Barclaycard Avios (No Fee):

• Welcome bonus: 5,000 Avios (£1,000 spend in 3 months)

• Earning rate: 1 Avios per £1

• Upgrade voucher threshold: £20,000 annual spend

• Representative APR: 29.9% variable

Barclaycard Avios Plus (£20 monthly fee):

• Welcome bonus: 25,000 Avios (£3,000 spend in 3 months)

• Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1

• Upgrade voucher threshold: £10,000 annual spend

• Representative APR: 80.1% variable (including fee)

• Airport lounge access at £20.50 per visit

The Welcome Bonus Difference

The Avios Plus card's 25,000 Avios bonus is significantly more generous than the standard card's 5,000 Avios offer. Using our Avios flight calculator, 25,000 Avios could get you:

• A return economy flight to Barcelona (24,000 Avios + £9)

• A one-way business class flight to several European destinations

• A significant contribution toward a long-haul premium cabin redemption

However, the spending requirement is three times higher (£3,000 vs £1,000), which might be challenging for some cardholders.

Earning Rates and Break-Even Analysis

The Plus card's 1.5x earning rate means you'll collect 50% more Avios on every purchase. Here's a quick break-even analysis:

Monthly spending needed to offset the £20 fee through extra Avios earning (valuing Avios at 1p each):

• £4,000 monthly spend: 6,000 Avios (Plus) vs 4,000 Avios (standard) = 2,000 extra Avios (£20 value)

The Upgrade Voucher Sweet Spot

Both cards offer a choice between a cabin upgrade voucher or 7,000 bonus Avios when hitting their respective spending thresholds. The Plus card's lower £10,000 threshold makes this benefit significantly more accessible.

From personal experience, I've found the upgrade voucher particularly valuable. Recently, I used mine to upgrade from World Traveller Plus to Club World on a London to Tokyo flight, saving approximately 50,000 Avios.

Maximising Your Returns

Whichever card you choose, remember to:

1. Stack with BA Shopping Portal offers for bonus Avios

2. Use our BA Tier Point Calculator to track status progress alongside Avios earning

3. Consider combining with other cards like the American Express Gold Business for maximum points earning potential

Which Card Should You Choose?

The Standard Avios Card is better if you:

• Want a no-fee way to collect Avios

• Spend less than £3,000 in three months

• Are new to collecting Avios

• Don't anticipate spending £10,000+ annually

The Avios Plus Card is better if you:

• Can comfortably meet the £3,000 welcome bonus spend

• Regularly spend over £4,000 monthly

• Value the lower upgrade voucher threshold

• Can benefit from the Premier Banking £5 monthly rebate

• Want discounted lounge access

Premier Banking Opportunity

If you're eligible for Premier Banking, combining the Avios Plus card with Barclays Avios Rewards (£12/month) nets you a £5 monthly rebate, effectively reducing the annual fee to £180. This makes the Plus card considerably more attractive for Premier customers.

My Personal Take

As someone who regularly uses both British Airways and partner airlines, I find the Plus card's higher earning rate and lower upgrade voucher threshold justify its fee. However, I always recommend starting with the no-fee card if you're new to collecting Avios or unsure about meeting the higher spending requirements.

Remember to use our Avios Balance Booster calculator to ensure you're getting the best value when topping up your balance, regardless of which card you choose.

Which Barclaycard Avios card appeals more to you? Are you considering switching between them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.