How to Earn Air Miles: Your Ultimate UK Guide

If you're looking to travel more for less, earning air miles is one of the smartest strategies available to UK residents. While the concept might seem reserved for frequent business travelers, the reality is that anyone can build a substantial miles balance without ever stepping on a plane. Let me walk you through the most effective methods I've personally used to accumulate miles that have funded business class flights around the world.

Credit Cards: The Miles-Earning Powerhouse

Without question, credit cards represent the single most powerful tool for earning air miles in the UK. They offer a consistent return on your everyday spending with minimal effort.

British Airways American Express Cards

These should be your first consideration if you're focused on collecting Avios:

• British Airways American Express Card (No Annual Fee):

  • Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent

  • Welcome bonus of 5,000 Avios after spending £1,000 in the first three months

  • Companion Voucher after spending £12,000 in a year

• British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card:

  • Earn 1.5 Avios per £1 spent

  • Current welcome bonus of 60,000 Avios (until February 28, 2025)

  • Annual fee of £300

  • 2-4-1 voucher for BA flights after spending £15,000 in a year

The Premium Plus card is my personal recommendation despite the annual fee—the higher earning rate and superior companion voucher (usable in business class) typically outweigh the fee for moderate spenders.

American Express Membership Rewards Cards

If you prefer flexibility across multiple airline programs:

• American Express Gold Business (referral link):

  • Earn 1 point per £1 spent (transferable to various airline programs)

  • Welcome bonus of 45,000 points after spending £3,000

  • First year free, then £195 annually

• American Express Platinum Business (referral link):

  • Earn 1 point per £1 spent

  • Welcome bonus of 85,000 points after spending £12,000 + 40,000 extra if you keep the card longer than 14 months

  • Annual fee of £650 (offset by various travel benefits)

• American Express Platinum Personal (referral link):

  • Earn 1 point per £1 spent

  • Welcome bonus of 55,000 points after spending £6,000 + 20,000 extra if you keep the card longer than 14 months

  • Annual fee of £650 (offset by various travel benefits)

• American Express Marriott Bonvoy (referral link):

  • Earn Marriott Bonvoy points that transfer to over 40 airline partners

Business Avios Credit Cards

For business owners, additional opportunities exist:

• Capital on Tap Business Rewards (referral link):

  • Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent with no annual fee

  • Simple application process compared to many business cards

  • Great for separating business expenses while earning miles

• Curve Card (referral link):

  • Not a miles-earning card itself, but allows you to put virtually any expense on your miles-earning cards

  • International spend now earns 1% cashback

I personally maintain multiple cards, strategically using them for different purposes to maximize returns.

Shopping Portals: Supercharge Your Everyday Purchases

The British Airways Shopping Portal (Avios eStore) allows you to earn additional Avios when shopping at over 1,200 retailers—essentially double-dipping on purchases you'd make anyway.

Notable rates include:

• John Lewis: 4 Avios per £1

• Apple: 2 Avios per £1

• Argos: 2 Avios per £1

The BA Shopping Portal Avios Offer Tracker lets you monitor special promotions, which can offer up to 30 Avios per £1 during sales events.

Flying: Maximizing Miles When You Travel

While credit cards provide the foundation, flying still offers substantial earning potential:

• Choose the right airline: British Airways and oneworld partners offer the most straightforward earning path for UK residents

• Status matters: Even Bronze status increases your earning rate by 25%

• Book the right fare class: Discount economy tickets earn at reduced rates, while premium cabins can earn 150-300% of miles flown

You can calculate your potential tier points using our British Airways Tier Point Calculator before booking.

Alternative Earning Methods

Beyond the core strategies above, consider these additional approaches:

Hotel Stays

• Direct bookings with airline partners: Many hotel chains allow you to earn miles instead of hotel points

• Points transfers: Convert hotel loyalty points to airlines (though typically at suboptimal rates)

• Marriott Bonvoy: Perhaps the best hotel program for miles collectors, offering transfers to over 40 airlines with a 3:1 ratio plus a 5,000-mile bonus when transferring 60,000 points

Loyalty Point Conversions

• Nectar points: Convert Nectar points to Avios at 400:250 ratio

• Amex Membership Rewards: Transfer to multiple airline programs at competitive rates

Supermarket Shopping

• Nectar at Sainsbury's: Every £1 spent earns 1 Nectar point, which can be converted to Avios

Building a Strategy: My Personal Approach

Having earned over 250,000 miles last year through non-flying activities, here's my recommended strategy:

1. Start with the right credit cards: Choose 1-2 cards aligned with your preferred airline program

2. Set up automatic payments: Always pay in full to avoid interest charges

3. Use shopping portals consistently: Make them your default path to online retailers

4. Track promotions: Follow sites like Smart With Points to capitalize on bonus opportunities

5. Consider business opportunities: If applicable, business spending can accelerate your earnings dramatically

Putting It All Together: Example Scenarios

Scenario 1: Casual Miles Collector

• BA Amex card for daily spending: £12,000/year = 12,000 Avios

• Shopping portal use for £3,000/year at average 2 Avios/£1 = 6,000 Avios

• Annual total: ~18,000 Avios (enough for a return economy flight to Europe)

Scenario 2: Dedicated Miles Enthusiast

• BA Amex Premium Plus: £20,000/year = 30,000 Avios + Companion Voucher

• Business spending on Capital on Tap: £30,000/year = 30,000 Avios

• Shopping portal optimization: £5,000/year at average 3 Avios/£1 = 15,000 Avios

• Two BA flights per year in premium economy: ~15,000 Avios

• Annual total: ~90,000 Avios (enough for a business class return to the US with companion voucher)

The beauty of miles collecting is its scalability—you can adjust your approach based on your lifestyle and spending patterns.

Final Thoughts

While earning air miles requires some initial setup and awareness, it quickly becomes second nature and can dramatically reduce your travel costs. The key is consistency—making small adjustments to how you already spend rather than changing your lifestyle.

Looking to track your redemption options? Tools like Award Travel Finder can help you identify the best ways to use your hard-earned miles, while Roame.Travel and Seats.aero provide powerful search capabilities for award availability.

Remember that the miles landscape evolves constantly—what worked yesterday might not be optimal tomorrow. Stay informed through dedicated resources and, most importantly, enjoy the journey toward more affordable luxury travel.

What's your favorite way to earn air miles? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Note: Credit card information and bonuses are accurate as of February 26, 2025. Always check current offers before applying.