Is Barclaycard or Amex better for Avios?

Neither wins outright — they suit different spending. The British Airways Amex cards earn Avios directly and give the 2-4-1 companion voucher, but charge a 2.99% foreign-transaction fee and are not accepted everywhere. The Barclaycard Avios Plus matches the top 1.5 Avios per £1 rate, charges no FX fees and is a Mastercard, but its voucher only upgrades a cabin rather than adding a companion. This is general information, not financial advice.

Which earns more Avios per pound?

The Barclaycard Avios Plus and the BA Premium Plus both earn 1.5 Avios per £1 (the Premium Plus drops to 1.25 from 7 October 2026). The fee-free BA Amex and free Barclaycard Avios both earn 1 Avios per £1.

Which card is better for spending abroad?

The Barclaycard Avios Plus, clearly. It charges no foreign-transaction fees, while the Amex cards add 2.99% on non-sterling spend. For overseas purchases the Barclaycard is usually the cheaper choice.

Which card gives the companion voucher?

Only the British Airways American Express cards give the 2-4-1 companion voucher, earned at £15,000 spend. The Barclaycard Avios Plus gives a cabin-upgrade voucher at £10,000 instead, which lets you book one cabin higher for the lower Avios price.

Is Amex or Mastercard accepted in more places?

Mastercard, by a wide margin. American Express is refused by some smaller UK shops and many overseas merchants, whereas the Barclaycard Mastercard is accepted almost everywhere — which is one reason many collectors carry both.

Can I have both a Barclaycard and an Amex Avios card?

Yes, and many people do. A common set-up is a BA Amex for the companion voucher and everyday Amex-accepted spend, plus a Barclaycard for foreign spend and the places Amex is refused. Both funnel Avios into the same British Airways Club account.

AviosArcana

Comparison

Barclaycard vs Amex for Avios

Two routes to the same Avios balance — but with very different fees, vouchers and acceptance. We put the Barclaycard Avios cards head to head with the British Airways American Express cards for 2026.

Last updated: September 2026 7 min read

This is not really an either/or. The Amex cards win on the companion voucher and earning Avios directly; the Barclaycard wins on foreign spend and everyday acceptance. Below we lay out exactly where each pulls ahead — and why the smartest answer is often to carry one of each.

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The short answer Head to head Key differences Who should pick which Why hold both

The short answer

Pick the British Airways Amex if you want the 2-4-1 companion voucher and mostly spend where Amex is accepted. Pick the Barclaycard Avios Plus if you spend a lot abroad or need Mastercard acceptance. Both earn Avios into the same account, so the decision comes down to vouchers, foreign spend and where you shop.

Head to head

Feature	British Airways Amex	Barclaycard Avios
Network	American Express	Mastercard
Top earn rate	1.5 Avios / £1 (Premium Plus)	1.5 Avios / £1 (Avios Plus)
Fee-free option	Yes — free BA Amex, 1 Avios / £1	Yes — free Barclaycard Avios, 1 Avios / £1
Foreign transaction fee	2.99%	None
Voucher	2-4-1 companion at £15,000	Cabin upgrade at £10,000
Acceptance	Good, but refused by some	Near-universal

The BA Premium Plus earn rate drops from 1.5 to 1.25 Avios per £1 on 7 October 2026. Always confirm current terms before applying. This is general information, not financial advice.

The key differences

The voucher. The Amex 2-4-1 lets a companion fly with you for the same Avios; the Barclaycard voucher upgrades one cabin. The Amex voucher is more valuable in premium cabins; the Barclaycard voucher is simpler to trigger at £10,000.

Foreign spend. The Barclaycard charges no FX fee; the Amex adds 2.99%. On £5,000 of overseas spend that is roughly £150 saved with the Barclaycard.

Acceptance. Mastercard is taken almost everywhere; Amex is occasionally refused. If a merchant will not take Amex, the Barclaycard still earns.

Fee shape. The Barclaycard Plus is a flat £20 a month; the Amex options range from free to the £300 Premium Plus. Match the fee to how much you will actually use the card.

Who should pick which

Choose the BA Amex if…

• You want the 2-4-1 companion voucher
• You fly premium cabins on reward flights
• Most of your spend is where Amex is accepted
• You want a fee-free option (the free BA Amex)

Choose the Barclaycard if…

• You spend a lot in foreign currency
• You need Mastercard acceptance
• A cabin upgrade suits you more than a companion
• You want a no-fee Mastercard backup (free Avios)

Why many collectors hold both

Because they complement each other perfectly. Put your UK, Amex-accepted spend on a BA Amex to chase the companion voucher, and route foreign spend and Amex-refused purchases through the Barclaycard with no FX fee. Both drip Avios into the same British Airways Club account, so you are never earning in the wrong place.

If you only want one card to start, the fee-free British Airways Amex is the lowest-risk pick — no fee, earns Avios directly, and an economy companion voucher within reach.

See the leading cards

Our current picks for earning Avios and the companion voucher.

Our pick for tier points

Amex British Airways Premium Plus

2-4-1 Companion Voucher usable in any cabin — including Club World and First
Voucher valid 24 months after £15,000 annual spend
Unlocks extra Club World reward-seat availability

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Runner-up

Barclaycard Avios Plus

Earn 1.5 Avios per £1 on all spending
Cabin upgrade voucher annually
No foreign transaction fees

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Frequently Asked Questions

The AviosArcana Editorial Team

We decode the British Airways loyalty programme in plain English, cross-checking every figure against published card terms. We are not a lender and this is general information, not financial advice.

Where to go next

Barclaycard Avios Plus ReviewThe no-FX Mastercard in full.Free BA Amex ReviewThe no-fee Amex starter.Carrier Surcharge CalculatorThe real cash cost of a reward flight.Best Avios Credit CardsOur full ranked comparison.

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