Best UK Credit Card Comparison

Credit Categories

Card Providers

Credit Q&A

What’s the advantage of rewards credit cards?

Reward credit cards usually reward cardholders with incentives, rebates and even cash back for purchases made with their cards. Users can get additional airline miles, cash-back rewards or discounts on merchandise for each pound spent. Rewards cards usually require a better-than-average credit rating. These cards are similar to cash-back cards in that users can accumulate [...]

What are credit card cheques?

Credit card cheques are similar to cheques issued on current accounts. These slips of paper allow you to make additional purchases on credit. They are a means of paying for something when you don’t have cash and you can’t use your card, and can be made out to shops, tradesmen and anyone else you might pay [...]

How do student prepaid credit cards work?

A student prepaid credit card works in much the same way as pay as you go mobile phones – you have to top them up with credit before you can use them. This is useful if your child is not particularly good at managing your money, as you can only spend as much as you [...]

What’s the advantage of rewards credit cards?

Posted on July 15th, 2011

Reward credit cards usually reward cardholders with incentives, rebates and even cash back for purchases made with their cards. Users can get additional airline miles, cash-back rewards or discounts on merchandise for each pound spent. Rewards cards usually require a better-than-average credit rating.

These cards are similar to cash-back cards in that users can accumulate points toward rewards, based on how much the card is used. Reward programmes vary and offers often change, so look over the terms thoroughly before applying.

As with cash-back cards, reward programmes for reward cards are costly to credit card companies. Therefore, annual fees are charges by many reward credit cards. This type of card is particularly good for people who always pay off their balances monthly. People that do this are able to realise more benefits by minimising their charges.

Typical rewards may include:

Petrol rebates
Entertainment rewards
Shop discounts for store cards
Airline miles or travel rewards

A very popular type of reward credit card is one that gives cardholders airline miles and other travel incentives. Airline mile or frequent-flyer cards rewards users with airline (or frequent flyer) miles credits whenever the card is used. Once enough points are accumulated, they may be redeemed for airline travel. These cards are great for people who travel frequently or for people who want to use their cards to plan vacations. However, airline rewards cards may also require annual fees.

All travel programmes are different so be sure to read any card’s terms and conditions to find out how many miles you gain for where you spend and what you spend on. Additionally, a key consideration is how many miles are needed for a free plane ticket. You should also find out how soon the miles expire and about any blackout dates (certain times when you cannot use rewards points).

Share this page:

Card	Description	Interest Rate (p.a)	Balance Transfer (p.a)	Annual Fee	Interest Free Days (up to)	Info
	Capital One Classic	34.9%	n/a	n/a	up to 56 days	More Info
Representative Example: 34.9% APR on representative variable; 34.94% p.a. variable on all purchases; assumed credit limit £1,200
	Rise Visa	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	More Info
Representative Example:If you spent £300 on a purchase transaction at the start of your agreement, incurred monthly charges over 12 months of £330 and made repayments by 12 equal instalments, your APR would be 303% representative (variable).
	American Express Platinum Card	n/a	n/a	£300	n/a	More Info
no APR representative variable or p.a. variable on all purchases, pay your balance in full every month
	Vanquis Visa Cherry Card	39.9%	n/a	n/a	0% for 56 days	More Info
Representative Example: Purchase annual interest rate 39.94% (variable), Amount of credit £1000; Representative 39.9% APR (variable)
	Express Rewards Credit Card	17.9%	n/a	n/a	0%p.a. for 6 months	More Info
Representative Example: 17.9% APR
	Virgin Money	16.8%	0% for 20 months	n/a	0% for 3 months	More Info
Representative example: 16.8% APR on representative variable; 16.8% p.a. variable on all purchases; assumed credit limit £1,200
	Aqua	35.9%	n/a	n/a	n/a	More Info
Representative example: Your interest rate for purchases is 35.95% p.a with a representative 35.9% APR if you borrowed £1,200 and repaid it over 12 months.
	Capital One World MasterCard	19.9%	n/a	n/a	Maximum of 45 days for purchases where the balance is paid in full every month	More Info
19.9% APR on representative variable; 19.94% p.a. variable on all purchases; assumed credit limit £1,200
	Bank of Scotland Advantage Card	17.9% APR	0% for the first 13 months on balance transfers - 3% fee	n/a	0% for the first 13 months on purchases	More Info
Purchase Rate: 17.95% p.a.(variable); Representative APR: 17.9% APR(variable); Based on borrowing: £1,200 repaid over 12 months
	British Airways American Express	19.9%	n/a	n/a	n/a	More Info
Representative Example: 19.9% APR representative variable; 19.9% p.a. variable on all purchases; minimum limit £700, maximum limit subject to status
	American Express Platinum Cash Back Credit Card	18.5%	n/a	£25	0%p.a. for 6 months	More Info
Representative example: Representative 18.5% APR. Based on £25 annual fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200, rate of interest 14.0% per annum (variable).
	Bank of Scotland All in One	17.9%	0% for 12 months - 3% fee	n/a	0% for 12 months	More Info
Representative 17.9% APR (variable) Purchase rate 17.95% pa (variable) With an example credit limit of £1,200
	Vanquis Visa Lime Card	39.9%	n/a	n/a	0% for 56 days	More Info
Representative Example: Purchase annual interest rate 39.94% (variable), Amount of credit £1000; Representative 39.9% APR (variable)