Credit Cards and Miles - The view from the UK

Whilst there are bountiful offers in the USA for Credit Cards and Current Accounts that give you 25,000 miles on signup, the picture is a little different over here, as in most current accounts tend to be service driven, with the user paying for extra services to be bundled into the account.

However, there is a veritable feast of miles for grabs out there in case you're on the hunt to top off your account

Miles bearing accounts:

Card Name	Sponsoring Programme	Issuer	Type	Fee	APR	Signup bonus	Earn Methods
BMI Amex	BMI Diamond Club	MBNA	American Express	Nil	15.9%	20,000	3 miles/pound on BMI Spend, 1.5 miles/pound on all other spend
BMI Plus Amex	BMI Diamond Club	MBNA	American Express	£60	17% (27.1)	24,000 + BMI Blue+ or 3000 Status Miles	4 miles/pound on BMI Spend, 2 miles/pound on all other spend
BA Amex	British Airways Executive Club	American Express	American Express	Nil	19.9%	1000	1 mile / Pound with Companion voucher over £20k spend
BA Amex +	British Airways Executive Club	American Express	American Express	£150	20.1% (46.1%)	6,000	1.5miles/Pound with Companion voucher over £10k spend
Miles and More	Lufthansa Miles and More	MBNA	American Express	Nil	15.9	6,000 (M&M miles now no longer expire)	3 miles/Pound first 6 months 2 miles/Pound thereafter.
Virgin Atlantic White	Virgin Atlantic Flyign Club	MBNA	American Express	Nil	17.9	3,000	2 miles/ Pound on VS, Virgin Holidays 1 mile / Pound on other spend
Virgin Atlantic Black	Virgin Atlantic Flyign Club	MBNA	American Express	£115	18.9 (37.1)	6,000	4 miles/ Pound on VS, Virgin Holidays 2 miles/Pound on other spend
United	United Mileage Plus	MBNA	American Express	Nil	15.9	None	1 mile/Pound

Ok, Lets do some weeding. The Virgin cards whilst attractive are very poor value for money unless you're after a specific award. In addition the £115 fee for a card does take the biscuit. The United card is also really isn't worth a lot in terms of gifts.

For Lufthansa/Austrian/Swiss/LOT fliers then the Miles and More Card will be very attractive - least for its signup bonus (which isn't too shabby) but for the non-expiry of miles which towards an end of year - could be very important.

Now the BA Credit Cards with the 20k/10k "241" vouchers. Depending how you use this, could be good value. The core thing to remember that booking these into World Traveller/World Traveller is a waste of cash, and should be used for longhaul Club World and First tickets to achieve maximum value.

And Finally - the BMI/BMI Plus Credit cards. As can visibly seen, the highest miles giveaway (20k on the basic card), and if you go with the Plus version - elevation of status or 3000 status miles). You can waste these on a shorthaul return, or if you're creative, how does Russia in business class sound with Cash and Miles? Another 17500 miles, and its a cash+miles return to the USA...

If you've noted above, MBNA are the major issuers of credit cards for travelling with, so if you have an MBNA card - be prepared for a low limit or refuseal.

It REALLY helps to understand the program you're signed up to - or considering signing up to to see if you can exploit

Next time: LCC Credit cards - use them and cancel them or keep?