Best cards at British Airways

Good to know at British Airways

Our data shows no network restrictions at British Airways, so the question is purely which card in your wallet earns the most. The surprising part of this ranking is that the airline's own co-brand, the British Airways Visa Signature Card, sits seventh at 3x with a $95 annual fee, out-earned by five general cards led by The Platinum Card from American Express at 5x, and edged by the Aeroplan Card's 3x, which we value higher.

The fine print sits at the top. The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5x on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 a year before dropping to 1x, and carries an $895 annual fee. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 4x on travel with no annual fee, and Chase Sapphire Reserve's 4x on flights booked directly with the airline has no cap in our data, though it runs $795 a year. Discover it Cash Back's 5% on flights ran July–September 2026; its categories this quarter (Oct–Dec 2026) don't include flights.

If you'd rather skip an annual fee, the no-fee floor at British Airways is solid. Beyond the Altitude Connect's 4x, the AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Card pays 3% on travel, Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x with no annual fee, and both Costco Anywhere Visa cards from Citi pay 3% with a paid Costco membership. For an occasional flight, a no-fee 4x or 3x card often makes more sense than paying a large fee to chase the 5x at the top.

The math

Spend $250 a month at British Airways and The Platinum Card from American Express returns about $150 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $60.