Best cards at British Airways
Discover it Cash Back earns the most at British Airways right now at 5%.
Rankings use issuer rates verified as of August 16, 2026.
#15%5%Discover it Cash Back
Discover · Discover · No annual fee · up to $1,500/qtr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#25x5xThe Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · $895/yr · up to $500,000/yr · Lower rate after the cap
#34x4xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · No annual fee
#44x4xU.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · Business · $95/yr · up to $150,000/yr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#54x4xWells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card
Wells Fargo · Visa · $95/yr
#64x4xChase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · Visa · $795/yr
#73x3xBritish Airways Visa Signature Card
Chase · Visa · $95/yr
#83%3%AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Card
Bread Financial · Visa · No annual fee
#93%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · No annual fee
#103%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · Business · No annual fee
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 fourth at 3x with a $95 annual fee, out-earned by three general cards led by The Platinum Card from American Express at 5x.
Both cards at the top come with strings attached. The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5x only up to a spending cap, with a lower rate after it, and carries an $895 annual fee. Discover it Cash Back matches 5% with no annual fee, but you must activate the category each quarter and the cap is combined. Chase Sapphire Reserve's 4x shows no caveats in our data, though it runs $795 a year.
If none of those are in your wallet, the no-fee floor at British Airways is solid. Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x with no annual fee, and both Costco Anywhere Visa cards from Citi pay 3%. For an occasional flight, that back half of the table often makes more sense than paying a large fee to chase the capped 5x at the top.
The math
Spend $250 a month at British Airways and Discover it Cash Back returns about $150 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $60.
Common questions
- What is the best credit card at British Airways?
- Discover it Cash Back earns the most at British Airways right now at 5%.
- How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at British Airways?
- We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply British Airways's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
- Is the British Airways Visa Signature Card worth it for booking British Airways flights?
- Not on earning rate alone. It earns 3x here, which our valuation puts at roughly 3.6 percent back, yet it still ranks fourth behind three general cards. If you already carry The Platinum Card from American Express, Discover it Cash Back, or Chase Sapphire Reserve, pay with that card and weigh whether the $95 annual fee is doing anything for you.
- Do the 5x and 5% rates at British Airways come with spending caps?
- Yes, both. The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5x up to a spending cap with a lower rate after that, and the 5% on Discover it Cash Back requires quarterly activation and shares a combined cap. If you buy enough airfare to hit those limits, Chase Sapphire Reserve's 4x shows no caveats in our data.
Rates reflect each card's best case at this merchant and can change; check the issuer's terms before applying.