American Express Gold Business Card vs Barclays Avios Rewards

Side-by-side comparison for UK businesses

FeatureAmerican Express Gold Business CardBarclays Avios Rewards
Annual fee£195£0
Monthly feeNone£12
Welcome bonus20,000 Membership Rewards points25,000 Avios (account switchers) or 2,500 Avios (existing customers)
Earn rate (default)1x0x
Rewards currencymembership rewardsAvios
Card typebusinesspersonal

Data last verified March 2026. Check issuer websites for the latest terms.

American Express Gold Business Card

The go-to business card for UK companies spending £3k+ per month. Strong earn rate on travel, solid welcome bonus, and genuinely useful travel perks.

business

Annual cost

£195

Earn rate

1x

Welcome bonus

20,000 Membership Rewards points

Best for

TravelAvios

Key benefits

  • Airport lounge access (2 visits per year)
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Expense management tools
View on issuer site

Barclays Avios Rewards

Not a credit card — a banking rewards programme bundled with Barclays Premier. Earns 1,500 Avios monthly for £12/month. Requires £75k income or £100k in savings. Good for passive Avios stacking alongside a spend card.

personal

Annual cost

£144

Earn rate

0x

Welcome bonus

25,000 Avios (account switchers) or 2,500 Avios (existing customers)

Best for

Avios collectingBA loyalty

Key benefits

  • 1,500 Avios per month just for holding the account
  • 7,000 bonus Avios or BA cabin upgrade voucher annually
  • Discounted airport lounge access worldwide
  • Extra Avios for Barclays mortgage, loan, and insurance products
View on issuer site