Frequent Flyer Airline Credit Cards - UK Budget Airlines
| A couple of budget airlines in the UK have affiliated credit cards which can offer some added benefits if you fly often. Cards from Ryanair and Flybe are briefly reviewed below... |
Ryanair Credit Card (Mastercard)
GE Capital Bank have linked up with low-cost airline Ryanair to offer this card. There is no annual fee. Forex fees for non UK sterling transactions amount to 2.75%. Note, Ryanair does not have a frequent flyer program so there are no "mileage" benefits on this card.
If you spend £100 on the card within the first 90 days you get a "free" return flight with Ryanair. If you spend £1,500 or £3,000 in a designated 6 month period you get 1 or 2 "free" return flights respectively on Ryanair's network.
You receive a voucher for these free flights but you will have to pay the full "taxes and charges" when booking. Consider that some of Ryanair's special flight offers have low base fares and lower taxes than normal. Ryanair has limited availability for flight redemptions and any booking made cannot be changed or refunded.
Flybe Mastercard
This is issued by Sygma Bank UK. No annual fee on the card. Forex fee of 2.99%.
Free Euro flight is offered on first spend - although you must pay taxes and charges.
Flybe has its own frequent flyer program known as Rewards4all and points can be accumulated. A £250 spend on the card corresponds to 1 point.
These can be redeemed as follows:
16
points = 1 UK return Economy flight
22 points = 1 UK return Economy Plus flight
24 points = 1 European return flight
30 points = 1 Euro return Economy
Plus flight in
35 points = 1 year lounge access
50 points = 1 year lounge
access with guest
Note, UK budget airlines Easyjet and bmibaby no longer offer an affiliated credit card.
Always read and understand the various terms and conditions before applying for any frequent flyer miles credit card. Pay your balance in full every month. Seek advice from a qualified financial advisor.
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