Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Hello and welcome to Smart With Points, the podcast that helps you travel smarter using miles and points. I'm your host Jack, and today I'm diving into a card that I'll admit caught me completely off guard - the Capital on Tap Pro business credit card. When I first applied for this card last year, I thought I was just getting another way to earn Avios where my Amex wasn't accepted. What I didn't expect was to discover one of the most underrated travel cards in the UK market. So let's talk about why this card has become a permanent fixture in my wallet, and why the two hundred and ninety-nine pound annual fee actually feels like a bargain when you break down the maths.

First, let's establish what we're talking about. The Capital on Tap Pro card is a premium business credit card designed specifically for UK limited companies and LLPs. If you're a sole trader, I'm afraid this one isn't for you - Capital on Tap requires your business to have at least twenty-four thousand pounds in annual turnover and be structured as a limited company or LLP. It's essentially Capital on Tap's answer to premium cards like the Amex Business Platinum, but with one crucial advantage: it's a Visa, which means you can use it practically anywhere in the UK and abroad.

Let's start with the earning structure, which is refreshingly simple but surprisingly effective. The Pro card earns one Capital on Tap point per pound spent on everything. These points convert at a one-to-one ratio to Avios or can be redeemed as one pence cashback per point. But here's where it gets interesting: if you preload your account with your own funds before spending, you earn one point two five points per pound instead. This is a genuinely unique feature in the UK market.

To put this in perspective: if you spend fifty thousand pounds on the card throughout the year, you'd earn fifty thousand Avios at the base rate, or sixty-two thousand five hundred Avios if you preload. That's enough for a return business class flight to New York using British Airways Avios.

Now, here's where the Capital on Tap Pro card genuinely surprised me - and this is the feature that really caught my attention. The card includes unlimited Priority Pass access to over one thousand six hundred airport lounges worldwide. But here's the crucial difference that sets it apart: the Capital on Tap Priority Pass includes eighteen pound credits for airport restaurants. American Express Priority Pass memberships don't include restaurant credits, only lounge access.

I discovered this quite by accident at Heathrow Terminal Five when the British Airways lounge was absolutely rammed. Instead of queuing, I used my Priority Pass at Côte Brasserie and got eighteen pounds off my bill. It was one of those pleasant surprises that made me realise this card offers more value than I initially thought.

The second major benefit is complimentary Radisson Rewards VIP status - that's the highest publicly available tier in the Radisson programme. This gets you free breakfast for two at all Radisson properties worldwide, upgrades to the best available room category at check-in, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, and accelerated points earning on hotel stays. The breakfast benefit alone can be worth twenty to forty pounds per night depending on the property.

There are several other notable benefits worth mentioning. You get complimentary digital access to The Times and Sunday Times for one year, which is worth three hundred and twelve pounds on its own. There are accounting software integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and FreeAgent. You'll pay no foreign exchange fees on international transactions, no UK ATM withdrawal fees, and you can get unlimited free employee cards for your team. Credit limits can go up to two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and Avios transfers are typically instant or within twenty-four hours.

Now, let's talk about whether that two hundred and ninety-nine pound annual fee is worth it. Let me break down the value for you. The Priority Pass with restaurant credits alone is worth three hundred and sixty-nine pounds. The Radisson VIP status is conservatively worth three hundred pounds or more in value. The Times and Sunday Times digital subscription is worth three hundred and twelve pounds. And if you're a frequent traveller, the no foreign exchange fees benefit could save you fifty to one hundred pounds or more annually. That's a total potential value of over one thousand pounds annually, against a two hundred and ninety-nine pound annual fee that's tax-deductible as a business expense.

In my business spending, I have a clear hierarchy that works really well. I use my Amex Platinum Business first for the premium travel perks and Membership Rewards points. Then I turn to the Capital on Tap Pro for everywhere Amex isn't accepted. And for large planned expenses where I want that enhanced earning rate, I use the Capital on Tap Pro with preloading to get the one point two five times earn rate.

Now, let's be honest about the downsides. The limited company or LLP requirement is non-negotiable - sole traders need not apply. You need at least twenty-four thousand pounds in annual business turnover to qualify. And unlike the Amex Business Platinum, this card doesn't include comprehensive travel insurance as standard.

Here's my final take on the Capital on Tap Pro card. It has genuinely earned its place in my wallet. At two hundred and ninety-nine pounds per year, it's not cheap, but when you consider the Priority Pass membership with restaurant credits worth three hundred and sixty-nine pounds, Radisson VIP status easily worth three hundred pounds or more, and the ability to earn Avios on every business expense, the card more than pays for itself.

What I particularly appreciate is how it complements my Amex Platinum Business rather than competing with it. Between the two, I'm now earning Avios or Membership Rewards points on virtually every pound my business spends. If you run a UK limited company, travel semi-regularly, and want to maximise Avios earnings on business spend, I'd strongly recommend giving this card serious consideration. You can get the Capital on Tap Pro card by clicking the link in our show notes.

That's all for today's episode of Smart With Points. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe on our website at smartwithpoints dot co dot uk. Until next time, keep flying smart.

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