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New higher British Airways American Express bonuses now confirmed

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I reported a couple of days ago that the American Express mobile site was showing a higher sign-up bonus for the British Airways credit cards.

The Premium Plus version, with the £150 annual fee, was showing as 25,000 Avios instead of 18,000 Avios.

The basic, free, card was showing as 9,000 Avios instead of 3,000 Avios.

BA Premium Plus American Express card BAPP

Amex has now emailed me to confirm that these bonuses are ‘official’ and are now showing across all sales channels.  This means that you can apply directly from the main Amex website.

My full review of the benefits of the Premium Plus card is here.  Amex’s own home page is here.

My full review of the free card is here.  This is actually the most improved deal jumping from 3,000 to 9,000 Avios.  Amex’s own home page is here.

Both of these bonuses will run until 31st July.

However ….

Before jumping in, don’t forget that the Starwood Preferred Guest Amex also offers 20,000 SPG points at the moment.  These can be converted into 25,000 Avios points.  The card also has a lower fee than the BA Premium Plus Amex and also gives you the flexibility to convert to 29 other airline programmes as well, or of course redeem for free Starwood hotel nights.

It doesn’t, of course, offer you the 2-4-1 voucher for spending £10,000.  However, if you do not think you can achieve this then the SPG card may be the better option.

My full review of the Starwood Amex is here, and my story about the 20,000 point bonus is here. 

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Category

British Airways American Express, Marriott Bonvoy American Express

Comments (17)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Stephen says:
    7 Jun7 June 09:01

    Hi Raffles, Thanks for posting the improved bonus rates. If I refer someone for the BA free card can they also get the bonus for the BAPP card at a later date?

    Im part way through the £10k for the 241 so want to refer them for BAPP when I am about to downgrade my own.

    Thanks

    • Rob says:
      7 Jun7 June 09:18

      No, you don’t get a bonus if you upgrade. They would need to cancel the free card, wait 6 months, then reapply for the paid card.

  • Jason says:
    7 Jun7 June 11:09

    I applied for this card on May 21st, when the bonus was still 18,000 miles. Even though I was approved once the deal had changed to 25,000, they are still only giving me the old bonus. I feel cheated!

    • Rob says:
      7 Jun7 June 11:21

      I wouldn’t. Because one day you will apply for an offer on the last day, not get approved for another few days by which point the deal is worse, and you will still get the higher bonus …

      • AM says:
        7 Jun7 June 18:36

        you can send them an enquiry and complain! they’re usually quite good and they might give you the 25K bonus instead of the 18K! or just credit you the difference!

  • Sqills says:
    7 Jun7 June 17:07

    That’s where the 3Vs come in handy 😉

  • What's the Point says:
    7 Jun7 June 19:42

    Hi Raffles
    Have you done a story on the BA 2-4-1 companion ticket, i.e how easy it was to use etc. I am thinking about applying for the BA Premium Plus card, and going for broke to get the 2-4-1 ticket.
    Although without the 3V cards, its not going to be as easy!
    Just to make sure I understand it, I could book a return LHR to Shanghai in First Class for 180,000 Avios + £578 in taxes and fees. And by using the companion fee my wife travels for 0 (Zero) Avios but pays £578 in taxes and fees?
    This would seem a very “economical” way for two people to travel in First Class?

  • Rob says:
    7 Jun7 June 21:32

    They paid my SPG 18 months ago even though I had cancelled.

    If you are worried, take a referral instead and get the extra 1,000 points.

  • James67 says:
    9 Jun9 June 06:32

    Is there a closing date fot the spg 20k offer? Thx.

  • Polly says:
    12 Jun12 June 09:49

    Seems like both BAPP and spg end their promos July 31st, but as OH is trying for both cards, and trying to space out the application, I can’t actually see the spg end date anywhere on its site! Am I missing it somewhere, know you have said its July 31st …just checking if spg offer has a later expiry date really? Tnx

    • Rob says:
      12 Jun12 June 10:09

      It is 29th July for SPG, it shows on the ad on the spg.com home page.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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