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British Airways to offer app-based BAEC cards, scraps plastic cards for Blue

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According to Business Traveller, British Airways is about to roll out digital membership cards for the British Airways Executive Club.

It will appear in the next update to the existing British Airways iOS and Android apps, and will presumably (on iOS) integrate into ‘Passbook’.  The screenshot provided by BA look pretty smart:

BAEC-app-smartphone-account-screen

…. with most of the membership information currently found at ba.com copied over.

The introduction of the app-based card will coincide with the removal of plastic cards for Blue members.  You will now have to achieve Bronze status or higher in order to receive a piece of plastic through your letterbox.


How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous 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

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

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

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

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

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

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

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

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

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Comments (20)

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

  • Nick says:

    Good idea. I’ve never had a card and it’s never been an issue – sounds like a sensible way to reduce waste.

  • Lady London says:

    You never know when a lounge somewhere is going to insist on seeing your actual card. Even when your membership number’s on the ticket. I’ve noticed it’s often when you get the perception that the operator might feel their lounges are getting crowded that there is a stubborn insistence on the actual card being produced as well as the ticket. I think one of the last ones was a CX lounge. Star Alliances can also ambush the same way.

    • pazza2000 says:

      The actual card was required in the ‘Taste of London’ days when BA were sponsors. I’ve never been asked for it at any OW longe / check in personally.

  • Kinkell says:

    My much coveted and had earned Silver card is tucked into the pocket of my carry on bag. I’ll flash it about a bit more when I revert back to bronze in the hope it might do the trick. But hey! I’m just a simple holiday maker who likes the plastic status symbol!

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

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