Hurray – a decent British Airways American Express sign-up bonus is back

UPDATE – JUNE 2025:  This credit card article is now out of date, but don’t worry.  We produce a monthly directory of the top UK travel credit card offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Credit Cards’ menu above.  Thank you.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th August 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Hilton Honors Plus debit card is TRIPLED to 30,000 Hilton Honors points. You will also receive Gold Elite status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

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Here is some great news for anyone thinking of getting the British Airways American Express cards.  There is a very attractive sign-up offer again.

See here for details of the two promotions.

The free card is now offering a sign-up bonus of 9,000 Avios, up from 1,000 Avios.  Apply here.  The key benefits of this card are:

• 1 Avios per £1 spent
• 2-4-1 voucher for Avios redemptions when you spend £20,000 each card year
• Spend £1,000 in 3 months to trigger the bonus

The annual fee card (£150 fee) is now offering a sign-up bonus of 25,000 Avios, up from 6,000 Avios.   Apply here.  The key benefits of this card are:

• 1.5 Avios per £1 spent
• 2-4-1 voucher for Avios redemptions when you spend £10,000 each card year
• Spend £3,000 in 3 months to trigger the bonus

The 2-4-1 voucher that comes with the BA Amex is the best single deal in the whole UK loyalty card market.  It can save you huge numbers of Avios – use it for two First Class tickets to California, for example, and the saving is 150,000 Avios.  If you are heading to Asia, the saving will be even more.  It is a fantastic deal.  (You still need to pay the taxes on the free ticket.)

If you have any questions about the BA Amex credit cards, please comment below.  I have had one since the day they were launched over 10 years ago, so I should be able to help.  If I can’t, someone else can I’m sure.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (June 2025)

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 Mastercard

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

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 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 Card

30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express Credit Card

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 Credit Card

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

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn points worth 0.8 Avios per £1 on the FREE standard card and 1 Avios per £1 on the Pro card. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 0.8 Avios per £1 Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card

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.

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

The American Express Business Gold Card

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.