Earning Avios with Bupa – is it a good deal?
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I have looked at various avios.com partners recently, to see if you are genuinely getting a good deal when you use their services and earn Avios on the side. Click to read earlier posts on mytrainticket.com, Avios Cash Passport, Shell and Avios Recycling.
Bupa has partnered with Avios to offer bonus Avios points to anyone signing up for health insurance or a health assessment. The headline numbers of Avios earned do look attractive.
The ‘Bupa by You’ opens earn up to 9,000 Avios in year 1 with a further 4,500 Avios in year 2. Cheaper plans earn less.
Health assessments offer up to 5,000 Avios with the ‘Advanced Health’ package – plus a 10% discount – down to 1,000 Avios for a ‘Fitness Assessment’.
It is difficult to make a judgement on the ‘health assessment’ options, except to say that it is not worth having one just for the Avios.
The ‘Advanced Health’ assessment – which I have actually had in the past via an employer, and it is a thorough check – has a list price of £752 for 2013, so 5,000 Avios is a drop in the ocean. A quick internet search also pulled up a few other special offers, although to be fair I couldn’t find one open to the general public that was better than the 10% discount plus Avios offered here.
Similarly, there is clearly no reason to sign up for the health insurance just for the deal. If you are a member of a professional body or group, you may find a better deal available through them.
(Ironically, I found that Bupa offers doctors a 20% discount on Bupa By You packages for their personal use, should they have no faith in the NHS.).
Experienced Avios collectors will already have thought: “Can I cancel after 1 month and still receive the Avios?“. The answer is no, as they are paid to you in monthly installments.
In conclusion …. if you are thinking of private health cover, you might as well include Bupa in your price comparisons. Given the high cost of cover and the number of Avios involved, though, it is unlikely to be a big factor in your decision.
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 Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
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.
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.
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.
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