Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Last chance to apply for the British Airways Amex cards before the sign-up bonuses drop

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A quick reminder that the ‘higher than usual’ bonuses on the British Airways and British Airways Premium Plus American Express cards end on July 31st.

The Premium Plus version, with the £150 annual fee, is offering 25,000 Avios instead of 18,000 Avios.

The basic, free, card is offering 9,000 Avios instead of 3,000 Avios.

British Airways Premium Plus American Express

My full review of the benefits of the Premium Plus card 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.

You have until July 31st to take advantage of these offers.


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 (5)

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

  • Me says:

    Thanks for the reminder…currently in the market for my next card and was going to get the Hilton Card but this will do nicely instead, seeing as the deadline for the Hilton Card isn’t until the 9th August..

  • Alan says:

    I currently have the AMEX Gold card and just about to be charged after my first free year has ended.

    Am I able to cancel it and apply for BA Premium Plus card and still get the sign-up bonus?

    • Rob says:

      Yes, no problem. You don’t even need to have cancelled Gold first. The BA Amex bonus is paid unless you have cancelled a BA Amex in the last six months – no other rules.

      Remember that the Gold fee is paid pro-rata, so even if you’ve paid it you can cancel later and get most back.

      If you spent £15,000 this year, you will get your 7,500 MR points bonus shortly after you pay the fee. If you did hit £15,000, wait for the bonus to hit and then cancel!

      • Nick says:

        I’ve got the premium plus and my girlfriend has a supplementary card on my account. She does not have an Amex CC in her own name. Is she considered to hold an Amex card (and so disqualified from the signup bonus) because of her supplementary card?
        Thanks!

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

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