Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

New – higher – British Airways American Express bonuses now available

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

My top article today outlines the special 20,000 Starwood points sign-up bonus that is now available again on the SPG Amex card.

At the same time, Amex will also today temporarily increase the sign-up bonus on the two British Airways cards:

The Premium Plus version, with the £150 annual fee, now offers 25,000 Avios instead of 18,000 Avios.  You must spend £3,000 within three months to receive the bonus.

British Airways Premium Plus American Express

The basic, free, card now offers 9,000 Avios instead of 3,000 Avios.  You must spend £1,000 within three months to receive the bonus.

Note that, if you are reading this first thing on Thursday morning, the higher rates may not yet be showing.  Give it a little time.

My full review of the benefits of the Premium Plus card is hereAmex’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.


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 (60)

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

  • Corrine says:

    Anyone know roughly how long these sign up bonuses last for? I am just finishing my amex gold min spend ! I would like to take 2 x spg cards (one for me one for hubby) pref with a month interval 🙂 but I don’t want to miss out on the sign up bonus ! thanks

    • John says:

      Wanted to ask the same thing, as my wife has only had the gold card for 5 months – when would it be safe for her to apply? She does not have much credit history

      • Corrine says:

        We have only had our Gold Cards since September, I think you’re allowed 2 amex cards each ??

        • Simon says:

          I’ve had the free BA card for a few years but I managed to get the Nectar card in Nov 2012, Gold card in Jan 2013 & SPG card in May 2013. I’m not a big spender so was surprised AMEX gave me 3 new cards in the space of 7 months.

      • Rob says:

        Nothing to lose, although also nothing to lose by waiting another month before doing it as the promo should run until January based on last year

    • Ian says:

      I have the Amex Gold card since September and my wife is a suplementary card holder…. Will it be okay for her to apply for the new British Airway Amex in her own name ?… My wife doesn’t have much credit history at the moment and we want to improve it –

      • Rob says:

        Worth a try, being a supplementary holder doesn’t stop her getting a bonus on her own card

  • thesaver79 says:

    The T&C for the SPG card don’t seem to mention any restrictions about having held the same card in the previous 6 months.

    • Rob says:

      Agreed, its gone. Mistake or on purpose? You never know with Amex.

    • Amy says:

      When you click on apply for the SPG it says:
      You will not be eligible for any Welcome Bonus award if you currently hold or have held any Starpoints enrolled American Express Card in the past six mont

  • Bsuije says:

    Am I just making this up or did the income threshold on the free BA Amex used to be £20k??

    • Rob says:

      Yes, I think it was at one point. For a free card, £30k is a little high, albeit it is household income.

  • Gary says:

    Corrine, Amex will let you have 2 x credit cards and 2 x charge cards – the Gold cards are charge cards. Back in the summer I had SPG, Gold and Amex. Got rid of SPG in September and for some reason got the full £75 fee back!

  • What's the Point says:

    Glad to see this promo back, as its the next credit card on my list.
    Unfortunately I only cancelled my standard BA Amex card 4 months ago. Has anyone applied for a card within the 6 month time frame and still got the bonus points?

  • GlennM says:

    This is great timing for me – Thanks Raffles for the early warning too – I was about to push on the 18,000.

    Does anyone have any views on the six month time-frame for reapplying? I’m into the seventh month, but keen to no if any issues arise. Also, what if someone had an Amex Free and then applied for the Amex Plus, and vice versa.

  • Jude says:

    Hi sorry if I am being a bit blonde but how do you get 45,000 avios ? I work out 25,000 bonus plus the £3000 spend at a rate of 1.5 = 29,500 Avios. I am more than happy to be proved wrong though 🙂

  • mrtibbs1999 says:

    Raffles, is the fee refunded pro rata?

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

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.