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Is there a secret 6,000 Avios bonus for upgrading to the BA Premium Plus card?

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UPDATE – JUNE 2025:  This is an old article, and the credit card information given is likely to be out of date.

To learn about current credit card bonuses, benefits, terms and interest rate information, take a look at our directory of the top UK travel credit card offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Credit Cards’ menu above.  Thank you.

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Is Amex running a ‘secret’ upgrade bonus on the British Airways American Express cards? 

Two readers have contacted me in the last three weeks to say that they received 6,000 bonus Avios with their first purchase.  Both had rung Amex to upgrade from the free British Airways Amex to the Premium Plus version.

We know that Amex is running a 15,000 point bonus to upgrade from Gold to Platinum.  There is also a 5,000 point bonus to upgrade from Green to Gold.

BA Premium Plus American Express card BAPP

However, so far, I have not heard of any ‘formal’ upgrade deal on the BA cards.  If you have received an email from American Express offering you an incentive to upgrade, please let me know.

If you want to switch from the free BA Amex to the paid card, one way is to cancel the free card, wait six months and then apply directly for the Premium Plus version.  This allows you to get the usual sign up bonus of 18,000 – 25,000 Avios.

The downside of this, though, is that you need to start again with your qualifying spend towards the 2-4-1 voucher which is issued at £10,000.  If you upgrade directly, your spend to date (and your existing Amex membership year dates) are carried forward.  If you have already spent over £10,000 on the free BA Amex, your 2-4-1 voucher will be issued instantly.

With no formal proof that this offer is running, you should not upgrade purely to get the 6,000 bonus Avios.  Neither HfP reader was told he would receive the bonus – they just turned up!  If you were thinking about it anyway, though, it is something else to weigh up in your mind.

If you want to compare the cards, my review of the free BA Amex credit card is here and my review of the BA Premium Plus Amex is here.

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earns points from credit cards

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – June 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In 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

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

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.

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

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card

30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher 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

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

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

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

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

Capital on Tap Visa

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

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

Category

British Airways American Express

Comments (39)

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

  • Polly says:
    6 Feb6 February 18:57

    Anyone know of a bonus if you downgrade from plat to gold ? Thanks

  • thechiefexecutive says:
    6 Feb6 February 20:32

    My partner was offered 6000 avios to upgrade in December. Decided to think about it, and then when she phoned back amex denied the offer existed. She insisted amex listen to the original call, and they agreed the offer had been made and honoured the 6000 avios. 241 voucher posted immediately as £10,000 spend exceeded. Upgraded because we weren’t going to hit the £20,000 before March.

  • squills says:
    6 Feb6 February 21:39

    OT Shard food & booze: Set to welcome its first guests on May 6, 2014, Shangri-La London…

    …Perhaps of most interest to Londoners, the hotel’s food and beverage options will include Gong, set to be London’s highest bar when it opens on level 52 of the Shard. Its name is derived from dougong, said by the hotel to be “an ancient Chinese structural element of interlocking wooden brackets that will be a component of the bar’s interior”. On level 35, the signature restaurant is Ting – its name is derived from the Chinese word for a living room – while a ground-floor deli called Láng will serve departing or incoming guests and passing commuters.

    As part of the Shangri-La’s staggered opening, Gong will be fully operational from July 1. Its interior has been conceived by Hong Kong interior designer André Fu, who was behind the design of the Berkeley’s recently opened Opus Suite, and will feature “cinnabar red lacquer panels… and a wall of Chinese cabinets made of galvanised steel. And quite a bit of purple.”

    Level 52 will also house the hotel’s 24-hour gym and an infinity pool which, predictably, is also the highest in London. Although renderings and precise details have yet to be released, Fu has said that “at night, the pool will be part of the bar. It’s high-tech, modern and pretty dramatic – which is what you need if it’s going to become a destination experience.”

  • squills says:
    6 Feb6 February 21:49

    You gong tingaling this evening? 😉

  • georgemac says:
    12 Feb12 February 10:18

    I upgraded my BA Amex last month to get the companion voucher. I asked about the 25K introductory offer but was told there was no bonus for upgrading – just for new applications. However this month I got a 6K Avios bonus – points are credited to my BA Avios account.

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

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