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British Airways American Express bonus back to 9,000 and 25,000 Avios – via an exclusive link

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Less than a month after the previous sign-up offer ended, American Express has again increased the sign-up bonuses on the two British Airways American Express credit cards.

This time the offer comes with a catch.  It is ONLY available via a special link, available by clicking here.

You cannot get this deal via the British Airways or American Express websites.  The link was sent to selected British Airways Executive Club members although there are no restrictions on who can use it.

British Airways Premium Plus American Express

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.

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.

The representative APR on the Premium Plus card is 56.4% variable including the fee based on a £1200 credit limit. The representative APR on the free card is 15.9% variable.

My full review of the benefits of the Premium Plus card is here. Amex’s own home page is here although the higher bonus does not show there.

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 but, again, the higher bonus does not show.  My reviews do not reflect the new bonus.

Note that the refer-a-friend deal cannot be combined with this offer.

This offer will be available for two weeks until July 31st. Remember that you MUST use this link to apply.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 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 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

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.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

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

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 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:

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.

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

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

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Category

British Airways American Express

Comments (62)

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

  • boi says:
    16 Jul16 July 11:31

    Got an email yesterday from Amex- spend £35 on amazon and get £10 back (only for BAPP, couldnt work for PRG when I tried). I combined it with the amazon £50 prime offer.

  • RIccati says:
    16 Jul16 July 12:50

    It’s understandable that BA does not want to increase the bonus (cost, trying to keep issued Avios number at bay).

    However, 25K Avios is a number for European travellers — would I go for the effort of applying for a card and spending 3000K to get a return flight to a European destination, which would otherwise cost about £120?

    After the devaluation, long haul travellers especially ones who use Avios to travel on partner airlines (peak pricing)… wouldn’t run to apply for a BA card.

    As Raffles says for other cases, BA card bonus is now only good for a top up.

  • Hamzah says:
    16 Jul16 July 18:11

    Off Topic

    Does anybody know of any cheap redemptions for getting to Doha from Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

    I have quite a few Etihad points, but it’s working out £200 in taxes – not sure if that is cheap?

    I also have quite a few Avios points stashed away.

    • Rob says:
      16 Jul16 July 21:44

      A Qatar Airways redemption using Avios would seem the obvious answer! 4,500 Avios plus a tiny bit of tax. Availability will show on ba.com but you may have to phone to book as ba.com is a bit wobbly with Qatar.

      Or just pay cash. Tickets are very cheap in economy for what is, after all, a very very short flight.

      • Hamzah says:
        16 Jul16 July 21:56

        Thanks Rob.

        I’m on ba.com but the only flight it lists if, Dubai/Abu Dhabi via Heathrow to Doha?

        • Rob says:
          16 Jul16 July 21:58

          For cash it will only show BA flights. For Avios redemptions it will show Qatar. There are 12 flights a day or something so they will definitely be there!

          • Jake says:
            20 Jul20 July 09:58

            Slightly OT, but i could do with some advice on earning points for biz flights to BKK year after next.

            I’ve currently got a paltry 8000 Avios (i’ve been hammering Flying Club!) but want to look at Avios redemption on QR flights ex-EU, is that possible? I’ve tried looking on the Avios website but cant see a calculator to work out how many points i’d need and how hard i’ll have to work to earn them!

            Any help would be appreciated!

          • Rob says:
            20 Jul20 July 10:37

            Link to the Avios spend calculator is in the right hand margin towards the bottom!

            Basically, BA charges by LEG remember. This means you pay XXX-Doha and Doha-YYY separately.

            Much of Europe, including Germany but NOT the UK, is under 3000 miles to Doha. Thie means that redemptions from many countries fall into the cheaper pricing band. Frankfurt to Doha is 75,000 Avios return in Business whilst London to Doha is 120,000 Avios return (reduced to 100,000 if you fly on BA and choose an off-peak travel date).

  • Andy says:
    16 Jul16 July 18:26

    Can anyone tell me if my and wife both get the Barclaycard Hilton card and make separate bookings at same hotel one night after the other with the vouchers can the two nights be merged into 1, so we would stay in same room etc ? Thanks

    • Andy says:
      16 Jul16 July 18:27

      tell me, if me and my wife* cant speak English today.

    • What's the Point says:
      16 Jul16 July 18:44

      Yes, but email the hotel before hand.
      Tip – book the first night with the person having the highest Hilton status level.

      • What's the Point says:
        16 Jul16 July 18:46

        I meant to say, email the hotel after you have made the bookings and tell them they are linked.

  • Iain2015 says:
    16 Jul16 July 21:02

    Raffles correct me if I am wrong but in the past the normal 25k sign up bonus and 9k referral has normally come back a couple weeks after the “special offer” reappears post reverting to 18k

    Food for thought for some no doubt…

    • Rob says:
      16 Jul16 July 21:42

      My gut feeling is that August will be the low bonus (no-one applies in August anyway) and it will go back up in September.

      • Fenny says:
        17 Jul17 July 21:32

        Curses. Having just ordered a new car for 1 Sep pickup, I’m looking for a card with a decent sign up bonus to pay the deposit on.

  • Colin JE says:
    16 Jul16 July 22:14

    Dumb question but presumably if I already have the Premium Plus card already I wouldn’t qualify for the sign up bonus on the basic free card?

    • Rob says:
      16 Jul16 July 22:50

      Correct.

      It is not really a dumb question, though, as MBNA DOES let you have both versions of the Virgin card at the same time and get the bonus on both.

  • Alan Clarke says:
    17 Jul17 July 10:49

    If my girlfriend is currently the account holder and I am the supplementary holder – can we apply for a new card in my name and add her as a supplementary to take advantage of the welcome offer again?

    • Rob says:
      17 Jul17 July 10:56

      Yes, works fine

    • Polly says:
      17 Jul17 July 18:25

      Better to wait for the new offer later and get your full referral bonus as well…

      • Aleks says:
        3 Aug3 August 10:21

        Hi Polly – I was keen to apply for the card but didn’t get around to it. Does Amex tend reopen the offer and if so, do you know roughly when this may occur and what sort of Avios bonus they offer?

        Many thanks

        Aleks

        • Rob says:
          3 Aug3 August 11:21

          It has been at 9k / 25k for about 5 months out of the last 12 months, if you wait until late September I am pretty sure it will be back.

          • Aleks says:
            3 Aug3 August 12:07

            Dear Raffles,

            Thank you very much for your help and quick response!

            Regards,

            Aleks

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