Bits: 60 free Avios via Clubcard, BA increases bag charges, BA launches Valencia

Three BA-related bits of news in brief:

Get 60 free Avios for everyone via Tesco Clubcard

Tesco has launched a new online game in association with Kit-Kat.  You can find it here.

Whilst I wouldn’t normally waste time with such things, you will receive 25 Clubcard points the first time you play it.  This is worth 60 Avios or 62 Virgin Flying Club miles and potentially worth a few seconds of your time.  If you take it seriously there are various techy prize to be won as well.

British Airways increased extra bag charges

With immediate effect, British Airways has announced a substantial increase in baggage fees.

On short-haul and domestic flights from Heathrow or City, any baggage in excess of your allowance will cost you £60 per suitcase when booked in advance.  This is up 50% from the current £40.

On ‘hand baggage only’ fares, your first checked bag will cost from £20-£40 depending on route if paid in advance.  All excess baggage fees paid at the airport on all short-haul routes will be £65 per case.

Prices from Gatwick have not changed and are substantially lower than the Heathrow or City costs listed above.

On long-haul, the cost of a second case in World Traveller will rise £5, from £55 to £60, when booked in advance.  3+ cases will cost £120 each.  If paid at the airport, the cost is a stunning £65 /  £140 respectively.

These charges are one-way so you need to double them for a return journey.

If you live outside the UK, other excess baggage fares have also been increased when priced in € or $ to take account of recent currency fluctuations.

Full details of BA’s new excess baggage pricing can be found here.

New British Airways route to Valencia

Finally, British Airways announced a new route to Valencia from London Gatwick on Tuesday.

This will be a year-round service, starting at four flights per week from November 6th and increasing to six flights per week from next Summer.   If you’ve exhausted ‘the usual suspects’ of Spanish weekend break destinations then Valencia is well worth a look.

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 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

Get 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

30,000 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 80,000 Avios! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large 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 9th December 2024, there are EXCLUSIVE sign-up offers for our readers on the two Capital on Tap small business Visa cards. You can earn 20,000 points on the Business Rewards card and 30,000 points on the new Pro card. Click here to apply.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

20,000 points (ONLY TO 9TH DECEMBER) Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

30,000 points (TO 9TH DECEMBER) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

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

50,000 points when you sign-up 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.