Back in April, to celebrate the new £195 Premium Plus fee, American Express increased the sign-up bonus on the two British Airways American Express cards.
The Premium Plus version, now with a £195 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.
This special offer ends in a week on Wednesday 15th June.
My full review of the benefits of the Premium Plus card is here. Amex’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. Both reviews reflect the higher bonuses.
As usual, I am obliged to remind you that the representative APR on the Premium Plus card is 76.0% variable including the fee based on a £1200 credit limit. The representative APR on the free card is 22.9% variable.
(Want to earn more miles and points from credit cards? Click here to visit our dedicated airline and hotel travel credit cards page or use the ‘Credit Cards Update’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)
Disclaimer: Head for Points is a journalistic website. Nothing here should be construed as financial advice, and it is your own responsibility to ensure that any product is right for your circumstances. Recommendations are based primarily on the ability to earn miles and points and do not consider interest rates, service levels or any impact on your credit history. By recommending credit cards on this site, I am – technically – acting as a credit broker. Robert Burgess, trading as Head for Points, is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a credit broker.
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Does the use of the basic BA AMEX Card, keep your Executive Club account live so that there is no need to pay an annual fee if you don’t fly in the year – as does the Virgin Atlantic Amex scheme?
There’s an annual fee????
There is no fee.
Yes there is an annual fee of £295. PM me for details.
No fee but something about Avios / BAEC needing some transaction every so often (12 months ? 3 years ?) to keep it active, so yes it would / does.
Every 3 years
I think that’s it, ie you need to earn a point in that year to avail yourself of the reduced RFS fee on redemptions – yes the MR points from Amex would count. Otherwise fees & taxes ex-UK are higher than £17.50 EW.
Morning Harry, I’m not sure if you see my comment last night asking you about the 25,500 easy Virgin Miles available ? Is that for the ISA?
Morning – yep 2x
12,000 ISA
500 newsletter
250 miles finder toolbar
Newsletter hasn’t posted yet but the other 2 posted within 48hrs, we still haven’t paid a sausage for the ISA, is that normal for others (nearly 1 month)?
It depends when you set your DD for. Our first payments went out on 1st
They paid my Miles before they took the DD, but all working as expected now…
Once I provided my NIN for the 2nd time.
Thanks Harry.
I cancelled my last BA AMEX Card on 21st December last year – this offer ends at midnight on 15th June. One of the conditions for the bonus is that you havent held an Amex card in the last six months.
If I get my application in on the 15th it normally takes a week for Amex to decide, so do I have a chance to get the increased welcome bonus?
The condition is that you haven’t had a BA Amex – another card is OK.
Up to you whether you are prepared to risk getting nothing instead of 25k, or leaving it a fortnight and getting a guaranteed 18,000 ….
I can apply from the 14th June…
You’re fine then – but you need to assume you are accepted immediately this time.
That’s good to know. Tend to get approved on the day so fingers crossed this time too.
Can you hold an AMEX SPG as well as the BA at same time?
Yes. I believe the general rule is 2 x charge cards and 2 x credit cards at once.
Just in that point – I currently hold a BAPP, Starwood and Gold Credit card at once.
So perhaps they’re now relaxing this rule?
Gold credit or do you mean gold charge?
There’s a gold charge and a gold credit (but need to have the charge then apply for the credit).
Sorry – should have been clear. I have the gold charge and fold credit (so x3 credit in total)
I understood. Perhaps as you have the charge they let you have the credit. Who knows…
Didn’t know that! Thanks
OT – I purchased some BA flights on the standard BA AMEX card, then upgraded to the Premium version of the card and had to make changes to my booking which resulted in a partial refund. The refund came in on the premium card and debited 3 avios per pound whereas the original payment only credited 1 avios per pound. Anyone experienced this before?
About to fire off a mail to AMEX but wanted to check if this is in their T&Cs. Something to be wary of.
It is correct – you can’t expect Amex IT to pick this up. As a goodwill gesture you might get the Avios back though.
Sent a short mail to them and got the Avios back
Natwest have put a £2000 a day limit on payments to amex cards (debit card payments to pay off the balance) . Makes using amex more challenging as I use it for expenses and pay it off in chunks when they are then paid to me.. Been unable to pay my bill tonight- advised to wait up until midnight and pop another £2k through then! Apparently not just amex but other ‘ credit cards as well.
Just pay by sending a payment from your online banking account rather than using a debit card. The faster payment usual credits within a few hours max. Think the limit is 10k per day on my account.
need a card reader which isn’t that practical when travelling – another piece of junk to have to carry around- that is my issue today- away all week.
Sounds like you should look for a new bank?
Does anyone know how long the approval process takes? I applied 1.5 weeks ago, was called last Thursday for an identity check and a check whether I was working where I stated that I was working, but have not heard since. Will they communicate the decision by email or by letter?
They usually respond much sooner than that. By letter. I’d probably chase them to ensure you get the higher sign up bonus.
Annoyingly the first you hear is either the card or a rejection letter hitting the doormat.
Applied for the Gold card via referral 5 days ago, had the card in my hand yesterday.