FINAL WEEK: Get 10,000 or 25,000 Avios sign-up bonus with the British Airways Amex cards

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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 points from credit cards? – February 2021 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit or charge card, here are our February 2021 recommendations based on the current sign-up bonus.

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here.

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and a companion voucher for spending £20,000 Read our full review

BA Premium Plus American Express card BAPP

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 points bonus and the most generous non-Amex for day to day spending 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:

American Express Business Gold

50,000 points sign-up bonus – SPECIAL OFFER TO 9th APRIL – and free for a year Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

100,000 points sign-up bonus – SPECIAL OFFER TO 9th APRIL – and a long list of travel ….. Read our full review

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

Earn both Avios and BA On Business points with your business spending Read our full review

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

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.

Comments (37)

Brian says:

8 Jun8 June 04:44

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?
- Genghis says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 05:51
  
  There’s an annual fee????
  - Raffles says:
    
    8 Jun8 June 08:41
    
    There is no fee.
  - Krankyfly says:
    
    8 Jun8 June 09:00
    
    Yes there is an annual fee of £295. PM me for details.
Talay says:

8 Jun8 June 06:47

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.
- Genghis says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 06:49
  
  Every 3 years
- harry says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 06:51
  
  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.
  - Nick says:
    
    8 Jun8 June 07:00
    
    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?
    - harry says:
      
      8 Jun8 June 07:13
      
      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)?
      - Genghis says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 07:57
        
        It depends when you set your DD for. Our first payments went out on 1st
      - Simmo says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 10:09
        
        They paid my Miles before they took the DD, but all working as expected now…
        Once I provided my NIN for the 2nd time.
      - Nick says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 14:13
        
        Thanks Harry.
Aliks says:

8 Jun8 June 08:58

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?
- Rob says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 09:24
  
  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 ….
Gavin says:

8 Jun8 June 09:28

I can apply from the 14th June…
- Rob says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 10:01
  
  You’re fine then – but you need to assume you are accepted immediately this time.
  - Gavin says:
    
    8 Jun8 June 10:53
    
    That’s good to know. Tend to get approved on the day so fingers crossed this time too.
DaveT says:

8 Jun8 June 10:35

Can you hold an AMEX SPG as well as the BA at same time?
- Genghis says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 12:19
  
  Yes. I believe the general rule is 2 x charge cards and 2 x credit cards at once.
  - Dan says:
    
    8 Jun8 June 19:09
    
    Just in that point – I currently hold a BAPP, Starwood and Gold Credit card at once.
    
    So perhaps they’re now relaxing this rule?
    - Andrew* says:
      
      8 Jun8 June 19:36
      
      Gold credit or do you mean gold charge?
      - Genghis says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 20:09
        
        There’s a gold charge and a gold credit (but need to have the charge then apply for the credit).
      - Dan says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 20:36
        
        Sorry – should have been clear. I have the gold charge and fold credit (so x3 credit in total)
      - Genghis says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 20:39
        
        I understood. Perhaps as you have the charge they let you have the credit. Who knows…
      - Andrew* says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 21:50
        
        Didn’t know that! Thanks
James says:

8 Jun8 June 15:13

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.
- Rob says:
  
  8 Jun8 June 15:48
  
  It is correct – you can’t expect Amex IT to pick this up. As a goodwill gesture you might get the Avios back though.
  - James says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 13:21
    
    Sent a short mail to them and got the Avios back
barnaby100 says:

8 Jun8 June 22:24

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.
- Matthew says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 00:27
  
  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.
  - barnaby100 says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 01:28
    
    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.
    - Genghis says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 13:38
      
      Sounds like you should look for a new bank?
Edward says:

9 Jun9 June 15:24

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?
- Genghis says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 15:47
  
  They usually respond much sooner than that. By letter. I’d probably chase them to ensure you get the higher sign up bonus.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 16:26
  
  Annoyingly the first you hear is either the card or a rejection letter hitting the doormat.
- Simmo says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 16:41
  
  Applied for the Gold card via referral 5 days ago, had the card in my hand yesterday.

FINAL WEEK: Get 10,000 or 25,000 Avios sign-up bonus with the British Airways Amex cards

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – February 2021 update

British Airways American Express

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

The Platinum Card from American Express

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

Earning miles and points from small business cards

American Express Business Gold

American Express Business Platinum

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

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Comments (37)

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