Bits: could YOU stop BA’s next IT meltdown?, 500 bonus Avios from Amex working

News in brief:

How you can stop the next British Airways IT meltdown

After losing an estimated £80m due to the total IT failure a couple of months ago, British Airways has a plan.  Maybe you know someone who can help.

Business Resilience Executive

Are you interested in working on crisis management, emergency response and business continuity across British Airways? If so, the role of Business Resilience Executive could be for you.

This new position offers a fantastic opportunity to join the Business Resilience team in a challenging role that will require you to work with colleagues across the whole of British Airways.

You will be responsible for the administration and development of the team’s resilience plans, processes, learning portfolio, communications, facilities and technology. As such, you will be a core member of the team that helps ensure the airline is in a constant state of readiness to deal with any disruptive event – through both planning ahead and responding appropriately.

This role will allow you to develop a great understanding of the wider airline and partner operation and build personal and organisational resilience in the face of the most challenging situations.

Key skills presumably involve a) stopping weekend contractors pressing the big red ‘off’ button at the data centre and b) making sure Alex Cruz’ hi-viz vest is ready for use at all times.  Apply on ba.com here.  Thanks to Marc.

That odd email from Amex ….

If you have a British Airways American Express card, you probably got an email from Amex yesterday asking you to sign up for a new cashback deal.

All you had to do was spend £20 across WH Smith, Ocado, Shell and the Post Office, in as many transactions as you like, and you received 500 bonus Avios.

There was a button to ‘save to your card’, but it didn’t work.  Amex told one reader yesterday that it hadn’t been added to the system yet.  It told another that all 20,000 registrations had already gone, which I doubt is true as I clicked through within 30 seconds of receiving the email.

It did start working at about 9pm last night and I was able to register myself and my wife successfully.  If you tried and failed during the day yesterday, try again now before the 20,000 registrations cap is reached.

PS.  Talking of Amex IT cock-ups, American Express has just told holders of the British Airways Corporate American Express Card that it has fixed an IT error in setting up new Avios accounts.  This error has been in place since 2015.  Amex has only just got around to dealing with it, even though it impacted everyone who did not have an Avios account in place at the point of their BA Corporate Amex application.

There is also an IT issue regarding the Starwood American Express card which Amex still refuses to admit exists and which cost me 10,000 SPG points.  This has been going on for at least 3 years …..

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 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 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

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 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. 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

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 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:

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

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 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

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