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The British Airways repainted BOAC Boeing 747 aircraft takes off

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BA’s repainted BOAC Boeing 747 has taken off.

British Airways 747 in BOAC livery

British Airways launched its first repainted aircraft yesterday, one of a handful of classic liveries that will be applied to selected planes this year as part of BA’s 100th birthday celebrations.

British Airways 747 in BOAC livery

It uses the livery of the British Overseas Airways Corporation.  This is one of two airlines that merged in 1974 to create the current British Airways.  This livery was used between 1964 and 1974.

British Airways 747 in BOAC livery

I have slotted photos from the launch yesterday throughout this article.  The plane will retain the paintwork until it is retired in 2023.  Its first flight will be BA117 to New York today.

British Airways 747 in BOAC livery

And, it has to be said, it looks good.  Given the improvements in painting technology in the last 50 years, I am sure that the livery never looked as impressive when it was originally used.  Click on any image to enlarge.

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 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 card

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Barclaycard Avios card

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There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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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.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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The Platinum Card from American Express

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You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

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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.

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American Express Business Gold

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Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (161)

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

  • SG says:
    19 Feb19 February 15:43

    Great, but I ended up being scammed because of the secondary BA data breach last year. Perhaps BA could plough some of this “gorgeous new livery “ money into improving data security. Sorry, not impressed but that’s par for the BA course. I tried BA 241, now have three and have abandoned the card in favour of Amex Gold as you recommended for a wider choice. You live and learn.

  • Benylin says:
    19 Feb19 February 15:47

    OT: Had the Gold charge card, upgraded about 10 months ago via the link to Platinum. 1Y coming up so will cancel. I’ve ended up putting quite a lot of spend through the card, anyway to downgrade to Gold Charge / Credit and take benefit of the spend 15k to trigger end of year bonus of 10k MR? Any experience in this?

    • Shoestring says:
      19 Feb19 February 15:50

      1. I presume you can’t downgrade to Gold credit card (same as you can’t upgrade from Gold Credit to Plat).

      2. Are they allowing ‘new’ Gold charge cards? – that is the question. (I think not.)

    • Mark2 says:
      19 Feb19 February 16:10

      I am in same position having upgraded Gold > Plat and done five referrals in 2018 for 90,000 MR without ever paying £450.
      I assume that you mean cancel Platinum and apply for Gold. You will not get the new card bonus if you apply within six months of cancelling Plat (same MR currency).
      As my fifth referral in 2019 before cancelling Plat (I shall probably pay a month) I shall refer my wife for Plat giving me 18,000 and her 35,000 + 5,000 for my supplementary.
      If this is not possible refer yourself for another Amex card.

    • Alan says:
      19 Feb19 February 16:35

      Not possible

    • bazza says:
      19 Feb19 February 16:49

      I have just upgraded, now I already had a supp on the Gold card – so they added to the plat, do I miss out on the 5000 bonus for adding a supp or would adding another do it?

  • SteveD says:
    19 Feb19 February 16:15

    O/T – Marriott / SPG

    Can I just check my understanding on various points drawn from different articles or comments to make sure it fits with my strategy (as a relative newbie)?

    I can self-refer from Amex Gold to SPG?
    The points will post as soon as I reach the target spend (not at end of promo period)?
    I can book Marriott reward nights even if I don’t have enough points, without status?

    On this final question – is the reward night guaranteed at time of booking provided I eventually reach the points target? I don’t want to find that reward availability has disappeared in the meantime and the booking is no longer available for points.
    According to the Marriott description of the process, the status of the booking seems a bit ambiguous until the points are deducted.

    Thanks all.

    • Optimus Prime says:
      19 Feb19 February 16:28

      Yes, you can self refer from Gold to SPG.

      Points will post to your Marriott account a few days before statement date (at least this was my case).

      Reward booking is guaranteed.

    • Rob says:
      19 Feb19 February 19:08

      Booking is confirmed, no risk.

    • Grant says:
      19 Feb19 February 21:01

      On a related SPG point – am I ok to close card in month 2 after I’ve hit £1,000 spend and bonus and spend points have transferred out to Marriott account?

      • Shoestring says:
        19 Feb19 February 21:12

        sure, check the points actually arrived first!

        • Grant says:
          19 Feb19 February 21:16

          Great. I’m assuming points get shifted at statement date, or thereabouts, so if I wait for first statement to arrive and then check points have credited to Marriott then I should be ok?

        • Shoestring says:
          19 Feb19 February 21:24

          just check your Amex a/c, when points get swept away to Marriott, wait a couple more days & log in to Marriott to check they arrived

  • Lost+confused says:
    19 Feb19 February 20:10

    OT re amex platinum car rental cover. Does it include roadside assistance? Record go in Malaga just charged me for there Fast cover at 38 euro to provide roadside assistance, but I’m not convinced I need it. I’m not leaving the airport for a coupe of hours so could get it removed if i don’t need it. I’d appreciate knowing what the collective wisdom says ?

  • FC99 says:
    19 Feb19 February 20:16

    Any sign of them getting rid of the “amusing” safety video?

    • Lost+confused says:
      19 Feb19 February 20:21

      It was on my flight today

    • Graham Walsh says:
      19 Feb19 February 20:44

      It’s so bad, just terrible. Did they think paying a load of stars a boat load of cash would save a few mins of the cabin crew? Why not invest in some better seats. 2-4-2 in CW is just terrible

  • Steve says:
    19 Feb19 February 20:44

    Has anyone had issues with getting charged months later by Curve? I’ve been charged today for a transaction that took place back at the beginning of December. I’m sure I got charged for this back then but Curve don’t want to know and my credit card company have told me they can’t help. Its £200!!

    • Liz says:
      19 Feb19 February 22:20

      Can’t you look back on your statements

    • Mr Dee says:
      19 Feb19 February 22:51

      Look at the statements, you can’t guess and expect them to cough up without verifying.

      Sounds like Curve to delay charges due to tech difficulties, happened with arm once

    • Rob says:
      20 Feb20 February 06:13

      I had a charge hit a card 4 months late recently. It was a restaurant bill taken on a wireless terminal and I guess there was an IT issue.

  • Shoestring says:
    19 Feb19 February 21:10

    looks compelling at first sight

  • Dee Kay says:
    27 Feb27 February 23:40

    Can the Emirates deal be used twice, ie £100 off each flight for a couple?

    Guess the other option is to save the offer to both the main and supp card and buy the tickets in 2 separate transactions?

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