Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Check the expiry date of any new British Airways American Express 2-4-1 vouchers

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The Avios IT migration is 95% complete and you should now be able to log in to your account (unless your password includes an ‘&’ sign) and complete most tasks. Just don’t try anything radical such as booking a redemption on American Airlines or moving your Avios from Iberia to BA.

There is a bug with newly issued British Airways American Express 2-4-1 companion vouchers.

Until 31st December 2021, all new companion vouchers come with an additional six months of validity. Vouchers on the free British Airways American Express come with 18 months validity which those from the Premium Plus American Express come with 30 months.

(You may want to bring forward your next voucher to trigger it before 31st December to maximise its validity, but this is a discussion for another day.)

Unfortunately, someone forget to tell the computer about this.

Here is a ba.com screenshot showing a newly issued companion voucher:

British Airways companion voucher

As you can see, the latest voucher has only been issued for 24 months and not 30 months. I know at least two other HfP readers are in the same boat.

Hopefully BA pick this up after reading the above and make the necessary adjustments before people feel the need to start calling up.

Earn Avios with Midpoint

Our Midpoint competition winners revealed

We recently ran a special bonus Avios promotion with foreign currency transfer specialist Midpoint.

As well as getting bonus Avios for making a transfer during the promotion, five lucky new Midpoint customers were chosen at random and given 10,000 bonus Avios.

(When I say ‘given’, they will turn up whenever the Avios IT migration sort itself out.)

The winners were:

  • Yuval L
  • Jonathan S
  • Scott S
  • Irene F-S
  • Daniel T

Congratulations to the five of you.

If you want to earn Avios on your next foreign currency transfer – as well as paying tiny fees and getting the interbank FX rate – take a look at what Midpoint can offer you by reading this article.


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

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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

25,000 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.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a 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.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

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

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

40,000 points sign-up bonus 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.

Comments (92)

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

  • Sandra says:

    Congratulations Rhys! 👏

  • Ron says:

    Received the confirmation 2 for 1 email yesterday. Only valid for 2 years.

    • Nigel says:

      +1

      I really hope someone from BAEC does see this article and act on it to avoid a bunch of phonecalls…

  • Alex says:

    Well done Rhys! Why are you still a newcomer though?

  • stuart says:

    Received my 2-4-1 voucher yesterday. Only has 12 months validity and although I started new year at the end of July and had paid the previous amount to qualify for 2-4-1 it seems I can only book a economy ticket not club class. I was under the impression that 2-4-1 started on the old terms ie before September would be eligible for club class. Anyone else had the same issue.

    • Rob says:

      No, that’s not correct. If your voucher was triggered after 1st September it is economy only if you have the free card.

      • stuart says:

        Should I change to a different card if I want to continue to get club class tickets.ie British Airways American Express Premium Plus or something similar. It is a little confusing on which card to choose. I have the free card currently and so does the wife.

        • Rob says:

          You need to upgrade to Premium Plus, yes. However, the smart thing to do is spend £9k on your free card and THEN upgrade to minimise the time you are paying the fee.

          • stuart says:

            The date I start the new card is that then the start date for your next 2-4-1 or is it still linked to the start date of the free card

          • Rob says:

            Free card date – your card year never changes.

  • Iain says:

    The whole BA website after the upgrade is a shambles! Flight unliaterally cancelled but can’t accept alternative in manage my booking and on another unable to use Avios for an upgrade to business!

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    He’ll be the oldest teenager in town 😎

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    Rhys that is

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    Congratulations Rhys, very well deserved.
    I love how you write review peices in the HfP style/format but sneak in distinctive humourous side-comments in your own style that are different to the ones Rob would make (that I also very much enjoy), so that reviews are always instantly identifiable as you without looking at the name.

    • Alex Sm says:

      Congratulations Rhys! And also thanks for getting me and my partner into a BBC piece last year!
      I also hope you will be telling us more about your companions on your trips and their impressions about stays and services, like Rob often does!

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

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