- Cards also come with biggest ever Avios Welcome Bonuses[1] and Cardmembers can earn more Avios when referring a friend
LONDON, 1 September, 2021 – American Express (NYSE: AXP) has today revealed its improved British Airways American Express® Cards, with changes making it quicker to earn Companion Vouchers and easier to redeem, alongside generous welcome bonuses and a new look.
British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers enable Cardmembers to receive a second seat for a friend or family member for no extra Avios, on the same flight and in the same cabin, when booking the initial reward seat using Avios.[1]
To mark the improvements to the British Airways American Express® Credit Card and the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card, both cards have a brand new look for the first time in over 20 years.
British Airways American Express Credit Card
From today, the amount of spending on the Card required to earn a Companion Voucher is being reduced from £20,000 to £12,000, per Card anniversary year. This will make it quicker and easier for new and existing British Airways American Express Cardmembers to earn Companion Vouchers.
For Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021, Cardmembers will be able to use their Companion Voucher to book an Avios reward flight in Euro Traveller and World Traveller (short haul and long haul economy) cabins only.
Beyond the Companion Voucher changes, for a limited time only,[2] new Cardmembers can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Avios when they spend £1,000 in the first three months. This is the most generous Welcome Bonus ever offered on the Card. Cardmembers can also earn 6,000 Avios when referring a friend through the Member Get Member referral program, with their referral receiving 12,000 Avios on approval and spending £1,000 in the first three months.
Executive Club Members who are not Cardmembers will also be contacted with a bespoke Welcome Bonus offer over the coming days.
Cardmembers will continue to earn 1 Avios for every £1 spent and the Card will remain fee free.
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card
Booking a Companion Voucher earned from 1 September, 2021, will be even easier with improved redemption seat availability in Club World (long haul business class cabin), exclusively for British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers. This Card will offer the only UK Companion Voucher that will be redeemable in British Airways’ premium cabins – offering Cardmembers the opportunity to travel in luxury for less Avios.
For a limited time only[1], new Cardmembers can earn a Welcome Bonus of 40,000 Avios when they spend £3,000 in the first three months – again it is the most generous Welcome Bonus ever offered on the Card. Cardmembers can also earn 12,000 Avios when referring a friend through the Member Get Member referral program, with their referral receiving 42,000 Avios on approval and spending £3,000 in the first three months. As with the British Airways American Express Credit Card, Executive Club Members who are not Cardmembers will also be contacted with a bespoke Welcome Bonus offer over the coming days.
Cardmembers will continue to collect 1.5 Avios per £1 spend and 3 Avios for £1 on purchases made through ba.com on British Airways flights and holidays.
The annual fee to British Airways Premium Plus will increase from £195 to £250. The increase will take effect from the Cardmember’s next anniversary date after 1 September.
Stacey Sterbenz, Vice President Consumer at American Express, stated: “After a challenging 18 months, people are excited about the prospect of going abroad with their friends and family again, which is why we’ve made changes to British Airways American Express Cards to better support our Cardmembers’ travel aspirations. From making Companion Vouchers easier to earn and use, to offering substantial Avios promotions and limited time offers to grow their balances faster, we’re rewarding new and existing Cardmembers in ways that will help them get away sooner.”
Tom Stevens, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience adds: “These changes to the British Airways American Express® Credit Cards are great rewards for credit card users. This is the type of benefit our customers deserve after the loyalty they’ve shown British Airways and American Express. We look forward to welcoming people on our flights over the coming months.”
Further changes
Cardmembers of either Card will no longer be required to use their Companion Voucher for a journey starting in the United Kingdom, giving them more freedom when booking their voucher for international travel.
As part of the sleek new design, both Cards now feature the 15-digit Card number on the back of the Card.
The British Airways American Express Credit Card representative APR for existing Cardmembers is 22.2%, and for existing British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers it is 74.7%. For new Cardmembers joining from 1 September onwards, the representative APR will be 24.5% and 101.1% across each Card, respectively.
