American Express have launched a special offer on both of their co-branded  British Airways cards.

There are 2 British Airways credit cards offered by American Express that help you to earn Avios points from all of your day-to-day spending.  This article focuses on the paid version.

I have looked at the special 5,000 Avios offer on the free card in another article here.

 

WHAT IS THE SIGN-UP BONUS AND WHERE CAN IT TAKE ME?

You will receive 25,000 Avios upon spending £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.

The points earned from this sign-up bonus alone, are enough for a one-way ticket to Barbados, Dubai or even Los Angeles.

If that isn’t your thing these points are also enough to secure you a return business class trip to the likes of Geneva, Milan or Prague.

OTHER PERKS

2-4-1 Companion Voucher after spending £10,000 – This voucher is valid for 2 years and allows you to book 2 Avios reward flight redemptions, for yourself and a companion, while only requiring enough miles in your account for one. For example, you could book business class return flights for 2 people to New York for just 100,000 Avios instead of the regular 200,000 Avios needed.

You can only earn 1 such voucher per card membership year no matter how much spend you put on the card.

The 2-year validity on the voucher is probably a good enough reason to take out this card rather than the free BA card which only offers a voucher with a 1-year validity.

There is no doubt in my mind that if you are able to put through £20,000 on the free BA card to trigger the voucher, you would be better off if both you and your companion were to each get this card. You would then earn 2 vouchers by putting £10,000 of spend through on each one.

Overall, this is the most lucrative perk in the UK travel credit card market bar none for ongoing credit card spend.

DAY TO DAY EARNINGS RATE

You will earn 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on your card. You will also receive 3 Avios per £1 for purchases made directly from British Airways. If your focus is collecting Avios, this card offers the best rate for accruing these points directly via credit card spend.

ANNUAL FEE

This card carries a £195 fee, although, like all cards issued directly by Amex, the fee is refunded pro-rata if you cancel at any point in your card membership year.

Representative 76.0% APR variable. Based on annual fee of £195 and assumed credit limit of £1,200. Interest rate for purchases: 22.9% p.a. variable.

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE BONUS

You WILL be eligible for the bonus unless you have held this card or the free BA Amex in the last 6 months.

You WILL still receive this bonus even if you hold/have held the Platinum, Gold, Green charge cards issued by Amex or the SPG or Nectar credit cards or any other MBNA, Lloyds, TSB or Barclays issued Amex cards.

There is currently NO minimum income requirements for any cards issued directly by American Express.

VERDICT

This card performs strongly on all fronts and personally is a mainstay in my wallet for the following reasons:

-The 2-4-1 companion voucher has huge value and as noted is without a doubt the best perk currently available in the UK travel credit card market.

-The day-to-day earnings rate is the best available if your earning preference is Avios points.

The current sign-up bonus is also an excellent way of earning a large chunk of Avios points to boost your balance.

The application form for this card is here