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British Airways American Express® Credit Card review
Earn Avios while you spend and enjoy introductory bonus points with the British Airways American Express® Credit Card.
With the British Airways American Express® Credit Card, you'll earn points virtually every time you use your card, to redeem with British Airways or a number of other airlines, for flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays and more.
- Earn Avios on all your spending, without paying an annual fee.
- Big spenders who clear their balance in full each month may get more from the Premium Plus card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.8% APR (variable).
Up to 5,000 points
Intro bonus
28.8%
Representative APR
£0
Account fee
Up to 56 days
Interest-free each billing period
Details
| Issuer | American Express |
|---|---|
| Network | Amex |
| Representative APR | 28.8% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Loyalty scheme | Avios |
| Incentive | New Cardmember Offer: Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. Terms Apply |
| Incentive on opening | Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. Terms Apply |
| Additional Rewards Info | Refund Protection (90 days to return, receive max £200 per item, £750 per year). Automatic enrolment to the British Airways Executive Club. Access to tickets for must-see music, theatre and film events, often before they go on sale to the general public with American Express Experiences. Global Assist - 24/7 help available when travelling outside the UK. Eligible for American Express Connect where cardmembers can choose offers from selected retailers to obtain discounts or cashback. |
| Purchases | 28.8% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 28.8% |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
Review by
Emily Herring
emily.herring@finder.comEmily Herring is a Publishing Executive at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards and business and personal loans. Emily has a Masters in Creative Writing & Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media.
Expert review
If you’re a frequent flyer, air miles programmes like Avios are a great way to make day-to-day spending go a little further (literally). The British Airways American Express credit card is a good everyday option for those who like to travel, with no annual fees and the chance to earn 1 Avios for virtually every £1 spent, this could be the card for you. It is good to note that you can earn Avios points with a handful of UK credit cards including the BA Amex. Which one is most suitable for you will depend on your circumstances and how you plan to use the card – with each card having its own specific features, like annual fees, interest rates, Avios earn-rates, introductory bonuses etc.
With the British Airways American Express credit card you’ll be able to tap into all the perks of the American Express Experiences scheme and could be eligible for that generous introductory “welcome” bonus. Don’t forget that introductory “welcome” bonuses tend to come with a few minimum-spend strings attached, and also, in the case of the BA Amex credit card, the introductory bonus is limited to those who have not had a personal Amex card in the previous 24 months.
It is important to note that if you’re likely to carry a balance from month to month, you’ll almost certainly pay more in interest than you’ll earn in rewards with this card. But if that doesn’t apply to you, try to calculate how much you’ll spend on your card each month, to see whether it’s worth opting for this card’s big sister – and swallowing the annual fee in return for a better earn-rate.
Plus, if you’re a master of persuasion, don’t forget that there are tasty points rewards to be had when you sign-up a friend or family member too!
Pros and cons
Pros
- Earn Avios on virtually all your spending, without paying an annual fee.
- Generous welcome offer.
- Use Amex’s referral programme to boost your points earnings. For every friend who is approved, you receive 4,000 Avios (up to 9,000 Avios). Check out our guide to Amex's referral programme.
- Companion Voucher when you spend £12,000 each membership year.
- Travel accident insurance up to £75,000 (subject to enrolment), plus access to Global Assist® 24/7 emergency assistance.
- Refund Protection (90 days to return, receive max £200 per item, £750 per year).
- No annual fee.
Cons
- Big spenders who clear their balance in full each month may get more from the Premium Plus version.
- If you carry an outstanding balance month-to-month, the relatively high interest rate will cancel out any benefits.
- Welcome bonus limited to new Cardmembers or those who have not held a personal American Express card in the past 24 months.
- This card carries a 2.99% foreign usage charge.
How does this card compare with other Avios-earning cards on the market?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 4 of 4
Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through American Express's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 917 8020). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | Fixed amount | Fixed percentage | Full amount |
|---|---|---|---|
How to apply
First, you can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the British Airways American Express® Credit Card. This won't impact your credit score. If it's good news, you can then proceed to American Express's online application, which takes 10–15 minutes to complete.
The verdict
So, is the BA Amex card worth it? With the ability to earn Avios points on all purchases, the British Airways American Express credit card is a good everyday option for those who like to travel. When you add in a generous intro points offer and no annual fee, it’s also a great way to earn points while keeping your costs low, provided you pay off your balance in full each month.
Frequently asked questions
Does the British Airways American Express card come with access to American Express Experiences?
Yes, as with other Amex cards, you'll be able to tap into all the perks of the American Express Experiences (formerly Invites) scheme.
Is there a minimum spend requirement on the British Airways American Express card to get the intro bonus?
Yes, you'll need to spend £1,000 within 3 months (starting when your account is opened) – see table above.
What is a BA Amex companion voucher?
When you spend £12,000 on your BA Amex credit card or £10,000 on your BA Amex Premium Plus credit card, within a year, you could be eligible for a companion voucher.
A companion voucher allows you to receive a second seat for a companion on the same flight and cabin as you. British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Vouchers can be redeemed in economy cabins, while British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card Companion Vouchers can be redeemed across all cabins.
From June 2022, American Express and British Airways are offering solo travellers a 50% discount on the Avios cost of the booking. Plus, more Avios and cash options when you're ready to redeem your companion voucher.
Can I spend my British Airways American Express card Avios on things other than flights?
Yes, as well as flights (or even simply part of the price of a flight), your Avios can be redeemed for car hire, hotel rooms and flight upgrades.
Can I get rewarded if I refer a friend to the British Airways American Express card?
Yes, in fact that's a great way to boost your points earnings after the excitement of your intro bonus has worn off! Check out our guide to Amex's referral programme.
Can I apply for the British Airways American Express credit card if I have bad credit score?
American Express require you to have no history of bad debt and a good credit score. You can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the British Airways American Express® Credit Card. This won't impact your credit score.
Finder credit card ratings
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You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
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4 Comments
January 12, 2020
Does this American Express card providesLoungeKey access
January 17, 2020
Hi Sarmad,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately the British Airways American Express card does not provide LoungeKey access. However, it does provide access to hundreds of airport lounges through the Amex Lounge Club program, as well as access to British Airways lounges.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Tom
September 23, 2019
Do you have to pay off the amount you put on to your card each month or can you pay it off bit by bit?
September 27, 2019
Hi Georgie,
Thanks for your question. You can choose to pay off your balance bit by bit, but you’ll be charged interest on the amount that remains on your card each month.
At the time of writing, each month you’ll be required to pay 2% of your outstanding balance or £25 – whichever is greater. So if you had £100 outstanding, for example, you’d need to pay a minimum of £25. If you had £1,500 outstanding, you’d need to pay a minimum of £30.
If you want to avoid paying interest, it’s important to try and pay off your balance in full each month. With this card, you’ll have up to 56 days interest free, which means you can potentially have a bit more time before you’ll be charged interest on your balance. Say your credit card statement covers the period between 1st January and 31st January. You’d then have until 25th February to pay off your January balance without being charged interest, which is 56 days after the start of the statement period.
Hope this helps, but please let me know if you’ve got any other questions.
Thanks,
– Tom