When Is the Free British Airways American Express Credit Card Worth It?
The free British Airways American Express credit card is a decent starting point for those new to collecting Avios and interested in a simple and free way to earn them. While it doesn't come with the bells and whistles of the fee-paying card, we all have to start from somewhere. It provides solid value for beginners or occasional travellers with its welcome bonus and the British Airways Companion Voucher. If you’re wondering ‘how do you earn Avios points’ or ‘how can I spend Avios points’ with this no-annual-fee option, here's everything you need to know.
What is the Free British Airways American Express Card? The BA American Express Card is a no-annual-fee credit card issued by American Express in partnership with British Airways. You'll earn 1 Avios per £1 spent on everyday purchases, and new cardholders are currently eligible for a 5,000 Avios welcome bonus if they spend £2,000 in the first three months. The card's representative annual percentage rate (APR) is 30.40%
(variable), which applies if you don’t clear your balance in full each month. We always recommend paying your balance in full each month. Otherwise, the interest charges will outweigh the value of the Avios points you earn.
Key Card Details ● Annual fee: £0 ● Welcome bonus: 5,000 Avios after spending £2,000 in the first three months (eligibility criteria apply) ● Avios earning rate: 1 Avios per £1 ● Representative APR: 30.40% variable
Key Benefits of the Free BA Amex Consistent Avios Earning If you're wondering, ‘how do you earn Avios points?’. With this card, the answer is straightforward: every £1 spent equals 1 Avios earned with the following exceptions. You will not earn Avios on interest, fees (including default fees), balance transfers, cash advances, loading of prepaid cards or purchasing foreign currency. Over time, you can steadily grow your balance. Since there's no annual fee, the free card is best for those looking to earn Avios without committing to additional costs.
Decent Welcome Bonus
New cardholders can earn 5,000 Avios by spending £2,000 within the first three months. For a card with no annual fee, this is excellent value. 5,000 Avios already covers more than half the Avios required for an off-peak Economy reward flight to destinations like Amsterdam, Berlin, Lyon, or Milan (typically around 9,250 Avios plus minimal taxes and fees).
BA Companion Voucher When you spend £15,000 in one membership year, you earn a BA Companion Voucher. With this voucher: ● You can bring a travel partner along for no extra Avios on an Economy reward seat (you both still pay taxes and fees). ● Or get 50% off the Avios price of an Economy ticket if you're flying solo. While this Companion Voucher from British Airways is limited to Economy cabins, it's a nice extra for moderate spenders or those just starting to collect Avios.
Referral Bonuses Every time you refer someone who gets approved for the card, you'll receive 4,000 Avios, up to a yearly maximum of 90,000 Avios. This can accelerate your Avios earnings if friends or family are interested in American Express credit cards.
Multiple Ways to Use Avios Once earned, your Avios can be redeemed for: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Reward flights (short-haul or long-haul) Upgrades on existing cash or Avios bookings Part-payment on flights or British Airways Holidays Seat selection Baggage fees Hotel stays, including Avios Hotels, Expedia and Hotels.com Wine with The Wine Flyer Car hire Other airlines, including Iberia, Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus, Finnair and more
Up to 56 Days Interest-Free
If you clear your statement in full by the due date, which we strongly encourage you to do, you won't be charged interest for up to 56 days on purchases. This prevents interest costs from eating into the value of your rewards.
Additional Perks ● Global Assist & Travel Accident Insurance: Enroll to access emergency assistance services and insurance coverage of up to £75,000. ● American Express Experiences: Special access to presale tickets for concerts, theatre, and other events.
What Are Some of the Cons of the Free BA Amex Card? Only Valid on Economy The Companion Voucher BA you earn can be used only for Economy redemptions, either a 2-for-1 booking for you and a travel companion or 50% off the Avios cost for a solo Economy ticket. If you wish to redeem in Premium Economy, Business, or First Class, you'll need the fee-paying British Airways Premium Plus card instead.
High Interest Rates
The free BA Amex carries a representative APR of 30.40% (variable). If you don't clear your balance monthly, the interest charges can quickly outweigh any benefits you gain from earning Avios.
No Promotional Offers This card offers no promotional rates on purchases and doesn't allow balance transfers, making it less suitable if you want to spread out payments for a large purchase or need to transfer existing debt from another card.
Late Fees You'll incur a £12 late fee if you miss the minimum repayment. There's also a £12 returned payment fee if a payment fails due to insufficient funds. While these charges are typical across many credit cards, they're worth considering to avoid unnecessary costs.
ATM Charges Using this card at cash machines will incur extra charges. Similarly, foreign transaction fees apply when you spend abroad, so if you frequently travel or need to withdraw cash, these costs may add up.
Lower Avios Earning Although earning 1 Avios per £1 is decent for a free product, it's still lower than the 1.5 Avios per £1 offered by the fee-paying BA Premium Plus card. A fee-paying card might deliver greater overall value if you have higher spending levels or prefer premium cabin redemptions.
When Is Getting the Free BA Amex Worth It? This card is worth considering in specific cases, for example, if:
You Pay Your Balance Each Month The key rule for using any rewards card is to avoid interest charges altogether. Your Avios’ value cancels out as soon as you carry a balance and pay interest. You'll only be able to keep all the benefits of the Avios you earn if you consistently clear your statement monthly.
You Can Refer Someone
The free BA Amex has a generous referral program that earns you 4,000 Avios per successful referral (up to 90,000 per year). This can boost your balance quickly, and it’s especially helpful for beginners collecting alongside family or friends.
You’re not a Frequent Traveller A fee-paying card's higher Avios-earning rates and perks may not be worth the annual cost for those who only take a few trips per year. So, if you’re not a frequent traveller, the free card is a better option.
You’re New to Avios If you've never collected Avios, this no-annual-fee option is a simple starting point. You can learn how to spend Avios points, including flights, seat upgrades, or part-payment, without committing to high fees or complex collection strategies.
You Mostly Fly Economy While long-haul Business Class generally yields the best value (close to 1p per Avios), many travellers simply want cost-effective Economy or Premium Economy flights. The free card's BA Companion Voucher (valid for Economy) can still deliver worthwhile savings.
You’re Not Concerned with Value per Avios If your priority isn’t maximising the value of each Avios but rather earning rewards on your everyday spending to get essentially free or discounted flights, then this card is a great choice.
You Travel as a Family If you usually travel as a family in Economy or Premium Economy and need at least four seats per booking, this card is a great way to start earning Avios. Because there's no annual fee, you're not locked into ongoing costs. You can later upgrade to the fee-paying British Airways Premium Plus card. Original Source https://rewardflightfinder.com/news-and-advice/when-is-the-free-british-airways-americanexpress-credit-card-worth-it?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=RFF
