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 when they spend £2,000 in their first three months of Cardmembership. The card’s representative annual percentage rate (APR) is 29.1% variable (29.1% annual purchase rate), based on a credit limit of £1,200 and charged at 29.1% variable per annum for purchases. This rate 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 This card has no annual fee, so you can keep the benefits of earning Avios without ongoing costs. You can also add family members or a partner as supplementary cardholders to your account, which helps you earn Avios faster on everyday spending.
- Welcome bonus: 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership (eligibility criteria apply)
- Avios earning rate: 1 Avios for every £1 spent on purchases
- Representative APR: 29.1% APR variable (29.1% annual purchase rate)
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 each Cardmembership year on the BA American Express Card, you earn a BA Companion Voucher.
With this voucher:
- You can bring a travel partner with you on the same British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus reward flight and in the same cabin, with no extra Avios charged for their seat (you both still pay taxes, fees and carrier charges).
- Or, if travelling solo, you can use it for a 50% discount on the Avios price of your flight.
While this Companion Voucher from British Airways is redeemable only in Euro Traveller, World Traveller and economy class cabins (not in Premium Economy, Business or First Class), and is subject to availability and taxes, fees and carrier charges, it’s still 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 and a £12 returned payment fee if a payment fails due to insufficient funds. The minimum payment due is £25. 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 a 3% cash advance fee, plus a separate 36.3% annual cash advance APR. Similarly, a 2.99% foreign transaction fee applies 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 programme 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.
When Getting the Free BA American Express Card is Not the Best Option
Certain circumstances might make getting the free BA Amex card not the right choice for you. These might be if:
You Don’t Pay Off Your Balance Each Month
Reward credit cards usually have high interest rates: 30.40% APR variable for this particular card. If you don’t pay off your balance each month, the interest you incur can exceed the value of the Avios you earn. In such a scenario, a non‑rewards card with a lower interest rate would be the more suitable option.
You’ve Had an Amex Card in the Last 24 Months
If you’ve held a personal American Express card in the past 24 months, you won’t receive the sign‑up bonus on the free BA Amex.
You Spend Over £15,000 Yearly
Frequent flyers who spend large amounts will generally gain more from the British Airways Premium Plus card. With the larger welcome bonus of 30,000 Avios (enough for a return flight to Alicante, Corfu or Turkey) and a 1.5 Avios per £1 earning rate, the £300 annual fee on the Premium Plus card can quickly pay for itself if you plan to spend over £15,000 per year. This also earns you a Companion Voucher for two in premium cabins, so your savings will multiply.
You Want to Maximise the Value Per Avios
Suppose your goal is to consistently achieve a value of 1p or more per Avios (best done by redeeming for Business or First Class on long haul routes). The free card’s Economy‑only Companion Voucher from British Airways will limit you in that case. The fee‑paying BA Amex voucher can be used in all cabins, potentially saving thousands of Avios on high‑value redemptions.
You Want to Experience Business Class Flights
The free card’s Companion Voucher only applies to Economy at this spending level. Meanwhile, the voucher that comes with the fee‑paying card can be redeemed in higher cabins. If you’re planning to earn enough Avios for long haul Business Class flights or have several long haul destinations on your bucket list, using a fee‑paying card can make it much easier to reach your goal and experience Business Class luxury for less cash.
You Earn Avios Through Multiple Channels
If you can earn Avios through multiple channels such as the BA Shopping portal or via Nectar conversions, you’ll likely prefer the higher earning rate and premium benefits of the fee‑paying card. Sticking with the free card may mean you miss out on the best redemption options and faster Avios accrual.
Travelling with your BA American Express Credit Card
If you want to carry your Avios credit card with you every day or wherever you travel, consider using a digital wallet to make things more convenient and secure.
Platforms like Apple Pay, Google Wallet and Wise let you link all your debit cards, credit cards and PayPal account into one app. This means you can tap and pay effortlessly—no more fumbling through your wallet or worrying if a specific card is accepted. If your physical card is ever lost or stolen, your digital wallet allows you to freeze it instantly and continue spending with the virtual version.
To take your travel spending even further, consider using Wise alongside your Avios credit card. Wise is a multi‑currency account and debit card that lets you spend abroad at the real exchange rate, with low, transparent fees. It’s ideal for purchases where your Amex might not be accepted or where you’d typically incur high foreign transaction fees.
For example:
- Use your BA Amex for airline tickets or hotel stays to maximise your Avios points.
- Use Wise for everyday purchases abroad—meals, museum tickets or souvenirs—to avoid foreign fees and poor exchange rates.
Combining the two gives you the best of both worlds: reward optimisation and cost‑efficient spending.
Final Thoughts
The free British Airways American Express is a great stepping stone for anyone starting out with Avios. The Companion Voucher from BA provides decent value if you stick to Economy, and the referral programme can further boost your balance if friends or family sign up. However, if you’re a frequent flyer, want premium cabin redemptions, or can spend enough to make a Companion Voucher in Business or First Class worthwhile, the fee‑paying BA Amex will likely deliver better long‑term value. As always, make sure you clear your balance in full each month; otherwise, you’ll pay steep interest charges that undermine any reward benefit.
You can find out when it’s a good idea to choose fee‑paying cards here.
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We aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information; however, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of all content. You should always check the official American Express website for the latest terms, fees, and eligibility criteria before applying.
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