Both British Airways American Express cards are currently running enhanced welcome bonuses, with the Premium Plus card offering up to 60,000 Avios and the free BA Amex also improved - and both deals close on Tuesday 6 October 2026. If you have been weighing up either card, this is one of the better windows to apply that we have seen in a while.
| What the boosted BA Amex welcome bonuses look like |
There are two British Airways American Express cards available to UK applicants, and both are currently running elevated sign-up bonuses. The offers are time-limited and share the same end date.
BA American Express (free card): welcome bonus boosted for new applicants
BA American Express Premium Plus: up to 60,000 Avios for new cardholders
Both offers end on 6 October 2026
Standard earning rates apply on top of the welcome bonus
You must be a new applicant to qualify - existing cardholders are not eligible for the welcome bonus
The Premium Plus card carries an annual fee, while the free BA Amex has no annual cost. The right choice depends on how much you spend and whether the Premium Plus benefits - including a companion voucher at a lower spend threshold - justify the fee for your situation.
| How much are 60,000 Avios worth in real terms? |
Avios values vary depending on how you use them, but a commonly used benchmark is around 1p per Avios for straightforward flight redemptions. At that rate, 60,000 Avios is worth approximately £600 in flight value. However, Avios can stretch considerably further on premium cabin redemptions - particularly on partner airlines - where the value per point can reach 2p or more. You can run your own numbers using the Avios Value Calculator to see what your planned redemptions might be worth.
For context, a return Club World (business class) flight to New York from London can require around 100,000-120,000 Avios plus taxes depending on availability. A 60,000 Avios bonus alone will not cover that, but it makes a serious dent - or it covers a very comfortable short-haul or medium-haul redemption in full. Use the BA Avios Flight Calculator to check how far your bonus would take you on specific routes.
| How to apply and make the most of the offer |
The steps are straightforward, but a few things are worth doing before you click apply.
Check your eligibility - American Express has rules around welcome bonuses if you have held an Amex card in the past 24 months
Decide which card suits you - the free card has no annual fee; the Premium Plus costs more but the companion voucher can more than offset the fee if you fly regularly
Ensure you can meet the minimum spend requirement within the qualifying window to unlock the full bonus
Apply before 6 October 2026 - the boosted bonus disappears after that date
Link your BA Executive Club number during the application so Avios credit automatically
Spend on the card in the weeks after approval to hit the threshold and trigger the bonus Avios
Not sure if you are eligible for the welcome bonus? The Amex Welcome Bonus Eligibility Tool can help you work out whether you qualify before you apply.
| Things to watch before you apply |
These are genuinely strong offers, but they are not right for everyone. A few honest caveats worth knowing before you commit.
The welcome bonus is for new cardholders only - if you have held either BA Amex before, you almost certainly will not receive the bonus
American Express credit checks can affect your credit file, so avoid applying speculatively
The companion voucher on the Premium Plus card is valuable, but only if you actually fly as a pair - solo travellers may find the free card better value
Avios from the welcome bonus are only useful if you have a plan for redeeming them - check award availability before banking on a specific trip
The offer closes 6 October 2026, which gives you just over five weeks from today - do not leave it until the last minute if you need time to check your eligibility
| Frequently asked questions |
Can I get the welcome bonus on both the free BA Amex and the Premium Plus?
In most cases, no - American Express generally only pays a welcome bonus on one of its cards at a time, and its eligibility rules are strict. You should check the full terms during the application process, or use an eligibility tool to confirm your position before applying.
When do the boosted BA Amex welcome bonuses end?
Both the free BA American Express and the Premium Plus welcome bonus offers end on 6 October 2026. Applications submitted after that date will revert to the standard welcome bonus, which is lower.
How long does it take for the welcome Avios to appear in my BA account?
Avios from American Express welcome bonuses typically post to your British Airways Executive Club account within a few weeks of meeting the minimum spend requirement. Ensure your Executive Club number is correctly linked to your Amex account to avoid delays.
Is the BA Amex Premium Plus worth the annual fee?
It depends almost entirely on whether you will use the companion voucher, which lets you bring a second person on an Avios redemption for just the taxes. If you fly as a pair at least once a year on Avios, the voucher alone can easily exceed the annual fee in value.
| The bottom line |
A boosted welcome bonus on both BA Amex cards at the same time does not happen constantly, so this is a genuine window worth paying attention to. The Premium Plus card is offering up to 60,000 Avios for new cardholders, and the free card has also seen its bonus improved. Both offers are live now and close on Tuesday 6 October 2026. If you have been considering either card, apply before that date to lock in the enhanced bonus - the standard rates that follow will be lower.
Hotel programme you collect with most?
| 💳 Best UK Card Signup Offers Right Now |
These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.
1. Business Platinum Card: 50,000 points after spending £6,000 in 3 months (£6.5/yr)
2. Platinum Card: 50,000 points after spending £6,000 in 3 months (£6.5/yr)
3. HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard: Receive 40,000 reward points when you spend £2,000 on your card in the first 90 ... (£2.9/yr)
✈️ Award Deals This Week
Looking to redeem your points? Here's what's available right now (via Award Travel Finder):
Hotels:
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa - 1.5p per point value
Hermitage Bay, an SLH Hotel - 1.9p per point value
Status Matches:
• Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)
• Flying Blue (New Markets) - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)
• Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)
Buy Points & Miles Deals:
Etihad Airways (Etihad Guest): 25% bonus - ends September 14 (in 16 days)
Qatar Airways (Privilege Club): 10% bonus - ends September 14 (in 16 days)
Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club): 30% bonus - ends September 14 (in 16 days)
Hilton (Honors): 100% bonus - ends September 25 (in 27 days)
Hyatt (World of Hyatt): 20% bonus - ends October 5 (in 37 days)
Marriott (Bonvoy): 50% bonus - ends Wednesday September 9 (in 11 days)
Browse every award deal we track at AwardTravelFinder.com →
| 🎯 Award Deals We're Tracking |
Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.
91K Business Class to Hong Kong + Massive Transfer Bonuses Expiring Monday
August 27, 2026
Premium cabin deals to Asia, 7 live transfer bonuses, and 12 hotel redemptions - all inside.
Doha Business Class to Europe for 42,500 Points + 3 Transfer Bonuses Expiring Monday
August 26, 2026
Premium cabin deals, 12 hotel redemptions, and a Flying Blue devaluation you need to act on before Sep 8
London → Hong Kong First Class for 125k Points + 29 Deals This Week
August 20, 2026
Business class, hotel sweet spots, transfer bonuses ending soon, and a trivia question only points nerds will get right.
See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →