IAG Loyalty and American Express Renew Partnership: What This Means for British Airways Cardholders

Great news landed this week for anyone who collects Avios points: IAG Loyalty and American Express have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership with a multi-year extension. This isn't just corporate news—it's reassurance that some of our most valuable tools for earning and using Avios aren't going anywhere.

The renewed partnership covers several key areas that directly impact UK points collectors:

British Airways American Express Co-brand Cards – The BA Amex cards (including the Premium Plus and the standard version) will continue as they are, with all their current benefits intact. This includes earning Avios on everyday purchases, Companion Vouchers, and the various travel insurance benefits depending on which card you hold.

Amex Acceptance Across IAG Airlines – American Express cards will continue to be accepted across all IAG airlines: British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. This is particularly useful when booking flights directly with these carriers or paying for onboard services.

Membership Rewards Transfers to Avios – Crucially, the ability to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Avios (with both British Airways and Iberia programmes) continues. For US cardholders, Aer Lingus transfers are also included.

Partnership renewals like this might seem like standard corporate announcements, but they're actually quite significant for those of us who've built points strategies around specific card ecosystems.

This multi-year extension provides stability. It means:

Your BA Amex cards remain valuable – If you've got a Premium Plus card and you're working towards that 2-4-1 Companion Voucher, you can continue with confidence.

Transfer options stay open – The ability to move Membership Rewards points to Avios remains a cornerstone strategy for many UK collectors.

Investment in the future – Both companies are clearly committed to developing this relationship further, which could mean enhancements down the line.

What struck me most about this announcement was the longevity of the partnership. Next year, British Airways and American Express will celebrate 25 years since introducing the first BA co-brand cards in the UK. That's quite remarkable in an industry where partnerships and loyalty programmes can change rapidly.

Adam Daniels, IAG Loyalty's CEO, noted: "2026 will mark 25 years of one of the world's most recognised and enduring co-brand cards - a milestone we're proud to celebrate together."

It makes you wonder what might be in store for that anniversary. Could we see enhanced welcome bonuses? Special promotions? New card benefits? Time will tell, but anniversary years often bring opportunities for collectors.

For those new to the UK Avios-earning ecosystem, the BA Amex cards remain some of the most straightforward ways to accumulate Avios through everyday spending.

The current lineup includes:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card – It earns 3 Avios per £1 spent on British Airways purchases and 1.5 Avios per £1 elsewhere.

British Airways American Express Card – The no-annual-fee option (after the first year) that still offers solid Avios earning at 1 Avios per £1 on BA purchases and 0.5 Avios per £1 on everything else.

If you're interested in applying for either, you can check current offers through our American Express personal cards page.

For a detailed comparison of these cards and how they stack up against alternatives like the Barclaycard Avios cards, have a look at our guide on the best Avios-earning credit cards in the UK.

Whilst the co-brand cards get most of the attention, the continuation of Membership Rewards transfers to Avios is equally important—perhaps even more so for serious collectors.

Cards like the American Express Platinum Card and Gold Card earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to multiple airline programmes, including British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus. This flexibility is incredibly valuable.

For instance, with the Amex Platinum Card offering 100,000 points as a welcome bonus periodically, having the option to move those points to Avios opens up significant redemption opportunities.

The ability to transfer to Iberia Plus is particularly useful since Iberia often has better award availability on certain routes, especially to Spain and Latin America. Plus, Iberia Plus Avios can be used to book British Airways flights (and vice versa), giving you more options when searching for award space.

If you're looking for British Airways award flights, I'd recommend using Award Travel Finder to search for availability across multiple oneworld partners, or check our BA Avios Calculator to see how many points you'll need for specific routes.

Whilst this announcement is positive, it's worth noting what wasn't mentioned:

No details on potential enhancements – The renewal focuses on continuing current benefits rather than announcing improvements. That said, with 2026's 25th anniversary approaching, there may be something in the works.

No mention of new card products – Some were hoping for a hint about additional cards in the lineup (perhaps a mid-tier option or a business premium card with more benefits), but nothing was mentioned.

Transfer ratios remain unchanged – The 1:1 transfer ratio from Membership Rewards to Avios continues, which is excellent, but there's no indication of transfer bonuses or enhanced rates coming.

As someone who holds both the Amex Platinum Business and Gold Business cards, plus the Barclaycard Avios Plus (which I use primarily for the 1.5 Avios per £1 earning rate on all purchases), this news is reassuring.

The partnership between IAG and Amex has been a cornerstone of UK points collecting for years, and knowing it's secured for the foreseeable future allows us to plan our earning strategies with more confidence.

I'll be particularly interested to see what happens around the 25th anniversary next year. Major partnership milestones often come with promotions—perhaps enhanced welcome bonuses, transfer bonuses, or even new benefits for existing cardholders.

For now, though, this is simply good news. In a landscape where programme changes seem to happen with increasing frequency, a multi-year partnership extension is worth celebrating.

If you're considering applying for a British Airways Amex card, this partnership renewal shouldn't change your decision—it simply confirms that the cards will remain viable for years to come.

The key question is whether the cards fit your spending patterns and travel goals:

Get the Premium Plus if: You spend enough to earn the Companion Voucher annually (£12,000 threshold), you regularly fly British Airways or partner airlines, and you value the Premium Economy upgrade vouchers for award bookings.

Get the standard BA Amex if: You want a no-fee option (after year one) for earning Avios on everyday spending, but you won't hit the Premium Plus spend threshold.

Consider Membership Rewards cards instead if: You value transfer flexibility to multiple airlines, you're not solely focused on British Airways travel, or you want to keep your options open.

For more detailed analysis, including how the BA cards compare to alternatives like Capital on Tap for business spending, check our comprehensive guides:

• Best Avios-earning credit cards in the UK

• Best Avios-earning business credit cards in the UK

This partnership renewal is exactly the kind of stability that benefits those of us who collect points strategically. Whilst programme changes and devaluations will inevitably continue (they're part of the game), knowing that core earning mechanisms and transfer options are secured for years ahead is genuinely positive.

As we approach 2026 and that 25th anniversary, I'll be watching closely for any special promotions or enhancements. Until then, the message is clear: British Airways Amex cards and Membership Rewards transfers to Avios remain solid options for UK-based collectors.

Have you got a BA Amex card? What do you think about this partnership extension? Let me know on Instagram—I'd love to hear your thoughts.