From 5k to 15k: The Free British Airways American Express Limited-Time Avios Bonus

The British Airways American Express Credit Card (a.k.a. the “free one”) has always been a decent way to quietly rack up Avios, but it’s rarely exciting. Hell, it's the first card I took out to start my points journey! But that’s changed, at least for now.

There’s a boosted welcome bonus of 15,000 Avios on the table (that's triple the usual 5,000), for the free version of the British Airways American Express. You have to spend £2,000 in your first three months, but that’s not bad at all for a card with no annual fee.

The Free British Airways American Express

Why This Bonus Matters

It’s been years since we’ve seen the free BA Amex offer anything other than the standard 5,000 Avios bonus, so a 15,000 Avios bump is a rare and genuinely valuable upgrade.

To put it into perspective, 15,000 Avios is enough for:

• A return off-peak flight to much of Europe (think Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin…)

• A solid top-up toward a long-haul or Club Europe redemption

• If you're strategic, that's a one-way Business Class short-haul with the taxes to match

I just upgraded a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Riyadh from Economy to First Class using 16,000 Avios. I'll cover this experience in more detail in due course.

Obviously, you can use save these 15,000 Avios to use when you've saved a few more, ready for that trip you've always wanted! My first Avios redemption was for a return in Club Suites to California, every single Avios matters.

You can be as excited as I was for this flight!

Just a quick heads-up: Points Well Made is here to dish out the juicy details on miles and points, but we’re not your financial advisers. Any decisions you make regarding products featured on this site are your own responsibility, and you should always consider whether a product suits your personal circumstances. While we chat about all manner of lender goodies, we’re not a lender ourselves. Remember, you know you best.

The Fine Print That Matters

There are two key points you must know before applying:

• This card has a variable APR of 30.0% for purchases. Remember to pay cards like this off every month in full to avoid that interest, and to get your well earned points.

• You won’t get the bonus if you’ve held any personal American Express card in the last 24 months. Yes, even that cancelled Nectar or Amex Gold counts.

• You need to apply through the British Airways website, or get a referral code from a friend to access the 15,000 Avios offer. Click here for our link. Go via Amex directly, and you'll only see the usual 5,000 Avios.

Other Perks, That Are Also Worth Mentioning

Even beyond the welcome bonus, the card includes:

• 1 Avios per £1 spent on purchases

• A Companion Voucher when you spend £15,000 in a card year, valid for use in Euro Traveller and Club Europe. This means you can fly with a companion for no extra Avios in Economy, or go solo and get 50% off the Avios cost of your flight.

  You can redeem it on British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia Reward Flights, in Euro Traveller or World Traveller (Economy). You’ll still need to cover taxes and fees, but the Avios savings are real.

• You'll also get up to £75,000 in travel accident cover when you book public transport on the card (if enrolled in No Additional Charge Insurance)

Check You’re Eligible

Before you apply, you’ll need to confirm the following:

• You’re 18 or over

• You’ve got a UK bank or building society account

• You live at a permanent UK address

• You’ve got no history of bad debt

• If self-employed, you’ve been trading for at least 12 months

• An income of at least £15,000

Final Thoughts

This is the most generous welcome offer we’ve seen on the free BA Amex in years, but it won’t last forever. If you’re new to Amex, and free from any personal Amex cards in the past two years, this is a great, low commitment way to kickstart your Avios journey like I did.

Just make sure you apply the correct way, because 15,000 Avios is a lot more exciting than 5,000. That's not opinion, that's just counting.

Sam

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