The BA Premium Plus Amex Avios cut is live today: here's everything you need to know

It's Wednesday 7th October. We should be getting excited for Halloween, or enjoying a crisp Autumn day. Instead, we're all waking up depressed and angry because today is the day that the changes to the British Airways Premium Plus American Express Card have officially kicked in.

I am being over-dramatic here as I am often want to do, but I think it is warranted.

We told you this was coming back in July, but now it's real.

If you skipped the July warnings, or you just want the full picture in one place, here's where things stand now that the dust is settling.

What has actually changed on the BA Premium Plus Amex?

The headline is the earn rate. Every £1 you spend now earns 1.25 Avios instead of 1.5, and BA spend no longer gets a special rate. For a £300-a-year card, that is a meaningful trim.

Amex's own statement described it as part of a regular review of benefits, rewards and costs. It also points to a new embedded benefit, which is where the tier points come in. More on that below, because that doesn't start today.

How does the Premium Plus card compare with the free BA Amex now?

The gap has shrunk quite a lot. Here's how the two cards line up today:

	BA Premium Plus Amex	Free BA Amex
Annual fee	£300	£0
Avios per £1	1.25	1
Companion Voucher validity	Two years	One year
Companion Voucher cabins	All cabins	Economy only

In practice, the real difference is now the Companion Voucher (guide here). Two years to use it, valid in every cabin, and better business class availability if you're the paid cardholder. The earn rate used to be a big part of the case for paying £300. Now it's a small one.

If you're weighing up alternatives, the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard is the clear standout as it still earns 1.5 Avios per £1, costs a lower £240 a year and comes with a Cabin Upgrade Voucher. It won't suit everyone, but it's worth a look.

When do the BA Club tier point changes start?

Not today.

The improved tier point earning arrives on 1st April 2027, so for now it's a promise rather than a perk.

When it does get here, the rate stays at 1 tier point per £10 of qualifying spend. The annual cap rises from 2,500 to 3,000 tier points per BA Club collection year. And the tier points will arrive in your account as you spend, rather than only when you pass the old £15,000, £20,000 and £25,000 thresholds.

To put that in real terms, someone putting £30,000 a year on the card would earn 3,000 tier points from spend alone. Add just £500 of net BA spend on top and you're earning Bronze at 3,500 tier points. Most people will use these alongside their normal flying rather than relying on card spend alone.

Here's my usual word of warning. Unless you were already planning to spend £30,000, don't chase this. It's a lovely bonus if the spend is coming anyway, and if you're planning big spend and care about status, then yes, point it at this card. But borrowing money or buying things you don't need to collect tier points is never a good trade. No BA status tier is worth debt.

Are there changes to the free BA Amex too?

Yes, and they also took effect today, but they're nothing to panic about. The BA Executive Club is now officially The British Airways Club (better late than never). Amex has also clarified that your card must be linked to your own BA Club account, not someone else's. So if you've been trying to game the system, they're on to you.

Is this the end of the road for the BA Premium Plus Amex?

I don't think so, but I understand why some people feel that way. This card has changed plenty over the years. The fee has crept up to £300, but perks have been added too, with using your Companion Voucher on Iberia or Aer Lingus being one of the best.

Still, it's hard not to feel a bit flat about yet another Avios devaluation, even if it is on the card side. If you missed the earlier ones, here's December's and here's May's. Put them all together and it's easy to see why some people are questioning their relationship with BA, Avios and even Amex.

For clarity, we will be keeping the card, predominantly for the Companion Voucher.

Should you keep, downgrade or cancel the BA Premium Plus Amex?

I'd split it into three situations.

You fly BA regularly and you're a bit of a loyalist. The card still works for you. It's not the deal it was, but 1.25 Avios per £1, a Companion Voucher you can use in any cabin and (from April) tier points that could help you over the line for Silver or Gold all add up.

You're newer to this and have a thin Avios balance. Don't overthink it. Take the Premium Plus card, hit the sign-up bonus, then cancel and get your pro-rata refund on the annual fee, and drop down to the free card. Keep building your balance with the free card, the Avios Store and the rest of our Avios advice. Once you're ready to use a Companion Voucher and you're flying premium economy or above, upgrade to the paid card. This is allowed, it's not against the rules. If you know you'll be flying economy, skip it and keep your £300 by earning your economy only Companion Voucher on the free card.

You already have a healthy Avios stash. The Premium Plus Companion Voucher is still worth having, as long as you're using it for premium economy or better. Economy flyers will feel this devaluation the most, because the value they get from the voucher was always thinner. That doesn't make your strategy wrong. Flying economy is sometimes the best value around. It just means this card may no longer be the one for you, and that's fine, because there are plenty of alternatives, such as the free British Airways American Express or the Avios Barclaycard.

You’re a really annoyed big spender, but loyal to oneworld. The new American Airlines debit card could suit you better.

What's the bigger picture?

The takeaway from all of this is that this Avios game we all play rewards attention, not loyalty for its own sake. Keep asking whether the card you're paying for still matches how you actually travel, and don't be afraid to downgrade, upgrade or switch completely when the answer changes.

Loyalty is a two-way street, and right now with these cuts, I'd argue BA and Amex aren't exactly showering us with love. You owe them nothing. The only person you need to stay loyal to is yourself and your points earning journey. Oh, and us, of course. We'll help you get there!

Helena

Points Well Made is a passion project from Sam and Helena. If you've enjoyed this and want to help us keep the lights on, please consider buying us a Ko-fi or subscribing monthly. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more of the same. Thanks for reading.