Bonus Offers

Amex Avios Bonus Offers

The current American Express welcome bonuses that earn Avios in the UK — dated, verified and with the key deadlines flagged. Several BA Amex offers are enhanced until 6 October 2026, the day before the cards change.

Last verified: 5 September 2026 6 min read

A welcome bonus is the single fastest way to build an Avios balance, but the offers move constantly and come with strict eligibility rules and deadlines. Below are the current UK bonuses that lead to Avios, with the figures we last verified in September 2026. Always confirm the live terms on the provider’s own site before applying.

Current welcome bonuses

These are the UK American Express welcome bonuses that lead to Avios, as last verified in September 2026. The three British Airways cards are running enhanced bonuses until 6 October 2026. The Amex Gold figure is the standard offer (an earlier 40,000-point promotion ended in May 2026).

CardWelcome bonusSpend requiredAnnual fee
BA Amex Premium PlusEnhanced (up from 30,000). Applications by 6 Oct 2026. Includes the 2-4-1 Companion Voucher at £15,000 annual spend.60,000 Avios£6,000 in 3 months£300 / year
BA Amex (free card)Enhanced (up from 5,000). A low-commitment way to start earning Avios.10,000 Avios£2,000 in 3 monthsNo annual fee
BA Amex Accelerating BusinessEnhanced (up from 30,000). For UK businesses; separate 12-month eligibility rule.40,000 Avios£5,000 in 3 months£250 / year
Amex Preferred Rewards GoldMembership Rewards points transfer to Avios 1:1 — a flexible route in, not a direct Avios card.20,000 MR points£3,000 in 3 monthsFree year 1, then £195

Bonuses, fees and spend requirements change frequently and vary by applicant. Treat the figures here as a dated snapshot and always confirm the live offer on the provider’s own website before you apply.

Eligibility rules that catch people out

  • The 24-month rule. You generally will not receive the welcome bonus if you have held the relevant personal Amex card in the previous 24 months. For the free BA card, holding any personal Amex in that window can disqualify the bonus.
  • Supplementary cards do not count. Holding a supplementary card on someone else’s account usually does not count as having “held” a card, so you can often still get the bonus on your own first account.
  • Business and personal are separate. Holding a business Amex does not usually block a personal-card bonus, and the Accelerating Business card has its own 12-month rule.

Timing & deadlines

The enhanced BA Amex bonuses run until 6 October 2026. From 7 October 2026the earn rate on the BA Amex range drops from 1.5 to 1.25 Avios per £1. If a BA card fits your plans, applying before the deadline captures both the larger bonus and the higher earn rate on your early spend.

Only ever chase a bonus you can hit comfortably with normal spending — never manufacture spend you would not otherwise make. Before applying, sense-check the value with our Avios value calculator and compare the options in our best Avios cards guide. This is general information, not financial advice.

Our card picks for earning Avios

We only feature cards we would consider ourselves. Offers and terms change — always check the current details on the provider’s site before applying.

Our pick for tier points

Amex British Airways Premium Plus

  • 2-4-1 Companion Voucher usable in any cabin — including Club World and First
  • Voucher valid 24 months after £15,000 annual spend
  • Unlocks extra Club World reward-seat availability
See card details

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Runner-up

Barclaycard Avios Plus

  • Earn 1.5 Avios per £1 on all spending
  • Cabin upgrade voucher annually
  • No foreign transaction fees
See card details

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Frequently Asked Questions

The AviosArcana Editorial Team

We decode UK air-miles programmes in plain English, cross-checking every figure against the programmes’ published terms. We are independent and this is general information, not financial advice.

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