If you're a frequent flier with BA, then depending on how you use the card you could reap a wide range of benefits – which you'll need to weigh up against the high representative APR and an annual fee.
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British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card review
By Chris Lilly
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £300 per annum, your representative rate is 139.2% APR (variable).
- Intro bonus
- Up to 30,000 points
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Minimum credit limit
- £700
Our verdict
Find out how to apply, and earn Avios while you spend with this BA Amex premium credit card.
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You can earn Avios points with a handful of UK credit cards, but this is the most generous of the bunch, with the biggest welcome bonus (don't forget that those bonuses tend to come with a minimum-spend string attached) and the best ongoing Avios earn-rate.
Which frequent flyer card is most suitable for you will depend on your circumstances and how you plan to use the card – with each card having its own specific features – like annual fees, interest rates, Avios earn rates, introductory bonuses etc. Try to calculate how much you'll spend on your card each month, to see whether it's worth opting for this card's little sister – thereby ditching the annual fee in return for a slightly reduced earn-rate.
Crucially, if you're likely to carry a balance from month to month, you'll almost certainly pay more in interest than you'll earn in rewards with this card.
If you're a master of persuasion, don't forget that there are tasty points rewards to be had when you sign-up a friend or family member too!
Pros
-
Earn up to 30,000 Avios points
-
Earn Avios points on day-to-day spending
-
Access to tickets with American Express Experiences
-
Applicants with low credit scores may be eligible
-
Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with American Express
Cons
-
£300 annual account fee
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | American Express |
| Network | Amex |
| Representative APR | 139.2% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £300 per annum |
| Loyalty scheme | Avios |
| Incentive | New Cardmembers collect 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status. |
| Incentive on opening | New Cardmembers collect 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status. |
| Additional Rewards Info | Spend £15,000 annually and get a travel companion voucher when redeeming Avios for a BA reward flight. T&Cs apply. Refund Protection (90 days to return, receive max £200 per item, £750 per year). Automatic enrolment to the British Airways Executive Club. Access to tickets for must-see music, theatre and film events, often before they go on sale to the general public with American Express Experiences. Global Assist - 24/7 help available when travelling outside the UK. Eligible for American Express Connect where cardmembers can choose offers from selected retailers to obtain discounts or cashback. |
| Purchases | 30.7% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 30.7% |
| Potential costs | 3.1 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 4.5 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 4.5 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 2% or £25 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges, 1/12th of annual fee plus 2% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £300 per annum |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.99% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.99% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Replacement card fee | £0 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £2 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £0 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application Requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Residency | UK resident and has a UK bank or building society account. |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
Case study: Louise used Avios to get business class flights to Chile
"I chose this card because of the excellent reward benefits, mostly Avios air miles. I received a welcome bonus of 50,000 Avios miles when I spent £3,000 on the card, and I received additional Avios for referring my wife, who also got the welcome reward!
We were able to pool our Avios miles to get business class flights to Chile – those lie-flat seats were a lifesaver on a 14 hour flight and we got all the perks like lounge access, etc. We had to pay tax and fees, but the cash cost of the flights was less than we would have paid in economy, so it was a great deal.
If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of getting this, what would it be?
British Airways has a shopping portal where you can earn Avios points at loads of retailers just for clicking through from the shopping portal. So I check on the portal before buying anything online – combined with using my credit card to pay (which earns 1.5 Avios per £1), I can earn over 10 Avios for each pound spent."
How does this card compare with other Avios-earning cards on the market?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
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To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.
Read the full methodologyRepayment options
You can make manual repayments through American Express's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 917 8020). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | |
|---|---|
| Fixed amount | |
| Fixed percentage | |
| Full amount |
How to apply
First, you can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card. This won't impact your credit score. If it's good news, you can then proceed to American Express's online application, which takes 10–15 minutes to complete.
The big sister to the standard British Airways Amex card, the British Airways Premium Plus credit card boasts a bigger intro bonus and better earn rate. Of course, nothing comes for free, and you’ll need to stump up for a high annual fee in return for better rewards.
Ultimately, this is a premium card for high-spending frequent travellers, especially those who can make the most of the generous intro points bonus.
Frequently asked questions
What is a BA Amex companion voucher?
When you spend £15,000 on your BA Amex credit card or on your BA Amex Premium Plus credit card, within a year, you could be eligible for a companion voucher.
A companion voucher allows you to receive a second seat for a companion on the same flight and cabin as you or, if travelling solo, a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay for your flight. British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Vouchers can be redeemed in economy cabins, while British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card Companion Vouchers can be redeemed across all cabins.
What credit limit will I get with the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card?
If American Express is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on American Express's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is 700 and American Express does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown American Express that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250, and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 30.7% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.990000000000000000000000000000 charge (which is very standard). For example, if you spend 200 euros (£173.36), it'll cost you around £5.18 in fees.
Finder credit card scores
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★★★★★ — Poor
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