What the British Airways credit card does
The British Airways American Express card is a co-branded rewards card issued by American Express and British Airways. It earns points on every purchase you make, and those points convert into British Airways flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards. The card also comes with perks like checked baggage allowance and priority boarding on BA flights.
The card is not free to hold. American Express charges an annual fee, currently £195 in the UK and $95 USD in the United States, depending on which version you hold. You earn points whether you pay the fee or not, but the fee is a real cost you need to factor into whether the rewards justify keeping the card active.
Points earned on this card do not expire as long as your account remains open and you use the card at least once every three years. If your account closes, your points are lost.
Key Takeaways
- The British Airways Amex card charges an annual fee and earns points on purchases that convert to BA flights and upgrades, not cash back.
- You earn bonus points when you first open the card, typically 50,000 to 100,000 points depending on the current offer, which can cover one or more flights.
- Points are worth more on premium cabin flights (business and first class) than on economy, so your redemption strategy affects the real value you get.
- The card includes checked baggage, priority boarding, and other BA-specific perks that have value only if you actually fly BA regularly.
- You need to use the card at least once every three years or your points expire when the account closes.
How points are earned and what they are worth
You earn one Avios point per pound (or dollar) spent on most purchases. Some categories earn more — for example, purchases at BA.com or with BA partner airlines may earn double points, though this varies by offer and changes over time. The exact earning rate depends on which version of the card you hold and any current promotions.
The value of your points depends entirely on what you redeem them for. A single Avios point is not worth a fixed amount in pounds or dollars. Instead, you use points to book flights at a points cost that varies by route, date, and cabin class. A short domestic flight might cost 4,500 points, while a long-haul business class flight might cost 150,000 points or more. The same 50,000 bonus points could therefore buy you one premium cabin flight or several economy flights, depending on what you book.
This is different from cash-back cards, where every pound earned is worth roughly the same. With the BA card, your points are only valuable if you actually want to fly BA or its partner airlines, and only on routes where the points price represents good value compared to paying cash.
The annual fee and whether it pays for itself
The annual fee is £195 (UK) or $95 USD (US), depending on your region. This is a fixed cost you pay every year, regardless of how many points you earn or whether you use the card.
To justify the fee, you need to earn enough value in points and perks to exceed £195 or $95 per year. The welcome bonus — typically 50,000 to 100,000 points when you first open the card — can cover this in year one, since those bonus points alone may be worth more than the fee. But in year two and beyond, you need to earn enough points through regular spending to make the fee worthwhile.
If you spend £10,000 per year on the card, you earn 10,000 points. Whether that justifies a £195 fee depends on the value of those 10,000 points when you redeem them. If you redeem them on a flight worth £300, the points are worth roughly 3p each, giving you £300 in value against a £195 fee — a net gain. But if you redeem them on a flight worth £150, the points are worth roughly 1.5p each, giving you £150 in value against a £195 fee — a net loss.
Perks beyond points: baggage, boarding, and lounge access
The card includes a free checked bag on BA flights (for you and one companion on the same booking), priority boarding, and a discount on BA lounge access. Some versions also include travel insurance and other protections, though these vary by card tier.
These perks have real value only if you fly BA regularly. If you fly BA once a year, the checked bag saves you a fee that year, but the other perks may not matter. If you fly BA ten times a year, the perks add up. The lounge access discount is useful if you value airport lounge time, but you still pay a fee each time you use it — the card does not give you free lounge access.
Do not assume these perks are worth a fixed amount. A checked bag saves you £30 to £50 per flight, but only if you would otherwise have paid for it. Priority boarding has no direct cash value unless you would have paid for it separately. The real value depends on your flying habits and what you would have paid for these services anyway.
How to compare this card to other rewards cards
The British Airways card is one option among many rewards cards. To decide whether it makes sense for you, compare it on three dimensions: the annual fee, the earning rate, and the redemption value.
Other American Express cards may charge lower annual fees (or no fee) but earn fewer points per pound spent. Other airline cards may earn more points on airline purchases but fewer on everyday spending. Cash-back cards earn a fixed percentage back on all purchases, which is easier to value but typically lower than airline points on premium redemptions.
The key question is not which card earns the most points in abstract terms, but which card gives you the most value for the money you actually spend and the way you actually travel. If you fly BA regularly and book premium cabins, the BA card may be worth the fee. If you fly once a year in economy, a cash-back card or a no-fee card may be better.
Partner airlines and transfer options
British Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance, which includes airlines like American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and others. You can use Avios points to book flights on these partner airlines as well as on BA itself. This expands the routes and airlines you can book with your points.
Partner redemptions sometimes offer better value than BA redemptions on the same route, depending on availability and pricing at the time you book. You can also transfer Avios points to hotel partners and other travel partners, though this is typically less valuable than using them for flights.
The ability to book partner airlines makes the card more flexible than a card that only works on one airline. But it also means you need to research partner availability and pricing to get good value, rather than straightforward booking the cheapest BA flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay the annual fee even if I do not use the card?
Yes. American Express charges the annual fee automatically every year, regardless of whether you use the card or earn any points. If you decide the card is not worth the fee, you need to close the account to stop paying it. Some versions of the card offer a fee waiver in the first year, but you pay the full fee in year two and beyond unless you close the account.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points are lost when you close the account. This is why many cardholders keep the card open even if they do not use it much — the annual fee is cheaper than losing a large balance of points. However, if your balance is small (a few thousand points), it may make sense to close the card and stop paying the fee.
Can I transfer points to someone else?
You cannot transfer Avios points to another person's account. However, you can book flights for other people using your points — for example, you can use your points to buy a ticket for a family member on a BA flight. The ticket is issued in their name, but you pay for it with your points.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?
This depends on how much you spend and what flight you want to book. If you spend £5,000 per year on the card, you earn 5,000 points per year. A short domestic flight might cost 4,500 points, so you could book one per year. A long-haul economy flight might cost 50,000 points, so you would need ten years of spending at that level. The welcome bonus typically covers one or more flights when ready, which is why many people open the card for the bonus alone.
Is the British Airways card worth it if I only fly once a year?
Probably not. If you fly once a year, the checked bag perk saves you one fee per year (roughly £30 to £50), and the annual fee is £195. You would need to earn enough points on your everyday spending to make up the difference. For most people flying once a year, a cash-back card or a no-fee card is better value.