The British Airways American Express Credit Card is a no-fee travel rewards card aimed at UK shoppers who want to collect Avios from everyday spending. Its biggest selling point is simple: you earn 1 Avios per £1 spent, and eligible new cardmembers can currently get 5,000 bonus Avios after spending £2,000 in the first three months. Its biggest drawback is also clear: the card is expensive if you carry a balance, and it is not a good card for spending abroad because Amex charges a 2.99% non-sterling fee.
Bottom line: This is a strong starter Avios card for people who pay in full every month and mainly spend in the UK, but it is a weak choice for carrying debt or overseas spending.
👍 Pros
- No annual fee, while still earning 1 Avios per £1 on eligible purchases.
- Eligible new cardmembers can currently get 5,000 bonus Avios by spending £2,000 in the first three months.
- Spend £15,000 in a card membership year and you earn a Companion Voucher; the card also includes extras such as Amex Offers, Global Assist, Travel Accident Insurance and Purchase/Refund Protection.
👎 Cons
- The representative APR is 29.1% variable, so the card is poor value if you carry a balance.
- Non-sterling purchases incur a 2.99% fee, and cash withdrawals cost 3% or £3, whichever is higher, with cash interest starting immediately at the cash rate.
- The free-card Companion Voucher is the weaker version: it is valid for 12 months and limited to economy reward seats, while taxes, fees and carrier charges still apply.
At a Glance
Core card facts, current public offer and eligibility details below are based on current Amex UK and British Airways pages.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | Travel rewards / Avios beginners |
| Card network | American Express |
| Annual fee | £0 |
| Representative APR | 29.1% APR variable |
| Rewards | 1 Avios per £1 spent; current public bonus of 5,000 Avios if eligible new cardmembers spend £2,000 in 3 months |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.99% |
| Eligibility checker | Yes |
| Recommended credit profile | Amex says applicants should have no history of bad debt |
Is This a Good First Credit Card?
Yes, if you want a no-fee rewards card, already like the idea of collecting Avios, and are organised enough to repay in full each month. No, if you want the simplest possible beginner card, plan to spend a lot abroad, or think you may carry a balance from month to month.
Key Costs to Know
Annual fee
There is no annual fee, which makes this one of the lower-risk ways to start collecting airline rewards.
Interest / APR
The purchase rate is 29.1% p.a. variable and the representative APR is also 29.1% variable. As Amex explains, you generally avoid purchase interest if you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month.
Foreign spending fees
Despite the British Airways branding, this is not a specialist overseas spending card. Amex charges a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee on foreign currency purchases.
Cash withdrawal fees
Using this card at an ATM is usually poor value. Amex says cash withdrawals cost 3% of the amount withdrawn or £3, whichever is greater, and cash withdrawals start accruing interest at the cash advance rate straight away.
Late payment fees
Amex says late payment fees can apply if you miss the minimum payment due date shown on your statement, and the amount depends on your card terms.
Rewards and Perks
What do you get?
The headline reward is 1 Avios per £1 spent on eligible purchases. As of March 2026, the public offer shown on British Airways and Amex pages is 5,000 bonus Avios if an eligible new cardmember spends £2,000 in the first three months. You can also earn a Companion Voucher when you spend £15,000 in a card membership year. Beyond Avios, the card comes with Amex Offers, Global Assist, Travel Accident Insurance of up to £75,000 on public transport tickets bought with the card, and Purchase/Refund Protection, all subject to terms and in some cases enrolment.
Referral offer: Apply through the link and you can collect 10,000 bonus Avios when you’re approved for the British Airways American Express Credit Card and spend £2,000 in your first three months. This offer is only available if you have not held a personal American Express Card within the previous 24 months.
https://americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/ba-classic-credit?ref=dONGYLQ9ZP&XLINK=MYCP
How easy are the rewards to use?
The rewards are fairly easy to understand because this card earns Avios directly rather than flexible points. The catch is that the free-card Companion Voucher is not especially flexible: it is valid for 12 months and limited to economy reward flights, and you still pay taxes, fees and carrier charges. That means this card works best for people who already collect Avios and are happy flying economy on reward bookings.
How the Avios Work
You earn 1 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible purchases. Amex says you do not earn Avios on balance transfers, cash withdrawals, foreign exchange, interest, late payment charges, returned payment charges, referral charges, finance charges, or spend above your credit limit.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
Amex says personal card applicants should be aged 18 or over, have a permanent UK home address, have a current UK bank or building society account, and have no history of bad debt. British Airways’ card page also says self-employed applicants should have been working for more than one year.
Do you need good credit?
Amex does not publish a minimum credit score on the page, but based on its checklist and the type of rewards card this is, it is more likely to suit applicants with a solid credit profile than someone with damaged credit history.
Can you check eligibility without hurting your score?
Yes. Amex says its Eligibility Checker will not impact your credit rating.
Important welcome bonus rule
British Airways says you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus if you hold or have held any personal American Express card in the past 24 months.
What Beginners Should Know
- Pay in full each month if you want to avoid interest.
- Set up a Direct Debit so you do not miss payments.
- Do not use it for cash withdrawals unless you fully understand the fees and interest.
- Airline rewards are only valuable if you do not wipe them out with interest charges.
- A rewards card is still a credit card first, so discipline matters more than perks.
A Simple Example
If you spend £300 on groceries, train tickets and online shopping, you would earn 300 Avios at the standard rate. If you then repay the full balance by the due date, you would usually avoid purchase interest. If you only make the minimum payment, interest can build quickly, which can easily outweigh the value of the Avios you earned.
Using This Card Abroad
This is a better card for earning Avios before a trip than for paying while you are away. The 2.99% non-sterling fee makes foreign purchases expensive, and cash withdrawals abroad trigger both the non-sterling fee and the separate cash withdrawal fee. The travel-related extras are still useful, though: the card includes Global Assist and Travel Accident Insurance when eligible tickets are bought with the card.
Who Should Get This Card?
This card makes sense for UK spenders who want a straightforward route into Avios without paying an annual fee. It is especially appealing if you already use British Airways Club, usually pay your card off in full, and think you might realistically hit the £15,000 annual spend needed for the Companion Voucher.
Who Should Avoid This Card?
You should probably skip this card if you often carry a balance, spend heavily overseas, or want the strongest possible travel perk from your yearly spend. You should also look elsewhere if you want flexible rewards rather than points tied directly to Avios.
Alternatives Worth Considering
- British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card – Better if you spend heavily, want to earn Avios faster, and value a much stronger Companion Voucher. The current public offer is 30,000 bonus Avios after £6,000 spend in three months for eligible new cardmembers, it earns 1.5 Avios per £1, and its Companion Voucher can be used in any cabin, though an annual fee applies.
- The American Express Rewards Credit Card – Better if you want a no-fee Amex card with more flexible points. It earns 1 Membership Rewards point per £1, has no annual fee, and Amex says Membership Rewards points can be transferred to British Airways Club as well as other travel partners.
Final Verdict
The British Airways American Express Credit Card is a good entry-level Avios card, not a great all-round beginner credit card. The no annual fee and 1 Avios per £1 earning rate are genuinely attractive, but the value really only works if you pay in full, spend mostly in the UK, and already know you want Avios rather than cash-back or flexible points. The biggest warning is simple: do not let a 29.1% APR bill wipe out the travel rewards.