- Annual fee
- £300
- Welcome bonus
- 30,000 Avios after £6,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1.25 Avios per £1
- Key perk
- Companion Voucher at £15,000 a year
Our verdict
- The Companion Voucher works in any cabin, including business and First
- The voucher lasts two years, so you have time to find the right seats
- A 30,000 Avios bonus gives you a strong start
- You earn tier points towards British Airways status as you spend
- £300 a year is a real cost if you don't earn the voucher
- The earn rate dropped to 1.25 Avios per £1 this month
- You still pay taxes and charges for both travellers
- Amex isn't accepted everywhere
Why it's our pick this month
Most cards give you points. This one gives you a way to use them that's genuinely hard to beat. If you're starting from zero and your goal is a big trip for two, the Premium Plus gets you there faster than collecting points on their own.
Here's the simple version. You earn a bonus in your first three months, keep using the card for everyday spending, and once you reach £15,000 in a card year you unlock the Companion Voucher. That voucher lets a second person travel with you on a British Airways reward flight for the same Avios as one seat.
For a couple or friends travelling together, that halves the Avios needed for the flights. On a long-haul business class trip, that can be the difference between a dream and a booking.
How the Companion Voucher works
- Spend £15,000 in your card year. Your card year runs from the date you opened the account, not January to December.
- The voucher arrives in your British Airways account. It's valid for two years from when it's issued.
- Find reward seats for two people on the same flight. This is the step people miss. Search for availability before you plan anything else.
- Book with Avios for one seat. The second seat costs no extra Avios. You pay taxes and charges for both travellers.
The maths in your first year
If you hit the welcome bonus and then reach £15,000 of spending in your first card year, here's roughly what you'd have:
| What you get | Amount |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 30,000 Avios |
| £15,000 spend at 1.25 Avios per £1 | 18,750 Avios |
| Companion Voucher | 1 voucher, valid 2 years |
| Total | 48,750 Avios plus the voucher |
Against a £300 fee, that's a strong first year, as long as the £15,000 is spending you'd make anyway.
How to reach £15,000 without overspending
£15,000 sounds like a lot, but it works out at £1,250 a month. For many households that's already going out on bills and everyday costs. The trick is to move that spending onto the card and pay it off in full each month.
- Food shopping and fuel: the easiest wins, every week.
- Bills that take Amex: phone, broadband, streaming and some utilities.
- Insurance renewals: car, home and travel, paid yearly instead of monthly.
- Travel you've already planned: hotels, trains and flights.
- Big one-off costs: a holiday, furniture or a car service, timed to land in the right card year.
Never spend more than you planned just to reach the target. Interest or debt costs far more than any voucher is worth.
What changed in October 2026
From 7 October 2026, the Premium Plus earn rate dropped from 1.5 to 1.25 Avios per £1, and spending directly with British Airways no longer earns triple Avios. On the plus side, you now earn 1 tier point for every £10 you spend, credited as you go, with the yearly cap rising from 2,500 to 3,000 tier points from April 2027.
We still think it's the card to have, because the Companion Voucher hasn't changed and that's where most of the value sits. But if all you want is the most Avios per pound, read on.
Who it's not for, and what to get instead
- You won't spend £15,000 a year on one card. Without the voucher, a £300 fee is hard to justify. Start with the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold instead: no fee in year one, and its points move to Avios.
- You want the most Avios per pound. The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard now earns more, at 1.5 Avios per £1, and is accepted in more places.
- You fly Virgin Atlantic more than BA. Look at the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard instead.
- You don't want an annual fee at all. The free British Airways American Express also offers a Companion Voucher at £15,000, but it's economy only and lasts one year.
Compare all of these side by side in our guide to the top UK airline credit and debit card offers.
See every airline card compared
Fees, bonuses and earn rates for every UK card that earns Avios or Virgin Points.
Frequently asked questions
Is the £300 annual fee worth it?
If you'll spend £15,000 a year and use the Companion Voucher on a long-haul trip for two, usually yes. If you won't reach £15,000, a cheaper or free card is a better fit.
Does the voucher cover taxes and charges?
No. The voucher removes the Avios cost of the second seat, but you pay taxes and charges for both travellers.
Can I use the voucher on other airlines?
It works on British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus flights booked with Avios through British Airways Club. It can't be used on Qatar Airways or other partners.
Can I get the welcome bonus if I've had an Amex card before?
Usually only if you haven't held an Amex card recently, often within the last 24 months. Check the eligibility rules on the application page before you apply.