The usual 6,000 Avios welcome bonus has been increased to 15,000 bonus Avios for eligible new British Airways American Express Credit Cardmembers.
Apply through the referral journey, be approved and spend £2,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership to qualify. The card has no annual fee, and the enhanced offer ends at 11:59pm BST on 6 October 2026.
The 15,000 Avios offer at a glance
| Offer detail | Current requirement |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 15,000 Avios instead of 6,000 |
| Required spending | £2,000 |
| Spending period | First three months of Cardmembership |
| Annual card fee | £0 |
| Previous-card restriction | No personal American Express Card in the previous 24 months |
| Applicant requirements | UK resident aged 18 or over |
| Application deadline | 11:59pm BST on 6 October 2026 |
| Representative APR | 29.1% APR variable |
Cardmembership begins on the date your application is approved, not when the physical card arrives.
How to collect the 15,000 bonus Avios
Apply through the correct offer journey
- Open our American Express referral link.
Do not begin a separate application first because the referral cannot be added afterwards.
- Select the British Airways American Express Credit Card.
Confirm that the application page displays 15,000 bonus Avios before continuing.
- Apply before the deadline.
Your application must be submitted by 11:59pm BST on 6 October 2026 and is subject to status and approval.
- Note your approval date.
This is when Cardmembership and your personal three-month spending period begin.
- Spend £2,000 on eligible goods and services.
Use purchases already included in your normal budget and leave room for any refunds or reversals.
- Wait for both bonus instalments.
American Express says the Avios arrive in instalments of 5,000 and 10,000 and can take up to four weeks after meeting the spending requirement.
Apply for the 15,000 Avios offer →
Who is eligible for the welcome offer?
The 15,000 Avios welcome bonus is only available if you:
- Are a UK resident aged 18 or over.
- Apply through a journey displaying this offer.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
- Are approved for the card.
- Have not held any personal American Express Card during the previous 24 months.
- Complete the £2,000 spending requirement within your first three months.
The 24-month rule applies to any personal American Express Card, not only a previous British Airways Amex.
If you currently hold a personal Amex or closed one less than 24 months ago, you may still be able to apply for the card, but the supplied terms say you will not qualify for this new Cardmember bonus.
American Express provides a credit limit based on affordability and credit history. A lower limit may make the spending target harder to reach. Never exceed your limit or spend more than you can comfortably repay.
When will the Avios arrive?
American Express says the welcome bonus will arrive in at least two instalments:
- 5,000 Avios
- 10,000 Avios
They can take up to four weeks to reach your account after you complete the required spending. Do not expect all 15,000 Avios to appear immediately after the transaction that takes you over £2,000.
Keep track of your approval date, the end of the three-month period, eligible purchases, refunded transactions and both bonus instalments.
What can you do with 15,000 Avios?
Fifteen thousand Avios can provide a useful start towards a future trip. Depending on the route, date, reward availability and amount of cash you choose to contribute, it may cover a worthwhile short-haul reward journey or substantially reduce the Avios needed for a larger booking.
It is not the same as receiving a completely free flight. A reward booking can still require:
- Taxes, fees and carrier charges
- Available reward seats
- A cash contribution
- Additional Avios for a return journey or another traveller
The value depends on how you redeem the points. Flexible travellers will normally have more opportunities to find a useful reward.
Build a larger Avios pot
The card offer does not need to be your only source of Avios.
Get 500 Avios through the Avios app
Eligible new Avios app users can collect 500 bonus Avios after joining through an invitation and completing a qualifying activity. Downloading the app alone is not enough.
Our Airbnb cashback and Avios guide explains the current invitation and qualifying-activity requirement.
Collect Avios from an Airbnb booking
British Airways currently provides Avios on qualifying Airbnb stays and Experiences started through its official tracking page. If you were already planning a booking, this can add to your balance without changing the accommodation price.
Read our guide to collecting Avios and cashback on Airbnb.
Collect personal Avios on eligible business travel
If you travel for an eligible company, the business may be able to collect On Business Points while the traveller continues collecting personal Avios.
Our British Airways On Business guide explains how the two reward balances differ.
Do not make unnecessary purchases simply to collect points. Avios are most useful when they are an additional reward for spending or travel that was already planned.
Is the card really free?
The British Airways American Express Credit Card has no annual card fee. That does not mean borrowing on it is free.
The offer displays a representative 29.1% APR variable. Carrying a balance and paying interest can quickly cost more than the Avios are worth.
The safer approach is to:
- Use the card only for planned purchases.
- Stay within your normal budget.
- Consider a Direct Debit for the full statement balance.
- Check every monthly statement.
- Avoid using the bonus as a reason to spend more.
- Never miss a payment merely to preserve cash for another purchase.
Only apply if the card and spending requirement suit your financial circumstances.
A sensible way to reach £2,000
Three months gives an average target of approximately £667 per month.
Planned spending might include groceries, transport, household bills that accept American Express, accommodation, insurance or purchases you had already budgeted for.
Not every business accepts American Express, and not every type of transaction necessarily counts towards a welcome offer. Check the current card terms before relying on a particular payment.
Avoid cash withdrawals, artificial transactions or buying things you would not otherwise purchase.
Do not miss the three different dates
The enhanced referral campaign ends at 11:59pm BST on 6 October 2026. Your personal three-month spending period begins when the card is approved.
Do not confuse:
- The 6 October application deadline
- Your individual three-month spending deadline
- The period American Express needs to award the Avios
Take a screenshot of the offer displayed during your application and keep the approval email.
BA Amex offer questions
Does the BA Amex card have an annual fee?
Do I receive 15,000 Avios immediately?
Can an existing Amex customer receive the bonus?
What if I previously held a different personal Amex?
Can I apply without the referral link?
Are 15,000 Avios enough for a trip?
Before applying
Confirm that:
- The application page displays 15,000 bonus Avios.
- You have not held a personal Amex during the previous 24 months.
- You can naturally spend £2,000 within three months.
- You can repay the statement balance in full.
- You understand that approval is not guaranteed.
- You are comfortable with London for Cheap receiving 10,000 Avios.
- You are applying before 11:59pm BST on 6 October 2026.
Check the limited-time 15,000 Avios offer →
Official offer information
Offer information supplied by American Express and checked on 4 September 2026. American Express may change or withdraw introductory offers. Check the bonus, card, eligibility, APR and spending conditions shown during your application before submitting it.