How does amex british airways work?

While there is no annual fee to pay for the American Express British Airways card, there is no promotional period on purchases – and balance transfers are not permitted.

New purchases made on this card will attract a representative annual interest rate (APR) of 29.4% (variable).

That said, you get up to 56 days’ interest-free on purchases. So, if you clear your balance in full – and on time – every month, you won’t be charged a penny in interest.

If you are late with your monthly repayment, you will face a £12 charge. There is also a returned payment fee of £12.

With this card, working out rewards is simple, as you collect one Avios point for just about every £1 you spend. This is in addition to a welcome bonus of 5,000 Avios points if you spend £1,000 in the first three months.

If you redeem your Avios on an economy flight to Europe, one point is worth around 0.5p. Avios can be redeemed against part of the flight, or to upgrade to business or first class.

According to American Express, collecting 18,500 Avios could be enough to secure a flight within Europe for £1.

You’ll also get a Companion Voucher when you spend £12,000 each membership year on the Card, which you can use to either take a companion with you on the same flight and cabin or, if travelling solo, a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay for your flight. Vouchers are redeemable when you book a British Airways Reward flight in Euro Traveller and World Traveller cabins (economy class) only. Reward flights and Companion Voucher bookings are subject to availability and taxes, fees and carrier charges apply per person.

If you’re travelling solo, you can choose a 50% discount on the Avios price paid for the flight instead. The vouchers can be redeemed when you book a British Airways Reward flight in Euro Traveller or World Traveller cabins (economy class) only. Voucher bookings are subject to availability and taxes, and fees and carrier charges will apply per person.

Vouchers are redeemable on economy class flights (when you book an Avios reward flight in Euro Traveller and World Traveller cabins). Taxes and fees will still have to be paid.

If you refer a friend who successfully gets approved for an American Express card, you can earn at least 4,000 bonus points. In a calendar year, you can earn up to 90,000 bonus Avios points. You can put these towards flights, upgrades or treats on board.

With the American Express British Airways Credit Card, you get ‘Purchase Protection.’ If an eligible item is stolen or accidentally damaged, you will be reimbursed £2,500. This applies for up to 90 days after the item was purchased.

The card also offers ‘Refund Protection,’ so if you have trouble with a UK shop refunding your payment, you’ll get the price of eligible items refunded, up to £200, if you submit a claim within 90 days.

In addition, cardholders also have chargeback rights, as detailed in their Ts and Cs – but you should contact American Express directly to discuss.

To be accepted for the American Express British Airways card, you’ll need a pretty good credit rating – and no history of bad debt. You will need to be aged at least 18.

Before formally applying, it can be helpful to use an eligibility checker tool. This will show the likelihood of you getting accepted, without leaving a mark on your credit file.

You will not be eligible for a welcome bonus if you have held any American Express card in the past two years.

Exercise caution before taking money from an ATM with this card as interest is charged with immediate effect.

With this card, as with any rewards card, be sure to clear your balance in full each month. If not, any rewards you earn could be outweighed by interest charges.

If you’re looking for a generous airline credit card and plan on using this plastic for your everyday spending – especially in the early days to take advantage of the welcome bonus – this card could be ideal.

What you get is a decent Avios offering, a welcome bonus, a friend referral scheme – and the added extras that come with being an American Express cardholder – all with no upfront fee.

While there is no annual fee to pay for the American Express British Airways card, there is no promotional period on purchases – and balance transfers are not permitted. New purchases made on this card will attract a representative annual interest rate (APR) of 29.4% (variable).