BA Amex (Free)
The free British Airways American Express Credit Card earns 1 Avios per £1 with no annual fee, ever. It includes a Companion Voucher at £15,000 annual spend — the same threshold as the Premium Plus — but with two restrictions that fundamentally change its value: the voucher is valid for one year only (not two), and it works only in Economy (not all cabins). For anyone planning to redeem in Business or First Class, those restrictions make the Premium Plus worth paying for. But for Economy-focused travellers, low spenders, or anyone wanting a risk-free entry into Avios collecting, this card has a clear role.
| Card Summary — March 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 (free forever) |
| Earn rate | 1 Avios per £1 on all spend. 2 Avios per £1 on BA and BA Holidays purchases via ba.com |
| Sign-up bonus | 5,000 Avios (6,000 via referral) for £2,000 spend in 3 months |
| Companion Voucher | At £15,000 annual spend. Economy only. Valid 1 year. BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus |
| Representative APR | 29.1% variable |
| FX fee | 2.99% |
| Minimum income | £15,000 |
| Eligibility for bonus | Must not have held either BA Amex card (Premium Plus or free) in the previous 24 months. Other Amex cards (Gold, Platinum, Marriott, Nectar) do not block you |
The Economy-Only Voucher
The Companion Voucher on the free card works identically to the Premium Plus voucher in mechanics — two Avios flights for the cost of one, on BA, Iberia, or Aer Lingus, with full taxes and charges on both tickets. Solo travellers can use it for a 50% Avios discount on one ticket. The critical difference is the cabin restriction: the free card’s voucher works only in Economy. You cannot use it for Business or First Class.
The validity is also shorter: one year from issue, versus two years on the Premium Plus. This gives you less time to find availability and book.
For a family that only flies Economy long-haul, the Economy voucher still delivers substantial value. A return Economy flight to New York for two people might cost 52,000 Avios (off-peak, 2 × 26,000). With the voucher, it costs 26,000 Avios — a saving of 26,000 Avios from a card with zero annual fee. That is genuine value, especially for families on a budget.
For anyone with premium cabin aspirations, however, the Economy restriction is disqualifying. A Business Class voucher saving 176,000 Avios (on the Premium Plus) versus an Economy voucher saving 26,000 Avios — for a £300 annual fee difference — makes the Premium Plus overwhelmingly better value at higher cabins.
The Upgrade Path
You can upgrade from the free BA Amex to Premium Plus at any time through Amex. Your membership year stays the same. Any spend progress toward the £15,000 voucher threshold carries over. However, you do NOT receive a new sign-up bonus on the upgrade — Amex treats it as a product change, not a new application.
This creates a strategic decision. If you have never held any BA Amex and want to maximise bonuses, apply directly for Premium Plus (30,000 Avios bonus, or higher during promotions). If you already hold the free card and want the all-cabin voucher, upgrading is your only option — but you forfeit the Premium Plus bonus permanently.
Some collectors take the free card first (5,000 Avios bonus), use it for a year, then cancel. After 24 months, they apply fresh for Premium Plus as a new cardholder, receiving the full 30,000 Avios bonus. This maximises total bonus collection but requires a two-year gap without any BA Amex.
When the Free Card Makes Sense
You will never spend £15,000/year on a credit card: If the voucher is unreachable, the card is simply a free 1 Avios per £1 earner. No fee, no downside. The 5,000 Avios bonus is modest but costs you nothing.
You only fly Economy: If Business and First Class are not in your plans, the Economy-only voucher restriction is irrelevant. You get the same 2-for-1 value in the cabin you actually fly.
You want a risk-free introduction: Spend a few months earning Avios, see if the hobby appeals, then decide whether to upgrade to Premium Plus or move to a different card strategy entirely. Zero cost, zero commitment.
You hold the Premium Plus and want a downgrade option: If you cancel Premium Plus but want to keep an Avios-earning Amex, the free card maintains your relationship with BA Avios at zero cost. Downgrading preserves your account history and any voucher spend progress.
Additional Benefits
Supplementary cards: Free supplementary cards available. Spending on supplementary cards counts toward the £15,000 voucher threshold and earns Avios. Periodically, Amex offers 500+ bonus Avios for adding a supplementary card — wait for promotions.
Amex Offers: The same targeted cashback deals available on other Amex cards. £10 back at Tesco, £20 back at John Lewis, and similar offers can save £50–100+ per year — meaningful on a card with no annual fee.
Double Avios on BA: 2 Avios per £1 on purchases made directly with BA or BA Holidays via ba.com. If you book BA flights on cash fares, this doubles your earning on those transactions.
No lounge access: Unlike the Amex Gold (4 Priority Pass visits), the free BA Amex has no lounge access benefit.
The free BA Amex blocks you from the Amex Gold sign-up bonus for 24 months (because “any personal Amex” blocks Gold). But Amex Gold does NOT block you from the BA Amex bonus (because BA Amex only checks for “BA Amex in 24 months”). Order matters: if you want both bonuses, apply for Amex Gold first, then BA Amex. Applying for the free BA Amex first locks you out of Gold’s 20,000 MR bonus.
Zero fee forever, 1 Avios per £1, 5,000 Avios bonus. The Companion Voucher at £15,000 is Economy-only and valid one year — far less valuable than the Premium Plus voucher for premium cabin travellers. Best as a stepping stone for beginners, a permanent free earner for Economy flyers, or a downgrade option from Premium Plus. If you want Business or First Class redemptions, the £300 Premium Plus fee pays for itself many times over. Watch the application sequence: apply for Amex Gold before this card, not after, to preserve the Gold sign-up bonus eligibility.
