Applicable to UK residents only.
The British Airways Credit Card is the basic version of the BAPPCC (British Airways Premium Plus Credit Card – reviewed here).
Key facts:
Sign-up bonus: 3,000 Avios when you spend £500 in the first three months. There is an increased bonus of 4,000 Avios if you’re referred. Email me at thatairlineguybusiness (at) gmail.com if you would like a referral link.
Annual fee: No annual fee! You can therefore think of the sign-up bonus as free miles.
Earning rate:
You earn 1 Avios per pound spent on virtually all purchases with the card. This is a solid rate for a free card, though for everyday spend, I would recommend the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card (review here), which has the same earning rate, but can be transferred to several many different mileage programs (not just BA), meaning you aren’t tied in with one airline.
Other perks:
You will receive a 2-4-1 companion voucher if you spend £20,000 or more in a year on the British Airways Credit Card, just like on the BAPPCC, entitling you to book two Avios redemptions for the price (in Avios) on one.
However, if you’re intent on aiming for this voucher, it’s very advisable to do it on the BAPPCC. Not only will you earn more Avios due to the higher earning rate, but the target is only £10,000 on the other card. What’s more, the voucher will be valid for two years, and the one on this card is only valid for a year.
Final thoughts:
The British Airways Credit Card is a really useful tool at ‘maintaining’ a 2-4-1 voucher earned on the BAPPCC. The 2-4-1 voucher will void if you cancel the BAPPCC, however if you sign up for this card first, it will remain valid for the full two years. This card is also great for is sign-up bonus. Although not a lot, the absence of an annual fee means it’s effectively free miles to churn.
