Card review · earns Avios
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
The British Airways American Express Premium Plus is the upgrade that makes sense once you're spending seriously. It charges an annual fee, but earns Avios faster and — crucially — sets a more attainable spending threshold for the Companion Voucher, the two-for-one reward that is the real prize for regular British Airways flyers.
Who this card suits
This card is built for the committed Avios collector and the household that flies British Airways with any regularity. If you and a partner take even one or two paired reward trips a year, the Companion Voucher alone can be worth substantially more than the annual fee. It is a card you hold deliberately, because the maths works — not a set-and-forget freebie.
How it earns
It earns Avios at a higher rate than the no-fee card, with a larger welcome bonus for meeting the initial spend. Exact figures are in the box above and must be confirmed against American Express's live terms. The faster earn rate compounds meaningfully if you route significant everyday and business spending through it.
The Companion Voucher advantage
The reason this card exists is its Companion Voucher on a lower annual spend than the free version. Reaching the threshold earns a voucher that carries a second traveller on the same Avios booking. For anyone travelling as a pair in premium cabins, where the cash value of that second seat is highest, this is frequently the single most valuable perk in UK points collecting.
What to weigh before applying
The annual fee is real money, so this card only makes sense if you'll use the Companion Voucher or earn enough Avios to clear the fee comfortably. Run the sum honestly against how you actually travel. And the universal rule applies with force here: the fee and the rewards are only worth it if you never carry a balance — interest at a credit card's representative APR will erase the value quickly.