You can earn the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus in 2026 by enrolling in the offer, meeting the required spending threshold, and ensuring your transactions are billed before 8 April 2026.

Premium Plus cardholders must spend £4,000 to receive 1,500 bonus Avios, while free BA Amex cardholders must spend £2,000 to earn 500 bonus Avios.

The offer is limited to the first 200,000 enrolled members per card, and activation by saving the offer to your account is mandatory.

Below is a quick overview of the key points covered in this guide:

Key Area	Essential Details
Bonus Structure	25% extra Avios on base earn rate
Deadline	Spend must be billed by 8 April 2026
Premium Plus Requirement	£4,000 spent for 1,500 bonus Avios
Free Card Requirement	£2,000 spent for 500 bonus Avios
Enrolment	Must save the offer to the Card account
Cap Limit	First 200,000 members per card
Extra Value	Companion Voucher and Tier Point opportunities

What Is the BA Amex 25th Birthday Bonus in 2026?

The BA Amex 25th birthday bonus marks 25 years of partnership between British Airways and American Express in the UK. To celebrate this milestone, eligible cardholders can earn 25% extra Avios on qualifying spend until 8 April 2026.

The promotion is available to holders of both the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card and the British Airways American Express Credit Card.

This anniversary offer is structured as a targeted enrolment promotion. Cardholders must actively save the offer to their Card account and complete the required spending threshold within the promotional window.

The bonus is limited to the first 200,000 enrolled members on each card type, making early registration essential.

At its core, the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus is designed to reward everyday spending rather than specific travel purchases. The 25% uplift applies only to the base Avios earn rate attached to each card.

Enhanced earn categories, such as the 3 Avios per £1 on British Airways purchases for Premium Plus cardholders, are excluded from the bonus calculation.

This means the anniversary incentive acts as an incremental accelerator. It does not replace the existing earn structure but enhances the value of qualifying spend within a defined cap and timeframe.

The structure of the promotion can be summarised below.

Element	Details
Promotion	25% extra Avios on qualifying spend
Deadline	8 April 2026
Enrolment	Must save the offer to the card
Cap	First 200,000 per card type
Eligible Cards	Premium Plus and Free BA Amex
Bonus Type	Fixed bonus after threshold met

The anniversary year also signals further engagement between British Airways, American Express, and IAG Loyalty, with more promotions expected throughout the year.

Who Is Eligible for the British Airways American Express 25th Anniversary Offer?

Eligibility for the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus depends on card type, enrolment, and spending behaviour. Both existing and newly approved cardholders may qualify, provided they meet the conditions.

To qualify, a cardholder must:

• Hold an eligible British Airways American Express card
• Save the promotional offer to their Card account
• Complete the qualifying spend before 8 April 2026
• Be within the first 200,000 members per card type to enrol

It is important to understand that this is not an automatic reward. Activation is required. If a cardholder spends the qualifying amount without enrolling, the bonus will not be awarded.

Another important factor is billing timing. Transactions must be billed to the account before the deadline. If a retailer processes a payment late, even if the purchase was made before 8 April 2026, it may not count.

The following table clarifies eligibility conditions for both cards.

Requirement	Premium Plus	Free BA Amex
Must enrol	Yes	Yes
Existing members eligible	Yes	Yes
New members eligible	Yes	Yes
Billing deadline applies	Yes	Yes
Cap applies	Yes	Yes

From a practical standpoint, this means cardholders must plan spending carefully and avoid relying on last minute transactions.

How Much Can You Earn with the BA Amex Premium Plus 25th Birthday Bonus?

The Premium Plus Card offers a more generous anniversary bonus. Cardholders must spend £4,000 by 8 April 2026 to unlock 1,500 bonus Avios. This represents a 25% uplift on the base earn rate of 1.5 Avios per £1.

What Is the £4,000 Spend Requirement?

The Premium Plus earn structure works as follows:

• 1.5 Avios per £1 on everyday purchases
• 3 Avios per £1 on British Airways and BA Holidays purchases

However, the 25% anniversary bonus is calculated only on the 1.5 Avios base rate. Even if the £4,000 includes airline purchases, the additional uplift is fixed at 1,500 Avios once the threshold is reached.

Below is a simplified earnings illustration.

Spend	Base Avios Earned	Anniversary Bonus	Total Avios
£4,000 is spent every day	6,000	1,500	7,500
£4,000 mixed spend	6,000 base equivalent	1,500	7,500 plus any enhanced earnings
£4,000 BA spend	12,000 earned	1,500 bonus applies only to the base equivalent

The anniversary bonus is therefore predictable and capped rather than percentage-based on final Avios totals.

How Does the Companion Voucher Add Extra Value?

Beyond the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus, the Premium Plus Card offers a Companion Voucher after £15,000 annual spend. This voucher allows a second passenger to travel on the same reward booking without paying additional Avios.

Eligible cabins include:

• World Traveller Plus
• Club World
• First

Solo travellers can instead receive a 50% Avios discount on a reward flight.

I discussed this with a loyalty specialist who told me, “The real power of the Premium Plus card is not the short term Avios boost but the leverage you gain from the Companion Voucher in premium cabins.” I agree with that assessment.

The 1,500 Avios anniversary bonus is valuable, but the ability to reduce a long-haul business class redemption by tens of thousands of Avios delivers far greater long term impact.

From April 2026, Premium Plus cardholders will also gain opportunities to earn Tier Points through spending. This development integrates status progression with everyday financial activity, strengthening the loyalty ecosystem.

How Does the Free BA Amex Credit Card 25th Anniversary Bonus Compare?

The free BA Amex Credit Card provides a smaller anniversary incentive but requires less spending. Cardholders must spend £2,000 by 8 April 2026 to receive 500 bonus Avios.

The earn structure is straightforward:

• 1 Avios per £1 spent
• No annual fee

Although the anniversary bonus is lower, the barrier to entry is also reduced.

The following table compares the anniversary component directly.

Feature	Premium Plus	Free Card
Spend Required	£4,000	£2,000
Anniversary Bonus	1,500 Avios	500 Avios
Base Earn Rate	1.5 Avios per £1	1 Avios per £1
Annual Fee	£300	£0

The free card also offers a Companion Voucher after £15,000 annual spend, though it is valid only in Economy cabins.

For occasional travellers or those testing Avios collecting, the free card may feel more accessible. For regular travellers, especially those targeting premium cabins, the Premium Plus version usually provides stronger long-term value.

How Do You Enrol and Secure the 25% Extra Avios Before the Cap Is Reached?

Enrolment is a critical step in securing the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus. Cardholders must log into their American Express account, locate the anniversary promotion, and manually save it to their Card.

The process includes:

• Accessing the online account or mobile app
• Finding the 25th anniversary offer
• Selecting the option to save the offer
• Monitoring qualifying spend progress

The cap of 200,000 members per card means delay could result in missing out. Once the limit is reached, no further enrolments are accepted.

A loyalty professional explained this clearly to me: “With promotional offers like this, activation is not a formality. It is the qualifying trigger.

If you skip that step, the system will not award the bonus.” That insight highlights the operational importance of enrolment.

The timing of transactions is equally important. Retailers may take several days to submit transactions. Cardholders should complete qualifying spend well before the deadline to reduce risk.

Is the BA Amex 25th Birthday Bonus Worth It in 2026?

Assessing the value of the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus requires looking beyond the headline Avios numbers. Avios valuations in the UK commonly range between 0.8p and 1.2p per point, depending on redemption type.

Using a conservative 1p per Avios valuation:

Card Type	Bonus Avios	Approximate Value
Premium Plus	1,500	£15
Free Card	500	£5

In isolation, these figures are modest. However, when combined with base earnings and potential welcome bonuses, the cumulative effect increases.

If a new Premium Plus cardholder earns a welcome bonus, base Avios on £4,000 spend, and the 1,500 anniversary bonus, the total accumulation becomes more meaningful.

In my own view, the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus works best for those who were already planning to meet the threshold.

 “I would not recommend increasing spending purely to earn 1,500 extra Avios,” I would say candidly. The smarter approach is alignment rather than expansion of spending.

How Can You Maximise the BA Amex 25th Anniversary Avios Bonus?

Maximising this promotion requires structured planning rather than impulsive purchases.

Practical strategies include:

• Scheduling insurance renewals within the promotional window
• Paying annual subscriptions during the qualifying period
• Consolidating household spending onto the eligible card
• Avoiding refunds that could reduce net qualifying spend

Cardholders who are close to earning a Companion Voucher may find that aligning both thresholds in the same membership year increases overall return.

It is also important to track spending regularly through the American Express portal. Monitoring progress helps avoid under qualifying due to overlooked refunds or delayed transactions.

The BA Amex 25th birthday bonus should be treated as part of a wider Avios earning strategy. When combined with reward flight redemptions, cabin upgrades, and Companion Voucher usage, even smaller bonuses contribute to long-term travel savings.

What Happens After April 2026?

The anniversary period signals an evolution in the British Airways and American Express partnership. From April 2026, Premium Plus cardholders will have opportunities to earn Tier Points through everyday spending.

This development is significant because Tier Points traditionally require flying activity. Allowing spend-based Tier Point accumulation introduces a hybrid loyalty model that blends financial behaviour with travel frequency.

The 25-year milestone also opens the door for additional promotional campaigns throughout the anniversary year. Cardholders can expect periodic Avios incentives and prize opportunities tied to the partnership celebration.

In a broader loyalty context, the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus is one component of a multi-layered ecosystem that connects spending, status, and redemption flexibility.

For UK travellers who actively manage Avios, understanding each layer enables more strategic decisions across the entire membership year.

By approaching the anniversary promotion with clarity around eligibility, enrolment, and spending timing, cardholders can ensure they capture the available uplift while positioning themselves for additional loyalty benefits beyond 2026.

Final Thoughts: Should You Go for the BA Amex 25th Birthday Bonus?

If you already hold a BA Amex card and were planning to spend the required amount, enrolling in the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus is a straightforward win.

If you are considering applying for a card, the combined effect of a welcome bonus and the 25% anniversary uplift can make 2026 a strong year for Avios accumulation.

The key is acting early, enrolling properly, and understanding how the bonus is calculated. For UK travellers who regularly redeem Avios for reward flights, this anniversary offer adds incremental value without changing normal spending behaviour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus run?

The offer runs until 8 April 2026, provided you enrol before the 200,000 cardholder cap is reached.

Do I automatically qualify for the anniversary Avios bonus?

No. You must manually save the offer to your American Express Card account before spending.

Does the 25% bonus apply to British Airways purchases at 3 Avios per £1?

No. The bonus applies only to the base earn rate, not enhanced earning categories.

When will the bonus Avios appear in my account?

Avios typically appear within 30 days of eligible transactions, although delays are possible.

Can new cardholders earn both the welcome bonus and the 25th anniversary bonus?

Yes, provided they meet eligibility criteria and spending requirements for both offers.

What happens if I return an item after qualifying?

Refunds may reduce your qualifying spend and could impact your eligibility for the bonus.

Is there a limit to how many times I can enrol?

You can enrol once per eligible Card. The offer is limited to the first 200,000 enrolees per card.