British Airways Premium Plus credit card

Available to those who are:

- Aged 18 or over
- Have a permanent UK home address
- Have a current UK bank or building society account
- Have no CCJ's for non-payment of debt

- Please check the full criteria before applying.

What we think

Our review and how this deal compares

The British Airways Premium Plus credit card offers frequent BA flyers the ability to earn additional miles on purchase spending.

A step up from the standard British Airways credit card, the Premium Plus offers more miles to the pound and additional flight offers in return for an annual fee.

Avios miles

The Premium Plus credit card offers 1.5 Avios - previously, BA Miles - for each £1 spent on virtually all purchases.

Cardholders will also be able to double that when spending with BA on flights or holidays.

Currently there is a joining incentive that offers 18,000 bonus Avios when cardholders spend £3,000 or more within the first 3 months.

Taxes, fees and charges are not redeemable with Avios. However they do not have expiry dates as long as they are being earned or redeemed.

Annual fee spending threshold

For "actual value" to surpass the annual fee purely in terms of the Avios earned, cardholders will need to be spending around £1,200 a month on average each year.

Of course that doesn't account for the ability to earn double miles with BA, or that companion tickets become available after a reduced spend of £10,000 per year (the standard - fee-free - card requires a £20k spend and doesn't offer double miles with BA).

Additionally the current 18,000 bonus miles offered in the first 3 months comes pretty close in value to the annual fee.

More about Avios

Avios can be redeemed for flights on British Airways and oneworld partner airlines, a group which includes American Airlines, Iberia, Qantus and Japan Airlines among others.

Holding a BA credit card means automatic British Airways Executive Club membership.

The Executive Club offers access to priority check-in services, airport lounges and exclusive reward flights. However, these additional extras aren't available straight away and need to be earned by moving up the membership tiers by increasing yearly miles earnings.

American Express

As an American Express credit card, this card has a range of additional cardholder services.

Purchase protection and refund protection policies are offered as well as a range of travel services and additional insurances.

The purchase insurance protects newly bought items against theft or accidental damage for 90 days. Items are covered up to £2,500 and a £50 excess applies.

The refund protection insurance covers eligible items where the retailer refuses a refund. Exclusions are typical to those you'd expect in terms of refunds.

Both policies have limitations and exclusions and as with any cover it's important to check the cover is adequate before relying on it.

Travel services

While not a substitute for a comprehensive travel insurance policy, trips booked with this card will receive both a travel accident and travel inconvenience insurance policy.

The travel inconvenience policy is worth checking over as it covers cardholders for flights booked with the card in the cases of flight delays, overbooking, missed connections and baggage delayed by the airline.

When travelling American Express also offer a Global Assist service, which offers emergency medical and legal assistance to cardholders abroad, including such things as helping to locate lost luggage, replacing prescriptions, finding an English-speaking doctor, interpretation and getting urgent messages back to the UK.

Emergency card replacement services are also available anywhere in the world and American Express seems to pride themselves on their ability to really accomplish anywhere.

In conclusion

All in all, clearly marketed for regular BA flyers and offering the backing of an American Express credit card, this card is well designed for frequent travelling.

Visit the American Express website to apply online »

Interest rates

Fees and charges

Repayment details

Rewards and discounts

Cardholder services

	Offered	Additional
Online account management		You can log in to the American Express web site and manage the credit card account online. > You can monitor cash back earnings online. > Optional paperless statements > SMS & e-mail alerts: Register for "Card Alerts" and choose to receive updates by SMS text message to your mobile phone or e-mail relating to your American Express Platinum Cashback credit card account. Notification information includes: > Account balance > Confirmation of payments > Advance notification of nearing your credit limit > Advance notification of due payments > Notification of missed payments.
Fraud Guarantee		If you're a victim of fraud and have taken reasonable care with your account and PIN, you won't be held responsible for any fraudulent charges incurred.
Fraud Monitoring		Secure System American Express will monitor your account for any suspicious transactions and notify you as soon as possible to check if it's fraudulent or not.
Identity Protection		-
Credit Report Access		-
3D Secure		-
OneTouch Payments		-
Purchase Protection Insurance		Theft or accidental damage for 90 days after the purchase date. > Up to £20,000 in any 365 day period. > Eligible items up to a maximum of £2,500 > £50 excess applies. > Please note exclusions and limitations apply.
Purchase Delivery Insurance		-
Purchase In-Transit Insurance		As part of the 'Purchase Protection Insurance' policy (items must not be left unattended).
Refund Protection Insurance		Failure to obtain a refund of an eligible item from the retailer within 90 days of purchase. > Up to £1000 in any 365 day period. > Up to £300 per item. > Brand new items only, costing between £25 and £300. > Please note exclusions and limitations apply.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance		-
Travel Accident Insurance		Cover for serious injury or death during trips paid for with the card. > Up to £250,000 cover. > Please note exclusions and limitations apply. This is not an adequate substitute for a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
Travel Inconvenience Insurance		Travel inconvenience > £200 for flight delay, overbooking or missed connection. > £750 for baggage delayed by airline for 6 hours. > An additional £1000 for extended baggage delay by airline. > Please note exclusions and limitations apply. This is not an adequate substitute for a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
Assistance Abroad		Global Assist 24 hour emergency helpline while traveling. Services include help with lost luggage, finding a lawyer or an English-speaking doctor, interpretation, prescription replacement and urgent message relay back home.
Emergency Card Replacement		Emergency card replacement almost anywhere in the world. American Express can additionally help with hotel check-in and emergency cash advance.