British Airways Amex 25th Birthday Bonus: What Does the 25% Avios Offer Include?

What is the BA Amex 25th Birthday Bonus, and Who is It for?

The BA Amex 25th birthday bonus marks a quarter-century partnership between British Airways and American Express in the UK.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, eligible cardholders can earn additional Avios by hitting a specific spending threshold before 8 April 2026.

This promotion applies to:

• British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card Members
• British Airways American Express® Credit Card Members (the free card)
• The first 200,000 cardholders on each product who enrol
• Primary cardholders who save the offer to their account

It is important to note that this is not an automatic bonus. You must actively enrol via the “Save to Card” function in the American Express app or website.

As one loyalty enthusiast put it, “It sounds automatic, but it isn’t — if you don’t click save, you don’t get a thing.”

The offer runs until 8 April 2026, and qualifying spend must be billed to your account by that date.

Is It Really “25% More Avios”, or is It a Fixed Bonus in Disguise?

This is where clarity matters. While marketed as a 25% Avios boost, the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus is not a rolling 25% uplift on everything you spend.

Instead, it is a fixed Avios bonus triggered when you reach a defined spending threshold. For Premium Plus cardholders, the threshold is £4,000. For free cardholders, it is £2,000.

If you spend exactly the threshold amount, the maths works out neatly:

• Premium Plus earns 1.5 Avios per £1
• £4,000 earns 6,000 Avios
• The bonus adds 1,500 Avios
• 1,500 is 25% of 6,000

However, once you spend beyond £4,000, the effective percentage uplift declines. The bonus remains capped. In other words, the 25% figure only holds true at the exact qualifying spend level.

As one frequent flyer commented, “It’s not 25% more on everything — it’s 25% more on a very specific slice.”

This distinction is crucial if you are deciding whether to accelerate spending.

How Does the Offer Work for Premium Plus Cardholders?

The British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card carries a £300 annual fee and is designed for frequent travellers who want to accelerate Avios earning and unlock the Companion Voucher.

Under normal circumstances, you earn:

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

Under the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus, the structure is straightforward but capped.

Key details:

• Spend £4,000 by 8 April 2026
• Receive 1,500 bonus Avios
• The offer is capped at the first 200,000 enrolled cardholders
• You must save the offer to your card before qualifying spend

This is not a rolling percentage boost. It is a fixed bonus triggered once you cross the £4,000 threshold.

Important exclusions:

• The bonus is calculated only on the base earn rate (1.5 Avios per £1)
• Enhanced 3 Avios per £1 rates on BA purchases do not increase the bonus
• Supplementary card spending does not count towards the threshold

This means that even if you spend £4,000 entirely on British Airways flights at 3 Avios per £1, the bonus is still calculated using the 1.5 Avios base rate.

The promotional wording focuses on “25% more”, but mechanically it remains a capped 1,500 Avios addition.

Premium Plus earnings breakdown:

As shown above, the percentage boost shrinks as spend increases beyond the threshold. The bonus does not scale upwards; it remains fixed regardless of how far you exceed £4,000.

How Does the Offer Work for the Free British Airways American Express Card?

The free British Airways American Express® Credit Card earns 1 Avios per £1 and carries no annual fee, making it popular among occasional travellers and those building Avios gradually.

Under the anniversary promotion:

• Spend £2,000 by 8 April 2026
• Receive 500 bonus Avios
• Offer capped at 200,000 enrolled cardholders

At exactly £2,000:

• Base Avios: 2,000
• Bonus: 500
• Total: 2,500
• Effective uplift: 25%

The structure mirrors the Premium Plus offer, but at a lower threshold and bonus level.

Free card earnings breakdown:

Again, the uplift declines as spending rises beyond the qualifying threshold. Once you pass £2,000, the bonus remains fixed at 500 Avios.

What Are the Key Deadlines and Eligibility Rules You Must Not Miss?

The BA Amex 25th birthday bonus contains several technical requirements that could invalidate your bonus if overlooked. The mechanics are simple, but timing and enrolment are critical.

You must:

• Save the offer to your card before spending
• Be among the first 200,000 enrolled per card type
• Ensure transactions are billed by 8 April 2026
• Use the specific card where the offer is saved

It is not enough to make the purchase before the deadline; it must appear on your statement by that date. Merchant processing delays can therefore affect eligibility.

Additionally, supplementary cardholder spending does not contribute to the qualifying total. Only the primary cardholder’s billed transactions count towards the £4,000 or £2,000 threshold.

Avios are expected to post within 30 days of the qualifying transaction, although in some cases they may take longer.

What Do You Actually Earn in Real Terms?

To put the bonus into perspective, it helps to apply a commonly used UK benchmark of 1p per Avios. While actual redemption value varies depending on how you redeem, this provides a practical estimate.

Estimated Value of the Bonus

Viewed this way, the bonus is modest. It does not dramatically alter your rewards trajectory, but it provides incremental value for the spend you were likely to make anyway.

For example, a London-based cardholder planning a £4,200 home renovation deposit or annual insurance renewal might naturally cross the threshold. In that scenario, the additional 1,500 Avios equates to roughly £15–£20 in value without changing spending behaviour.

However, deliberately increasing spend purely to capture a £15 benefit may not represent strong financial logic.

Is the BA Amex 25th Anniversary Bonus Worth Chasing?

Whether the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus is worthwhile depends entirely on your circumstances. If you are already planning major expenses, the bonus is effectively free Avios. However, if you need to force spending, the incremental gain is relatively small.

For Premium Plus cardholders especially, the annual fee means you likely already have a structured spending strategy aimed at triggering the £15,000 Companion Voucher threshold.

If you are close to £4,000, naturally, it makes sense to hit it. If you are £1,500 short and would otherwise delay spending, the decision becomes less clear.

A measured approach is advisable. Avoid spending purely for the sake of earning a capped Avios bonus.

Should You Delay Spending Because Tier Points Are Returning?

One of the more significant announcements accompanying the anniversary promotion is the return of tier points on Premium Plus card spend from April 2026.

Previously, cardholders could earn up to 2,500 tier points annually via spend. For context:

• Bronze status requires 3,500 tier points
• Silver requires 7,500
• Gold requires 20,000

Card spend alone did not secure status, but it provided a useful top-up. If you are planning substantial spending and can control timing, it may be strategically smarter to delay until tier point earning resumes rather than chasing 1,500 capped Avios.

As one London Executive Club member remarked:

“Tier points help me more than 1,500 Avios ever will.”

This is particularly relevant for frequent London travellers who rely on Heathrow departures and value lounge access and priority boarding.

How Can London Users Maximise the BA Amex 25th Birthday Bonus?

If you are based in London, your regular cost of living and travel patterns may naturally align with the qualifying spend.

Consider a Canary Wharf professional who is planning:

• Annual rail season ticket renewal
• Council tax instalments
• A short-haul BA return from Heathrow
• Insurance premiums

Bundling these planned payments within the qualifying window could comfortably exceed £4,000 without altering overall budgeting.

A practical strategy may include:

• Bringing forward known annual payments
• Checking merchant billing dates to ensure posting before 8 April
• Using PayPal in cases where direct Amex acceptance is limited
• Monitor your statement to confirm qualifying spend

The emphasis should remain on timing and optimisation rather than increasing discretionary spending.

What Else Could British Airways and Amex Announce This Year?

The anniversary campaign signals that this is only the beginning of a broader celebration. British Airways and American Express have indicated that additional promotions, competitions, and exclusive rewards may follow during the year.

Potential developments could include:

• Prize draws or experiential travel rewards
• Further Avios-earning promotions
• Limited-time targeted offers

However, no confirmed details currently exceed the modest scale of the existing BA Amex 25th birthday bonus. Until further announcements are made, this remains a capped, threshold-based incentive.

Conclusion

The BA Amex 25th birthday bonus is a celebratory yet modest promotion that rewards everyday spending when you enrol and meet the required thresholds.

It doesn’t significantly change your Avios earning strategy or provide a major windfall, but it can add incremental value if aligned with planned expenses.

For Premium Plus cardholders, the bigger consideration may be tier points returning in April 2026. Overall, if you understand the structure, meet the spending requirement naturally, and manage timing carefully, the anniversary bonus is a useful extra rather than a game-changing offer.

FAQs About British Airways Amex 25th Anniversary Bonus

Is the BA Amex 25th birthday bonus available to new applicants?

Yes, eligible new cardmembers can receive it, provided they enrol and meet the spend requirement, subject to availability within the 200,000 cap.

Do supplementary cardholders’ purchases count?

No. Only the primary cardholder’s qualifying spend counts towards the target.

Can BA flight purchases help trigger the bonus?

Yes, but the bonus calculation is based only on the base earn rate, not the enhanced 3 Avios per £1 rate.

When will the bonus Avios be credited?

Typically within 30 days of meeting the qualifying spend, though it may take longer in some cases.

Is there a limit on how many people can enrol?

Yes. The offer is limited to the first 200,000 cardmembers on each card type who save it to their account.

Can I combine this with a welcome bonus?

Yes. The anniversary bonus is separate from standard welcome offers, provided eligibility criteria are met.

Is the bonus worth roughly £15?

At a valuation of 1p per Avios, 1,500 Avios equates to approximately £15 in value, though redemption value varies.