NEWS & OFFERS: Amex Priority Pass update, 10k Avios bonus on BA Holidays and lots of Amex welcome bonuses and referral offers

 

 

This is welcome news that helps soften the blow a little. If you mainly travel with your supplementary cardholder, this will mean you can get 30 visits between you, so enough for 15 return flights, which should be enough for most people.

BA has launched a new promotion with the British Airways American Express cards to save and get 10,000 Avios on an eligible spend of £3,000+ online at British Airways Holidays by 15/12/2026. The issue will be that if you pay a small deposit on a new booking rather than the full amount, the overall price of the package won’t count, as it has to be actual spend at the time. It doesn’t mention it having to be a new booking, so it is worth paying any due balances on the BA Amex until 15th December. 

 

The offer is valid once per Card for the first 100,000 Cardmembers to save it, so make sure you save it to your card. 

 

The Avios should appear on your American Express^® Card Account statement within 30 days from the date you made an eligible transaction, but in some instances could take longer. Once awarded, Avios will then transfer to your British Airways Club Account on your usual transfer date.

 

The offer is valid on holiday packages with British Airways Holidays (Flight + Hotel and Flight + Car hire bookings) purchased directly at britishairways.com/content/holidays. Flights must depart from UK airports.

 

 

American Express limited-time Platinum and Gold Card offers with bonus points and Selfridges eGift Cards

If you don’t already have an Amex or are thinking of getting a new one to help with the Xmas shopping, American Express has launched new limited-time sign-up offers on its Platinum and Gold Cards, available until 12 January 2027. Amex is offering up to £150 in Selfridges eGift Cards, alongside boosted points, as the festive shopping period approaches. For existing cardholders, there are some ongoing referral offers as well.

Eligible new Platinum Cardmembers can earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points, worth up to £400 and a £150 Selfridges eGift Card when they meet minimum spend requirements. Eligible new Gold Cardmembers can earn 30,000 bonus points and a £100 Selfridges eGift Card. Offers are also available on the business versions of each Card.

One of the things I like the most about cards offering Membership Rewards is the ability to change your points for multiple airline and hotel loyalty scheme points. They also occasionally have offers where you can get extra loyalty points when you exchange. I leave my points in my Amex account and use them to top up when I’m booking and short on points. That way, you don’t have as much risk of devaluation as if you only saved your points in one scheme.

Transfer partners include BA Avios, Virgin, Emirates and SAS for airlines and Marriott and Hilton for hotels.

 

Platinum Offer

Eligible new Platinum Cardmembers who apply and are approved for The Platinum Card between 4 November 2026 and 12 January 2027 and spend £6,000 in their first three months can receive 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards points, worth up to £400, as well as a £150 Selfridges eGift Card. At the standard exchange rate, that is equivalent ot 80,000 Avios. 

The Platinum Card offers Cardmembers a wide range of benefits across travel, dining and lifestyle, including up to £400 in a Global Dining Statement Credit, complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges including The Centurion Lounge® and Priority Pass, and benefits such as early check-in and late check-out with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection when booked through American Express Travel.

The benefits currently include status in many major hotel chains, including Hilton, Marriott, and now Accor, which can be useful if you don’t want to be tied to just one chain. The dining credit consists of 2 X £100 UK credit and 2 x £100 global credit. The Global credit is a little limited in the countries/cities it covers, with most of the restaurants being in the US, but there are a few European cities too, as well as more long-haul destinations. There are also some new health-centred benefits such as Calm membership and Oura ring discounts.

Representative 685.3% APR (variable), including an annual fee of £650. Purchase Rate 29.1% (variable). Assumed Credit Limit £1,200. Terms and conditions apply. 18+. Subject to approval.

 

Gold Offer

Eligible new Cardmembers who apply and are approved for the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card between 4 November 2026 and 12 January 2027 and spend £3,000 in their first three months can now earn 30,000 bonus Membership Rewards points, worth up to £150 or 30,000 Avios or other airline miles, and a £100 Selfridges eGift card. 

Core benefits of the Card include four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year, up to £10 back on Deliveroo purchases each month, and elevated benefits with The Hotel Collection for stays of two consecutive nights or more through American Express Travel, including a US$100 hotel credit and a room upgrade upon arrival, when available. Terms and conditions apply. 

Representative APR 85.8% (variable). Purchase Rate 29.1% (variable). Assumed Credit Limit £1,200. An annual fee of £195 applies (£0 in the first year). Terms and conditions apply. 18+. 

 

Invite A Friend offer – available to new and existing Cardmembers

 

In addition to these new sign-up offers, American Express is also enhancing offers available through its Invite a Friend referral programme.

Current Platinum Cardmembers who successfully refer a friend are eligible to receive 20,000 bonus points, up from 12,000. The referred friend will receive 85,000 points, worth £425, compared with the usual 55,000 points on offer, plus a £150 Selfridges eGift Card, when they spend £6,000 in their first three months. 

Gold Cardmembers who successfully refer a friend are eligible to receive 18,000 bonus points, up from 9,000. The referred friend will receive 35,000 points, compared with the 22,000 points they would normally receive, and a £100 Selfridges eGift Card, when they spend £3,000 in their first three months.

 

Business Card sign-up offers

Cardmembers applying for American Express® Business Platinum and Gold Cards can also earn additional Membership Rewards points. 

From 21 October 2026 to 12 January 2027, applicants approved for a Business Platinum Card can earn 100,000 bonus points plus a £150 Selfridges eGift Card when they spend £12,000 in the first three months. Those approved for a Business Gold Card can earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points and a £100 Selfridges eGift Card when they spend £6,000 in the first three months.

American Express Business Gold Card Annual Fee: £195 (£0 in the first year). American Express Business Platinum Card Annual Fee: £650. Eligible new Cardmembers only. Interest & terms apply. Available to UK LTD/LLPs, signatories must be 18+ and a director/member of the business. Subject to approval. +.