In a surprising move, BA and Amex have announced that for the first time ever, British Airways Executive Club Members can earn Tier Points outside of flying, by spending on the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus.
This is only a limited-time offer, at least but given they have already made it easier to get status with the Double Tier Points offer and the busy lounges, it’s not going to be welcomed by everyone.
The offer runs until 21 May 2024 and gives applicable Cardmembers the opportunity to earn an extra 200 Tier Points by spending on their Card. Tier Points help you to earn BA status, which is associated with travel perks such as lounge access, fast-track security, extra luggage allowances and priority boarding.
Until today, Tier Points could only be earned by flying with British Airways, its subsidiaries and its oneworld® airline partners. This offer marks the first time that Tier Points can be earned outside of flying.
From today, British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers will be eligible to earn up to 200 Tier Points as follows:
- 100 Tier Points if the Cardmember spends £15,000
- A further 50 additional Tier Points will be awarded if they spend a further £5,000 (totalling £20,000)
- A final 50 Tier Points will be awarded if they spend another £5,000 (totalling £25,000)
Cardmembers must enrol for the offer (enrolment closes on 20 May 2024) in their online account. The spending must take place after a Cardmember’s enrolment, and by 21 May 2024, the date the offer expires, to be eligible. This is the same as you would enrol for any of the other offers. You should be able to click through from the email. Otherwise, the easiest way is to go into your BA Premium Plus Amex on the Amex app and just scroll down the screen. It should appear between transactions.
Tier Points will appear on your billing statement as Avios within three business days from the qualifying spend. When your Avios are swept to the British Airways Executive Club, these Avios will be automatically recognised as Tier Points and awarded to your British Airways Executive Club account six days prior to your statement date. So if you are trying to aim for a particular date to earn the tier points by, you will need to allow the extra time for when your Avios normally get moved to your BA account.
These Tier Points will be added to Tier Points that travellers have already earned, or will earn, from flying, to help them reach British Airways Bronze, Silver or Gold status. Each tier status comes with valuable travel benefits, including:
- Bronze – requires 300 Tier Points – benefits include free seat selection seven days before flying, priority boarding, the use of business class check in desks and more*
- Silver – requires 600 Tier Points – benefits include access to airport lounges in the UK and around the world, free seat selection at booking, additional baggage and more*
- Gold – requires 1,500 Tier Points – benefits include access to First lounges, First class check in and boarding, free seat selection at booking, additional baggage, additional reward flight availability and more*
Nikki Edelman, Vice President at American Express, said: “We know our Cardmembers value the array of benefits that come with their British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, from Avios to the much-loved Companion Voucher. But we’re always looking for ways to continue rewarding our Cardmembers for their loyalty, with offers and benefits they care about. We hope today’s limited time offer achieves this, providing customers with a new proposition; being rewarded for spending on the Card with Tier Points. This could see Cardmembers earning travel benefits like lounge access, free seat selection or priority boarding from their everyday spending.”
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers already benefit from collecting 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent on purchases, or 3 Avios for every £1 spent with British Airways or British Airways Holidays.
Cardmembers can also earn a Companion Voucher when they spend £10,000 each Cardmembership year on their Card. They can use this to either take a companion with them on the same flight and in the same cabin for no additional Avios or, as launched last year, receive a 50% discount on the Avios price if travelling solo. Vouchers can be used on British Airways flights or, as of last year, Iberia and Aer Lingus flights. British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers have access to additional Reward flight seats within Club World (long-haul business class) when booking with a Companion Voucher.
What do you think about BA giving cardholders the chance to earn Tier Points? Do you think it’s a good idea? Let us know in the comments below.
Full Terms and Conditions apply.
The British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card has a representative 113.1% APR variable. 18+, Subject to Status. Annual fee applies.
17 comments
Great offer but I can’t enroll as “systems are down”. Suspect it’s a massive response to this offer & they can’t cope 🙁
At least it isn’t one of those “first 2 card members to register” offers. I’ve never managed one of those great offers, even if I click the email as it arrives. Sigh.
Laura – I went to the Amex App and clicked chat and asked to be enrolled and was told that they did it there and then. I couldn’t find any link and it too 5 mins. Good luck!
I am currently in Thailand and have managed to enrol without any issues 🙂
Thanks Alan; great suggestion, I’ll do that 🙂
Laura – in addition, I asked how Inwould know that I am, in fact, registered as they said. This was the reply on the chat;
“ Hi Alan , thank you for contacting American Express. You are now connected to Anj. For the Tier points offer, it will show on your online account, under membership – your Avios activity and you’ll also see it on your PDF statement.
Rest assured, you are enrolled to this Tier Offer.”
I’ve not had an email mail. No link on my amex app.
Maybe it’ll arrive later.
Is this offer valid to new members if I sign up for the credit card? I only have the BA Amex and not the BA Amex Platinum. Thanks
Yes you would be eligible for the offer if you upgrade to Premium PLus
Can new cardholders apply for the card and benefit from this offer?
Yes they can
I have not received an email or offer in my app. Do you still collect Avios at the same time as tier points or do the tier points replace your Avios for the available period? I think if this is the case my Avios points may be more valuable to me than the tier points because I need more Avios to use my 2for 1 voucher.
You collect both. If you call Amex they should be able to add it for you.
It’s a great offer and one that took us all by surprise I think. Hopefully the per member & cumulative excess spend will hit the target Amex have set to pass muster for it to be done again in the future. That said I’ve a feeling this unique promotion came out of Amex’s current strong leverage position from the forward buying of Avios ( in a ludicrously large amount) that BA used as a non-cash non debt reportable financing life line during the #wetmarketmadness . BA were still on a quid-pro-quo hook of sorts for the breach a few years back ( not financially, more as a You owe us one and we’ll decide what and when to cash that chip in sort of thing) before amex threw them the forward buying lifeline ( admittedly at quite a favourable rate it’s said) during travel restrictions.
The barrier to entry is a little harsh based on the time period but if Amex feel it was, at least, near enough to the target and the data says there’s scope for higher engagement levels if it’s tweaked then fingers crossed for another in 2025.
Pretty sure BA will feel different but let’s see eh.
Now we can all sit back and play “chase the hidden TPs” when they disappear and can’t be found as theyre to transfer as Avios and, hahahaha, BA’s IT will be able to successfully track, extract and reconcile to members accounts. I’m happy to wage a bottle of bubbles on that, not, going well
Just to clarify this.
Is it confirmed that this offer doesn’t take in to account an individuals “amex year” ? And that spending either side of the amex year renewal date is what is counted for this offer whether or not its in the same amex year or not?
Personally I’d rather amex gave me a choice of when I achieve my companion voucher. I always stop spending on it after 6 months to delay the activation date. This must cost amex a lot of income.
With the TP offer, your card year has no bearing on it as it is a limited time offer. The companion voucher remains the same.
I didn’t get an email but the hubby did & it didn’t appear on the app either so I did what Alan suggested & they did it via the chat on the app instead. Had to answer a few security questions so took about 5 mins in total.
Just enrolled seamlessly for both my wife and I & so let’s hope that we can soon achieve the safety point in retaining our status without having to fly round the world, whilst always looking for cognac in any cabin!!!!!
Last week returned to LHR after our holiday, and again had the pleasure of being aboard a Finnair aircraft with very comfortable old style seating, & utterly charming cabin crew & and very acceptable BA club Europe catering product. We decided and then informed the crew accordingly, that we might soon be visiting Finland!!!