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Hey everyone, and welcome back to Smart With Points! I'm Jack, and today we've got some genuinely reassuring news in the world of Avios collecting. Now, I know partnership renewals might not sound like the most thrilling topic, but trust me, this one actually matters quite a bit to your points strategy. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's talk about why the renewed relationship between IAG Loyalty and American Express is worth celebrating.
So, what's the big news? Well, IAG Loyalty and American Express have announced a multi-year extension to their partnership. And this isn't just some corporate back-patting exercise. This renewal directly impacts several things that UK points collectors rely on every single day.
First up, the British Airways American Express co-brand cards. That's both the Premium Plus and the standard version. They're staying exactly as they are, with all their current benefits intact. We're talking about earning Avios on everyday purchases, those valuable Companion Vouchers, and all the various travel insurance benefits depending on which card you hold. Nothing's changing, which in this case, is actually excellent news.
Second, American Express cards will continue to be accepted across all IAG airlines. That includes British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. Super useful when you're booking flights directly or paying for onboard services.
And perhaps most importantly, the ability to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Avios continues. This works with both British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus programmes. And if you're listening from the States, Aer Lingus transfers are included too.
Now, you might be thinking, why does this matter? Partnership renewals happen all the time, right? Well, yes and no. When you've built your entire points strategy around specific card ecosystems, announcements like this actually carry quite a bit of weight.
This multi-year extension provides stability. If you've got a Premium Plus card and you're working towards that two-for-one Companion Voucher, you can continue with confidence. The ability to move Membership Rewards points to Avios remains a cornerstone strategy for many UK collectors. And crucially, both companies are clearly committed to developing this relationship further, which could mean enhancements down the line.
Here's something that really caught my attention. Next year, British Airways and American Express will celebrate twenty-five years since introducing the first BA co-brand cards in the UK. Twenty-five years! That's quite remarkable in an industry where partnerships and loyalty programmes can change at the drop of a hat.
Adam Daniels, who's the CEO of IAG Loyalty, noted that two thousand and twenty-six will mark twenty-five years of one of the world's most recognised and enduring co-brand cards, a milestone they're proud to celebrate together.
It makes you wonder what might be in store for that anniversary. Could we see enhanced welcome bonuses? Special promotions? New card benefits? Time will tell, but anniversary years often bring opportunities for collectors. I'll certainly be keeping my eyes peeled.
Let's talk about the current British Airways Amex landscape for a moment, especially for those who might be newer to UK Avios collecting. The BA Amex cards remain some of the most straightforward ways to accumulate Avios through everyday spending.
The current lineup includes the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, which earns three Avios per pound spent on British Airways purchases and one point five Avios per pound elsewhere. Then there's the British Airways American Express Card, which is the no-annual-fee option after the first year. It still offers solid Avios earning at one Avios per pound on BA purchases and zero point five Avios per pound on everything else.
If you're interested in applying for either card, you can check current offers through the link in our shownotes. And if you want a detailed comparison of these cards and how they stack up against alternatives like the Barclaycard Avios cards, we've got a comprehensive guide on the best Avios-earning credit cards in the UK on our website.
Now, whilst the co-brand cards get most of the attention, I'd argue that the continuation of Membership Rewards transfers to Avios is equally important, perhaps even more so for serious collectors.
Cards like the American Express Platinum Card and Gold Card earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to multiple airline programmes, including British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus. This flexibility is incredibly valuable.
For instance, the Amex Platinum Card periodically offers one hundred thousand points as a welcome bonus. Having the option to move those points to Avios opens up significant redemption opportunities.
The ability to transfer to Iberia Plus is particularly useful since Iberia often has better award availability on certain routes, especially to Spain and Latin America. Plus, Iberia Plus Avios can be used to book British Airways flights and vice versa, giving you more options when searching for award space.
Now, whilst this announcement is overwhelmingly positive, it's worth noting what wasn't mentioned. There are no details on potential enhancements. The renewal focuses on continuing current benefits rather than announcing improvements. That said, with two thousand and twenty-six's twenty-fifth anniversary approaching, there may be something in the works.
There's also no mention of new card products. Some were hoping for a hint about additional cards in the lineup, perhaps a mid-tier option or a business premium card with more benefits, but nothing was mentioned.
And transfer ratios remain unchanged. The one-to-one transfer ratio from Membership Rewards to Avios continues, which is excellent, but there's no indication of transfer bonuses or enhanced rates coming.
So, what's my take on all this? Well, as someone who holds both the Amex Platinum Business and Gold Business cards, plus the Barclaycard Avios Plus, which I use primarily for the one point five Avios per pound earning rate on all purchases, this news is genuinely reassuring.
The partnership between IAG and Amex has been a cornerstone of UK points collecting for years, and knowing it's secured for the foreseeable future allows us to plan our earning strategies with more confidence.
I'll be particularly interested to see what happens around the twenty-fifth anniversary next year. Major partnership milestones often come with promotions, perhaps enhanced welcome bonuses, transfer bonuses, or even new benefits for existing cardholders.
For now, though, this is simply good news. In a landscape where programme changes seem to happen with increasing frequency, a multi-year partnership extension is worth celebrating.
Now, if you're considering applying for a British Airways Amex card, this partnership renewal shouldn't change your decision. It simply confirms that the cards will remain viable for years to come.
The key question is whether the cards fit your spending patterns and travel goals. Get the Premium Plus if you spend enough to earn the Companion Voucher annually, that's a twelve thousand pounds threshold, you regularly fly British Airways or partner airlines, and you value the Premium Economy upgrade vouchers for award bookings.
Get the standard BA Amex if you want a no-fee option after year one for earning Avios on everyday spending, but you won't hit the Premium Plus spend threshold.
Or consider Membership Rewards cards instead if you value transfer flexibility to multiple airlines, you're not solely focused on British Airways travel, or you want to keep your options open.
So, final thoughts. This partnership renewal is exactly the kind of stability that benefits those of us who collect points strategically. Whilst programme changes and devaluations will inevitably continue, they're part of the game, knowing that core earning mechanisms and transfer options are secured for years ahead is genuinely positive.
As we approach two thousand and twenty-six and that twenty-fifth anniversary, I'll be watching closely for any special promotions or enhancements. Until then, the message is clear: British Airways Amex cards and Membership Rewards transfers to Avios remain solid options for UK-based collectors.
That's it for today's episode. Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to Smart With Points on all major podcast platforms, or head over to smartwithpoints.co.uk to stay up to date with all the latest in the world of miles and points. Until next time, happy collecting!
And now, a quick word from our sponsor. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.