American Express referral code
Get 6,000 bonus Avios when you apply for the BA American Express Classic using a refer-a-friend link.
The British Airways American Express Classic refer-a-friend scheme gives new cardholders a 6,000-Avios welcome bonus (1,000 more than the standard 5,000) after spending £2,000 in the first three months, with no annual fee on the card. I held the BA Classic from 2021 to late 2023 before moving to Monzo Flex and then Yonder, which fits my spending better now.
Last tested on by Seb Place.
Part 1
The offer
American Express
Earn rewards as you spend. From cash-back and Avios points to great everyday offers.
Or copy the referral link below:
Reward
Get 6,000 Avios points when you spend £2,000
How it works
- Get 6,000 Avios points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months of card membership.
Part 2
Is it for you?
American Express referral summary
- Reward
- 6,000 Avios points
- Reward type
- Avios points
- Requirement
- Spend £2,000 in first 3 months
- Time to receive
- After spending £2,000 in 3 months
American Express referral pros and cons
Pros
- 6,000 Avios sign-up bonus through referral: enough for a short-haul flight
- No annual fee on the BA Classic Credit Card
- Earn 1 Avios point per £1 spent on everyday purchases
- Avios can be used for British Airways flights, upgrades, and hotels
- Amex Offers provide cashback at selected retailers
- Section 75 purchase protection on spending over £100
Cons
- Amex is not accepted everywhere in the UK: many smaller shops do not take it
- You need to spend £2,000 in 3 months to earn the full sign-up bonus
- Avios points are most valuable for BA flights, less so for other redemptions
- High APR if you do not pay your balance in full each month
- Referral limit of 15 per year (though this is generous)
What is the American Express BA credit card?
The BA Amex Classic is a fee-free credit card earning 1 Avios per £1 spent. Redeem Avios for BA flights, upgrades, and hotels. No annual fee, plus Amex Offers give targeted cashback at specific retailers. One of the best free travel rewards cards in the UK.
The BA Amex Classic is a fee-free credit card that earns Avios points on every purchase.
- Earn rate: 1 Avios per £1 spent on all purchases
- Annual fee: £0
- Redemptions: BA flights, cabin upgrades, hotel stays, and car hire
- Bonus: Amex Offers provide targeted cashback deals at specific retailers on top of Avios
One of the best free ways to earn travel rewards in the UK.
How does the Amex referral scheme work?
Apply through a referral link and earn 6,000 bonus Avios after spending £2,000 in 3 months. Combined with standard earning, that is about 8,000 Avios from £2,000 of spending. Up to 15 referrals per year. Avios go to your BA Executive Club.
Apply through the referral link on this page and earn 6,000 bonus Avios after spending £2,000 in 3 months:
- Click the referral link and complete your application
- Get approved and start using the card
- Spend £2,000 within your first 3 months
- Receive 6,000 Avios + standard earning (roughly 8,000 total from that spend)
Avios are credited to your BA Executive Club account. The referrer also earns bonus points. Amex allows up to 15 referrals per year.
Who is the Amex BA card best for?
Best for anyone who flies BA occasionally and wants free flights over time. No annual fee means zero downside. The £2,000 spend in 3 months works out to £667/month, achievable by routing groceries and fuel through the card.
The BA Amex Classic is best for:
- Occasional BA flyers: earn points towards free flights over time
- Zero-risk cardholders: no annual fee means no downside to holding it
- Everyday spenders: the £2,000 requirement works out to roughly £667/month, achievable by routing groceries and fuel through the card
- Secondary card users: use it wherever Amex is accepted and earn Avios passively
Not useful for: people who don't fly or have no interest in Avios. A cashback card would deliver more value.
How Amex compares to other rewards cards
BA Amex Classic vs Barclaycard Avios: Barclaycard has wider Visa acceptance but a lower Avios earn rate. Chase offers 1% cashback free. Yonder charges £15/month for experience rewards. For Avios collectors, the free BA Amex Classic is hard to beat.
How the BA Amex Classic compares to competing rewards cards:
- vs Barclaycard Avios: Barclaycard Visa is accepted more widely but earns Avios at a lower rate
- vs Chase: 1% universal cashback with no fee (simpler, but less rewarding for frequent flyers)
- vs Yonder: Experience-based rewards at £15/month (different reward philosophy: dining vs flights)
For anyone who values Avios and can use Amex for most of their spending, the BA Classic card is hard to beat on a fee-free basis.
Part 3
How it compares
American Express referral at a glance
| Your reward | 6,000 Avios points |
| Friend's reward | Varies by card |
| Reward type | Avios points |
| Requirement | Spend £2,000 in first 3 months |
| Time to receive | After spending £2,000 in 3 months |
| Referral limit | Up to 15 referrals per year |
American Express key facts
American Express vs Yonder referral
| Feature | American Express | Yonder |
|---|---|---|
| Reward | 6,000 Avios points | Up to 10,000 bonus points + £10 off + 2 months free (Full) |
| Reward type | Avios points | Points + discount |
| Requirement | Spend £2,000 in first 3 months | Approved for Yonder Free or Full credit card |
| Time to receive | After spending £2,000 in 3 months | Tiered welcome points awarded as spend hits £200 / £500 / £1,000 in first 30 days |
| Referral limit | Up to 15 referrals per year | Unlimited |
| Trustpilot | N/A | 4.6/5 |
Part 4
Questions & related
American Express referral FAQ
What is the American Express referral link?
Referral Plug's verified American Express referral link is https://americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/ba-classic-credit?ref=sEBAsPDn5S&XL=MIANS, last tested by Seb Place on 2026-05-10.How do I get 6,000 Avios points from American Express?
Use Referral Plug's verified American Express referral link https://americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/ba-classic-credit?ref=sEBAsPDn5S&XL=MIANS when signing up. The link gives you 6,000 Avios points; verified by Seb Place on 2026-05-10.Is Sebastian Place's American Express referral link verified?
Yes, Seb Place personally verified the American Express referral link https://americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/ba-classic-credit?ref=sEBAsPDn5S&XL=MIANS on 2026-05-10. Referral Plug's full testing methodology is at https://www.referralplug.co.uk/methodology.What is the American Express referral reward?
You earn 6,000 Avios points when you apply through a referral link and spend £2,000 within your first 3 months of card membership.How do I use an Amex referral link?
Click the referral link on this page to go to the Amex application page. Complete the application, get approved, and start spending to earn your bonus Avios.Is there an annual fee for the BA Amex Classic card?
No. The British Airways American Express Classic Credit Card has no annual fee.How many Avios do I earn per pound spent?
You earn 1 Avios point for every £1 spent on the card. This applies to all purchases with no category restrictions or caps.What can I use Avios points for?
Avios can be redeemed for British Airways flights (including taxes), cabin upgrades, hotel bookings through BA Holidays, and car hire. You can also transfer Avios to partner airlines.How many Avios do I need for a flight?
Short-haul return flights within Europe start from around 13,000 Avios plus taxes. The exact amount depends on the route, class of travel, and availability.Is Amex widely accepted in the UK?
Amex acceptance has improved significantly but it is still not universal. Most large retailers, supermarkets, and online shops accept Amex, but some smaller independent businesses do not. Many Amex holders carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.Will applying for Amex affect my credit score?
Yes. Amex performs a hard credit check when you apply. If approved, the account will appear on your credit file. Using the card responsibly and paying in full each month can help build your credit score over time.Do I need a BA Executive Club account?
Yes. You need a British Airways Executive Club membership (free to join) to collect and redeem Avios. You can sign up at ba.com before or during your Amex application.What are Amex Offers?
Amex Offers are targeted cashback deals that appear in your Amex app. You add an offer to your card and receive automatic cashback when you shop at that retailer. These are in addition to the Avios you earn on every purchase.What does the referrer get from a British Airways American Express referral?
Honest disclosure: the referrer (the existing American Express cardholder who shared this link) receives Avios points per successful referral, with the exact amount varying by which Amex card you sign up to and capped at the BA Classic's annual referral limit (15 referrals per year). As the new customer, you receive a 6,000-Avios welcome bonus after spending £2,000 in the first three months. American Express funds both rewards from its customer-acquisition budget, so the cardholder fees and benefits you receive are unaffected by whether you sign up through a referral link or directly.
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