20% Bonus on Transfers from American Express to British Airways

by Gary Leff

The U.S. American Express Membership Rewards program is offering a 20% bonus on transfers to British Airways through the end of the year.

To understand the opportunities and limitations of the British Airways program, see Unlocking the Value of British Airways Points.

In the past, American Express offered offered a 50% transfer bonus and a 40% transfer bonus. They’ve also done 35% (this year, even!) and 30%.

So this is hardly one of the best deals they’ve offered. Nonetheless, transfer bonuses this year have been relatively sparse compared to recent years. And having a transfer bonus is a whole lot better than not having a transfer bonus. But this bonus doesn’t seem like a once in a lifetime opportunity that will get me to proactively transfer points to British Airways without a specific use for them.

If you’re cancelling an American Express card with Membership Rewards, you do want to get them out of the account if it’s your only card with Membership Rewards. And if the opportunities that tier to British Airways points work for you then this is a good deal.

Ultimately it’s a nice bonus, but it’s not a hugely exciting one in my book.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. I’ve been looking for a bonus to Avios for MR for some time. I am cancelling my gold card in February. I suppose this is the best it is going to get for me, agree?

  4. @Gary – I’m cancelling my AMEX Plat. after December this year as I no longer travel and am down to 60k MR points. What is my best option for transferring those points out to get the most value? I’d prefer travel points but really I’ll use anything that maximizes their value. I already spent the $200 in AA gift cards on it that was reimbursed.

  5. I have same question as Glenn. The best possible option I can find on FT is to:

    1. Have spouse get an MR-earning Amex.
    2. Add yourself as an authorized user.
    3. Close your Amex and ask for your MR to be xferd to spouse’s acct.

    Hardly an automatic process, but reports seem to be favorable.

  7. Yes but isn’t this stackable with the BA 25% bonus that ends TODAY? i.e, 50% bonus for transfers today only??

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