Earn 2.5 British Airways Executive Club Avios on Gas, Grocery, Drug Store and Travel Purchases

Now that we are a few days into the much anticipated transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to British Airways Executive Club, we should look at how you can maximize this bonus! The bonus is for anyone who holds an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points. These include the Centurion, Platinum, Gold, Green, Small Business Gold, Small Business Platinum, and Corporate Cardmembers enrolled in Membership Rewards. If you are a current American Express cardmember you'll want to see if this promotion is for you as you can use BA Executive Club Avios for travel to anywhere in the World and your not limited to Economy Class. BA and their partners like Cathay Pacific, American Airlines and other oneworld airlines also provide you the option to fly in Business Class or First Class. For example, Cathay Pacific flies between Vancouver and New York and the flights feature a first class cabin.

The best card right now to take advantage of this bonus is the American Express Gold Rewards Card. If you hold the card you'll want to up your spend in its bonus categories, Gas, Grocery, Drug Store and Travel. I personally already put all these types of purchases on the Gold Rewards Card and you really should too if you plan on using this transfer bonus. The good news is you have until September 30th to do the transfer which equates to three months of focused spending.

The card earns 2 Membership Rewards Points on eligible purchases at Gas, Grocery, Drug Store and also on Travel. With the 25% transfer bonus to BA the purchases in effect earn 2.5 Avios per dollar spent. This means it earns more than the actual RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card even on BA purchases!

You can actually start redeeming when you have only spent $1,800 in these categories as you can redeem for select one way flights within North America for only 4,500 Avios. ($1,800 x 2 = 3,600 MR Points + 25% bonus = 4,500 Avios) To learn how to do this see our post "How to get select Canada to U.S. award flights faster by utilizing British Airways' Executive Club"

If you don't hold the American Express Gold Rewards Card now is the time to grab it since this promotion runs for three months you'll have the time to apply, spend and transfer! You'll get 25,000 Membership Rewards points for spending $500 in the first three months which gives you 25,500 Membership Reward points (or 26,000 using the category bonuses only) that you can covert to at least 31,875 Avios. And to top it off the card has no annual fee in the first year. Technically speaking the 31,000+ Avios are your totally for free if you choose not to hold the card after you transfer your points. What do you have to lose!

Here are details of the card discussed:
American Express Gold Rewards Card
 • Earn a Welcome Bonus of  25,000 Membership Rewards® points - our HIGHEST Gold Rewards Card offer - just by making $500 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
• No Annual Fee for the first year; $150 Annual Fee thereafter*
• That's enough for a round trip flight to almost anywhere in North America
• Transfer your points to frequent flyer programs, or 1:1 to Aeroplan®* and Avios
• Earn double points on eligible travel and everyday purchases
• Charge any travel to your Card then pay for it with points
• 1 Free Supplementary Gold Rewards Card (a $50 value*) to help you earn points faster
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now  link.
• *As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full.
Conditions apply
Apply Now
* Canadian Residents Only