Credit card that gives you EIGHT free BA flights... just for signing up!

BRITISH AIRWAYS has launched a credit card with a bumper sign-up bonus that experts say is the most generous they have ever seen. New customers who take out the BA American Express Premium Plus card via the British Airways website receive a huge 70,000 Avios points.

The points are worth up to eight economy flights, or can be converted into £467 in Nectar points.

Avios is the benefit currency of the British Airways Executive Club. Customers collect points when they book flights, hotels and other services such as car hire, which are then converted into rewards. Plus, credit card providers, including Amex and Barclaycard, have tie-ups with British Airways so customers can earn Avios as they shop.

The bumper sign-up bonus is not being promoted directly on the American Express website, where customers who sign up for the same card receive 35,000 Avios points. Instead, you must apply via the British Airways website to get the full 70,000 points.

To earn the bonus, new customers must sign up before February 21 and spend £3,000 within the first three months of opening the account.

The credit card costs £250 a year and charges 28.1 pc APR variable on purchases. Card users receive 1.5 Avios on every £1 spent. Purchases made with British Airways or British Airways Holidays earn more — earning customers three Avios for every £1.

Customers who put all their spending on the card can offset the £250 a year cost — as long as they pay off the bill each month and avoid interest charges.

For example, spending £20,000 on the card over the year would rack up 30,000 points, worth as much as £200 in Nectar points, but more if spent on flights.

ROB BURGESS, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points, which tracks card reward offers, says: ‘ This amazing deal is without a doubt the most generous sign-up offer on any personal credit card in recent memory. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Typically, American Express will offer 25,000 Avios for signing up to its BA credit card, Mr Burgess says. When it runs promotions, the offer is often increased to 35,000 or 40,000 Avios points.

A reward of 35,000 points would earn you an off-peak business- class return flight from London to such destinations as Milan, Amsterdam and Geneva. Getting double the points vastly increases the rewards you could earn.

Mr Burgess says: ‘It’s difficult to give accurate pricing, due to the way Avios works, but 70,000 points should get you six to eight economy class flights. or it can get you a Premium Economy long-haul flight to the east coast of the U.S. or the Middle East.

‘It could also get you three to four business class flights to Europe.’

If travelling isn’t your thing, the points would also convert to £467 of Nectar credit, according to Mr Burgess, which can be spent at Sainsbury’s, Argos or on eBay.

Customers also qualify for a companion flight voucher, if they spend £10,000 on the card within the year. This allows you to bring someone with you on the same flight without spending any extra Avios. They only have to pay the additional taxes, fees and carrier charges.

Solo travellers can also take advantage of the vouchers by applying a 50 pc discount on the Avios price for the flight. Changes to regulations last year allow card members to use companion vouchers on Aer Lingus and Iberia, which gives you more choice on destinations and routes.

Mr Burgess stresses how important it is to play by the rules and keep up with the credit card monthly payments to avoid being stung by high interest.

He adds that customers can switch to a fee-free Amex Avios card after the year and keep the points.

Customers are only eligible for the 70,000 Avios sign-up bonus on the Premium Plus card if they have not held a BA American Express in the past 24 months.

You can also apply if you are a supplementary cardholder on a BA American Express card held by someone else.

If you currently hold or have previously held other American Express credit cards such as the Platinum Card or Rewards Credit Card, Business Platinum or Gold cards, you can also take up the offer.

Apply online at