BA Amex 2-4-1: the complete guide (2026).
The BA American Express Premium Plus companion voucher lets you take someone with you for free on Avios redemption flights. Everything you need to know about earning it and getting maximum value out of it.
Verified July 2026
Spend £12,000/year on the BA Amex Premium Plus (£250 fee) and you earn a 2-4-1 voucher: two reward seats for the Avios cost of one, on BA-operated flights, all cabins. Best use: long-haul business or first (saves 50,000–102,000 Avios per booking). Both passengers still pay full taxes and surcharges. Voucher is valid 12 months from issue.
2-4-1
Two seats, one Avios price
All Cabins
Economy to First Class
BA Flights
British Airways operated
12 months
Valid from issue date
In This Guide
What Is the BA Amex 2-4-1 Companion Voucher?
The companion voucher (officially called the "2-4-1 voucher") is the flagship perk of the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card. It allows you to book two Avios reward flight seats for the price of one on British Airways operated flights.
In practice, this means you pay the Avios for one seat and the companion flies for free, only paying taxes and surcharges. On a long-haul business or first class redemption, this can save you tens of thousands of Avios, making it one of the most valuable credit card perks available in the UK.
Example: London to New York in Business Class
Without voucher (2 people)
100,000 Avios
50,000 Avios each x 2
With 2-4-1 voucher (2 people)
50,000 Avios
Save 50,000 Avios!
How to Earn the Companion Voucher
The companion voucher is earned through the BA American Express Premium Plus Card. There are two BA Amex cards in the UK, but only the premium version offers the 2-4-1 voucher.
BA Amex Card
No voucher- - No annual fee
- - 1 Avios per £1 spent
- - 5,000 Avios sign-up bonus
- - No companion voucher
BA Amex Premium Plus
2-4-1 voucher- ✓ £250 annual fee
- ✓ 1.5 Avios per £1 spent
- ✓ 25,000 Avios sign-up bonus
- ✓ 2-4-1 companion voucher
- ✓ Travel insurance included
- ✓ 3 Avios per £1 at BA
Steps to Earn Your Voucher
Apply for the BA Amex Premium Plus Card
The card has a £250 annual fee. You'll earn 25,000 Avios as a welcome bonus after spending £3,000 in the first 3 months.
Spend £12,000 in a Membership Year
Once you hit £12,000 of qualifying spend within your card membership year, the companion voucher is automatically issued. Your membership year runs from the date you were approved.
Receive Your Voucher
The voucher will appear in your BA Executive Club account, typically within a few days of hitting the spend threshold. It is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Book Your 2-4-1 Reward Flight
Log into ba.com and search for reward flights. When booking for two passengers, the voucher will be automatically applied at checkout.
Eligible Flights and Cabins
The companion voucher works on British Airways operated flights only. Partner airline flights booked through BA with Avios are not eligible. Both seats must be on the same flight and in the same cabin class.
Economy
Eligible
Premium Economy
Eligible
Business (Club World)
Eligible
First
Eligible
Not Eligible
- Partner airline flights (Qantas, Qatar, Cathay Pacific, etc.) booked with Avios through BA
- Cash bookings or Avios Part Payment bookings
- Flights on BA codeshares operated by other airlines
- Upgrades with Avios (full reward bookings only)
How to Book with the Companion Voucher
Log into ba.com
Make sure you are logged into the Executive Club account linked to your BA Amex card. Your voucher should appear in the "My vouchers" section.
Search for Reward Flights for 2 Passengers
Select "Book a reward flight" and search for 2 passengers. Both must be on the same BA-operated flight in the same cabin class. You need 2 reward seats available on the same flight.
Select Your Flights
Choose outbound and return flights. The voucher is applied per booking, so it covers both the outbound and return legs as long as they are all BA operated.
Voucher Applied at Checkout
The system will automatically detect your voucher and apply it. You'll see the Avios deducted for just one passenger. Both passengers still pay taxes and surcharges.
Important: You still pay taxes and surcharges for both passengers.
On long-haul routes, BA surcharges can be significant (£400-600+ per person for business/first). Consider routing via lower-surcharge airports if possible.
Maximising Your Companion Voucher's Value
The companion voucher saves you the Avios for one seat, so the more Avios a seat costs, the more you save. This means long-haul flights in premium cabins offer the best value.
| Route (Return) | Cabin | Normal (2 people) | With 2-4-1 | Avios Saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London - New York | First | 128,000 | 64,000 | 64,000 |
| London - New York | Business | 100,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| London - Tokyo | First | 204,000 | 102,000 | 102,000 |
| London - Tokyo | Business | 150,000 | 75,000 | 75,000 |
| London - Cape Town | Business | 150,000 | 75,000 | 75,000 |
| London - Dubai | Business | 80,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| London - Paris | Economy | 18,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 |
* Off-peak Avios pricing shown. Peak pricing is higher.
Tips for Maximum Value
Use it on the most expensive redemption
Long-haul first class saves the most Avios. A London-Sydney first class return saves 102,000 Avios per person.
Book off-peak dates when possible
Off-peak pricing means fewer Avios needed overall. While the percentage saved is the same, it's easier to find 2 reward seats in off-peak periods.
Search for 2 reward seats early
Availability for 2 seats in the same cabin can be limited, especially in first class. Book as far in advance as possible (355 days) for the best selection.
Don't waste it on short-haul economy
A London-Barcelona economy return saves only about 13,000 Avios. Far better to save the voucher for a long-haul premium cabin redemption.
Use before expiry
The voucher is valid for 12 months. You must book and travel within this period. Set a reminder so you don't lose it.
Best Routes for the Companion Voucher
These BA-operated routes offer the best value when using your 2-4-1 companion voucher.
London - New York (JFK)
Best ValueSave up to 64,000 Avios in First Class. BA's new Club Suite product makes business class excellent value too.
London - Tokyo (Haneda)
Best ValueSave up to 102,000 Avios in First Class. One of the highest-value 2-4-1 routes available.
London - Cape Town
Save 75,000 Avios in business class return. Great Club World service on the overnight route.
London - Singapore
Save 75,000 Avios in business class. Direct BA flights with the new Club Suite.
London - Dubai
Save 40,000 Avios in business class. A popular route with good off-peak availability.
London - Barbados
Save up to 50,000 Avios in business class. Excellent for Caribbean winter breaks.
Restrictions and Rules
BA operated flights only
The voucher only works on flights operated by British Airways. It cannot be used on partner airline flights, even if booked through BA.
12-month validity
The voucher expires 12 months from the date it is issued. Both the booking and travel must occur within this period. It cannot be extended.
Same cabin class required
Both passengers must travel in the same cabin class. You cannot use the voucher to book one in business and one in economy.
Taxes and surcharges still apply
Both passengers must pay the applicable taxes and carrier surcharges. These can be substantial on long-haul BA flights (£400-600+ per person for business/first class).
Non-transferable
The voucher is linked to your Executive Club account and cannot be transferred to another person. The cardholder must be one of the two passengers on the booking.
One voucher per membership year
You earn one voucher per card membership year (not calendar year). Even if you exceed £12,000 spend significantly, you only receive one voucher.
Need More Points?
Earn bonus points with these credit card offers
Can't find availability at your current points balance? These credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses to help you book your dream flight.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Business · Annual fee $895
200,000 points
after $20,000 in 3 months
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Dell credit ($1150)
- Adobe credit ($250)
American Express Business Gold Card
Business · Annual fee $375
200,000 points
after $15,000 in 3 months
- ChatGPT Business Statement Credit ($300)
- FedEx, Grubhub and Office Supply Statement Credit ($240)
- Walmart+ Statement Credit ($155)
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Digital entertainment credit ($300)
- Uber Cash and One credit ($320)
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $250
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Disney Streaming credit ($120)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
100,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Chase Travel hotel credit ($100)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($120)
- DoorDash DashPass ($120)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $795
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- Travel credit ($300)
- The Edit hotel credit ($500)
- Dining credit ($300)
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Avios companion voucher?
The Avios companion voucher, also known as the BA Amex 2-4-1 voucher, is a perk of the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card. It lets you book two Avios reward seats on British Airways flights for the Avios cost of one. Both passengers still pay taxes and surcharges.
How do I earn the BA companion voucher?
You earn the companion voucher by spending £12,000 on the BA American Express Premium Plus Card within a membership year. The voucher is automatically added to your The British Airways Club account once the spend threshold is reached.
Can I use the companion voucher on any airline?
No, the companion voucher only works on British Airways operated flights booked as Avios reward seats. It cannot be used on partner airline flights (such as Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, or Qantas), even if booked through BA with Avios.
Which cabin classes can I book with the voucher?
The voucher works in all cabin classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business (Club World), and First Class. Both passengers must travel in the same cabin class on the same flight.
How long is the companion voucher valid for?
The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date it is issued to your Executive Club account. Both the booking and travel must take place within this 12-month period. The voucher cannot be extended or renewed; you need to earn a new one by meeting the spend threshold again.
Can I use the voucher on one-way flights?
BA Avios bookings can be made as return or one-way flights. The companion voucher applies per booking, so you can use it on a one-way if you prefer, though you will get more value from a return booking as the Avios saving is greater.
Do I still pay taxes with the companion voucher?
Yes, both passengers pay the full taxes and carrier surcharges. On long-haul BA flights, these surcharges can be significant: typically £400-600+ per person for business or first class. The voucher only waives the Avios cost for the second passenger.
Is the BA Amex Premium Plus Card worth the £250 annual fee?
If you can meet the £12,000 spend threshold, the companion voucher alone can save you 50,000-102,000 Avios on a single booking, making the £250 fee excellent value. You also earn 1.5 Avios per £1 on all spending (18,000+ Avios from the qualifying spend alone), plus a 25,000 Avios welcome bonus and travel insurance.
Can someone else use my companion voucher?
The voucher is linked to your Executive Club account. You must be one of the two passengers on the booking. You cannot transfer the voucher to someone else to use independently.
What happens if I cancel my BA Amex card?
If you cancel the card before earning the voucher, you will not receive it. If you have already earned and been issued the voucher, it remains valid in your Executive Club account for its full 12-month period even after card cancellation.
Ready to Use Your Companion Voucher?
Search for British Airways Avios reward flights and find the best use for your 2-4-1 voucher.
Search BA Award Flights