British Airways and American Express celebrate 25 years of partnership with exclusive Cardmember Avios-Only flight to New York

• Cardmembers will enjoy an exclusive onboard experience, access to a private event at the iconic One Vanderbilt in Manhattan, and a helicopter transfer for customers travelling in First
• One-off flight will offer tickets from 25,000 Avios + £0 return, offering exceptional value to celebrate the 25^th anniversary
  

10 June 2026 - British Airways and American Express are celebrating 25 years of partnership with an exclusive anniversary Avios-Only flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK for British Airways American Express^® Cardmembers.

Departing on 15 October 2026 and returning on 18 October 2026, the one-off flight will offer exclusive discounts across every cabin, with every seat onboard available exclusively to eligible Cardmembers booking with Avios.

Return tickets will start from just 25,000 Avios in World Traveller – in a nod to the milestone anniversary – with no cash payment required, giving Cardmembers exceptional value. British Airways American Express ^® Cardmembers can register interest here, from today until 23.59 (BST) on 24 June 2026, to ensure they receive booking instructions ahead of booking opening on 15 July 2026.¹

To mark the 25-year anniversary, Cardmembers will be treated to a one-of-a-kind getaway. In addition to an exclusive onboard experience, including specially curated food and drink offerings, there will be an invitation to a private event at the iconic One Vanderbilt in Manhattan with spectacular views across the New York skyline.

Customers travelling in First will also receive a complimentary BLADE helicopter transfer between JFK and Manhattan upon arrival, taking Avios redemptions to new heights.

Caroline Bouvet, Vice President, UK Products at American Express, said: “Through our 25-year partnership with British Airways we have rewarded our Cardmembers’ everyday spending with valuable travel rewards and memorable experiences. We're delighted to celebrate this milestone with our mutual customers through an exclusive anniversary flight, combining exceptional Avios value with a truly memorable trip to New York.”

Colm Lacy, Chief Commercial Officer, British Airways, said: “For 25 years, our partnership with American Express has set the standard for rewarding loyalty, creating exceptional travel experiences for millions of customers. This exclusive anniversary flight is a fitting way to celebrate that milestone, and we’re delighted to be giving cardmembers the chance to turn their loyalty into a truly unforgettable journey to New York.”

Cardmembers who register will receive booking instructions the day before booking opens. From 15 July 2026, they will be able to book up to four seats in their chosen cabin and may also use up to two Companion Vouchers. Any additional travellers do not need to be Cardmembers.

To be eligible to book, Cardmembers must register their interest before 23:59 (BST) on 24 June and have sufficient Avios in their own British Airways Club account for all the seats they wish to purchase. Seats are limited and will be offered to pre-registered Cardmembers on a first-come, first-served basis once bookings open. Terms and conditions apply.²

ENDS

Media Enquiries:
press@iagloyalty.com

Notes to Editors:

London Heathrow to New York JFK return fares:

¹ UK (incl. Channel Islands & Isle of Man), 18+ & British Airways American Express® Credit Card or British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Main Cardholders only. The outbound Flight BA177 departs from London Heathrow on 15 October 2026 at 13:20 BST and will arrive at New York JFK 16:15 EDT. The inbound Flight BA180 will depart New York JFK at 19:10 EDT on 18 October 2026, arriving into London Heathrow at 07:20 on 19 October 2026 BST.

² Registering interest does not guarantee Cardmembers a ticket. Cardmembers' British Airways American Express ^® Card Accounts must be linked to their British Airways Club account to be able to register interest. Cardmembers must register their interest to be eligible to book, and do this by 23:59 BST on 24 June 2026. Cardmembers must also have enough Avios balance in their British Airways Club account for the seats they wish to purchase. Avios towards a booking must be held in the Purchasing Participants’ own British Airways Club account for all tickets booked. Avios balances held by other members of a Household Account are not eligible and cannot be used towards the booking. If the flight sells out before they can book, Cardmembers who registered their interest will be given the option to join the waitlist on the main booking page. If seats become available, customers on the waitlist will be contacted via phone call. It is not possible to book a one-way ticket. Cardmembers booking seats on the British Airways American Express 25th Anniversary Flight will pay for their flight using their Avios balance. They may also use a maximum of two Companion Vouchers. For full T&Cs and a detailed breakdown on how to book this flight please refer to the ‘How it Works’ section on the landing page: https://www.avios.com/en-GB/spend-avios/vouchers/amex/ba-amex-25th-anniversary-flight

About American Express

American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.  

Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. We seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations, and we build and manage relationships with millions of merchants across our global network.  

For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com 

About Avios

Avios is the global loyalty currency of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar Airways, Finnair and Loganair. It enables over 70 million members in more than 200 countries worldwide to collect and redeem rewards across a broad ecosystem of travel, retail and financial services partners. More than 20 million Avios are collected and 16 million are redeemed every hour through partnerships with thousands of leading brands including Nectar, American Express, Uber, Cabify, Repsol and Royal Caribbean. From flights and hotel stays to groceries and daily commutes, Avios allows members to turn their everyday spending into meaningful rewards.

For more information, visit www.avios.com