The Barclaycard Avios Upgrade Voucher and the British Airways American Express Companion Voucher offer serious perks for Avios collectors, but they work in totally different ways. So, which one should you chase in 2025?

Let’s break it down.

The Basics: What Do These Vouchers Do?

Feature Barclaycard Avios Upgrade Voucher British Airways Amex 2-4-1 Voucher
What it does Lets you upgrade one return flight (or two one-ways) by one cabin class for the Avios price of the lower cabin. Allows you to book two Avios reward seats for the Avios price of one, or get 50% off Avios cost for a solo traveller.
Card required Barclaycard Avios Plus (£20/month) BA Amex (£0) or BA Amex Premium Plus (£300/year)
Spending requirement £10,000 per year £15,000 per year
Voucher expiry 2 years from issue 1 year (BA Amex Free) / 2 years (BA Amex Premium Plus)
Who can use it? Can be used for anyone BA Amex cardholder must be on the booking

Bonus Tip: The Upgrade Voucher can now also be used on Iberia and Aer Lingus flights booked through British Airways, which opens up new long-haul and short-haul options beyond BA metal. The Companion Voucher, by contrast, still only works on BA flights.

Value for Money: Which Voucher Saves You More?

Scenario Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher BA Amex 2-4-1 Voucher
Solo Traveller Upgrade one-way or return flights for fewer Avios. Great if you usually book alone. 50% off the Avios required for a solo booking. More valuable if booking Business or First.
Travelling as a Pair If both travellers have vouchers, you can both upgrade, but you still need enough Avios for two people. Two travellers for the Avios price of one – a clear winner for couples or duos.
Long-haul Premium Flights Best for bumping yourself up from Economy to Premium Economy or Premium Economy to Business. Best for getting two Business or First Class seats for the Avios price of one.

Flexibility: Which One Works Better for Your Travel Style?

Factor Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher BA Amex 2-4-1 Voucher
Airlines available British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus British Airways only
One-way flights? Yes – uses half a voucher Yes – no restrictions
Open-jaw flights? Yes, if both flights are in Avios zones Yes, but with distance restrictions
Reward availability boost? No – just uses standard Avios seats Yes – unlocks extra reward seats in Business Class

Did You Know? The BA Companion Voucher unlocks extra Club World (Business Class) availability, but the Upgrade Voucher doesn’t get this perk.

Taxes & Fees: Which One Hits Your Wallet Less?

Expense Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher BA Amex 2-4-1 Voucher
Avios Required Pays for lower-cabin Avios cost Pays for only one seat’s Avios cost
Taxes & Fees Based on upgraded cabin Full price for both passengers
Best way to save Use on flights where the Avios difference between cabins is small. Use on Iberia or Aer Lingus routes for lower surcharges.

Pro Tip: The Upgrade Voucher typically works out cheaper in taxes and fees because you’re only paying extra for one person. With the Companion Voucher, you’re on the hook for full surcharges for both passengers.

a black credit card with green text Barclaycard plus Avios
The Barclaycard Avios Plus Credit Card.

Real-Life Use Case: Which Voucher Wins?

Imagine you’re booking London to New York in Club World.

  • With the Companion Voucher, you might pay 100,000 Avios + £1,000 in taxes for two people.
  • With the Upgrade Voucher, you might pay 60,000 Avios + £450 to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business for one.

Both are solid options, but the Companion Voucher wins on sheer savings if you’re travelling as a pair, while the Upgrade Voucher is a gem for solo flyers who value comfort.

Other Things to Consider

  • Household Account rules apply to the Companion Voucher; you can only book for people on your household account. There is no such restriction for the Upgrade Voucher.
  • You still earn Avios and Tier Points when flying with either voucher, as long as you pay the required taxes and fees.
  • Availability challenges: The Companion Voucher can be tricky to use on popular long-haul routes unless you book at least 355 days in advance. The Upgrade Voucher tends to offer more consistent availability, especially in Club Europe.
  • You can’t combine both vouchers on one booking. It’s either Upgrade or Companion, not both.
a credit card with a credit card and wings
The British Airways American Express Premium Plus credit card.

The Verdict: Which Voucher Should You Aim For?

  • Best for Solo Travellers → Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher
  • Best for Couples or Duos → BA Amex 2-4-1 Voucher
  • Best for Premium Cabin Travel → BA Amex 2-4-1 Voucher
  • Best for Lower Taxes & Fees → Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher

Final Thoughts

The Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher is a low-effort, high-reward tool for solo travellers looking to stretch their Avios, especially when flying off-peak or short-haul in Europe. Meanwhile, the BA Amex Companion Voucher unlocks serious value for long-haul Business and First bookings when travelling as a pair.

The sweet spot? Hold both cards and use each voucher to your advantage depending on the trip.

Sign up for the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard here

Sign up for the British Airways American Express card here

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