How to Use the BA Amex Companion Voucher Without Getting Played

The ultimate guide to the UK’s most powerful travel perk and how to actually use it. So you’ve got your shiny British Airways Amex card, and you’re eyeing the famed BA Amex 2-4-1 Companion Voucher like it’s your golden ticket to first-class glory. And… it kind of is. But only if you actually know what you’re doing.

Because of all its Avios-saving brilliance, this voucher has more rules than a Ryanair baggage policy.

Let’s break it down.

Two Cards, Two Vouchers, One Clear Winner

Both BA Amex cards offer a 2-4-1 voucher, but let’s not kid ourselves: only one of them unlocks the real party.

If you’re saving Avios to fly flatbeds, the free card voucher is a dud. No lounges, no fizz, no thanks.

What Does the Companion Voucher Actually Do?

If you’re travelling as a pair:

• Book two seats for the Avios price of one.
• Pay taxes/fees for both.
• Example: Two Club World returns to New York? Save ~160,000 Avios.

If you’re flying solo:

• Since June 2022, the voucher gives you 50% off the Avios for one seat.
• Still pay full taxes/fees.
• It applies to all cabins with Premium Plus; Economy only applies to free cards.

You cannot combine this voucher with “Part Pay with Avios” or cash & Avios mixes. It’s full redemption or bust.

Where You Can Use It (And Where BA Says “Nope”)

✅ Yes:

• British Airways (including CityFlyer)
• Iberia and Aer Lingus
• One-way or return
• Solo or paired
• Mixed-cabin (e.g. Club out, Prem back)
• Open-jaw bookings with distance rules

❌ No:

• Qatar, Cathay, or any other Oneworld partner
• Codeshares or franchises (SUN-AIR stans, we’re sorry)
• Previously booked Avios flight vouchers must be applied at the booking
• Name swaps the cardholder must fly
• Mixing multiple vouchers for odd passenger counts (e.g. 3 people with 2 solo-use vouchers? Nope)

How Do You Earn It?

• Spend £15,000 in your card membership year
• The voucher is auto-dropped into your BA Executive Club My eVouchers.
• Limit: 1 voucher per year per card

Pro Tip: Get your partner to grab their card, which will give you 2 vouchers for 4 people. However, it’s only worth it if your Avios stash keeps up.

Taxes & Fees: The Champagne’s Free But the Glass Costs £350

BA introduced Reward Flight Saver pricing on long-haul, so the cash outlay is now:

• Club World: ~£350 return
• First Class: ~£450 return
• Economy: £100–150 return

Booking with Iberia or Aer Lingus? Taxes are lower.

Flying from Dublin or Madrid? Say goodbye to UK Air Passenger Duty.

How to Redeem the Voucher (Step-by-Step)

1. Log in to your BA Executive Club account
2. Search for Avios flights and tick “Use a Companion Voucher.”
3. Pick your flights. Extra availability may appear
4. Pay taxes/fees with any Amex (not necessarily BA-branded or yours)
5. Confirm. Sit back. Brag on social media.

Bonus Perk: Extra Seat Availability

Companion vouchers unlock additional Club World reward seats on some flights. You won’t see these unless you’ve ticked “Use a voucher.”

Tip: Can’t find availability from London? Try Manchester or Glasgow, then position yourself down to LHR. Just make sure to fly the first leg or your ticket will be cancelled.

Other Fine Print That Trips People Up

• ✅ You can book one-way flights
• ✅ You can mix cabins on outbound and return
• ❌ You earn no Tier Points or Avios on these bookings
• ❌ You must fly the outbound leg before the voucher expires
• ❌ You can’t change the companion’s name. Only cancel and rebook

Cancelling a trip? You’ll get the voucher back, but the expiration date will not change.

Seat Release Timing: Your 355-Day Wake-Up Call

• BA releases reward seats 355 days in advance at midnight GMT.
• Best trick? Call the Japan or US call centre the second the calendar flips.
• Book the outbound first, then call to add the return later.
• Got enough Avios? Book the return as a standard redemption and call BA to apply the voucher retroactively for a 50% refund.

Live Outside London?

Not based at Heathrow? Here’s your reality:

• Most flights route via LHR
• Consider using Iberia (via Madrid) or Aer Lingus (via Dublin)
• Positioning flights or an overnight hotel might be needed.

Still worth it? Usually. Just budget it in.

Final Thoughts: Free Card = False Economy?

Let’s be honest. The free BA Amex voucher is mostly good for Economy redemptions, which usually do not have the best Avios value.

Here’s the play:

1. Get the BA Premium Plus card
2. Trigger the welcome bonus (worth more than the £300 fee)
3. Use the voucher for Club or First
4. Downgrade to the free card in Year 2 if needed

And there it is £1,600+ worth of First Class flights for two, for the price of a half-decent suitcase.

To sign up for the BA Amex premium plus credit card click this link here:

Still Taxiing? Read On:

• How to Max Out the Value of Your Barclaycard Avios Voucher
• Virgin Atlantic Reward Voucher vs Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher: Which One Wins?
• Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher vs. British Airways Amex 2-4-1 Voucher: Which One Wins?