Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Hey there points enthusiasts! Welcome back to another episode of Smart With Points. I'm excited to dive into one of the most valuable travel perks available to UK travelers - the British Airways Companion Voucher. I've personally used these vouchers to explore destinations that would've otherwise broken the bank, and today I'm sharing everything you need to know about this powerful travel tool, including some important changes from late two thousand and twenty-four.

Let's start with the basics. The British Airways Companion Voucher is essentially a two-for-one deal on Avios redemptions. When you book a British Airways flight with Avios, your companion flies for zero additional Avios - you just pay the taxes and fees for both passengers. For example, if you're booking a business class flight to New York that normally costs one hundred thousand Avios per person, you'd only need one hundred thousand Avios total for two people.

Here's what's really cool - if you're traveling solo, you can now use the Companion Voucher to get a fifty percent discount on the Avios required for your booking. This is a fantastic enhancement that's made the voucher much more versatile.

Now, let's talk about how to earn one. There are two main credit cards offering the Companion Voucher. First, there's the British Airways American Express Credit Card - that's the free version. You'll earn a voucher when you spend fifteen thousand pounds in a membership year, but it's only valid for economy cabins and expires after one year.

Then there's the Premium Plus Card, which has a three hundred pound annual fee - that increased from two hundred and fifty pounds in two thousand and twenty-four. You'll also need to spend fifteen thousand pounds in a membership year, but this voucher is valid for two years and can be used in any cabin class. If you're looking to sign up for either card, check out the current welcome bonuses through the link in our shownotes.

Let me share a quick pro tip - the absolute sweet spot for these vouchers is long-haul premium cabin redemptions. For instance, a Club World return to New York can cost upwards of three thousand five hundred pounds per person when paying cash. Using Avios, you might need around one hundred thousand to one hundred and twenty thousand Avios plus six hundred to seven hundred pounds in taxes and fees per person. With a Companion Voucher, that second seat costs zero additional Avios - now that's what I call a deal!

Before we wrap up, I want to thank you all for listening. If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit smartwithpoints.co.uk. Your support means the world to us!

Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.