Credit card that gives you eight free BA flights just for signing up!

British Airways has launched a credit card with a massive sign-up bonus that experts say is the most generous they’ve ever seen.

New customers who take out the BA American Express Premium Plus card via the British Airways website will receive no fewer than 70,000 Avios points.

The points are worth up to eight economy flights, or can be converted to £467 in Nectar points.

Avios is the benefit currency of the British Airways Executive Club. Customers collect points when booking flights, hotels and other services such as car rental, which are then converted into rewards.

In addition, credit card providers, including Amex and Barclaycard, have ties to British Airways so customers can earn Avios as they shop.

The massive sign-up bonus is not promoted directly on the American Express website, where customers who sign up for the same card receive 35,000 Avios points. Instead, you’ll need to sign up through the British Airways website to get the full 70,000 points.

To earn the bonus, new customers must sign up before February 21 and spend £3,000 within the first three months of opening the account.

The credit card costs £250 per year and charges 28.1 per cent APR variable on purchases. Card users receive 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent.

Purchases made with British Airways or British Airways Holidays earn more, earning customers three Avios for every £1 spent.

Customers who put all their spending on the card can offset the cost of £250 a year – as long as they pay the bill each month and avoid interest charges.

For example, spending £20,000 on the card over the course of the year will net you 30,000 points, worth a whopping £200 in Nectar Points, but more if you spend it on flights.

Rob Burgess, editor of the frequent flyer website Head for Points, which tracks card rewards, says, “This amazing deal is without a doubt the most generous sign-up offer on a personal credit card in recent memory. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Typically, American Express will offer 25,000 Avios for signing his BA credit card, Mr. Burgess says. Promotions often increase the offer to 35,000 or 40,000 Avios points.

With a reward of 35,000 points you earn an off-peak business class return flight from London to destinations such as Milan, Amsterdam and Geneva. Getting double the amount of points will greatly increase the rewards you can earn.

Terms: The credit card costs £250 per annum and charges 281% APR variable on purchases. Card users receive 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent

Mr Burgess says: ‘It’s difficult to give accurate prices because of the way Avios works, but 70,000 points should get you six to eight economy class flights. Or you get a Premium Economy long-haul flight to the East Coast of the US or the Middle East.

“You can also get three to four business class flights to Europe with it.”

If traveling isn’t your thing, the points would also convert into £467 worth of Nectar credit, according to Mr Burgess, which can be spent at Sainsbury’s, Argos or on eBay.

Customers are also eligible for a companion flight voucher if they spend £10,000 on the card within the year.

This allows you to take someone on the same flight without spending extra Avios. They only have to pay the additional taxes, surcharges and transportation costs.

Individual travelers can also take advantage of the vouchers by applying a 50 percent discount to the Avios price for the flight.

Regulatory changes last year allow card members to use companion vouchers on Aer Lingus and Iberia, giving you more choice of destinations and routes.

Mr. Burgess stresses the importance of playing by the rules and keeping track of monthly credit card payments to avoid being stung by high interest rates.

He adds that after the year, customers can switch to a free Amex Avios card and keep the points.

Customers are only eligible for the 70,000 Avios sign-up bonus on the Premium Plus card if they have not held BA American Express within the last 24 months.

You can also apply if you are an additional cardholder on someone else’s BA American Express card.

If you currently hold or have previously held other American Express credit cards, such as the Platinum Card or Rewards Credit Card, Business Platinum or Gold, you may also take advantage of the offer.

Apply online at britishairways.com/en-gb/executive-club/collective-avios/credit-cards/uk

t.armstrong@dailymail.co.uk