Should you ever use your Companion Voucher on Economy reward seats?

Companion Vouchers are earned annually through British Airways American Express and British Airways American Express Premium Plus credit cards. The perk is given to cardholders who have hit a required spend within the previous 12 months, that’s £15,000 on the free Amex card or £15,000 on the fee-paying Premium Plus card. 

Customers of the free BA Amex credit card can redeem their Companion Vouchers in Economy. Those with the Premium Plus card can use theirs in any class – economy, premium economy, business, or first. For the conditions that apply to your voucher, read the BA Companion Voucher rules.

Companion seats must be booked in the same class on the same flight as the original reward seat and only with British Airways and its subsidiaries. Both the original and second traveller must pay all the fees and taxes for their ticket in cash (unless they are reduced with a Reward Flight Saver fare).

Naturally, if you’re getting a matching reward seat (or half your solo seat fare) for free, you’re getting the best deal if the original reward seat is a valuable one. Most people with Companion Vouchers earned on a Premium Plus card save them to use on business or first class flights, saving thousands in cash, or the Avios equivalent, on the overall deal. 

Bagging a free economy seat through the British Airways Companion Voucher scheme tends to save you much less, in the hundreds of pounds, and quite often nothing at all if there are heavily discounted cash tickets available on that route. So, this can be a comparatively bad move if you have a Premium Plus Amex card. 

There are, however, some scenarios where you might consider doing so. Below we help you weigh up your options. 

There’s high demand for premium seats 

The cost-of-living crisis has prompted a spike in people joining loyalty schemes, including the British Airways Club, previously known as the British Airways Executive Club. The knock-on effect of these extra Avios collectors is a squeeze on BA reward flight availability, particularly on routes where the service isn’t super frequent. 

As premium cabins are the most popular for an Avios flight redemption, you may have problems getting two matching seats in business or first class on which to use your Companion Voucher, especially if the clock is ticking down towards its expiry date. Check the BA Companion Voucher rules for the deadline that applies to yours. 

You’re going long-haul, but not too long-haul

Of course, we’d all rather fly business class on a long journey but if it’s not too epic - say around eight hours or fewer to New York, Barbados, Bermuda or Montreal instead of 11 hours plus for the US or Canadian West coasts, South America, Asia or Australasia - flying economy might not be too uncomfortable. 

Long-haul flights naturally cost more so you’re already getting good value if your companion’s seat is free, or your solo reward seat is half-price. Also, remember you still have to pay fees and taxes on reward flights and these will be considerably more in the premium cabins. 

You’re booking daytime flights

If you’re taking a night flight, comfort is king. A fully flat bed in Business or first class compared to about 100-to-115-degree seat recline angle in Economy makes all the difference to get some sleep. 

Las Vegas, Buenos Aires, and Hong Kong are among long-haul night flight destinations you’ll likely want to hunt down BA reward flight availability in business or first class. 

If you’re flying by day, your seat is less important, so it’s worth checking the timings when you’re making an Avios flight redemption. Seattle, the Dominican Republic, and New York are among popular destinations where flights leave by day and last nine hours or fewer, the time you’ll likely spend watching films. 

You’ve reached British Airways Silver or Gold tier status

One of the great perks of flying business and first class is getting the lounge experience at the airport. 

If you have elite BA Club status this isn’t an issue because you’ll have lounge access already as one of your perks even if you’re flying in economy.

In fact, your whole airport experience will be made smoother. With Silver tier status you get business class check-in and priority boarding, besides a luggage allowance of 32kg per person and access to the Club World lounges.

Gold tier status meanwhile gets you first-class check-in and boarding besides the extra baggage allowance and access to First Class lounges.

Even without elite tier status, you can pay (about £40) to book an airport lounge. These are generally not as swanky as airline lounges but you still get comfy chairs, relative peace, and complimentary food and drinks. 

You may even consider paying for an annual airport lounge pass, which gives you discounts.

When you’re saving with your Companion Voucher, it’s a treat worth considering. Check the BA Companion Voucher rules before planning your redemption. 

Your Companion Voucher expires soon, but you’re also saving for a dream trip

Because you need to use British Airways Companion Vouchers earned through an Amex Premium Plus card by flying within 24 months, you could end up having to do so while you’re saving your Avios for a bigger goal. 

You can only use a Companion Voucher on reward flights, meaning you’ll have to blow some of your Avios stash to cash it in, but of course, you don’t want to lose out on this juicy perk you’ve spent a year earning. Read the BA Companion Voucher rules before you use yours.

Here economy flights can be the solution, especially if you choose long-haul economy daytime flights as we’ve suggested. You’ll still get that bonus holiday but can keep more of your points for a bigger Avios flight redemption, which if it’s for a special occasion is likely to mean business class. 

Of course, if you travel solo with a Companion Voucher, you’ll only pay half the price of your reward seat in Avios. So, if that’s an option it’s another way to minimise the impact on your balance.

Your Avios balance isn’t that big

Though you’ll earn Avios as well as Companion Vouchers on your BA Amex card, if you’ve only just hit the minimum spend needed for your Companion Voucher, you’re unlikely to have enough Avios for reward flights in business or first unless you’ve been building up a lot of Avios through flights or spending elsewhere. Check the BA Companion Voucher rules when planning your redemption.

On the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, £15,000 of eligible spending at the current rate of 1.25 Avios per £1 earns 18,750 Avios. The same rate applies to British Airways and BA Holidays purchases. This is a card-earning example before bonuses, not your total balance; add any existing Avios separately.

The 22,500 Avios example uses the general-purchase rate of 1.5 Avios per eligible £1, current on 8 September 2026. From 7 October 2026, that rate and the 3 Avios per £1 rate for British Airways or BA Holidays both fall to 1.25 Avios per eligible £1. At the new rate, £15,000 of eligible spending earns 18,750 Avios before bonuses. Spending across the change will produce a mixed-rate total, which matters when deciding which cabin your balance can cover.

Do not budget for a welcome bonus unless you qualify for the offer shown when you apply. Add any confirmed bonus separately rather than treating it as part of your annual card earnings.

Use your actual Avios balance to compare Economy and premium-cabin reward seats for your chosen dates. Check the Avios and cash required with your Companion Voucher applied, rather than assuming a particular card-spending total will cover a named route. Economy can still make sense if it fits your balance and gives you a trip you want.

If one or more of our above scenarios applies to you, it could be time to make peace with spending your British Airways Companion Voucher on an economy break. Check the BA Companion Voucher rules before booking.