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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
News
Amex sweetens the deal for airline, hotel, car rental bookings
Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.
November 1, 2020 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
A major card issuer has introduced several limited-time travel offers, including discounted domestic airfare and enhanced hotel benefits, for select premium cardmembers.
Discounted premium-cabin fares are available for domestic flights booked by December 31, 2020, for travel through March 31, 2021, with savings up to 22% off public fares.
Eligible cardmembers can receive a $150 statement credit on select luxury hotel bookings and access additional property-specific perks, such as free nights or extra credits.
Points can now be redeemed for prepaid car rentals, though the redemption rate is lower than TPG's valuation as of September 2020.
What to consider
Discounted airfare and hotel offers require booking and travel by specific dates, with some benefits requiring enrollment.
The $150 hotel credit applies to prepaid bookings of $800 or more at participating properties and must be booked by December 7, 2020.
Points redeemed for car rentals are valued at 0.7 cents each, below TPG's 2 cents per point valuation as of September 2020.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of how to combine multiple travel offers and maximize premium card travel benefits during the current promotional period.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
More than four out of five consumers – 82%, to be exact – say travel is one of the top activities they miss as the pandemic drags on, according to a survey commissioned by American Express between Sept. 17 and 18.
If you're part of the 82% consumed by wanderlust and you're also an American Express cardmember, we've got great news. The issuer is sweetening the deal for those looking to make new travel bookings.
It’s against that backdrop that Amex is rolling out its latest offers. As Audrey Hendley, president of Amex Travel, described in an interview with TPG, "we're backing up our cardmembers [with great new offers] and supporting them in all their travels."
Let's dive into the details — and show how you can maximize your next Amex Travel booking.
If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you might have heard about the International Airline Program (IAP). Enrollment required for select benefits.
This exclusive benefit for Platinum cardmembers offers discounted international premium-cabin fares on more than 25 of the world's best airlines. Booking through the IAP is often one of the best ways to unlock even-better pricing on a premium-cabin itinerary.
But in the midst of the pandemic, Amex found that only 40% of plane travelers are comfortable traveling domestically and far fewer are ready to fly internationally. Plus, most destinations abroad are closed to Americans.
That's why Amex is introducing limited-time discounted pricing for select domestic airfare booked by Dec. 31, 2020, for travel through March 31, 2021. U.S. Platinum cardmembers can access these lower fares when booking on amextravel.com or by calling the Amex Travel team.
With the ability to save up to 22% off the public fare, this is a discount worth considering. You'll still be able to earn frequent flyer points and elite status qualification — and you'll earn 5x Membership Rewards for flights booked with your Platinum card. Starting Jan. 1, 2021, earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Hendley explained that "our cardmembers are thinking about traveling again within the U.S. We're following those trends closely, and that's why we're excited about our discounted domestic fare options."
On a sample search for a one-way flight from New York to Los Angeles, Amex offered discounted flights with American and Delta. Instead of a $1,219 one-way Delta business-class fare, Amex was charging $977, or about 20% less.
(Screenshot courtesy of Delta)(Screenshot courtesy of American Express)
The discounts don't appear to be as good for coach tickets. On a random Monday in October, Amex was discounting a Delta flight from New York to Miami by just $3. The savings with American were better — roughly 15% off the coach ticket price.
And rest assured that if you need to change or cancel your booking, Amex Travel will honor all airline partner flexible polices, Hendley noted. Plus, "from now until Dec. 31, we're waiving the $39 Amex-imposed change or cancel fee for modifications made by phone," Hendley added.
The Amex Centurion Lounge at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
In addition, Amex cardmembers can now easily see if they have unused air credits for flights originally booked through Amex Travel. You can then contact Amex Travel for rebooking.
Combined with the fact that over 50% of Centurion Lounges have reopened, Amex is really sweetening the deal for Platinum cardmembers taking to the skies. Enrollment required for select benefits.
(Unfortunately, Amex didn't have an update for us about unused airline fee credits for Platinum cardmembers.)
Another lucrative perk of the Platinum card is access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) program. When booking hotel stays through the program, cardmembers receive a host of additional benefits, like complimentary daily breakfast, space-available upgrades, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout and a unique property amenity valued at $100. Enrollment required for select benefits.
"We have tight partnerships with our FHR properties, and we periodically team up to do offers with them. But this time, we had a large-scale campaign behind this latest round of offers," Hendley remarked.
Indeed, Amex has worked hard to incentivize you to get your head in an (FHR) bed. It started in September when eligible Platinum cardmembers began receiving an Amex Offer for FHR booking. After enrolling, you need to spend $800 or more (in one or more transactions) on prepaid FHR bookings at AmexTravel.com, and you'll receive a one-time $150 statement credit.
This $150 credit is in addition to the existing suite of FHR benefits and applies for travel booked by Dec. 7, 2020. Plus, you'll still earn 5x Membership Rewards on your prepaid FHR bookings.
But that's not all.
More than 200 participating FHR properties have recently added additional benefits that you can stack on top of the aforementioned promotions. For example, the Ritz Carlton in Boston is offering an additional $375 property credit for stays of three nights or more. Other hotels are offering free nights, like a third-night-free offer at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows.
Four Seasons Maui is a great FHR property (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
The promotions and required booking and travel dates vary by property. For the full list, check out Amex's site. And if you're wondering about the anti-coronavirus measures specific properties are implementing, Amex has built an internal COVID-19 informational hub for agents to reference, according to Hendley.
Though some people are ready to take to the skies again, many still aren't. But don't fret if you're among the latter; Amex has you covered too.
You're now able to Pay with Points for prepaid car rentals booked through Amex Travel. This is a noteworthy milestone for the issuer, since car rental reservations are traditionally paid for when receiving or dropping off the car.
As such, Hendley is particularly excited about this innovation. Since cardmembers have been booking cars at higher rates than before, she mentioned that "we needed to figure out how to make the reservations prepaid. We've now done that. And customers love the Pay with Points option — it's just like another currency."
On a test booking, Amex was offering a rate of 0.7 cents per point, much lower than the TPG valuation of 2 cents per point.
(Screenshot courtesy of American Express)
Though you can now redeem Membership Rewards for cars, there's no telling (yet) on whether you'll earn bonus Membership Rewards when paying for a prepaid car reservation. According to Amex, "we’ll share more details... later this year."
Note that Membership Rewards redemptions for car rentals will be covered under Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance that's included with certain Amex cards.
Amex has added a host of exciting, limited-time offers for those looking to book future travel. In addition to the card's existing top-notch travel benefits, you'll now have access to discounted airfare, a rebate on FHR hotels, transfer bonuses, the ability to redeem points for car rentals and more.
These travel-focused offers join the previously announced limited-time statement credits designed for those stuck at home. The issuer added credits for streaming and wireless telephone carriers for the rest of the year for all Platinum cardholders.
All in all, even during the midst of the pandemic, there's truly no better time to be a Platinum cardholder.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
