Apr 22, 2015, 10:57 am
Last edit by: mia
Effective June 2017 the USA Business Platinum airfare Pay-with-Points refund was reduced to 35%. This brings the net value to $0.0153 per point, essentially the same as Chase Sapphire Reserve's Pay-with-Points redemption rate.
USA Business Centurion cardholders will continue to receive a 50% refund. The Centurion version is also broader than the Platinum benefit:
Centurion: beginning October 6, 2016 you will get 50% Membership Rewards® points back when you use the Pay with Points feature for all or part of a flight on any airline. The maximum rebate per calendar year for Centurion members is (_______?)
Platinum: Business Platinum Card Members will receive 5 extra points for every 10 points they redeem for either a First or Business class flight on any airline, or for flights with their selected qualifying airline using Membership Rewards Pay with Points with American Express Travel (35% Airline Bonus). The maximum rebate per calendar year for Business Platinum Card Members is 1,000,000 points.
FAQ
Q1. How does the process work?
A1. Here is an example, buying a $1,000.00 ticket:
Q2. Must the Business Centurion or Platinum card be used to purchase the ticket?
A2. When the benefit was refreshed in October 2016 you could pay with any card linked to the same Membership Rewards account, but it appears this changed in April 2017.
Q3. Will I earn Membership Rewards points on the purchase price?
A3. You will not earn base points, but you may earn bonus points if you pay with a card that awards a bonus for airline ticket purchases, such as Business Platinum, Personal Platinum, Business Rewards Gold, Premier Rewards Gold.
Q4. What happens if I cancel the ticket?
A4. There are mixed reports, but in most examples the cost of the ticket is refunded (a second time) to the card account. In one example American Express refunded the remainder of the points instead. If you prefer the points refunded rather than a cash credit, phone into AMEX and they will restore the points and remove the credit.
Q5. Can this benefit be combined with the International Airline Program companion ticket?
A5. One poster was told no, but another was able to do so.
USA Business Centurion cardholders will continue to receive a 50% refund. The Centurion version is also broader than the Platinum benefit:
Centurion: beginning October 6, 2016 you will get 50% Membership Rewards® points back when you use the Pay with Points feature for all or part of a flight on any airline. The maximum rebate per calendar year for Centurion members is (_______?)
Platinum: Business Platinum Card Members will receive 5 extra points for every 10 points they redeem for either a First or Business class flight on any airline, or for flights with their selected qualifying airline using Membership Rewards Pay with Points with American Express Travel (35% Airline Bonus). The maximum rebate per calendar year for Business Platinum Card Members is 1,000,000 points.
FAQ
Q1. How does the process work?
A1. Here is an example, buying a $1,000.00 ticket:
- $1,000 charged to American Express card [Day 1]
- 100,000 Membership Rewards points redeemed [Day 1]
- $1,000 credited to American Express card [Day 2]
- _35,000 Membership Rewards points returned [~a month later]
- Net: $1,000 ticket for 65,000 points = $0.0154/point
Q2. Must the Business Centurion or Platinum card be used to purchase the ticket?
A2. When the benefit was refreshed in October 2016 you could pay with any card linked to the same Membership Rewards account, but it appears this changed in April 2017.
Q3. Will I earn Membership Rewards points on the purchase price?
A3. You will not earn base points, but you may earn bonus points if you pay with a card that awards a bonus for airline ticket purchases, such as Business Platinum, Personal Platinum, Business Rewards Gold, Premier Rewards Gold.
Q4. What happens if I cancel the ticket?
A4. There are mixed reports, but in most examples the cost of the ticket is refunded (a second time) to the card account. In one example American Express refunded the remainder of the points instead. If you prefer the points refunded rather than a cash credit, phone into AMEX and they will restore the points and remove the credit.
Q5. Can this benefit be combined with the International Airline Program companion ticket?
A5. One poster was told no, but another was able to do so.
Pay-with-Points flights. BUSINESS Centurion 50% refund, Plat 35%, Gold 25% (2015-23)
Apr 20, 2017, 11:46 am
#406
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Charlotte NC USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, Alaska 75k, IHG Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 863
I got some pending points accelerated today to make a ticket purchase...got it done, but chat CSR was more grudging about it than previously ("one time exception").
Apr 21, 2017, 6:51 am
#407
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 123
This basically kills the BPlat for my wife and I, makes it significantly more difficult to book 2+ tickets
Apr 21, 2017, 7:48 am
#408
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
If they really start taking 8-10 weeks to post the bonus, this SIGNIFICANTLY erodes this benefit, since for a lot of us not hugely rich in points, the strategy has been to purchase one ticket, wait a couple of days for the bonus to post, and then use those points for the second ticket for companion. With weeks between original purchase and bonus posting, it is unlikely we'd be able to buy both tickets at same/similar price points. 
Apr 21, 2017, 9:04 am
#409
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 52
Do you have to select a preferred airline immediately? Can you deselect it the following year and choose it at a later date? If so, it would help with trip planning.
How difficult is it to get the business version? I do not have my own business, but could put some work expenses on it, that my company reimburses me for. I guess I could say I have a small business selling season tickets, but I do not want a FR, and ruin my relationship with AMEX.
How difficult is it to get the business version? I do not have my own business, but could put some work expenses on it, that my company reimburses me for. I guess I could say I have a small business selling season tickets, but I do not want a FR, and ruin my relationship with AMEX.
Apr 21, 2017, 9:15 am
#410
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
No.
The selection applies BOTH to the Airline Fee reimbursement benefit, and to this. You can change the selection in January. If you do not change it will default to your selection from previous year. Changing it after that is not impossible, but it is an exception.
Can you deselect it the following year and choose it at a later date?
Apr 21, 2017, 9:55 am
#411
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 52
Thanks Mia
So if in January I'm not sure which airline will benefit me the most can I ask them to not have one chosen until a later date?
How difficult is the business platinum to get without an actual business. I've sold some things online in the past, and will do it again i'm sure, but I have a regular day job.
So if in January I'm not sure which airline will benefit me the most can I ask them to not have one chosen until a later date?
How difficult is the business platinum to get without an actual business. I've sold some things online in the past, and will do it again i'm sure, but I have a regular day job.
Apr 21, 2017, 10:13 am
#412
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
No, but if you have not had any expenses reimbursed customer service will generally allow you to change later in the year. Bear in mind that only the major domestic airlines are eligible.
Apr 21, 2017, 11:06 am
#413
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I think the answer here is going to be "sorry Charlie," but many of you are smarter than I am with this stuff so I'll give it a shot. (Numbers rounded up.)
I'm looking at booking four tickets on my airline of choice. With insider fares, the tickets are 50,000 points each. I have only 188,000 points. I would be fine paying partially with points and paying the rest in cash. (Not delighted if 8 weeks is now going to be the norm, but I can deal with it.)
The problem is that if I try to book 4 tickets, since I don't have enough points to pay entirely with points for all tickets, the insider fares go away, and the points requirement for each ticket goes up to 53,500.
I could book 3 tickets at insider fare prices and then book a fourth ticket in a separate reservation and pay with the remaining points. The problem there, though, is that only I have status, these are long flights, and I would like to book MCE seats on AA. Everyone in the same reservation as me can book MCE.
Anyone clever have a way to make this work?
I'm looking at booking four tickets on my airline of choice. With insider fares, the tickets are 50,000 points each. I have only 188,000 points. I would be fine paying partially with points and paying the rest in cash. (Not delighted if 8 weeks is now going to be the norm, but I can deal with it.)
The problem is that if I try to book 4 tickets, since I don't have enough points to pay entirely with points for all tickets, the insider fares go away, and the points requirement for each ticket goes up to 53,500.
I could book 3 tickets at insider fare prices and then book a fourth ticket in a separate reservation and pay with the remaining points. The problem there, though, is that only I have status, these are long flights, and I would like to book MCE seats on AA. Everyone in the same reservation as me can book MCE.
Anyone clever have a way to make this work?
Apr 21, 2017, 11:14 am
#414
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
My experience is that AMEX Platinum Travel agents on the phone can see the same Insider Fares as online and allow you to use cash, combo of points & cash, or full points. So, for $39 each, you can get the Insider Fare and pay cash.
Apr 21, 2017, 11:25 am
#415
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
Oh, that's fantastic -- thanks very much. I'll get my wife to try tonight -- it's her Amex account.
Apr 21, 2017, 4:47 pm
#416
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: ORD-SXM-VNO
Programs: LH Senator, HHonors Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 152
do we also get 50% back for the points portion of cash+points payment?
Apr 22, 2017, 8:41 am
#417
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I booked a flight on my airline of choice after 3/30 on Amextravel.com and paid with points, selecting my bus plat as the payment card. My statement closed several days ago. It does not appear I received 4x and nothing is showing in pending points.
Apr 22, 2017, 9:28 am
#418
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 371
I used personal platinum.
Paid Mar 2nd,
1st statement Mar 16th
2nd statement Apr 16th
4x Points posted on Apr 18th
Apr 22, 2017, 9:39 am
#419
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
Oh, gotcha. Will post if anything changes.
Apr 22, 2017, 12:26 pm
#420
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,201