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 26, 2017, 7:43 am
#451
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
1.5x has now posted. So have some welcome bonuses.
Apr 26, 2017, 7:50 am
#452
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Apr 26, 2017, 7:52 am
#453
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Apr 26, 2017, 9:00 am
#454
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SPG PLAT, DELTA PLAT
Posts: 2
I can confirm this for me as well. Also the delayed Blue for Business points that posted the next day are now posting.
What is not posting is my bonus points for booking prepaid hotel through amextravel. The statement closed and did not show up on pending points either.
Apr 26, 2017, 10:33 am
#455
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Well I did not ask. She just put me on hold and then came back saying that as it was a business class ticket it was eligible. Can she see whether it's scheduled to have the points reimbursed?
Apr 26, 2017, 10:37 am
#456
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Apr 26, 2017, 10:58 am
#457
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Apr 26, 2017, 11:05 am
#458
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I think your question is a good one. As a matter of policy any business class ticket should qualify, but perhaps the software doesn't look at the transaction if the cardholder hasn't chosen an airline. Having found someone who confirmed that all business tickets are eligible, I would followup by asking her to look at the specific transaction.
Apr 26, 2017, 2:15 pm
#459
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
I think your question is a good one. As a matter of policy any business class ticket should qualify, but perhaps the software doesn't look at the transaction if the cardholder hasn't chosen an airline. Having found someone who confirmed that all business tickets are eligible, I would followup by asking her to look at the specific transaction.
Are you suggesting something changed regarding this on 4/11? If so, what makes you say that, aside from the fact that other things changed on 4/11?
Apr 28, 2017, 9:32 am
#460
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 715
Aaaannd It's gone...
Per TPG, starting June 1, the 50% reimbursement will become 35% - Thus making the points worth around 1.54 cents instead of 2.
Fun while it lasted...
Per TPG, starting June 1, the 50% reimbursement will become 35% - Thus making the points worth around 1.54 cents instead of 2.
Fun while it lasted...
Apr 28, 2017, 9:42 am
#461
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Apr 28, 2017, 9:47 am
#462
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Miami
Programs: AA 9 Million Miler, UA 1K, DL Plat, SPG Plat, Amex Centurion
Posts: 28
Also, if Business Centurion will indeed not be subject to the new limitations.
Apr 28, 2017, 10:02 am
#463
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
Apr 28, 2017, 10:27 am
#464
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
I was on the fence about getting this card, now AMEX has made my decision for me. Thanks AMEX 
Apr 28, 2017, 10:31 am
#465
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SMF, SNA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, IHG Diamond
Posts: 175
From an Amex chat rep:
"If you opened your Business Platinum Card account anytime between October, 2016 and May 31, 2017, we will be honoring the 50% Airline Bonus, with unlimited points for one full year from the date your Business Card was issued. Once that full year has passed, you will start receiving 35% points back on eligible flights, up to a maximum of 500,000 points per calendar year."
Really disappointed with Amex. Seems like other issuers are adding perks, while Amex Platinum and Cent cards continue diluting them. So personally, I'll have until next January to use up the MR points I've been collecting due to this benefit, while re-assessing where to put our everyday non-bonus spending.
"If you opened your Business Platinum Card account anytime between October, 2016 and May 31, 2017, we will be honoring the 50% Airline Bonus, with unlimited points for one full year from the date your Business Card was issued. Once that full year has passed, you will start receiving 35% points back on eligible flights, up to a maximum of 500,000 points per calendar year."
Really disappointed with Amex. Seems like other issuers are adding perks, while Amex Platinum and Cent cards continue diluting them. So personally, I'll have until next January to use up the MR points I've been collecting due to this benefit, while re-assessing where to put our everyday non-bonus spending.
