American Express Membership Rewards - Do you like using PTS or CTS?

Folks,

I've found PTS fairly useless and/or overpriced, and I was wondering if any of you have found value in using it--other than what is required for perks such as the 1-for-1 First and Biz airline tickets.

Please share your insights if there is any reason to use them!

Thanks,
First in Class

Insurance policy - when all the hotels in town are booked, they can find something. Seem to be a bit better at getting you from the wait list to on board flights.

Otherwise, I agree completely with your observations.

Historically, they have been almost completely useless unless looking for an FHR or airline Biz ticket (i have even had them screw up my vacation plans before). However, I complained enough about the service last year in order to merit a call from PTS Customer Service. As a result, I was given a travel credit for future bookings and the opportunity to use the same PTS agent on a regular basis. It has actually worked out quite well.

During the complaint process, it became apparent to me that even the Platinum card customer service agents know that PTS is a joke (although one of them actually told me that PTS is a "complimentary privilege" that Amex offers its Plat customers, and NOT something that is included in the annual fee). One of the supervisors mentioned that she knew of two or three very good PTS agents and recommended one to me.

For booking airline tickets, PTS/CTS normally can't do any better than we can do ourselves but you have to realize we aren't 'normal' and almost any FTer can beat the pants off quite a few of the professional travel agents out there! Where I find PTS/CTS to be useful is with hotels. Regularly they find me the lowest rates (lower than I can obtain myself) and have great luck at getting me in at properties that are sold out. Also I find that when booking at an FHR property on a non-FHR rate (read - lower) I'll receive the upgrade/amenities anyway. Hotel recognition has been uniformly great.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kanebear:
Also I find that when booking at an FHR property on a non-FHR rate (read - lower) I'll receive the upgrade/amenities anyway. Hotel recognition has been uniformly great.</font>

Kanebear,

This is great news! I did not realize that I didn't have the always pay the extra cost of the FHR rate to get the FHR amenities. I realize you're not saying this is policy, but practice.

Thanks!

I always avoid CTS for bookings.

CTS is good at getting lower hotel rates.

I use them for airfares for time to time as they have being known to be cheaper than elsewhere. Most of the time they are the same price but then insist on there cheeky £10 booking fee which in my case costs them dearly in lost bookings.

I don't get messed around by them with stupid fares as I think they knwo that I won't be amused. There must be a little note on my account http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

The new Centurion travel borchure I got recently had some excellent deals in it, couldn't beleive some of the rates for some of the packages. We're talking intl reknowed hotels too, like the Burj-al-Arab and Sandy Lane.

Never used 2-for-1; I'm single http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks,
Richard

I've used CTS only sparingly, but after reading these notes, perhaps I should try them from time to time to compare.

And Richard, perhaps if you flew some nice girl down to DXB and the Burj, you wouldn't be single any longer. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I agree that PTS for my purposes is only good for the hotels. The Amex ammenity rate at the Ritz in Barcelona was $200, only slightly above what you'd pay at a Holiday Inn there. Not so good for the Arts, but I like the Ritz location fine and it beats the pants off the Juan Carlos location.

All in all PTS are pretty useless. As I've said before, the main problem is that they overpromise and underdeliver and try to do too many things when they should concentrate on one or two.

Airfare, car rental, hotels, all have been more expensive through PTS than either going direct, using some consolidator, or checking on-line. They may have deals from time to time that beat the pants off others, but there's always a deal around for something (ie it's not really Amex that's doing anything for you).

It reminds me of a these airfare/travel organisations. In the UK I joined IAPA several years ago because they promised lower fares, better service, blah, blah. They got me OK airfares until I started calling around and found equal or better deals from any number of (reputable) travel agents or direct from the airlines. Eventually I brought it up with them and asked why I was paying £50 or £75 per year when they were not really saving me any money. They told me that they try very hard but can't always guarantee the lowest fare. Well, in that case, thanks but no thanks. Several months later (because I hadn't learned my lesson) I joined WEXAS. Same thing. I kept it while it gave me a free Diners Club card but quit when that deal ran out.

Bottom line: You can almost always get a better deal yourself.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichardMannion:
Never used 2-for-1; I'm single http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks,
Richard</font>

All the more reason TO use it... a nice jaunt off to CPT is a hell of a date.

Richard,
good to read that you are only thinking about hotels like the Burj. There are also some more reasonably priced hotels in the FHR program.

It all depends on the destination. Overall I think that you will save money if you avoid using PTS or CTS.
Some insurance services are great though.

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Take care, especially while being abroad.

CTS had a run late last year of being able to beat Satrwood rates every time by upto $80/night!

Worth giving them a try.

And thanks to all for the comments, looking at DXB seriously now for later in the year. Especially since full J fares are relatively cheap to DXB from LHR.

Thansk,
Richard