American Express Membership Rewards - Am Ex Plat- Buy one get one Free

I searched these forums and can't find the answer to this question. I see on the Am Ex web site that with the Platinum card you can get a Buy One Get One Free for Envoy or FC international travel if booked through Amex travel dep't. I also see that travel must be completed by Dec 31, 2006. Is this usually an ongoing benfit where they just keep changing the "travel by" date? Or, is this the first time this benefit was ever offered?

If it is usually an ongoing benefit, is it difficult to book this companion ticket? Or, is it like trying to book an award ticket? Is it only usually offered at low booking times?

It has been a benefit for a long as I have been a Plat member. I think that they are just finalizing up the contracts for 2007

It's an ongoing benefit, but for some insane reason they often don't get the contracts for the following year signed until late in the current year, so booking travel well in advance is really tough. There are no blackouts/capacity limits on the program, the issue is rather the opposite. Essentially, you can only get the companion ticket when buying a full fare business class ticket. People often find they can get two discounted biz class tickets for about the same price, and both tickets earn miles.

This was discussed a little in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=606100

As I reported, the contracts for 2007 have been signed, although this year it took place several months later than it has in past years.

I don't think the 2-1 tickets are that difficult to get, although as has been noted you can frequently get discounted tickets for less. So the program is most useful when the lower fares are not available.

Call and ask which airlines have signed for next year. About 4 weeks ago I booked on Asiana to Hong Kong in April because Cathay Pacific had not yet signed. Then about 10 days later I called back and Cathay had signed, so I was able to change the booking.

But ticket must be in certain class. No mile for free ticket.

I searched these forums and can't find the answer to this question. I see on the Am Ex web site that with the Platinum card you can get a Buy One Get One Free for Envoy or FC international travel if booked through Amex travel dep't. I also see that travel must be completed by Dec 31, 2006. Is this usually an ongoing benfit where they just keep changing the "travel by" date? Or, is this the first time this benefit was ever offered?

If it is usually an ongoing benefit, is it difficult to book this companion ticket? Or, is it like trying to book an award ticket? Is it only usually offered at low booking times?