American Express Membership Rewards - Amex plat domestic companion travel taxes more than airlines?

So I got tickets from the API service - amex platinum card travel service. Here is the info:

MCI to IAH Oct 11th.
IAH to MCI Oct. 14th.

The options they gave me was American Airlines - which suck, because continental goes there directly in half the time and no stop overs.

Regardless, so I went to AA.com and saw the flight details, and the cost of the ticket was 346.xx + 37.10 in taxes and fees per ticket.

API gave me around teh same price for the ticket but was charging me approx. 63.95 or so for taxes and fees per person plus of course the booking fee per ticket.

My question is: why are the taxes and fees higher if giong through API.. vs. AA ? Are they just over charging? because I broke down the fee with API, and it was literally almost twice of what AA.com was charging per line item.

Any advice is appreciated.

Because you are comparing one ticket on AA to two tickets through API.

Remember, even though you're only paying for one ticket, there are two tickets being issued. They are required by law to collect airport fees, Sept. 11th security fee, and federal taxes from the passenger for BOTH tickets, not just one.

I believe that the OP is saying that API is charging him $64 per ticket for a grand total of $128 in taxes while buying two tickets from AA.com would only be $74.

American includes the 7.5% Federal excise tax in the quoted base fare, but API breaks it out. In other words, approximately $24 of the $346 is tax. API also adds a booking fee.

casbroker: thats exactly the point.. API seems to be charging more on the taxes, even if broken down than AA would. AA gave me the 346+37 in taxes/fees.

Mia - so basically buying through AA would actually be cheaper, if I buy one ticket.. and or, going through API may NOT be the best option, specially when I can find better deals on Continental - for example, this weekend they ahve a deal giong from MCI to IAH for 119 return / pp + taxes = 135 pp. I guess API may not be able to get those deals for me correct?

You also pay a $25 (or maybe $35) booking fee per ticket with API that you wouldn't be paying with the carrier directly. I've also found that they don't always book into the lowest available fare class, so that may affect the prices.

Sometimes it is a deal; sometimes it is not. Always worth trying to see if they can make something work for you.

7day advance

7day advance

If you say so :p

You also pay a $25 (or maybe $35) booking fee per ticket with API that you wouldn't be paying with the carrier directly. I've also found that they don't always book into the lowest available fare class, so that may affect the prices.

Sometimes it is a deal; sometimes it is not. Always worth trying to see if they can make something work for you.

yes, actually the booking Fee is 15/ticket - so with the companion fare, it ends up being 30 total..

MCI to IAH for 119 return / pp + taxes = 135 pp. I guess API may not be able to get those deals for me correct?

No need to guess. The benefit explicitly stipulates a $299 minimum fare.

https://www143.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/benefit.do?benefitTemplate=template_a&benefitId=domesticcompairfareprog

Thanks for the info Mia !!

I didn't said so, the API people told me so and AE FAQ also listed...

3. What are the specific requirements in order to use this program?

Airfares must meet the following requirements:

- Roundtrip (multi-city, open jaw, and one-way trips do not apply)
- Domestic travel within most major airports in the 48 states, as well as travel between the 48 continental United States and both Anchorage, AK and Honolulu, HI
- Coach class
- Booked at least seven (7) days in advance- Saturday night or a two-night midweek stay
- $299 minimum fare if within the 48 United States, else $899 minimum fare for travel between most major airports in the 48 states and Honolulu or Anchorage. (Note: $699 minimum fare for fares between Honolulu and one of the following airports: LAX, LAS, PHX, SEA, SFO)


Personally, I would love to have this benefit for last minutes travel, maybe we should put in a petition for that. ;)

I didn't said so, the API people told me so and AE FAQ also listed...

3. What are the specific requirements in order to use this program?

Airfares must meet the following requirements:

- Roundtrip (multi-city, open jaw, and one-way trips do not apply)
- Domestic travel within most major airports in the 48 states, as well as travel between the 48 continental United States and both Anchorage, AK and Honolulu, HI
- Coach class
- Booked at least seven (7) days in advance- Saturday night or a two-night midweek stay
- $299 minimum fare if within the 48 United States, else $899 minimum fare for travel between most major airports in the 48 states and Honolulu or Anchorage. (Note: $699 minimum fare for fares between Honolulu and one of the following airports: LAX, LAS, PHX, SEA, SFO)


Personally, I would love to have this benefit for last minutes travel, maybe we should put in a petition for that. ;)

Is there a link to this? I went on the Amex site and found only the international travel program, not the domestic. I assume the number to call is the Amex Plat Travel #.

Is there a link to this? I went on the Amex site and found only the international travel program, not the domestic. I assume the number to call is the Amex Plat Travel #.

Click on the link in mia's post above (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8508186&postcount=10).