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)
Dec 4, 2016, 1:52 pm
#151
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 623
My MR account includes both the MB Platinum and the Business Platinum (which I just upgraded from Business Gold and have not received the actual card). If assume since the points are in one pool, the Business Platinum 50% rebate benefit will apply to all my points?
And if I choose Delta as the airline choice today, how fast the 50% rebate benefit kicks in? There is a delta flight I am interested in purchasing as the price just dropped last night. Can I use the Biz Gold card since I have not received the new Biz Platinum card (number is the same but not sure if the 4 digit code is)?
And if I choose Delta as the airline choice today, how fast the 50% rebate benefit kicks in? There is a delta flight I am interested in purchasing as the price just dropped last night. Can I use the Biz Gold card since I have not received the new Biz Platinum card (number is the same but not sure if the 4 digit code is)?
Dec 4, 2016, 5:46 pm
#152
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
Also, This 50% benefit applies if I were to book tickets for friends/family/ etc, is that correct?
tia
Dec 4, 2016, 6:43 pm
#153
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
Only the airline associated with Business Platinum should be eligible for this benefit, but we don't know how their software is written.
Dec 4, 2016, 9:10 pm
#154
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Does anybody have AA selected and if so, how does the mileage earn? By revenue or by distance? Is it a special ticket fare like most of Citi bookings.
Dec 4, 2016, 10:45 pm
#155
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: KSTP KSPG
Programs: AOPA
Posts: 974
Yes to #1, i have two cards, and two different airline choices. Just make sure when you check out use the correct card.
Dec 5, 2016, 12:59 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Dec 5, 2016, 1:39 pm
#157
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 317
Dec 6, 2016, 4:18 am
#158
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 371
I tried to checkout a UA coach ticket (selected airline), and reached the last step of checkout, but I only see 1MR per cent and don't see anywhere mentioning 50% back.
btw: I used the business plat card during checkout
btw: I used the business plat card during checkout
Last edited by milaohu; Dec 6, 2016 at 4:25 am
Dec 6, 2016, 6:23 am
#159
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
Dec 6, 2016, 6:57 pm
#161
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Is there a thread floating around for successes and failures for the $200 airline credit? I just got my card and would like to get this done ASAP.
Dec 6, 2016, 7:42 pm
#162
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
Dec 7, 2016, 9:06 am
#164
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957