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)
May 8, 2017, 3:59 pm
#541
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
It seems kind of coincidental that they started dragging out the rebate on the 50 percent right at the same time they decided to cut the benefit. I guess it could be a coincidence, but my BS meter is going off. I think they were faced with a benefit that was costing them more than they expected, and they decided to slow it down and then cut it right around the same time.
May 8, 2017, 5:24 pm
#542
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 716
I would be surprised in a front line agent would have access to that type of information, and it would be irresponsible to share it outside the company. That said, I would not be surprised if the utilization rate of any new benefit is low. It takes sustained messaging to overcome inertia and change behavior.
As far as the timeline for things posting normally is concerned, she only said "soon."
May 9, 2017, 1:00 pm
#543
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: All-Around Kettle
Posts: 3,290
I bought a business class ticket a couple of days ago, for travel in August. While the 50% refund has not yet posted, I received an automated email from Amex stating that my trip is eligible for, and will receive, the 50%. Thus, I assume the 50% is based on the date you book, not when the rebate posts or when travel occurs.
May 11, 2017, 10:45 am
#544
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Not worth the 50% if they do not price the flights correctly.
Just tried to book a Delta ticket and Amex is charging way more than Delta or Expedia or Orbitz.
BNA-LGA-BNA Oct 5 -Oct 16 First Class
Delta $520
Orbitz $542
Expedia $520
AMEX : $2,073 (drops to $1,218 on the payment page)
NUTS.
Just tried to book a Delta ticket and Amex is charging way more than Delta or Expedia or Orbitz.
BNA-LGA-BNA Oct 5 -Oct 16 First Class
Delta $520
Orbitz $542
Expedia $520
AMEX : $2,073 (drops to $1,218 on the payment page)
NUTS.
May 11, 2017, 10:55 am
#545
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,211
Not worth the 50% if they do not price the flights correctly.
Just tried to book a Delta ticket and Amex is charging way more than Delta or Expedia or Orbitz.
BNA-LGA-BNA Oct 5 -Oct 16 First Class
Delta $520
Orbitz $542
Expedia $520
AMEX : $2,073 (drops to $1,218 on the payment page)
NUTS.
Just tried to book a Delta ticket and Amex is charging way more than Delta or Expedia or Orbitz.
BNA-LGA-BNA Oct 5 -Oct 16 First Class
Delta $520
Orbitz $542
Expedia $520
AMEX : $2,073 (drops to $1,218 on the payment page)
NUTS.
May 14, 2017, 10:01 am
#546
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
50% rebate from 4/12 booking posted.
May 14, 2017, 2:46 pm
#547
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TPA/DFW/K15
Programs: AA EXP, Mar AMB, HH LT DIA
Posts: 1,653
Were there some reports of people claiming they were calling in and receiving the 50% points back, simply by calling?
I just got off the phone with a agent and supervisor who said that AMEX was making no exception to the 50% refund of points being applied earlier than the 10 to 12 weeks according to their terms and conditions.
I just got off the phone with a agent and supervisor who said that AMEX was making no exception to the 50% refund of points being applied earlier than the 10 to 12 weeks according to their terms and conditions.
May 14, 2017, 6:58 pm
#548
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
Were there some reports of people claiming they were calling in and receiving the 50% points back, simply by calling?
I just got off the phone with a agent and supervisor who said that AMEX was making no exception to the 50% refund of points being applied earlier than the 10 to 12 weeks according to their terms and conditions.
I just got off the phone with a agent and supervisor who said that AMEX was making no exception to the 50% refund of points being applied earlier than the 10 to 12 weeks according to their terms and conditions.
May 14, 2017, 8:42 pm
#549
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
May 15, 2017, 2:46 am
#551
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
Just had a 50% rebate post on 5/14 for a flight I booked on 4/13. It was a reservation I canceled within 24 hours. Here's hoping that more rebates continue to post!
May 15, 2017, 3:49 am
#552
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
May 15, 2017, 8:12 am
#554
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
4/13 pay with points
5/14 50% rebate posted very late in the day
so, a month & a day is the new guideline for the wait
5/14 50% rebate posted very late in the day
so, a month & a day is the new guideline for the wait
May 15, 2017, 9:44 am
#555
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 315
4/13 booking has posted 50% rebate but 4/17~4/19 have not. Looks like we can confirm this delay was intentionally set for ~31 days.