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)
Aug 29, 2017, 10:16 am
#751
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
This is the opposite of usual, but does anyone know how to book a United basic economy fare on Amex Travel? I'm traveling a short distance with no carry on, and basic economy is half the price. However, the Amex site only shows regular fare. I remember calling in once before, but the agent apparently couldn't select a fare class(and didn't even know what basic economy was), but has anyone had success getting a specific fare class by calling in?
Aug 29, 2017, 11:59 am
#752
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
This is the opposite of usual, but does anyone know how to book a United basic economy fare on Amex Travel? I'm traveling a short distance with no carry on, and basic economy is half the price. However, the Amex site only shows regular fare. I remember calling in once before, but the agent apparently couldn't select a fare class(and didn't even know what basic economy was), but has anyone had success getting a specific fare class by calling in?
I don't believe they can book BE.
Aug 31, 2017, 9:14 pm
#753
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
Are there any new (ie. after the program change) DPs on cancellations within the 24 hour window?
Would a refund be made in dollars or MR points? Would one still receive the 50% bonus 31 days later?
Would a refund be made in dollars or MR points? Would one still receive the 50% bonus 31 days later?
Sep 1, 2017, 3:22 am
#754
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: UA 1k Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 42
Sorry for my English.
"With the 50% Airline Bonus benefit, you can get up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.‡"
Is that mean I can redeem 1 million MR and get 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year?
I know some of the cards down to 35%. My card opened last November.
"With the 50% Airline Bonus benefit, you can get up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.‡"
Is that mean I can redeem 1 million MR and get 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year?
I know some of the cards down to 35%. My card opened last November.
Sep 1, 2017, 4:06 pm
#755
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 209
Sorry for my English.
"With the 50% Airline Bonus benefit, you can get up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.‡"
Is that mean I can redeem 1 million MR and get 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year?
I know some of the cards down to 35%. My card opened last November.
"With the 50% Airline Bonus benefit, you can get up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.‡"
Is that mean I can redeem 1 million MR and get 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year?
I know some of the cards down to 35%. My card opened last November.
Sep 1, 2017, 5:19 pm
#756
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 84
Sorry for my English.
"With the 50% Airline Bonus benefit, you can get up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.‡"
Is that mean I can redeem 1 million MR and get 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year?
I know some of the cards down to 35%. My card opened last November.
"With the 50% Airline Bonus benefit, you can get up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.‡"
Is that mean I can redeem 1 million MR and get 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year?
I know some of the cards down to 35%. My card opened last November.
I had the impression that if one applied the card before May 31, 2017, there would not be such limit on bonus points. See also thexfactor's reply to my question on post 752.
Can anyone clarify? Thanks!
Sep 1, 2017, 9:58 pm
#757
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 613
"Business Platinum Card Members will receive 3.5 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 through American Express Travel (35% Airline Bonus), up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year, per each Membership Rewards account. For First or Business class flights on a Card Member's selected qualifying airline, the Card Member will still receive only 3.5 extra points for every 10 points redeemed."
Sep 2, 2017, 4:37 am
#758
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Sep 4, 2017, 11:39 pm
#759
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
Sep 5, 2017, 6:47 am
#760
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
Sep 5, 2017, 9:45 am
#761
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 286
Wanted to throw out a new data point:
Just had the full 50% rebate post this morning (day 31).
for the last few months I (along with most it seems) was getting 35% on day 31 and then the remaining 15% 7-8 days later.
This would be a nice adjustment on AMEX's side.
Just had the full 50% rebate post this morning (day 31).
for the last few months I (along with most it seems) was getting 35% on day 31 and then the remaining 15% 7-8 days later.
This would be a nice adjustment on AMEX's side.
Sep 5, 2017, 10:15 am
#762
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
Yes, rebates are now posting as lump-sum 50% for bookings after about 7/28 (perhaps a bit earlier).
Sep 6, 2017, 9:35 am
#763
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 26
I am curious if there are any recent data points for using this with Southwest. It appears that the last posts in this thread are from April, prior to the June changes taking effect. Is there any way around the $39 booking fee, since Southwest can't be booked through Amex Travel online?
Sep 6, 2017, 3:06 pm
#764
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AS MVP, BA
Posts: 300
I have a question, sorry if this has been asked prior in the thread...
I will be receiving 50k point rebate at the end of September, my 1st car anniversary is ~OCtober 10.
If I spend my 50k points on an eligibile 50% back purchase on say September 30, will I get 35% or 50% on October 30 (initial purchase before 50% end but 50% rebate would be after my card anniversary).
thanks
I will be receiving 50k point rebate at the end of September, my 1st car anniversary is ~OCtober 10.
If I spend my 50k points on an eligibile 50% back purchase on say September 30, will I get 35% or 50% on October 30 (initial purchase before 50% end but 50% rebate would be after my card anniversary).
thanks
Sep 6, 2017, 3:29 pm
#765
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 371
I have a question, sorry if this has been asked prior in the thread...
I will be receiving 50k point rebate at the end of September, my 1st car anniversary is ~OCtober 10.
If I spend my 50k points on an eligibile 50% back purchase on say September 30, will I get 35% or 50% on October 30 (initial purchase before 50% end but 50% rebate would be after my card anniversary).
thanks
I will be receiving 50k point rebate at the end of September, my 1st car anniversary is ~OCtober 10.
If I spend my 50k points on an eligibile 50% back purchase on say September 30, will I get 35% or 50% on October 30 (initial purchase before 50% end but 50% rebate would be after my card anniversary).
thanks