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 15, 2016, 9:35 am
#211
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 692
The agent said I would be getting a credit of $400 on the card, so I guess we'll see. I'll let you know.
Dec 17, 2016, 5:55 am
#212
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 692
I booked a first class ticket on not my airline of choice on the 13th and still no 50% points back. Does it usually take this long?
Dec 17, 2016, 1:52 pm
#213
formerly oyalkut
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Delta SM
Posts: 89
I just did it last week. Got the refund in $$ (48 hrs or so to go from Pending to Posted), but had to call in and ask MR dept to refund points instead of $$. That was done instantaneously while I was on the phone with them.
Dec 17, 2016, 2:55 pm
#214
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,544
merry christmas
Last edited by Colin; Dec 17, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Dec 17, 2016, 3:07 pm
#215
formerly oyalkut
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Delta SM
Posts: 89
is what you are saying that if you had not intervened, the net result would have been an AMEX statement credit valuing each MR point at $0.02?
$1,000 Airline Ticket
($1,000) Statement Credit for for AMEX MR pay with points
($1,000) Reversal of original Airline Ticket when ticket cancelled
($1,000) net AMEX statement credit
(100,000) AMEX MR redeemed
50,000 50% refund of MR redeemed points
(50,000) net AMEX MR redeemed
$1,000 Airline Ticket
($1,000) Statement Credit for for AMEX MR pay with points
($1,000) Reversal of original Airline Ticket when ticket cancelled
($1,000) net AMEX statement credit
(100,000) AMEX MR redeemed
50,000 50% refund of MR redeemed points
(50,000) net AMEX MR redeemed
50% points refund didn't post for me because I accidentally ordered a ticket on a non-designated airline, which is why I wanted to cancel it in the first place. It's plausible to think it would have worked out as you described, but I'm unable to confirm.
Dec 17, 2016, 3:25 pm
#216
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,544
merry christmas
Last edited by Colin; Dec 17, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Dec 17, 2016, 3:34 pm
#217
formerly oyalkut
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Delta SM
Posts: 89
I hope you are wrong. At the end of next year I will be making a decision between which card to close - Chase Sapphire reserve, or Amex Business Platinum. Today Amex seems like a keeper for me, based primarily on 50% redemption benefits. If that goes away, I'll be leaning towards Chase for their travel protection and 3X on all travel and all dining. I'm sure I'm not the only one doing this comparison.
Dec 17, 2016, 3:46 pm
#218
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Dec 17, 2016, 3:49 pm
#219
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,544
maybe we should delete our above 5 posts
Dec 17, 2016, 11:38 pm
#220
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
What is the process for buying a ticket and getting 50% back in points? Book a regular points booking through the Amex travel site in my account and they'll credit half the points?
Dec 18, 2016, 3:07 am
#221
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 692
I booked a first class ticket on not my airline of choice on the 13th and still no 50% points back. Something must be wrong, any idea what I should do?
Dec 18, 2016, 11:30 am
#223
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 692
They are going to hit me with the "it takes 6-8 weeks" spiel I imagine.
Dec 18, 2016, 11:41 am
#224
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
If you have a BUSINESS Platinum Card read here:
https://travel.americanexpress.com/t...-paywithpoints
Review the thread and the terms to verify that the transaction will be eligible for a points refund. You will see NOTHING about a refund during the booking process.
https://travel.americanexpress.com/t...-paywithpoints
Review the thread and the terms to verify that the transaction will be eligible for a points refund. You will see NOTHING about a refund during the booking process.
50% Airline Bonus Disclosure
To use Pay with Points, you must charge your eligible airfare purchase through American Express Travel to a Membership Rewards® program-enrolled American Express® Card. Points will be debited from your Membership Rewards account, and credit for corresponding dollar amount will be issued to the American Express Card account used. If points redeemed do not cover entire amount, the balance of purchase price will remain on the American Express Card account. Points must be used at the time of booking. Pay with Points requires a minimum redemption of 5,000 points.
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 (50% Airline Bonus). For First or Business class flights on a Card Member's selected qualifying airline, the Card Member will still receive only 5 extra points for every 10 points redeemed. Card Member must select a qualifying airline at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. The airline you select for the 50% Airline Bonus and the $200 Airline Fee Credit must be the same. Card Members who have not chosen a qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected a qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice or by calling the number on the back of your Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current airline.
If you select Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, or AirTran Airways, to receive your 50% Airline Bonus you must call Business Platinum Travel Service at 1-800-553-9497. A flight booked as part of a travel package or booked with the American Express U.S. Representative Travel Network is not eligible for the 50% Airline Bonus. In addition, to be eligible to receive extra points, Card account(s) must not be in default at the time of extra points fulfillment. If booking is canceled, the extra points will be deducted from your Membership Rewards account. Extra points will be credited to your Membership Rewards account approximately 6-10 weeks after charges appear on your billing statement. See membershiprewards.com/terms for Membership Rewards program terms and conditions. This 50% Airline Bonus is the maximum Membership Rewards points you can get back for Pay with Points on flights booked with American Express Travel. Bonus ID: A6ZB.
To use Pay with Points, you must charge your eligible airfare purchase through American Express Travel to a Membership Rewards® program-enrolled American Express® Card. Points will be debited from your Membership Rewards account, and credit for corresponding dollar amount will be issued to the American Express Card account used. If points redeemed do not cover entire amount, the balance of purchase price will remain on the American Express Card account. Points must be used at the time of booking. Pay with Points requires a minimum redemption of 5,000 points.
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 (50% Airline Bonus). For First or Business class flights on a Card Member's selected qualifying airline, the Card Member will still receive only 5 extra points for every 10 points redeemed. Card Member must select a qualifying airline at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. The airline you select for the 50% Airline Bonus and the $200 Airline Fee Credit must be the same. Card Members who have not chosen a qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected a qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice or by calling the number on the back of your Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current airline.
If you select Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, or AirTran Airways, to receive your 50% Airline Bonus you must call Business Platinum Travel Service at 1-800-553-9497. A flight booked as part of a travel package or booked with the American Express U.S. Representative Travel Network is not eligible for the 50% Airline Bonus. In addition, to be eligible to receive extra points, Card account(s) must not be in default at the time of extra points fulfillment. If booking is canceled, the extra points will be deducted from your Membership Rewards account. Extra points will be credited to your Membership Rewards account approximately 6-10 weeks after charges appear on your billing statement. See membershiprewards.com/terms for Membership Rewards program terms and conditions. This 50% Airline Bonus is the maximum Membership Rewards points you can get back for Pay with Points on flights booked with American Express Travel. Bonus ID: A6ZB.
Dec 18, 2016, 12:19 pm
#225
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
Amex 50% back confusion will hurt Amex
After reading this thread those capital one commercials do not seem so silly anymore. Prior I thought it was chase and Citi that were going to hurt Amex.