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)
Oct 26, 2016, 11:30 am
#76
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Charlotte NC USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, Alaska 75k, IHG Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 863
Unless I'm missing something, the 30% redemption worked the same. The only difference between pre and post 10.6.16 benefit is an increase of 20% to the PB redemption.
I must be in the bullseye of AMEX's targeted customer with their new combo of Biz & Personal Platinum benefits. I upgraded my PRG to the personal platinum as the combined spend for my wife and I with AA is in excess of $50K annually. So the 5X on purchases times the 2X on redemption makes me extremely happy to carry both.
I must be in the bullseye of AMEX's targeted customer with their new combo of Biz & Personal Platinum benefits. I upgraded my PRG to the personal platinum as the combined spend for my wife and I with AA is in excess of $50K annually. So the 5X on purchases times the 2X on redemption makes me extremely happy to carry both.
If the above data points bear out, and the 50% pay with points rebate nullifies the spend on the ticket before rebate, that would remove the benefit we're hoping for in carrying both, no?
Oct 26, 2016, 11:50 am
#77
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Charlotte NC USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, Alaska 75k, IHG Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 863
Thanks. I don't show any pending points either. I did post a $5,400 property tax payment 10/25.
However, I already show the 50K signup bonus as posted, along with the extra .5 bonus from a charge > $5K (but not the base points). So that's nice. Cycle doesn't close until tonight.
Perhaps we should wait a bit before concluding that the purchase points won't post at all...
However, I already show the 50K signup bonus as posted, along with the extra .5 bonus from a charge > $5K (but not the base points). So that's nice. Cycle doesn't close until tonight.
Perhaps we should wait a bit before concluding that the purchase points won't post at all...
Oct 26, 2016, 12:06 pm
#78
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Base points go pending a few days after the statement is generated. They become available to redeem after the next statement is generated. New accounts may vary. Bonus points of all types are unpredictable.
Discussion here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ints-post.html
Discussion here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ints-post.html
Oct 26, 2016, 12:11 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Charlotte NC USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, Alaska 75k, IHG Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 863
Thanks mia. Your posts here and there are consistent with my data points, FWIW.
Oct 26, 2016, 1:29 pm
#80
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TPA/DFW/K15
Programs: AA EXP, Mar AMB, HH LT DIA
Posts: 1,650
Like you, I have Plat personal and business. I've never used MR for paid flights before yesterday, though.
If the above data points bear out, and the 50% pay with points rebate nullifies the spend on the ticket before rebate, that would remove the benefit we're hoping for in carrying both, no?
If the above data points bear out, and the 50% pay with points rebate nullifies the spend on the ticket before rebate, that would remove the benefit we're hoping for in carrying both, no?
Oct 28, 2016, 6:59 am
#81
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 317
So I have over 300k MR points and decided to purchase a first/bus class ticket for 200k. Within 24 I ended up cancelling the ticket. The points were deducted and after cancelling the 100k bonus points showed up. Waited the next day to see if the remaining MR points would appear and instead received a 2k credit on my account. Was expecting the points but the valuation I guess is the same. Any disadvantages or advantages of not getting the points vs monetary credit?
Oct 28, 2016, 7:12 am
#82
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Let's see if I understand this correctly.
POINTS
=300,000 starting balance
-200,000 redeemed
+100,000 refunded
=200,000 new balance
MONEY
$2,000 charge*
$2,000 credit
*Did the $2,000 charge post, is it still pending or did it disappear without posting?
POINTS
=300,000 starting balance
-200,000 redeemed
+100,000 refunded
=200,000 new balance
MONEY
$2,000 charge*
$2,000 credit
*Did the $2,000 charge post, is it still pending or did it disappear without posting?
Oct 28, 2016, 7:21 am
#83
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 317
Currently have a negative balance as the credit has posted. I believe I did see a monetary charge of 2k but it fell off, but the points were immediately deducted. Now it just shows the credit as Amex Travel purchase with MR Points Credit -2000.00.
Last edited by rookie10; Oct 28, 2016 at 7:26 am
Oct 28, 2016, 7:44 am
#84
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
If the net is -100,000 points and +$2,000 you have effectively converted points to an account credit at $0.02 per point.
Oct 28, 2016, 8:47 am
#85
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
I also learned that their policy is that one may cancel (non-refundable) flight bookings up until 10 pm CT the day after the booking is made.
Oct 28, 2016, 12:51 pm
#86
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
If that works consistently, it's a way around the selected airline limitation. You could book a refundable ticket for your chosen airline using your points and then cancel it and simply charge the ticket you really want on the card to offset the credit.
Oct 28, 2016, 1:13 pm
#87
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Oct 28, 2016, 2:18 pm
#88
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: KSTP KSPG
Programs: AOPA
Posts: 974
I am trying to book a trip today. would the 50% refund be posted right after I book, or do I have to wait for the charge to post?
EDIT- FOUND the answer. 2-3 days after charge.
EDIT- FOUND the answer. 2-3 days after charge.
Last edited by teddy25; Oct 28, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Oct 28, 2016, 2:46 pm
#89
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 317
Mine posted within 24 hours
Oct 29, 2016, 12:10 pm
#90
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
Sorry if this is a stupid question or if it has been covered (haven't found it)-
Is it possible to stack the international airline companion perk with the 50% credit on paying with points? Theoretically, can I price out the J ticket for my trip (through Amex travel, as their fares are always in the higher buckets for this promotion), purchase it with points, and then have my companion added as a free ticket?
Is it possible to stack the international airline companion perk with the 50% credit on paying with points? Theoretically, can I price out the J ticket for my trip (through Amex travel, as their fares are always in the higher buckets for this promotion), purchase it with points, and then have my companion added as a free ticket?