Oct 3, 2018, 11:48 pm
Last edit by: 747FC
In June 2017, the American Express International Airline Program changed to a discount program, rather than "buy one get one free".
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/t...ram/index.html
To research and book, you can
1) Call Platinum Travel Services (1-800-525-3355) or Business Platinum Travel Services (1-800-553-9497). $39 booking and change fees apply
2) As of October 18, 2018, customers can use Live Chat to receive quotes. Log into your account at www.americanexpress.com/travel
3) As of May 2019, customers can log into www.amextravel.com and search and book some IAP fares. Not all carriers participate in online bookings, and not all fares appear online. (Relevant FlyerTalk thread 1 Relevant Thread 2)
The program is available on International First, Business and Premium Economy Class tickets booked through American Express Travel, on both refundable and non-refundable fares.
Good for purchases of 1 to 8 tickets on participating airlines.
Use Pay with Points for all or part of you fares, plus you still get miles from the airline.
Subject to $39 servicing fee per ticket for Platinum card members when calling.
"Travel must originate in and return to U.S. gateway (may exclude certain overseas territories) and select Canadian gateways. One-way travel permitted on some airlines where routing originates in U.S. or select Canadian Gateways." Known to include YVR, YYZ.
It was suggested that a Wikipost be written to try and collect past and example discounts, as the fares themselves are unpublished. The discounts vary, sometimes widely, based on availability, fares, and sales. I've broken it down into ranges, and sorted by the number of reports. I also combined AF/KL/DL as they have joint ventures TATL so it's hard to say from all posts which metal members were reporting. My calculations for discount ranges do not intentionally include the $39 booking fee.
Delta / Air France / KLM
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/t...ram/index.html
To research and book, you can
1) Call Platinum Travel Services (1-800-525-3355) or Business Platinum Travel Services (1-800-553-9497). $39 booking and change fees apply
2) As of October 18, 2018, customers can use Live Chat to receive quotes. Log into your account at www.americanexpress.com/travel
3) As of May 2019, customers can log into www.amextravel.com and search and book some IAP fares. Not all carriers participate in online bookings, and not all fares appear online. (Relevant FlyerTalk thread 1 Relevant Thread 2)
The program is available on International First, Business and Premium Economy Class tickets booked through American Express Travel, on both refundable and non-refundable fares.
Good for purchases of 1 to 8 tickets on participating airlines.
Use Pay with Points for all or part of you fares, plus you still get miles from the airline.
Subject to $39 servicing fee per ticket for Platinum card members when calling.
"Travel must originate in and return to U.S. gateway (may exclude certain overseas territories) and select Canadian gateways. One-way travel permitted on some airlines where routing originates in U.S. or select Canadian Gateways." Known to include YVR, YYZ.
It was suggested that a Wikipost be written to try and collect past and example discounts, as the fares themselves are unpublished. The discounts vary, sometimes widely, based on availability, fares, and sales. I've broken it down into ranges, and sorted by the number of reports. I also combined AF/KL/DL as they have joint ventures TATL so it's hard to say from all posts which metal members were reporting. My calculations for discount ranges do not intentionally include the $39 booking fee.
Delta / Air France / KLM
- Fares < 10 %: 2
- Fares 10%-15.9%: 16
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28427217-post5.html
- (First) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28455196-post22.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28552399-post75.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28557136-post80.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28681679-post119.html
- (First) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28912654-post150.html
- (PE) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29314333-post216.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29314692-post217.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29321044-post230.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29485431-post250.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30218019-post300.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30337457-post316.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30647796-post331.html
- (First) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31053636-post394.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31089400-post399.html
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32079945-post586.html
- Fares 16%-20.9%: 5
- Fares 21%+: 3
- Fares < 10%: 1
- Fares 10%-15.9%: 6
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28581934-post91.html
- (PE) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28658835-post109.html
- (First) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28844429-post141.html
- (PE) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29315142-post218.html
- (PE) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29836516-post265.html
- (PE) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28758330-post129.html
- Fares 16%-20.9%: 1
- Fares < 10%: 4
- Fares 16%-20.9%: 1
- Fares 21%+: 1
- Note: Prices include seat selection per this thread
- Fares <= 10%: 4
- Fares 16%-20.9%: 1
- Fares 10%-15.9%: 1
- Fares 16%-20.9%: 1
- Fares <= 10%: 1
- Fares 10%-15.9%: 1
- Fares >= 35%: 1
- Fares 21%+: 2
- Fares < 10%: 1
- Fares 10%-15.9%: 1
- Fares 16%-20.9%: 1
- Fares 10%-15.9%: 1
USA International Airline Program (IAP) relaunched as discount benefit (2017).
Oct 26, 2017, 6:52 am
#151
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 150
Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this just yet. But can tickets for companions on the same flight be bought in different classes? IE if two of you want to fly business and two want premium economy.
ToC says must be flying the same itinerary but does not mention classes.
(Amex Platinum Personal member)
ToC says must be flying the same itinerary but does not mention classes.
(Amex Platinum Personal member)
Oct 26, 2017, 8:23 am
#153
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 150
Are we talking about the same thing?
===
Get exclusive access to lower fares for you and your travel companions when you book through the expanded International Airline Program.
More Choices
•Savings available on International First, Business, and Premium Economy Class tickets on over 20 participating airlines every time you book through American Express Travel
•Good for purchases of 1 to 8 tickets on both refundable and non-refundable fares
===
Get exclusive access to lower fares for you and your travel companions when you book through the expanded International Airline Program.
More Choices
•Savings available on International First, Business, and Premium Economy Class tickets on over 20 participating airlines every time you book through American Express Travel
•Good for purchases of 1 to 8 tickets on both refundable and non-refundable fares
Oct 26, 2017, 8:39 am
#156
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,545
a single reservation requires all passengers to be on identical flight segments and in identical booking class.
this applies broadly to all commercial aviation ticketing.
ergo, you would have a 1st reservation in J for 2 and a 2nd reservation in Y+ for 2.
the former is, of course, no problem. AMEX Platinum cardholder plus another passenger.
the latter is only a problem if AMEX IAP has a requirement that the AMEX Platinum cardholder be on the reservation.
whether this reservation is for 1 or 2 passengers is not relevant.
this applies broadly to all commercial aviation ticketing.
ergo, you would have a 1st reservation in J for 2 and a 2nd reservation in Y+ for 2.
the former is, of course, no problem. AMEX Platinum cardholder plus another passenger.
the latter is only a problem if AMEX IAP has a requirement that the AMEX Platinum cardholder be on the reservation.
whether this reservation is for 1 or 2 passengers is not relevant.
Oct 26, 2017, 9:43 am
#157
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Why don't you call Amex Plat travel services and let us know what they say? I am curious myself.
Oct 26, 2017, 1:02 pm
#158
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
For reference:
Slightly ambiguous sentence construction may well permit different cabins for other members of the party.
The discount applies to the base airfare of the ticket/s. All ticket/s are subject to government imposed taxes/fees and airline-imposed fuel/security surcharges/mandatory non-refundable fees. All ticket/s purchased through the program will have all valid fare rules and restrictions apply. Tickets will only be refundable if the ticket purchased is in a refundable fare class. Non-refundable American Express service fee of $39 (per ticket) applies to each ticket purchased through the program and itinerary change; this ticketing fee is waived for U.S. Centurion® Members. Airlines reserve right to modify fare rules/program participation prior to booking. Tickets are non-transferable or endorsable. To receive discount, the purchase of the qualifying First, Business, or Premium Economy Class ticket/s on a participating airline must be made over the phone through American Express Travel (Platinum Travel Service, Business Platinum Travel, or Centurion Travel Service) and paid in full with an American Express Card in the U.S. Platinum Card Member’s or U.S. Centurion® Member’s name. Available for U.S. Platinum Charge Card Members and U.S. Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Card Members such as Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Card Members who are not also U.S. Platinum Charge Card Members or U.S. Centurion® Members. Travel must originate in and return to U.S. gateway (may exclude certain overseas territories) and select Canadian gateways. One-way travel permitted on some airlines where routing originates in U.S. or select Canadian Gateways. Available service classes in First, Business or Premium Economy are subject to airline availability. Card Member and up to seven additional First, Business or Premium Economy Class passengers must travel on same air itinerary. Not combinable with any other promotion and may not be available on all participating airline’s code-share partners, i.e., flights marketed by the ticketing airline but operated by its code-share partner. Participating airlines and benefits are subject to change. Limited time airline flash sales and private sale fare offers are excluded.
Nov 10, 2017, 5:24 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: DL Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 171
IAP Question
When you book a flight through the IAP does it count as buying directly from the airline, or does it count as a third party booking? Because I have the 20k MR point offer for purchasing a flight from KLM, but I also found a great deal for business class for just 2440 to Sweden. I'd like to get the 20k MR points, so does anyone know if it will count towards the 1000$ spend requirement for the 20k MR points?
Thanks
Thanks
Nov 10, 2017, 6:23 pm
#160
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,545
likely no double dip w/ IAP and KL AMEX Offer.
i ticketed lax-ams j under iap for cheap.
posted to AMEX statement as AMEX Travel.
further, the ticket issued on 006 DL stock.
the AMEX charge on the statement mentions Delta in the details, not KLM.
so, two ways such a charge won’t trigger the offer
i ticketed lax-ams j under iap for cheap.
posted to AMEX statement as AMEX Travel.
further, the ticket issued on 006 DL stock.
the AMEX charge on the statement mentions Delta in the details, not KLM.
so, two ways such a charge won’t trigger the offer
Nov 11, 2017, 3:26 am
#161
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,589
The rebate is great but somewhat offset by the loss of the 5X benefit. Also I find the agents slow and not very knowledgeable. They must have some turnover. They pretty much need to be baby-sitted through the process, I would much prefer an online process. Although I find the AmEx travel website to also be five years behind compared to airlines and other OTAs .
Nov 11, 2017, 3:40 am
#162
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Vietnam & USA
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 455
Bedelman, Thank you for the advice. Just this morning when I reached out to again have my name changed I reached a sympathetic agent who did reissue the ticket with my correct name and she waived the additional fee but unfortunately she was not empowered to issue me a credit for the fare difference. However, she did put me in contact with the team that does handle these types of issues and they told me it would take 6-8 weeks to investigate. Seems like a rather long time but I am hoping that they are able to resolve. Otherwise I will explore other options.
Presumably it is in my Global Entry and TSA, but not on ticket.
Nov 11, 2017, 4:12 pm
#163
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
The rebate is great but somewhat offset by the loss of the 5X benefit. Also I find the agents slow and not very knowledgeable. They must have some turnover. They pretty much need to be baby-sitted through the process, I would much prefer an online process. Although I find the AmEx travel website to also be five years behind compared to airlines and other OTAs .
Nov 11, 2017, 11:03 pm
#164
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, BA Silver, AC, AF/KL, AV, VS | Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 459
The rebate is great but somewhat offset by the loss of the 5X benefit. Also I find the agents slow and not very knowledgeable. They must have some turnover. They pretty much need to be baby-sitted through the process, I would much prefer an online process. Although I find the AmEx travel website to also be five years behind compared to airlines and other OTAs .
Why was the 5X benefit lost? The T&C state "eligible air purchases are purchases of scheduled flights made directly with a passenger airline or through American Express Travel" (bold mine). And I'm surprised you had a poor experience with the call center; I have always had very good representatives when calling the Platinum travel desk.
I spoke to two agents on my recent booking (I needed to hold before purchasing): the first one was fantastic; the second...sounded new to making reservations but still nice enough.
Now I do agree that the Amex Travel website is not the best but I always check it anyway, just in case there's a deal.