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It was suggested that a Wikipost be written to try and collect past and example discounts, as the fares themselves are unpublished.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).
Aug 13, 2019, 11:57 am
#451
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,901
Agreed -- I've made 3 IAP bookings (two with a companion) this year, so while I'm disappointed with the loss of the PP restaurant benefit, and the airline credit is becoming increasingly annoying to capture, etc. IMO this still pays for itself especially since they made it possible to book online.
Aug 15, 2019, 2:54 pm
#452
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
I’m sure this is answered in the thread, but my battery is at 2% and I want to ask before I forget: Must these fares be purchased on an Amex Plat or Biz Plat card, or is having such a card simply required to get access to the fares, with the option to pay on a different Amex card? Thanks.
Aug 15, 2019, 5:15 pm
#453
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
To receive discount, the purchase of the qualifying First, Business, or Premium Economy Class ticket/s on a participating airline can be made online through https://consumer-travel.americanexpress.com/home or over the phone through American Express Travel and paid in full with an American Express Card in the U.S. Platinum Card Member’s or U.S. Centurion® Member’s name.
Sep 14, 2019, 11:39 am
#455
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
Sep 14, 2019, 12:53 pm
#456
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PIT-SCE-AOO-PHL-NYC-WAS
Programs: free agent
Posts: 1,036
Sep 14, 2019, 6:11 pm
#457
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
Attn BA flyers without status
If you book through Amex Plat TS you will get free seats booked at purchase. We collect AS miles so are not interested in Avios atm. Cost of $78 for two Amex booking fees IAP saved us $322 in seat fees. Also once Amex tags your bookings you can move seats without further charge. We are again pleased with the service. Amex's IAP ticket price was also lower than Expedia and Google by $82 dollars for the two tickets. I will take it.
Sep 14, 2019, 6:15 pm
#458
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
If you book through Amex Plat TS you will get free seats booked at purchase. We collect AS miles so are not interested in Avios atm. Cost of $78 for two Amex booking fees IAP saved us $322 in seat fees. Also once Amex tags your bookings you can move seats without further charge. We are again pleased with the service. Amex's IAP ticket price was also lower than Expedia and Google by $82 dollars for the two tickets. I will take it.
Sep 15, 2019, 12:12 pm
#459
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
Sep 16, 2019, 12:29 pm
#460
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
If you book through Amex Plat TS you will get free seats booked at purchase. We collect AS miles so are not interested in Avios atm. Cost of $78 for two Amex booking fees IAP saved us $322 in seat fees. Also once Amex tags your bookings you can move seats without further charge. We are again pleased with the service. Amex's IAP ticket price was also lower than Expedia and Google by $82 dollars for the two tickets. I will take it.
Do you think that applies to PTS bookings in WT or WTP as well? I realize that wouldn't be "international airline program" but the booking fee would still, as you point out, be worth it for seat assignments.
Sep 16, 2019, 9:43 pm
#461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
Just thought I'd mention.
Last edited by ijgordon; Sep 19, 2019 at 9:36 am Reason: Clarify COS
Sep 17, 2019, 4:00 am
#462
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,871
We have flights book with Amex around Christmas that AA changed their schedule by a few hours. No biggie but Amex reached out personally to let us know and I have still not heard from AA about it as they normally do with schedule changes.
Sep 17, 2019, 5:36 am
#463
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,055
this is how it should be. Amex is your TA and should notify you of schedule changes, no longer the airline.
Sep 17, 2019, 6:04 am
#464
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,871
Also, AA has contacted directly me in the past for things like ordering food., checking in, etc.
Sep 18, 2019, 4:04 pm
#465
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
For what it's worth, I booked a combo VS/BA flight via PTS a little less than a year ago, it was JFK-LHR (VS) then LHR-GVA (BA). There was no IAP discount, and I was NOT actually able to pre-assign seats on the BA legs. Either the benefit is new, or perhaps only works on all-BA itineraries.
Just thought I'd mention.
Just thought I'd mention.
You have a point I should have mentioned. I know for sure works on business class. We have also had success with WT+ BA seat assignments. I doubt it works for economy tickets booked by PTS.