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It was suggested that a Wikipost be written to try and collect past and example discounts, as the fares themselves are unpublished.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).
Jul 19, 2017, 7:37 pm
#91
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LA / NYC
Programs: Amex Platinum, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Gold, National Exec
Posts: 87
Just wanted to share my experience with this program (first time using it!). I've been trying to desperately figure out ways to not sit in economy for a LAX-DPS (via HKG) flight, but award availability on Cathay Pacific has been scarce for biz/first and I guess as an AA member, we are not allowed to book Prem Economy using miles.
After some strategy, I resigned myself to buying an economy ticket and then HOPING i could upgrade into PE using AsiaMiles.
After much googling though, I stumbled on this thread and boy am I happy i did!! I gave the Platinum Travel team a call and they were able to price out a Prem Econ. option for me that was ~10% cheaper than anything I found on AA.com / Cathay Pacific’s websites. Not only that, they were able to secure Premium Economy (LAX to HKG) and then Business (HKG to DPS). Even the fares I found via the airline sites were Premium Economy (LAX to HKG) and then regular Economy (HKG to DPS).
i was also able to use some points against the fare so total cost ended up being ~27% lower.
all in all, very satisfied with this benefit!
After some strategy, I resigned myself to buying an economy ticket and then HOPING i could upgrade into PE using AsiaMiles.
After much googling though, I stumbled on this thread and boy am I happy i did!! I gave the Platinum Travel team a call and they were able to price out a Prem Econ. option for me that was ~10% cheaper than anything I found on AA.com / Cathay Pacific’s websites. Not only that, they were able to secure Premium Economy (LAX to HKG) and then Business (HKG to DPS). Even the fares I found via the airline sites were Premium Economy (LAX to HKG) and then regular Economy (HKG to DPS).
i was also able to use some points against the fare so total cost ended up being ~27% lower.
all in all, very satisfied with this benefit!
Jul 20, 2017, 5:02 pm
#92
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
The Canadian version of this program is not coming up with much, at least not for solo travel.
I priced YVR-ICN today and was quoted C$3,907 on JL with a cnx in NRT. KE is C$3,759 nonstop. The Amex agent said it was possible to get a companion ticket for no extra cost, so it sounds like the old program is still carrying on north of the border. So if I have family travel, it would work, but not on a solo business trip.
I priced YVR-ICN today and was quoted C$3,907 on JL with a cnx in NRT. KE is C$3,759 nonstop. The Amex agent said it was possible to get a companion ticket for no extra cost, so it sounds like the old program is still carrying on north of the border. So if I have family travel, it would work, but not on a solo business trip.
Jul 25, 2017, 9:26 am
#93
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: UA Premier Exec, SPG Gold
Posts: 318
Something seems to have changed recently. A month ago, talked to 2 agents and I got decent discounted J quotes SFO-EU.
Called twice in the last 2 days and the agents seem clueless. Both times they were quoted me a 10K TATL J ticket, when I asked for the cheapest J ticket, they came back and quoted a far of ~1300 ... which took them a few minutes to realize was actually economy. Maybe I've had bad luck or their tool/vendor have changed ... but a month ago they easily rattled of the best J prices for my route.
If anyone has advice on SFO-EU J in Oct - I'd appreciate it, otherwise I think I will go with AAVacations.
Called twice in the last 2 days and the agents seem clueless. Both times they were quoted me a 10K TATL J ticket, when I asked for the cheapest J ticket, they came back and quoted a far of ~1300 ... which took them a few minutes to realize was actually economy. Maybe I've had bad luck or their tool/vendor have changed ... but a month ago they easily rattled of the best J prices for my route.
If anyone has advice on SFO-EU J in Oct - I'd appreciate it, otherwise I think I will go with AAVacations.
Jul 25, 2017, 4:26 pm
#95
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: UA Premier Exec, SPG Gold
Posts: 318
They were really nice, but both of them struggled to givee the lowest j price for the route and dates. Both spent a lot of time explaining the routing and both when trying to find the lowest biz fare came back with an economy fare and only realized it when I asked if it was still biz.
Called at 5pm PST both times
Called at 5pm PST both times
Jul 26, 2017, 11:55 am
#96
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 446
I called yesterday to ask about LAX-LHR in J around New Year's. The agent was very sharp, understood I wanted a BA codeshare on AA metal. Priced out at $3427 each RT, which is about $250 less than on BA or AA. She also offered an Air New Zealand flight at $2836 each, but I'm a OneWorld guy, not Star Alliance, so I turned it down. She also explained the difference between the old 2-for-1 program and the current one, the 5X points bonus, the Pay with Points option, fare class restrictions, etc. I was impressed.
Jul 27, 2017, 1:46 am
#97
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
They were really nice, but both of them struggled to givee the lowest j price for the route and dates. Both spent a lot of time explaining the routing and both when trying to find the lowest biz fare came back with an economy fare and only realized it when I asked if it was still biz.
Called at 5pm PST both times
Called at 5pm PST both times
I made a call for 747FC (see previous page) to get him some sample routing prices, and they were very patient with the multiple routes even though I prefaced it with "I'm just price shopping right now."
Your "month ago" call, was it by any chance before the program switch to the new discount program? Maybe there is additional training needed for them now.
Jul 27, 2017, 5:24 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2016
Location: LAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, National Exec
Posts: 57
I tried for a flight LAX - MNL through HKG on Cathay and the agent wasn't able to find a discount through the IAP. I ask her specifically about IAP and she said there were applicable fares on other flights but they were all more expensive.
I'll try again and maybe a different rep will give a different answer....
I'll try again and maybe a different rep will give a different answer....
Jul 30, 2017, 5:23 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
Just booked one of the AF tickets to BCN using the new IAP. Run into a small problem and wondering if anyone has advice or experience.
Somehow the original booking has the CDG-BCN segment in Y. BCN-CDG is in J, and the long hauls are in F, so everything else is good.
When I call in to get that fixed (the reservation was made just a couple of hours ago), they're telling me that to change that to J I will have to pay $472 extra because "the IAP discount doesn't work if that segment is in J"
That doesn't make much sense to me, but I've had that answer twice. Any advice to fix? It's not like it really matters for the short flight with the same seat, but it's more a matter of principle.
Somehow the original booking has the CDG-BCN segment in Y. BCN-CDG is in J, and the long hauls are in F, so everything else is good.
When I call in to get that fixed (the reservation was made just a couple of hours ago), they're telling me that to change that to J I will have to pay $472 extra because "the IAP discount doesn't work if that segment is in J"
That doesn't make much sense to me, but I've had that answer twice. Any advice to fix? It's not like it really matters for the short flight with the same seat, but it's more a matter of principle.
Jul 30, 2017, 7:57 pm
#101
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Understand how you feel, and it does sound fishy, but ... given the (non) meaning of J intra-Europe, and the incredible shortness of the flight, discretion might be the better part of valor.
Just curious ... what kind of a fare did you end up with?
Just curious ... what kind of a fare did you end up with?
Jul 30, 2017, 9:22 pm
#102
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 503
Just booked one of the AF tickets to BCN using the new IAP. Run into a small problem and wondering if anyone has advice or experience.
Somehow the original booking has the CDG-BCN segment in Y. BCN-CDG is in J, and the long hauls are in F, so everything else is good.
When I call in to get that fixed (the reservation was made just a couple of hours ago), they're telling me that to change that to J I will have to pay $472 extra because "the IAP discount doesn't work if that segment is in J"
That doesn't make much sense to me, but I've had that answer twice. Any advice to fix? It's not like it really matters for the short flight with the same seat, but it's more a matter of principle.
Somehow the original booking has the CDG-BCN segment in Y. BCN-CDG is in J, and the long hauls are in F, so everything else is good.
When I call in to get that fixed (the reservation was made just a couple of hours ago), they're telling me that to change that to J I will have to pay $472 extra because "the IAP discount doesn't work if that segment is in J"
That doesn't make much sense to me, but I've had that answer twice. Any advice to fix? It's not like it really matters for the short flight with the same seat, but it's more a matter of principle.
At least that's the way I understand it.
Jul 31, 2017, 8:49 am
#103
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737
Doesn't make sense..... F transatlantic on AF books into full J for the short haul. But with the very low fall fares on Air France i'm not surprised there is some confusion. F is less than J on many dates
Aug 1, 2017, 12:25 am
#104
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
All's well that ends well - I now have a guaranteed empty middle seat next to me. Possibly just about worth the time spent on the phone
Aug 2, 2017, 9:04 pm
#105
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: American Airlines Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 207
If I book a premium economy flight via the IAP and use Pay with Points, am I correct in assuming that I won't get the 35%/50% Pay with Points? Unless it's with my selected airline, of course...