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It was suggested that a Wikipost be written to try and collect past and example discounts, as the fares themselves are unpublished.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 23, 2017, 4:34 pm
#121
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 51
I seem to be in the minority on this, but I see this change as a major devaluation.
I would have a pair of fully-refundable business class tickets.
Under the new program, this prices out at about a 10% discount (slightly more) to the quoted fare. So now I would pay approx. $4300 (so $900 more) for [non-refundable] tickets.
So lose/lose on the $ and non-refundable front.
I would have a pair of fully-refundable business class tickets.
Under the new program, this prices out at about a 10% discount (slightly more) to the quoted fare. So now I would pay approx. $4300 (so $900 more) for [non-refundable] tickets.
So lose/lose on the $ and non-refundable front.
I see more airlines are offering altered refundable pricing now (i.e. Lufthansa offering everything back up to $500 per leg for a little bit more up front), so maybe that's a decision point for the change.
Aug 24, 2017, 10:37 pm
#124
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Aug 25, 2017, 1:30 pm
#125
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
I seem to be in the minority on this, but I see this change as a major devaluation.
In the past, I would find discounted Z fares that would qualify under the old program. As an example, $2500 USA-EUR on Air France.
Under the old program, it would be $2500 for the first passenger, and then about $900 in taxes for the second. But the IAP fare was fully refundable. So for $3400 (or $1700 per person), I would have a pair of fully-refundable business class tickets.
Under the new program, this prices out at about a 10% discount (slightly more) to the quoted fare. So now I would pay approx. $4300 (so $900 more) for [non-refundable] tickets.
So lose/lose on the $ and non-refundable front.
In the past, I would find discounted Z fares that would qualify under the old program. As an example, $2500 USA-EUR on Air France.
Under the old program, it would be $2500 for the first passenger, and then about $900 in taxes for the second. But the IAP fare was fully refundable. So for $3400 (or $1700 per person), I would have a pair of fully-refundable business class tickets.
Under the new program, this prices out at about a 10% discount (slightly more) to the quoted fare. So now I would pay approx. $4300 (so $900 more) for [non-refundable] tickets.
So lose/lose on the $ and non-refundable front.
For what it's worth though, some IAP fares include $0 change fees, and/or refund allowances. But it isn't a guaranteed benefit so still a loss. For example, a JAL route I flew BOGO @ $7k+$0, is now $6k. Great for the solo traveler, but now $5k more expensive and I didn't ask about the fare basis to see if it was one of the flexible tickets I just mentioned.
Aug 28, 2017, 7:08 pm
#127
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
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.
Aug 28, 2017, 10:55 pm
#128
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
I was surprised today to see how much I had to go through to get a price. They needed my full credit card number and mothers maiden name. So ... competitors calling in won't work unless they have a plat card.
Sep 1, 2017, 9:14 am
#130
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LAX_AMS_MNL
Programs: AS MVP, AA EXP - 1MM, BAEC BRZ, BVY GLD, Hilton DIA, Hyatt GLB
Posts: 749
Just wanted to chime in.
Was looking at booking a BA trip to Europe from LAX return. Found a fare but AMEX couldn't give a discount! Spent 45min on the phone with the agent and had to be placed on hold multiple times to figure out why there was no amex discount. Apparently there might be a limit on how low the ticket can be discounted if its already been discounted by BA ie in this case an "I" fare.
Im worried that say if there is a great BA fare sale and we try to book via AMEX that there will be NO discounts at all!
Devaluation indeed
Was looking at booking a BA trip to Europe from LAX return. Found a fare but AMEX couldn't give a discount! Spent 45min on the phone with the agent and had to be placed on hold multiple times to figure out why there was no amex discount. Apparently there might be a limit on how low the ticket can be discounted if its already been discounted by BA ie in this case an "I" fare.
Im worried that say if there is a great BA fare sale and we try to book via AMEX that there will be NO discounts at all!
Devaluation indeed
Sep 4, 2017, 3:42 pm
#131
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP; SPG Gold; Hyatt Platinum; Amex Platinum; Meaningless to Everyone Else
Posts: 253
Success: JFK MEX JFK
Called in to PTS about 2 J tickets for JFK MEX JFK. Delta was pricing out at $885.58 for my dates on their website - nonstop on their own metal or codeshares with AM.
PTS quoted me $735.58 for the same flights (Delta metal or codeshares with AM) with the IAP discount (not including $39 fee). Snagged JFK MEX on the AM 788 flight and back on the DL metal flight. Considering this is a 2090 mile flight each way I am quite pleased with the fare.
PTS quoted me $735.58 for the same flights (Delta metal or codeshares with AM) with the IAP discount (not including $39 fee). Snagged JFK MEX on the AM 788 flight and back on the DL metal flight. Considering this is a 2090 mile flight each way I am quite pleased with the fare.
Sep 12, 2017, 11:20 am
#133
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
Question from a friend, since I've never done it with IAP... Can we do open jaw? He's interested in a trip on BA (maybe DL) that goes exUS-BUD, then TXL-US, as he will use the train along the way. He's not a Plat cardholder yet but is considering it, especially for the IAP perks to fly in the premium cabin.
Sep 12, 2017, 12:13 pm
#134
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Question from a friend, since I've never done it with IAP... Can we do open jaw? He's interested in a trip on BA (maybe DL) that goes exUS-BUD, then TXL-US, as he will use the train along the way. He's not a Plat cardholder yet but is considering it, especially for the IAP perks to fly in the premium cabin.
Sep 17, 2017, 9:59 pm
#135
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
Called for a dummy booking today, PHX-CDG for a friend (who is considering the Plat card)
* AF premium economy next May, two passengers, and it was $1909.56/person instead of $2078.46... A discount of 8% per passenger.
* Delta business class was about $3700 (I didn't write down the exact amount), compared to Delta.com's price of $4444, which is a much nicer 15% discount
* AF premium economy next May, two passengers, and it was $1909.56/person instead of $2078.46... A discount of 8% per passenger.
* Delta business class was about $3700 (I didn't write down the exact amount), compared to Delta.com's price of $4444, which is a much nicer 15% discount