PRG - Buying tickets thru Amex travel or Airline website
Sep 14, 2018, 11:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
PRG - Buying tickets thru Amex travel or Airline website
Hello,
Am aware that PRG gives 3x points if tickets bought directly from airline websites & 2x if bought thru Amex travel site.
If we are getting the same fares on both places, any reason we should book thru Amex travel?
Basically, am not sure why someone would book thru Amex travel if prices are similar, so wanted to reconfirm.
Thanks,
Am aware that PRG gives 3x points if tickets bought directly from airline websites & 2x if bought thru Amex travel site.
If we are getting the same fares on both places, any reason we should book thru Amex travel?
Basically, am not sure why someone would book thru Amex travel if prices are similar, so wanted to reconfirm.
Thanks,
Sep 14, 2018, 11:54 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Hello,
Am aware that PRG gives 3x points if tickets bought directly from airline websites & 2x if bought thru Amex travel site.
If we are getting the same fares on both places, any reason we should book thru Amex travel?
Basically, am not sure why someone would book thru Amex travel if prices are similar, so wanted to reconfirm.
Thanks,
Am aware that PRG gives 3x points if tickets bought directly from airline websites & 2x if bought thru Amex travel site.
If we are getting the same fares on both places, any reason we should book thru Amex travel?
Basically, am not sure why someone would book thru Amex travel if prices are similar, so wanted to reconfirm.
Thanks,
Sep 14, 2018, 12:07 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
And if it doesn't, then unless someone gets a deal which is not available anywhere else, why go thru Amex travel at all?
Last edited by mia; Sep 14, 2018 at 1:37 pm Reason: Repair link
Sep 14, 2018, 12:29 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Their website with benefits seems to say it does..https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...-rewards-gold/
And if it doesn't, then unless someone gets a deal which is not available anywhere else, why go thru Amex travel at all?
And if it doesn't, then unless someone gets a deal which is not available anywhere else, why go thru Amex travel at all?
But to answer your question, I never book through Amex Travel using my PRG. Their fares are usually identical to the ones found on the airlines' own website.
Sep 14, 2018, 1:52 pm
#5
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,956
If you click through from that page to the actual terms you will read:
Extra Membership RewardsŪ points at amextravel.com
I read this to mean that we can no longer stack the PRG 3X feature with the Amex Travel 2X feature to receive a total of 4 points per dollar on airfare.
HOWEVER, American Express practice frequently differs from written policy in the customer's favor. I would make a single purchase through Amex Travel and see how it plays out. Bear in mind the points could post at three different times:
1 base point for spending a dollar
2 bonus points for buying an airline ticket
1 bonus point for booking through Amex Travel
Extra Membership RewardsŪ points at amextravel.com
2x Points
Membership Rewards-enrolled Card Members get at least 1 Membership RewardsŪ point for every eligible dollar spent on their Membership Rewards program-enrolled American ExpressŪ Card. Those same Card Members will also get at least 1 additional point for each dollar of eligible travel purchases made on amextravel.com on their Membership Rewards program-enrolled American Express Card. Eligible travel purchases include all travel purchases made with your Membership Rewards program-enrolled American ExpressŪ Card on amextravel.com, including air, prepaid hotels, vacation packages (flight + hotel packages) or cruise reservations, minus returns and other credits. Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members are only eligible for 1 additional point on cruise reservations. Eligible travel purchases do NOT include car reservations, non-prepaid hotels, ticketing service or other fees, or interest charges. Bonuses you may receive with your Card on other purchase categories or in connection with promotions or offers from American Express may not be combined with this offer, such as 5X bonuses for Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members. Any portion of a charge that you elect to cover through redemption of Membership Rewards points is not eligible to receive points. If you have an Amex EveryDay Card product, additional points awarded under this offer will not be included in the extra points benefit. Additional points will be credited to the Membership Rewards account 10-12 weeks after final payment is made.
Membership Rewards-enrolled Card Members get at least 1 Membership RewardsŪ point for every eligible dollar spent on their Membership Rewards program-enrolled American ExpressŪ Card. Those same Card Members will also get at least 1 additional point for each dollar of eligible travel purchases made on amextravel.com on their Membership Rewards program-enrolled American Express Card. Eligible travel purchases include all travel purchases made with your Membership Rewards program-enrolled American ExpressŪ Card on amextravel.com, including air, prepaid hotels, vacation packages (flight + hotel packages) or cruise reservations, minus returns and other credits. Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members are only eligible for 1 additional point on cruise reservations. Eligible travel purchases do NOT include car reservations, non-prepaid hotels, ticketing service or other fees, or interest charges. Bonuses you may receive with your Card on other purchase categories or in connection with promotions or offers from American Express may not be combined with this offer, such as 5X bonuses for Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members. Any portion of a charge that you elect to cover through redemption of Membership Rewards points is not eligible to receive points. If you have an Amex EveryDay Card product, additional points awarded under this offer will not be included in the extra points benefit. Additional points will be credited to the Membership Rewards account 10-12 weeks after final payment is made.
HOWEVER, American Express practice frequently differs from written policy in the customer's favor. I would make a single purchase through Amex Travel and see how it plays out. Bear in mind the points could post at three different times:
1 base point for spending a dollar
2 bonus points for buying an airline ticket
1 bonus point for booking through Amex Travel
Sep 14, 2018, 2:19 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
If you click through from that page to the actual terms you will read:
Extra Membership RewardsŪ points at amextravel.com
I read this to mean that we can no longer stack the PRG 3X feature with the Amex Travel 2X feature to receive a total of 4 points per dollar on airfare.
HOWEVER, American Express practice frequently differs from written policy in the customer's favor. I would make a single purchase through Amex Travel and see how it plays out. Bear in mind the points could post at three different times:
1 base point for spending a dollar
2 bonus points for buying an airline ticket
1 bonus point for booking through Amex Travel
Extra Membership RewardsŪ points at amextravel.com
I read this to mean that we can no longer stack the PRG 3X feature with the Amex Travel 2X feature to receive a total of 4 points per dollar on airfare.
HOWEVER, American Express practice frequently differs from written policy in the customer's favor. I would make a single purchase through Amex Travel and see how it plays out. Bear in mind the points could post at three different times:
1 base point for spending a dollar
2 bonus points for buying an airline ticket
1 bonus point for booking through Amex Travel
Sep 14, 2018, 4:27 pm
#7
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,956
It was (past tense) the experience, provided the travel agency passed the transaction through for the airline to bill. See this thread from 2013:
PRG and BGR Airfare Triple Points via OTA?
Since then, American Express added the 5X airfare feature to Platinum, and they amended the terms to specify 5 points total, not 5+1. I expect they also built a software check to implement this, and if it also picks up Gold cards you might no longer earn 4 points per dollar. To be clear, I do not know the answer, and suggest a test.
PRG and BGR Airfare Triple Points via OTA?
Since then, American Express added the 5X airfare feature to Platinum, and they amended the terms to specify 5 points total, not 5+1. I expect they also built a software check to implement this, and if it also picks up Gold cards you might no longer earn 4 points per dollar. To be clear, I do not know the answer, and suggest a test.
Sep 14, 2018, 4:38 pm
#8
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
There isn't a reason to. Amex Travel is run by Orbitz, so it's like choosing them, or Expedia, instead of booking direct. Heck, over on the Platinum travel desk, they charge $39 to book tickets that sometimes are the same price as direct.