Amex Platinum Travel Services (PTS) vs Amex Travel
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(Plat) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,535
Amex Platinum Travel Services (PTS) vs Amex Travel
I've been a Platinum cardholder for a while, but I've never used the Platinum Travel Services. How does it differ from using the web-based travel portal?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,865
The web portal is run by Expedia. Customer service is terrible.
The telephone agents on PTS are "real" travel agents. Many folks here would gladly pay the $39 booking fee for the ability to talk with a competent agent, particularly if there was an issue with a reservation (like an airline schedule change).
Not sure if any of this has changed post-COVID though. I do occasionally think about the poor agents at our corporate travel agency (about 5-6 dedicated agents, some of whom have been serving us for 10+ years) that were likely laid off/furloughed.
The telephone agents on PTS are "real" travel agents. Many folks here would gladly pay the $39 booking fee for the ability to talk with a competent agent, particularly if there was an issue with a reservation (like an airline schedule change).
Not sure if any of this has changed post-COVID though. I do occasionally think about the poor agents at our corporate travel agency (about 5-6 dedicated agents, some of whom have been serving us for 10+ years) that were likely laid off/furloughed.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2019
Programs: Delta
Posts: 54
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,232
I do not see any mention of PTS in the 5X bonus terms:
5X Points on Travel:
You will get one point for each dollar charged for an eligible purchase on your Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card from American Express. You will get 4 additional points (for a total of 5 points) for each dollar spent on eligible travel purchases made on amextravel.com. Eligible travel purchases include the following purchases made on amextravel.com: scheduled flights, prepaid hotel purchases (including hotels and flight+hotel packages), minus returns and other credits. Eligible travel purchases do NOT include non-prepaid hotel bookings, car rentals or cruise purchases, hotel group reservations or events, ticketing service, cancellation or other fees, interest charges, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. To be eligible for the 5x Membership Rewards points, you must both reserve and charge the travel purchase with the same eligible Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card. To modify a reservation you must cancel and rebook your reservation. You can cancel and rebook your reservation on amextravel.com or by calling a representative of amextravel.com at 1-800-297-2977. Cancellations are subject to hotel cancellation penalty policies. If hotel reservations are made or modified directly with the hotel provider, the reservation will not be eligible for this 5X Membership Rewards point benefit. For Business Platinum Card Members, extra points for air, prepaid hotel, and travel packages will be credited to the Membership Rewards account 10-12 weeks after final payment is made. 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 benefit. Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. A purchase will not qualify for additional points if the merchant's code is not eligible. The benefits associated with the Additional Card(s) you choose may be different than the benefits associated with your basic Card.
You will get one point for each dollar charged for an eligible purchase on your Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card from American Express. You will get 4 additional points (for a total of 5 points) for each dollar spent on eligible travel purchases made on amextravel.com. Eligible travel purchases include the following purchases made on amextravel.com: scheduled flights, prepaid hotel purchases (including hotels and flight+hotel packages), minus returns and other credits. Eligible travel purchases do NOT include non-prepaid hotel bookings, car rentals or cruise purchases, hotel group reservations or events, ticketing service, cancellation or other fees, interest charges, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. To be eligible for the 5x Membership Rewards points, you must both reserve and charge the travel purchase with the same eligible Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card. To modify a reservation you must cancel and rebook your reservation. You can cancel and rebook your reservation on amextravel.com or by calling a representative of amextravel.com at 1-800-297-2977. Cancellations are subject to hotel cancellation penalty policies. If hotel reservations are made or modified directly with the hotel provider, the reservation will not be eligible for this 5X Membership Rewards point benefit. For Business Platinum Card Members, extra points for air, prepaid hotel, and travel packages will be credited to the Membership Rewards account 10-12 weeks after final payment is made. 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 benefit. Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. A purchase will not qualify for additional points if the merchant's code is not eligible. The benefits associated with the Additional Card(s) you choose may be different than the benefits associated with your basic Card.
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
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See here, last updated 11.11.2020
https://www.americanexpress.com/en-u...nd-conditions/
Once upon a time the contract was held by Travelocity, and then Orbitz. Both are now owed by Expedia.
Online travel agency Service Providers include Expedia, Inc. (“OTA”), which is a business organized and operating in the United States that has been selected by us to provide you with the ability to search for and book certain travel services. Payment for reservations/purchases made through OTA shall be made to OTA, if OTA is the merchant of record, or to the applicable Supplier, if the Supplier is the merchant of record. The OTA's seller of travel registration numbers are: *California: 2029030-50; Florida: ST-31901; Hawaii: TAR-5461; Iowa: 601; Washington: 601975803
Once upon a time the contract was held by Travelocity, and then Orbitz. Both are now owed by Expedia.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,865
Well you get 5x for all airline charges regardless of booking channel, so I guess it's really only hotels where you might lose out. I think booking a hotel on the website is probably less risky than an airline ticket, so you can continue to do that.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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Posts: 48,232
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Ti, LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 55,211
Certain bonuses and rates are only available if you book on the web (e.g., 5x on prepaid FHR). In those instances, you're forced to use Amex Travel if you want the bonus/rate. Otherwise, it does make sense to book through PTS to avoid the potential Expedia nightmare.
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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Posts: 48,232
#14
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,834
Begin reading at post 398: FHR Upgrades and Amenities [except Las Vegas]
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(Plat) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,535
Thanks for the info, very useful. So booking an airline ticket with PTS involves a $39 fee by Amex. Then if I want the airline to make any changes there will be the $50 fee by the airline, right?
Do the PTS agents have access to special fares?
Do the PTS agents have access to special fares?