Domestic Companion Ticket Program Cancelled as of 11/15/08
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: LAX / SNA
Programs: AA Life PLT 3MM/ NZ Gold
Posts: 158
Not really. The domestic buy one get one was never a very good deal. If they end the international buy one get one that would be a whole differant thing. That program has some benefit.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,468
We got some pretty decent deals on the domestic 2 for 1 program. Sorry to see it go.
It will be interesting to see if this is just the first of many benefits to disapear.
It will be interesting to see if this is just the first of many benefits to disapear.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Programs: USAir Gold, Delta Slvr, Amex Plat, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 412
I found the domestic program to be very useful, especially with rising airfares. But the international program is a total rip. I have never encountered any destination or routing where you can't just buy two discounted biz or F tickets for a small fraction of the 2-4-1 International program's price.
No joke, if two discounted F tickets are $4k directly from the carrier, then the Int'l 2-4-1 program will quote you $10k+ for one of the exact same seats. It's a absolute rip-off. The ONLY and I mean ONLY time it *might* be even remotely useful is if you needed a couple of last-minute tickets, and the airline has jacked the fares so mercilessly as departure approached that you might save a little money (and I mean a little) by going through Amex. Other than that it's completely useless.
I have saved two or three times the card's annual fees in airfare using the domestic 2-4-1 program, however. I will be sad to see it go, and it's one more reason I will probably be downgrading to green or gold, unless they roll out some additional benefit that makes continuing to shell out $575 ($450 primary, and 2 AU's) for the card.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 282
I agree with most above. First of all, this program was fairly short-lived, didn't they just introduce it a year or so ago?
I have used the domestic companion program several times for great deals - the best being when United quoted me in the neighborhood of $470/person for IAD-SFO over a random weekend for a wedding, and the domestic companion program got us BOTH tickets for $420 total, all-in.
I also agree that the international companion program is almost completely worthless. I've never had them quote me flights that were anywhere near the price of simply paying for two business tickets directly from the the airline, much less a consolidator.
$500 a year for two cards is getting harder and harder to justify.
I have used the domestic companion program several times for great deals - the best being when United quoted me in the neighborhood of $470/person for IAD-SFO over a random weekend for a wedding, and the domestic companion program got us BOTH tickets for $420 total, all-in.
I also agree that the international companion program is almost completely worthless. I've never had them quote me flights that were anywhere near the price of simply paying for two business tickets directly from the the airline, much less a consolidator.
$500 a year for two cards is getting harder and harder to justify.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 4
I'll wait until we hear from Amex
I think something like this should be communicated to us (mail, e-mail, something) pretty soon. If not I'll be a bit disappointed.
If anything, this may be a good reason to argue out of my fee. I haven't looked into it but is this deal included in the terms? Maybe something about bait/switch here.
Anyway, like I said, hopefully we'll hear from Amex soon.
If anything, this may be a good reason to argue out of my fee. I haven't looked into it but is this deal included in the terms? Maybe something about bait/switch here.
Anyway, like I said, hopefully we'll hear from Amex soon.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
I am surprised that Amex did not notify cardmembers. Don't they have to give us 60 day notice?
This program cancellation really dilutes the benefits of the platinum card. I will have to re-think if I will renew my card then.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
You cannot use this program for the last minute travel It requires 14 days advance booking.
I am surprised that Amex did not notify cardmembers. Don't they have to give us 60 day notice?
This program cancellation really dilutes the benefits of the platinum card. I will have to re-think if I will renew my card then.
I am surprised that Amex did not notify cardmembers. Don't they have to give us 60 day notice?
This program cancellation really dilutes the benefits of the platinum card. I will have to re-think if I will renew my card then.
This change is a problem for me. It was the benefit that I used to justify the annual fee. The other crap is fairly worthless ("purchase price protection", etc.) The second most valuable benefit is club access. We fly AA 99.9% of the time, Continental once in a blue moon, and Delta/NW exactly never. Club access is nice, but hmmm... not sure it's worth this much.
Unfortunately, I've had the card for a whopping one month and likely would not have gotten it had I known the benefit would be canceled. I may see if I can "unwind" this.
Regards.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
Actually, it was 7 day advance booking. They have already removed the FAQ, which is where it previously stated the 7 days. However, in the "Booking A Reservation" tab at https://www143.americanexpress.com/c...ompairfareprog it still states, "at least seven (7) days prior to your departure date."
This change is a problem for me. It was the benefit that I used to justify the annual fee. The other crap is fairly worthless ("purchase price protection", etc.) The second most valuable benefit is club access. We fly AA 99.9% of the time, Continental once in a blue moon, and Delta/NW exactly never. Club access is nice, but hmmm... not sure it's worth this much.
Unfortunately, I've had the card for a whopping one month and likely would not have gotten it had I known the benefit would be canceled. I may see if I can "unwind" this.
Regards.
This change is a problem for me. It was the benefit that I used to justify the annual fee. The other crap is fairly worthless ("purchase price protection", etc.) The second most valuable benefit is club access. We fly AA 99.9% of the time, Continental once in a blue moon, and Delta/NW exactly never. Club access is nice, but hmmm... not sure it's worth this much.
Unfortunately, I've had the card for a whopping one month and likely would not have gotten it had I known the benefit would be canceled. I may see if I can "unwind" this.
Regards.