Amex Travel: A Good Option For Your Next Vacation?

American Express, or Amex, is well-known for its premium credit cards that offer perks to high-spenders, frequent flyers and business users. Amex Travel is the company's online travel portal, where you can book flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises.

Amex Travel is available to anyone, but it's particularly beneficial to Amex cardholders, who can earn double points or more by using the website. The portal also offers exclusive perks to Platinum and Centurion cardholders, such as access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which includes room upgrades, daily breakfast, late checkout, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Amex Travel has a simple user interface, and its customer service is highly rated. However, it may not always offer the most competitive prices, and it doesn't include some low-cost carriers.

Amex Travel: The Booking Portal

Amex Travel is an online travel portal where you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. It is available to anyone, but it is most beneficial for those with an Amex card, especially one that earns Membership Rewards points.

Booking with Amex Travel

The process of booking with Amex Travel is similar to other online travel agencies like Expedia, Kayak, and Orbitz. You can book a whole trip or just a flight, hotel, rental car, or cruise.

When booking flights, you can search by city or specific airport, select departure and return dates, and choose the number of stops, seat class, and departure and arrival times. Basic economy fares are not shown in the search results, and you must call Amex to book these.

Amex Travel charges a fee of $6.99 for domestic flights and $10.99 for international flights when booking through the portal. These fees are waived for holders of the Platinum Card from American Express.

Amex Travel also offers a 24/7 customer service line that can provide assistance with any problems during your trip, such as delays, cancellations, or overbookings.

Earning Rewards with Amex Travel

If you hold an Amex credit card that earns Membership Rewards points, you can earn bonus points or save money by booking through Amex Travel.

The Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Amex Travel. The Amex Gold Card offers 3 points per dollar on flights and 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels, cruises, rental cars, and vacation rentals booked through Amex Travel.

Additionally, Amex Travel offers two hotel programs that provide perks and benefits for cardholders: The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels and Resorts.

The Hotel Collection

The Hotel Collection is available to holders of the Amex Gold Card, Amex Business Gold Card, Amex Platinum Card, and Amex Business Platinum Card. Benefits include:

• Room upgrade at check-in (if available)
• Up to a $100 hotel credit for on-site amenities
• Ability to use Pay With Points on prepaid reservations
• 3x or 5x Membership Rewards points for Amex Gold and Amex Platinum cardholders, respectively, on prepaid bookings
• Up to $200 credit each year towards prepaid hotel reservations

Fine Hotels and Resorts

The Fine Hotels and Resorts program is exclusive to Amex Platinum cardholders (personal or business) and Centurion Card holders. This program includes higher-end properties and offers benefits such as:

• Early noon check-in (when available)
• Room upgrade on arrival (when available)
• Daily breakfast for two
• Guaranteed 4 pm late checkout
• A unique amenity valued at $100 or more (e.g., property credit, dining credit, spa credit)

Other Booking Options

Amex Travel also offers the option to book flight and hotel packages, rental cars, and cruises.

Flight and hotel packages can sometimes offer discounts or promotions, but they provide less flexibility as you must book a single hotel for the entire trip.

Rental car bookings can be made from rental stations at airports or other locations, and prices are generally consistent with other online travel agencies.

Cruise bookings can be made for sailings of five nights or more, and Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders have access to the Cruise Privileges Program, which offers onboard credits and special amenities.

Overall, Amex Travel provides a user-friendly interface and valuable perks for cardholders, especially those with Membership Rewards-earning cards. However, it is important to compare prices with other platforms and book directly with hotels if you want to utilize elite status benefits.

Amex Cards: Access and Benefits

American Express (Amex) cards are known for their premium benefits, catering to high-spenders, frequent flyers, and business users. The Platinum Card® from American Express is one such premium card, offering a host of benefits for those who can afford its hefty annual fee. Here's a breakdown of the access and benefits that come with this card and other Amex options.

Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express provides access to high-end airport lounges worldwide, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges, often described as a "traveller's Shangri-La". With complimentary food, custom cocktails, and amenities like shower suites, lounge access is a significant perk for frequent travellers. This card also offers access to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass Select lounges, and lounges in the Plaza Premium, Escape, and Airspace networks.

Travel Credits and Perks

Amex Platinum cardmembers enjoy a range of travel credits and perks. This includes up to $200 in annual credits for airline incidental fees, such as checked bag fees or in-flight refreshments, and up to $200 in hotel credits when booked through the AmEx Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection programmes. There are also credits for Uber, Equinox gym memberships, Saks Fifth Avenue, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees, CLEAR®, and more.

Rewards Points

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a generous rewards programme. Cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. For all other purchases, cardholders earn 1 point per dollar. These points can be redeemed for travel reservations, activities, or transferred to select airline or hotel loyalty programs for potentially greater value.

Hotel Benefits

In addition to hotel credits, Amex Platinum cardmembers have access to exclusive hotel benefits through the Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programmes. Fine Hotels + Resorts offers perks like early check-in, room upgrades, daily breakfast, late checkout, and property credits. The Hotel Collection provides similar benefits, including room upgrades, $100 on-property credits, and the ability to use Pay With Points for prepaid reservations.

Other Benefits

The Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with cell phone protection, 24-hour concierge services, global dining access through Resy, and exclusive event access through the By Invitation Only programme.

Other Amex Cards

While the Platinum Card® from American Express stands out for its extensive travel benefits, other Amex cards offer their own sets of perks. The American Express® Gold Card and the American Express® Business Gold Card provide access to The Hotel Collection programme and bonus points on travel bookings. The British Airways American Express Premium Plus card is ideal for frequent flyers, offering a complimentary companion voucher on British Airways when spending £15,000 per year. For those seeking cashback rewards, the American Express Cashback Everyday Credit Card offers an introductory 5% cashback on purchases (up to £125) for the first five months.

In summary, Amex cards provide a range of benefits, with the Platinum Card® from American Express offering a particularly impressive suite of perks for frequent travellers, from lounge access to travel credits and exclusive hotel programmes.

Amex Travel: Customer Service

Amex Travel is an online travel portal where you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. The portal is available to anyone, but it is particularly beneficial for those with an Amex card, as certain credit cards can earn double points or more for booking through the website.

Customer Service

Amex Travel is known for its excellent customer service. If you encounter any issues during your trip, such as delays, cancellations, or overbookings, you can connect with a live travel agent by phone 24/7 to find a solution. This level of support can be especially valuable when dealing with travel disruptions, as it provides easy access to someone who can help you get on a new flight, find a new hotel, or manage other issues.

Booking with Amex Travel

The process of booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Amex Travel is similar to other popular online travel agencies. You can search for flights by city or specific airport, select your dates, preferred airline, number of stops, seat class, and departure and arrival times.

When booking hotels, you can input your destination, dates, number of rooms, and guests. Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel reservations.

For car rentals, you can input your pickup and drop-off times and location, and the portal will display rental prices from various companies.

Cruise bookings can be searched by region, cruise line, month of travel, and duration. Platinum and Centurion cardholders also have access to the Cruise Privileges Program, which offers benefits such as onboard credit and additional amenities on select cruises.

Amex Travel Programs

Amex Travel offers several programs that provide additional benefits for cardholders:

• The Hotel Collection: Available to holders of certain cards, including the Amex Gold Card, Amex Platinum Card, and Amex Business Platinum Card. Benefits include room upgrades (if available), up to a $100 hotel credit for on-site amenities, the ability to use Pay with Points on prepaid reservations, and bonus Membership Rewards points.
• Fine Hotels and Resorts: Exclusive to Amex Platinum cardholders (personal or business) and Centurion cardholders. This program offers perks such as early check-in, room upgrades, daily breakfast, guaranteed late checkout, and a unique amenity valued at $100 or more.
• International Airline Program: Available to Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, and Centurion cardholders. This program offers discounts on first-class, business-class, and premium economy tickets from over 20 participating airlines.
• Insider Fares: Discounted fares for flights paid for entirely with Membership Rewards points.

Fees

There are fees associated with booking through Amex Travel. For flights, there is a fee of $6.99 for domestic flights and $10.99 for international flights. These fees are waived for Amex Platinum cardholders. For car rentals and cruises, there are no additional fees beyond the cost of the reservation.

Pros and Cons of Amex Travel

Pros:

• Excellent customer service with 24/7 access to live travel agents.
• Potential to earn bonus points or rebates when booking with certain Amex cards.
• Access to exclusive programs and benefits, such as The Hotel Collection, Fine Hotels and Resorts, and International Airline Program.
• User-friendly interface that is similar to other popular online travel agencies.

Cons:

• Booking fees for flights, which can add to the cost of your reservation.
• Prices on Amex Travel may not always be the most competitive, so it is recommended to compare with other platforms before booking.
• Booking through Amex Travel may result in forfeiting hotel loyalty program benefits and elite status perks.

Overall, Amex Travel can be a valuable tool for booking travel, especially for those with Amex cards who can take advantage of the additional benefits and rewards. The excellent customer service and access to exclusive programs make it a worthwhile option for those seeking a convenient and rewarding travel booking experience.

Amex Travel: Fees

Amex Travel is an online travel portal where you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. While anyone can use the service, it is primarily designed for holders of Amex cards, who can gain access to exclusive perks and benefits.

Fees for Using the Portal

There are fees for booking flights through the Amex Travel portal. For domestic flights, the fee is $6.99, and for international flights, it is $10.99. These fees are waived for holders of the Platinum Card from American Express. Additionally, there is a $39 phone service fee for booking flights over the phone, and a $39 reissue fee for making changes to your flight.

Booking Flights

When searching for flights, you can filter results by the number of stops, departure and arrival times, airline, and specific flight number. Delta Air Lines is a featured airline in the Amex Travel portal, and its flights are sometimes listed at the top of the search results as "recommended". However, this does not mean that they are the cheapest option.

AmexTravel.com Hotel Programs

There are three programs offered for booking hotels: The Hotel Collection, Fine Hotels and Resorts, and standard AmexTravel.com bookings. The Hotel Collection is available to holders of certain cards, including the American Express Gold Card and the Platinum Card from American Express. Benefits include room upgrades, up to a $100 hotel credit, the ability to use Pay With Points, and more.

Fine Hotels and Resorts is a program exclusive to Platinum and Centurion cardholders. It offers perks such as early check-in, room upgrades, daily breakfast, late checkout, and a unique amenity valued at $100 or more.

Flights + Hotel Packages

Amex Travel also offers the option to book flights and hotels together as a package. While this can sometimes result in significant savings, it also means less flexibility, as you must book a single hotel for the entire duration of your trip.

Other Services

In addition to flights and hotels, Amex Travel offers rental car and cruise booking services. The rental car search function allows you to compare prices from multiple rental companies at a glance, while the cruise search function lets you filter by region, cruise line, and duration.

Amex Travel: Packages

Amex Travel offers a range of booking capabilities, including airfare, hotel stays, vacation packages, rental cars and cruises. While the prices are often competitive, basic economy fares are not included in the search results, and not all airlines are available.

Amex Travel is best utilised by those with Membership Rewards-earning credit cards, as these can be used to pay for bookings. Bonus points are also available for those with certain cards, such as the Amex Platinum Card, Amex Business Platinum Card, Amex Gold Card, and the American Express Green Card.

The Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer a $200 hotel credit each calendar year, which can be used to reimburse prepaid hotel stays booked through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.

For those looking to book a vacation package, Amex Travel allows you to combine flight and hotel bookings online or over the phone. These bookings will show up in your American Express Membership Rewards account under 'Manage My Trips'.

Overall, Amex Travel provides a good service for those with Membership Rewards-earning credit cards, offering a range of benefits and the ability to pay with cash, points, or a combination of both.

Frequently asked questions