American Express Travel Credit Cards and Benefits

American Express offers a range of travel credit cards that can help you save money and earn rewards on your trips.

With American Express travel credit cards, you can earn points or miles that can be redeemed for travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, and car rentals. You can also get travel insurance, which can protect you against trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays.

Some American Express travel credit cards offer additional benefits, such as airport lounge access, which can provide a comfortable and relaxing experience before your flight. You can also get travel assistance, which can help you with tasks such as booking flights and hotels.

American Express travel credit cards can also offer purchase protection, which can refund or replace items that are lost, stolen, or damaged during travel. This can give you peace of mind when shopping online or abroad.

American Express offers a range of travel credit cards that can help you save money on flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.

To maximize your travel credit, choose an American Express card that offers the airline fee credit, such as the Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The value of the credit will depend on your card, with the Platinum and Business Platinum Cards offering a $200 annual credit and the Hilton Aspire Card offering a $250 annual credit.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers a range of benefits, including 6x Marriott points on eligible purchases at participating hotels and a $300 statement credit per calendar year for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.

Some American Express cards, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, offer a Free Night Reward after spending a certain amount on purchases, such as $15,000 in a calendar year.

Here are some American Express travel credit cards that offer airline fee credits:

The best American Express credit cards for travel are the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, and Amex Blue Cash, which offer high-end travel perks, valuable rewards, and benefits on everyday spending.

These cards are perfect for elevating your travels and providing flexibility for casual and frequent travelers alike.

The Amex Platinum card is one of the three credit cards that offer the American Express airline fee credit, which can help lessen air travel costs through reimbursement for various charges, including checked bags, seat selection, and lounge access.

If you're looking for a low or no annual fee option, there are good cards available for casual travelers.

The best option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

The American Express Platinum Card is the top-of-the-line Amex card, offering an array of benefits that make it perfect for frequent flyers and hotel guests.

This card earns 5x Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

The Amex Gold card has a lower annual fee than the Amex Platinum and still rewards holders with a nice welcome bonus and travel perks.

The Amex Gold card earns 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, 4x points on U.S. supermarkets, and 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card gives you a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

Here are some of the best American Express travel credit cards:

You can avoid foreign transaction fees with American Express travel credit cards.

These cards don't charge foreign transaction fees, saving you up to 3% on international transactions.

Some cards, like the American Express Platinum Card, have a $200 annual credit for airline fees and a $100 annual credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

These credits can help offset the cost of international travel.

You can also use these cards to earn rewards on international purchases, with some cards offering 5x points on air travel booked directly with airlines.

This can be a great way to earn points on your international travel expenses.

To use your American Express Travel Credit, start by logging in to the American Express Travel website and clicking on 'Travel Credit details' on the top right-hand corner of your account. You will be able to see your available Travel Credits.

You can use the Travel Credit for travel bookings made through American Express Travel, which includes most domestic and international flights, hotels, and some car rentals. The credit can be used for flights, hotels, and car rentals, but not for cruises.

Here are some categories and their corresponding eligibility for The Platinum Card, The Explorer Card, and The Platinum Edge Card:

You can use your Travel Credit to cover fees charged by airlines for booking over the phone.

To get started with using your American Express Travel Credit online, you'll first need to log in to the American Express Travel website. From there, click on 'Travel Credit details' on the top right-hand corner of your account to see your available Travel Credits.

You'll need to pay your annual fee and make the minimum payment on your first month's statement before your Travel Credit becomes available. This ensures that your account is active and ready to use.

If you don't see your Travel Credits, don't worry - just contact Amex via live chat or by calling 1800 673 760 (for Platinum Card) or 1800 059 388 (for Explorer and Platinum Edge Cards) to get it sorted.

Once you're logged in and your Travel Credits are visible, you can start researching your travel options, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and experiences.

Having airline elite status or an eligible economy class ticket can get you a complimentary seat assignment, but if you need to pay for one, the AmEx airline credit has got you covered.

The credit reimburses seat selection fees on your selected airline, so you can choose a seat with more legroom without breaking the bank.

Economy plus or main cabin extra seat selections are also eligible for reimbursement through the AmEx airline credit, giving you more options to upgrade your travel experience.

Just keep in mind that upgrades from economy to first class are not covered by this credit, so you'll need to pay out of pocket for that extra luxury.

The $200 hotel credit is a fantastic perk of the American Express Platinum card, but it's essential to understand how it works. You can use this credit to offset the cost of prepaid hotel stays booked through the Amex Travel booking portal.

To get started, simply search for and book eligible hotels through Amextravel.com. This credit only applies to Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or Hotel Collection properties – Amex's curated portfolio of hotels and resorts around the world. Notably, bookings at Hotel Collection properties require a minimum stay of two consecutive nights.

The credit resets on the calendar year – not based upon your card renewal date. This means each credit expires Dec. 31 of each year and you get a new one on Jan. 1, regardless of when you opened your Platinum Card.

You only need to book by the end of each year to get the credit of up to $200. You can book a stay today for a trip far in the future, as long as the charge posts before the end of the calendar year.

If you book a property that doesn't cost $200, you can use the credit across multiple bookings. This is nice, although most eligible properties will cost $200 or more a night, so it may not be a big deal.

Here are some key things to keep in mind:

To find eligible properties to use your $200 hotel credit, start by searching for hotels on Amex Travel. You can enter the number of travelers and rooms you're looking for, dates, and the city where you're staying.

Make sure you're on the "Hotels" tab, as this is where you'll find the Fine Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Collection properties. These are the only properties that qualify for the $200 hotel credit.

You can filter your search to only display these properties, which should show up at the top of your results. In fact, Amex will even highlight them for you. For example, when searching for properties in Las Vegas, I found 10 Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts options available for a one-night stay next June, plus six Hotel Collection properties for a two-night stay.

To use your credit, you must book one of these properties through Amex Travel. This will provide you with great benefits like complimentary space-available room upgrades, late checkout, and a credit of up to $100 to spend at the property's spa or restaurants.

Here's a quick rundown of the benefits you can expect when booking through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts:

If you can't book your flight online, don't worry, you can use your airline fee credit to cover fees charged by airlines for booking over the phone. This is a great option to have, especially if you're traveling last minute or need to make changes to your existing booking.

You can use your airline fee credit to cover fees charged by airlines for booking over the phone. This is a rare instance, but it's good to know you have this option available to you.

To use your airline fee credit, contact your airline directly and ask about their phone booking fees. They'll let you know what the fees are and how you can use your credit to cover them.

It's worth noting that this option is only available for airline fees, not for other travel-related expenses. So, if you need to book a hotel or rental car, you'll need to use a different credit or payment method.

In some cases, you may be able to use your credit to cover phone booking fees, but it's always best to check with your airline first to confirm their policies.

Time Management is key when it comes to using your American Express travel credit.

Using your airline incidental fee credit to book airport lounge access can be a great way to make the most of your travel experience. You can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, as well as a quiet and comfortable space to relax before your flight.

Booking airport lounge access through your airline incidental fee credit can also save you money compared to purchasing it separately.

Planning ahead and booking your airport lounge access well in advance can help you make the most of your travel experience.

The American Express Travel Credit Rules are pretty straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind to maximize its value. The Travel Credit must be used in one booking and not over multiple bookings.

Here are some key restrictions to be aware of:

You can use your American Express Travel Credit on a variety of expenses, but it's essential to know what's covered and what's not.

The Travel Credit can be used for incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments.

According to the terms and conditions, airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty-free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees.

You can use your airline fee credit for fees charged by airlines for booking over the phone, and for expenses like in-flight WiFi or fees with airline alliance partners.

However, fees not charged directly by the airline, including in-flight WiFi or fees with airline alliance partners, don’t qualify.

Here are some examples of eligible expenses for the American Express airline credit:

Remember to check the airline's website or contact them directly for a full list of eligible expenses.

You have to use your American Express travel credit by December 31 each year, it's a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. This means if you don't use the full credit, it won't carry over into the following year.

You can use the credit now to book a prepaid hotel stay and schedule it for a date in 2025, giving you more flexibility to find a way to use it up.

Canceling a booking with your American Express travel credit can be a bit tricky. If you cancel a booking and don't make another new reservation, Amex will likely claw back the $200 credit you received.

Change and cancellation policies vary from property to property, but this is a general rule of thumb. If you make another booking, your credit should be safe.

Some airlines still charge change fees for nonrefundable tickets, which can easily top $150 or more. If you're changing a flight with the airline you chose for your Amex airline fee credit, you can see all or part of the charge wiped from your credit card statement.

You can enjoy a digital entertainment credit with some American Express cards, getting up to $20 in statement credits each month for eligible purchases.

Cardholders of the Platinum Card from American Express can also get up to $155 in credit towards a Walmart+ membership, covering the cost of a $12.95 monthly membership with a statement credit after each payment.

The Platinum Card also offers credits towards CLEAR Membership, with up to $199 back per calendar year when paid with the card, and up to $120 in statement credits every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee, or up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee.

Here are some examples of how you can use the Amex airline fee credit to your advantage:

The Platinum Card from American Express offers a digital entertainment credit, providing up to $20 in statement credits each month for eligible purchases, such as streaming services.

Cardholders can enjoy TSA PreCheck or Global Entry access, with a statement credit of up to $120 and CLEAR perks, including up to $199 back per calendar year on CLEAR Membership.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers a first free checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on Delta flights, making it a valuable benefit for frequent flyers.

You can also get priority boarding on Delta flights and a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.

With the Amex airline fee credit, you can reimburse yourself for purchases such as checked baggage fees, seat selection, and in-flight food or entertainment.

Here are some examples of how you can use your Amex airline fee credit:

To maximize the value of your Travel Credit, consider the following tips:

If you're a frequent traveler with a furry friend, you're in luck. The American Express airline fee credit can be used to reimburse pet fees entirely, making it a great perk for Southwest flyers and many other airlines.

This credit can help offset the high annual fees of premium American Express cards, making it a valuable benefit to justify the cost.

You can use your Amex airline fee credit for pet fees whenever you fly with your furry friend, making it a convenient way to save money on pet travel expenses.

To make the most of this credit, be sure to preselect the airline with which you'll use your fee credit by January 31 of each year, so you can plan ahead and take advantage of this perk.

If you're booking a hotel through an online travel agency (OTA), don't expect your hotel elite status benefits to be recognized.

Typically, booking through an OTA means you shouldn't expect any hotel elite status recognition or benefits, including earning points.

Amex Travel is a notable exception, but even with them, it's a hit or miss situation.

You can try plugging your hotel loyalty number into your reservation to see if it makes a difference, but it's no guarantee.

Booking through Amex Travel is treated a bit differently than other third-party agencies, which might increase your chances of earning points.

In-flight entertainment can be a great perk, but not all options qualify for credits. Movies and tablet rental fees are eligible, but in-flight internet access may not be if it's handled by a third party.

You can enjoy your favorite movies or TV shows during your flight, and some airlines offer tablet rentals for a fee. However, be aware that in-flight internet access might not qualify for credits if it's not directly provided by the airline.

If you're looking to save on your flight costs, be sure to check what in-flight entertainment options are included or available for an extra fee.