American Express Travel Packages: Everything You Need to Know

American Express travel packages offer a wide range of options to suit different tastes and budgets. You can choose from pre-designed packages or create your own customized itinerary.

One of the benefits of American Express travel packages is that they often include exclusive perks and benefits, such as access to airport lounges or complimentary upgrades. These extras can make a big difference in the overall quality of your trip.

American Express has partnerships with top travel providers, which means you can book flights, hotels, and activities through their platform. This can be a convenient way to plan your trip and have everything organized in one place.

Many American Express travel packages also offer flexible cancellation policies, which can provide peace of mind if your plans change or you need to make last-minute adjustments.

American Express cardholders can book travel reservations through the American Express Travel portal, including flights, hotels, and other reservations. This service is available to all cardholders, but some cards offer additional benefits such as bonus points, statement credits, and other savings.

If you have The Platinum Card from American Express, you earn 5x points on flights booked directly with an airline or through AmEx Travel, and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmEx Travel. You also have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection through the travel portal.

Some American Express cards, such as The Platinum Card, Amex Gold Card, and Amex Business Gold Card, offer exclusive benefits when booking through the AmEx Travel portal, including room upgrades, daily breakfast, and guaranteed late checkout.

Here are some benefits of booking travel through AmEx Travel:

Additionally, you can use Membership Rewards points to offset the cost of your stay at a rate of 1 cent each when booking through Fine Hotels & Resorts.

American Express cardholders can use the travel portal to book flights, hotels, and other reservations. Most travelers with an American Express credit card can access the portal.

The Platinum Card from American Express cardholders earn 5x points on flights booked directly with an airline or through AmEx Travel. They also earn 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmEx Travel.

American Express Gold Card and The Platinum Card from American Express cardholders can book room reservations with The Hotel Collection.

Booking travel on AmEx Travel can be a good idea, especially if you have an American Express credit card. You can earn bonus points, statement credits, and other savings.

If you have The Business Platinum Card from American Express, you can get 35 percent of your points back when you redeem rewards to book first- or business-class tickets. This can add up to a lot of points, up to 1 million points per calendar year.

You can also earn 5X points when you purchase prepaid flights or prepaid hotels through American Express Travel. This is on top of any points you earn for using your credit card normally.

The American Express Gold Card lets you earn 3X points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com. This is a great way to rack up points if you fly frequently.

If you have a Membership Rewards credit card, you can pay for all or part of eligible travel reservations using your points. This can be a great way to use up points you've accumulated.

Any portion of your travel reservation that you pay with your Membership Rewards card can earn up to 5x points. This is a great way to get even more points on top of your existing rewards.

You can earn up to 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. These cards offer a bonus when making reservations through AmEx travel, including the American Express Platinum Card, American Express Business Platinum Card, and American Express Gold Card.

If you hold a Membership Rewards-earning credit card, you'll earn bonus rewards when spending with Amex Travel, with different cards offering different earning rates. For example, the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card earn 5 points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, and on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers a 35% rewards rebate (up to 1 million points back per calendar year) when using Amex points to book first-class fares and business-class fares. This rebate means your points are worth 1.54 cents each toward airfare.

Here's a breakdown of the earning rates for different cards:

You can redeem your Membership Rewards points for travel through Amex Travel, but be aware that the value of your points may be lower than when redeeming them with an Amex transfer partner. For example, when redeemed on Amex Travel, Membership Rewards are worth 1 cent per point on flights and 0.7 cents per point on hotel, cruise, and rental car reservations, whereas with airline partners, you can get a value of 1.93 cents per point.

You can book hotel and flight packages through Amex Travel, which shows you how much you're saving by bundling your trip. Amex will guide you through a quick and easy process to select a hotel and then your flights.

It's essential to price each option on its own and compare it to the package price to ensure you're not overpaying for the convenience of booking through Amex Travel. You can redeem Membership Rewards points towards Hotel + Flight packages at a rate of 0.7¢ per point.

If you prefer to earn frequent flyer miles on the flight portion of your package, you're better off booking each trip element individually, as you won't earn additional rewards if the airfare purchase is part of a vacation package.

You can book hotel and flight packages through Amex Travel, which is a quick and easy process.

First, click on the "Hotel + Flight" option on the booking widget and enter your point of origin and destination. Amex will have you select a hotel first and then your flights.

It's worth pricing each option on its own and comparing to the package price to ensure you're not overpaying for the convenience of booking through Amex Travel.

You can redeem Membership Rewards points towards Hotel + Flight packages at a rate of 0.7¢ per point, but be aware that you won't earn additional rewards on the flight portion if it's part of a vacation package.

In fact, if you prefer to earn frequent flyer miles on the flight portion of your package, you're better off booking each trip element individually.

The Hotel Collection is a program that offers exclusive benefits to American Express cardholders. You can access over 600 hotels worldwide through this program.

To be eligible, you'll need to be an AmEx Gold or Platinum cardholder, or have an American Express Business Gold Card. These cards offer perks such as a $100 experience credit, which varies by hotel but can be used for food and beverage, spa services, airport transfers, and more.

One of the benefits of The Hotel Collection is that you'll receive a complimentary room upgrade upon arrival, when available. This is a nice touch, especially if you're traveling in style.

To activate the benefits, a minimum stay of two nights is required. This is a bit longer than some other hotel programs, but it's worth it for the perks you'll receive.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from The Hotel Collection:

It's worth noting that AmEx Platinum cardholders can also use their $200 in annual hotel credits on prepaid bookings with either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.

You can pay for American Express travel packages with cash, points, or a combination of both. To pay with points, you'll need at least 5,000 Membership Rewards points, which will be applied to your account within 48 hours.

If you need to cancel a booking, you can do so within 24 hours for a full refund, but this depends on the airline's cancellation policy. You can also cancel for any reason with the Trip Cancel Guard feature, which will reimburse you up to 75% of nonrefundable airfare costs if you cancel at least two calendar days before departure.

Amex Travel generally allows a 24-hour cancellation window for most reservations, but you should research the specific change and cancellation policies for your airline, hotel, or other travel providers.

You can pay for reservations using Pay with Points, a feature offered by American Express Travel. This allows you to book flights, hotels, and more using your Membership Rewards points instead of cash.

To use Pay with Points, you must have at least 5,000 points in your account. You can then choose to pay a portion of the trip with points and the rest with cash.

Once your reservations have been booked, the full amount of your trip will be charged to your American Express credit card, and then a credit will be posted for the points redeemed within 48 hours.

You can pay for travel through AmexTravel.com with only your credit card as payment, or use the Amex "Plan it" feature for your booking. This feature allows you to pay for travel over time with a convenient payment plan.

If you need to cancel your reservation, you'll receive a statement credit on your card for the cash equivalent.

American Express has a 24-hour cancellation window for most reservations made through their travel portal, allowing you to get a full refund if you cancel within this timeframe.

However, the airline's cancellation policy ultimately determines the terms of your refund, so be sure to check the itinerary or reach out to customer service for more information.

If you need to cancel a booking made through Amex Travel, you must contact their helpline, where a representative will inform you of any changes or cancellation fees.

You can also use your My Trips page to easily cancel or rebook a flight, but you'll still be subject to any change or cancellation fees imposed by the carrier.

Some American Express credit cards, like the Business Platinum Card and the Platinum Card, offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which could apply in some situations where you need to cancel or rebook your travel plans.

Amex Travel's Trip Cancel Guard feature, launched in May 2022, offers up to a 75% reimbursement on nonrefundable airfare costs if you cancel at least two calendar days out from your departure, but you'll need to purchase this coverage at the point of booking.

American Express offers various insurance and protection options for your travel package. You can purchase Trip Cancel Guard, which allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and receive up to a 75% reimbursement on nonrefundable airfare costs.

This feature is available when booking airfare through the AmEx travel portal using an AmEx card, and you'll need to purchase it at the point of booking. If you cancel, you can request reimbursement online or over the phone.

Some American Express credit cards offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which could apply in some situations where you need to cancel or rebook your travel plans. Popular cards that offer this benefit include the Business Platinum Card and the Platinum Card.

You may already hold a card that offers complimentary travel insurance, which could include trip cancellation and interruption coverage. If this is the case, you'll still be subject to any change or cancellation fees imposed by the carrier if you're not covered by a flexible policy or an existing waiver.

To view all your booked travel and easily cancel or rebook a flight, you can use your My Trips page on AmexTravel.com. This can be a convenient option if you need to make changes to your travel plans.

As a Platinum cardmember, you have access to the International Airline Program, which offers discounts on premium-cabin fares to international destinations with over 30 airlines.

You can search for fares that qualify by logging in to your personal or business Platinum account and using AmexTravel.com to search for First Class, Business Class or Premium Economy for an international destination.

The International Airline Program is only good for international premium class tickets, so you won't find economy-class options.

To book a qualifying flight, select the flight option that shows an International Airline Program banner in your search results.

Here are the restrictions to note when booking through the International Airline Program:

As a Platinum cardmember, you'll earn 5x Membership Rewards on flights when paying with the Amex Platinum or Business Platinum Card, up to the first $500,000 spent annually. After this limit, you'll earn 1x.

If you're looking to book a cruise or vacation rental through Amex Travel, you'll be happy to know that there are some great benefits to take advantage of. Those with an Amex Platinum or Business Platinum Card can enjoy the Cruise Privileges Program, which offers up to $300 onboard credit per stateroom.

For eligible sailings of five nights or more, you'll also receive 2 Amex points per dollar and various unique amenities depending on the cruise line. This program can definitely make your vacation more enjoyable.

If you prefer vacation rentals to hotels, you can use Amex Travel to reserve homes and condos in select areas. Currently, there are 14 available booking regions, including popular destinations like Breckenridge, Colorado, and Big Island, Hawaii.

Here are the available booking regions:

If you're an American Express cardholder, you're in luck - the Cruise Privileges Program can elevate your cruise experience.

The program is available to Amex Centurion Card, Business Platinum Card, and Amex Platinum cardmembers.

To qualify, you'll need to book a cruise of five nights or more with participating cruise lines.

You'll receive up to $300 per stateroom onboard credit, which can be used for dining, spa treatments, and more.

Additionally, you'll earn 2 Amex points per dollar spent on the cruise booking.

Unique amenities, such as premium wines, may be available depending on your chosen cruise line.

If you're looking for a more homey experience on your next vacation, consider booking a vacation rental through Amex Travel. This service allows you to reserve homes and condos in select areas, perfect for families or groups.

To book, select one of 14 available booking regions and your intended travel dates. Note that reservations must be for at least two nights.

You can currently book vacation rentals in the following areas:

Keep in mind that booking vacation rentals through Amex Travel is limited to those with an Amex Platinum or Business Platinum Card.

To book a cruise, simply type in your destination, cruise line, and sailing date, and you can narrow down the exact itinerary and departure location.

You can search for cruises by destination, cruise line, or sailing date, making it easy to find the perfect fit.

The payment process for booking a cruise through Amex Travel is identical to other travel methods, allowing you to redeem points, pay in cash, or use a mix of both.

If you choose to redeem Membership Rewards, you can do so for 0.7 cents per point, making it a great way to offset the cost of your cruise.

Redeeming points can be a great way to save money on your cruise, but it's essential to understand the redemption rate and how it affects your overall cost.

Booking a rental car on Amex Travel is a straightforward process that involves inputting a pick-up location and the date and time for pick-up and drop-off.

You'll have the option to pay in points or cash, with points worth just 0.7¢ apiece.

Paying now or later are also options, but be sure to read the terms and prices carefully before continuing with the booking process as they may vary.

Be aware that third-party bookings can mean you'll forego your rental car elite status benefits, so you won't get perks like free upgrades and will need to wait in line to pick up your vehicle.

American Express offers a range of credit cards that provide access to its travel portal, Amex Travel.

To book travel through Amex Travel, you'll need an eligible American Express credit card. Some of the cards that offer access to Amex Travel include the American Express Gold Card, American Express Business Gold Card, The Platinum Card from American Express, and The Business Platinum Card from American Express.

These cards offer a range of benefits, including earning bonus points on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel. For example, the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, while the Amex Gold Card earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked through AmexTravel.com.

Here are some of the credit cards that offer access to Amex Travel:

By using an eligible credit card, you can take advantage of the benefits and perks offered through Amex Travel, including earning bonus points and enjoying exclusive discounts and offers.

When comparing travel booking options, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the numerous choices available. American Express Travel, however, offers a convenient portal where you can compare flight and hotel options side by side.

You may also find offers that include additional benefits when booking a cruise through the portal, such as onboard credits or free specialty meals. This can be a great perk for those looking to splurge on a luxurious vacation.

Booking through AmexTravel.com can be worth it, but only you can decide what works best for your needs.

Amex Travel is a perfectly serviceable travel booking platform for American Express card holders.

You can receive hundreds of dollars in value each year — or even thousands, depending on how often you travel — by making Amex Travel your go-to for airfare and hotel stays.

It's worth noting that some hotels may not offer elite night credits or elite status recognition when booking through Amex Travel, even if you enter your loyalty program number.

However, data points show that it's possible to get both elite night credits and elite status recognition with some hotels even when booking through Amex Travel.

Before booking with Amex Travel, it's worthwhile to do due diligence and compare price options, as you might find a better deal by booking directly with a carrier or provider.

The American Express travel portal offers a convenient platform for booking all aspects of travel, making it simple and rewarding to plan and manage travel arrangements with its extensive travel options and exclusive benefits.

Booking through a third-party travel portal like AmEx travel can be convenient, but it's not always the best choice. You might end up with a lower value for your points, getting only 1 cent per point or less, which is a significant reduction compared to the actual value of Membership Rewards points.

Resolving issues with your flight or hotel reservation can be complicated when you book through a third party. The airline or hotel might blame the booking agency, making it harder to get your problem resolved right away.

Most hotels require you to book directly to earn elite status benefits, stay credits, or loyalty points. If you book through AmEx travel, you're likely to miss out on these perks.

Some hotels, however, are exceptions to this rule. Fine Hotels & Resorts allow you to earn elite night credit and loyalty perks, even if you book through the AmEx travel portal.

Here's a quick rundown of the downsides of booking via AmEx travel: