How Do Hotel Cards Work Credit for Amex Platinum Cardholders

If you're an Amex Platinum cardholder, you can earn hotel credits to offset your stays. These credits are a valuable perk, but how do they work?

Hotel credits can be earned through various means, such as paying with your Amex Platinum card or staying at participating hotels. For example, the Amex Platinum card offers a $200 hotel credit per calendar year, which can be used towards eligible hotel stays. This credit can be a huge help when booking a luxurious hotel room.

To use your hotel credit, you'll need to book your stay through the Amex Platinum card's travel portal or by paying with your card directly. Some hotels may also have their own booking engines that accept Amex Platinum card payments. Be sure to check with the hotel to confirm their policies.

The hotel credit can be used towards various expenses, including room rates, taxes, and even food and beverage charges. However, it's essential to note that some hotels may not honor the credit for certain services or amenities.

Hotel cards can be a convenient way to pay for incidentals and charges during your stay, but understanding how they work is key to avoiding any issues. A credit card hold is a request from the merchant to pre-authorize funds on your credit or debit card pending a final transaction.

The hold amount can be as high as $200, on top of your room rate, taxes, and fees. This amount is temporarily unavailable on your card, which can limit your spending power on a trip.

Each hotel has its own specific hold amount, and it's essential to check with the hotel about how much will be held and for how long. The hold is not a charge until you check out and use the funds or incur damages.

The pre-authorization hotel booking amount is typically higher than your room rate to cover potential extra charges. This is to ensure you can cover any unexpected expenses.

The release of pre-authorized funds can vary, and it's not uncommon for banks or card issuers to take longer to process the release. If you notice any delays beyond the expected period, contact your hotel.

Here are some key points to remember about hotel credit card holds:

The Amex Platinum card offers a $200 hotel credit that's automatically applied to prepaid stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection properties. This credit is a great perk, but it's essential to understand how it works.

To get the credit, you need to book through Amex Travel and pay with your Amex Platinum Card. The credit will kick in automatically, usually within a few days. 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.

The credit resets on December 31st of each year, so you'll get a new one on January 1st, regardless of when you opened your Platinum Card. This means you can book a property that doesn't cost $200 and use the credit across multiple bookings.

To use the Amex Platinum hotel credit, head to AmexTravel.com and log in to input your destination and dates. Make sure to check the minimum stay requirements, as Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings require a minimum of one night, while The Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum of two nights.

You can filter your search results to choose between Fine Hotels + Resorts, The Hotel Collection, or both. Generally, The Hotel Collection hotels are cheaper than Fine Hotels + Resorts hotels.

The credit can be used for prepaid hotel stays, and it's easy to use - just book eligible hotels through the Amex Travel booking portal. The credit only applies to Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection properties.

Booking through these programs can provide 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. FHR bookings also get complimentary daily breakfast for two.

The $200 credit resets on the calendar year, not based on your card renewal date. This means each credit expires December 31st of each year, and you get a new one on January 1st, regardless of when you opened your Platinum Card.

To get the credit, you only need to book by the end of each year, and you can book a stay today for a trip far in the future. Just make sure the charge posts before the end of the calendar year.

The credit can take up to 90 days to post to your account, but in practice, it's typically much quicker. Members of the Thrifty Traveler staff have reported the credit hitting their account within a week of the booking posting to their card account.

Here are some key things to know about the Amex Platinum hotel credit:

You should use your $200 hotel credit if the hotel's price is the same or similar to rates on the property's website. This can save you money and provide additional benefits like complimentary room upgrades and spa credits.

Both Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection offer a $100 credit, but some hotels might restrict how you can use it.

You can expect to get higher-end amenities covered with FHR credits, whereas THC credits might be more limited.

Free breakfast is sometimes included with The Hotel Collection bookings, but this isn't guaranteed.

Perks you enjoy can vary by property, but you should expect to enjoy the items mentioned in the FHR and THC sections with your prepaid hotel credit.

To use your Amex Platinum hotel credit, you must book a Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection property through AmexTravel.com. Choose your property and room type, then select Pay Now — Pay With Card to ensure the credit applies.

The credit only applies to prepaid bookings made with your Amex Platinum card, so make sure your rate says either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection underneath the section listing “My Trip Summary.” Note the total trip cost, including taxes and fees, as hotel properties in popular destinations can add significant charges.

To find eligible properties, head to AmexTravel.com, log in, and input your destination and dates. Scroll down and look for the filter on the left side to choose between Fine Hotels + Resorts, The Hotel Collection, or both.

To find eligible properties for your Amex Platinum hotel credit, you need to search on Amextravel.com. This is where you'll find a list of hotels that are bookable through Amex Travel, but remember that only Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Hotel Collection properties qualify for the credit.

Start by selecting the "Hotels" tab and entering your destination, dates, and number of travelers and rooms. You'll then get a list of hotels, but to use your credit, you must book one of the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Hotel Collection properties.

These properties should show up at the top of your results, but you can filter to only display them about halfway down the page. In fact, if you search for properties in Las Vegas, you'll see over 10 Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts options available for a one-night stay next June.

To use your credit, you'll need to book a Fine Hotels & Resorts property with a minimum one-night stay, or a Hotel Collection property with a minimum two-night stay. This is a key thing to keep in mind when choosing your check-in and check-out dates.

You can use the hotel credit on multiple bookings, but it's not always practical due to the high cost of participating properties.

In theory, you can apply the credit across multiple bookings, but you'll likely be left with some unused credit.

For example, if you booked a Fine Hotels & Resorts property that costs $150 a night, you'd get $150 of your $200 credit and still have $50 to use on a future booking through the end of the year.

It's worth noting that you can use the remaining credit on a future booking, even if it's not through Fine Hotels & Resorts.

Switching to a corporate card can simplify the pre-authorization process for your hotel bookings.

Itilite corporate cards create a one-time virtual card directly linked to your reservation for each booking. This approach prevents hotels from blocking excessively high amounts beyond the booking value.

With itilite, your pre-authorization hotel booking is handled efficiently, safeguarding your funds and streamlining the check-in process.

Travelers gain access to a booking-specific card, ensuring a smooth check-in process every time.

Here are the benefits of using itilite corporate cards: