Amex Travel Credits explained
You can spend American Express Travel Credits on flights, hotels and car rentals. A travel credit can offset the fees on your Amex credit card, but they come with quite a few conditions to watch out for.
Key takeaways
- Several American Express credit cards offer yearly travel credits, which you can use to pay for flights, accommodation or car rentals.
- Depending on the card, the value of these travel credits range from $200 to $450.
- They usually offset the cost of the card's annual fee. As long as you use them.
How do American Express Travel credits work?
You get Amex travel credit when you take out certain Amex credit cards. You can redeem the credit for a flight, hotel or car rental via the American Express Travel Online site.
But there's a few terms and conditions to be aware of:
- You can only use your American Express Travel credit once, in a single booking. You can’t spread it out over multiple bookings.
- If you have more than one Amex Travel credit, you can’t pool the value of multiple credits to cover the cost.
- You need to use the full value of the credit in one booking (you can't spend some part of the credit and keep the rest). You can spend a $400 credit on a $500 trip (and pay the difference) but not on a $300 booking.
- If you cancel a booking made with a travel credit you can't get the credit back.
What is the difference between a complimentary flight and a travel credit?
If you get an Amex card with a complimentary flight, you can book an eligible flight for free.
For example, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card offers a $450 travel credit towards either a domestic or international booking with Qantas.
In comparison, the American Express Platinum Edge offers a $200 travel credit you can use for flights, hotels, car hire and more.
Do Amex travel credits expire?
Your travel credits last for 12 months "from the benefit anniversary date." Keep this in mind when you’re planning to use them. Once your travel credits expire, they can’t be redeemed.
How to use your American Express Travel credit
If your card offers an American Express Travel credit, you need to pay the annual fee and make the minimum payment by the due date in order you can access those credits. Then, you can redeem the credits with the following steps:
- Log in to the American Express Travel Online website and select the card with the travel credits you’re going to use. You’ll see the travel credits in the right-hand corner of your Amex Travel homepage once you’re logged in.
- Select what you want to book (flight, hotel or car hire) and filter your decisions by destination, travel dates, airline carrier and more.
- When you’ve picked an option that costs more than the value of your travel credits, you’ll see the total amount in dollars (which you can cover in your travel credits) or Membership Rewards points.
- Click on the “Use travel credit” button to redeem your credits. The value of the credits will be deducted from your total price and then you can pay for the remainder using your American Express card or Membership Rewards points.
- Finally, review and confirm your booking. You can’t get refunds on redeemed travel credits, so make sure you're 100% certain before you confirm your payment.
Pros and cons of the American Express Travel credits
Pros
- Cancels out annual fee. Some American Express credit cards offer travel credits that can offset the full cost of the annual fee, which can help justify getting the card.
- Cut travel costs. It’s an easy way to save between $200 and $400 on a trip (keeping in mind, the annual fee is still payable).
- Easy to use. The American Express Travel website is simple to use and it’s easy to access your travel credits once you’ve logged in.
Cons
- Less competitive prices. The cost of hotels, car rentals and flights booked through American Express Travel can be less competitive than if you were to book directly.
- No points earned. In contrast to paying with your Amex card, you can't earn points on travel costs paid for with your travel credits.
- Expiration. You can use your travel credits within exactly 12 months from the issue date. After that they will expire and can’t be redeemed.
- No refund. If you cancel a trip booked with a travel credit you won't get the credit back.
American Express Travel credits are a nice credit card perk. If you use the credit, you'll offset the card's annual fee.
Just make sure you understand the rules and conditions around these travel credits. And use it before you lose it!
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