Enjoy premium travel service with many benefits, exclusive perks, and personalized experiences on American Express Travel.
Opting for American Express Travel opens a door for enjoying premium travel service with the loads of benefits, exclusive perks, and offers so personalized that they can only be tailored by Amex Cardmembers. From the ability to book flights, hotels, and car rentals to luxury vacations, American Express Travel provides options for maximizing your travel. This guide will cover everything you need to know about American Express Travel: how to maximize your benefits, book with points, and use exclusive offers.
- Overview of American Express Travel
American Express Travel is a one-stop portal that aims to ease travel for cardholders through multiple services: flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and packages of various combinations. The site is intended to provide a smooth booking experience through high-quality service and exclusive offers on premium products.
Key features of American Express Travel include:
Personalized Service: Avail individual attention from consultants who work for American Express Travel, including custom recommendations and reservations for each traveler.
Unique Benefits: On top of the aforementioned benefits, some memberships give you access to unique benefits like complimentary room upgrades, late checkout, or statement credit.
Flexibility in Payment: Make your travel reservation on American Express Travel by paying with the points in your Membership Rewards® account, cash, or a combination of points and cash. 2. How to Book your Flights with American Express Travel
Booking a flight through the American Express Travel service is easy. The service avails flight offerings on the most renowned airlines in the world, set to both economy and premium classes. The platform enables you to compare prices, pick your most preferred airline, and set the preferable travel date.
Earn Points: Cardmembers can earn Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases made when booking a flight by using American Express Travel. On some cards, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, there are also bonus points available for booking a flight directly with American Express Travel.
Pay with Points: Cardmembers can use their Membership Rewards points to pay for flights, in full or in part. Undoubtedly, the value of your points will vary depending on your card and whether it is a transit or return booking. You should check your redemption options before booking.
Additional Benefits: All American Express Cards offer two extra additional benefits on booking—free access to airport lounges and travel insurance.
- American Express Travel Hotel Bookings
One of the key strengths in the services provided for on American Express Travel is its hotels which are compared to none. From the boutique hotels to the luxury resorts, American Express Travel has something for everyone. Cardholders have the advantage of getting special hotel programs with added features, including The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts.
The Hotel Collection: Available to eligible cardmembers, The Hotel Collection provides a variety of benefits including a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities and a room upgrade when available. This collection includes an ecstasy of elite hotels and resorts worldwide.
FINE HOTELS & RESORTS—Only available to Platinum Card® and Centurion® members, this program offers rich benefits on a complimentary basis, like guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out, breakfast for two daily, and in-room Wi-Fi. Cardmembers also receive a property amenity upon arrival, such as a spa treatment or dining credit, worth at least $100.
Book with Points: Just like travel, it can also be done when you use Membership Rewards points to cover the cost. However, full payment with the American Express Card may only be required in other programs like Fine Hotels & Resorts for you to qualify for benefits.
- American Express Travel Car Rentals
There are also rental car services available through American Express Travel. This is through partnerships with nearly all car rental companies, including Hertz, Avis, and National. Card members receive extra facilities and benefits every time they rent cars by using the service.
Car Rental: Enjoy complimentary elite status with Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive standards. The benefits of the programs include the skipping of lines, free upgrades, and additional discounts on rental rates.
Insurance Coverage: Some American Express cards come with free-of-charge insurance for hired cars as a benefit that is automatic with the card. Normally, this is coverage in case of damage or theft to the rental car when the rental car is paid for using the card. Make sure to look up the limits and exclusions to your eligibility in the terms and conditions for your card.
Much more than simply making a hotel or flight booking, the American Express Travel website can set up a number of cruises and vacation packages that can be modified to your liking. Looking for a luxurious Mediterranean cruise, or maybe a guided tour all around Asia? American Express Travel has it covered for any type of traveler.
Cruise Benefits: Exclusive benefits for Platinum and Centurion card members include shipboard credits on most cruises, complimentary excursions, and cabin upgrades. Plus, earn Membership Rewards points on cruise bookings.
Vacation Packages: Flights, hotels, and in some cases activities, when bundled, form booked vacations through American Express Travel, securing all services at once in a package. And often, these packages come with added values such as free nights in hotels or discounts on the activities.
Spend with Points: In the same way, flights and lodging, vacation packages, and even cruises can be purchased through Membership Rewards points. This can be a fantastic way to help bring down the out-of-pocket expense of a once in a lifetime dream vacation.
- Membership Rewards Program
Perhaps the biggest advantages of using American Express Travel are the ability to earn and redeem Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards is a program whereby cardholders earn points in eligible purchasing categories that can be redeemed for travel bookings, gift cards, statement credits, among other options.
How to Earn Points This varies with your card, but you earn points on every travel purchase made through American Express Travel. For example, cards like the American Express Gold Card and The Platinum Card from American Express add a bonus to travel spending that quickly racks up the points.
Redeeming Points: Redeem your Membership Rewards points for travel bookings directly through the American Express Travel website. You’ll be able to do it in one of two ways: either book a full trip using only points or split it between points and cash. Your redemption value for points will vary with the type of booking, so look at your options carefully.
Transfer Partners: One of the more valuable benefits of the Membership Rewards program is the option of point transfer to a large number of airline and hotel loyalty programs. This can infuse flexibility and potentially boost the value of maximized redemptions for the frequent flyer traveler.
- TRAVEL RELATED OFFERS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES
There are also exclusive offers and limited-time offers with American Express Travel, be it for flights, hotels, rewards points offerings, or even travel credits.
Some American Express cards come with Amex Offers to save you money on targeted promotions, or to save on travel-related purchases. Enroll in these offers to get statement credits or bonus points toward specific travel partners on your spending goals.
Travel Credits. Available with some American Express cards, including The Platinum Card®, are annual travel credits that offset travel purchases that qualify. This value can assist the card owner in booking and purchasing flights, hotels, or other purchasable travel expenses with American Express Travel.
- Customer Support and Travel Assistance
First up, booking through American Express Travel translates to the best customer support and services extended to you. Help with a booking, travel advice, or just a simple amendment to your itinerary—American Express Travel consultants are always at your beck and call.
Unlimited Support, 24/7: You can have all your travel-related inquiries attended to at any time, with full support available 24/7. Cardholders now have a 24-hour customer support service made available for them in order to attend to all inquiries made at any point in time regarding travel.
Travel Insurance: Depending on your card, you may be eligible for travel insurance that includes coverage for cancelled trips, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency medical coverage. These features ensure that, right from the beginning — even after booking your travel — you are fully at ease and free from concerns about unexpected eventualities.
The services lying at the platform cardholders’ disposal could help improve their travelling experience, get absolutely any kind of help, and receive exclusive offers that wouldn’t be available through any other channel. Be it a weekend getaway or a luxury vacation, American Express Travel has the tools and resources to make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as one can imagine.
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